Jenny didn't know how other mothers did it.

She had never really wanted kids. She hadn't written them off when she was younger, but she remembered always thinking she would be happy without them. The whole process of raising children scared her and she didn't think it would be worthwhile. What was the point of having a child when they screamed, cried and terrified you for their whole lives? How could you possibly love something that drained you of all your energy, time and youth and not expect so much as a thank you?

Motherhood wasn't for her. So, it was a surprise when she learned the man she was dating, Bill Thompson, had a daughter.

"I'm going to be totally honest with you here," he told her, on the first date no less. "I have a little girl. Sarah."

She remembered feeling nervous, hearing this, "Oh?"

"She's nine. Well, almost nine, and she's the light of my life," Bill said and there was a bright smile on his face – a smile Jenny had never seen on anyone before – and his whole face lit up. A kid on Christmas seemed depressed when compared to the radiance that beamed from this man. "Her mother's not in the picture."

Something about that smile reassured Jenny. Here was a man, raising a kid all by himself, and he seemed to be the happiest man she had ever met. A child made him light up, and if he had time to be out on a date, perhaps they weren't all time and energy suckers.

"I'm not proud of how I had her," Bill said, causing Jenny to lean in. "I'm really being painfully honest here, but I think it's important you know this stuff before it becomes… serious. If it ever does, of course."

"Lay it on me," Jenny challenged. After all, how bad could it be?

"I… Well, Sarah's mother is… I paid her to sleep with me," Bill said. "It's a dark time in my life, a time that I really regret. It's in the past, I haven't even seen her since before Sarah was born and certainly haven't paid for sex since learning I would be a father. You sober up pretty quickly when something like that happens."

"Sober up?"

"Uh… figure of speech," Bill said. "But I promise you, I'm not that man anymore. I don't want to be and I can't be. Not with a daughter. And I'm clean so… there's nothing you would need to worry about. But if it makes you feel more comfortable, I'm more than happy to get tested again and…"

"Whoa, whoa…" Jenny held up her hands. Usually, this would be the point in the date when she went running. Not only did this man already have a kid, but the mother wasn't in the picture because she was the prostitute that he used to sleep with? And now, he was talking about getting tested – a clear indication he thought there was a chance she might sleep with him.

And it was only the first date.

There should have been a red flag… or ten, waving around in her head. If her brothers were here, they would drag her out, maybe after punching the man in the face. However, there was something about Bill that seemed… different. Despite his sketchy past and a daughter Jenny didn't really want, she was intrigued. This was just the first date – a get to know you dinner to see if there was a potential for this to go anywhere. There were no real feelings yet, no obligations or commitments and he was spilling everything already.

"Why are you sharing all this?" she asked him, straight up. He wasn't pulling any punches, neither would she.

Bill took out his wallet and showed Jenny a picture of Sarah, "I love her more than anything," he said. "She's been through hell. She was raised by her mother for four years and… given what I told you, you have to know that isn't healthy."

"Couldn't be," Jenny nodded.

"But Sarah is… she's happy, and adventurous and smart. She wants to be an engineer. She doodles sketches and ideas for new inventions all the time and speaks in a language I can't understand when she tells me about them. I can't be sure, but I'm pretty certain she's already smarter than me in… well, everything."

"She's gifted?"

"Very," Bill nodded. "And she's social. She makes and keeps friends easily. She's a nice person – a real, good person. She's thoughtful and kind and… She's just… she's good, Jennifer. She's really just a good, well rounded person."

"Sounds like the perfect kid."

"She is," Bill smiled as he looked at her picture again. "She's the perfect kid and… well… can I be honest?"

"Aren't you already?"

"I want a mother for her," Bill said. "I mean… I'm not just on this date because I think you'll make a good mother. I'm genuinely interested in you. I want a wife too… I just… I don't want just a step-mother for Sarah. I want a mother. A woman she can count on, no matter what. Someone to answer the… um… lady questions for her… when it comes up. I mean, I do research and… if I have to do it alone I think I can handle it. My mom is always ready to help out too but… a girl needs a mother. So… I'm telling you this… all this, because I don't want either of us to waste our time. If you're dating me, you're dating my daughter and if you marry me…"

"I marry your daughter?"

"I want a wife and mother. Not just a wife and step-mother. Sarah is so open… I know if I find the right woman, it'll work."

Jenny had a out there and then. No one would blame her for thanking Bill for his time – for his honesty – and walking out of the restaurant. Hell, she was sure she could get away with throwing her drink in his face, or having a complete freak out. She was certain she would be more than justified.

Again, there should have been red flags, but instead, Jenny saw green. Maybe he had overshared. This wasn't something he needed to tell her night one, but something about his honesty felt refreshing. He wanted to make sure that any person he brought into his life, and eventually into Sarah's, would be in it for the long haul. After all, what woman, in her right mind, would stick around after something like that?

But the way Bill spoke about Sarah – how his face lit up whenever he mentioned her. How there was a sparkle in his eye that only shone when she said her name. No human who could have that much love for a child could be a bad person. No child, who could inspire that kind of love and care, could be worthless.

