To make my life even messier, Aston didn’t want to give me the space he’d promised. He texted and begged, but I forced the issue.
I worked more, picking up an extra day a week. I busied myself with grocery shopping, lunch packing, and cooking new and exciting dinners.
When I could, I sent Piper to have dinner with Aston, Mara, and Little A. Aston didn’t like me sending her by herself, but he took what I gave him. When it came to Piper, he was desperate to make up for lost time, maybe even more so than with me.
He was always gracious—even genuine—and invited Tyler. At first, Tyler was in his own way, usually wanting alone time with Seth. I didn’t realize it at that point, but it was the beginning of an end for Tyler and his dad. Now they seemed to chat a little on the phone, go to dinner once in a while, but Tyler started spending fewer whole weekends at Seth’s and wanting less and less contact with him.
When I wasn’t working or cooking, I was either cleaning or organizing closets or going to Piper’s soccer games. Aston was always there, but between my warning looks and not wanting to upset Piper, he kept his distance, cheering for her and her team.
“Mom, you need to be nice to my dad,” Piper said one night while helping me make a Greek salad.
“Which one?”
“Don’t be stupid. Seriously, Mom,” she said while raising an eyebrow at me. “I’ll always be close with Seth, but he’s not my dad-dad, and you know it. Seth and I talked, and we want to be tight, but he knows I need to get to know Aston. Plus, he’s dating someone seriously, and she has a son and he needs to get to know him. Quid pro quo, or whatever he called it.”
“Wait. That’s a lot of information to unpack. He said that? Back up.” Setting down my knife, I grabbed a glass of wine, figuring it was needed, and told Piper to sit on the stool next to me. “Okay, slow down and tell me when all this happened . . . who said what, and all that.”
“You’ve been busy. I get it. You needed time to yourself, or whatever. That’s what Dad said. By Dad, I mean Aston. I’m calling him Dad now. We’re close. Texting all the time.”
“Wait,” I said, pulling my hair off my neck where I was starting to sweat. “Texting? How?”
“Uh, he got me a phone.” Her cheeks reddened. “He told me to keep it secret and to only use it to text him, and I listened. Honestly, I’m not doing any apps. But I want to be able to talk with my dad. And you’re always listening or rushing around lately.”
“He can’t buy you, Piper.”
“Mom! Don’t you know me? Jeez—”
I pulled her in for a hug. “I’m sorry, baby. You’re right. I’m being unfair. So, where were we? Aston got you a phone, and you text and you call him Dad. You could have told me. And when did you talk with Seth?”
I rambled, mentally berating myself for being so preoccupied and self-centered these last few weeks.
“Mom, look how you’re freaking out. That’s why I didn’t say a word about Dad . . . I mean, Aston.”
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, I’m not freaking out.”
“You are. Anyway, when I went to dinner with Seth and Tyler, Tyler didn’t want to go alone because Cherry—that’s his girlfriend—was bringing her son. His name is Chad, and he’s super cute. He really likes Seth. His dad died. Isn’t that horrible?”
“Yes, just awful. I wouldn’t wish that for anyone,” I said.
“Sometimes Tyler is sort of jealous of him, and honestly, other times, I think he likes his time with Little A better. Aston Junior looks up to him and wants to do everything he does. Anyway, when Seth drove us home, Tyler popped his headphones in and watched something on his iPad, and I mentioned how lucky I was to have two dads and Chad has none. I told Seth I’d be okay with giving him to Chad.”
“Piper, that’s not necessary.”
“Seriously, Mom, you have to stop interrupting me. Look, Seth knew what I meant. I’m taking time to get to know my dad-dad, and he’s making a life with Cherry and Chad.”
“Jesus Christ, I don’t know when things got so complicated. Pardon my French.”
Inside, I was torn up for Tyler. This couldn’t be easy for him, and I decided to schedule a mom-son date to discuss it this week. As soon as I finished this chat with Piper.
“Christ, sorry,” I said, repeated myself.
“It’s fine,” she said, her hair springing free from a messy bun. “Dad swears a lot too. He also said not to tell you that, but I knew you wouldn’t care. Look, I’m sorry about the phone. I can show you. I only use it to text Dad, and there are no apps. Maybe I can get some now that you know?”
She smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but giggle.
“You’re just like him, you know? Always have been. Equal parts stubborn, a heart too big for its own good, and the drive to do everything you want. It used to keep me awake at night, thinking about nature versus nurture. Do you know what that means?”
She shook her head.
“It’s the debate between your personality being crafted from your genetic makeup, who your parents are, or from the environment where you were raised. I’d think over and over in my head that you were a prime example of nature. Not only your eye color, but everything about you.”
“Oh. Dad did say I have a lot of him in me.”
“You do,” I said, laughing again.
“Which is why you have to give him a chance.”
“Did he put you up
