Chapter 25
WHEN SOMEONE ELSE STEPS IN
NATALIE
Friday morning arrived too quickly, and my to-do list was already mocking me before I even got out of bed.
Thanksgiving break was looming, I needed to pack lunches, make breakfast, pack their clothes and special items they would want to bring, and my head was spinning with all the tasks waiting for me at work.
On top of everything, I had agreed to meet Jason today.
I shuffled into the kitchen, tossing apples into lunchboxes while mentally running through my checklist. I needed to squeeze in a workout to clear my head—and to work off Lisa’s muffins.
I hated how good they were, and they had come in handy to serve the kids this morning. Small victories, I thought grimly.
After school drop-off, I hurried home, threw on workout clothes, and hopped on the Peloton for a quick session. It helped, a little. By the time I’d showered and changed, I felt marginally more prepared to face whatever Jason had planned for this meeting.
The coffeehouse Jason picked was on the corner of a busy street, making parking a challenge. I finally found a spot. He was already seated when I arrived, a latte waiting for me.
“Hi,” I said, a little out of breath.
“I took the liberty of ordering for you,” Jason said, gesturing to the cup in front of him.
“Thanks.” I took a sip, the warm foam settling some of my nerves.
“So, what’s going on? I know we haven’t gotten past the New Year for the kids’ schedules,” I began, pulling out my planner. “I thought we could get a few months mapped out. Of course, we can adjust if needed.”
“That’s not why I asked you to meet,” Jason said, his tone unusually serious.
“Oh?” I looked up from my planner, taken aback. “What’s on your mind?”
“I met someone.”
The words hit me like a punch. I blinked, unsure of how to respond. Jason was tall, dark, and handsome—of course, someone would want to snatch him up. But I hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
“It’s getting serious,” he continued. “I want the kids to meet her on Thanksgiving.”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. Meeting Bebe and James felt monumental, an explosion I hadn’t been prepared for. When Jason and I were coming to the end, I remember the paralyzing fear of picturing a stepmother to my children. That fear had almost kept me in a lifeless marriage.
“Nat?” Jason’s hand brushed mine, and I instinctively pulled back.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m… surprised,” I admitted.
“I know it’s a big ask, but I think the kids will like her. I think you’ll approve, too. She wants to meet you, as well.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “When did you meet her?”
“In July. We work out at the same gym.”
Of course. How cliché.
“Her name is Brooke,” he added. “She works in marketing.”
“Does she have kids?”
“No, she doesn’t. She’s never been married, either. She just turned thirty-one in September.”
Young, I thought. She’ll probably want children of her own, and Bebe and James will no longer be Jason’s shining stars.
A lump formed in my throat. This is my fault, I thought bitterly. If only I could have gotten past the kiss he shared with his colleague, Shannon, while we were married. If I hadn’t been so wrapped up in my own needs to see how far we had drifted.
Jason must have sensed my emotions spiraling. “Natalie, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Honestly, I figured by now we’d both have found happiness with other people.”
I was jolted by Jason’s comment. He’d already found someone new, serious enough to call happiness? The thought left me raw. I wiped at my eyes, embarrassed by the tears forming.
“If she makes you happy and is a good person, then… okay. The kids can meet her,” I said, my voice thin with reluctance.
Jason put his hand on mine. “I didn’t think I’d ever find someone after you. You’re one of a kind and I took you for granted. You deserve the world.”
It was probably the sincerest thing Jason had ever said to me. This Brooke woman had clearly unlocked a version of him I’d never seen before.
“I should go,” I said, standing abruptly.
“I’ll be by around ten tomorrow to pick up Bebe and James. Thanks for meeting me today—and for being cool about all this.”
I nodded, forcing a smile as I walked out. But when I got to my car, the tears came in waves. My children could possibly have a stepmother. The thought terrified me. I had been so afraid of becoming one myself, and now it was happening on the other side.
I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to snap out of my funk. There was too much to do, work deadlines, packing the kids’ bags for the week, and getting ready for Meredith’s arrival that evening.
By the time I arrived at school pickup, I felt a little more composed. I parked early, hoping to find a moment to call Will. I dialed his number, but it went straight to voicemail.
Bebe and James burst out of the school gate, racing toward me with their usual energy. As we drove home, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was Will. I glanced at the screen, hesitating.
Bebe caught sight of his name on my screen in the car. “Mommy, why didn’t you answer? That’s Ivy’s dad, right? He probably wants to plan our playdate!”
