Chapter 6
6
CONSTANCE
Constance sagged in relief at the end of the Open House and looked at her kids sitting behind her desk, coloring amidst the empty Happy Meal wrappers – and saw the open iPhone box on the floor. Kneeling down in her heels, she picked up the lukewarm burger out of a Happy Meal box and quickly took a bite, savoring the tang of the pickles, ketchup, and mustard that hit her as she spoke with her mouth full.
“Paige, where’s the phone…” picking up the box and showing it to her daughter.
“Here,” Paige offered, pulling it out from under her leg and showing her the screen. “I put a photo of me and Kayla on the front for you, Mama…”
Her heart melted as she stared at the screen with her two angels lined up within the confines of the phone. They were snuggled together, obviously being sweet and trying to make it better since they’d helped themselves to her gift.
“I also texted Keith,” Paige announced, causing her to freeze as she stared at the top of her daughter’s head where she was coloring. “He’s so weird, Mom…”
“What did you text him?”
“Thank you,” she replied simply as Kayla smiled happily, showing off her teeth and scrunching up her nose.
“Tank you berry much, Mama…”
“I see that,” Constance smiled, kissing both of their heads as she shoved in another bite of the burger, chewing thoughtfully as she opened the text bubble on the shiny new cell phone. Honestly, she was stunned at the unexpected gift, but it made sense, too, if they wanted to get a hold of each other, they had to be able to reach the other person.
Thank you, Keith.
Is the open house over already?
Nope. Mom is still talking about her school stuff, and I’m bored.
Ahhh… hi Paige!
Hi Keith.
Cool phone, BTW.
BTW?
Oh my gosh, are you so old you don’t have the lingo? BTW – means by the way. It’s how people my age speak.
I’m not much older than you.
You’re older than my mom, and that’s old. Nice try.
Constance chuckled, rolling her eyes at the candid words from her child, and saw a couple of goofy pictures taken by Paige of the two children making faces – and texted to Keith, only to see him return one with his eyes crossed and sticking out his tongue to the side.
Tell your mom to text when she can talk – and save the battery Paige. I didn’t charge it when I went to pick up dinner.
Will do.
“Hey…”
Constance looked up at that moment, in the middle of shoving the remainder of the burger into her mouth in one bite because she was starving. Not a glamourous look… she thought wildly as she chewed, waving at him easily.
“Sorry about earlier,” he began again and pulled up a chair to sit close by. He was there, casual and careful, waiting.
“You couldn’t have known…”
“No but…”
“Thank you for the burger – and the cell phone.”
“My pleasure,” he replied simply and hesitated. “Sorry, I couldn’t help with the kids more.”
“Actually, you kind of did. They had a good time texting you and taking photos. Look what Kayla and Paige did to my new phone,” she said happily, showing him the wallpaper and smiling brightly… only to see him chuckle as he held up his phone.
The kids’ silly faces were there – and she was touched. Keith had obviously taken one of the photos that had been texted and set it as his own wallpaper on his phone, too. Kayla squealed in happiness, seeing it. “Das meeee!” and Paige didn’t say a word, just looking at him warily.
“That’s sweet,” she murmured nervously, smiling shyly at him as he smirked.
“I have my moments.”
“I see that.”
“Can I show you a few things, and then I’ll be out of your hair – unless we need to talk,” he said carefully, waiting and watching her.
“No, I’m good. What did you want to show me?” she said simply, and hesitated as he held out his phone to her once more. “Ohhh… oh okay. Um, you really meant this – didn’t you?”
“’Meant what,’” Paige asked immediately.
“Keith was showing me a little something as a surprise for you later.”
“Can I see it now?”
“No, because it wouldn’t be a surprise – and I haven’t decided yet,” she said openly, knowing that if she didn’t respond, she would have Paige climbing on her in moments flat. “Keith, are you sure about this?”
They were nice houses.
Very nice.
“Yup,” he said simply. “All are near the arena, all within range, and all a good fit – I think.”
“Did you pick one?”
“Actually,” he hesitated, tossing her a nervous glance. “There were ten. I narrowed it down to three.”
