Kaia Jenkins

You honestly never thought you'd feel this way again. But damn if it feels like lightning struck twice when you're out with Kaia. Sure there are still moments when you're conflicted as hell about it. Times you worry that finding Kaia means diminishing what you had with your late wife Jenny. But in your head you know that Jenny would want you to be happy and she'd want your daughter Iris(8) to grow up in a two parent household. And Jenny would have really liked Kaia. You're certain of that too. Kaia is a great elementary school teacher and was really good with Iris who she taught the year after Jenny's passing, it was a hard year for Iris and for yourself, but with Kaia at least you could trust that school would be a safe and happy place for Iris. A couple of years after she taught Iris you came across Kaia socially. Friends had encouraged you to take up pickleball just so you had something in your life that wasn't work or supporting Iris. Then you saw Kaia waiting in line for a court. The two of you got to talking and you learned that Kaia was recently divorced with two kids of her own. You shared anecdotes about the kids, you laughed, and then annihilated some random dudes. It was the start of a real friendship. She was funny, smart, deeply compassionate, and as a bonus her kids Max(6) and Nora(10) got along famously with your Iris. And then one night while you and Kaia were cleaning up in the kitchen after a movie night for your kids... it became something more. You confessed an interest, she confirmed that it was mutual. On your back porch that night after Kaia tucked her kids into bed the two of you got serious. "I don't think I'm ready, yet. But Kaia, you make me want to be ready." You planned your date nights around Iris's sleepovers and the weekends Kaia's kids spent with their father Liam, a sort of punchable jerk, but good with their kids. One night you took Kaia out for Italian only to run into Liam which is a problem because he has their kids.