big draw of the place is how it sources most of its ingredients locally.
“I guess. But I’m at the farmer’s market in sweats and Nikes.”
Her curls are styled tonight. Less frenzied. I like frenzied, but I also like polished Natalie. She’s wearing a sundress and a gauzy cardigan to cover her shoulders. I look like I stepped right out of the office, except I left the suit jacket at home.
Truthfully, I hated putting even this on. My time back at home and handing more work over to Helena has given me a new appreciation for casual wear. Summer is not the time for suits and in the frigid winter, I’d rather dress in a nice warm parka from NorthFace and wear a stocking hat. And boots. I miss shoes that actually keep my feet warm.
I shake off the thought. I worked hard. Dress for the job you want. Being a dad isn’t a job. But I like the uniform.
Natalie orders a pasta dish and I choose the walleye with green tomato salsa.
“It’s not macaroni and cheese, is it?” she says wryly.
She’s relaxing and I commit to taking her on more of these dates. To remind her that she’s an adult with her own needs, and soon, a business owner.
“How’s the training going? For the half-marathon,” I ask. She’s usually down in the gym when I leave for work. I only stopped once to tell her goodbye. She seemed flustered. I interrupted her groove.
“Good. I meet Aleah twice a week and I’ve been getting in the extra runs on my own. She helped me work out the schedule so I get tomorrow off.” Her smile is sheepish. “I never thought I’d be a runner.”
“Why not?”
She gives me a look like I should know why. By college, she was into classes and loved going on walks, but I never saw her as the nonathlete that she classified herself as. “I never played sports.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t.”
“Speaking of which, don’t be surprised when Abby asks if you can coach her soccer team this fall.”
I’m interested. I used to help coach in high school. The energy of little kids is like nothing else. Going back to the basics, when it’s just fun to play and not stress about the outcome, is a treat.
I’d love to coach again. When I talk to Helena, I’ll have to talk to her about opening my schedule this fall so I can. To do that, we’ll have to hire on another person. That’s on my mental to-do list for next week.
Natalie sips her water. “I tried to tell her that you might be too busy—”
“No. I’ll see what I can do.”
“But then Maddy is starting this year and will want you to coach too.”
“I can make it work.” I’ll really have to talk with Helena. We’ll definitely need another assistant, but also someone to work with client portfolios so I can concentrate on the equities side. My clients don’t trust just anyone and many of them started with me when it was me and Natalie. We were a family business but we promised and delivered the same outcome as if they invested with the firms that wouldn’t even let them close to anyone in the big office.
If I start doling out all my duties to Helena and another assistant, it wouldn’t be the same company we started. Which is unrealistic. We’re growing, serving more people, and we need the staff to do it.
“You’ll coach both teams?”
The disbelief in her voice firms my resolve. “I’ll make it work.”
She sits back. The server fills our water glasses, giving us a break from conversing.
After the woman leaves, Natalie asks, “You’ll really do that?”
“I want to be involved in their life. Can you send Charlie the dates of the open houses at the school? I don’t want to miss those. Especially not kindergarten.”
Her brows lift higher. I’ve really caught her off guard. This shouldn’t be so shocking. I was with her when Abby started kindergarten. I had to run out early, but I made it.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll do that.” Her entire being lightens, as if she’s come to a decision about me and the real likelihood that we’ll make it. “What else do you have planned for a Sunday night date?”
“Down the street, there’s an open mic night.”
“We’ve never done one of those. I’ve never done one of those.”
Did she think I cut loose when the ink was dried on our divorce papers? “If you haven’t done it, then I haven’t.”
She ponders me