T W E L V E New Dreams
Sarah’s POV
I was so thankful that his parents came into town to stay with us.
They were staying in his apartment, but they were also here most days.
His mom has been helping me with the boys and keeping up on the apartment housework.
I was having meetings with Petey and Jenson, as well as with the financial planner, to go over my accounts.
It was draining, meeting all the time, trying to maintain a happy face in front of the boys so they didn’t see my exhaustion.
The only highlight was the singing telegram videos that were trending in our area.
Row sent me the best one. It was a video that one of the guys from Will’s crew took.
In the video, you could see Will, standing there, holding the manila envelope with the papers inside.
He looked pissed, as a quartet sang a remix version of Sam Smith’s ‘I’m Not the Only One’ and Gotye’s ‘Somebody I Used to Know’.
I watched over and over again as his face turned red, pissed that he was being publicly humiliated for fucking his whore.
At the end, they ended with, ‘She hopes you don’t get AIDS and die; Just sign the papers and go on with your life’.
The uproar of laughter and the excitement from his crew were enough to know that not everyone agreed with his actions.
That video was what gave me laughs. That and my boys. I was just trying to survive one day to the next, worried my ideas for a startup wouldn’t take me where I wanted to be, and that I’d be spending more time working than with the boys. Which would work against me in the divorce.
One afternoon, completely exhausted and unwilling to cook anything, I ordered a grocery delivery. That’s how exhausted I was. I wanted to do as little work as possible. I picked out a bunch of appetizers, finger foods, and snacks. That was going to be dinner.
It would essentially be a giant table-length charcuterie spread of apps and snacks.
I rolled out the brown paper the length of the table until it was fully covered.
Then I took tape, taking the piece together, and a Sharpie, mapping out where the food would go.
The poppers would be next to the cheese curds, chips, and some fruit.
There would be deep-fried pickle chips, French fries, assorted fruit, crackers, meats, cheeses, wings and sauces, and dips.
It was the ultimate spread. As the food arrived and I heated it, I got dishes to put all of the food on before placing it on the table.
I started looking at the spread. Devereaux and his parents were coming over in a few minutes for dinner, and all I could muster was appetizers.
I felt embarrassed, but looking at the presentation, it was trendy.
I had dips on stands above some of the food around them, different colored dishes for all of the foods.
A knock on the door was unsuccessful in pulling me out of my head.
I needed a break. It had been a rough few days, seeing all of the notifications, all the drama of sending cease and desist letters to Will’s family and friends.
There was also the divorce, which, according to Jenson, he was contesting.
I didn’t know why. He had his perfect little life with her; why would he need anything from me?
Could it be that he was upset that I found all his money? I shuffled my way over to the door.
I opened it and was almost knocked to the ground by Mav and Carter, excited to be home from a long day out with their uncle.
Row’s hands caught me. I smiled at him as I hugged the boys, smothering them in kisses.
I scooted us back out of the way so everyone else could enter.
We greeted each other, the boys trying to tell me all about their days.
“Wow! What is this?” I heard his mom asking, sounding deeper into the apartment than I was. I looked up, trying to walk around the corner, a boy sitting on each foot, making walking damn near impossible. She was inspecting each spot intently.
“Oh. I didn’t feel like cooking too much, so I just did an app board.
I do it some nights, and it is usually just nuggets, a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and fries or chips,” I said, trying to get the boys off my feet so I could go talk to her instead of trying to shuffle my way there.
Row leaned down and pulled Maverick off me first, passing him to Pops and then grabbing Carter.
“Boy, let your Mama explain what she made,” Pops said, looking between Mav and Carter. I went over all our options, and everyone looked pleased. Especially because of all the wings I ordered.
“You know,” his mom said, looking over everything, “This would be insanely popular for parties. Like, kids' parties, house parties. You might even be able to do something like this for a cocktail hour at an upscale event.”
I looked at her, at her suggestion. We were all seated, eating, and it was all things we liked with easy clean up. Something like that could give me more flexible time with the kids. I’d still be able to be there for all the important stuff.
“I’d have to look into it. I don’t even know if it would pick up any traction.
This is just something I do for the kids when I don’t want to fight with them over food,” I said, trying to sound casual, trying to brush it off, while inside I was running the numbers and what I would name the business.
Char-cute-erie Boards? Our slogan could be ‘Board with traditional?’ Or The Board Babe? That could work.
That could totally be me. I could start a TikTok channel and other social media. I could make videos of what I use for each board, and the final presentation! Yes! But would it work? Would there ever be a market for something like this? I knew without some kind of risk, there’d be no reward.
“I don’t even know where I would start, and it would probably never take off.” I knew I was just saying things, but I wasn’t confident, and I was worried about making a career for myself and not giving up all of my time with my kids.
“I know plenty of women who would love this for their parties. It’s different, and charcuterie boards are super popular right now.
Plus, the kids' version? You could totally do everything from kids' parties to weddings to corporate events.” His mom went on, gushing about everything I could do, telling me she would help me by telling some of the ladies in her circles about it.
“You would help me?” The question stopped the conversation at the table, and everyone but my boys looked at me.
“I mean, I have the financial backing, but getting my name out there? I was thinking of getting an LLC for the name, ‘The Board Babe,’ but spelled like a charcuterie board. I could start making a few posts about what I do. I should also talk to a lawyer and get someone to make a website for myself. What do you think, Row?” I smiled when I looked at him.
I could tell it was stretched from ear to ear.
I knew this smile hadn’t been out in a while by the stunned look he had on his face for about ten seconds.
“I think it sounds the most excited I’ve heard you in years. I’m all for it. Whatever I can do to help,” He smiled that easy smile, his arm resting over the back of my chair. This was exciting. I could do this. And I’d be able to manage a schedule that worked around the boys.
According to the financial planner, I had enough right now that if I wanted, I didn’t have to work for the next few years, but that would eat a significant portion of what I wanted to save for the future.
If I started off doing a few little jobs while I built my website and looked into all of the things I’d need to make sure I wouldn’t get shut down, it would be a start.
Something for me to work toward a career.
I just hoped it wouldn’t blow up in my face.