Because of You : A single dad romance

by Fabiola Francisco

  However, I keep thinking about the woman who’s taken up residency in my mind. I’ve dated here and there since Tessa passed—mostly by the need to move on and not get lost in the ghost of my wife—however, nothing serious has come from any of them. River is my priority, so why am I entertaining the idea of pursuing his teacher? It’s sure to be a fucking disaster if I do.

  chapter 3

  Ada

  “Incoming,” Mackenzie leans in and whispers. I look at her with furrowed brows. “Hot doctor just walked in.”

  “What?” I whisper-yell and look toward the door and back at my friend. Ever since I saw Mr. Brooks—uh, Dr. Brooks?—in my classroom a couple of weeks ago, I have been a ball of nerves waiting to run into him. One damn kiss and I can’t get over it. Not when he’s here, Springville’s newest doctor, instead of back in Nashville with my girls’ night out drunken memories.

  “Hunter invited him.” Mackenzie leans over the table to whisper.

  “Say what now?” My eyes widen.

  Libby joins the conversation. “Your hottie is coming this way.” She clearly missed Mackenzie’s warning.

  I glare at her. “He isn’t my hottie,” I hiss.

  “Don’t brush it off. We all saw the way you two made out in Nashville. Who would’ve guessed he’d be living here a few months later?” Libby smiles in amusement.

  I look at Mackenzie. “Does Hunter know him?”

  “They met a few weeks ago. They have Nashville in common, and Sawyer has turned to him for anything that has to do with the town.”

  Sawyer. Of course, I knew his name from the school documents, but I figured calling him Mr. Brooks would keep the already blurred line more professional.

  Before I can ask any questions, Mackenzie waves him over, and my heart begins to pound. This is awkward. I sit back and take a chug of my Jack and Coke to ease my nerves.

  If I could get him out of my head, it’d be easier to pretend we never kissed, but knowing he lives here and I can see him whenever I want has my fantasies rolling on overdrive. Except it’ll never happen. I’m his son’s teacher.

  Who knows what the deal with River’s mom is, but I don’t want to get involved in family drama. The rumors around town have begun spreading. He went through a nasty divorce. His ex-wife abandoned them. He’s a widower. I refuse to listen to any of them, knowing how exaggerated people can be in this town.

  “Hi.” His deep voice washes over me, and Mackenzie and Libby smile up at him. Thankfully, he’s standing behind me, so I have a couple of seconds to gather my wits.

  “You can sit with us,” Mackenzie offers. “Hunter will be back as soon as he’s done with his performance.”

  Hunter is a big-time country music songwriter. He and Mackenzie lived in Nashville before moving back to Springville since he can travel to Nashville whenever he needs.

  “If y’all don’t mind. I don’t want to interrupt ladies’ time.” His voice is laced with humor, and yet I refuse to look at him. I swallow thickly, toying with my half-drunk glass.

  “Not at all. Just boring teacher stuff. Join us,” Libby adds with a smile. I’m tempted to kick her under the table, but she’d make a big deal and call me out on it to further embarrass me.

  “I’m Sawyer.” He takes a seat next to me.

  “Hey,” I smile over quickly.

  “I’m Libby, and you already know Ada.” She points at me.

  Sawyer clears his throat. “Yup.”

  “How are you liking Springville?” Mackenzie, bless her, breaks up the awkwardness.

  “It’s nice. Different from Nashville,” he chuckles.

  “I know,” Mackenzie laughs. “Sometimes I miss living there, but there’s nothing like being home. Fortunately, Hunter and I can drive for a visit when we have a few days off. Paisley loves it, too.”

  “I know. She’s been great for River despite their age difference. He feels like he has someone who gets him.” Sawyer’s eyes crinkle as he smiles. “I appreciate that.”

  “Of course,” Mackenzie waves him off.

  “Where is River?” I blurt out.

  Sawyer’s green eyes turn to me, and something changes in his gaze. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to question you.” I grab my drink and take a sip.

  “Not questioning. He’s with Hunter’s parents. As soon as he found out Paisley was there, I didn’t even need to beg him to go over.”

