"Mami, can I ask you something?" Nicholas asked with a curious tone while sitting beside Rio, who kept her eyes fixed on the road.
They had just enjoyed another pleasant weekend together as mother and daughter. Since the divorce, this routine had become a constant in their lives. Even more so for Rio, who, despite still feeling Agatha’s absence—whom she sometimes still referred to as her wife—was determined to respect the new boundaries their relationship imposed. She made an effort to maintain a harmonious co-parenting dynamic and make this transition as smooth as possible for Nicholas.
"Of course dude, you can ask me anything." Rio replied, her soft voice contrasting with her focused attention on the road ahead.
"There’s a girl in my class." Nicholas began with a slightly hesitant voice. "A-and I like her. I don’t know what to do."
"Oh." Rio smiled. "Well, tell me more about her, and maybe I can help you."
Nicholas hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts.
"Her name is Sabrina." Nicholas began, his voice soft but filled with emotion. "She’s really kind, always helping others at school, and... she has this way of making everyone around her feel special." He paused before continuing. "She has an amazing smile, Mami, and she’s really smart. She loves books, especially fiction, just like me."
"I see you didn’t let a single detail slip past you." Rio observed with a smile.
"I want to ask her out, but I’m afraid she’ll say no."
Rio let out a deep sigh, reflecting on how long she had waited to have such a mature conversation with her 15-year-old son.
"Nicky, why do you think she would say no?" Rio encouraged, looking at him with warmth. "You’re one of the coolest boys in school. And on top of that, you’re the only one who wears a Batman backpack."
"Some classmates made fun of me for that." Nicholas admitted with a slight shrug.
"Why didn’t you tell me that?" Rio asked, intrigued.
"Because Mom threatened to put snake venom in the other mothers’ food, and now they’re all afraid of me."
Rio laughed, recalling Agatha’s peculiar way of handling things. She couldn’t help but acknowledge her ex-wife’s creativity.
"Look, I’m going to teach you a few tricks to win her over, but you can’t tell your mother, deal?" Rio said, winking.
"Deal!" Nicholas responded enthusiastically, sealing the pact with a finger shake.
SINCERE COMPLIMENTS
"Say something nice about her, but avoid the obvious," Rio advised with an encouraging look. "Instead of just ‘you’re beautiful, ’ try something more specific, like ‘ I love how you smile when you’re excited about something.’"
"Hm, how do I do that?" Nicholas asked, a little unsure but curious.
Rio let out a sigh, realizing that this task would require more effort than it initially seemed. But she had a plan, even knowing the risks of not just giving the correct advice.
"Just watch." Rio said, already formulating a strategy.
Nicholas got out of the car with Rio, walking together toward the house. The door soon opened, revealing Agatha in her apron, wearing a welcoming smile while the delicious aroma of freshly baked cake filled the air.
"Hey, my little boy, how was your day?" Agatha greeted Nicholas affectionately, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"It was cool. Mami and I had pizza and Coke for dinner last night," Nicholas replied casually.
Agatha raised an eyebrow, already preparing for a gentle reprimand about dinner habits—one that Rio had heard hundreds of times before.
"Let’s hope your mother learns to cook before the holidays," Agatha said, an evident touch of sarcasm in her voice. "Otherwise, she might end up suffering from food poisoning all alone in that apartment."
"You used to love it when I took you to eat at the McDonald's drive-thru." Rio commented with a shrug.
"That was ten years ago when you could get out of bed without your back cracking." Agatha shot back with a sly smile.
"You didn’t complain when I used my back for other things." Rio quickly retorted with a wink.
Nicholas made a face, clearly uncomfortable with his mothers’ exchange of provocations, wondering why they still acted so in sync even after the divorce.
"Can I have a piece of that cake?" Rio asked, pointing at the dessert while Agatha nodded, massaging her temples.
"Of all the things I miss about our marriage, I think I can’t live without your cooking."
"Get ready to die." Agatha replied without a shred of emotion.
Okay.
That didn’t work for her.
However, Nicholas brought good news to Rio while she lay in her apartment later that week. She really didn’t like that place. The only things she had bought were a bed and a television, thinking of Nicholas as she tried to create a space that felt like home. More than anything, she missed sleeping on the right side of the bed, holding her wife as they listened to the silence of the night together, making love softly until they drifted off to sleep again.
Those moments were absent in this new reality, and the longing always tightened her chest before she fell asleep.
