I love my daughter. I truly do, but I’d be lying if I said that I’m not disappointed about seeing Nicole. Maybe after she and I get to know each other, I’ll be able to spend time with both of them together.
My brain is telling myself that there isn’t a rush to get to know Nicole, while my heart is telling me not to waste precious time.
This woman has me all twisted up, and I haven’t even kissed her yet. Shaking the thoughts from my head, I fill Lucy in on the change of plans. Of course, she is thrilled to spend another night with me. I ask her if she wants to go see her Aunt Chrissy, mainly because I need to talk to my sister.
“Yes.” She giggles. “I love my Auntie Kissy.” Her giggle makes me laugh.
“OK, go put your backpack in your room, and we’ll get going.”
My sister never answers the phone when I call, but miraculously she texts back immediately.
Me: You home?
Chrissy: Of course, what’s up?
Me: I have Lucy all day today and tonight and she wants to see you.
Chrissy: Bring the rug rat over. I haven’t seen her in three weeks.
Me: Be there in twenty.
It’s pathetic that I’m using my daughter as an excuse to get relationship advice from my sister. I’m not sure what I’m going to say exactly. I won’t mention any names. If Emily knows Nicole and I had a date, she would’ve told Chrissy.
Those two are always trying to set me up with someone. While I appreciate their love and concern, they are terrible matchmakers.
Pulling into Chrissy’s driveway, Lucy starts to unbuckle her booster seat. “Hey, remember we talked about not unbuckling until I tell you it’s OK?”
She hates to disappoint me, and I can see that she is worried that I’m mad. “Sorry, Daddy. I forgot.”
“It’s OK, sweets. Let me get out of the car, and I’ll help you.”
My sister greets us at the door with Lucy’s favorite puppet, Mr. Wiggles. My daughter squeals with delight and makes a run to Auntie Kissy. Sometimes I wonder why my sister doesn’t want a family. She is great with Lucy, and any guy would be lucky to have her. Of course, I’d kill any guy that touched her, so I never pushed her on it.
I follow Lucy and Chrissy into the living room, where it has been transformed into a whole fort for my daughter.
“Wow, Daddy, look. Auntie Kissy made me a fort with blankets and pillows.”
I smile almost as big as she does.
“I set up your little DVD player in there and put a new dinosaur movie in for you,” my sister whispers into Lucy’s ear.
“I heard that. It better not be inappropriate for her.” I give my sister the eyebrow.
She gives me the eyebrow back. “It’s rated G. I wouldn’t let her watch anything that would scare her, Daniel.”
I know she wouldn’t, but Lucy has been begging to watch any dinosaur movie she can think of.
“Sorry, I just know how persuasive she can be with the big eyes and pouty lips.”
Chrissy laughs because she knows it’s true. Lucy can get anyone to do just about anything.
We move into the kitchen and let my little paleontologist watch her movie.
“Alright, dear brother, what’s on your mind?”
She can always see through me.
“I had a date planned for today, and Serena fucked it up. I haven’t told my date about Serena or Lucy yet.” There, I laid it out, now I wait for the inquisition.
“Who did you have a date with?”
And here we go.
“I’d rather not say just yet. The point is, I really like this woman, and I’m not sure how or when to bring up the family situation.”
“Well, you must really like her if you are even contemplating telling her about Lucy.”
“That’s just it, Chrissy. I barely know her, but for some reason I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“Daniel, you haven’t talked about a woman like this in a long time. Maybe not since Serena.”
I blew out a breath. “Yeah, and look where that got me.”
My sister reaches over and places her hand on my shoulder. Here comes the speech about the divorce wasn’t my fault.
“You can’t hold yourself responsible for what Serena did. You never mistreated her or neglected her. She chose money over her family. That is not your fault.”
Deep down I know she is right, but I still feel like an ass for letting her get the best of me.
“So what are you going to do?”
Part of me wants to call Nicole right now and set up another date, the other part doesn’t think I should burden her with the shit that Serena pulls.
“Are you using Lucy and Serena as excuses to keep this girl from getting close to you?” she asks with admonishment.
Maybe.
“Look, dearest brother. Did you get a raw deal when it came to Serena? Yes. Keeping yourself from getting to know someone who may make you happy is fucking ridiculous.”
“I know what you are saying is right, Chrissy, but it’s hard to date with a kid. I just don’t know how to approach it with this girl.”
“Be honest with her. If this woman is not interested in you because of Lucy, then she is not worth it.”
Easier said than done.