Falling for my Stepbrothers

PART ONE; CHAPTERS THREE

Chapter THREE

MOM MEETS STEVE

As if my life couldn't possibly get more complicated, mom arrived home after work today, excited because she said she had met someone new. WT H, my dad had only been gone for a little over a year after all. I don’t care that they never got along, and were always one step away from divorce court. I guess she either doesn't see or doesn't care that I have a look of total horror on my face, because she proceeds to tell me his name is Steve. Describing him as a very tall and handsome single father of all boys. As if I care what the man looks like. As for what he does for a living, he's a lawyer. She met him at the grocery store, grabbing dinner for us. She was reaching up to grab something above her head, when along comes a tall, dark, and handsome man, on the prowl for my mom. The attraction was evident from the start. From what she said, numbers were exchanged, and that's all I can say about that. I have yet to meet Mr. Perfect, I don't think I want to though. At some point, I will, I suppose, but I don't want to do that now. Excusing myself, I run to my room to text Mary and Tina. Giving them all the details, they don't think it's all that horrible news. Maybe I can try to be a little more supportive of my mom. If she is happy, I can be as well.

At the beginning of their relationship, I guess it was a mutual decision to hold off on meeting the kids. They took this decision to a new level. For months, mom has been meeting Steve at a secondary location, just to avoid seeing me. After venting to my friends about being excluded from this part of his life, they asked something I hadn't thought of asking about his sons. Does he sneak around on them like mom does? Setting out to find out, I prepare to ask my mother some questions when she gets home.

Later that day, she arrives home while I'm sitting in the kitchen at the breakfast bar, hot cup of tea in hand, suddenly feeling in the mood to interrogate my mother about her choices. How ironic is that, I mean seriously.

"Mom, can I talk to you about something?" I asked as she walked slowly into the room, with a look on her face, like she was wondering who I was, and what happened to her daughter.

"Sure," she says, sitting down next to me at the bar, "What would you like to talk about?"

"Oh, I don't know mom, maybe the fact that you have been seeing a man for months in secret. I have to know who this man is. He could be a serial killer or r****t. You're going off to meet him, no one knows anything about him", I railed at her as if I'd just lost my mind.

Mom's face at first is a look of utter shock, it then softens, "Would you like to meet Steve, honey?" she asks softly "Is that what this is about?"

"Why haven't I yet, why the secret?"

Mom started to laugh a little, "Honey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh. There isn't a secret. Steve thought it best to wait, at least till you were more comfortable with me moving on from your dad." she states quietly.

Looking at her, asking the one question that I want to know, "And did Steve sneak around his kids to see you, mom?"

The look on her face tells me everything I want to know.

"We were trying to protect you and your feelings, but we never meant to make you feel excluded. You spend so much time with your friends, I never thought, I'm sorry," she says, knowing I'm upset.

"Sure mom," getting up from the bar and going to my room.

***