15. A Lot Could Change

15

A LOT COULD CHANGE

“ A unt Chloe,” Tyler yelled as he raced over to hug Dane’s sister on Sunday.

It was a last minute invitation. One that he’d hinted at a few days ago because he wanted to talk to his sister about Sloane.

He’d never felt that way before, but there was part of him that felt like that crush came true and he needed to share.

Sad that it didn’t feel as if he had any male friends he could do that with.

Most of his friends were couples with Mel and him. Or friends from his residency and they’d moved on while he stayed at Duke once he was hired.

“How are you doing, Tyler?” Chloe asked. “I’m so glad you guys could come visit. I haven’t seen you since your Dad’s birthday. That isn’t right.”

He hadn’t realized it’d been almost two months since his sister saw his kids. She used to have them a lot more when she was helping him out, but she was married with a kid of her own now .

And what a two months it’d been. A lot could change.

“Dad said we could swim,” Tyler said. “I want to swim.”

Chloe laughed. “I wasn’t sure I wanted the pool,” she said. “But I’ve been using it a lot and Willow loves it. She’s napping right now, but if you guys want to put your suits on, you can go play in the kiddie section until an adult gets in.”

Both kids ran past his sister into the house with their bags to change into their suits.

“Thanks for the invite. The kids are excited. We didn’t have a lot planned because of my being on call.”

“It’s fine,” Chloe said. “You can come over anytime. There is no reason to wait for an invitation. I’m surprised Mom and Dad didn’t want to join you.”

“I think Mom did, but she knows how much I hate spending the night there when I’m on call and gives me the freedom to just do my own thing during the days.”

“I’m sure it’s hard.”

“Where is Royce?”

“He’s getting some work done while Willow is sleeping. He’ll be out soon. I got the feeling you wanted to talk.”

There were no secrets from his sister. She always saw through him.

“I did, but let the kids get in the water and settle.”

“Oh boy,” Chloe said. “You don’t want them to know so it must be about Melanie.”

“No,” he said. “Mel and I are fine.”

“Are you the only one that calls her that?” Chloe asked. “She asked me once not to do it.”

“She did?” he asked. “She’s never said that to me. I mean that I’m the only one who calls her that.”

Chloe shrugged. “No clue. No one calls her Mel but you and she got nasty about it one day.”

He sighed. “Why am I just hearing this now? ”

“Don’t know. I figured she’d tell you if she didn’t like it. Maybe it was just a special name you called her and she didn’t want anyone else to do it. That’s not a horrible thing if it’s the case.”

“Why are you taking her side?”

“No way,” Chloe said. “That will never happen. You know how I feel about her and what she did. I’m just saying I don’t want you to overthink it or worry and I shouldn’t have said a word about it so I’m sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ve always called her that and am not sure I could call her anything else at this point. She’s had no problem telling me things she didn’t like before so maybe you’re right.”

“Could be,” Chloe said.

Both kids came out. “Sunscreen,” he said. “Both of you over here.”

Chloe opened a cabinet she’d kept it in, but he had some in the bag over his shoulder. He’d get in the water next.

His kids lined up and he sprayed them down from head to toe, then they turned and he did the back.

They took off toward the little built-in kiddie pool. It was more like a spa, but the jets were not turned on. They knew the rules as they’d been here once before when the pool had first been installed.

“If it’s not about your ex, what is it?”

He waited until the kids were splashing and not so close to hear him. He and Chloe went and sat under an umbrella, him turning to say, “I’m dating someone.”

“Ohhhh,” Chloe said. “Seriously?”

“Yes. I need you to make sure the Fierce women know that so they get it out of their heads to set me up.”

His sister laughed. “It’s funny how that is the first thing that came into your head. Who is it? ”

“Sloane Redding.”

“From Sloane’s Spa?” she asked.

“How many Sloanes do you know?”

“Only her,” Chloe said. His sister was rubbing her hands together. “Can I take a guess how this all happened?”

“Sure,” he said, grinning.

“You got your massage, the gift from the kids, and loved it.”

“That was a given. I scheduled another. I thought I told you that.”

“You did. I’m glad because I get one monthly too. Not always with her, though I love her, but it’s hard to fit into her schedule with mine.”

“She is very busy. I scheduled a second one and then at the end we were walking out together as the last two in the building. I made a comment about getting something to eat and she did too. Before I knew it, I suggested we do it together.”

Chloe rubbed her eyes as if there was a tear in it. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Very funny,” he said. But he was pretty proud of himself too.

“Continue. You got something to eat and it’s late I’m sure. She closes at eight.”

“We just went next door to a cafe. We talked and found out we had a lot in common. I told her I was adopted.”

“On the first date?” Chloe asked. “I’m speechless how this happened.”