"I-I complimented her, and she really seemed to like it." Nicholas said, his voice filled with excitement over the phone. His joy was contagious. "So, what’s next?" he asked with genuine curiosity.
SMALL GIFTS
"Don’t you think we should go to a mall?" Nicholas suggested hesitantly, staring at the worn-out entrance of the store.
He imagined the shine, the modernity, and the countless options they would find in a shopping center. However, Rio was determined.
"No. Calderu’s Chest has exactly what you need." Rio said with conviction before opening the store’s door with a certain theatricality.
The place was old, surrounded by an undeniable nostalgia. The walls were lined with hanging witch costumes, their papier-mâché hands swaying gently in the air. A few skulls, stacked decoratively, emitted a sound that, though soft, would certainly spook a child with a vivid imagination. Huge shelves stretched up to the ceiling, filled with intriguing objects and dusty books.
"Rio! Nicholas!" The warm greeting came from an elderly woman behind the counter, whose face lit up as she recognized them.
"Hey, Lilia." Rio approached, offering a genuine smile.
"Aunt LilIa." Nicholas gladly accepted the woman’s tight hug, which smelled like an intriguing mix of cologne and ashtray.
"What brings you two here?" she asked, her eyes curious and full of expectation.
"Nicky is looking for a gift... for a classmate." Rio explained, shooting Nicholas a suggestive look.
"Oh, I see." Lilia replied, an occasional sly glint in her eyes as she adjusted her glasses. "So, what does this girl like, Nicholas?"
“She loves fiction, especially stories involving witches. But she’s not a fan of Harry Potter.” Nicholas quickly clarifies. “Her favorite movie is Hocus Pocus , and once she dressed up as Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice .”
“Seems like you know this girl pretty well.” Lilia observes with an enigmatic smile, and Nicholas blushes at the comment. “I have the perfect gift for her.” Lilia disappears behind the shelves, leaving the two waiting. After some time, she returns, holding an old book with a leather cover.
“Potions, Blood, and Witchcraft.” Rio reads as her eyes scan the intriguing title, which Nicholas quickly snatches from her hand to open.
“How much is the book?” Rio asks.
“For him, it’s free. I would never charge my own nephew.” Lilia responds with a warm smile.
“Thanks, Aunt Lilia!”
Rio’s eyes wander to a more distant shelf, where she spots something that piques her interest: an adorable rabbit dress.
“And how much for that, Lilia?” she asks, pointing at the lovely dress.
“Fifteen dollars for you.”
Later, when Agatha returns from the book club, she finds Rio and Nicholas happily occupied in the kitchen. The scene feels almost familiar, but she has to remind herself that this is now her ex-wife and not the person she would have greeted with kisses three months ago. As she closes the door with a soft click, the two turn to greet her with warm smiles.
“Hey, Mom!” Nicholas exclaims enthusiastically. “We made quesadillas!”
Agatha raises an eyebrow in pleasant surprise, casting a curious glance at Rio, who approaches with a persuasive smile.
“This... smells good.” Agatha admits reluctantly but can’t hide the satisfied smile.
“Try it.” Rio says, offering a spoonful toward Agatha’s mouth. She accepts the offer with a gentle gesture and tastes it.
“You made this?” Agatha asks, a hint of disbelief in her voice.
“Yes, with the help of my mini chef.” Rio replies with a wink, affectionately referring to Nicholas.
“Well, I’m surprised you didn’t set the kitchen on fire.” Agatha jokes, letting out a soft laugh as she turns. And then, her attention is captured by something unexpected. “What happened to Mr. Scratchy?”
The rabbit, adorned in an adorable pink dress, hops happily across the floor. Agatha can’t help but find the scene incredibly cute.
“It was supposed to be a surprise.” Rio admits.
“You did this?” Agatha asks, pointing at Rio, who scratches her head in a mix of embarrassment and pride.
“Yes, mami spent almost an hour humming: “Be a good boy for daddy while I dress you.’” Nicholas explains as he hands his own mother over.
“He looks cute.” Agatha comments, admitting.
“So you liked it?” Rio asks, a note of hope in her voice.
“Yes.” Agatha confirms, and with that, Rio’s heart races intensely. They stand there, so close to one another that they almost forget Nicholas’s presence, as if they were about to kiss.
“I think I should go take a shower.” The boy whispers, not wanting to interrupt whatever his moms were doing in that moment.
“Yeah... I should go too. Home.” Rio says, starting to move away reluctantly.
“Don’t you want to stay for dinner?” Agatha asks after a sigh, inwardly hoping she wouldn’t regret her own offer.