“I’ll call him later, sweetie. We’ll set something up soon.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, Bebe.”
When we got home, I saw a text from Meredith.
Meredith: Just landed. Be there soon!
Forty-five minutes later, the door swung open, and the kids raced to greet her.
“Aunt Meredith!” they shouted in unison.
“How are my favorite people?” Meredith said, scooping them into a hug.
After settling her things in the guest room, she unveiled a collection of small gifts for Bebe and James to squeals of delight. Their joy was infectious, giving me a brief reprieve from the weight on my chest.
I threw together an easy pasta dish for dinner, comfort food for the soul. Afterward, Meredith offered to do the dishes while I went upstairs to start baths and the bedtime routine for the kiddos.
Bebe clung to me as I kissed her goodnight. “I’m going to miss you so much, Mommy.”
“I’ll miss you too, sweetheart,” I said, my heart aching.
I left Bebe’s room, and went into James’s. He looked at me curiously as I tucked him in. “Why aren’t you coming to Thanksgiving, Mommy? I can ask Dad to save you and Aunt Meredith a seat.”
Bile rose in my throat. He had no idea about Brooke, no idea that his dad was introducing someone new to their world. The thought of how it might all play out left me nauseous.
“That’s sweet of you, James,” I said softly. “But Thanksgiving is Daddy’s special day with you and Bebe this year.”
“Okay,” he said, though his face fell. “I think Daddy still thinks you’re really pretty. You could come if you want.”
If only it were that simple. “Goodnight, James,” I whispered, kissing his forehead before retreating to the bathroom, where I promptly threw up. My body was rebelling against the weight of the day, Jason’s news, the idea of Brooke, and the thought of my babies meeting her.
Meredith was waiting in the kitchen with a glass of wine and a neatly rolled joint. “Rough day?” she asked, gesturing to the seat across from her.
I sat down, grateful for her presence. “I met Jason this morning.”
“And?” Meredith raised a brow. “Please don’t tell me he wants to get back together with you.”
“No,” I said, letting out a hollow laugh. “He met someone. It’s serious. He wants Bebe and James to meet her—on Thanksgiving.”
Meredith’s mouth dropped open. “Shut the front door. Are you serious?”
I nodded, my eyes welling up again. “I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I haven’t even had time to process it.”
“Of course, you’re emotional, Nat. Anyone would be.”
“This person could be their stepmother,” I said, my voice cracking. “She’s going to be their Veronica.”
“I think Jason has better taste than Dad did,” Meredith said dryly. “Have you told Will?”
“We’ve been playing phone tag. I was going to tell him, which feels big for me, to share something like this with him. But I know he’s been through this with Kelly.”
Meredith leaned forward, her tone firm. “You should call him, Nat. Let him in. Let him be there for you.”
I hesitated, then let out a deep breath. “Let’s smoke first. I need to relax.”
“Deal,” Meredith said, grabbing the joint and leading me to the patio.
Later that night, after the haze of the evening had cleared and Meredith had gone to bed, I sat with my phone in hand.
The events of the day were still swirling in my mind: Jason’s unexpected sincerity, Brooke’s looming introduction, James’s sweet innocence, and the undeniable truth that this was the new normal.
Taking a deep breath, I dialed Will’s number. This time, he answered.
“Hey,” he said, his voice warm but a little hesitant. He sounded like he was asleep.
“Hey,” I replied, my voice shaking slightly. “Did I wake you?”
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“I met Jason today,” I said, pausing for a moment. “He’s… met someone. It’s serious. The kids are meeting her on Thanksgiving.”
Will was silent for a beat. “How are you feeling about that?”
“It’s tearing me up inside,” I admitted. “I know it’s irrational, but the thought of someone else being in their lives, being part of their milestones—it’s hard.”
“It’s not irrational,” Will said gently. “It’s normal to feel that way. I’ve been there. When Kelly introduced Jeff to the kids, it felt like the ground shifted beneath me.”
His words were comforting in a way I hadn’t expected. He understood. He wasn’t just saying the right thing, he knew.
“What if they like her more than me?” I whispered.
“You’re kidding,” Will said. “You’re their mom. No one can take your place.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, and let his words sink in. “Thank you,” I said softly.
“For what?”
“For picking up when I called. For understanding.”
“Always,” he said. “If you need me tomorrow, call. Anytime. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.”
I hung up feeling a little lighter. Jason’s world might be changing, but mine didn’t have to collapse. I still had my kids. And maybe, just maybe, I had someone who truly cared about me too.