"So Mark, why didn't your wife join us?", Chance asked.
"We got divorced and it's my weekend with my daughter", Mark said.
"Oh, sorry, I shouldn't have just assumed", Chance said.
"Its fine", Mark said.
"Hello", Elisabeth stood and smiled.
"Oh, that's Eve", she said excited.
Kris chuckled before taking a drink.
"Oh is this the woman you want to set Chance up with?", Joe asked.
Chance raised a brow. Nala looked between them. She wasn't sure how comfortable she was with her dad having a woman in his life that wasn't her mom. Elisabeth came back with Eve. She was pretty. Nala could tell her dad liked her, he sat up more and smiled. Kathan looked towards Nala, she could tell her friend wasn't ok with this.
"Everyone, this is Eve Torres", Elisabeth said, introducing her.
Eve waved. Elisa moved over to Chance.
"And this, is Chance Tomlinson", Elisa said.
He stood and held his hand out to her. They smiled at each other. Nala didn't like this. AJ noticed and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"This is my daughter Nala. Sweetheart say hi", Chance said.
"Why?", Nala asked harshly.
"Nala", her dad said, not liking her tone.
"It's ok", Eve said.
Nala stood and quickly made her way towards the front of the house. Kathan was going to follow, but AJ stopped her.
"I've got this", AJ said.
"Thanks", Chance said.
Roman shook his head. He couldn't believe this guy. He looked towards Nala's dad and saw the look on his face. He could tell he liked Eve but now that Nala was upset, he was pushing himself away from her. Leaving her at the table and joining Glen and Randy.
"You should go out and talk to her. She might listen to you", Kathan said to him.
"I can't do that. AJ followed her", he said, rolling his eyes while saying his name.
Kathan laughed softly.
"Are you seriously jealous of AJ? He's like a brother to us and he's important to Nala. After her mom died, Nala was angry, AJ helped her release that anger. She talked to me, we understood each other because we both lost a parent, but I still had my mom, sort of and my brother. Her dad was busy grieving and did his best to make sure Nala was ok", Kathan said.
"Kathan", her brother stopped her.
She looked at him.
"That's enough", he said.
She nodded. Her brother didn't like the girls sharing their pasts with people he didn't know. It was none of their business anyway.
"I think maybe I can help", Mark said.
He stood.
"Alana stay here with uncle Roman, I'll be right back", Mark said.
"Listen, I get it, you're a teacher and you want to help, but you don't know what's going on or the whole story", Mark stopped Kris.
"I might not know the whole story, but I do have a daughter and I know that when I move on and bring someone around her, she might feel the way Nala is feeling. Trust me, I can help", Mark said.
Kris looked towards Kathan, his little sister nodding. Kris sighed.
"Alright", he said.
Mark nodded and walked out front. He could hear Nala telling AJ she didn't want that woman near her dad because she wasn't going to replace her mom. Mark cleared his throat. Both turned to face him.
"Look man, I've got this", AJ said.
"Just give me a second", Mark said.
AJ nodded. He stood beside Nala. Mark pushed his hands into his pockets and hoped that what he was about to say, helped.
"I'm going to tell you the same thing I told my daughter. No one could ever replace your mom. Just like no man could replace your dad, but do you really think your mom would want your dad to live the rest of his life alone? You'll be leaving to college soon and starting your own life. Your dad needs someone Nala, being a single man, I can tell you right now that it's lonely", he said.
Nala wiped her tear.
"I'm sure it's hard to see him with someone else, but after a while, when you see how happy she makes him, it will be easier. Your dad deserves to be happy too", Mark said.
"My dad is happy", Nala said.
"Of course he is, because he has you, like I have my daughter. When she's not with me and I'm alone in my house, that's when I feel the void, just like I know your dad is going to feel when you go off to college", Mark said.
Nala knew Mark made a point. Her dad had stayed single for far too long and she knew that it had to do with her. He didn't want to upset her so he would stay clear of any woman who showed interest in him.
"I know", Nala said.
"Maybe just, give this Eve a chance. She seems like a good person. If Kathan's brother and sister in law are willing to introduce him to this woman, there has to be a good reason", Mark said.
