Karen, Stan and Cailyn sat at a café near Cailyn's favorite playground. It was their fifth meeting together, and on the days Karen felt awkward going alone with Cailyn, she would take Will, Jack or Grace with her. Today it was Grace, who sat on a bench a short distance away, reading a magazine, waiting for them to finish their lunch.
Cailyn finished her meal and climbed off of Karen's lap. "Swing, mommy?"
"Yes, you can go on the swings. Aunt Grace will push you and then Mommy and Stan will be over in a minute, okay?"
"'Kay." Cailyn said as Grace walked over and took her hand, leading her to the swingset.
"So, how was your lunch, Karen?" Stan asked, looking down at her plate, which had hardly been touched.
"Well, from what I tasted it was good. But when you've got a fifteen month old, you don't really get to eat an actual meal." Karen said with sarcasm and a smile.
Stan smiled. His wife hadn't lost her sense of humor. Every time they went out, Stan found himself staring at Karen, thinking about how beautiful she looked, even more beautiful since the last time he had seen her. Motherhood really had changed Karen, and it was definitely visible in her appearance, and he could tell that she was loving every second of it.
"Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?" Stan asked her.
Karen was caught off-guard by the request. "Oh, Stan. I don't know."
"Come on, Kar. Let me buy you a nice meal."
Karen looked into his green eyes, the same eyes her daughter had. Maybe one dinner wouldn't be so bad. "Alright. I'll ask Grace to watch Cailyn tonight." Karen answered, standing up and walking to Grace and her daughter.
Stan paid the bill and made his way over to the three ladies.
"Hi Grace."
"Hi Stan. Long time, no see." Grace answered in a snippy tone. Karen nudged her with her elbow.
"I know. I want to apologize to you, too, Grace. I never meant to hurt anybody, especially Karen."
Cailyn turned her head when she heard Stan's last sentence, staring at Karen and Stan. "Hurt Mommy?" she asked Karen.
Karen stopped pushing her and knelt down in front of her. "No sweetie, it's okay. Mommy's fine." Cailyn nodded. "Slide!"
Karen picked her up and let her run to the slide. Turning to Grace and Stan, she began to speak. "Okay, this conversation is over. And conversations like it will never take place in front of my daughter again. Understood?"
"Our daughter." Stan said.
Karen stared at him. "Don't push me, Stan."
"Fine. Pick you up around 7?"
"Make it 7:30. I've got to give Cailyn her bath and get her ready for bed."
Stan nodded and said goodbye to Grace. Then he walked over to the slide and waved goodbye to Cailyn.
"Bye!"
"Bye-bye Stan!" Cailyn shouted as she climbed up the ladder.
Stan then turned to Karen. Unsure of what to do, he let Karen make the decision. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "See you later, Stanley."
"Bye Kare." he said, grinning like a teenage boy.
