Page 63 of Because of Blake
“Mags, this isn’t, like, some big deal you have to prepare for. It’s me, and maybe Tom. Come on, I wanna meet this gorgeous man you’ve been hiding. I need confirmation he’s real.”
I haven’t been hiding Blake. I’ve spoken about him every time Michelle and I have talked, but I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been avoiding the issue of them meeting. “Oh, he’s real, let me assure you. But, I also have to introduce the kids to the notion of us being a thing first.”
“They don’t know!?”
“Ugh, no.” I drop my face into my other palm. “And I’m freaking out about telling them.”
“Well, I don’t have any advice in that area except for you to stop overthinking this. You said the kids like this guy, right?”
“Mhm.”
“So, it’s probably not as big of a deal as you think. They’re also older now. I bet they’ll handle it just fine.”
I drum my fingers on the steering wheel. “I’m sure they will, but I can’t help worrying about them resenting me and Blake for trying to replace their father.”
“Mags, they won’t think that because it’s not what you’re doing. It’ll all work out, you’ll see.”
The camp bus makes its appearance, giving me a chance to get out of this anxiety-inducing conversation. “Michelle, the bus is here. I have to go. I’ll talk to Blake and see what his schedule is like. I’ll let you know.”
“Okay, Mags, don’t keep me waiting forever. I’d like to meet him in his prime and not, you know, when he’s eighty-two.”
“Bye, Michelle.”
I get out of the car and stand off to the side, avoiding the group of parents already congregating right in front of the bus stop. Dylan comes off first, then Sydney. They both look like they’ve had enough camp for a while. Their hair is greasy, hanging down in front of their sun-kissed faces. The bags under their eyes make it seem like they haven’t slept in weeks, but their faces light up at the sight of me. It makes my heart swell.
“MOM!” they yell in unison. While normal for Dylan, it’s a nice surprise to have Sydney be happy to see me.
“Hi, guys!” I say, scooping them both into my arms. “Oh, I missed you both. Did you have fun?”
Sydney nods while Dylan yawns.
“Okay, well, let’s go. You can tell me all about it in the car.”
They inundate me with stories about their summer. I get to hear all about the lake and how much fun it was to swim in. I learn Sydney was an expert at arts and crafts and Dylan excelled in pretty much every outdoor activity. Both kids agree that while breakfast was the best meal of the day, it came in second to the s’mores at the campfires.
“I’m glad you two had so much fun. Are you sad to be back home with me?” I ask, glancing in the rearview mirror.
“No, Mom. I missed you a lot. Did you get our letters?” Dylan asks.
“Mhm, I did. Didn’t you get mine?”
“Yeah, we did,” Sydney chimes in.
“Okay, good. So, do you think you’ll want to go again next year?”
Sydney shrugs, and Dylan lets out an enthusiastic, “Yes!”
Both kids request a home-cooked meal for dinner, as they’ve been living off camp food for eight weeks. I make one of their favorites, spaghetti, with meatballs on the side, of course, and we sit around the table stuffing our faces until we can’t possibly fit any more into our stomachs.
“So, Mom, how boring was your summer without us?” Sydney asks.
It catches me off guard. I hadn’t expected either of them to ask about me. “Well, sweetheart, I did the usual stuff. I worked, I gardened, read. Nothing too fun.” Except sleeping with Blake, that was a lot of fun.
“You really didn’t do anything? Geez, Mom, you need a life,” Sydney says, rolling her eyes.
“I have a life, Syd, thank you.”
“Mom, can I go play Xbox?” Dylan asks.