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Ethan and I exchange amused looks, trying to hold back our laughter as Ryan turns away, struggling to answer.
This should be good.
“The right time never came,” he finally mumbles with a shrug. I pretend to shake it off, but it leaves a lingering ache.
Sensing the awkwardness, Ethan stands and suggests, “How about we go down to the hotel restaurant and have some ice cream, huh?”
“Can Aunt Mia and Uncle Ryan come?” Senna asks eagerly.
Ethan shakes his head. “Uncle Ryan needs to finish unpacking, but Aunt Mia can come.”
“Gladly,” I mutter under my breath. I’m not that comfortable around Ethan, but I love Senna.
We leave the room and head for the restaurant, with Senna holding his father’s hand. After a moment, he reaches out his other hand to me, and I take it with a surprised smile.
Upon arriving, Senna eagerly starts placing orders with the waiter. It’s April, and warmer here in St. Louis than in Detroit, so I’m looking forward to the ice cream.
“Mint chocolate chip and chocolate chip cookie dough with sprinkles for me!” Senna exclaims, knowing exactly what he wants.
He turns to Ethan with pursed lips. “And rocky road ice cream for you dad?”
Ethan chuckles, “You got it, kiddo.”
With a grin, Senna turns to me. “What about you, Aunt Mia?”
I place a finger over my lips, considering. “I will take salted caramel and strawberry.”
The waiter leaves with our orders and a deep silence falls over the table. Senna notices that I’m not feeling okay. He gives me a thumbs up and an infectious smile, and I can’t help but grin back at him.
“I missed you, Aunt Mia,” Senna says, his big eyes full of concern. “Why don’t you visit anymore?”
I sigh, my shoulders slumping. “It’s complicated, Senna. When a boyfriend and girlfriend break up, they don’t have a reason to keep seeing each other or their families.”
“But mom and dad still see each other,” he immediately protests.
“Yeah, and your mom and dad have you as a reason to stay connected,” I explain. “The best thing Ryan and I had was a house plant that died.”
Senna laughs, and I join in. Ethan, watching us tenderly, surprises me by reaching across the table and touching my hand.
“I didn’t lie that day after the game,” he says, catching me off guard. “You do look happier now. Just don’t tell Ryan I said that, okay?”
He places a finger over his lips, directing the gesture at Senna, whose eyes are wide with awe and amusement.
“Dad? Can you get married with someone else after you get divorced?” Senna asks, his forehead creasing.
I startle, suddenly feeling awkward.
“Yes.” Ethan, usually confident, grows awkward as well. “But it doesn’t happen right away. You need to start over… dating, becoming boyfriend and girlfriend, then marriage. Does that make sense?”
“I think so,” Senna says.
At that moment, the waiter returns with our ice cream. We thank him and the conversation pauses as we dig in.
Every so often, Senna looks up from his ice cream to me. Before long, he asks another question. “Can you be boyfriend and girlfriend again with someone else after you break up, Aunt Mia?”
“Absolutely.” I don’t bat an eye, but inside, I’m shaking with nerves. “It just takes a while to start dating again.”
“Because it hurts, Senna,” Ethan explains quietly.
