Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
SARAH
Everything is perfect. Who would have guessed that having a girlfriend with your husband would be so amazing? They’re both in the kitchen while Kat teaches Quentin how to bake real bread from scratch—no banana bread this time around—, and I’m changing out our bed sheets after a rather… spirited session between the three of us last night.
This is everything I had hoped it would be but dared not to dream about until recently. A few weeks have gone by, and each day is better than the last. I had never felt like something was missing between Quentin and me, but I also can’t deny that Kat’s presence in our lives has taken everything to another level. I don’t think either of us had ever considered polyamory as an option, but it all feels so natural. Less like filling a gap and more like adding even more joy and love to an already happy marriage.
With Kat and Quentin, I’m able to be the truest, happiest version of myself. As I secure the clean sheet around one side of the mattress, I let my mind wander, considering what our future could look like. Kat’s already spending more and more time here, and the idea of her moving in has me smiling to myself. No more texts to check if we’re home before she comes over, no more planning our time together—though, to be fair, we already spend more of our free time together than apart.
I’m fitting the bedsheet around the last corner of the bed when I hear yelling from the front of the house. At first, I think Kat and Quentin are messing around, but the smile falls from my face when it doesn’t stop.
It’s then that I realize that the yelling isn’t coming from either one of them. And the voice is furious .
What the hell?
I rush down the hallway only to find Ethan, our youngest son, standing in the middle of the living room facing the kitchen.
When he looks over at me, his face is red and he’s seething with anger. Meanwhile, Quentin stands a few feet away with his palms raised in a placating gesture, and Kat is partly behind him, her eyes wide with fear.
“What happened?” I demand.
Ethan whirls around to face me fully, his eyes blazing. “They were kissing!” he shouts. “Dad's cheating on you in our own fucking house!”
My heart drops into my stomach, and for a moment, I'm frozen. But then, reality kicks in, and I know I have to defuse this situation before it spirals out of control.
“He's not,” I say. “It's okay. Just calm down and let me explain.”
Ethan’s brow furrows as he looks between the three of us. His anger has morphed into suspicion.
“You better have a good explanation for this.”
I take a deep breath and silently prepare myself for the conversation ahead. Ethan is still on edge, but I don’t blame him. The hurt and confusion are written all over his face, and it breaks my heart to know that we’re the cause of it.
“Let's talk in the other room,” I say, and Ethan begrudgingly follows me down the hall, though he casts a glance backward, as if he doesn’t trust Quentin to be in the same room as Kat.
I hold back a sigh as I open the door to his brother’s bedroom then close it behind him. It’s the only room in the house that’s neutral ground right now, so I figure it’s the best place for us to have this talk.
He plops down on the bed and crosses his arms, clenching his jaw and raising an eyebrow at me in a silent demand. He’s always been the outspoken, reactive one, though I can’t blame him in this scenario.
I sit down next to him, though both of us face the door instead of each other.
“I understand why this was upsetting to walk into,” I say, “and frankly, I would’ve been more worried if you hadn’t reacted strongly.” I huff out a laugh, but he doesn’t react.
God, this is so awkward.
I take a deep breath. This isn’t something I was prepared for today. And while I hadn’t intended on hiding it from the kids, I hadn’t exactly figured out how we’d tell them, either. Realistically, they’re adults and are probably familiar with the idea of polyamory, but I’m guessing it’s always awkward talking to your kid about a new relationship even in the most “normal” of circumstances.
“We were waiting to talk to you boys about this until you came home for the holidays. If I would’ve known you were coming, this wouldn’t have happened this way.”
He shrugs and mumbles, “Thought I’d come surprise you guys.”
“And that makes me so happy,” I say. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Mhm.”
Alright, here goes nothing . “So… Kat is sort of a part of our relationship now.”
“Dad’s dating another woman and you’re just okay with it?” His tone is incredulous.
I’d laugh if the situation weren’t so tense. “Actually, I sort of dated Kat a long time ago, back when I was in college before I knew your dad.”
Ethan’s jaw drops as he looks up at me. “What?”
I chuckle. “Yeah. So, anyway, we ran into her one night, and one thing led to another, and now we’re both dating her.”
He’s silent for a moment, still watching me with incredulity, then shakes his head and mutters, “This is fuckin’ weird.”
This time, I do laugh. “Watch your language,” I warn, but it’s halfhearted at best.
He cracks a small smile, and the anxiety in my chest dissipates.
“I totally understand that this is weird for you. If you’re not comfortable having her around right now, that’s fair. But I do also want you to know that this is pretty serious between the three of us.”
I can see the wheels in his head turning. “I just don’t get it, but I guess if it works for you guys…” He shrugs.
“That’s fair. Love comes in so many different forms, though, and I’m starting to realize that it doesn’t always have to fit into neat little boxes society puts us into. There’s not always one right way to do things.”
“Ugh, okay, I get it. Don’t get all sappy on me,” he says, but he leans to the side and bumps me with his shoulder in a show of reconciliation.
When we head back out to the living room area, Quentin is sitting on the couch alone. His head snaps up as we come into view, his eyes wide with worry.
“I’m getting a snack. Sorry for yelling or whatever,” Ethan says over his shoulder, already on his way to the kitchen.
Quentin stares at me and asks in a hushed tone, “So I take it that went alright?”
“As well as it could, I think. Where’s Kat?”
“She left. Said she’d give us some family time for the rest of the weekend but asked us to update her about how things went with Ethan.”
“Gotcha. Well, he said, quote, ‘This is fucking weird’ once I explained, but I don’t think he’s too upset by it or anything.”
“Good,” Quentin says, right as Ethan makes his way back into the living room with an ice cream bar in hand.
I send Kat a quick text to let her know everything is alright, and I can practically feel her relief from over the phone. We make plans for her to come over again mid-week for dinner. We can introduce them in time, but for now, we’ll settle into this new normal and see where things take us.
The rest of the day passes with Ethan telling us stories about his classes and his new friends, and we go out to dinner before spending the night playing games together.
Life has changed rapidly over the last few months, but spending time with Ethan brings back a sense of comfort and familiarity.
It might be difficult to know where the next few months—or years—may take us, but I know in my heart that I’ll have the people I love most at my side no matter what, in all the seasons of life.
And honestly, I couldn’t ask for anything more.