Catching Up

Catching Up
Arianna and Pierce arrived at their favorite park five minutes later.
“This is the worst idea. It’s cold as shit out here.”
“I agree. Let’s stay in the car with the heater on,” Pierce suggested.
“Good idea. Before we talk about me, what have you been up to?”
“Well...after you left, I was devastated. I was heartbroken and angry, but I was most angry at myself. I look back, and I can’t help but think there were several missed opportunities on my part to make things right with you. My new therapist helped me realize that I wasn’t ready to be in a relationship so soon after my divorce. I was riding a high from being with you. I missed that feeling of being desired by a woman, and that craving led me to be pushy and forceful with you when it came to some areas, such as kids. My therapist also affirmed I had major insecurities when it came to our age gap. I was fixated on the unknown instead of being fixated on us.”
“I can see that.”
“I fell deeper into depression after you left, but I made a commitment to myself to get better just in case you changed your mind and came back.”
Arianna raised an eyebrow at Pierce.
“What I meant to say was I made a commitment to myself to get better for myself.”
“Much better,” Arianna giggled.
“I went to therapy often, and I made sure I left the house at least once a day. I would hang out at the club a couple of times a week, and I would attend the events. I did make friends with new people. I even went on a few dates.”
“I’m intrigued,” Arianna said, causing Pierce to snort.
“You shouldn’t be. As you would say, I have nothing “spicy” to report. They were nice women, but none of them could keep my attention long. It’s your fault.”
“How is it my fault?” Arianna gasped.
“Your flirt game is so strong that no other woman can compare. There were times my dates tried to flirt, and it was very cringy. They did not get a second date,” Pierce chuckled.
“What was the cringiest thing said to you?”
“Good Lord. After too many drinks, this one woman called me Daddy. I told her I was uncomfortable and to please not do it again.”
“Oh, my God, Pierce,” Arianna snickered.
“What? She was the same age as me. It didn’t sit right with me.”
“I bet. Tell me about your volunteering.”
“I see you had Patrick spying on me,” Pierce accused.
“Spying is such a strong word. I much prefer keeping tabs on you.”
“Mhmmm. Volunteering has honestly been very rewarding. It almost feels like a full-time job sometimes. I can use my skills to empower the less fortunate instead of using my skills to keep the rich or making them richer.”
“How does it work?”
“When I meet with a client, I ask that they bring all their bills and three months of bank statement with them on the first day. We’ll discuss their goals and come up with a comprehensive program to help them meet their goals. Some people want to learn how to budget better; some are saving for large items such as a down payment on a home or college savings for their children. Most wanted assistance with debt consolidation. We will go over the bank statements, and I’ll show where they’re frivolously spending money. One guy had difficulty paying his rent, but I noticed large purchases at a gas station, indica-”
“Scratch-offs,” Arianna snorted.
“Right. He was spending anywhere between $100 and $150 a week in scratch-offs. He was a work-in-progress, but we weaned him down to spending $50 or less a week. It’s not much, but it’s something. Another woman was an UberEats and DoorDash junkie. She was spending hundreds of dollars a month on food delivery services. She claimed she ordered food because she did not like grocery shopping, and after working all day, she was too tired to cook. We got her signed up for one of those pre-packaged meal delivery services. We cut her food cost in half for the month. Not only did she benefit financially, but physically as well.
“What case are you most proud of?”
“I helped a single mother save enough money to buy a home. She was one of my first clients. It wasn’t a grand house by any means, but it was hers, and her mortgage was almost half as much as her rent.”
“Wow, Pierce. You’re all smiles. I love this for you, and hopefully, soon, you’ll have a baby on the way.”
“Fingers crossed everything goes well. I’ve been in constant communication with the agency, and I have a good feeling about this. Honestly, I wouldn’t have gone through with it without Zoe agreeing to be my child’s godmother.”
“Have you already picked out a surrogate?”
“That’s the next step in the process. I’m nervous.”
“About what?”
“About becoming a father.”
“You shouldn’t be. You’ll be a fine father.”
“And one of these days, when you’re ready, you’ll be a fine mother.”
“No, I won’t.”
“Of course you will.”
Arianna furiously shook her head. “Let me rephrase, Pierce. No...I can’t.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not following,” Pierce mumbled, feeling himself become overwhelmed with emotions.
Arianna turned to face Pierce with silent tears streaming down her face. “I can’t have children, Pierce.”