Page 24 of A Valentine's Day Gift
She ignored that because she needed to make her point before they all moaned and groaned about their punishment. “I’m okay with your dad dating, and I hope he would be okay with me dating too.”
“Does this mean you and Dad are never getting back together?” Gabe asked.
She glanced over at him, surprised. “Is that what you guys hoped?”
No answer.
“The divorce is final,” she said. “When two people agree to legally end the marriage, that means they’re not getting back together.”
“Sometimes they do,” Gabe said. “I saw it in a movie.”
“Yeah,” Luke and Jared chimed in.
Allie shook her head. “Not this time. Listen, I don’t want you to be mad at your dad. This divorce was something we both wanted. We’re happier now and are moving on with our lives. It was nobody’s fault.” Her throat tightened with all she felt for them. “You boys will always be just as loved by both of us.”
The boys were quiet.
She needed to tell them about her dating, to prepare them a little, even if they didn’t actually meet Vinny. “I’ve also recently started dating a very nice man. His name is Vinny, and I hope one day soon you’ll get to meet him.”
“We already got a dad,” Luke said belligerently.
“And he will never replace your dad,” she responded patiently. “I just want you boys to understand how both me and your dad are moving forward with other people, but like I said, that doesn’t change how we feel about you. I love you guys. You’ll always be the most important people in my life.”
“Love you too,” Gabe mumbled.
“I love you, Mommy,” Jared said, sounding like his sweet little-boy self again.
Her heart squeezed.
“I love you too,” Luke grumbled. “Just don’t go marrying some stranger.”
“No plans for that,” she said. “We’re still getting to know each other.”
She waited, prepared to reassure them about whatever they might be worried about or answer any questions, but it seemed like the dating conversation was over. “Jared, we’re going to be talking about fire safety when we get home.”
“I know it,” he replied cheerfully. “I visited the firehouse on a field trip. Stop, drop, and roll.”
She gritted her teeth. “We’re still going to talk. What you did was very dangerous. Got it?”
“Okay,” he said.
She blew out a breath. “Okay, now that we cleared that up, you’re all grounded for two weeks. And no video games for a month.”
The car exploded with protests. Video games were their favorite.
She turned the radio back on, tuning them out.
~ ~ ~
Later that night, after the boys were in bed, and after an exhausting talk about fire safety with Jared, she collapsed on the living room sofa. She’d definitely have to follow up with Jared. His initial defense, “I wasn’tplayingwith matches, I wasusingthem,” did not fly. She still wasn’t convinced he understood just how dangerous the situation could’ve been. She thought about a glass of wine, but then she thought calling Vinny would be even better. Even when he spoke plainly or laced his speech with colorful swear words, she loved to hear his deep melodious voice in her ear.
She grabbed the phone and called him. “Hey, it’s me. How’s Angel doing?” She remembered he’d been sick.
“His fever finally broke,” Vinny told her. “He’s sleeping now. Poor kid. I can only talk for a bit because I got to get the Lysol out. Last thing I want is for the other two to get it.”
“Yup, been there.”
“I’m sorry we had to miss our date again this weekend.”
