“You, too. See you next time.”
She smiles and says goodbye to everyone before she leaves.
As she goes, I see Ginger and Robyn picking up boxes and bags, presumably to take back out to their car. I offer to help but Ginger waves me off.
“You’ve been great today. Sit and get to know everyone for a minute and then I’ll be back in. I’ve got some things to give you.”
“Great, thanks.”
I sink back into my seat. Warrin leans forward and catches my eye. “Max, any questions?”
Hundreds, but I’m not sure where to start.
“Maybe process for a little and give me a call tomorrow?” Warrin suggests after I work my mouth for a moment but can’t come up with anything. “Or any of us. Jack’s been a daddy just as long as I have.”
I look over at Jack, who nods at me.
“Thanks. I’ll take you up on that. I don’t suppose the mommies and daddies ever go out for drinks?”
Warrin and Jack trade glances.
“We used to sometimes,” Jack says. “Then there was a thing. Eh, not really worth talking about since everyone involved left the group, but we haven’t gotten together without the littles since. I think we definitely should, though. Finding a night everyone’s free is impossible, so maybe we could do it Thursday the week before playgroup and Tuesday the week after?”
We all agree and Jack takes out his phone and sends a text to what I assume is a playgroup chat. Hopefully, Ginger will let me join it.
As if conjured by my thought, she sits down across from me, slightly out of breath. I wish she’d let me help her.
She takes out an envelope and hands it to me.
“My mission, should I choose to accept it?” I ask with a wink.
She gives my joke the smirk it deserves. “A welcome pack I put together. A number of our members are willing to share their telephone numbers and Fetlife profiles, so you’ll find a list with numbers and profile names in there. I haven’t included the numbers of our most vulnerable members, but I ask that you exercise discretion and judgment in calling people, particularly the littles.” At my nod, she continues, “The venue’s offered a ten percent discount if you come back for a meal with a friend, so there’s a discount card in there. And I usually schedule a follow-up call in a day or two just to check in and see how you liked the playgroup, so there’s a card in there for you to complete and give back to me if you want the follow up.”
I do, so I open the envelope and fill out the card, which is just my name and contact number, and hand it back to her.
“That’s great. I’m really big on feedback, so if you have any constructive criticism for me, we can talk about it during my follow up call. I’d just like to apologize again for not going over the no-touching without consent rule with the littles before you arrived.”
“No harm done,” I reassure her.
“Great.” She pats her hands on the tabletop. “Robyn and I have to jet but we’ve got the room for another thirty minutes so don’t feel the need to rush out.”
I offer her my hand, which she shakes. “Nice to meet you.”
“And you.” She says a hasty goodbye to everyone before she and her little leave.
While everyone’s involved in goodbyes, I check the telephone list and frown. Cynnie’s name isn’t on it. Not that I intended on calling her immediately. I just didn’t like the way we left things. Maybe a quick call to make sure I didn’t hurt her feelings.
When a small, warm hand slips over mine as I’m holding the paper, I look up. Emily’s squeezed in next to me. She leans in to whisper, “I can ask Cynnie if I can give you her number, if you want.”
A knot of tension in my chest eases. “Yeah, please.”
She nods and pats my hand, just before Logan scoops her onto his lap. “Gossiping, baby doll?”
“No, Daddy,” Emily says honestly.
The small group breaks up shortly afterwards when a server pokes his head in to see if he can clean up the room. As we leave, Logan asks if I want to join them for dinner, but I shake my head. People are not always my best thing, and I’ve had enough for today, even Logan and Emily. I want to check on Ty and then spend some quality game time.
“I know Ginger’s going to debrief you tomorrow and Warrin and Jack have offered to answer questions, but you know you can call me about anything,” Logan says.