Nala looked up at him and nodded.
"So I say, we walk back in there and you politely introduce yourself, also let your dad know that it's ok if he's interested", Mark said.
Nala nodded.
"So, are we ready to walk back in there?", AJ asked.
Nala sighed.
"If it helps, Kris told me about this woman and he says she's perfect for your dad. Sweet, has a little boy of her own, and hard working", AJ said.
Mark set his hand on Nala's shoulder and tilted his head towards the back gate. She nodded and walked back in with both men. She wrung her hands before walking over to Eve. Her dad watched her carefully. Eve smiled at her and Nala held her hand out.
"I'm Nala and I want to apologize for the way I acted earlier.", she said.
"Its nice to meet you Nala, I'm Eve and I accept your apology", Eve said smiling.
Nala slowly made her way to her dad. Glen and Randy sensing she needed to talk to him, walked away. Kathan joined Nala and Chance.
"Its ok with me if you want to get to know Eve", Nala said.
Chance smiled.
"I was just afraid that you would forget mom and", her dad cupped her face.
"No one could ever do that, ever", he said.
Nala nodded. He looked at Kathan.
"And you? Are you ok with this too?", he asked smiling.
Kathan nodded.
"I know Eve and she's really nice. I guess, if Nala and I had to pick someone for you, it would be her", Kathan said.
He nodded and hugged both girls. He walked away from them and over to Eve. Nala looked at Kathan.
"Are you really ok with this?", Kathan asked.
"No, but I will be and that's thanks to your man. He made some really valid points", Nala said.
Kathan smiled.
"And you need to talk to Roman. He's really jealous and I think if AJ even looks at you one more time, Roman is going to jump him", Kathan said.
Nala sighed.
"I did explain some of your closeness to AJ, but Kris stopped me. You know how he is about the past", Kathan said.
"He just doesn't want anyone to pity us and what we've been through. Its his pride Kaye", Nala said.
Kathan nodded. They walked back over to the tables.
"So Roman, are you single? I know for a fact Elisa has a few more single girlfriends she can set you up with", Kris said.
Roman glanced towards Nala.
"No thanks, I'm actually spoken for and I love her completely", Roman said.
Kris nodded.
"Why didn't you bring her?", Joe asked.
Roman opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't come up with something without lying.
"Enough, don't interrogate him", Elisa jumped in.
"We're not, it's a fair question", Kris said.
Elisa shook her head at him.
"You don't want the girls giving away the past because it's our business, yet here you are getting into his.", Elisa said.
Nala relaxed. Silently thanking Elisa for her interruption.
"What about you Mark? Newly divorced, I'm sure we can find you someone", Joe said.
"I'm actually seeing someone", Mark said.
"I would ask why you didn't bring her, but I really don't want my wife to jump on me again for interrogating you", Kris said.
Elisa passed by him, hitting the back of his head as she passed. Everyone laughed.
"Thank you Mark, for talking to our Nala Mary", Elisa said.
Nala flinched, they knew she didn't like it, yet they did it anyway.
"You are in my good graces", Elisa said, before kissing the top of Nala's head.
Mark nodded.
"And you Roman, thank you. I heard you were helping Nala get that scholarship.", Elisa said.
"You didn't tell me that", Chance said.
"I didn't want to say anything till I actually had it", she said.
Chance nodded.
"Baby girl, you're getting that scholarship", Chance said.
"She is, I'll make sure of it", Roman said.
Chance smiled at Roman and nodded.
"In that case, you're in my good graces too", Chance said.
Roman liked that. He wanted Chance to like him, because when it's revealed that he and Nala are in a relationship, he hoped her dad remembered this moment and accepted him. Mark was hoping the same thing with Kathan's brother and sister in law. He needed their approval and hoped he continued to have it when he and Kathan told them about their relationship.
Neither man was willing to give up the loves of their life, but they couldn't really ask the girls to give them up. Seeing how close everyone was to each other. Neither man dare try to ruin that closeness. The only thing they could hope for was a little room they could fit in with this family.