Twelve
twelve
brEAKEVEN - THE SCRIPT
OWEN - MAY 23, 2013
T he week with Barrett flew by in a blur of laughter, activities, and stolen moments of joy. I had the week off from work, and I was determined to make the most of every second with him. We spent our mornings at the park, where Barrett’s little body zipped up and down the jungle gym, his dark hair flopping into his eyes as he climbed higher. His bright smile grew with every daring move, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
In the afternoons, we took bike rides down winding nature trails, exploring every twist and turn like adventurers on a quest. One day, we visited the zoo, where Barrett was mesmerized by the lions and practically dragged me back to the reptile house for a second round of snakes and lizards. Evenings were quieter—movie nights on the couch and LEGO towers that became more elaborate as the hours slipped by, the soft glow of the floor lamp casting warmth over our little sanctuary.
On Thursday, we visited Mom. She was thrilled, as always, to see us, but especially Barrett. Her living room, always smelling faintly of lavender, quickly became an impromptu art studio. Barrett busied himself with crayons, markers, and stacks of construction paper while Mom fussed over him, bringing out cookies and milk like it was her mission to spoil him rotten. By the end of the visit, he had a towering pile of colorful drawings.
"Daddy, can I take these home to Mommy?" Barrett asked, holding up one particularly bright piece—a family of dinosaurs, I think?
"Of course, buddy. I’m sure she’ll love them," I said, ruffling his hair.
Friday came too quickly, and it was time to take Barrett back to Sabrina’s. As we pulled into her driveway, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement, I noticed a car I didn’t recognize parked out front. Must be Alex’s. Sabrina had mentioned introducing Barrett to Alex and had texted earlier to make sure I was still okay with it. I told her it was fine, but now, seeing the car, it hit differently.
Barrett, though, was buzzing with excitement, his drawings clutched tightly in his little hands. "Mommy’s gonna love these!" he exclaimed as we walked up to the door.
Sabrina answered almost immediately, her face lighting up as soon as she saw Barrett. She looked radiant—her chestnut hair falling in soft waves, her warm brown eyes sparkling with joy.
"Hey, little man! I’ve missed you!" she said, scooping him into a big hug.
"I missed you too, Mommy! Look, look at my drawings from Nana’s!" He thrust the papers toward her, beaming with pride.
Sabrina smiled, though I caught the brief look of confusion as she eyed the abstract art in her hands. "They’re wonderful, sweetie." She shot me a look that screamed, What on earth is this? I just chuckled under my breath.
“Why don’t you come inside?” she said, stepping aside. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
We walked into the living room where a tall, clean-cut guy stood up from the couch. He had sandy blond hair and an easy smile that seemed genuine enough.
"Barrett, this is Alex," Sabrina said gently. "Alex, this is my son, Barrett."
Alex crouched down, meeting Barrett at eye level. "Hi, Barrett. It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you."
Barrett looked up at me, then back at Alex. "Hi. Do you want to see my drawings?"
This right here, I thought, was the test every single parent faces when they introduce someone new to their kid. Forget dinner dates—how someone reacts to your kid’s artwork is the real litmus test.
"I’d love to," Alex said, taking the drawings from Barrett and examining them with interest. "These are fantastic! You’re quite the artist."
Well, looks like he passed that test. Barrett beamed with pride before running off to hang the pictures on the fridge.
“Hey, Owen,” Alex said, standing to his full height and extending his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too,” I said, shaking his hand.
Barrett, still full of energy, ran back over, looking up at Alex with wide eyes. “Do you want to see my playroom too?”
"Sure thing, buddy. Lead the way," Alex replied, following Barrett toward the back of the house.
Sabrina and I lingered in the living room for a moment, the sunlight streaming through the windows, casting a golden glow on the hardwood floors. “Thanks for bringing him over,” she said softly. “Got any plans for the weekend? ”
“Actually, yeah. I’ve got a date tonight,” I said, feeling a little awkward.
“A date? That’s great! Who’s the lucky lady?” Sabrina asked, her smile genuine.
"Remember the blonde bartender from the night of the turnout party?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Her eyes lit up in recognition. "Yes!"
"We’re having dinner at Monica’s in Coralville," I said, trying to sound more relaxed than I felt.
“Well, I hope it goes well,” she said sincerely.
