“Brody! Catch!”

“Got it, Papa!”

My son ran after a football my father had thrown his way while Mom and I sat on their porch. We sipped on some limeade she had in the refrigerator as the sun beat down on all of us. My sunglasses were making my face sweat, but shielding my eyes was more important. I looked over at my mother’s glistening forehead and giggled as she ran her cool glass over her face

“Thank god I decided to go without makeup today,” she said.

“And you still look fabulous,” I said.

“Damn right I do.”

“Thank you again for watching Brody Thursday night.”

“You know we watch him every night around that time so you and Kristi can go celebrate your success. I hate that you didn’t stay out later, though. I figured that girl would keep you out until at least midnight.”

“Sometimes having a girls’ night in is just as nice as a girls’ night out. And speaking of, we need to go get pedicures soon.”

“Like today? It’s hot as hell and your father looks like he’s got Brody entertained for now,” she said.

“Papa! You gotta catch it!” Brody exclaimed.

My father bent down to pick up the football before his eyes met mine. I smiled and waved at him before he launched the ball, sending it flying through the air and straight into the arms of my son. Brody did have his father’s athletic capabilities, and the more I watched him, the more I was reminded of the real reason we had come over for the day.

To ask my parents to watch him Monday night.

I wasn’t sure if I should tell them about Tyler, though. I danced between telling them that Kristi wanted another night with me since our last one had flopped and telling them I had a date but not mentioning who.

I knew if I told them about Tyler and that he was back in town for good, they would side with Kristi. My father more so than anyone else. He had made it very clear to me on several occasions that if I ever got the chance to introduce Brody to Tyler, I should do it. My mother was a little more on the fence with things but still didn’t agree with my never telling Tyler about his son.

At the very least, she thought Tyler deserved to know.

I wasn’t ready to hear more people side with Tyler instead of me.

“He’s getting so big. He’s going to be a monstrous child,” my mother said.

“I feel like every time he wakes up, he’s a little bigger.”

“Whenever he’s with me, everyone is shocked that he’s only eight. A lot of people think the kid is ten, eleven years old!”

“Dad tells me the same thing. And Brody got that all the time as a baby. Even when he was two, other kids would come up and talk to him, then get upset when he didn’t talk back. I had to explain to them that he was only two and didn’t know how to talk in full sentences, and the parents were always stunned when I said that.”

“Because he’s huge. Like his father.”

I winced at her words and was thankful for the sunglasses covering my face.

“Dad! Watch out!”

The football knocked him straight in his chest, and he bent over, gasping for breath. I set my drink down and went running out to him as Brody jogged up. I rubbed my father’s back, and a massive smile crossed his face. Brody dropped to his knees to get up underneath his grandfather’s face.

“You okay, Papa?”

“Yeah, son. I’m fine. You’ve really got an arm on you. Ever thought about playing baseball?” he asked.

“No. I like football better,” Brody said.

“Dad, you okay?” I asked.

“Quit babyin’ the man! He’s good,” my mother called out.

“Just because you’re too lazy to come check on your husband doesn't mean I won’t!” I called back.

“It’s too hot to be doing all this running around. Who’s ready for food?” my mother asked.

“Me!” Brody exclaimed.

“You’re always ready for food,” I said, grinning.

“That’s because he’s a growing boy.” My father stood upright. “Isn’t that right, Brody?”

“Yep. I’m going to grow big and strong like Papa one day.”

“You’re already big and strong like Papa,” I said as I winked at my father.

“You got that right. Come on, let’s go see what Grammie’s whipping up for lunch,” he said.

Everyone shuffled into the house and we all sighed at the air conditioning. I told Brody to go upstairs to wash his hands and clean himself up a bit. He had some spare outfits in the dresser in his room, and he needed to change before he sat down at the table to eat. He ran upstairs and my eyes followed him, clocking the fact that his legs looked a little longer than they had a few days ago.

If that boy didn’t stop growing, I’d go bankrupt trying to clothe him.

“Is he taller?” my mother asked.

“I was just thinking the same thing,” my father said.

