What Now, Dad?

"And if I feel like shagging you senseless right now?"

"Trust your feelings."

My sons were getting curious about the situation too.

"So, dad, when are we going to meet this girlfriend of yours?"

My older son sneered.

"Haven't you caught on, Steve? He pretends to have a girlfriend to keep real women away from him. She doesn't really exist."

"The hell she doesn't!"

"Why haven't we ever met her, then?"

"The rule I heard is that you should be dating someone for at least six months before they meet your kids. There's still time left on that."

"Dad, we're not little kids. We're not going to go nuts about your love life."

"You sure? It's been a hard year already."

"We're sure, Dad."

I invited Kate to the swim meet the next weekend and out for pizza afterward with the boys. For all their talk about being ready for this, they were pretty reserved and awkward when it came to actually meeting Kate. She got them talking about swimming, though, and eventually they got so interested in the conversation that they forgot to be awkward about Kate and me. As the months went on, she became more of a routine fixture. Eventually she started coming over to the house on a regular basis.

Thor's reaction to her was interesting. My German Shepherd recognizes two kinds of people in the world: to his family and friends he's a big, lovable goofball. Anyone else he's ready to kill if they threaten anyone in the first group. Not mean as much as very protective. When Kate first came in my door she walked right up to him, rubbed his ears and told him how handsome he is. The big dope ate it up and rolled on his back for a belly rub. From that moment on, I think he loved Kate more than me. My boys were still his first love, of course, but she ran a close second. Anyone who wins the trust of my dog that fast has to be a good person.

One night Kate was sitting at my kitchen island, sipping a glass of Pinot Grigio and watching me whip up a batch of paprika chicken for dinner. Steve wandered in.

"Hey, Dad, could you read over my English paper?"

Kate spoke up.

"Can I help? Your dad has his hands full and I'm an English professor."

No one does snotty like a teenager.

"I'd rather have my PARENT do it."

I glared.

"That's no way to talk to a guest! She's trying to help you! What's your problem?"

Steve looked abashed- he really is a good kid at heart.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Halvorsen. It's just that I really miss my mom and having someone else here feels weird."

Kate spoke before I could.

"Look, I know I can't replace your mom and I would never try. I really like your dad, though, and I think you're a pretty cool kid. I hope we can at least be friends."

"I guess we could try that."

Steve stuck out his hand, his chin trembling a little. I could see Kate fighting the urge to hug him, but she held herself back and took his hand.

"Friends, then?"

"Friends."

"So can I read your English paper until your dad has time to do it?"

"Well, OK."

By dinner time they had his paper whipped into shape to the point that I didn't actually need to read it. I went to say good night to Steve after Kate went home.

"Does Kate being around bother you that much, little man?"

"She's really nice. It's weird seeing someone else here, though."

"I don't believe that anyone has a limited amount of love in their hearts. Liking Kate doesn't mean that you love your mom any less. Wouldn't she want to be sure you're taken care of?"

"You do a good job of taking care of us, Dad. Why do we need Dr. Halvorsen?"

"I try, but it's not easy. Having someone my own age to hang out with helps me keep my head straight."

"You do get grouchy a lot less since you started dating her."

"Maybe Kate's good for all of us, then. Can you give her a chance?"

"I'll do my best."

Two weeks later he stormed into the house waving a piece of paper. Kate and I looked up from shucking green peas out of our garden.

"Dad, I got my first A in English! Look!"

"Nice work, bud, but I don't get the credit."

"Right, thanks, Mo...uh, Dr. Halvorsen!"

Kate had tears in her eyes, and didn't fight the urge to hug him this time.

"You can call me that any time you want, buddy. I would be honored to be one of your moms."

He was kid enough to squirm.

"Can I have more than one?"

"No kid has too many grownups that love him. Of course you can."

Chris glared now.

"He already has a mom, and she hasn't been gone a year yet!"

"We're never going to forget her, but it's OK to have other adults love you guys too."

"I don't need it! I'm late for swim practice."

He stormed out the door. I was pissed, but Kate put a hand on my arm.

"Give him some time to adjust. He's been through a lot of changes recently."

