Jess’s life had a rhythm that was very much centered on activities for Leo—toddler gym, playgroup, story time at the library and music group. All the activities tired Leo out so he slept soundly for two to three hours in the afternoon, allowing her to work. This carefully thought out routine reduced her need to use paid childcare to one day a week. Leo was at home with her every day except Thursdays, when he spent six hours at daycare with Indi Pirelli. He adored Indi and toddled around after her happily. Libby often joked that Indi was his first crush. Jess always smiled but the notion unsettled her. Being dependent on anyone unsettled her and she didn’t want her son to know the pain of rejection.

Leo loved all the week’s activities, but what continued to surprise Jess was how much she enjoyed spending time with women who had children of a similar age. She’d discovered an unexpected camaraderie in sharing stories with other mothers in the toddler trenches. Of course, just like any group, there was an element of competition and while Jess consoled the women who struggled with some tasks, she couldn’t help feeling a little bit smug about Leo’s hand–eye coordination and his sure-footedness on the gym equipment.

“Were you sporty as a kid?” the instructor had asked her at the first session.

“Not really. It’s why I chose a donor who was.”

“A donor? I don’t understand.”

“Sperm donor. I’m doing the parent gig on my own.”

“Oh, I see.”

But it was obvious from the woman’s face that she didn’t at all.

From the moment Jess had announced she was having a baby, she’d learned from the almost universal response that it was easier for people to understand the decision of a woman who’d chosen the single parent path after unexpectedly falling pregnant than it was to relate to a woman who’d actively sought it. It was no different when she’d arrived back in the Bay, although by then Libby had accepted it and was championing her decision. It paved Jess’s way, making her re-entry into the town smoother than she’d expected.