Chapter 2
GILLIAN
The phone on my counter chirped, and I glanced over from the cutting board where I was chopping dill. Grace's phone, not mine. She was still in the shower upstairs—I could hear the water running.
The screen lit up with a notification in bold letters: You have a new match on Second Chance!
Ice slid through my veins.
Grace was fourteen. What was she doing on a dating site for single adults—one specifically aimed at single parents? One of the women in my Pilates class had just mentioned she was on there. The woman was in her mid-forties.
My knife clattered against the cutting board. Had some predator convinced her to go on there? But how? And why would she? Grace was dramatic and sensitive, yes, but she was also sensible and responsible. She'd never shown interest in boys at school. Was that because she wanted a grown man instead?
My stomach churned. Please don't let it be that.
I tried to open the app, but her screen was locked. Coffeehouse music still played from the speaker, cheerful and oblivious. Through the open windows, the sea breeze carried the smell of salt and seaweed, but I barely registered it now.
Shaking with worry, I called out to her. “Grace, can you get down here, please?”
I heard the clump of her bare feet on the wood stairs, and then she appeared, hair damp, cheeks pink, eyes bright.
“What’s up?”
I held up her phone. “Why are you getting alerts from Second Chance?”
Pink drained from her cheeks. “Oh. That.”
“Spill it. Now.” My voice shook. I was not prepared for whatever she was about to say. I really wasn’t.
“I put your profile up.” Grace’s eyes shone with unshed tears.
For a moment, I couldn’t understand what she meant, but then it clicked into place. I flooded with relief, followed immediately by shock. “Why would you do that?”
“We all did it.”
“And who is all?” I asked between clenched teeth.
“The five of us.”
I collapsed into a chair at the kitchen table. “What were you thinking? This is outrageous.”
“But Mom, you guys all need a little nudge.”
“A little nudge? This is a full-fledged shove into a frozen lake in the middle of January,” I said.
“Do you want to at least look in there? At your match?”
I shook my head. “I don’t even know what to say to you right now.” Scents of the grill wafted in through the screen door. “I need to finish dinner. I suggest you go upstairs until it’s ready.”
“But Mom, why are you so mad?”
“If you really don’t know the answer to that, then we have a lot to discuss.”
Several tears rolled out of her eyes and down her cheeks. I almost caved. I was absolutely terrible at staying angry at Grace. She was my heart. And I hated to see her suffering. However, this time, I was too angry.
“Go upstairs. Leave your phone. I need the pass code and password to the app.”
“TragedyComedyGirl14.” Grace swiped a tear from her cheek, then slinked away, her tread on the stairs heavier than just a moment ago.
Numb but still shaking, I put the salmon on the grill, mostly to give me a moment to think about what to do.
Obviously I had to tell the others. Our friendships were as solid as family.
They were like my sisters. Still, I had no idea how any of them would react to something so outlandish.
What fourteen-year-old kids sneak their mothers’ profiles on a dating site?
Ours, apparently.
I cooked the fish, dressed the salad, all the while reeling. Having lost my appetite, I set everything aside. It was best to jump right in and tell the others what our children had been up to.
Group Chat - Besties
Gillian Horton
You won’t believe what I just found out. The kids have put our dating profiles on Second Chance. All five of them.
Esme Taylor
What?! Even Robbie?
Gillian
Yep. I haven’t looked at mine yet, but the app’s on Grace’s phone. I’m scared to see.
Delphine Delacroix
What were they thinking?
Lila Morgan
Not that I agree with what they did, but they all think we need a man in our lives.
Seraphina Sinclair
As if we don’t have enough hassles in our lives, right? What do we do?
Delphine Delacroix
Military school?
Gillian Horton
Whatever the punishment, it has to hurt. Like taking their phones for the summer.
Lila Morgan
Let’s confront the little meddlers and see what they have to say for themselves.
Seraphina Sinclair
This IS odd behavior. Even for them. I wonder what made them even think to do this?
Esme Taylor
I’m in shock that Robbie had any interest in the scheme at all. Not that he’s more innocent than the others, but I doubt it was his idea. LOL
Gillian Horton
I suspect it was the whole Alex thing the other night. They could all see I was upset and probably thought this would be a great way to fix it.
Delphine Delacroix
We’ve raised five idiots.
Esme Taylor
We kind of knew that before. But it IS sweet.
Gillian Horton
Sweet but completely and utterly misguided.