“Ten what ?” Paige asked again, glaring at Keith. “You shouldn’t keep secrets.”
“You should be patient ,” he shot back easily. “Your mother will tell you when she’s ready to share the news.”
“So, any of these?”
“Any you choose, or we can keep looking,” he said simply. “It’s up to you. I know this is a little out of order, but when word gets out, things will move quickly. I want to have it ready and waiting so there’s no delay in… things,” he hesitated and nodded his head toward the children.
“I’m not a thing,” Paige snarled angrily, obviously frustrated.
“No, you’re not,” Keith replied easily. “But I’m also not going to ruin anything before it’s time.”
“Maybe now is a good time?” Constance hesitated, looking at him.
“Do you want me here?”
“No,” Paige said openly – and he lifted an eyebrow at Constance as if to make his point.
“Paige, stop it,” Constance said firmly, looking at her daughter. “I like Keith, and I like him being around us, so please try not to be rude to people I want to include in my life.” And turned to grab a piece of paper, drawing three interlocking circles as she looked at her children’s faces. “You and Kayla are this circle. This is my circle, and this is Keith’s – and there is no reason we can’t find a way to exist here, in this middle part, all of us as friends.”
“Mommmm…”
“Paige?” Keith began and constance hesitated, giving him the floor. “Do you know how to ice skate?”
“Yes,” she retorted in an exaggerated manner, deliberately being rude to him again – and bless him, Keith didn’t bat an eye.
“Then you know sometimes skating is fun, you can go fast or slow, or even skate backward or…”
“I know that. I’m not dumb.”
“No, you aren’t,” he replied simply. “Far from it, but there is a difference between different pairs of skates and…”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Yes, there is,” he said firmly. “They are all fun but do different things. My skates that I use for hockey don’t have teeth on the front.”
“See? Weird. He is talking about skates having teeth, and you are over here drawing circles while the both of you are avoiding telling me whatever secret you are keeping. What’s the big deal? It’s not like you are dating or something…”
Keith and Constance looked at each other.
“Seriously? Yuck. Just yuck . I mean, him ? Mom!”
“Well, my ego just took a hit…” Keith chuckled.
“Paige, stop. I like Keith, and things are changing in my life – but even if they change, that doesn’t alter how I feel about you and Kayla. You’ll always be my babies.”
“Was that the big stupid secret? That you two are dating?”
Constance looked at him, and Keith gave her a gentle half-smile.
“It’s up to you – I’m here for it, but the decisions are ultimately yours and always will be,” he offered softly, watching her with those warm eyes. “I’ll go along with whatever you choose.”
“Mom?”
Constance looked back at the three houses and clicked on the one with the fancy bedrooms. One was painted like a scene from Winnie the Pooh, and the other was almost a Mario theme. There was carpet-covered cat ledges around both rooms in various parts of the wall, almost fitting in with the themes. In the Mario room, one ledge looked like bricks and had a coin on it, and at the top of the wall, was an opening to the next room, allowing a cat to pass through. It was adorable and child friendly, and she thought her children would love this one the most.
“What do you think of this?” Constance said gently, showing her the picture. “Would you like this for your bedroom? And this one would be Kayla’s bedroom?”
“It’s nice,” Paige said begrudgingly. “What’s that?”
“It’s for a cat.”
“We’re getting a cat?”
“Maybe,” she said evasively and glanced at Keith, who simply shrugged and smiled at her. “Maybe we will once we get settled in a new house with Keith.”
Paige’s small face scrunched up as she processed the words. Her eight-year-old mind worked through what this meant for her, for her little sister, and for the life she knew.
“We’re moving?” Paige asked, her voice hesitant, uncertain.
Constance felt the weight of her daughter’s question settle in her chest like a stone. She had anticipated this moment and had prepared herself for the inevitable questions, but it didn’t make it any easier. Keith was watching Paige carefully, his body language guarded and unreadable.
Constance knew why.
This wasn’t love. This wasn’t a fairy tale. This was an arrangement—a practical, logical decision for them both. But no matter what, Paige and Kayla would always come first. If this transition proved too much for them, she would not hesitate to put their needs before anything else.
