Page 21 of The Slapshot and the Single Mom
Running a hand over my face, I take a deep breath, wondering if I should say what I’m thinking. Finally, I just go for it. “My parents got divorced when I was in junior high. I realize your kid’s younger than that, but still. I get what it’s like for your parents to split up. I think the important thing is that you’re with him when it really counts, you know? The parent nights athis day camps, for instance. Games. Performances. That kind of thing. I think taking a night off and letting him stay home and watch movies and eat pizza with a babysitter are also good for him. It’s okay for him to see you have a life for yourself, too.”
She chews the inside of her cheek, nodding. “Intellectually, that all sounds really smart. I’m sure you’re correct. But …” She holds up her hands again and lets them fall in her lap. “It’s still hard.” After sighing again, she leans props her elbow on the table and leans her cheek on her fist. “Besides, if we’re supposed to be doing whatIwant to do, I need some time to figure that out.”
“Fair enough. But let’s at least plan on doing something on Friday. Even if you don’t know what yet. Find a babysitter and let me know their rates. I’ll send you enough to cover it.” She shifts in her chair, looking uncomfortable at the mention of money, and I narrow my eyes. “Hey, now. That’s our deal, right? I’m sure you make enough to get by, but I’m guessing you don’t have a lot left over for extras like a babysitter on top of a night out, am I right?” She shifts her mouth from side to side for a second before dipping her chin in the barest nod. “I have more than enough to cover both, so let me do it. Really, you’re doing me the favor. If I have to sit at home for three months, I’ll lose my mind.”
Finally, she relaxes. “Okay, fine. Friday.” She stands, gathering her trash. “I need to get back to work, though. Thanks so much for lunch. And for”—she waves a hand around—“everything?”
Grinning, I stand too. “Thank you. For everything.”
I’m a little worried Maggie will back out, especially given that she only has between lunch on Wednesday and Friday evening to find a babysitter. But she texts me on Thursday evening.
Maggie
Okay, I have tomorrow evening free. And the babysitter’s free, so no need to send me money.
I narrow my eyes at that. A free babysitter? What are the odds?
Seriously, Maggie? We talked about this. I offered to pay for the babysitter. You don’t have to lie about it being free
I’m not lying. He’s staying the night at my parents’. They wouldn’t let me pay them if I tried. My dad mentioned wanting to take him fishing soon, and since they have to get up early for that, I suggested a Friday night sleepover so they can go on Saturday. Liam’s excited to catch his first fish
Okay. I guess that works this time. But don’t feel like you can’t use a paid babysitter in the future
Yes, Dad
Brat
She responds with a gif of a lady making a face and sticking out her tongue, and I laugh out loud. After our paint night, I knew I wanted to spend more time with her. But now? All I can think is, this summer is going to be fun.
The next morning, Friday morning, the day of our date, she texts me again.
Maggie
Can I confess something?
A stab of worry lances through my gut. Is she going to cancel now? Even after saying her son would be sleeping over at her parents’?
Of course. This is a safe space
I don’t know what to do tonight. Every time I’ve tried to figure it out, I’ve been interrupted before I’d even narrowed down ideas by category. I’m not sure if it’s a problem of being paralyzed by choice or if I just don’t even know what I like anymore
Oof. Okay. I can work with that. At least she’s not telling me that she can’t go.
What level of activity are you in the mood for? Something relaxing? Something high energy? Do you want to watch an event or participate in it?
It takes long enough for her to respond that I pull out my laptop and start looking up things to do tonight so I can put together a short list of choices for her.
Those are really good questions. Umm … I think I’d like to do something, like participate, not just watch, though I would like to go see a baseball game at some point if you’re up for that. But not too high energy tonight. It’s been a long week.
That sounds fun. I’ll see when the home games are and let you pick from the dates and buy tickets for us
I keep having to stop and make sure this isn’t a weird dream. You’re just going to … let me choose the date and you’ll buy tickets? Are you sure you’re not some kind of robot released on an unsuspecting public to lull us into a false sense of security for some nefarious purpose?
I laugh at her message.
A robot? And what nefarious purpose would I be tricking you for?
How should I know? I’m just saying, this feels too good to be true. There must be some kind of trick. Some kind of fine print I didn’t read that means I don’t actually get whatever I want.
