Welcome Home and A First Date 2/3

Mia was exhausted, it had been such an emotional day. Now that both her children were in her home ensconced in their own activities, she was happy to sit with Eva discussing random things.

"I have a date tomorrow," Mia said finally.

"Oh, with who?" Eva asked carefully.

"Nicholas, who else?" Mia replied.

Eva sighed, "It's just that I saw your text conversation with Timothy this morning. Accidentally, of course. I didn't want to pry and I'm not judging but that doesn't really sound completely over. The new Timothy has been a surprisingly good guy so far. I just want to make sure you are making decisions for you and not what you think we want you to do."

"It was a drunk text; it doesn't mean anything." Mia couldn't look at Eva.

"Are you kidding? Drunk texts are great because alcohol makes a person more likely to say the things they normally wouldn't have said sober. Drunks are generally more honest." Eva shrugged, "sad but true."

"I don't know." Mia shook her head, "it's not like a nice sentiment will override the mountain of regrets sitting between the two of us."

"Look, I want to be frank with you because I'm the only person in this house who will admit this. I would bet a million dollars right now that Timothy has feelings for you, strong ones. No man can change so completely without a monumental alteration in their heart, soul, whatever you want to call it. Sure, Ginger and Sage account for some of it but if he just wanted your children he would hire a lawyer. Tim hasn't hired one which means he's more concerned about your feelings toward him than taking custody of your children from you."

"Men don't inconvenience themselves the way he is doing for a woman unless they have a damn good reason and he told you what that reason is. He can't live without you. That is what he said, right? Hon, all I want is you happy; I don't care how that happens." Eva sat back and fixed her little sister with a stare.

"Tell me about your date with the doctor." Eva changed the subject seamlessly.

"I feel like I need to go on a date with him to find out if there is anything between us. I don't feel any romantic interest toward him but maybe that is just because we have been stuck in that medical drama for so long that it has overshadowed other feelings." Mia fidgeted with a loose string in the hem of her skirt.

"You don't feel any spark or think that you want something more when you are around him?" Eva asked skeptically.

"Nick isn't an emotional guy. He is rather cold to be around. Sure, there are some exceptions but generally he starts at glacial and ends in the vicinity of a hard frost. This doesn't make him very loveable or even likeable for most people. We have a good friendship and I trust him. There is also the fact that he is never around. Nick works so many hours that he barely stops to sleep, and he is always on call. Planning a single date is a nightmare. How would we plan a life together? I would always be alone." Mia laid out the concerns that popped up whenever she considered whether she liked Nick as anything more than a friend. It felt good to get them off her chest. "Nicholas doesn't seem like he has much interest in me either. As a friend sure but as a man? Not so much."

"Well, I can see where the problem starts. It's no wonder that you are not attracted to Nicholas. What you just described about Nick is the same thing you already lived through when you were married to Barrett. It is no wonder that you don't want a repeat performance. How have I never noticed this before?" Eva was appalled that they had all been pushing Mia toward a situation that was like the one she had barely escaped.

"If that is true, what is with my confusion about Timothy now? Why would I feel anything at all toward him? Mia questioned even more confused.

"I think it's because your physical reactions and instincts and even your emotions don't recognize him as the same person." Eva mused. "He has changed so much it is like he is a completely new person."

"What if Nick is just hiding how he feels and who he would be if he were with me? After everything he has done for me, I owe him one date to at the very least test whether we have any chemistry." Mia was almost convinced that she did not see Nicholas that way, but she could give him one evening to be sure.

"I will help you get ready for your date. I'll make sure that you are able to tell in one date if there is anything between you two." Eva vowed helpfully.

"Thanks Eva, you are the most understanding person I know. And for understanding the situation with Timothy. I did not expect him to be a good father or stick around, or even act like he cared about us at all. It is very confusing. I need to get these kids to bed then I am going to turn in too." Mia finished before getting up from the sofa.

"You are welcome sweety, in a house with this many men us ladies need to stick up for one another." Eva replied to Mia and aided in her endeavor to pick up after the twins and get them headed off to bed.

