I decided, hopefully for the better, that I was going to take a break from dating for a while. Not forever, just for a little while. I wasn't in a good place and it wasn't fair to anyone if I just started dating like crazy when I wasn't ready. Ava wasn't exactly supportive of my decision (more on that later), but Julie thought it was a good idea. Casey and Grace were completely behind it, I don't think they trusted me to not like I had when we were younger, which was valid.

Speaking of Julie, around this time she started spending less time with us. She didn't cut us off, not at all, but she pulled back a little. She started moving forward at work, taking chances and opportunities she hadn't had before, and she started dating again. She hadn't dated seriously in a long time (too long) and the girl seriously needed to get some. I totally supported her taking a step back, I had told her that she needed to for a long time, and I understood her reasons. She had watched out for us for so long and it was time for us to watch out for ourselves and for her to watch out for just herself.

Back to that thing about Ava not supporting my decision. She, as the mature kid she was, believed that enough time had passed that I should "get back out there before I get too old and out of practice." She still missed her mom but she also knew, from movies and TV, that people were supposed to move on from these sorts of things. Especially since it had been three years since Nora's accident. In her mind it was due time and I should stop messing around. And she made it her mission to get me a girlfriend (even if it was just a temporary one).

"Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"I want you to have a conference with my teacher."

"Why? Are you having problems?"

"No..."

"Then what's going on?"

"I just think you should talk to her."

"Ava..."

"Yes?"

"What's going on?"

"Nothing!"

"I'll pull this car over."

"Go ahead and pull it over, there's nothing going on."

"Just tell me. Are you having trouble in school."

"I'm not, don't worry. I just think you should meet her."

"And what is this teacher like?"

"Well she's young, about as old as you, and she's really nice and pretty."

"And?"

"And she's not married. And I don't think she has a boyfriend."

"Ava..."

"Come on! It's been three years, Mom wouldn't want you to wallow."

"I'm not wallowing, I'm raising you."

"Same difference."

"Ava, I'm not ready yet. And if I was, I wouldn't go out with your teacher."

"Fine. But you'll tell me when you're ready?"

"I will."

~~~

I'm so sorry the update was late, I just lost track of time and didn't have the time to write it. But it's here now! And the update for Thursday will be up on time!

P.S. There are only 23 days left until JTH ends. Prepare your tissues and follow me for updates on my other works and info about this story.