“I’m thinking about it,” Constance answered gently, keeping her tone soft and reassuring. She didn’t want Paige to feel like this was being forced upon her. Change was hard enough as it was.
Paige’s sharp eyes flicked toward Keith, taking in his presence, the way he stood just a little too stiffly. She was wary of him, of what he meant for their future. He was an unknown, a new factor in a life she was already working hard to understand. Constance had seen the way Paige studied him in quiet moments, as if trying to measure how he would fit into their world—or if he would fit at all.
“This would be a big house,” Constance continued, choosing her words carefully. “With large rooms, a movie theater room, a big backyard… and I would be at home more often with you both.”
Paige’s small fingers gripped the cell phone, her brows furrowing as she glanced at the screen. A picture of the house Keith had found was displayed, its warm, inviting interior almost dreamlike.
“But with him .”
“Yes.”
Paige’s lips pressed together in thought before her gaze shifted to Keith. “And you play hockey?” she questioned, her voice flat, giving nothing away.
Keith, to his credit, didn’t falter under her scrutiny. “Yes,” he said evenly. Then, after a brief pause, he added, “Would you like to learn?”
That seemed to catch Paige off guard. She blinked, her expression shifting slightly. She had never shown any interest in sports before, and she never once asked about joining a team or picking up a stick. Constance watched her daughter carefully, wondering what was running through her mind. Was she trying to test Keith? To see if he was serious? Or was this curiosity genuine?
“Maybe…” Paige answered, the word drawn out, careful.
Keith’s mouth twitched, and instead of pressing her, he mirrored her tone playfully. “Then maybe…” he mused. “Maybe once we get settled in the new house, if you decide to learn, I’d be happy to show you.”
Paige’s eyes narrowed as if deciding whether she liked that answer. Then, with a dramatic huff, she looked back at the screen. “Hmph.”
Constance hid a smile. That wasn’t a no. That was something.
“So that would be my room,” Paige stated, pointing to the image of one of the bedrooms on the screen.
“Yes.”
“And Kayla would have the other room?”
“Yes.”
“Where would your room be?” Paige asked, turning her gaze back to her mother.
Constance took a breath, knowing this question carried more weight than the others. “Well,” she began carefully, “we would do a walkthrough of the house together because it’s hard to show you in the pictures. But it’s this one.” She pointed to the master bedroom on the screen, keeping her voice even and reassuring.
Paige was quiet for a long moment. Moving was a big deal. Moving into a house with a man who was practically a stranger? That was something else entirely. Constance knew that no matter how much she tried to ease the transition, it would take time. And patience.
“I like that house with the bedrooms,” Paige finally said. “But I want a cat.”
Constance barely had time to process that demand before she caught Paige sneaking a glance at Keith, watching him closely, waiting for him to say no.
Keith didn’t hesitate. “Then we’ll get you one as soon as you get moved in.”
Paige’s head snapped toward him, her mouth slightly open in surprise.
Just like that, Keith nodded, reaching for the phone that Paige was holding so he could start the process. “I’ll send off the paperwork tonight if that’s the one.”
Paige hesitated, then gave a slow, thoughtful nod.
“I think so,” Constance said, speaking the words aloud as if her daughter was the true deciding factor for all of them.
Keith exhaled slightly as if that was one small hurdle cleared. But there was still one more thing to discuss. He lifted his fourth finger, a small, pointed gesture.
“The other part?” he reminded her, careful with his wording in front of the girls. This wasn’t just a house. This was a deal. A pact between two people who needed something from each other.
Constance met his gaze and answered without hesitation. “Seven.”
Keith nodded, storing the information away. “Gotcha.”
“How about Wednesday morning or Thursday?” Constance asked casually, as if they were discussing something as simple as a dinner reservation, not their impending marriage.
Keith’s lips twitched into a small, almost amused smile. “I’m getting fired Friday.”
Constance chuckled, shaking her head. “I remember.”