“Thanks,” I replied. “I should get going—don’t want to be late.”
Just then, Barrett came bounding back into the room, a stuffed dinosaur clutched in his hands. “Mommy, look! It’s my T-Rex! Just like my drawings!”
So they were dinosaurs.
“That’s awesome, sweetie!” Sabrina said, her eyes twinkling. “Did you show Alex?”
“Yep! He knows all about the dinosaurs,” Alex said with a grin, walking back in from the playroom.
“Hey, buddy,” I said, crouching down to Barrett’s level. “I’ve gotta go now. Can I get a hug?”
Barrett flung his arms around my neck, squeezing tight. “Bye, Daddy! I’ll miss you!”
“I’ll miss you too, kiddo,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “I’ll see you next week, okay?”
“Okay, Daddy,” he mumbled into my shoulder before letting go.
I gave him one last squeeze, then stood to leave. Sabrina and I exchanged a brief look—one filled with understanding—before I headed back to my truck.
Just as I was about to open the door, I heard Alex’s voice behind me. “Hey, Owen, before you go… ”
I turned to face him.
“I just wanted to say thanks. I know meeting Barrett’s a big deal, and I appreciate you being so understanding.”
“No problem,” I said, giving him a nod. “As long as you’re good to him and Sabrina, that’s all that matters.”
He smiled, looking genuinely appreciative. “Absolutely. Have a great night, man.”
“You too,” I said, before finally getting into my truck and driving off.
As I made my way from Cedar Bluff to Coralville, I couldn’t help but reflect on the day. Seeing Sabrina with someone else was strange, but it was also a relief knowing she was happy. Barrett seemed to like Alex, and that’s what really mattered.
I hadn’t done much dating since my divorce, aside from that regrettable post-divorce fling phase, but this felt different. Excitement mixed with nerves fluttered in my chest. And maybe a little guilt too. Was I really ready for this? Was Heather just a test run?
By the time I arrived at Monica’s, the sun was dipping low, casting a soft golden light over the quaint little restaurant. I texted Heather, letting her know I’d be a little late, but she didn’t seem to mind. She was waiting at a table by the window when I walked in, looking elegant, her blonde curls framing her face as she smiled up at me.
“Hey, Heather,” I greeted her, sliding into the seat across from her. “Sorry if I kept you waiting.”
“Not at all,” she smiled warmly. “I just got here.”
We made small talk as we ordered, but there was a lingering awkwardness that neither of us could seem to shake. Conversation came in fits and starts, and I found myself distracted, my mind wandering to the dark-haired woman I couldn’t stop thinking about .
“So… you don’t drink coffee, huh?” I asked, trying to find some common ground.
Heather laughed, but it felt a little forced. “Nope, more of a tea girl.”
“Tea, huh? I guess I can tolerate that,” I joked, but it didn’t land.
As dinner arrived, we both made attempts at polite conversation, but the connection just wasn’t there. She was kind, smart, and attractive, but there was no spark. I was somewhere else, my thoughts adrift, and I think she sensed it too.
When she suggested a movie after dinner, I hesitated. I didn’t want to keep forcing something that wasn’t working.
“And you feel obligated because we made plans, but super awkward because this whole thing’s been weird, and you’ve probably thought about bailing more than once?” Heather said, breaking into my thoughts.
I blinked in surprise, then laughed. “Yeah, nailed it.”
Heather nods, looking relieved. “Oh, thank God! Look, Owen, I know that you’re just starting to date again and I think that maybe we are just at different points. It seems like you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself and I was really hoping for something more laid back and fun.”
I nod, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “I completely understand. I’m sorry if I seem a bit off tonight. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date, and I guess I was just overthinking things.”
Heather smiles sympathetically. “No worries, Owen. It happens to the best of us. I’m sure you’ll find someone who’s the right fit for you.”
As we go to part ways outside of Monica’s, a thought occurs to me, “Hey Heather, at the risk of making tonight even more awkward, I have a question.”
She smiles, “Go for it. ”
“Well, you mentioned that you were hoping for something more fun, right?”
She nods, hesitantly.
“It’s just that… Well, do you remember the two guys that were with me at the bar last week?”
Her smile beams almost instantly.
“One of them–the blond–is my younger brother and probably more your speed. Mind if I give him your number?”