Widow's Grace

3 - Vacation House

We got to the vacation house before midnight. The kids got settled in their rooms, and then we were all at the table eating pizza.

"Now that we are all settled, I just have one question, Ms. Alexa what were you thinking giving that man my number?"

"Mom, Dad didn't just give you a list of things to do, he asked things of all of us. Some things are private, some things are for the family, and some things are for you. But the one thing he did say I could share was this. He specifically told me to make sure you were not alone. You deserve to love again and be loved again Mom, he told me not to let you pass up on an opportunity, Cole Hunter could be an opportunity. He also said to give you a little push, that you would never be ready if it was left up to you, so this is me pushing."

As much as I wanted to object, I knew she was right, it had only been a few weeks though, it was still too soon. But I guess there was no harm in getting to know someone new. Besides it seemed that Allen had procured assistance throughout the family to make sure I did the things he wanted. I was annoyed and grateful at the same time.

It was January and cold, so there wasn't much to do outside but we spent Thursday and Friday playing games and having fun. Saturday was shopping, there was an outlet mall a few minutes away and this was my favorite part of these trips.

Aiden has never been shopping with me. "Mom, I really don't need all this stuff."

"Aiden do you have a ton of clothes and stuff at school."

"No"

"Then you clearly need all this stuff, you didn't have much clothes, or shoes at home either."

Alexa just huffed and turned to Aiden. "This is one of those times when you need to go with the flow, either you pick out your own stuff, or she will do it and buy it anyway, regardless she is gonna buy it."

"Gotcha."

By the time Sunday rolled around, we were all relaxed and ready to go back home. If you didn't know all that had happened, you would think that Aiden had always been a part of the family. I was glad that his transition was seamless.

We hit the road and got home in no time. It took a few trips to get everything I bought in the house. It had been a wonderful weekend with my kids.

Alexa was helping Aiden setup his macbook, ipad and iphone. It was amazing to me the archaic electronics this boy had. But as we talked more, he didn't want to burden anyone. Allen paid for his education and he thought that was enough. He wouldn't let Allen do anymore; I on the other hand was not having it. He deserved to have the same things AJ and Alexa had.

I walked past Aiden's room and saw that devilish grin on Alexa's face that she only gets when a cute boy is around. I was intrigued. I needed to know what was going on. Aiden was video chatting with his roommate and best friend Josh, and clearly Josh and Alexa were a bit smitten with each other.

I sat on the bed to watch this unfold.

Alexa had a plan for her life and a standard that she was not willing to compromise. And if she didn't think you met her standard, that was it, she would move on. She was not flexible about it at all.

Aiden laughed at this exchange, because he was learning more and more about his sister.

"Look Josh, your cute and all but I don't associate myself with just anyone, I have a plan for my life which includes medical school, then a job with the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security something like that. So those sexy dimples aren't going to be enough to win me over."

"Believe my sweetheart, I am a man with a plan, my future girlfriend and/or wife needs to have her game up, I don't do mediocre Alexa."

"Well it seems we already agree on something Joshua."