Keith exhaled, rolling his shoulders slightly, the tension in his frame easing just a fraction. “I need to start getting papers ready and put some things together,” he said, his tone shifting back to business. Then, with a nod toward her, he added, “I need to get everything done on my end so we’re taken care of—and I haven’t been sleeping well.”
She appreciated his honesty, his practicality. This wasn’t a man trying to sweep her off her feet. This was a man making sure everything was in place.
“How about I take a raincheck and call you?” Keith suggested. “Plus, you might want to answer more questions when I’m not there.”
Constance studied him for a moment before nodding. He was giving her space, letting her handle this transition in a way that felt right for Paige and Kayla. That was more than she had expected.
“True,” she acknowledged, understanding the gesture for what it was.
Keith nodded once. “Let’s finish up here, and I’ll walk you out to the car.”
“Sounds good.”
As Constance gathered her things, she glanced over at Paige, who was still eyeing Keith with a mixture of curiosity and caution. This was going to take time. Standing, she got her purse and the trash to take out of the classroom, along with her box where the cell phone once was, spotting the charger inside. They all headed out, and Kayla was getting tired, rubbing her eyes and fretting… and without prompting, Keith scooped her up. Kayla immediately curled her arms around his neck, putting her head on his shoulder – and Keith’s eyes met Constance’s.
She smiled at him and melted at the easy smile he gave her in return. There was something so wonderful about a child’s easy hug, so giving and free. It made you feel like a hero for doing something as casual at tending to a simple need. When they got to her car, he helped Kayla into her booster seat, buckling her as Paige climbed into the car. Leaning into the passenger door, Keith hesitated.
“Text me when you get home, okay?”
“I will.”
“And get some rest tonight.”
“You too.”
“We’re good?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Just doublechecking as D-Day approaches,” he chuckled nervously, and she knew he was afraid she would back out. “I’m a little antsy.”
“I made a promise and intend to keep it,” Constance volunteered. “So long as you keep your promises to me – then we are good.”
“I always will.”
“Then relax,” she smiled. “And go shopping,” she reminded him, holding up her hand. “Nothing garish. Simple, please.”
“You got it,” he nodded, returning her smile as he backed away from the car and waved at them.
A t twelve-oh-five on Tuesday afternoon, she was sitting in the teacher’s lounge eating her lunch when she got a text message from Keith.
I got cut from the team today. I’m officially with the Quebec Wolverines, and it’s hitting the news this evening. If you have any doubts, I need to know. They are waiting on the marriage license to announce my name.
She dialed his number immediately, and he picked up on the first ring, his voice hoarse like he was upset. If the shoe was on the other foot and she’d been fired, she would have been devastated. Her heart immediately reached out to the man who had appeared suddenly, offered her the world, and had been nothing but kind.
“Yeah?”
“I’m finishing my lunch and giving my notice,” she said calmly, ignoring the shocked looks around her as a ripple of disbelief rocked the teacher’s lounge at her blunt announcement said for his benefit alone. “Don’t let me down, Keith.”
“I swear I won’t.”
The relief in his voice was palpable. They were taking this crazy chance together, hoping to mend two broken lives in one felled swoop.
“I believe you.”
“Then believe me when I say that you will never want for anything in your life for giving me this chance, Constance. I owe you everything – and I mean it.”
“Let’s start with working on our friendship.”
“You got it.”
“Nine in the morning sound pretty good to you?” she volunteered, trying to sound chipper, but her hands were trembling at the realization that she was actually getting married tomorrow and leaving the school district. Just like that, Keith was laying out the red carpet, giving her everything, and she was greedily choosing herself and her children this time around, giving this new opportunity her ‘all.’
“The courthouse opens at eight,” he chuckled thickly.
“Let’s compromise so I can get the kids off to school and daycare – how about eight-thirty?”
“Sounds like a date. I’ll pick you up.”
“See you soon.”
The moment she hung up, she was inundated by a barrage of questions and shocked expressions, and Constance just smiled, nodded, and kept her mouth shut. The more people in their business, the more doubts could sneak into her mind, and she didn’t need any help from anyone else.
She had enough doubt as it was.