***********

The Lane family was gathered in the dining room sharing a cheerful breakfast before they headed off to various activities. They cherished the time that they were able to share as a family. Today was made even more special because of Sage's presence at the table. It was the Saturday before the twins would start school together. The brothers were clowning around with the children and taking advantage of the free morning.

Sage had played along with his sister and uncle's antics for a while but had been on his computer for the last twenty minutes or so.

"Darn it!" Sage huffed, hitting his little hands against the table. He was stuck on a level in his game. He kept getting boxed into a corner and no matter what he tried he could not escape the level boss and move forward. Sage picked up his phone, added a scowling picture of himself to his contact information and unblocked Barrett from his phone. Then with a baby growl he sent a video call request to his father.

Timothy was in a conference meeting when the request came in from his son. He was dealing with the fallout about his decision to not make signing the Murdoch deal his priority. Tim was now convinced that the signing had been suspicious. After two years Murdoch suddenly wanted to sign but only for one day. Something was off there.

Seeing the request Tim dropped out of the conference without a word or backward glance, a small smile on his face.

"Good morning, Sage." Timothy said as he opened the video call with his son.

Sage scowled, "your game cheats, Mr. Barrett."

"The game does not cheat." Tim responded simply. "What level are you on?"

Sage harumphed, "level six."

"Already? Not bad. Well done, son!" Timothy watched as a slight smile crossed Sage's face when he praised him before the boy quickly hid it behind a scowl again. Tim continued, "level six is designed to teach you about how structures are fluid in a digital world. Let me guess, you are trapped by the boss in a corner, and you can't move?"

"I can't move forward or sideways and I am so annoyed." Sage vented.

Tim chuckled, earning a scowl. "The first step is to be calm, second is to be logical. What does it mean when I say structures are fluid within a network?

"Umm, that things like barricades and walls aren't solid but just code that can be moved around as needed." Sage replied automatically.

"So, if you cannot move forward where do you need to go?" Tim prompted and watched as Sage worked through the problem, his little face scrunched in concentration. Then the boy smiled brilliantly.

"I need to go back through the wall." Sage exclaimed.

"Very good," Tim encouraged. "Enjoy your game. Let me talk to your mom, please."

"Thanks." Sage responded quietly before handing over the phone.

"Hey Tim," Mia's face was suddenly in view, and he couldn't help but smile at how happy and peaceful she looked.

"Hi, have you decided about the visit with the twins?" Tim asked cautiously.

"Yeah, how about tomorrow evening at Aide Castle? The paparazzi are blocked from entering and there is a nice park to take the kids to." Mia offered.

Dominic's voice came from the background. "I thought your date was tomorrow. Be careful not to double book."

"It's tonight Dominic but thanks." Mia replied sarcastically "Sorry," she apologized to Tim noticing his smile was now a frown.

"Tomorrow is fine, Mia. Text me the time and I'll be there. Hug Ginger for me. I need to get back to my meeting." Tim said flatly. The line disconnected and Mia gave Sage his phone back. She felt conflicted now that her harmless date didn't seem so harmless.

"Was that really necessary?" Mia asked her brother.

"What did I do?" Dominic asked her. Mia just shook her head. Truthfully, he had done it because he didn't like how easily his family accepted Tim as part of their everyday life. Why was he the only one that was upset that he had to hear Barrett's voice at the breakfast table? He could not allow that to be a regular occurrence.

***********

When early evening rolled around Mia took a quick shower and started getting ready for her date with Nick. She was indifferent to the idea and that bothered her. Nick was a great guy. He had saved the lives of her children. Why couldn't she have the same reaction to him that she had with Timothy? Life truly wasn't fair.

Mia had just finished blow drying and curling her hair when Eva came in with a dress bag. She laid the bag on Mia's bed. Eva walked up to her sister and began piling her hair on top of her head. Eva arranged the curls into an artful updo that allowed a few curls to fall and hang down. Mia added a deep red lipstick before donning her black stilettos.

