Chapter 2
"Hi." Her voice is so soft spoken. Her features are beautiful. Her brown eyes. Everything about her made me feel something. I don't know what it is but I've never felt this way before, in a long time.
She's staring at me. I'm staring back at her. How can I find my voice when someone so beautiful is in front of my eyes?
And then there's mom who stops the moment. "Hi. Can we help you?" Mom asked the young woman. We were no longer eye to eye.
"I just moved next door. My daughter kicked her soccer ball over your fence. I'm hoping I can get it back?" She asked. Of course there's a reason to be standing on my doorsteps.
Mom welcomes her inside. I nod my head. "I'm Finn Hudson." I introduce myself to her. She gives me a half smile. I guess that's better than nothing.
She follows me to the backyard. Mom stays behind with Chelsea so she can finish her snack. I look around for the ball. "It's pink." She warns me. It took me a while. My backyard's so big that I can even put a pool in there. I don't want too because Chelsea's still so young. Instead I have a swing-set and a trampoline. "Found it." The pink ball was under the trampoline. I clean it with my shirt. I didn't mind that I got it dirty.
"Here you go. All clean." I said handing it to her. "Thank you. Thank you for everything. My daughter would freak if I came back and didn't have it." She took the ball from me. We've been in the same to side together and I still don't know her name. "What's your name?" I finally asked her.
She threw the ball up and down. I knew she was trying to avoid the question. "Rachel." Bingo! I won a jackpot. "That's pretty! Rachel what?" I asked.
She slowly walks away to the backyard door. "Rachel, I've got to go." She told me. And with that she's gone. I run back inside to see mom and Chelsea color. "Mom! Mom! Is there a manual in the book about learning to fall in love again?"
"I'm not sure sweetie. Why?"
"Well, because I'm not sure what I'm feeling."
"What do you mean?"
"I felt something when I first saw Rachel."
"Rachel?"
"Oh, silly me. Rachel's the girl who was just here."
"Oh.." Mom responds. "She's nice. And she's pretty."
"Exactly mom."
Chelsea tug my shirt for attention. "Do you love her daddy?"
I thought long and hard. What do I tell my five-year old who never grew up with a mom? Can I do this to her? Can I date another woman? "I don't know baby."
"Granny's right! She's very pretty like a Disney princess." Chelsea says with a big smile.
"You think so? Which one?" I asked kissing her cheek.
Chelsea has her finger on her chin. She's defiantly thinking. "Belle! My favorite!" I give her a hug. "Did you give her back the soccer ball?" Mom asked.
"You bet I did." I say. "I think I want to see her someday."
"She lives next door daddy." Chelsea reminds me.
For a while, I don't speak. All I can think about is Rachel who lives next door that had to go. I'll see her again. Hopefully, someday. And that someday I'll get to know more about her.