Page 47 of Tangled Emotions

“Have you asked your mom about it?”

“No.” He tilted his head. “That’s a good idea!”

“Start there, little man.”

“Thanks, Doc!”

I watched him run off to rejoin his friends. I’m not sure what’s going on there, but I have a feeling it’s not good.

Edith

“Mom, I can stay home.”

“Don’t be silly, Edie, Mattie’s fine.” She waved me off.

“I don’t need to go out.”

Truthfully I didn’t want to go out, but my dumb ass promised Ronnie.

“Edith Rose Malone. I have raised four children.” Her hands were on her hips. “I think I can handle my grandson who wants pizza for dinner.”

Mattie came over and hugged me. “Are you going out with Aunt Ronnie?”

“I’m just meeting her to have a drink and some wings.” I ruffled his hair. “But I can stay home with you if you want.”

His face screwed up and looked at me like I had three heads. “Why can’t I stay with Nana?”

“You can.” I nodded. “I just didn’t want you to think I didn’t want to spend time with you.”

“Why are you dressed pretty?” He ran his fingers over the collar of my top.

“What do you mean?”

“Usually when you and Aunt Ronnie meet up at the brewers place, you just wear a tee shirt. Now you have on a fancy shirtandmakeup.”

“It’s because there’s a boy that might be there that she likes.” My mom teased.

“Not helping.” I glared at my mom. “And that’s not it.”

“Why don’t you go out on dates like Aunt Evie?”

My heart fell to my feet. “I don’t need to date. I have a man in my life. You.”

“Oh.” He pouted and picked at his nails. “Well, I thought maybe having a dad might be cool.”

I looked up at my mom and she shrugged her shoulders. “Mattie, what brought this about?”

“I like having Uncle E and Geno, but Grady and Tyler have their Rich-dad. And I dunno where my dad is.” He shrugged and looked at me. “Isn’t dating where you meet someone and then if you like them, you get married?”

“There’s a little more to it, Matthew.” I tried to stop the tears from filling my eyes.

Of course he wants a dad. All his friends have one.

“Well. My new gym teacher doesn’t wear a ring. You could meet him.”

“I thought we were good, just us?”

“Yeah. But a dad would be cool.” He shrugged again. “And he could fix things that break and open jars.”