Chapter 2
RAMBLE ON
WILL
Iknew I was going to see Natalie. What I didn’t know was how I’d feel when I did.
Turns out, all the feelings came rushing back—the magnetic pull, the emotions I thought I’d buried over the summer.
And honestly? I set myself up for this. I’d given my colleague, Lori, Natalie’s information so they could discuss The City Center renovation.
So even if our girls weren’t in the same class at school, our paths were guaranteed to cross.
Sure enough, she was at the gate this morning, and she looked sexy. Her long, thick brown hair, cascading over her shoulders and down her back, her ass looking perfect in those jeans and that damn cute freckle on her nose. Well, I need to forget about her.
I just thought I was making progress. I thought dating Blake would help.
Blake Jones. She’s tall, blonde, and bold—a real go-getter in the real estate world.
We met at a brokers’ tour, both pausing in front of a peculiar painting of a pear, laughing at how its shape resembled something vaguely anatomical.
By the time we walked through the house together, she handed me her card with confidence, “I noticed you’re not wearing a wedding ring.
I’m Blake Jones with Blake Jones Property Group. ”
I was impressed. She was a knock-out.
“I’m Will Parker,” I said.
“I know,” she chided with a pop of her shoulder. “Call me.”
And then she walked out of the room with the pear looking vagina painting, leaving me a little shook up. It was good to feel something again, like I could get back in the game.
When I told my best friend Evan about her, he said, “Get back on the horse—or at least take it for a ride.” Classic Evan.
Blake wasn’t a one-night-stand kind of woman, though. When I finally called her a week later, she said, “I was starting to think you lost my card. Glad you found it.” I asked her out, and that was that.
It started casually. I didn’t think I’d be ready to date anyone after Natalie, but Blake made herself a part of my world before I even realized it. She was assertive, always making plans, and before I knew it, she was asking about meeting my kids.
That felt like a line I wasn’t ready to cross, but Blake had a way of pushing without being pushy. “It’s not like I’m asking to meet the President,” she teased one night over dinner. “They’re just kids. I promise I’ll keep it easy.”
Maybe that’s why I finally agreed. Blake was easy. She wasn’t complicated or emotionally draining, and maybe that’s exactly what I needed.
My boys, Chase and Carter, didn’t seem fazed about the introduction, typical middle schoolers, with other things on their minds.
Carter mentioned later she was “hot,” which made me laugh and cringe at the same time.
Ivy was instantly fascinated by her diamond bracelets and asked endless questions about what was in her fancy handbag.
But Madison? She barely acknowledged Blake, then threw out questions that made me wince. “Are you even old enough to drink?” Madison asked, crossing her arms.
Blake gave a nervous laugh. “Age is irrelevant when you’re over 25.”
Madison tilted her head. “Are you 25?”
Blake smiled tightly. “I’m 29.”
Madison rolled her eyes. “Hmm. You remind me of that girlfriend from “The Parent Trap”—the one with Lindsay Lohan who plays a twin, and the sisters switch places. You were probably like three years old when it came out.”
I tried to intervene. “Madison, that’s enough.”
“Whatever, can I be excused?” she muttered. I let her go, sighing as I watched her stomp up the stairs.
I apologized to Blake. “I am sorry for that childish behavior.”
Blake chuckled, “Will, you’re a great dad, doing your best. Daddy’s little girl is just going through a lot of teenage hormones.”
Later, I went to Madison’s room to talk.
“Madison, that was inappropriate. You can’t speak to adults that way.”
“She’s hardly an adult,” Madison shot back. “You could be her dad.”
“Madison, I’m forty-three. I could not be her dad.”
“Whatever. It’s gross,” she said, flopping onto her bed.
“Look, you don’t have to like her, but you do have to be respectful.”
She rolled her eyes again. “Sure, Dad. Whatever.”
I walked out, shaking my head. I was in for it.
I remembered Natalie’s words from months ago. “No matter who you date, Madison’s going to hate her.” Natalie wasn’t wrong. Madison’s reaction was proof of that. And maybe it was why I hesitated to bring anyone else fully into my life.
It was the Sunday before the first day of school, and we were finishing up the last of the school prep.
Ivy was labeling her supplies while Chase and Carter argued over who was moaning loudest about school tomorrow.
I put on a playlist to drown them out—mostly classic rock, the kind of music that always helped me focus.
“Dad, why do you always listen to old music?” Carter asked, wrinkling his nose as Led Zeppelin started playing.
“Because it’s the best,” I said, smirking. “When you’re older, you’ll thank me for giving you good taste.”
“Whatever,” he muttered, but I noticed he didn’t leave the room, moving his fingers to the beat like a little drum. I smiled to myself.
Ivy started humming along, and I felt a rare moment of peace settle over the house.
The kids were happy, the music was grounding, and for a few minutes, I let myself believe I was getting the hang of all this; divorced, single dad.
I started singing right along with Robert Plant. “Leaves are falling all around.”
The doorbell rang, breaking the calm. I wasn’t expecting anyone. When I opened the door and saw Blake standing there with takeout bags and her perfect smile, I felt a mix of wonder and unease.
“Surprise!” she said, holding up the bags. “I thought maybe you could use a little help with dinner tonight, since you have a big day ahead of you tomorrow.”
I forced a small laugh and invited her in.
She went into the kitchen and held up the In and Out bags. “Anyone hungry?” she asked.
“Me, me” said Ivy with a big grin. The boys mumbled something and said sure.
All I could think was I was glad Madison wasn’t here.
She would have gone ape shit knowing Blake showed up unannounced.
Madison had insisted on staying at Kelly’s tonight.
She preferred my ex’s for nights like this.
The first day of school, I guess, is a big deal to girls, especially teenage girls; they care so much about how they look.
She wanted her mom’s help. The plan was for Kelly to see Madison off in the morning and meet us at the gate.
Kelly was a great mom; she would show up for anything important for the kids, even if the kids were with me.
During dinner, Ivy talked excitedly about the first day of school. “You should come with us, Blake!”
Blake laughed. “I’d love to.”
I wasn’t prepared for this. The idea of her at school, with both Kelly and Natalie there? It made my stomach turn.
But Blake was different. Or at least, she wanted to be.
After dinner, Blake seemed to get the hint it was time to leave. I told Ivy to get ready for bed, but from upstairs, she called down, “See you tomorrow, Blake! Don’t be late!”
“I won’t,” Blake said with a laugh.
I wasn’t laughing. I walked her to her car, trying to find the words to tell her this wasn’t a good idea. But somehow, I couldn’t say it.
“What time should I be here?” she asked.
“Uh, 7:30,” I mumbled.
“Great, I’ll be here at 7:15 to help,” she said, kissing me on the lips before driving off.
Man, I was in trouble. Most women would run for the hills when faced with four kids, but Blake seemed to be diving in headfirst.
I considered texting Kelly a heads-up about Blake coming to drop off but decided against it.
Better to ask for forgiveness later—or hope Blake miraculously came down with the stomach bug and skipped it altogether.
Kelly wasn’t much of a fan of Blake to begin with.
After meeting her, she smirked at me with one of her trademark judgmental looks and said, “So, is this another rebound? Or just your next midlife crisis?”
That night, I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone. My instinct was to text Natalie. To tell her I wasn’t ready to see her this week. To tell her I thought about her all the time.
I couldn’t say that. I shouldn’t even be thinking it. I didn’t even know if she was still married. The last time I saw Natalie was at the school mass on the last day of school, with her husband, Jason.
Natalie wasn’t mine anymore. She never really was.