Page 15 of Hello Tease

“I’m pulling for you,” Bernice replied, giving him a wink.

As he continued on his way, I leaned closer to Bernice and said, “Now I know why he’s your favorite.”

Just a couple hours into my job, I already knew I was going to like it. Bernice seemed really friendly and the residents were welcoming to me, although I knew they missed the last nurse.

I spent the rest of the day getting familiar with the computer system used to track medications and other medical information. Then I made a point to meet with everyone I could and get a feel for the culture here. Still, the highlight of my day was meeting Grandpa Griffen. Between the tobacco tucked into his lower lip and the sparkle in his misty eyes, I knew he’d keep me on my toes.

When it was time for me to go home, I said goodbye to Bernice and went to pick up the kids. As I walked up to Nancy and Jerald’s sage-green farmhouse in the Texas countryside, I couldn’t help remembering the first time I came here to visit.

I’d been in my early twenties and completely enamored with their son. Seth was in sales and liked to show me how special I was with each of his commissions. Some online therapy I’d done since discovering the cheating told me what he’d been doing was love-bombing. But back then, I didn’t know it. I just thought I was in heaven.

Nancy and Jerald were so warm and welcoming to me. Treating me to a home-cooked meal like I hadn’t had since my mom passed away when I was still in college. They insisted Seth and I sleep in separate bedrooms even though we were basically living together in Dallas. He snuck into my room at night and cuddled with me until the early hours of the morning when he snuck back to his room like we were both teenagers in high school.

Things were so different now as I walked up the steps, past the potted flowers, and knocked on the front door. It swung open, and Emily said a quick, “Hi, Mom,” before walking back to the living room.

“Gee thanks, missed you too,” I muttered, stepping inside and looking around.

The house was dated, with wood-paneled walls like in my rental and thick brown carpet, but there were sweet touches, like a wall covered with framed pictures of the kids, another with all sorts of crosses.

Passing by the living room where Emily was watching her favorite show, I found Nancy in the kitchen, cooking while Jackson toddled in his little walker with sensory toys sticking up on the front. When he saw me, his feet danced over the floor, and he screeched.

Nancy jumped, fumbling the spatula, while I laughed at my son’s excitement. I hoped he wouldn’t grow out of this. “Hello to you too, baby.”

Nancy gave me an exasperated look and blew her bangs out of her face. “When is that kid going to start talking?”

“Soon.”I hoped. I bent over, picking up the squealing Jackson and holding him close. “I’m so happy to see you, sweet boy!”

He gave me a slobbery open-mouth kiss, and I chuckled, happiness tugging against all the achy parts of my heart. It was amazing how being a single mom starting over again could be both the biggest pain in my life but also bring me more fulfillment than I ever knew I could have.

But that ache was hard to ignore as I stood in the kitchen with my ex’s mom. “Have you heard from Seth recently? Emily’s been wanting to talk to him, and I haven’t been able to get in touch with him since the move.”

Nancy didn’t look up at me from the beef she was browning on the stovetop, but I noticed the lines deepen at the corners of her mouth and eyes. “I haven’t. I’m sure he’s just worried what will be said if he calls. I know tensions were high between you two that last month you lived together.”

My eyebrows rose. “What do you mean?” We hadn’t been in Cottonwood Falls long, but I was already really bothered by the comments Nancy made about the split. I knew I shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, considering she was babysitting for free, but Seth made his choices.

Nancy looked up at me. “He feels guilty enough without anyone adding on to it.”

I opened my mouth to say heshouldfeel guilty. He cheated on his wife and broke up a family. But I clamped my jaw back together. This was his mom, not mine. She would always want to see the best in her own child. It made me miss my own mother that much more. And reminded me that the only person I had truly in my corner lived in Paris. And not the one in Texas.

“Will you be staying for supper?” Nancy asked, sounding like she was trying to put a pleasant tone back in her voice.

I shook my head. “I picked something up after work. Thank you for the offer though. I really appreciate you and Jerald watching the kids.”

“Of course,” she said. “At least part of our family is living closer now. Too bad it couldn’t happen sooner, but you know Seth’s job.”

“I get it,” I said. “But I’m really tired from my first day. I’d like to head home and get ready for bed.” I went to the living room, calling for Emily. “Give your grandma a hug goodbye and then let’s get going.”

“But I want to watch this.”

My nerves were beyond frayed, but I kept a patient tone. “Honey, we need to get going.”

“I WANT TO WATCHPAW PATROL!” she wailed. “I WANT TO WATCHPAW PATROL.”

Nancy said, “You can stay.”

My eyes were already stinging, more from frustration than anything. I just wanted to get out of here. And now Jackson was fussing, squirming in my arms. I tightened my grip on him, then went to take Emily’s hand. “We’re leaving,” I said, and we walked to the door. “Bye, Grandma, see you in the morning!”

No matter how many suggestions I offered on the way home, from letting her pick the radio station to watching an episode of a show at home, Emily did not calm down until I said, “I wonder how we can prank Knox next time?”

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