For Lucy

I internally laugh. I’m not sure where her time went, but mine flew by in ten-hour-a-week increments that felt cruelly insufficient and always passed in a blink.

“Josh took the job in Chicago.”

Oh, Josh … stealer of my wife, imposter in my life.

“And you?”

“I don’t know yet. I haven’t told Lucy. But now that she’s dating again, I think it’s highly unlikely she’ll be willing to leave here before she graduates. So now I have to decide if I live here and visit Josh on the weekends for the next year or so … or if I’ll live there and come visit Lucy on the weekends. I can’t imagine not being here for Lucy. I can’t imagine not asking her about her day. And she’s not done with therapy. I don’t know when that will be. But I told Josh I won’t leave her if she’s still needing therapy.”

Instead of telling her that I can handle it, which is what I want to say, I play the observant friend. “Looks like you have a lot to think about.”

“What would you do?”

I chuckle. “You’re asking me? Really?”

She shrugs.

Now I really have to bite my tongue. I wouldn’t marry Josh. That’s what I would do. I would focus on Lucy. I’d put her first … love her more.

“I think you know the answer. You’re just afraid of it.”

“And what’s the answer?”

“If I tell you, then the decision won’t truly be yours. You have to make this decision, and no one can make it for you. No one else can be your excuse if you regret your decision later.” I stand and disappear down the hallway.

“Where are you going?”

I return with Mancala and unfold the board on the table.

“Wow. I haven’t played this in years.” She grins as I sort the stones.

On our epic pre-marriage road trip, we played Mancala all the time.

“I assume you’re staying here until Lucy gets home.”

Tatum gives me a look that confirms I know her very well.

“So I thought we could do something besides plan your future.”

With another man. I don’t say that, of course.

Three hours of Mancala, and two bags of microwave popcorn later, we hear a car pull into the driveway. Tatum jumps up and runs toward the window. I shut off the lights.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

“If you’re going to spy on her, you can’t have the lights on so she sees you spying on her.” I stand behind her and gawk at my daughter and Racer in his car. It’s too dark to see much until one of them opens a door just enough for the lights in the car to illuminate.

“She’s smiling,” Tatum whispers as if Lucy can hear us. “That means she had a good time.”

“Or that means she’s really relieved the date is over.” I offer a better explanation.

“No. I know that smile. She’s smitten. Oh … look …”

I wrinkle my nose. I don’t want to look at Racer leaning over to kiss my Lucy. “I think that’s long enough. He doesn’t need to clean her teeth with his tongue.”

Tatum giggles. “Stop … it’s just a kiss. Looks like a good kiss.”

Racer’s hand slides from her face to her neck, from her neck to her shoulder, from her shoulder to her …

“Time’s up!” I rush to the front door and turn on the living room lights, and I flash the outdoor lights several times like an emergency signal.

“Emmett! What are you doing?”

“Teaching the kid a lesson. A kiss. That’s all he should expect on a first date.”

“You’re embarrassing her. That’s not teaching him a lesson. You offered her a condom, Emmett. What did you think they were going to do with a condom?”

“Nothing in my driveway.” I watch Lucy get out of the car. At least Mr. Handsy has the decency to open her door and help her.

“Get away now.” Tatum pulls my arm, dragging me away from the window and down the hallway just enough to keep us out of sight as they walk to the front door.

I cross my arms over my chest and eye her. “Now I can’t see if he’s making a move on her again.”

“I doubt he’s going to grope her at the front door with all the lights on.”

“I groped you in very well-lit, public places.”

Her cheeks pink. “I think now that I’m officially engaged, we should refrain from discussing things we did in the past. It’s disrespectful to Josh.”

“Josh isn’t here. Or …” I cock my head. “Are you under an obligation to discuss everything we do or talk about? Come to think of it … does he know you’re here?”

Tatum averts her gaze, wetting her lips. “He’s working tonight. He knows Lucy has a date.”

“And that you were planning on staying with me, alone, until she got home from her date?”

“I didn’t know I was staying with you until she got home. You’re the one who got the game out and popped popcorn.”