Given the fact I was two for zero in the sex and dating game, I thought it best to give men a rest for a few days. Jill and Hank were going out of town for a concert, and I had Valley’s kids on Saturday, so I decided to stick to home where I couldn’t get into trouble—or expose myself to further humiliation.

I started perusing the internet for ideas on home decorating. I didn’t want to do anything that would break the bank, but after my realization that my house resembled a supervillain’s mountain lair, I figured a fresh coat of paint, at the very least, was in order.

There wasn’t a whole lot I could do about the kitchen’s dark granite or its espresso cabinets, but if I painted the walls a lighter, more cheerful color, I was sure it would brighten the space a bit. The outside needed a facelift as well. I just wasn’t sure how far to go.

“It’s kind of sad.” Aubrey and I stood at the foot of the driveway, taking in my home’s exterior. She looked up at me. “Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have said that.”

I put a hand on her shoulder. “No need to apologize. You’re absolutely right, kid.”

The cement-board siding that covered the house brought to mind a puddle of mud, and the dark stain on the wide front porch did nothing to invite a person to approach. What had I been thinking when we bought this house? Oh, that’s right, I hadn’t. I was so thrilled to move out of the tiny two-bedroom home we bought before the girls came into the picture. Mike could have suggested a neon pink brothel and my only question would have been, “How many bathrooms?”

And I loved the house. I did. It was where I’d watched the girls grow from drooling toddlers to young ladies. Their ever-changing heights were preserved in pen on the doorjamb to Mike’s former office, and the wood floor in the living room was scuffed from their old rocking horse. I didn’t want to erase the past; I just wanted a refresh for the brilliant future I hoped was awaiting us.

I looked down at Aubrey again. “What do you think about white?”

* * *

My next step was a trip to Home Depot to pick up paint swatches. Aubrey and Aiden had gone home with Valley around ten so I ended up getting a great night of sleep and waking up bright and early on Sunday. I’d learned my lesson about jogging and my body’s utter aversion to it, so I took a brisk walk with Reggie instead, ensuring I’d still be alive to select my paint colors.

A vibrant green swatch caught my eye and I added it to my growing collection, thinking it might look great in the kitchen.

“I see you’ve already started your painting project,” a friendly voice sounded from beside me. An older man in the familiar orange smock smiled at me. My expression must have communicated my cluelessness because he raised a hand and pointed to my hair.

It took me a moment to understand his meaning, and then my face flushed to what was likely the same shade of scarlet he was pointing to. I immediately lifted a hand and tucked the damn strands behind my ear. Impulsiveness had not been my friend on that front.

I forced a smile and mumbled a vague response. The man just nodded and walked away from the crazy lady.

Spending time with Aubrey and Aidan the day before made me miss Kate and Eileen more than ever. I’d spoken to them every day since they left, but I couldn’t resist calling when I got home from the store.

“We were making bets on how long you’d last before calling today,” Eileen said when she picked up the phone. The girls shared a cell phone, a fact they both bemoaned constantly. But since my number was one of the few authorized to call their phone, I didn’t see the big deal.

“Oh? And who won?” Eileen was my smart-aleck. She already had a strong grasp on sarcasm, and she was only ten.

“Me, of course. I think Kate had more faith in you.”

I had to laugh at that. “At least someone does. What did you guys do last night?” I wandered into the kitchen with my swatches.

“Dad and Kristen took us to the county fair. We got to see the world’s biggest hog or something like that.”

“Impressive. Did you get to pet it?”

“No way. That thing was nasty. Just a sec. Kate wants to say hi.”

The scuffling sounds of the phone being carelessly passed from one small hand to another filled my ear for a moment before I heard Kate’s voice.

“Oh my God, Mom. There were the most adorable baby piglets at the fair. They were just born a couple days ago and they were so tiny and cute. I totally want a pig now!” Her tone was laced with equal parts excitement and pleading.

“Um, no.” My response was instant.

“Aww. They were so cute, though. I’m going to text you the pictures I took.”

“Kate, you do know the cute little piglet grows up into the giant hog your sister just called nasty, right?” I held the green swatch up to the wall next to the dark cabinets. I liked it.

She didn’t have a response at first. Finally, she said, “Good point. I’ll have to look into a smaller breed.”

I held in a groan. Kate was on a mission to get a new pet, even though she had Reggie. The same Reggie who’d chewed a hole in my bathroom rug this morning. I figured I’d cave at some point, but a pig was not what I had in mind. Nope. I was thinking more along the lines of a goldfish. And even that would have to wait until Reggie got past his naughty stage. The little devil had somehow wiggled out of his collar while I’d been at the store too. Scolding him was an exercise in futility, though. His damn puppy eyes did me in every time.

“What else did you do besides find your dream pet?”

“We stuffed our faces with elephant ears and milkshakes.” I could hear the smile in her voice. My girls had the best smiles.

I heard Eileen’s shout from the background. “Kate! Dad said not to tell!”

