"Dinner's in the fridge," Jenny said as she raced around her bedroom, trying to find the right earrings for her outfit. She wanted to impress, but not too much. She wanted to keep herself open to whatever might happen, without accidentally leading her date, Jesse, to thinking she wanted something she didn't.

On the bed, Sarah sat. She had been no help to Jenny in getting ready for her night out. In fact, she had been silent since they returned home from the beach and Jenny told her about the date. When Sarah didn't respond about dinner, Jenny turned to her, "It's one night out, Sarah."

"I'm not calling him dad."

"I'd never expect you too," Jenny said with a sigh, then sat down on the bed. "It's just a night out."

"With a man who asked you on a date. The last time you went on a date, you married him and I started calling you mom. But I draw the line at a step-step-parent."

"Sarah…"

"Dad's only been dead a year! We weren't even sure he was dead that whole time and…"

"I love your father," Jenny promised. "More than anything. You know that."

"But you'll replace him with a guy who has the same book as you?"

"Jesse seemed sweet. And getting out of the house today did feel good."

"So, let's do it again," Sarah grumbled. "Forget about having dinner with my daughter. Forget about the husband I was married to for six years…"

"I'm not forgetting about your father."

"I'm gonna fuck the first man to show any interest."

"Sarah!" Jenny shouted and stood up. She glared at her daughter. "I'm going out for one night. It's well deserved after everything I've been through."

"I hope the babies are at least cute," Sarah muttered before she stormed out. Jenny sighed as she dropped back down onto her bed.

"Motherhood sucks," she said. She reached for her phone, ready to cancel the date. Clearly this had upset Sarah, and Jenny couldn't blame her. It hadn't been long since Bill died and it was always going to be difficult to move on from that, especially when moving on included the potential of bringing in a new man. Part of Jenny hoped that since Sarah had already done the step-parent thing once, she would be more open to it.

Clearly, that wasn't the case.

However, Jenny couldn't bring herself to type the cancellation text. Just the thought of leaving the house again felt good. Being away from her responsibilities, not needing to be a mother for… just a couple of hours…

No. Suddenly, the cancellation text was easy to write and even easier to send. Bill never put anything above being a father. He was committed to it 24/7, and Sarah was happier for it. Being a mother meant never putting it on the back burner – never leaving.

But Jenny would still go out. She was so desperate for it, she had been willing to leave with a stranger – she might as well go out by herself. She knocked on Sarah's bedroom door to let her know of the change in plans, but Sarah wasn't there. Jenny checked downstairs and saw her hoverboard was gone.

"I'll let it go this time," she said. She sent her daughter a text to let her know she would be heading out, not on a date, and then left the house.

She wasn't sure where she would go. She was dressed up, so maybe dinner by herself. She knew what restaurant to avoid so she wouldn't have to see Jesse. Or maybe she would see a movie? It had been a long time since she had seen a movie.

She pulled into the theatre parking lot and made her way inside. She bought a ticket to whatever was screening earliest and then went in line to buy snacks.

"Jenny?" she heard a familiar voice say. At first she was worried that after being cancelled on, Jesse had the same idea as her. However, when she turned around, she saw Dane.

"Oh, thank god," she said and placed her hand over her heart. "You scared me."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to sneak up on you," Dane chuckled. "I guess when you've been a ninja for so long, you forget how not to be sneaky."

"That would explain my brother," Jenny nodded, "But that's not it. I cancelled a date tonight and thought I'd run into him again."

"You cancelled a date?"

"I needed a night out," Jenny said and just the way it came out, she sounded exhausted. Her shoulders deflated and she looked around at the theatre. "Oh god, I needed this."

"Sounds like you do," Dane nodded. "So then why cancel the date?"

"Sarah wasn't happy about it."

"Oh."

"And then I felt like a shit mother," Jenny admitted. "I mean, what kind of parent goes out with a stranger just to get a night away from their kid?"

"Excluding the stranger part… I think every parent does," Dane chuckled. "I know I did."

"Yeah… but with a random stranger?"

"You're allowed to date," Dane smirked. "You can have a good time, you know. Sarah will come around."

"She was livid."

"She's… what, sixteen?"

"Seventeen."

"Of course she's livid," Dane said. "But, you know, your kids can be mad at you."

"I know."

"But if you need a night off, take it. You'll actually be a better parent for it."

"You think?"

"You can't do anything right if you're too tired to think straight. Or so tired, you're considering leaving your daughter for the night to go out with a complete stranger. Though… that is how a date works, you know. You start off as strangers."

"I know…"

"Are you ready to start dating?"

"I… I don't know," Jenny said. "I didn't really think about it until it happened. I don't know if I ever want to date again, especially if this is Sarah's reaction."

"Well, what do you think?"

"Does it matter?"

"Sarah's seventeen. She's got her own girlfriend and, like it or not, she'll need you less and less as a mother. She'll always need you but… she'll have a family of her own someday. Will you really be happy all alone when that time comes?"

"I never thought of it?"

"You don't have to jump on the dating wagon right away," Dane said. "After my wife died, I never considered it either but now that I'm back and the boys are older… what'll hurt, having someone else around? If I like their company, and if they get along with the boys, why not?"

"You think Sarah will ever come around to the idea of me replacing her father?"

"No," Dane shook her head. "But maybe she'll come around to the idea of you not being alone. Don't replace your husband. I'd never replace my wife. Just… find someone who makes you feel alive again."

"That's good advice," Jenny nodded. "Maybe… maybe I'll talk with her about it before my next date. You know, in ten or so years."

"Always a good idea to keep them in the loop," Dane said. "So, are you a popcorn fanatic too?"

"I can't see a movie without some," Jenny nodded.

"How about we get the large and split it?" Dane suggested. "Save us both a little money. The prices here are outrageous!"

"Are we even seeing the same movie?" Jenny asked and checked her ticket. Dane took out his. Jenny smiled, "Well, what are the odds?"

"So… the popcorn?"

"Sounds like a good idea," Jenny smiled.