Free Love From the Ashes by Cheryl Persons

girl.”
    “You can tell that, after one week?”
    “Call it intuition, but yes.”
    He laughed.  “Well, I’m glad she has made a good impression.  I only have one concern, as of right now.”
    “Is the concern with Kari?  I hope it’s not with me being her teacher.”
    He laughed.  “No, definitely not.  It’s actually with my oldest, Bethany.”
    She frowned and sipped on her water.  “What about Bethany?”
    “I just wish I could slow down the aging process.”  He snickered.  “That’s not going to happen.”
    “There are a lot of parents that would feel that way.  Unfortunately you’re stuck with her getting older and wiser, beyond her years.”
    “That’s just the point.  She thinks she knows more than me.”
    “I’m not a parent; so I can’t even pretend I understand, but isn’t that her job.  I mean, she will be a teenager next year.”
    He groaned.  “Don’t remind me.”
    Rebecca laughed.  “You don’t mean that; surely you understand that it’s all a part of the growing up phase.  She can’t be your little girl forever.”
    “Yeah; I hear ya.  However, now I have to fight with her on this dance that the 8 th grad has every year.  I don’t know how I’m going to convince her she can’t go.”
    “Why would you want to?  The 8 th grade Christmas dance is the highlight of their year.  You wouldn’t want to deprive her of the experience; would you?”  He just stared at her; he didn’t think anyone would understand his reasoning.  “Besides, I chaperone every year; the kids have a ball.  You play your cards right and you could chaperone too.”
    “Oh yeah; she would love that.”
    Rebecca smiled.  “Well, maybe you’re right.  The point is you need to let her explore her surroundings.  She has to have wings to fly.  I see that you are a great father Thomas, but maybe just a little overprotective.”
    “Just a little?”  He chuckled.  He knew he was overprotective, but he didn’t know how to change that.  “When any of my kids have a problem with the decision I make, they tend to throw it in my face that their mother would do better.”
    “Even if Scarlett was still around, they would probably still do that.  It’s a kid’s prerogative to pit one parent against the other.”  Thomas had never really thought about that; she did have a point there.  “So, it doesn’t have any basis on whether you’re a good parent or not.  It’s just something they do.”
    “That makes sense.”
    She laughed.  “After working with kids for 7 years, you learn to think like them.”
    “It’s been a stressful couple of weeks; I tend to let a lot of things look worse than they are.”
    “How are you handling the move?  It can’t be easy.  Yet, I only hear about the kids and their transition.  Which don’t get me wrong, I understand, I was just curious how you are adjusting?”
    “I made this move, for two reasons.  One, I was hoping it would help me get my mind off of all of the memories.  Secondly, I thought it would be a help to the children.  The y love Cassie and Seth and when they offered to help watch them, it was a miracle.  My parents, with the help of Scarlett’s parents, watched them when I was at work.  They’re not getting any younger, and my hours were continuing to get longer.  So, one night I was venting to Seth about my problems.  Before I knew it, they had me moving to Dallas.  Cassie would watch the children, whenever I needed her to.  I didn’t feel I could pass up the offer.”
    “You’re happy with the arrangement?”  Thomas only had to think briefly of that; it was working out great.
    “Cassie said she is able to keep an eye on the younger kids while working.  I get the older ones from school; which I am trying faithfully not to be late again.”  She smiled.  “We then go pick them up from Cassie and go back to the Bed and Breakfast.  However, tomorrow we can move into the new house.  It’s worked out