Patrick looked at Kristi's text and smiled. She would only hear what he wanted her to.

Noelle had suggested a casual evening, not that he knew what it meant, but he decided on jeans.

He inspected himself while he was shaving. He probably could pinch an inch on his sides, but he didn't have the belly some men developed with age. His chest was broad and not overly hairy. Did women expect men to wax? That just wasn't his thing, although he had seen funny scenes in movies. He didn't want hot wax on his chest, never mind his balls.

He was being presumptuous that he would take his shirt off. He didn't want to start the evening with the wrong expectations. He felt resolved as he splashed on some aftershave.

When he announced he was going out again, Hannah had the most questions.

"Do you like her?"

"She's nice."

"I mean, do you really like her?"

He sighed. "I like her enough to spend another evening with her."

Gabby asked, "Is she pretty?"

Was she? "I guess." His noncommittal was telling to himself. She was nice enough to look at. When she smiled, she was pretty.

Hannah exclaimed, "Not as pretty as Mom!"

He shook his head. "Mom was beautiful."

Hannah looked pleased with his answer, but he turned away so she didn't see she made him tear up. Gabby must have. She put her arms around him.

"It's okay, Daddy. I know you'll always love her."

He pulled her around so he could embrace her and kiss her head. "We all will. No matter what."

That was how his weekend started, but Saturday got better when he and Kevin spent some time on the ocean. That evening, Hannah agreed to stay home with Kevin. He suspected she wanted to make sure he came home at a reasonable time. His dating couldn't be easy on her.

Just before he left, he stood in front of Hannah, who was watching TV. "Just so you know, next Saturday is Dr. Korra's birthday party. I'll be going out, but not on a date."

She shrugged as if she didn't care.

"Bye, guys."

Two out of three responded.

Kristi was waiting for him when he walked into The Landing on Wednesday morning. Rick waved, but he was deep in conversation with John Harris. Alice had a mug of coffee on the counter before he reached it.

"Great service." He smiled.

"Can I tempt you with something sweet?"

"Nah, I'm sweet enough." He could imagine eye rolls from both his girls. It was a dad joke, but Alice laughed like she had never heard it before. If Kristi was next to him, she would have interpreted sweet to mean something else entirely.

Flashes of Saturday night came back to him. Shaking them away, he hoped he wasn't blushing. He found out the definition of a casual night. It meant takeout and no clothes. The sex was good, but truthfully it was just sex. For twenty years, he had made love to his wife in an act that brought them closer. There was a giving and taking of not just pleasure, but love.

There was no love involved with what he did with Noelle. The chances of any developing were slim. When he started dressing at ten-thirty, she asked him to stay over.

Shaking his head, he said, "I have to get home to my kids."

"Kids! You told me you weren't divorced. How often do you have them?"

"I'm not divorced. I'm their only parent so I have them three-sixty-five." He could have said twenty-four-seven, but the truth was he left them home alone plenty.

He was three steps from Kristi when she exploded. "So! Tell me everything!"

He shook his head. He wasn't telling her everything, and in the end there wasn't much to tell.

"I'm not even sure, I'll call her again. She doesn't like me having kids."

"If you like her company, you could still see her."

He shrugged. "Maybe. We'll see how I feel a week from now. I have other plans for this weekend."

Noelle complained when he mentioned he was not available the following Saturday. She began politicking for another night, but he kept saying he couldn't. Finally, he sighed. "Weeknights are too hard. I work, I eat dinner with my kids, I check homework and sign permission slips and dole out lunch money." The last was a stretch, but he replenished their online lunch accounts.

"Oh, God!" It was like he said he ate shit. "How old are they?"

"Fourteen, sixteen and seventeen."

"Three!"

"Yes, and they're waiting for me." He leaned over and brushed his lips across her pouting ones.

He scrubbed his hands over his face as Kristi looked like a disappointed mother. "I didn't like the way she reacted to my kids. Let's be honest, what would I talk to her about if I have to avoid mentioning the kids."

She smiled. "Why do you need to talk?"

He shook his head. She was unbelievable sometimes - most of the time. "I'm dating for companionship. Can we talk about something else?"

"Fine. Dan wants to take me out Saturday night. I'd rather not leave Ben to watch Ivy. Is Gabby free?"

"I may need her to stay with Kevin."

