Page 25 of Tanner's Forever
“Because hearing about me being a mom isn’t all that interesting.”
“Erin, let me tell you something,” I begin. “I’ve hung out with a whole lot of women—many of them my age or younger. A good number of them couldn’t see past where they were going to go dancing on Friday nights. While that’s all well and good, I enjoy finding someone who has more to say. With three kids, you’ve probably had a good amount of actual life experience.”
She stops me to say, “Tanner, there’s a big difference between having some life experience and really getting out there and living. I’m sure you have me beat in that department.”
I walk over to her and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, then, little lady, I think we could learn a thing or two from one another.”
“Oh, yeah?” The corners of her lips twitch as though she’s trying not to smile.
“Yep. Because my problem seems to be that I do too much living. Sometimes, I really suck at having my shit together.”
Erin throws her head back and lets out a loud cackle. “Oh, honey, life experience does not mean that I have my shit together…like at all.”
I smile. “Something else we have in common.”
She goes to grab a spatula off one end of the counter and knocks over a half-full glass of water. The liquid quickly flows toward me and gets my phone wet.
“Oh, crap!” She squeals. As quickly as she can, she grabs a dish towel out of the drawer and picks up my phone to wipe it off. “I’m so sorry. I’m so clumsy.”
By the way she’s apologizing, I get the feeling that something like this would have made her ex more than a little upset. Wanting to try to help her, I reach for some paper towels and wipe the remaining water up before it gets to some of the papers on the edge of the counter.
She hands my phone back to me and says she’s sorry once again. Without even taking the time to look at it, I set it on the counter and grab her by the hand.
Pulling her toward me, I say, “Hey, it’s alright. Just a little bit of water.”
“What if I ruined your phone?” She asks with wide, worried eyes.
“Then, I get a new phone. It’s not the end of the world.”
She looks like she doesn’t believe me, so I lean down to give her a kiss just to drive the point home. Maybe it actually worked because when I pull back, she smiles at me.
As she adds the macaroni to the water, I see a frame on one end of the counter and walk over to grab it. There are three little boys, all with Erin’s dark hair.
“Are these your kids?” I ask.
Without missing a beat, she says, “Nope. Just the insert that came in the frame.”
I laugh. “Sarcasm. I like it.” Looking down at the photo again, I add, “Good looking kids.”
“Yeah, they drive me nuts, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
“I think most mommas would share the same sentiment. How old are they?”
She stirs the macaroni. “Chris is thirteen. Alex is eight. And Joey is three, almost four.”
“Are they all in school?”
“Alex and Chris are, but Joey is just in daycare. Thankfully, he will start Kindergarten next year. Daycare is expensive as heck.”
“Man, I can barely take care of myself, let alone three other human beings.”
She shrugs her shoulders. “Eh, I’ve been doing it for so long now that it’s just life. I wouldn’t know anything different.”
“Fair enough.”
A few minutes later, she’s plated us up some food, and we are sitting on her couch.
“What do you do for work?” I ask her. I feel like maybe I’m bombarding her with questions, but I’m just trying to learn as much as I can in the short amount of time that we have.