Page 41 of Shane

I shouldn’t have asked.

That’s a no, and I can probably guess why. She picked her smaller condo unit based on my decision to live with my father. Some mothers would have made a different decision, I guess, but she was counting on me spending most of the next four years of my life in Nevada and coming home for an occasional sleepover, not this. I think I’ll have to tell her what’s up with Dad so she understands what I’m dealing with, plus she deserves to know.

“I just found out some surprising news about Daddy today.”

“What is it?”

“He’s dating someone.”

She pauses momentarily, then responds in a steady voice, “Good for him.”

“No, Mom, it’s serious.”

“Okay…how serious?”

“He’s moving the woman into the house, and I haven’t even told you the worst part. She has a son.”

“A son?” my mother’s voice quivers.

“Not a baby but a grown man who goes to my school. He’ll be moving in with us, too.”

“Wait…what?”

Now she gets it. I probably should have led with this.

“Exactly, Ma!”

“Where did he…I mean, how long has this been going on?” she stutters through her question, clearly upset with the news as well.

“Dad met her at VCU.”

“When he took you over the summer?”

“Yes. Can you believe that? He was supposed to be there supporting my final decision, not treat it like a singles bar.”

“And you didn’t know anything about this until today?”

“No, Dad and I weren’t together the whole time at the event. I guess they exchanged numbers or something at the parent presentation in the auditorium.”

“And he’s been seeing her all this time and just sprang it on you today?”

“Yep, he never mentioned it.”

“Wow, I’m surprised at him.”

“The fact that he kept it a secret?”

“Humph, your father could always hold a secret, but he never seemed to be the long-distance relationship type.”

“Oh, she’s not long distance. She lives in New Jersey.”

“Oh.”

“But Mom, the bigger issue for me is the son.”

“I can’t imagine what your father is thinking.”

“I don’t think Dad is doing any thinking at all. He doesn’t know this woman he’s fallen for, and he definitely doesn’t know her son.”