"Easy. She can watch him at my house. If you're late, he can sleepover."

"I don't expect to be late."

"Where are you going?"

"Korra's birthday party. Rachel is doing it up. It's at the inn."

"Snazzy. You'll wear a suit?"

"Should I?" He never wore a tie or dress pants to work. He hadn't worn a suit since the funeral. He had two so he could wear the other one.

"Too bad, I already have a date or I'd offer to be yours."

He laughed. "I'm surprised there aren't rumors flying around about us. Oh right, no one to start them. That's your job." He lost control, laughing.

"I'm trustworthy. I got some info this weekend. You know the woman with the sleeping kid?"

"The one you accused of faking?"

"She was at Megan's and I asked her."

"What!" She was a nut.

"She said she was asleep."

"I told you. You need to listen to me."

Rick walked over offering refills. "You two sound like an old married couple. Sorry Doc."

"It's okay. Any couple who sounds like us would be divorced."

Rick walked away laughing.

"Seriously, Kristi. I can't believe you accused her!"

He knew nothing about her except she was raising children alone like him. That and the fact she was pretty. Remembering Hannah's question, she was not as beautiful as Erica. Of course, Patrick would have chosen his wife over Scarlett Johansson.

"You're not curious about her?"

Was he? He had absolutely no reason to be. "I stood in line with her. I don't even know her."

"Fine. Did you surf this morning?"

"Nah. It was calm. I had plenty to do around the house."

"If you need help."

He had enough guilt over all she had done for him. "You've done enough. I'm handling it with help from Hannah and Gabby, Kev too."

"They're good kids."

He smiled, but he gave all the credit to Erica. He complimented her children because she expected it in return but also deserved it. The key to taming Kristi Probst was feeding her ego. Patrick's private theory was her outrageousness was to mask her own insecurities. He was certain she would disagree.

On Saturday evening, he dressed in his navy suit. He had worn the charcoal suit last. When the children were younger, he had received ties on Father's Day. In honor of Korra's profession, he picked one covered with happy teeth.

Gabby and Kevin had already left. Hannah froze when she saw him. "Why are you so dressed up?"

"It's a fancy party at the Inn."

She laughed. "If you drink too much, you can walk home."

"I hardly drink. Plus, I wouldn't walk across the causeway at night in a suit! And you better not drink either or you'll be grounded until the day you leave for college."

"I know, Dad. You look handsome. This isn't a date, is it?"

"No. I told you it's Doctor Korra's birthday."

"You know you may not be her friends' type."

"Hannah!"

"I was joking."

"What are you doing tonight?"

"Probably hanging out at Lexi's."

"Home by eleven."

She eyed him. "Will you be?"

"I'm the parent, but to answer your question, I doubt I'll stay too long."

"Okay, Daddy."

"Have fun. Love you, sweetie."

"You too, Dad."

Once he arrived at the Inn, he stopped at the front desk to purchase Korra's present. Kristi earned the credit for the suggestion. He paid for a couple's massage gift certificate at the spa. He felt proud that he had a decent gift.

The function room was already crowded. Korra greeted him with a hug.

"Patrick! I'm so glad you came."

"Happy Birthday!"

"You look handsome."

He smiled. "Rachel might be jealous."

"Did I hear my name? Patrick, as gorgeous as ever. Go drink, eat, be merry!"

He scanned the room and waved to Paul. Paul's wife hugged him and asked how he was. He hated that question. Sympathy saturated her tone.

"I'm good. Really."

Paul slapped his back. "I expected you to have a date. My new patient."

"Yeah, well, I wasn't ready to hit the rumor mill. The entire town would know I had a date." He had finally agreed to see her for coffee the next morning. What did it say about him if he would rather surf? "Besides, she didn't seem to like that I have kids." As he answered, his eye caught the blond. She just might give Scarlett Johansson some competition. In her dress and heels, she didn't look like a stay at home mom. "I think I need a drink."

Other than a beer or two at poker and recently a glass of wine on his dates, he rarely drank. He went to the bar for a glass of wine. It seemed appropriate with his suit and tie.

He turned from the bar and almost knocked into the blond. He smiled. "Last time you bumped into me."

She smiled back. "I'm not sure I should be talking to the enemy."

"I think the war is over. I'm sorry you lost."

"Why?"

"Why what?"