  “Oh, that’s cool.” I nod.

  “Yeah… We’re neighbors. Well, as neighbors as you can be when vast land separates two houses.” He chuckles, grabbing the beer he ordered from the waiter.

  “Very different from a city,” Libby chimes in.

  “Hey, y’all.” Jack, Hunter’s best friend, says when he approaches our table with his wife, Julie.

  “Hey,” a round of greetings sounds through the table.

  They take a seat, adding more people to keep the attention off me. Of course, that gives me an opportunity to sneak glances at Sawyer as he introduces himself to the two of them.

  I’m thankful when the music starts to play, and Hunter greets everyone. The tension continues to roll through me as he sings song after song, though. Sitting next to Sawyer does not fit into my plan to forget about him. I get hints of sandalwood, the same fragrance as the night I met him in Nashville.

  My heart pounds as I peek at Sawyer out of the corner of my eye—relaxed and confident as he cradles his beer bottle. His hair is mussed, a contrast to how I’m used to seeing him after school, and that scruff… I remember how it felt against my face.

  My eyes fall closed, and a shiver runs through me. Damn memories won’t leave me the hell alone. When I reopen my eyes, I see his watch on his right wrist, and the muscles exposed by his rolled-up sleeves twitch. He must be a lefty, which I find oddly more attractive—no idea why.

  When I look up, I notice his eyes on me. I offer a tight-lipped smile and stare at Hunter, ignoring the tension crackling between us.

  Hunter finishes, and the entire bar erupts in cheers as he thanks the crowd. He leans his guitar against the wall, making his way to our table. After kissing Mackenzie, he smiles at us.

  “Hey, man, you made it.” Hunter shakes Sawyer’s hand.

  “Yeah, good job. I had no idea you could sing like that. Although, I should’ve guessed if you write songs for big-time musicians like Rebel Desire and Tyler Hunt.” Sawyer chuckles as he mentions some of country music’s biggest artists.

  Hunter simply smiles and takes a seat, draping his arm over Mackenzie’s shoulder.

  Regardless of the different conversations flowing through our table, my attention is mostly on Sawyer. I can’t help but wonder what he is thinking in regard to me being River’s teacher. Does he think about our kiss like I do? Probably not. Guys are different. I should forget it, too. It’s not like anything will come of it simply because he lives here. It was one night of drinking and a shared kiss between two strangers.

  Who are no longer just strangers.

  After a while, Hunter and Mackenzie leave the table to talk to a few locals. Jack and Julie are dancing, and Libby joins some friends, leaving Sawyer and me alone.

  “So…uh…River’s adapting well.” I wash down my awkward stutter with my fresh drink.

  “Yup,” Sawyer purses his lips. “I’m glad.” He nods.

  “Right. I’ve already said that when you’ve picked him up.” I scan the bar to avoid eye contact. People are laughing and talking, some singing along to the country music playing through the speakers.

  “This is awkward, right?” I look back at Sawyer.

  “Kinda,” he chuckles, running a hand through his hair.

  “It was just a kiss. Imagine if we would’ve slept together,” I blurt out, then bite my tongue, heat covering my cheeks.

  Sawyer’s eyes widen, and he clears his throat.

  “I’m just…gonna go.” I point around with no real direction, seeking an exit plan.

  As I stand, his hand lands on mine. I look down at him with rai
sed eyebrows.

  “You stay. I need to pick-up River.” His hand doesn’t leave mine, and my eyes linger on it before he speaks. “And for what it’s worth, it was a damn good kiss.”

  My eyes snap up to his as he smiles and walks away, leaving me with all sorts of questions. The only thing that is clear—he also thinks our kiss was amazing.

  …

  “What is going on?” I stand next to Libby, crossing my arms and looking at her before taking in the huge crowd amassed in the town square, blocking my view.

  “Hey,” she doesn’t look at me as she continues, “apparently, they stole, well, borrowed, Mr. Johnson’s goats and tied them in the middle of the square.”

  “Who did?” I look at her with confusion.