“Can I?”
“Of course, after all, you were the one who made the food.”
On Friday, when Rio goes to pick up Nicholas for the basketball game, she notices he’s not as excited as usual.
“Hey, what happened?” she asks, concerned for her son.
“Hm, nothing.” Nicholas responds, somewhat evasive.
“Didn’t she like the book?”
“It’s not that.” He sighs, exhaling frustration. “George asked Sabrina out.”
“Oh.” Rio murmurs, gathering her words before adding: “Nicky…”
“I appreciate your help, mami, but now she thinks I just want to be friends with her.” Nicholas vents, visibly down.
“Tell her.”
“What?”
“Tell her you don’t just want to be friends. Tell her you’re in love with her.”
“What if she says no?”
“You move on.” Rio advises. “Look, Nicky, this isn’t the end of the world. If she doesn’t like you the same way, there will be other girls and boys out there.”
“Yeah... that doesn’t sound so bad.” Nicholas admits, his sadness starting to dissipate. “Was it like that with mommy?”
“No, actually, I chased her until she agreed to go out with me.” Rio laughs, remembering. “But don’t do that to anyone, okay?”
“Okay.” He replies, giving Rio’s arm a light punch with renewed excitement.
CONFESS YOUR FEELINGS
Rio hadn’t expected to get a call from Agatha on a Saturday, especially since this was the weekend Nicholas was supposed to be with her. Yet, there she was, standing in front of the house that used to be her home, summoned by her ex-wife for an urgent conversation.
"So... what did you want to say?" Rio asks, locking eyes with Agatha, expectation and tension mirrored on her face.
"It's about Nicholas." Agatha begins, pulling a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket.
“What’s this?” Rio asks, intrigued.
“It’s a list.” Agatha answers grimly. “Our son made a list on how to win a girl over.” The revelation hangs between them like a storm cloud about to burst.
“I... I may have helped a little with that.” Rio admits, hesitating but wanting to be honest.
“What?” Agatha snaps, surprise turning to indignation.
“Come on, Agatha. It’s not that serious.” Rio tries to defend herself, though uncertain of her own words. “He told me he wanted to ask a classmate out, and I just gave some innocent tips.”
“Of course, what would the next step be?” Agatha questions, sarcasm cutting through the air. “Take him to a strip club?”
“Agatha, please. Nicky’s 15. He’s not a kid anymore.” Rio retorts, trying to convey calm, but her anxiety growing with every word.
“You say that because you didn’t carry him for nine months!” Agatha exclaims, her voice full of old wounds.
“How can you say that?” Rio says, her voice now trembling with a mix of hurt and anger. “I’ve been by your side the whole time, never left you alone!”
“Yes, to make up for all the other years you were absent!” Agatha responds, letting out the torrent of emotions that had been bottled up inside for so long.
“It’s fine if you want to argue with me about whatever reason our marriage ended. Just do it. But please, keep Nicky out of it.”
"Did you even bother to check if this girl has any concerning history? If she’s healthy enough to be around him? What if she has some disease—"
“Agatha, please calm down.” Rio interrupts with a soft laugh, trying to dissipate the rising tension. “Our son has just a school crush, not a marriage proposal.”
“Okay, I admit, I overreacted.” Agatha confesses, her tone softening, and they sit in silence for a few minutes before she speaks again.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It was a low blow. Sometimes, I feel left out, you know? Now, you’re the cool mom, and I’m the mom who reminds him to brush his teeth, not to leave clothes lying around, and to do his homework.”
“I had no idea you felt that way.” Rio responds, surprised and full of understanding. “Listen, this isn’t a competition. Of course, I’m his mom, but Nicky loves you, and no one will ever replace you.”
“Thank you.” Agatha murmurs, her heart lightened by Rio’s sincere words.
They move closer slowly, as if testing the space between their bodies, their breath mingling before the touch. Their lips meet in a hesitant brush, exploring the forgotten familiarity and contained longing. The kiss deepens without haste.
“I love you.” Rio whispers, her words filled with pure emotion.
“Come back home.” Agatha says, looking into Rio’s eyes with determination.
“What?” Rio asks. “And what do we do with the divorce papers?”
“We tear them up.” Agatha responds with a nearly childish enthusiasm.
“That sounds like a fun idea.” Rio agrees with a smile.
Nicholas appears at the top of the stairs, his expression radiant. “I told Sabrina to go out with me, and she said yes!”
“Well, looks like everything worked out after all.” Rio murmurs to Agatha.