The CEO looked toward him.
He met her eyes.
Her mother looked between them with profound satisfaction.
The boy was eating potatoes and pretending none of this existed.
Dinner ended late.
The CEO walked the Single Dad outside.
His son had fallen asleep inside on the couch.
The sister was driving over to collect them.
The night was cool.
The CEO folded her arms.
“You survived.”
“Barely.”
“My mother likes you.”
“I noticed.”
“She doesn’t like anyone.”
“That cannot be true.”
“It is emotionally true.”
The Single Dad smiled.
The CEO looked through the window at his sleeping son.
Then toward him.
“Thank you.”
“Again?”
“For coming.”
“You cooked nothing.”
“I emotionally facilitated.”
He laughed.
She stepped closer.
The Single Dad felt the same nervousness from the bench.
The CEO looked toward his face.
He knew.
She knew.
Neither moved.
Then she said:
“I’m not asking you to forget anyone.”
The sentence stopped him.
He looked at her.
She continued:
“I don’t want to compete with your wife.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“I know.”
“I’m saying it because you seem to think caring about someone new changes what the old love meant.”
The Single Dad swallowed.
She had seen through him.
Too easily.
“It feels disloyal sometimes.”
The CEO’s voice was gentle.
“To whom?”
He looked through the window at his son.
“To her.”
The CEO shook her head.
“I never met her.”
“So I don’t get to speak for her.”
“But if she loved you the way you talk about her…”
The CEO paused.
“I doubt she wanted your life to end when hers did.”
The Single Dad looked down.
His eyes burned.
He had not cried in front of another woman since the funeral.
He hated that he might now.
The CEO stepped closer.
She did not touch him.
Waited.
The Single Dad exhaled.
“She told me to keep going.”
The CEO said nothing.
“She was still conscious.”
“Not much.”
“She knew.”
“She said…”
His voice failed.
The CEO waited.
“She said don’t let our son lose both of us.”
The CEO’s eyes filled.
The Single Dad wiped his face.
“I thought she meant don’t die.”
The CEO whispered:
“Maybe she meant more.”
He laughed painfully.
“Maybe.”
The CEO finally placed one hand against his chest.
Not romantic at first.
Steadying.
The same place fear lived.
The Single Dad covered her hand with his.
She looked up.
He leaned down slowly.
Giving time.
Choice.
The CEO met him halfway.
The kiss was soft.
Short.
Almost careful.
Then they separated.
The CEO smiled.
“That was extremely cautious.”
The Single Dad laughed.
“I’m out of practice.”
“I noticed.”
“That bad?”
“No.”
She stepped closer again.
“Just cautious.”
The second kiss lasted longer.
Still gentle.