Chapter 6
THE SINGLE REVEAL
NATALIE
After a busy week of shuttling the kids to ballet, baseball practice, and helping with homework assignments, Friday arrived as a relief.
It was my weekend with the kids, and I couldn’t have been more grateful for some down time at home.
Jason and I had managed to find a good rhythm with our co-parenting schedule.
We were both flexible when it came to each other’s work commitments, and our sitter, Emily, was a godsend.
She’d been with us long enough that the kids adored her, and her new role as a student teacher meant her afternoons were free when we needed her.
Somehow, we were thriving in this new way of life.
The upcoming holidays, however, had me nervous.
This would be our first time navigating them separately.
Jason and I had agreed he would have the kids for Thanksgiving and New Year’s, while I’d have them for Halloween and Christmas.
It sounded manageable on paper, but the thought of not spending Thanksgiving with the kids made my heart ache.
It also pained me that he wouldn’t be with them on Christmas morning.
I extended an olive branch, inviting him to come over for both Halloween and Christmas.
He seemed genuinely grateful, and to my surprise, he invited me to his Thanksgiving celebration.
His parents would be visiting, and the gesture was kind, but I declined.
Meredith was flying out to spend Thanksgiving with me, and I was looking forward to catching up with her.
When I arrived at school on Friday afternoon, I offered to pick up Charlie along with Bebe and James.
I spotted Camille standing near the gate and walked over to her.
“Incoming,” she whispered, nodding toward the parking lot.
And there he was—Will. Of course, he looked amazing, dressed in a tailored suit that fit him perfectly. It was infuriating how attractive he always appeared. Why couldn’t he have a bad day, just once?
He looked right at me. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. For a moment, it felt like we were having a silent conversation, trying to say all the things we couldn’t. The connection lingered until the bell rang, jolting us both back to reality.
The kids came pouring out of the building. Camille’s twins and James ran out first, full of energy, followed by Charlie, Bebe, and Ivy. Ivy, however, was in tears.
Will immediately noticed and headed straight for her, crouching down to ask what was wrong.
“I want to go play at Bebe’s house,” Ivy sobbed. “She’s having Charlie over.”
I hated seeing her upset, and I felt terrible she felt left out. I leaned down to Bebe.
“Did something happen?” I asked gently.
“She just really wants to play with us,” Bebe said, looking worried.
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s invite her over to swim.”
“Really?” Bebe’s face lit up with excitement.
“Of course,” I said, already planning the logistics.
Camille overheard and stepped in to help. “I have a third booster seat in my trunk. We’ll put James in it and make room for Ivy in your car,” she said.
“Thank you,” I told her, relieved.
With the plan settled, I walked over to Will, who was still comforting Ivy.
“Hi,” I said, giving him a small smile. “We’d love to have Ivy over.”
“Can I, Dad? Please?” Ivy pleaded, her tear-streaked face brightening with hope.
At this point, all the girls were chiming in, begging Will with puppy-dog eyes.
“Well, how can I say no to these faces?” he said with a laugh, his gaze softening as he looked at me. “I’ll pick her up around 6:30.”
I nodded and gave Will a small smile.
The girls squealed with excitement, and Will kissed Ivy on the cheek before leaving with his boys.
Back at my house, the kids changed into their swimsuits. Camille arrived with her boys just a little after we got home. I told the kids to help themselves to snacks from the pantry before heading outside. Once the kids were out of earshot, Camille turned to me.
“So, how did that go?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I shook my head, laughing. “I can’t let my past affair get in the way of their friendship.”
Just then, Lauren walked in, catching the tail end of the conversation. “Did I hear the word ‘affair?’” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
We all laughed. Camille, ever the instigator, was giddy. “Let’s get her up to speed.”
“Camille!” I protested, but it was too late.
Lauren had become one of my closest friends in the short time she lived here, and I trusted her not to judge me. Still, confessing my affair felt like a big step.
By the time Camille was done filling her in, Lauren looked more stunned than judgmental.
“Wait,” she said, holding up her hand. “You’re telling me that the hottest dad at St. Isidore’s is single, you’ve already had an affair with him, and you’re not with him now? Why not?”
“It’s complicated,” I said. “It wasn’t the right time. I was married while we were together. He also has a daughter in high school who hates me, and if I stayed with him, it would’ve made things worse.”
Lauren leaned back, crossing her arms. “He’s picking Ivy up here later?”
I nodded.
Camille and Lauren exchanged amused looks. “This is going to be fun,” Camille said, grinning.
The kids swam while the three of us sat on the patio, catching up on shows, swapping easy recipes, and laughing. It amazed me how in just a year and a half of living here, these women felt like family.
The kids inhaled the pizza I ordered for their post-swim dinner. When the last crust was discarded, Camille started gathering her boys to leave. Lauren followed suit.
“Do you guys really have to go?” I asked, suspicious of their quick exits.
“Yes, love,” Camille said, laughing. “Call me tomorrow. Farmer’s market. Drop the kids off at my house; I’ll have our nanny there.”
Lauren smirked. “Have fun,” she said, following Camille out the door.
I rolled my eyes. I knew exactly what they were up to.
Right on cue the doorbell rang at 6:30, my heart was racing. I opened the door to find Will standing there, looking like trouble dressed up in perfection.
“Hi,” he said, his voice upbeat. “Is Ivy ready?”
“Oh, sorry,” I said quickly. “The kids started a movie about twenty minutes ago. I’ll go get her. Come in.”
He stepped inside, looking around as his eyes caught on the office to his left. “Did you redecorate?” he asked, slowing as he glanced into it before we continued toward the living room.
“Well, Jason moved out and then we divorced, so… ,” I said, feeling the weight of the words. “I turned this into my office.”
His expression shifted, his jaw dropping slightly. “I had no idea,” he said, his voice filled with sincerity. “I’m so sorry. I feel responsible.”
“No,” I said quietly. “We had problems long before you and I.”
For a moment, neither of us said anything. The silence was heavy but charged, the air between us thick with unspoken words.
“I’ll go get Ivy,” I said finally, breaking the moment.
Upstairs, I found the kids cuddled under blankets in the playroom. “Hi, guys,” I said. “Ivy, your dad’s here.”
“Aww, bummer,” Ivy said, pouting. “I want to sleep over!”
I laughed. “Maybe next time, okay?”
Bebe got up to walk Ivy downstairs, and the two of them immediately launched into plans for their future sleepover.
“Is that so?” Will said, grinning at them before looking at me.
The corners of my mouth lifted, a warmth stirring inside me.
While the girls said their goodbyes, I glanced back at Will, into the deep pool of his baby blues, instantly feeling like he could see straight through my soul. I looked away before he could read every thought I was trying to hide.
After they left, I got the kids ready for bed and tucked them in. When I went to my room, my heart still unsettled from the way Will’s presence lingered in me. I reached for my phone and had texts from Camille and Lauren on our group thread.
Lauren: Did you get a goodnight kiss?
Camille: Tell us everything. Don’t leave out any details.
I rolled my eyes, laughing.
Natalie: You guys are too much.
I set my phone down, another text came through.
Unknown Caller: I had no idea you got divorced.
It was an unknown number. But I knew who it was. Will. I had deleted his contact info back in the spring when our affair ended.
I stared at the screen, my heart racing again. If I replied, was I opening a door I’d already closed?