Ana has been trying to decide what to do about Brandon's apparent loneliness as well as Bridget's broken heart. As for Brandon, her instincts tell her what he may be missing is a little attention/influence from a father figure. Well, his father is gone, but he has two adult brothers that could do him some good.
Ana calls Aaron to ask if he could spend some one on one time with Brandon. He agrees and suggests a sleepover for his younger brother.
Ana is enjoying a slice of left-over birthday cake after Aaron picked Brandon up when Bridget walks in. She hardly recognizes her daughter.
Ana calls Aaron to ask if he could spend some one on one time with Brandon. He agrees and suggests a sleepover for his younger brother.
Ana is enjoying a slice of left-over birthday cake after Aaron picked Brandon up when Bridget walks in. She hardly recognizes her daughter.
Bridget had dyed her hair a vibrant cherry red.
Ana had already decided that she needed to spend a little extra time with her eldest daughter, after all Ana has plenty of experience with broken hearts. And she suspects Bridget's drastic change of appearance might be in response to her recent break up.
Now is as good a time as any to talk with her daughter. Ana asks Bridget to come sit on the front porch with her.
Ana had already decided that she needed to spend a little extra time with her eldest daughter, after all Ana has plenty of experience with broken hearts. And she suspects Bridget's drastic change of appearance might be in response to her recent break up.
Now is as good a time as any to talk with her daughter. Ana asks Bridget to come sit on the front porch with her.
"How are you doing, sweetie?" Ana begins.
"I'm great." Bridget lies. "Why do you ask?"
"I'm just wondering what brought on this..." She gestures to Bridget's new look.
"Don't you like it?" Bridget is a little hurt.
"I love the hair, Bridget. You look stunning as always. I just... You're not trying to change your look to...get Jeremy back are you?" Ana finally blurts out, maybe a little tactless.
"I'm great." Bridget lies. "Why do you ask?"
"I'm just wondering what brought on this..." She gestures to Bridget's new look.
"Don't you like it?" Bridget is a little hurt.
"I love the hair, Bridget. You look stunning as always. I just... You're not trying to change your look to...get Jeremy back are you?" Ana finally blurts out, maybe a little tactless.
"Mom! No! I mean, I guess I did change my hair because of Jeremy. But I'm not trying to get him back. I just felt like I needed a change. Do you know what I mean?"
"Yeah. I was just making sure." Ana trusts that she's being honest, but she can tell Bridget is holding back.
"Yeah. I was just making sure." Ana trusts that she's being honest, but she can tell Bridget is holding back.
"Bridget, are you really okay? You know you can tell me anything." Ana prompts her again.
And with that Bridget can't hold back her emotions any longer. She stands up. And begins to tell her mom the whole story behind why she and Jeremy broke up.
And with that Bridget can't hold back her emotions any longer. She stands up. And begins to tell her mom the whole story behind why she and Jeremy broke up.
A tear or two escape as she finishes up. "I just couldn't believe he would mess around with someone else. I thought he cared about me. I feel so stupid."
"Aww, sweetie. Don't feel stupid. You were in love. Of course you trusted him. That's what you're supposed to do."
The rest of their conversation consists of some cliche motherly advice. When-the-right-boy-comes-along and the-pain-will-go-away-in-time sort of advice. They also make plans for Bridget to join Ana on her daily jogs, so that they have time to spend with each other every day.
"Aww, sweetie. Don't feel stupid. You were in love. Of course you trusted him. That's what you're supposed to do."
The rest of their conversation consists of some cliche motherly advice. When-the-right-boy-comes-along and the-pain-will-go-away-in-time sort of advice. They also make plans for Bridget to join Ana on her daily jogs, so that they have time to spend with each other every day.
"Give me a hug, Mom. I really am feeling better now." Bridget says truthfully. She's not entirely over her heart-ache, but she knows she'll be okay.
"How do you know me so well? You always know what to say to make me feel better. It's annoying!" Bridget adds.
"Oh you know...I'm Super-Mom." Ana jokes. But truthfully she is relieved that Bridget found their talk comforting, because she had be half-afraid she would make things worse.
"Oh you know...I'm Super-Mom." Ana jokes. But truthfully she is relieved that Bridget found their talk comforting, because she had be half-afraid she would make things worse.
The mother-daughter duo begin their tradition of daily runs that very day. Both begin again to feel hopeful for the future.
Aaron brings Brandon back home the following day.
