Tina and Dan walked out of the woods into the clearing that was their campsite. Sure enough, all three kids were up and sitting around the campfire, quietly talking as each munched on a bowl of cold cereal. As their parents emerged from the woods, they became silent, watching the body language of Tina and Dan, trying to gage what their mood was today. They all gave a sigh of relief at seeing their parents holding hands.

“Hey guys! I see everyone is up and ready for the ten mile hike I have planned for today!”

All three children whipped their heads toward Dan, their protests starting almost before he was finished speaking.

“You’re kidding, right Dad?”

“Ten miles, we can’t hike through the woods for ten miles!”

“I don’t wanna go hiking that far, Daddy…do we have to?”

Dan started laughing at the expressions on his children’s faces…shock, disbelief and absolute dread.

“Geez guys, I’m just joking. No ten mile hike today. However, now that we know that you are all awake, your Mother and I have something we want to talk with you about.”

Dan leaned down and kissed Tina on the cheek, whispering, “See, after threatening them with a ten mile hike, your news is going to be a piece of cake! Go for it!”

Tina smiled, shaking her head at Dan’s idea of warming up the crowd, so to speak. ‘Ok, he just gave me my opening…do what he said…time to go for it.’ She took a big breath and started…

“Well, something really wonderful and exciting has happened in my life, that I want to tell you about. However, before I do that, I need to share with you, some of my past.” Tina stopped to look around, and since she had everyone’s attention, she continued.

“Before I met your father, I was living in California, and I was married to someone else.”

This statement brought all three children straight up in their seats, turning to each other in confusion, almost as if to say, ‘did you know about this?’ In unison, they turned back to Tina, now totally curious to see where this was going.

“We loved each other very much, and were together for seven years, before deciding to part ways. It was a very painful decision, but at the time, it was the right one for both of us. It was kind of similar to how your father and I felt when we decided to live apart. That was also a painful decision, but as soon as he met Kathy, we knew that we had made the right choice.”

Tina looked over at Dan and Kathy, who had quietly moved up to stand beside him, and smiled at them both. “They are so happy together, and I know that we all love that Kathy is now a part of our family.” She looked back at the children, who were silently nodding their heads in agreement. She didn’t notice the tears filling Kathy’s eyes, or the extra squeeze Dan gave her hand.

“Well, the reason I wanted you to know about my previous marriage, is because the person I was married to…well, we ran into each other recently, and have spent the last two weeks reconnecting, and getting to know one another again. And, after spending this time together, we have decided that we would like to get back together…to be together as a couple…to be a part of each other’s families.”

Dani didn’t say anything, but smiled at her mother, knowing exactly who she was talking about. Well…she didn’t know for sure, but she would most definitely bet money on it!

“So, that’s why you look so tan and happy?”

Tina couldn’t help but laugh at Dani’s comment. “Yes, honey…that’s why.”

Paul had been listening with interest, still wrestling with the feelings that had popped up when he heard his mother telling someone she loved them over the phone. He really wasn’t to keen on sharing her with another man…and in his most quiet times, he admitted only to himself that he kind of liked being the man of the house. That would totally change if his Mom decided to marry again…but, he loved her so much and really wanted her to be as happy as his dad was with Kathy. Tina was always there for all of them, and she deserved to have someone too. Paul let out a big sigh, deciding that since his mother had a new boyfriend, he might as well find out as much as he could about him, since they will no doubt have to spend time with him.

“So…what’s his name? Does he have kids of his own?”

Tina hesitated and glanced over at Dan for reassurance. He nodded his head and smiled, encouraging her to continue.

“Well, Paul…actually…the person I was married to before your father…well, she is a woman, and her name is Bette.”

“A woman?” Paul looked at Dan with confusion etched across his face, then looked back at Tina. “You mean you’re not dating a man?”

Tina spoke very quietly, hoping that her children would hear the sincerity and love in her voice. “No baby, I am not dating a man. I am in a relationship with a woman…a woman who I love very, very much. You remember Bette, don’t you?”

“Sure Mom, how could I forget Ms. Porter? She let me drive her limo!” Paul grinned at the memory of backing the limo out of his aunt’s driveway. “She’s who you’re dating?”

“Yes.”

Paul looked into the fire, not saying anything. After a minute, he slowly started nodding his head, glanced up at his mother, and gave her his opinion of her new love life. “Cool.”

Tina was floored by that reaction. She had been confident her children would learn to accept the idea of her and Bette being together, but didn’t expect acceptance to come that easily…especially from Paul, as he was the only boy.

“Is that all you have to say about it, Paul?”

Paul shrugged his shoulders. “Yea Mom, I mean…as long as you’re happy. I liked Ms. Porter…besides, it’s not like you’re the only one doing that.”

“What do you mean…doing what?”

“Dating another woman. There are kids at school who have two moms, or two dads. It’s not anything new Mom. You know Sammy?”

Tina just nodded her head in response, still in shock over Paul’s ease with the whole thing.

“Well, he has two moms, and they are both really cool…and you remember Donny from my soccer team last year…he had two dads. Like I said, it’s nothing new…besides” Paul looked at Tina and gave her a shy smile. “I liked Ms. Porter, she was nice.”

Tina walked over and pulled Paul into her arms. “I love you so much, honey…thank you.”

Paul hugged his mother back, feeling a little embarrassed, but mumbling “I love you too, Mom.”

Dani waited until Tina had released her hold on Paul, before taking the opportunity to jump up and walk over to her mother, reaching up and wrapping her arms around Tina’s neck. “I’m so happy for you Mom. Bette is wonderful! I’m glad you’re going to be with her.” Without stopping, she let go of Tina and smiled over at Dan and Kathy. “Wait till you meet her Dad. You’re going to love her too. She’s beautiful, and owns the best art gallery in New York, and she has a really pretty daughter named Milaine, and she’s even going to look at my paintings!”

Dan started laughing. “Well, I guess there’s no question as to how you feel about this.”

Dani felt a little embarrassed by blurting all those things out to her father, but then gave him a big smile, not being able to hide her excitement about having Bette Porter as her mom’s girlfriend. “I think it’s wonderful Dad, and you will to, once you meet Bette. Besides, this is 2019. Our generation is so much more in touch with our emotions, and we understand that as human beings, we don’t have control over who we fall in love with.”

Dan just raised his eyebrows and shook is head, knowing he had to tease his daughter, but at the same time, completely impressed with her emotional development at the age of 13.

“Your generation, huh? Don’t you at least have to know how to drive, before you can have your own generation?”

Dani just folded her arms and stared at her father. “Don’t be silly, you know as well as I do, that I became part of a generation the day I was born! And…MY generation is much more open, and even though we are only in our early teens, we have already progressed so much farther than your generation has, and you are well into your 40′s!” She gave him a sharp nod of her head…and then, she couldn’t help it, she started giggling.

“Get over here you…” Dan pulled Dani to him and ruffled her hair with his hands. “Are you sure you’re my daughter…cause I think you’re way to smart to belong to me!”

Dani continued to giggle in her father’s arms. “Yea Dad, I am you daughter…but you’re right…my intellect probably does come from Mom’s side of the family!”

They all started laughing and Tina’s eyes filled with tears, thinking how lucky she was to have such a wonderful family…

Then she looked over and saw Alex sitting quietly, with tears running down her cheeks, and in an instant, felt her heart breaking.

tbc