Gaining Miles (Miles Family #5)(10)

She took a drink of her wine before answering. “Well… I’m dating someone.”

I gasped and sat up a little straighter. “You are? Tell me.”

“His name is Jack Cordero. I’ve known him for several years, but just as an acquaintance, really. He asked me to dinner a few weeks ago. I was so surprised I spilled water all over him. It was embarrassing.”

“Oh no,” I said, laughing.

“Not my finest moment. But even after that, he still wanted to go out. And we’ve seen each other almost every day since.”

“That’s wonderful,” I said. “What does he do?”

“He’s a cop. He spent most of his career with the Seattle police department. He was married once before, but they never had children. They divorced eleven years ago. Obviously, I checked. Then, a few years ago, he moved out here.”

“I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks,” she said. “I’m not getting ahead of myself. It’s early. But I like him a lot. I haven’t introduced him to Elijah yet, but Grace knows him. She gave him her stamp of approval.”

“Good. That’s important.”

“It is,” she said. “If this ends up going somewhere, my kids need to be okay with it. More than okay with it. But… I don’t know, Shannon, I have a feeling about him.”

I took another sip of wine. “I think it’s wonderful.”

She took a drink, then held up her glass. “This is so good. You have a gift.”

“Thank you.”

“What about you?” she asked, setting her glass down. “Have you thought about dating?”

I laughed softly. “Me? No.”

“Why not?”

“How much time do you have? It’s a long list.”

She sighed. “Shannon.”

“My kids aren’t even dating anymore,” I said. “Not really.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” she asked. “Don’t tell me you’re too old.”

“I am too old.”

She rolled her eyes. “Hardly.”

“I’m fifty-seven. Who starts dating again at that age?”

“Lots of people,” she said.

It was my turn to roll my eyes. “Do you know how long it’s been since I dated? I got married when I was twenty-two.”

“All the more reason for you to at least be open to the possibility.”

I took a sip. “I just feel like that part of my life is over. I got married and raised a family. Now my kids are starting families and I’m busy here.”

“I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with staying single if you’re happy,” she said. “And heaven knows being single is better than being with the wrong man.”

“Cheers to that.” I raised my glass and she clinked hers against it.

“But don’t assume your life is over. You’re a beautiful, vibrant woman. A good man could make you very happy, in all sorts of ways.” She winked.

I almost choked on my wine. “All sorts of ways?”

“Sure. You remember sex, right?”

“Vaguely.”

“It’s been a long time for me, too,” she said.

Yet another thing we had in common, and for the same reason.

“I can’t even remember the last time,” I said. “Not for sure. I kicked him out almost two years ago. But even then, it had been years.”

“He was failing you in every way,” she said.

“He was. I think the worst part is that I blamed myself. I thought maybe after four children, he didn’t find me attractive anymore.”

“Shannon, I’m so sorry, I—”

“No,” I said, putting up a hand to stop her. “Don’t. It’s not your fault.”

She nodded.

I grabbed the bottle and refilled both our glasses. “Now that you’re dating, does it make you nervous? The idea of having sex again?”

“A little,” she said. “But it’s exciting, too. Being with Jack reminds me that I’m more than a mother. I’m still a woman. I want to explore that.”

“Good for you.”

“You know, after Elijah, I felt a bit like you do now. Like that part of my life was over. How would I meet someone? And if I did, would they want to date a single mother? I figured a relationship wasn’t in the cards for me. But the moment Jack asked me to dinner, I realized my life wasn’t over.”

I was happy for Naomi. Happy that she was moving forward with her life. She was younger than me. She still had plenty of time to create her version of forever.

My situation was different. My life was different. And it was fine.

So why did I feel a hint of jealousy?

“Oh, hi ladies,” Zoe said from the doorway. Her dark hair was down and the tiny stud in her nose sparkled. “Sorry to interrupt. I was upstairs catching up on a few things and I heard voices.”

“Hi, Zoe,” Naomi said. “Care to have a glass of wine with us?”

“Gladly,” Zoe said.

I motioned for us to move to a table. While they took their seats, I got another glass and poured, then sat at the table with them.