"Hey, my boys!" Ana greets them on the porch. "Did you have fun with your big brother?" Ana asks Brandon, but looks to Aaron for any hints of how the trip went.
"It was great, Mama. We went the the park." Replies Brandon.
After sending Brandon inside to put his bag away, Ana asks Aaron for details.
"It was great, Mama. We went the the park." Replies Brandon.
After sending Brandon inside to put his bag away, Ana asks Aaron for details.
Aaron had surprised his younger brother with a trip to the park. Brandon was very happy and thankful for this.
When Aaron suggested he go play on the playground, Brandon seemed a little unsure. "I don't know."
"Why? Don't you want to play?" Aaron asked.
"Yeah, I guess, but it's usually crowded."
"It looks pretty empty right now."
"Why? Don't you want to play?" Aaron asked.
"Yeah, I guess, but it's usually crowded."
"It looks pretty empty right now."
So they head on over. Brandon really enjoyed himself. Aaron played the part of the sea-monster. Brandon was amused when Aaron told him how their mom used to do the same thing when he was little.
But when a few other kids came over to play on the ship too, Brandon immediately climbed down. He asked if they could do a little fishing instead.
But when a few other kids came over to play on the ship too, Brandon immediately climbed down. He asked if they could do a little fishing instead.
"Of course, we can. If you're sure you don't want to play with the other kids. Do you know any of them from school?" Aaron asks.
"Nah. I rather go fishing."
"Have you ever been before?"
"Nah, but I've always wanted to."
"Nah. I rather go fishing."
"Have you ever been before?"
"Nah, but I've always wanted to."
So Aaron spent the rest of the day teaching his little brother the basics of fishing. Brandon really liked it. He really seems to enjoy being by himself. He has fun, and he likes to be with people he knows. He's just very shy around other people.
When Aaron finishes telling his mom all this, Ana is worried.
When Aaron finishes telling his mom all this, Ana is worried.
"But how is he ever going to make friends?" She thinks aloud.
"Mom, I wouldn't worry about him too much. I think he has friends, he's just...selective... about who he wants to spend time with. He seemed pretty happy to me." Aaron tries to reassure her.
Nevertheless Ana worries. That's part of a mother's job after all. And she follows her instinct about Brandon needing male role models in his life. Aaron, for his part, is perfectly happy to keep spending time with his little brother, and they make plans for another fishing trip next weekend.
Ana also calls Ken to see if he would be willing to mentor the boy. She and Ken don't talk very much anymore, but he actually seems very excited about the prospect. Ken tells her he is sorry they haven't kept in touch. He would love to get to know his younger siblings better. He seems to really mean that, because he asks if can pick up Brandon the very next day.
"Mom, I wouldn't worry about him too much. I think he has friends, he's just...selective... about who he wants to spend time with. He seemed pretty happy to me." Aaron tries to reassure her.
Nevertheless Ana worries. That's part of a mother's job after all. And she follows her instinct about Brandon needing male role models in his life. Aaron, for his part, is perfectly happy to keep spending time with his little brother, and they make plans for another fishing trip next weekend.
Ana also calls Ken to see if he would be willing to mentor the boy. She and Ken don't talk very much anymore, but he actually seems very excited about the prospect. Ken tells her he is sorry they haven't kept in touch. He would love to get to know his younger siblings better. He seems to really mean that, because he asks if can pick up Brandon the very next day.
"So if you're my brother, how come we all call you "Uncle" Ken?" Brandon asks what could have been an awkward question.
But Ken's response is perfect. "Well, we have the same dad, but I was already a grown up before he ever met your mother. Since I'm so much older, Aaron started calling me "Uncle" when he was a kid, and it just sort of stuck."
While the boys spend some time together, and spends some time with her friend, Tina.
But Ken's response is perfect. "Well, we have the same dad, but I was already a grown up before he ever met your mother. Since I'm so much older, Aaron started calling me "Uncle" when he was a kid, and it just sort of stuck."
While the boys spend some time together, and spends some time with her friend, Tina.
Today's conversation is a bit awkward, because Ana decides to bring up the subject of Jeremy. She asks Tina if she knows why Bridget and her son broke up.
She doesn't and Ana ends up having to explain.
She doesn't and Ana ends up having to explain.
When Ana finishes, Tina looks upset. "I'm gonna have a good long talk with that boy. I can't believe he would do such a thing. He knew good and well Bridget was his girlfriend....this none-sense about them not being 'official'...."
Bridget happens to walk in the room during the tell end of the conversation. Tina tells her to sit down.