“I think he is. Which means more clothes,” I said.

“It seems like all that boy does is grow,” my mother said.

“You need us to get this round of clothes?” my father asked.

“No, Daddy, but thank you. I’ve got it, I promise,” I said.

“Well, you know if you need help, we’re always here,” he said.

“In that case, would it be possible for you guys to watch Brody tomorrow night?” I asked.

“Sure. Your father’s got a poker game with the guys, but I’ll be here. We can have a movie night,” my mother said.

“What’s the occasion? Kristi trying to get you out again?” Dad asked.

“Actually, no. I have a date.”

Their jaws dropped in unison before my mother stepped up to the plate.

“You have a date? Who? What’s his name? What’s he look like?”

“Calm down, Susan. You’re going to scare our daughter away,” my father said.

“Shut up, Ron. Does he have a job? What does he do for work? Has he already met Brody? Don’t tell me he’s already met my grandson.”

I threw my head back and laughed at my mother. She really was a spitfire when she wanted to be.

“Just a guy I met when I was out with Kristi. It’s nothing special or phenomenal. I’m meeting him at six for dinner tomorrow night and I figured I would see where it goes. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date—”

“It’s been over nine years since you’ve been on a date. This is a big deal,” my father said.

“But I don’t want to make it a big deal. I haven’t told Brody about it. All he knows is that I’m taking some time for myself tomorrow night, but that it would all hinge on whether or not he could come over and stay with you guys,” I said.

“So we don’t even get a name?” my mother asked.

“If things go well, I’ll give you a name. But right now it’s just dinner. We’re meeting up, eating, and fighting over the check. That’s it.”

“But you know his name, right? Tell me you know something about him.”

“Susan, our daughter is fine. She doesn't need our help in the dating world. She’s young, beautiful. She’s getting back out there. Stop prying for details and let her do this how she wants to do it.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“But our code still stands, okay? You remember it from high school?” he asked.

“I do. You’ll call an hour into the date—which will be seven o’clock, if you need to write it down—”

“Ha, ha. Nice old man joke,” my father said mockingly.

“Gotta get ’em in when I can. But you’ll call, and if I need the out I’ll pick it up and act like it’s an emergency. But if something’s wrong, I’ll open up a text message to you and press send.”

“Where will you be tomorrow night?” he asked.

I hesitated before I drew in a breath through my nose.

“Providence.”

“The seafood place on the water?” my mother asked.

“That’s fancy stuff for a first date,” my father said.

“He told me to pick wherever I wanted to go, so I decided to test his resolve,” I said, grinning.

“That’s my girl,” he said as he wrapped me up in a hug.

I hugged my father tightly and buried myself in his chest.

“I’m proud of you for getting out there again. After all you’ve been through, you deserve someone to dote on you a bit.”

“Thanks, Daddy.”

“I’m happy, too. But if the date goes well, we’re going to get pedicures and you’re dishing on this mystery man,” my mother said.

“I promise,” I said, grinning.

“Lunch ready?” Brody came stumbling down the stairs, and I rolled my eyes.

“Oh yeah, growth spurt time. He’s so gangly he can’t keep his feet under him,” I said.

“You okay, sweetheart?” my mother asked.

“Can I have a popsicle, Grammie?” Brody asked.

“Of course you can. What color?”

“Blue.”

“Blue it is!”

My father hugged me a little tighter before he released me, much to my guilt. I felt terrible for lying to them, but I wasn’t ready to tell them who I was going to meet. I didn’t want to tell them what this date was actually for because I didn’t want them to worry. But more than that, I didn’t want them to feel as if they were keeping something from their only grandchild.

I hadn’t lied to Brody when I had said I was taking time for myself to get a nice dinner Monday night, but that was all he needed to know. My mother would feel compelled to talk with Brody about it and my father would spend his time getting Mom to keep her mouth shut.

I didn’t want to do that to them while they spent time with their grandson. I also didn’t want their opinions on the situation thrown at me.

Damn it. How the hell had dinner already gotten so complicated?