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“Thanks for watching the game with me, kiddo.” Dad pulled me into a hug. “We could make a tradition out of this, you know.”
“It already is,” I mumbled into his shoulder, inhaling a scent that was as familiar as the freckles along my late dad’s face.
How hadn’t I realized Andrew and my dad smelled the same? Fresh like new ice, with a hint of puck rubber. It was as if my late dad was approving of my found dad. Like he was here with us now, cheering on Zach.
“Love ya, kiddo.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
Andrew pulled back and stared down at me with glassy eyes. “I’ll never get tired of hearing that.”
With a final hug, I followed Diane out into the chilly November evening. The promise of snow hung in the air, and I inhaled the scent as Diane opened the passenger door of her Volvo for me.
“No yacking in the Volvo, kiddo,” she warned, pointing a menacing finger at me, but her eyes danced with humor.
“If I yack, yack out the window. Got it.”
She laughed and closed my door, rounding the hood like Zach used to, and when she was settled in the driver’s seat, she turned on the car. Heat blasted into my face as Diane adjusted the seat, mumbling about Andrew’s stupidly long legs.
Diane asked how the game went, and she asked how my boy played. He wasn’t my boy for much longer. He’d come back to Hartford, collect his things, sayit was nice knowing you, thanks for your virginity, and go home.
Tohishome in Hempstead. Twenty minutes, or whatever, from the Serpents’ arena.
Diane pulled into the long driveway of 14 Willow Avenue, and my heart ached.
“I don’t live here anymore,” I whispered.
“Oh,” she peered over at me carefully. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry, Jessa.”
“It’s okay,” I admitted, and told her my new address.
How would she have known? Diane had always simply been my boss’s wife to me. She’d bring him lunch every now and again, making sure there was enough for me, but we hadn’t really talked much.
I knew she was a nurse, or maybe she had retired? She was too young to have retired, but I had never seen her in scrubs.
“Seven years ago, I wanted to try for a family,” Diane said to the silence around us. “I knew deep down it would never happen. My body…just wasn’t right for a baby. But I didn’t tell Drew. I didn’t want him to get his hopes up just so I could crush them when I couldn’t get pregnant.”
She peered over at me at a light, her face backlit in red. “I know this isn’t something you want to hear, but we tried. And I took tests in secret, carrying the burden of being…barren, or whatever they call it, on my own.”
“I’m sorry,” I began, but Diane shook her head.
“Don’t be. You’ve given Drew something I couldn’t. I can’t thank you enough for that. I hope you can accept me too, as I am, even though you still have a mom… I’d never try to replace her.” She chuckled. “I could be your cool aunt or something. Whatever you’re comfortable with, Jessa. I just would like to have you in both of our lives.”
I reached for her hand that was resting on the gear shift, squeezing it in mine. She peeked over, wearing a sad frown that slowly disappeared as I replied.
“I don’t have a mom. Not really. I know you would never try to replace her, but I don’t have someone like…that. I haven’t for a while. It’s complicated, but I’d be happy to gain two parents in one swing of a stick.”
She laughed, steering with her free hand into my driveway. Diane put the car in park, and she parted her lips like she was about to ask me something. I pulled her into a hug as far as the seatbelt would allow.
“We can go shopping and spend Dad’s money,” I whispered, and she burst out laughing.
“My favorite,” Diane said as I pulled back. “Thank you.”
“Thankyou.”
She waved a hand at me. “Go inside before I start crying like a fool.”
With a laugh and one final hug, I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out. I stood on the porch, opened the door, and turned to wave at Diane, my new mom.
