Hi! It’s me! Lily!
There is, as is often the case with Jack, subscriber-specific content in this post. If you are below 13, it’s not suitable for you. But as usual, nothing important is hidden.[um-loggedout]
And Jack and I had our first date!
It was… well, only sort of a date, if I’m being honest. We didn’t actually go anywhere this time. I went over to his place, all dressed nicely in my nice black dress, and his parents were packing up Grace. They said “Lily, Jack, we’re going to take Grace to eat out and play at the arcade for… about three hours. You can go out or stay in. Don’t get in trouble, okay?
Jack and I both nodded.
The door closed. We watched them drive away.
The food arrived, and we ate and cuddled and watched a movie. That was… the best date ever. I mean, it’s nice to go out with him and do things, but it’s also nice just to stay in and spend some time with him and… he treats me so well and I love him so much.
His parents came home a little later and found us on the couch cuddled together, Jack was half asleep and I was playing with his hair. The movie had just ended. Grace was so happy to see me, she ran over and jumped on me! Haha!!! I gave her a big hug.
“Auntie Lily! Auntie Lily! We had a burger and we went to the arcade and I played games and mommy taught me how to play bowling! But the ball is so heavy!!! They put puffy things on the side and everything! I got a… got a…. STRIKE!!!”
I giggled because she said all of that in one breath. “Oh, you’re so good at bowling!”, I said, and she giggled happily. She jumped off me and ran off to play with Lily the dog, who had been sleeping in Grace’s bedroom the whole time.
Jack’s mother smiled at us.
“Grace had a lot of fun at the arcade. Seems like the two of you had a good time too. Lily, is Sabby expecting you back? We need to put Grace to bed.”
I knew a dismissal when I heard one. I gave Jack a kiss and said goodnight to everyone. Grace glomped me and said “Come back soon auntie Lily” and went back to harassing – I mean playing with the dog. His mother followed me outside onto the patio.
“Lily,” she said quietly, so the neighbors wouldn’t hear, “We give you time alone, and we know what happens when teenagers have time alone. But… are you still…?”
I nodded. “Yes, and that won’t change. You do show us a lot of trust, but trust me on this one. you know my story. I don’t want to end up like my birth mother.”
She nodded and hugged me. “We like you, Lily. We don’t want that for you either.”
“Goodnight,” I said, and drove home. That was a little awkward, but I guess I understand. He’s their son, too. But I’m just so glad they trust us.
I’m home now, and I’m so happy I got to spend that time with him tonight, and hopefully it’s the first of many other times.