  “We don’t know, but I’m guessing it was the football team from Ford Valley. They have a game next weekend, and we know both teams love messing with each other.”

  I giggle and nod. “Yeah, you’re probably right, and their mascot is a goat.” We listen to the people around us comment about the goats and how Mr. Johnson is cursing the football team. Never a dull moment in this town.

  “What’s going on?” A deep voice repeats my same question. I do a double-take when I see Sawyer with his hands in his pockets and River standing next to him.

  “Hi, Ms. Ward!” He waves and smiles.

  “Hi, River.” I bend down to greet him. I look at Sawyer when I stand. “Someone stole Mr. Johnson’s goats and tied them in the town square. Our money’s on Ford Valley’s football team.” My heart pounds as I look him in the eyes. I’ve been repeating his comment from last night like an annoying, overplayed song.

  “I’m assuming they’re rivals?” He asks with raised eyebrows.

  “Yup.” I smile, turning my attention to the parting crowd to see Mr. Johnson and his grandson, who is on the varsity football team, guiding the goats up the bed of a pickup truck.

  “I guess the show’s over,” Libby frowns. “I’ll see you tonight, hot stuff.” She winks and slaps my ass, getting a yelp and glare thrown at her.

  Sawyer lifts his eyebrows. “She teaches kinder, right?”

  “Yeah, but don’t let her obnoxious personality fool you. She’s the best there is.”

  Sawyer nods.

  “Anyway, I gotta go. See ya.” I wave and walk away, wondering why the hell every encounter between us is painfully awkward.

  He’s handsome, and yeah, I keep fantasizing about a kiss, but it’s not the first kiss I’ve had and hopefully won’t be my last either. My dating experience hasn’t been ideal, but I’m not ready to label myself a spinster. I’ve got time to find love. Or for it to find me. Whatever.

  I’m open to fate intervening since my past choices haven’t been ideal between the boyfriend who refused to spend the night with me—just sex and we each went our separate ways, which I now realize was a fuck buddy—and the guy I dated who kept hinting he never wanted to get married.

  Like, slow down, Romeo. I didn’t want a ring on our first date either.

  I head into the grocery store to pick up a few things before stopping at Margie’s for a cup of coffee and her newest pumpkin dessert. If she’d let me move into the shop, I’d happily do so.

  I smile and inhale the sweetness in the air before walking up to the counter. Margie smiles as I place my order and take a seat.

  I rest my arms on the table, opening my reading app on my phone and continue reading the book I started a few days ago. I have tests to grade, but right now, I’m taking advantage of me-time. I’m thankful for anything that will help distract me, especially when I see the man conquering my thoughts walking along the sidewalk with his son through the big, glass windows. Our eyes connect for a brief moment, and it’s as if my heart sparks to life.

  I roll my eyes. I’m so corny.

  chapter 4

  Sawyer

  I knew what living in a small town entailed before I made the choice to move to Springville. What I wasn’t expecting was the beauty I met in a loud, Nashville bar to live here. All I can do is think about her, but it’s pointless since she’s River’s teacher. I’m sure the school has a no-dating-the-single-dad rule in place for its teachers.

  It’s complicated, and I don’t know how River would react to me dating his teacher even if there wasn’t a policy. Small towns mean everyone knows your business, so it’s not like I could exactly go on a date with Ada to see where things would go. I want to, though. I still remember the way she danced against me, her hips swaying and her electrifying blue eyes. Every time she looks at me, I want to say, fuck it, and ask her out. See if there’s more between us than the memory of a dance and a kiss.

  I comb a hand through my hair and sigh.

  “What’s wrong?” River looks up at me.

  “Nothing, buddy. Ready to go for a ride?” I wrap my arm around him and pull him toward me.

  “Yes!” He jumps, fist-pumping the air with a huge smile. We ran into town to grab some supplies for the barn when we encountered the crowd standing around the square. As soon as I spotted Ada amongst them, I took the opportunity to talk to her for a few minutes.

  I wish last night could’ve gone differently, but I have a son, and she would have a conflict of interest on her hands had I made a move.