Bridget happens to walk in the room during the tell end of the conversation. Tina tells her to sit down.
"Let me tell you something, Bridget..." Tina starts.
"Okaaaayyy." Bridget is obviously a little uncomfortable with this conversation. This is her ex-boyfriend's mother.
"Okaaaayyy." Bridget is obviously a little uncomfortable with this conversation. This is her ex-boyfriend's mother.
"I know he's my son, but that boy is out of his mind. You are such a sweet young lady, he'll regret throwing you away one day."
Bridget doesn't know what to say to this so she just sits there with her mouth hanging open slightly.
"Plus he's going to wish he had a nice girl's shoulder to cry on after I whoop his butt." Tina adds.
Bridget doesn't know what to say to this so she just sits there with her mouth hanging open slightly.
"Plus he's going to wish he had a nice girl's shoulder to cry on after I whoop his butt." Tina adds.
That succeeds in cracking Bridget up. She thanks Tina as she walks out of the room still chuckling to herself. You just can't help but to love Tina.
"Thank you for letting me know what was going on, Ana. I'll deal with that boy of mine."
"No, no thank you. Just for being you, Tina. I think Bridget's feeling better. Don't be to hard on him, he's just a kid."
"You just let me worry about that. I should be going anyway." But as she stands to leave she remembers something. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. My daughter, Sasha started dating a nice young man a few weeks ago. I finally got to meet him, and he tells me he knows you."
"What's his name?"
"Ken. How come you never mentioned that Arthur had an older son?"
Ana is pretty surprised, because Ken hadn't mentioned dating anyone to her. But she supposes he wouldn't, not with their slightly awkward history. "Well I guess it just never came up. But anyway Ken is a great guy."
"Glad to hear that. I was a little worried you didn't mention him, because you didn't like him." Tina confesses.
"No, nothing like that. I promise." Ana reassures her.
"Good, now I really should be getting home. See you later, girl."
"Thank you for letting me know what was going on, Ana. I'll deal with that boy of mine."
"No, no thank you. Just for being you, Tina. I think Bridget's feeling better. Don't be to hard on him, he's just a kid."
"You just let me worry about that. I should be going anyway." But as she stands to leave she remembers something. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. My daughter, Sasha started dating a nice young man a few weeks ago. I finally got to meet him, and he tells me he knows you."
"What's his name?"
"Ken. How come you never mentioned that Arthur had an older son?"
Ana is pretty surprised, because Ken hadn't mentioned dating anyone to her. But she supposes he wouldn't, not with their slightly awkward history. "Well I guess it just never came up. But anyway Ken is a great guy."
"Glad to hear that. I was a little worried you didn't mention him, because you didn't like him." Tina confesses.
"No, nothing like that. I promise." Ana reassures her.
"Good, now I really should be getting home. See you later, girl."
A little later, Ken brings Brandon back home.
"So...how did it go?" Ana asks as soon as Brandon is out of earshot.
"Ana, honestly I think Aaron is right. He seems perfectly happy to me. He's pretty shy, but I don't really think that bothers him."
Having this second opinion finally helps ease some of Ana's worries about her baby boy.
"Well, thank you again, Ken, for spending some time with him."
Having this second opinion finally helps ease some of Ana's worries about her baby boy.
"Well, thank you again, Ken, for spending some time with him."
"Hey. What can I say? I'm just a nice guy." He says not so humbly. "But in all seriousness. I had a great time. I meant it when I said I would love to get to know all the kids a little better. I wish we had stayed in touch, but..."
"Things were a little awkward? Yeah. I remember." Ana finishes Ken's sentence.
Somewhat surprisingly things don't feel at all awkward between them anymore. Ana even asks him about the news Tina shared before she left.
"Things were a little awkward? Yeah. I remember." Ana finishes Ken's sentence.
Somewhat surprisingly things don't feel at all awkward between them anymore. Ana even asks him about the news Tina shared before she left.
"What's this I hear about you and a girl named Sasha?"
"I guess Tina told you? She mentioned you two were friends...But yeah, Sasha's wonderful. She makes me happy."
"I guess Tina told you? She mentioned you two were friends...But yeah, Sasha's wonderful. She makes me happy."
Ana and Ken spend a few more minutes talking, more comfortably than they had in a long time.
After he leaves the only thing besides happy for him she feels is a longing to have that same piece of happiness for herself.
After he leaves the only thing besides happy for him she feels is a longing to have that same piece of happiness for herself.