On Sunday following Korra's party, Tessa planned a jammie day. Chloe woke her bursting with tales about her evening with Miss. Rita. She climbed up on the bed.

"We played a game and cats were good and rats were bad. Then we made this."

She thrusted out her hand which held a pentagon of rainbow colors made of melted plastic. Tessa had avoided buying the craft because the tiny pieces could be swallowed and it required an iron. She rarely ironed, but never when her girls were home.

Ironing conjured up the image of pressed starched shirts. She could smell the starch while she danced, but it was faint compared to his masculine aftershave.

Being held had felt nice. Maybe even better than nice based on the flutters in her belly. She resisted the urge to rest her head against him and feel the full support of his body. Instead, they kept some proper space between them. She stared out to the side until she felt too many eyes on her. Then she stared at his funny tooth tie. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to erase the memory. There was no use dwelling on it. For certain, it would never happen again.

He would have given her some sign if he was interested in her. He stepped back the second the song was over. She was just as relieved, because her life was her girls and there was no room for anyone else.

By the time both girls had full bellies and sticky fingers from pancakes, she felt jealous. The two had talked nonstop about their time without her. Was she so easily replaced? Or was she just boring?

By eleven, her guilt at leaving them had taken control. "Let's get dressed. We're going to Target." Maybe if she set rules about the iron, it would be okay.

They left the store with a tub of tiny plastic pieces to fuse together and two new games, plus clothes. The spring styles were out, and they each had some new outfits, even when Maya's outgrown clothes were perfectly good for Chloe.

Maybe she shouldn't have bought so much, but the guilt bubbled up when she was certain she spied him at a register as they walked in. If she left the house a few minutes earlier, they could have bumped into each other in the store. The guilt came from the fleeting moment when Tessa wished they had.

How was it that in just over a month the balance she carefully created had fallen off kilter? Maybe things would feel better after their upcoming vacation week. Downtime was just what they needed.

While the girls spent hours making designs with the tiny pieces of plastic, she ironed them and took a few minutes to check in with her mother.

"We'll be back in a week. Has the snow melted?"

There were always some piles of dirty snow created by the snowplows, which took longer to melt. Even those disappeared a week ago. The grass still hadn't turned green, but it would by the end of April.

"Yes, even the last bits. Everyone has started spring clean ups."

"It's time for your father to start his yard work." Her father loved his gardens and kept his yard meticulous. "I'm looking forward to seeing Maya and Chloe again. I miss them and you too."

"Thanks a lot, Mom." She teased.

"What's new? Are you doing okay?"

"I'm fine. The girls are healthy."

"Let me talk to them."

She put the phone on speaker. "Grandma wants to talk to you."

She listened as they told their grandmother about Miss. Rita's visit. She had just bought them new toys and clothes, but they didn't mention those things.

"Let me speak to mommy again."

She took the phone off the speaker and put it to her ear. "Hi." Her voice was less than enthusiastic.

"Did Rita stay with the girls so you could go out?"

She groaned. Her mother would make a big deal out of her leaving the girls. "I went to Korra's birthday party for a few hours. Rachel begged."

"Tess, your friends shouldn't have to beg to see you."

"I have coffee with Rachel often."

"Well, I'll be home soon to stay with my granddaughters, so I expect you to make some plans."

She didn't want to go out at night. She gave that life up when she left New York. Sweep.

Her mother's call left her restless. Why didn't people understand her job was to be a mother? She had enough time off during school hours. Except the next week, she would be busy running the book fair.

On Monday, she and Rachel spend the entire morning setting up the book fair. When they were done the hallway was lined with metal cases of books and tables piled high with other books, toys and small items like pens, pencils and fancy erasers. The fair would be open for sales at the end of the day Monday through Friday. Then they would pack it all up in boxes and close the cases for the truck to pick it up to take to the warehouse to get ready for another school.

The fair was one of the biggest money generating ventures for the PTA. The profits would support all their initiatives. Tessa felt good to be spearheading the effort.

Admiring their efforts, Rachel said, "Do you want to grab some lunch before the mayhem starts?"

She could go home and make the beds or fold some clothes, but she'd be at the school until after five and deserved a break. Rachel smiled when she agreed.

Once seated at a small local cafe, Rachel sighed. "I've been busier than when I was practicing law full time."

"You went right from planning a party to book fair week."

"Yeah, but the party was worth it. Did you have fun?"

Tessa nodded. "It was a very nice evening. I had never been inside the inn before."

"The spa is amazing."

Tessa laughed. "I've never been much of a spa girl."

"Patrick gave Korra a couple's massage. You two seemed to get along."

Tessa hoped she wasn't blushing. "We talked a little, and then he was kind enough to ask me to dance when all the couples abandoned me."

"He'd be blind not to notice you."

Tessa was certain she was blushing. "I think we were your only unattached guests."

"Which makes it perfect. Patrick Bennett is a handsome man."

Tessa wouldn't argue. The man was handsome and fit too. She had her hand resting on his back and could feel his muscles. "I had a nice time and I'm glad Korra enjoyed her birthday."

"I have met lawyers who weren't as good as you at diverting a conversation."

Tessa stared at her menu. If she replied, Rachel would trip her up. She was the lawyer, and Tessa had been married to one. Sweep.

"Someday you're going to wake up and realize you need more than just being a mother to make you happy."

Tessa smiled. "Speaking of mothers, if I want a lecture, I have one. Mine is very good at it."

"Okay. I concede."

They had a pleasant lunch discussing safe subjects and returned to school. Sales were great, but Tessa was exhausted when she left the school with the girls close to six. Grilled cheese and baths and some reading was all they had time for before bedtime. Tessa folded the clothes in front of the TV and went to bed early.

By Thursday, she was ready to drop. Friends who had been at the party had commented about her dance with the doctor. She tried to brush it off, but was concerned they were spreading rumors. She was tempted to ask Amy, but there was still a chance her friend didn't know about her dance.

On Friday, when the last metal bookcase closed and the sales and financial information printed off the point of sale terminals, Tessa sighed. She only had to complete a report online, and make a bank deposit. Then she would be done. Sales exceeded the previous year which made it all worth it. She would report on their profits at the PTA meeting on Thursday of the following week. Thankfully, her parents were returning on Sunday, so she wouldn't have to bring the girls.

A week after her dance, she was glad her life was back to normal. She liked boring and normal.