Eva pulled the designer dress from the bag and brought it to Mia to step into. The dress was black satin that hugged her curves. It was cut low in the front showing an enticing amount of cleavage and the back sat low on her waist. It was a spaghetti strap design that ended gracefully just above her knees. It was the most provocative dress she had ever worn.

Mia looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. She was slightly embarrassed from how revealing the dress was but at the same time she felt beautiful and sexy.

"If you don't get a reaction from Nick in this it means he's dead and someone should call a code." Eva smirked. Mia nodded in agreement, grabbing her evening bag.

Mia and Eva entered the family area of the large home where the Lanes were engaged in various activities. As Mia entered the room those activities ceased.

"Where the hell do you think you are going dressed like that?" Liam questioned sitting up straight in his chair.

"I have a date tonight." Mia rolled her eyes at the ridiculous concerned looks on her brother's faces.

"Are you going out with Daddy?" Ginger asked running up to her mother.

"No honey, not tonight. We will see Tim tomorrow." Mia said.

"Then can you stay home? I don't want you to go." Ginger exclaimed looking like she might cry.

"Ginger, baby, don't do this. It is one date. Everything will be fine." Mia tried to sooth the unhappy child.

"I don't want you to go out with Uncle Nick." Ginger fumed stomping away from her mother.

"Don't be dumb Ginger. Mom's going to marry Uncle Nicholas." Sage told his sister arrogantly.

Ginger burst into tears at his words. "Mom if you go, I will never speak to you again." Ginger's words were delivered through sobs that made her breath hitch and she ran from the room.

Mia wasn't quite sure what to do. She was in shock. Ginger had never acted like this before. Mia knew that it must be because of Timothy but she wasn't sure what to do about it.

"I'll take care of her." Eva said, heading down the hall to check on her niece. When she got to Ginger's room, Eva realized the girl was on the phone with Timothy. His voice was low and soothing trying to comfort his emotional daughter.

************

Tim was getting ready to go to a dinner meeting with Mayor Shelbert when his phone lit up with his daughter's face. He smiled and wondered what she was up to.

"Hey there bug, what's up?" Timothy answered his phone then at once realized something was wrong as his daughter was sobbing so hard she could barely speak.

"Baby, what is wrong?" Tim asked in a worried tone.

"Mom, hiccup, date, hiccup. I don't, sob, want her, hiccup, to go." Ginger struggled to speak.

Tim sighed. "Breath with me bug. You need to calm down. Everything will be ok." Tim kept soothing the little girl until she finally started to sound a little calmer.

"Daddy, I told her not to go but mommy wouldn't listen. I'm never speaking to her again." Ginger vowed. "She is dressed too fancy. I'm so angry at her." The little girl fumed, still making small sobbing sounds.

"Do you know where she is going on her date?" Tim finally asked.

"La Bella," Ginger spat. She was mad.

"Well, we are in luck then because I am on my way there. I can keep an eye on her and make sure nothing bad happens, all right?" Tim told Ginger.

"Oh goodness, yes that would be good. Can you take a sweater for her Daddy? She will need it." Ginger enthused her mood improving significantly.

"Why does mommy need a sweater, bug?" Tim asked not liking where this was headed.

Ginger sighed dramatically. "Because she's not wearing very many clothes and she will get cold." Tim's daughter explained sagely. Tim groaned internally letting his head bang against the wall he had been leaning on. He spent a couple minutes saying goodbye to Ginger and after he promised to take care of Mia, they hung up the phone.

The last thing Timothy wanted to do was see Mia on a date with another man. The thought alone made his chest burn. His hands balled into fists at his sides. He took three calming breaths and forced himself to stretch his fingers out and relax. Tim turned to the mirror, straightened his tie and donned his dinner jacket. Grabbing his wallet, he headed out of the hotel to his waiting car.

When Timothy arrived at the restaurant, he saw Nicholas Merches leaning against a pillar near the entrance. Climbing out of his car he noticed the mayor by the entrance as well. The mayor was in conversation with two men that Tim didn't recognize. He headed in the direction of Mayor Shelbert but didn't rush. Thirty seconds later a car belonging to the Lanes arrived and he saw Nicholas straighten up and head to meet Mia.