“You do realize that you may decide that you don’t want us to be together? I have changed too Bette and those changes may not be ones that you are comfortable with.”

“I know that you’ve changed too. I hope that you have. I loved you then but seeing you parent Angie and seeing you at work, I see new parts of you. I think those new along with your old will compliment my new. We’ll just see. All I could do was put it out there. I’m glad you’re willing to consider us as a possibility at some point. In addition to thanking you though, I’m calling for two reasons then I’ll let you go get some sleep. Is that ok?”

“Of course it is. What are the other reasons?”

“Well, I told the girls that I was going to try to get back with you and then as I was debating on calling you I realized that if we start to date again, that might be a lot of pressure on us from them. Would it be ok to use your babysitter and maybe some students from school that I’ve used when we go out to keep them from knowing immediately? I love them all but I don’t want to have to have them be such a part of us trying to reconnect. They mean well but they do put some pressure on us to succeed when I don’t think we need more pressure.”

“Oh Bette I think that would be a great idea. You’re right. As much as they love us, they would put pressure on us when we don’t need pressure. I think that we are going to continue having some emotional conversations over time and may get mad at one another and they could misinterpret that. I’m not sure how long we can keep anything from them though especially with family night starting again. Remember that your child likes to talk and has no secrets.”

Laughing I replied to her, “Why is it when Angie is being brilliant she is your daughter and when she is being a pain in the ass she’s mine?”

“Why would I claim her if she’s being a pain in the ass? Come on Bette you don’t think that I am not going to take all credit for her brilliance do you?”