As time went by Chris did get more friendly toward Kate, but still had that touch of reserve. He never felt a need to hug her, and certainly never called her "mom" by mistake. When he went off to college at the UW, the atmosphere around the house sometimes seemed lighter.

As the months passed, Kate and I started talking more and more about getting married. It seemed like the logical next step. We knew we were crazy about each other and spent more time together than apart, but we also were both pretty set in our ways. Kate owned her house near campus and didn't want to give it up. We decided on a long, low key engagement, hoping that we all could use the time to adjust to a new family arrangement. Eventually, though, the long planned date rolled around.

At the rehearsal dinner, Kate called Christopher over. She had a slim, pretty girl with her.

"Chris, this is Anne, my head TA. She's a junior English major. Anne, Chris here is about to be my stepson. He's a senior in aeronautical engineering at UW."

Christopher's eyes bulged. Anne had long chestnut hair, big blue eyes, and a smile like a toothpaste ad that she was using full force on my son. I personally thought her miniskirt could have used a few more inches of fabric, but Chris obviously thought she looked more than fine the way she was. She extended a small hand and spoke in a quiet, musical voice.

"Hi, Chris."

His voice broke.

"Urk, uh, glad to meet you."

"So, Chris, tell Anne about that hovercraft competition."

Anne smiled gamely.

"That sounds interesting. What is it?"

Kate made sure the conversation was running smoothly and then suggested that they go get some refreshments. I pulled Chris back and whispered.

"Remember, the key to talking with a girl is to listen to her talk about herself. And James Bond wouldn't let his tongue hang out like that. Calm down."

His eyes hadn't left Anne's tight skirt and long smooth legs, but he was listening.

"Got it, Dad, I'm not fourteen any more."

"Could have fooled me. Good luck."

I released him and he shot after Anne like a heat seeking missile. I nudged Kate.

"That's quite a bribe there."

She punched me.

"It's not like that! I probably would have invited her one way or the other, and I figured they'd both have a better time with someone their own age here."

"And the fact that she looks like a Victoria's Secret model with clothes on is just a coincidence?"

"Look, Anne's a sweet, quiet, intellectual girl whose looks intimidate nice guys and attract douchebags. If you haven't noticed, your son is a handsome, charming young man. You and Kristen raised him well. They should have a good time together for the wedding, and if they decide to pursue it further it wouldn't be a bad deal for either of them."

"And if he acts sullen about his dad getting remarried the hottest girl he's ever met will never speak to him again?"

Kate winked.

"He really is a good kid. But now that you mention it, he probably will be on his best behavior."

Chris found me toward the end of the evening.

"Uh, Dad, can I borrow your car? I'm taking Anne back to her dorm."

"Where's your truck?"

He gave me a pleading look.

"Oh. OK, here's the keys. Where's your truck?"

"Behind the cart shed."

"Charming. You might want to clean the lipstick off your jaw."

Chris blushed and scrubbed at himself before he caught the look in my eye.

"Damn it, Dad, you got me again!"

"It's going to take you some practice to outsmart the old man. Just be safe."

He looked down.

"It's not like that, Dad. Anne's, I don't know, something special."

"I know that feeling. No pressure, but take it slow and get to know her."

Somehow I ended up having to drive Kate home in a ten year old Toyota pickup half full of hovercraft parts.

"So, how did I get so lucky to get a ride in this thing?"

"Your fault. You introduced Chris to Anne."

"So?"

"He's driving the girl of his dreams home, and figured a Saab convertible would look better than this beast."

"He's right. Didn't take him long, did it?"

"He seems to really like her."

"No kidding. They each managed to whisper their thanks for the introduction at some point tonight."

The next day Anne and Chris managed to sit next to each other throughout the ceremony, and spent most of the reception together either on the dance floor or talking in an out of the way corner. They left together and neither was seen again for the rest of the weekend.

That brings us to tonight- Kate and I watching our first grandkid doze in her crib at our Kalaloch campsite while Chris and Anne were taking a late night walk on the beach. If they ended up doing anything else I don't need to know about it. A young married couple should make the most of any break they can get from parenting duties and Kate and I love hanging out with little Kristen.

"What now, Dad?"

Well, you never know what the future may hold, but right now it looks pretty damn good.