Lila Morgan
Check back in after you’ve talked to your kid and we’ll compare notes. Meanwhile, try not to throttle them.
With trembling fingers, I opened the app using Grace's passcode.
There I was—multiple photos I'd never agreed to have posted anywhere public.
One showed me at the studio leading mat Pilates, my leg lifted straight in the air with what looked like effortless grace, though I knew exactly how much work went into making it appear that way.
Another caught me barefoot in my kitchen doorway in leggings and a workout top, tea in hand, laughing into the phone—probably talking to Delphine, judging by my expression.
The third was from Seraphina's patio last month, me in loose jeans and a T-shirt with a glass of wine, my curls tousled by the salt air as I smiled at whoever had been behind the camera. I looked relaxed. Happy. Like someone who had her life together. Like someone open to finding love again.
@DancingQueen
Age: 33
Barefoot Mama Seeking a Permanent Dance Partner
About Me
I'm a dance and Pilates instructor with my own studio where I teach classes for kids and adults. I trained to be a professional ballerina but needed a more stable life. I LOVE teaching and am proud of my studio.
When I was nineteen, I became a mom when my sister passed away and I adopted my six-month-old niece. It wasn't the path I'd planned, but, as I tell her all the time, she's the best thing that ever happened to me.
I'm pretty disciplined (dance will do that to you), but I don’t expect everyone around me to be the same.
I cry at sentimental commercials, always say yes when any of my daughter's friends need a ride somewhere. My friends tease me about having too soft a heart for such a hard world, but that’s just who I am.
I’m looking for someone who understands that my fourteen-year-old daughter and I are a package deal and doesn’t mind a person more comfortable in leggings than fancy dresses.
Some of my favorite things
Early mornings
Crisp white wine on a warm day
Music—very eclectic taste ranging from classical to rap
Art films
Novels with happy endings
Walking on the beach
Lululemon leggings
My real-life superpower is herding a gaggle of three year olds in tutus onto a stage.
After work, you’ll find me curled up on the couch with my daughter, watching movies or reading.
I promise I won’t judge you if you think “Roll-Up” is a type of snack.
Favorite song is “The Mother” by Brandi Carlile.
What’s your comfort movie—and will you share the popcorn?
Billy Elliot. I’ve seen it more times than I care to admit. And no—I don’t share popcorn. Not even with my daughter. Separate bowls were invented for a reason.
I could not believe this. For one thing, the profile was really good. It captured me well, although what she’d written made me sound way better than I really was. Regardless, she was spot on with my favorite things. I had to chuckle over the popcorn comment. It was totally accurate.
Next, I went into messages to see who had reached out, curious despite my better judgment.
I tapped the first message, my pulse kicking up.
Tom, 52: “Wow, you’re gorgeous. Bet you look even better out of that dance studio. Dinner Friday?”
My mouth fell open. Delete. Absolutely not.
The next one wasn’t much better.
Dennis, 45: “Hi Gillian. I enjoy fishing, yard work, and watching old Westerns. Looking for someone to share quiet evenings with.”
Nice enough, I supposed, but I could already picture a lifetime of silence punctuated by John Wayne reruns. No, thank you.
The third message made me groan out loud.
Rick, 39: “Serious question: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, would it be tacos or pizza? Dealbreaker for me if you say kale.”
A reluctant smile tugged at my mouth despite myself. Still, delete. If he mocked my healthy habits, we would not get along.
The fourth was almost respectable.
Mark, 37: “Hello, Gillian. Your profile caught my attention. I’m a single dad of three, big on family dinners and volunteering at my church. If you’d ever like to grab coffee, let me know.”
I hesitated. If I were interested in blind dates, he might be tempting, but I was taking no part in this. I had better ways to spend my time than on a series of awkward dates.
And then came the last one.
JayBird67, 58: “My friends call me a silver fox. I think we’d make a great pair. Want to come for a ride on my Harley?”
“Is this guy for real?” I muttered, exiting out of the message section. When I closed that screen, another notification came through. You have a match.
@TechDadStartingOver Age: 36 Retired tech founder. Full-time dad. Learning to surf (poorly).
Alex. The nerve of this guy. Probably looking for a naive woman who wouldn’t think to ask him if he was married. I couldn’t help myself though. I pulled up his profile and read through his description. By the end, my mouth had dropped open.
Photos
In the dugout during a game, baseball cap on, clipboard in hand, giving encouraging words to a kid at bat.