The waiter soon brought their food. Becky took just a few bites, then Ryan suddenly heard his phone ring. "Shoot. That's my mom. I really need to take this, she's watching Ava…"
"That's fine, I understand.
Ryan got up and walked away. He returned a few minutes later.
"Everything okay?"
"Actually….no. Ava is running a fever."
"Oh my god."
"Becky, I hate to do this, but I really need to go."
"I understand. It's okay."
"I'll make it up to you. I promise."
"It's fine, I need to go home anyways." Becky got her keys and started walking towards her car. She fidgeted with her phone, trying to text Darlene, as she walked.
Once at the car, Becky's phone rang. She answered it, while she was fumbling with her keys.
Ryan walked out and was parked nearby as well. He ducked when he overheard the conversation.
"I can't tell him that when we've only been on half a date!"
"You know, Darlene, I do like him…but I know in my heart that he could do so much better. And maybe that's why it ended so abruptly tonight. Maybe he's starting to realize it, too."
"Stop." Ryan called out.
Becky abruptly ended the call. "How much did you hear?"
"Enough."
"I do think you could do a lot better."
"I guarantee you that my kid really is sick. And I like what I see here. Why would I want to do better?"
"I haven't been the same since Mark died."
"I get that. But Becky, he would want you to move on and be happy. You're insecure, and I don't get it, you're beautiful and you have a good sense of humor and you're smart and easy to talk to."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Really. I'm really sorry I have to leave but it has nothing to do with you. I like you. I'd hope there's more dates where I can get to know you better."
"Really? You like me even though I'm insecure?"
"I think we can fix insecure. Or at least work on it."
"I can work on it."
"Do you….wanna go home with me?"
"What?"
"I mean, what if we go back to my place, check on Ava? You can meet Ava, you can meet my mom, we can talk a bit on the way. And I can drive you back here to get your car."
"Well I kept tonight free….so, why not?"
20 minutes later…...
A tiny blonde girl came running up to the door, "DAAAAADYYYY!"
"Hey pumpkin!" Ryan said, picking her up. "Grandma said you're not feeling well?"
Ryan put his head to her forehead. "You're definitely burning up, baby. You need to go to bed."
"Mom...this is Becky. Becky, this is my mom."
"Hi." Becky smiled, "It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too."
"And this…." Ryan said, "Becky, this is Ava. Ava, this is Becky."
"HI!" Ava said.
"Hi Ava." Becky smiled. "Nice to meet you!"
"You're pretty!" Ava observed.
"Aww! Thank you."
Ava wiggled from her dad's arms and proceeded to get out her toys. Ava handed Becky a fake piece of food. "Yum!" Becky pretended to eat it, "That's sooo good! You're an amazing chef!"
"Don't eat the food!" Ava said, "First you have to cook it!"
"Oh! Well how do we do that?!"
"You put it in the oven! Duh!"
"Duh!" Becky laughed. "Okay, I'm putting it in the oven, how long does it need to stay in the oven?"
"Um...Okay it's done!"
"Wow. That oven cooks fast!" Becky laughed.
"Eat it!"
"Are you sure it won't burn my mouth?"
"Just eat it!"
"Okay." Becky laughed.
"You're great with kids." Ryan observed.
"Thanks. I have a nephew, and two nieces. My oldest niece is eight. My nephew is two and my other niece is a year."
"You need to go to bed, baby." Ryan said. "Want daddy to tuck you in?"
"Yeah!"
Ryan turned to Becky. "I'll just be a minute. Feel free to sit down or help yourself to something in the kitchen."
"Grandma will come tuck you in, too."
Ryan and his mom took Ava to her room. Becky stared at the various family photos on the walls, and smiled.
"Daddy?" Ava tugged on his shirt.
"What?"
"I like her."
"She seems nice Ry."
"She is nice, ma."
"She is beautiful, too. And good with kids!"
"Yeah. I like her. But I'm not so sure that she likes me."
Meanwhile…..Becky spoke to Darlene in a whisper over the phone.
"Becky...you know, it's not betraying Mark to move on. He would want you to be happy. He would want you to try to meet someone and start a family."
"Whatever. I'm not having this conversation."
"Alright but if we don't have this conversation, I'm going to group therapy and I'll tell him myself."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Wouldn't I?"
"I do kinda like him, Darlene, and I like his mom and daughter so far..."
"So go for it."
"It's too complicated. Not only do I have to win him over….but his kid."
"How old is the kid again?"
"She's Three."
"Well that's easy! Three year olds don't take much to win over! You're great with kids."
"I was playing with her just now."
"Perfect! Playing with a three year old is all it really takes to win them over."
"Yeah, until she sees me making out with daddy."
"She'll get used to it. She's only three. She's easy to guide. It would be a lot harder if she were ten."