  I’m not sure what it is about her that makes me want to spend more time together. Despite having gone on dates since Tessa passed, no one has held my attention this long. Especially that Ada and I only shared a dance and a kiss. Hell, I didn’t even know her name until recently.

  When I get home, I park the car by the barn, and River’s already jumping out.

  “Come on, buddy.” I drape my arm over his shoulder and guide him to the stall that houses Blaze.

  Once he’s saddled, I help River climb on and get in my spot behind him. The trees rustle in the fall air as we quietly make our way around our property. I enjoy the silence after a hectic week of patients coming in for any type of questions, the flu, and a house call for a broken leg. So far, being a doctor in a small town is more exhausting than in a city. Some are also curious about the new doc in town, which I was anticipating.

  Thankfully, I rotate weekends with Dr. Foster, and I get to spend time with River when he’s not at school. The other weekends he comes to work with me and sits in my office while I see patients.

  “Dad…” River breaks through my thoughts.

  “Yeah?”

  “Can you tell me about Mom?” he whispers.

  “Of course, kiddo.” These are the hardest moments.

  River was a toddler when she passed away five years ago, so he asks me to tell him things about his mom he doesn’t remember, and I reopen my wound, remembering Tessa. Her smile, her bright eyes, her laughter when she’d say something embarrassing. I miss her every day, but I’ve learned to live without her. It’s a twisted thing.

  I think of a story he doesn’t know yet and smile to myself before I speak. “She used to always put on music as soon as she got home, especially while she was cooking. She was a horrible singer, but that never stopped her from singing her favorite songs.”

  “What was her favorite song?” River looks at me over his shoulder.

  “‘Check Yes or No’ by George Strait.”

  “Can we play it when we get home?”

  “Yeah,” I nod.

  She loved it so much, I proposed using a yes or no note like in the song. I swallow back my emotions, and take a deep breath, exhaling the sadness.

  “I wish she were here,” River sighs, surprising me with his words. “Do you think she would like Springville?”

  “I do.”

  “Am I gonna have a stepmom?” Just when I thought he wasn’t ready for another woman to be in our lives, he surprises me.

  “What? Why do you ask that?” I furrow my brows and stop Blaze from walking.

  “We read a story in class, and the girl had a stepmom instead of a mom.”

  I blow out a breath and collect my wits. “I don’t know, River. I
n order for you to have a stepmom, I’d have to marry another woman.” I shake my head.

  “Would you?” He scrunches up his nose as he looks at me.

  Fuck. I am not prepared for this conversation.

  “I honestly don’t know, buddy. Maybe one day, but I’ll never make a decision like that without asking you first. Having another woman in our lives would affect you, too. I want to make sure you’re happy. That’s the most important thing in my life.” I kiss the top of his head.

  “I know, Dad. I love you.”

  “Love you, too. Let’s head back home and listen to some George Strait.”

  “Yes! Mom would like that.” This kid.

  I blink back tears, my throat prickling with my emotions, and guide Blaze back to our barn. I may need a cold beer before continuing this path down memory lane and staying strong for my son’s sake. The last thing I need or want is for him to stop asking me about Tessa. He deserves to know his mom, even if through stories and photos.

  After talking to River about Tessa, eating dinner, and listening to George Strait, he’s finally in bed, and I’m going over some notes from patients. I try not to bring work home, but since I’m new to Springville and its residents, I want to take the time to get to know each individual and their health.

  …

  I smile and greet a few locals as we walk out of the church. River stays by my side, holding my hand, as some of the older women in our community say how adorable he is and offer me sad yet curious smiles.

  I’d bet a lot of money they’re dying to know what the story with River’s mom is. I haven’t told many in town because I don’t want the pity, and it’s not something I enjoy bringing up.

  “Will you be coming for some dessert later?” Margie smiles as she asks us.

  I look at River, who shouts, “Yes!” before I can respond.

  I chuckle and look around sheepishly before turning my attention back to Margie. “Well, I guess we’ll be going by later.”

  She laughs at River’s enthusiasm before walking away.