So that explains all the giggling into her phone lately.

“You mean like a friend?”

She blushes. “No, baby. I’ve started dating someone.”

“Like, you have a boyfriend?” My voice goes high. And I think I could puke. It didn’t even take pizza, cake, and a whole gymnasium full of trampolines.

A slow blush gathers on her cheeks. “Well, I wouldn’t say he’s my boyfriend, but I do like him very much.”

This is too weird. And wrong in so many ways! How could she just be over Dad so quickly? Didn’t their marriage mean anything to her? Anger begins to build up inside of me. She’s probably ready to start from scratch with a whole new family.

“Things are just casual right now, but I just wanted you to know.”

“Casual? What does that even mean?”

She gives me a patient smile. “It just means that we’re not making a big deal of anything. Nothing’s official or too serious. And you and I can talk about it as much or as little as you want. I understand if you’re not ready, and I wouldn’t blame you,” she says in full therapist voice. “But you can ask questions whenever you want.”

“Does he have a name?” I ask bitterly.

“His name is Sam. Sam Reyes. He has a really lovely daughter who’s about to be a senior over at Clover City High. Her name is Callie.”

“How did you meet?”

“We have a few mutual friends. I actually know his mom from when I’d go for trainings at the University of Texas in El Paso, and she introduced us.”

I want nothing more than to talk to Oscar about all of this ASAP, but I’m not exactly on his good side right now. He’s been talking to me, but only using a few sarcastic words at a time. “Do I have to meet him?” I ask Mom, returning my attention to her dating life. Ugh.

She laughs, and I think part of it is all the nerves that must have been raveled up inside her. “Only when you’re ready.”

I don’t know why, but I somehow felt Dad would find someone first and I definitely didn’t think it would be . . . “So soon,” I find myself saying.

Mom’s expression turns serious. “It’s early,” she says. “I know. But I think if this divorce has taught me anything, it’s that none of us should waste any time waiting for happiness. Not if we can go out there and take it for ourselves.”

I sit there in disbelief. I don’t even know what to say. And I especially don’t know what she expects me to say.

“I wasn’t looking for anyone, Sweet Pea. It just sort of happened.”

I take a sip of my orange juice and then a bite of eggs. I’ll stuff my face with anything if it will just end this conversation as quick as possible. I think about Dad and his big plans and his secret painting room and how happy he seems to be. What about Mom? When does she get to be happy? And at least she’s including me. That’s more than I can say for Dad.