Free Love Confessed by Amber Tracey

pretty horse. I loved that picture you painted of her the last time I was here for the day.”
    At this point, I’m kneeling on the grass speaking to her at her level, having a new understanding of how important it is for her to get attention from a woman. I imagine she is as affected by the lack of a mother as Ethan is by his lack of a present father. We have a quick chat, and as I get up and brush the grass off of my knees, Ethan tugs on my arm,
    “Mom, I’m soooo hungry. Please can we go eat pizza across the street, please? I’m starving.”
    “Oooh, I’m hungry too!” Abby nearly shouts. “Dad, can we go with them?” She asks, jumping up and down. I laugh at the way she pulls on his arm while she bats her eyelashes at him. She’s a daddy’s girl through and through, she’s got him wrapped around her little finger, and I can see why. She really is a doll. I’ve loved the interactions I’ve had with her in the classroom. I’ve always thought she was adorable. Beautiful, actually. Like one of those perfect little J Crew child models, if only her father would learn to dress her like that.
    Maybe, if he ever speaks to me again, I can help him pick out some clothes that a six year old girl would like. I thought the moms I’d heard complaining about how their husbands dressing their daughters like orphans was just dramatic housewife talk. Now I see that maybe there’s some truth to it. Poor dads. I’d also always appreciated the way she clung to me like a sponge when I was there – it made me feel special and I’d always tried to give her a little extra attention, able to see that she clearly needed it. Now, her closeness to me those few interactions makes all the sense in the world.
    Looking back, I can’t believe I never noticed her name, or seen the resemblance. Seeing them stand next to each other you can see she’s his daughter in every way except her eyes. She must have her mother’s hazel eyes and if that’s any indication of what her mom looked like, I can only guess she was gorgeous as well. I just found out in the meeting that she’s not around because she passed away giving birth to Abby. Learning that makes me want to hug Abby, to tell her I know how she feels not having a mom around. It also makes me want to hug Steve. The way he looks at Abby, there’s no doubt that she’s his entire world. And the look in her eyes shows exactly what a great dad he is.
    “Leah?”
    Steve snaps me out of my reverie and I look at three expectant faces awaiting my answer to a pizza date. The pizza date from hell! But I’ll have to face him sooner or later so I may as well get it over with.

6 Steve
     
    I’m not going to lie. I was in a dangerous protective daddy bear mode when I stuffed myself into that tiny blue desk. I was ready to fight it out for my daughter. I looked up to the opening door ready to be a very bad example in problem solving for my Abby, already working out my apology to her for my poor behavior. But then Leah walked in. I was so…confused. She has a son? A son who was mean to my daughter? Wait, our kids have been in the same class all year?! How the hell did I not know any of this?? Why the fuck didn’t she email me back? I can’t remember ever feeling this confused and angry over a woman before.
    The meeting is surprisingly helpful. I think Abby needs more “girl time” with my mom and her reaction makes me worry about how to do this without Janie. While Abby’s teacher was genuinely supportive and encouraging, the older my daughter gets the more I worry that she will need things I can’t give to her. I try my hardest to explain “girl” things the way that Janie would have but I grew up on a farm with brothers so it’s definitely far from natural for me. I try though. One of her school friends was talking about getting a pedicure with her mom and Abby sounded jealous so I took her one weekend and we got them. Man that was weird, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy