On My Own Time

Chapter 1

When my mother decided to start dating again, I was alright about the idea. I was still hurt about my father's death, but two years was what it took for my mother to decide that she needed another significant other in her life. The first couple of men were, well, they were pigs. They either wanted her for a night, wanted her money, or just wanted a place to stay. I told her to relax for a while because she couldn't just force love to happen, but she began to cry saying she needed a man's support.

When she began to lose faith, Daniel happened to walk into her life. According to my mom, he walked into the cafe that she worked at because he was running late for work. He never went there before but it was the closest place to get decent coffee before he had to go. My mother served him and from then on, he continued to show up. When he asked her out, my mother was reluctant because of her previous dates but she eventually said yes after he asked another five times.

About six dates later, they became official. My mother didn't let me meet him until they had put a label on themselves because she didn't want to bring a grown man into my life unless she saw the relationship heading somewhere. Daniel was nervous to meet me but he was kind and showed respect towards my mother and I.

"I like your mother very much, Diego. She told me about your father and I want to tell you that I, in no way, want to replace him as your father. I do want to be there for you and your mother though."

Like I said, he was kind and respectful. Things were heading in the right direction for my mother. She'd go on dates with Daniel at times while I stayed home doing homework. It wasn't until a year later that I found out Daniel had a son my age. My mom knew the entire time but they just didn't share that information with me.

She said Daniel didn't think his son would come to live with him because, well, he said his son hated him for ending things with his mother. That confused me because Daniel said the mother cheated on him with another man so I didn't understand why his son would be upset. The point is, his son was moving down because he got in trouble back at his hometown.

When he arrived, Daniel went to the airport to pick him up alone despite wanting us to go with him. My mother rejected the idea, telling him that that was a moment between him and his son. She did invite them over for dinner the next day though. It was an awkward experience but my mother tried to make it better. However, Caden, Daniel's son, was not enjoying himself one bit. They left earlier than expected with Daniel apologizing over and over.

My mother cried that night, worried that a future with Daniel would never happen. I wanted to yell at Caden for making my mother cry but I put aside my anger and held my mother until she fell asleep. Daniel showed up the next day with flowers and chocolate. He apologized to my mother many times and they went to the backyard to talk while I stayed in the living room doing homework.

It turns out that conversation went well because when they entered the house my mother was wearing a brand new ring on her wedding finger. I was happy for her but still a bit sad because of my father. Nonetheless, I congratulated them and made dinner for them that night. Daniel had explained that Caden demanded to stay home and he wasn't going to argue.

"I found a beautiful house for us, Christina. It's bigger than here with five bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. It has a beautiful backyard and front yard. We can move in there with the boys and it's only a five minute drive from the high school," Daniel said during dinner.

My mother loved the idea and it was settled, Daniel would buy the house and we would begin packing. That night my mother fell asleep with a smile I knew all too familiar, a smile she had when she was with my father. That was how I knew she was in love. While I missed my father, I knew he would want her happy and I'm glad she finally was.