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“This is exactly why you shouldn’t tell the girls yet. You do realize that?”

“Oh, Mom.” He ignores my comment. “I’m so happy for you I could cry.” He gets up. “I need a hug from my mama.”

I rise and hold my son tight. I’m glad I told him, but whether I can trust him to keep his mouth shut remains to be seen. “I love you, darling.”

“I love you too, Mom.” He puts his head on my shoulder. “And I love Nora, too.”

* * *

It’s late when Nora calls. I’m half asleep in front of the TV, both my body and mind catching up with the last twenty-four hours.

“Hey,” Nora says. “How was your day?”

Since I became single again, it’s been rare that someone asks me that question at the end of the day.

“Not bad at all. Yours?” It’s good to hear her voice.

“I told Juan and Imani about us. Jay was shocked. Imani not so much.”

“I told Austin. He dropped by and I couldn’t keep it from him. So it’s okay. He and Juan can process together.”

Nora inhales sharply. “How did he react?”

“That boy thinks you walk on water, Nora. He was astounded, actually. He probably can’t quite believe that his mother gets to be with someone like you.”

“Surely he does. You’re his mom. He has first-hand knowledge of how special you are.”

If it’s her intention to make me melt, it’s working. “But I’m parent-level special in his world, which isn’t really that special at all. You’re Hollywood special. It’s not exactly the same for him.”

“You know that doesn’t mean anything, right? Being on TV doesn’t make me special, and definitely not more special than you.”

“I may need you to pass on this information to my children at some point.”

“Don’t worry, Mimi. I’ll talk to them.” I can’t help but wonder whether Nora ever will, not to tell my kids that she’s no more special than I am—they’d never buy it, anyway—but just in general, as my new partner hanging out with my family. “Do you want to come over tomorrow evening?” she asks.

My heart flutters in my chest. “Depends,” I say, while I actually want to scream a very loud ‘yes’ through the phone. “What time is your alarm going off the morning after?”

Nora laughs and it’s such a joy to hear her laugh like that, to have her lower her inhibitions. “I sleep in on Saturdays.”

“Good, because so do I. But just to be sure, what’s your definition of sleeping in? Is it setting your alarm for six instead of five?”

“No alarms. Not even the doggies. I’ll have Chad take them on a long walk and I’ll make sure we have the house to ourselves.”

“Sounds like heaven.”

“Marcy will be coming around before lunch, though.”

“Really?”

“I only take Sundays off from working out.”

“What if I make you an alternative proposition?”

“Like what?”

“I’ll give you a different kind of workout before lunch.”

“You can do that on Sunday,” Nora says matter-of-factly—no room for negotiation in her voice. “Remember when we first met and you made me change my schedule for you?”