Page 4 of Fake Daddy

“Isn’t it amazing?” she sighs as she looks it over in the mirror at the bottom of the stairs, fluffing it up a bit. “The boys have hair appointments tomorrow. Evan also has a consultation with the stylist about colouring his hair.” She hands me a piece of paper with an address and time on it.

“I could have taken them to my barber for this,” I frown. It’s what I’ve always done. Mary has never cared about where they went, so long as it looked nice.

“I know, but I liked this salon, and with Evan wanting to do something different with his hair, I thought, why not?” Her fidgeting ups my suspicion.

“What, Mary?” I finally spit out.

Blowing out a breath, she rushes her words. “Well, I went for this gorgeous new look, and my stylist, who is amazing, by the way, seemed familiar, but it took me a minute to figure out why. We both had the same feeling, and when it finally clicked, I realized who she was.”

I wait for her to elaborate, but the punchline is not forthcoming. “Well, are you going to tell me?”

“I’m still trying to decide that.”

I scratch my head at her demeanour but try not to laugh.

“How about we let it be a surprise?” I suggest, unwilling to stick around much longer. I want a hockey game on the TV, a grilled burger, and a cold beer. “I’ll take the boys tomorrow and get it all figured out with Evan’s hair.”

She smiles brightly at me as our kids burst back down the stairs.

“See you next weekend, Mom!”

Evan is gone to my truck before she can respond, and Tyler kisses her cheek as he walks out the door, laughing at his little brother.

“Well, I guess that’s my cue.”

I follow the boys out to my truck and toss Evan the keys. “You’re driving,” I say.

He’s going for his permit in a couple of months when he turns sixteen, and I know he needs more time behind the wheel.

Tyler disagrees with me as he groans in the backseat. “Really, Dad?”

I shoot him a wicked grin as Evan starts the truck and slowly backs out of the driveway. His mom and I have had him out driving as often as possible, and he’s been taking driving classes, so I have faith that he’ll do just fine on the road.

“What’s practice look like this week, Ty?” I look over my shoulder at him as he finishes the sandwich he had when I walked in the house.

“Mornings on Monday and Thursday, and then after school on Tuesday.”

He has been playing hockey since he was old enough to walk and is obsessed with the sport, insisting that one day, he’ll play professionally.

“When we get home, you can make sure the car is all gassed up for you.”

Mary and I still like being able to communicate about the boys face-to-face. We decided to each have a car at our houses for Tyler to drive back and forth between us. This way, he’s never without it when he needs it, and we aren’t around. Now that Evan is about to get his license, we might have to discuss it again.

“Will do,” Ty mutters as he types on his phone. “Mom tell you about tomorrow?”

At his question, I look back at him, wondering what the deal is about tomorrow.

“You have hair appointments… What else is there to know?” They both shrug, so I change the subject. “Uncle Eric got us tickets to the Bears game on Sunday. Either of you interested in going?”

“Yeah!” Evan hoots.

“Are you for real?” Tyler leans forward so his head pops between the seats.

“Yup. He asked the other day. We’ll go for dinner first.”

“Where are the seats?” Evan’s excitement is contagious.

“I have no idea. I just told him we’d come, and dinner was on me.”

---