Perhaps having a kid wouldn't be so bad. Bill clearly had the father thing down and Jenny wasn't opposed to helping young girls become women. And she didn't hate kids. She had two nephews who she adored with her whole heart.

And though Bill was her father, and he had to say good things about his own kid, he had nothing but praise for her. He was a good man raising a good daughter. Jenny knew she would be a fool to throw this away.

"Well, it can't hurt to try," she smiled. Bill looked in shock.

"Wait… really? That didn't… you aren't going to run screaming?"

"Well, I don't have a parenting bone in my body but… I guess that's why it takes two to have the kid in the first place, right?"

"I have the parenting thing down," Bill promised her. "Well, it's not perfect but… I've figured out the hard stuff, mostly. She's my kid, I'll take responsibility for that. But… yeah. I want a partner. I want a family for her."

"If you're even half the man I think you are, and if Sarah is half as wonderful as you described, I think this will be worth it," Jenny told him. And she was right. Future dates with Bill promised that he was as amazing as her heart wanted her to believe. He was thoughtful, fun, kind, and though he always put his daughter first, Jenny still felt like she was a priority with him. When she eventually met Sarah, the girl was everything Bill described and more. Jenny fell in love, almost instantly.

However, despite the bliss, motherhood was wearing, especially when she was doing it alone. Bill handled all the hard stuff before he died. The discipline, the late nights, the doctor's visits. He handled parent-teacher conferences and figuring out how Sarah could get the most of her education without losing her childhood. When he was gone, that all fell in Jenny's shoulders. She barely had time for that stuff anymore, never mind the added challenge of having a superhero daughter. Often, Jenny felt like she was drowning.

How ironic that her first day off be at the beach?

Since Bill had died, Jenny felt like she had been running. Running errands, running back and forth to school, to the hospital. She ran around the house, cooking, cleaning. She ran her, and she ran there and, honestly, Jenny felt she was in the best shape of her life.

She needed this beach day, maybe more than the Rangers. They had the weight of the world on their shoulders, but so did she. This break was exactly what she needed.

"Hey," she heard someone say, and looked up from her book. She hadn't been reading it – too lost in thought over finally getting a day off. When she glanced up, she saw a man, a little older than her. He was pointing to the cover. "That's my favourite book."

She checked the cover to remind herself what she was reading, then smile, "Mine too."

"How many times have you read it?" he asked. Jenny shrugged.

"Not sure now. Picked it up ten years ago and always go back to it at least once a year. Though… I didn't really read it last year."

"No?"

"It's been a busy year," Jenny nodded.

"Not too busy, I hope," the man said, then pointed to the open spot on the towel. Jenny nodded. She didn't see the harm in letting him sit. He seemed nice enough, and it wasn't like he could try anything if she didn't want him too. A little ways off, she had seven Rangers who could jump in and rescue her if she needed it. "So, what's your favourite part of the book?"

"It keeps changing. Right now it's the Christmas chapter."

"Christmas?" he frowned curiously. "But nothing happens."

"I know," Jenny said with a laugh. "I guess when your life is so busy, it's nice to escape to a world where nothing happens. Where everyone is just… happy."

"I guess that makes sense," the man nodded. "Though I can't imagine how busy life must be to enjoy nothing happening."

"Do you have kids?"

"No. You?"

"One," Jenny nodded. "Or… one and a half. You know, I've never really thought about it before."

"A half? Do you share with an ex or something?"

"Uh… with her foster parents. It's complicated," Jenny said. "I have one kid. Though… at times it feels like seven."

"Seven?"

"Seriously, it's complicated."

"Sounds very complicated," the man said. "So… you're too busy for dinner, then?"

"I… huh?"

"I'm asking you out," the man chuckled. "I know we're at the beach but… there's no ring and… you said the thing with the kid was complicated so… I'm taking a shot in the dark here. Feel free to turn me down."

"Oh… uh… well," Jenny looked down the beach where Sarah was putting the final details on her sandcastle. It had been over a year now since Bill died. There was no way for him to come back.

Still, Jenny never thought about dating again. Life had been way too… well, busy.

"I'm flattered…"

"It's cool," the man said and got up. "I totally get it."

"It's not… I mean… I don't know?" Jenny frowned. "I know that's totally lame but… my husband died a year ago and… I haven't even thought about dating yet and…"

"Well… it is just dinner," the man said. "If you're too busy I get it but… we can't always be too busy all the time. That isn't healthy. I can be your excuse for a night off. If it doesn't feel right, no sweat."

"Sounds too good to be true."

"I saw you were reading my favourite book and imagined this might be a meet cute for down the road," the man said. "Of course, if you're not interested then I guess it wasn't meant to be."

"I…" Jenny looked down the beach again. Sarah's castle was gone and she was currently sitting on top of Calvin. From here, Jenny could just barely make out him shouting some apologies while the others laughed.

"You can have that too," the man said, seeing what Jenny had been looking at. "So? Yes? Or no?"