But I really needed coffee this morning.
Because she’d slept fitfully last night, her mind bouncing about, from things she should have said to Steven to things she shouldn’t have said to Hayden, neither of which helped her case when it came to the judge expecting her to be married soon.
If only she could move on emotionally from Hayden being the right choice for temporary matrimony.
I blame my long-ago romantic fantasies for that.
And if only Hayden hadn’t turned down her marriage proposal.
I blame Violet for that.
Her sister had broken his heart, after all. But reality was… Eve had no one to blame for this mess but herself.
“Mama! Grandma!” Katie shouted, dropping her crayon and holding up a picture for them to see. “Look at my unicorn eating a kitty cat cake pop! Chomp, chomp.”
Eve took a quick look, choosing to disregard the fact that the unicorn seemed to have eaten the cake pop since what looked like a cake pop stick lay in the grass. “Good job, bug.”
“Thanks, Mama.” Katie admired her artwork, smiling sweetly. “I want to show Daddy.” Katie had recovered from the rough patch before her parents’ divorce more easily than Eve had. “Can I call him?”
“No.” The last thing Eve wanted to do this morning was talk to her ex.
“No?” Katie frowned, an indication that Eve had protested too much. “Why not?”
“We won’t have time to call your father before preschool, Katie.” Mom gave her granddaughter a reassuring smile. “Now, go brush your teeth, love. It’s almost time to go.”
“Okay.” Katie scrambled off the kitchen chair and scurried to the bathroom.
My mom. My savior.
“Thank you,” Eve whispered.
Mom gave her a quick hug. “I’ll always be Team Eve.”
Eve liked to believe that blanket statement would still apply if her mother knew Eve had lied to a judge.
The coffeemaker began its productive drip-drip into the coffeepot.
Eve stared at it, clutching her travel mug to her chest. “A watched pot never boils.”
Mom stared at the machine the same way Eve did, cradling her coffee mug with both hands. “Coffee isn’t required to get through the day.”
“That’s never been proven.”
“Because no one wants to test the theory.”
They exchanged smiles.
“Something’s bothering you.” Mom gently tugged Eve’s high, neat ponytail.
“I’m a single mom. Something’s always bothering me.” Eve evaded the question. The coffeepot was half full. Eve pulled it free and filled her travel mug. Then she poured the rest into Mom’s coffee cup.
“I’m a good listener,” Mom reminded her.
“I know.” Eve gave her mother a side hug. “I’m just not ready to talk.”
“Maybe you should get on one of those dating apps.” Mom sipped her coffee. “You might find the perfect man to talk to.”
A man who wants an insta-marriage?