He told her more about their conversations and how she knew about his divorce and the kids. “I know you won’t say anything. I shouldn’t say this to you, but I trust you to keep this to yourself. ”

“Oh boy,” she said. “That tells me it’s something Mom might not like.”

He snorted. “I’m sure she’d have something to say about it, but I don’t want her to know. Not even that we are dating right now. It’s only been a few times.”

“Enough for you to tell me so you feel something fairly strong.”

“That’s an understatement. She was born into a cult.”

“Not what I thought you’d say, but we are the last people to judge where we were born. Why would you think Mom would?”

“I don’t know. I guess you’re right, but for now, I’d like to keep that quiet.”

“It won’t come from my lips. Can you tell me more or not?”

“Since I know you won’t say anything, I’ll let you know what I do.”

He explained what he knew.

“That’s impressive what she made of her life. I’d never know. I mean she’s got it all together. That is what I see when I look at or talk to her. She’s very friendly and open. But I guess she doesn’t talk much about herself.”

“No,” he said. “I even said that. I felt at a disadvantage, which is why I think she told me what she had.”

“You feel a connection to her, don’t you?”

“I do,” he said. “I didn’t even feel one this fast to Mel.”

“Don’t compare. You were young and we know how that all turned out. I know you beat yourself up over it all the time.”

“Dad,” Tiffani yelled. “We want to go down the slide. We’ll put our vests on.”

The kids had life vests too and could go in the water without him if his sister agreed.

“I don’t have a problem with it,” she said. “They will be safe and we are right here.”

The kids loved the slide last time, but he was in the water with them.

“Five minutes,” he said. “Aunt Chloe and I are talking and then I’ll come in with you. I promise.”

He couldn’t bring himself to let them in alone just yet.

“So I’ve got five minutes to find out anything else I can,” Chloe said. “Other than how you feel. She’s seen Tiffani before.”

“She has. They didn’t formally meet, but she said she talked to you when Mom and Tiffani were with you.”

“Are you thinking of letting her meet the kids?”

“Not yet,” he said. “I know they’ve met Mel’s latest and they don’t like him much.”

“What’s going on there?” Chloe asked.

“Nothing major. Just that he doesn’t like them around when he’s there. Mel says she includes them, but the kids say otherwise. It’s hard to tell what is going on, but I made her aware of what they think.”

“Did she think you were jealous?”

“No,” he said. At least he didn’t think so. It’d been three years and he’d have no reason to be jealous over who his ex had a relationship with. It’s not as if Mel introduced the two men she’d been with to the kids right away. It was normally months in.

Which was another reason why he wasn’t doing anything soon either. “Then she gave some excuse why the kids were saying it,” Chloe said, giving him the stare she always did when she was on his side and against his ex.

“I’m not sure it’s an excuse. It’s a hard situation for them. You know Tyler would rather be with me and that is hard. We are doing the best we can with the kids. Tiffani is struggling for some reason.”

“She wants your attention,” Chloe said.

“I give it to her,” he argued. “But she isn’t going to get it nonstop. Life doesn’t work that way and I’m not going to push Tyler off.”

“You do a great job balancing it. But I think she’s getting to an age where she wants her father more than her mother. Why do you think she wanted to get you that gift card? She heard me talking about the massages and how great it felt. She said that you need to smile like that and feel that way too.”

“I wish you’d told me sooner,” he said.

“Why?” Chloe said. “I found it sweet. I bet she loves you made another appointment. Did you tell her you made a third?” Chloe was grinning. “You know darn well she’d love it.”

“I didn’t tell her.”

“Then do it,” Chloe said. “I’ve got one scheduled in two weeks. Before your next one.”

“And you’re going to talk to Sloane if it’s with her, aren’t you?”

“You are my big brother,” Chloe said, laughing. “The one that always stood up for me with Mom and Dad. I’ve got to see what her intentions are.”

“No,” he said. “Please don’t.”

“Relax,” Chloe said. “You should know of all people I’d never do that.”

“I was hoping you were joking.”

“Dad!!!!!” Tiffani yelled. “Is it five minutes yet?”

He looked at his watch. “One more minute,” he fibbed.

“I’m counting to sixty,” Tiffani yelled.

“Now you’ve done it,” Chloe said .

“Guess I should go get my suit on.”

He’d said more than he thought he would anyway.

“You mentioned Diane and Carolyn,” Chloe said. “What am I supposed to tell them exactly?”

“That I’ve got a girlfriend. No reason to set me up.”

Chloe cleared her throat. “Sure. They will stay out of it now.”

He didn’t like the look his sister was giving him, but there was nothing he could do about it.

He was doing this on his own and no one was going to claim otherwise.