My jaw clenched at that, and I tossed the swatches onto the counter. That was such a classic Mike thing to do. I didn’t care that the girls had special treats at the fair, and he knew it. This was his way of making himself out to be the fun parent while painting me as the heavy. It irked me to no end when he’d done that during our marriage, and it made me want to nut punch him now that we were divorced.

I forced my voice to remain light. “It’s fine. I’m glad you guys had fun.”

“We did,” Kate said, “but we missed you.”

My heart wanted to break. “I miss you too, sweetheart.” I swallowed back the lump in my throat.

“Oh, we gotta go. Kristen’s making us go to church.”

I laughed past the lump. I’d only met Kristen a handful of times, but she seemed like a perfectly nice person. And it was good for the girls to go to church. I hadn’t been the best about taking them, so I was glad Kristen was picking up my slack.

“It’s good for you. Don’t give her a hard time, okay?”

“Okay, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you!” Eileen called out.

“Love you too, my little pigeons.”

Kate giggled and hung up. I’d always nicknamed them after one bird or another, and they got a kick out of it. I was glad we ended the call on a happy note, and they both sounded great. I reminded myself it was fine to miss them—they’d be back home before I knew it.

In the meantime, I had a few projects to work on. I fished a roll of tape from the junk drawer and lined up my swatches on the counter. Then, one by one, I taped my favorites on the wall before standing back to have a look.

Yeah, this felt right.

I was going back a forth between the green and a sunny yellow when I heard a text notification.

Girls: I think I’ll name my pig Spot.

Below the text was an image of the most adorable pink and black pig I’d ever seen. Something told me Reggie’d better prepare himself for a roommate.

* * *

“You’ll never believe what I just found out!” I held my phone with one hand while I switched wet laundry to the dryer with the other.

“I love it when you begin phone calls like that. Spill it!” Jill’s voice was exactly the right amount of excited for my news.

“You know my neighbor Jayne?” I didn’t wait for her to confirm. She and Jayne had met several times. “She just told me that hottie neighbor Erik is gay! Isn’t that awesome?!” I shoved a wet towel into the dryer and rooted around for a dryer sheet.

“Oh my God! So your awkwardness wasn’t what turned him off—that’s great!” She squealed in my ear.

My back straightened. “Hey!”

“I’m joking. Although …” She couldn’t hide her laugh.

“Shut your face. I’m focusing on the positive here.”

“I know. I’m sorry. That is great news. It’s not you, it’s him. Ha! For once, that excuse is valid.”

I slammed the dryer shut and turned it on, happy to be able to cross a chore off my list. “And the best part is I don’t have to feel all weird around him now. I mean, it was obvious I was flirting—it’s on him that he didn’t tell me he wasn’t into boobs.”

“Exactly,” Jill agreed.

“What are you up to?” I asked. I loved having summers off, but the house was just too quiet without the girls. I needed some noise, and my sister was always good for that.

“Getting ready for work. I’m on tonight.” Jill worked at Bistro Eleven, an upscale restaurant downtown. She made more money than I did in tips alone.

The truth was, I felt lonely, and if I didn’t snap out of it, I was afraid I’d backslide. That was not happening. “Maybe I’ll come in for dinner. Think you can get me a table?” I wandered into my bedroom, trying to remember if I had anything suitable in my closet.

“Ugh. I’m serving a private party tonight, so I won’t be out on the main floor. I can get you a table, but you’ll want to bring somebody.”

I was quick to respond. “Oh, that’s okay. Never mind.” We both knew I’d have a hard time coming up with a dinner companion. I hadn’t exactly been social since the divorce.

“Sorry, hon. You want to go out to lunch tomorrow?”

“Sure. I’ll call you. Have fun at work.”

“Always.” And she meant it. She was great at her job and the diners loved her. I had to assume she didn’t cuss at them and insult them like she did me.

I hung up and set my phone on my bedside table, planting my butt on the bed. My back hit the duvet and I gazed up at the ceiling. Come on, Jenna. Get out there and try something new. You don’t need Jill to hold your hand.

And then it hit me. I hopped off the bed and dashed to my walk-in closet, zeroing in on the neat stacks of shoe boxes lining the back shelf. I reached for a large box at the bottom and carried it back to my bed. When I lifted the lid, a gorgeous pair of red leather cowboy boots stared up at me. I was going line dancing, and I’d have a great fucking time if it killed me.

Tuesday evenings at The Corral were reserved for line dancing lessons. The instructor taught various dances from six to seven o’clock and then set the students loose to dance with the night’s crowd and listen to whatever band was playing that night.

I’d always wanted to try it, but knew there was no way I could talk Mike into going with me. I could have taken Jill, I suppose, but Tuesdays were school nights and I rarely ventured out during the week. I was totally doing this tonight.

There was just enough time for me to get ready and too little time for me to lose my nerve. I paired the boots with the same denim skirt I’d worn to flirt with Erik and Kyle, and I topped that with a fitted plaid shirt. May as well go all out.

Then I texted Jill to tell her where I was going and immediately received a response.

Jill: Yee Ha! Get it, girl!

I snickered and put the phone in my back pocket. No room for a purse tonight if I was on my own and dancing. I secured my license, some cash, and a credit card in my front pocket and was on my way.