4: Perseverance

Katherine was now acclimated into her new job and surrounding. She decided to keep the Café, but she added a small bakery that would supply her and the community with delectable treats. It also served as a means of employment for neighborhood folks. Three months of success and she felt good about the changes she made. But she still felt like something was missing. One evening after work, she called Taryn, who was now running the bakery she left back in Wisconsin.

"Hey, how was today?" Katherine questioned.

Taryn chuckled before answering.

"It's the same as yesterday and the day before, and the day before that."

"So all is well?" Katherine asked.

"Yes, Kat, all is well."

"Okay good."

"Kat, is something bothering you?," Taryn asked, as if she sensed the tension through the phone.

"I ju..., I just," before Katherine could finish the sentence, she burst out in tears.

"Oh no, Kat, what's wrong? Are the kids okay?"

"They are fine," she sobbed. " I just feel overwhelmed with everything, you know. They are getting older, and I feel like they are going to resent me or something because they don't have a father. I don't want my children to hate me. I wish Nile was here because if he were, I wouldn't be feeling this way."

"I understand, but you need to breathe, relax and let's dissect this situation."

"Alright," she sobbed again.

"Do you want to be happy and in love again?"

"Of course I do, but my soul mate is gone. I lost my one true love and no other man can live up to him," Katherine declared.

"Okay, so you push men away because they don't meet the expectations that you look for?" Taryn asked.

"I don't push men away, do I?"

"You do, actually."

"But why should I settle, though?"

"It's not settling, but you need to know that the men you meet will never be Nile."

"I know that, but I would rather be sad and lonely rater than settle for a man who doesn't check half the boxes on my checklist," she confessed.

"There you go again with the silly checklist of yours."

"It's not silly, it's resourceful."

"Okay, let's go over it again."

"So, number one, he has to be ambitious. He must be family orientated and get along great with children, kindness, and loyalty is a must."

"Alright, keep going," Taryn urged.

"He should own a home or at least lives on his own. He must be easy on the eyes and no tattoos," Katherine kept going. "He should be romantic and spontaneous, he should be manly, but have a sensitive side too. Also, he must have brown eyes and not bald or have a receding hairline. I like a little hair on the head."

"Okay Katherine, I think that's enough," laughed Taryn

"What's so funny? I'm not even close to being done. Did I mention kind?" She continued. "He must be involved in some sort of charity work, you know, giving back to others, also he has to have faith in a higher being, and he must believe in prayer."

"Alright, I guess we will have to make that man for you because no one is that perfect," Taryn stated.

"Taryn, I'm not looking for perfection, I'm just hoping a decent man is still out there."

"When I find one, I will let you know bestie."

They both sighed, knowing that they were in the same position when it came to their love lives. Taryn was dating around, but nothing serious.

Nola was passing her mother's room, when she heard her crying. She didn't like to see her mom sad, so she just stood at the door and listened for a while. She realized she was on the phone with whom she assumed to be aunt Taryn. Her mother was upset about being alone and being a bad mom to them, and Nola didn't want her mother to think that way. She heard her mother mention something about a list of qualities she looked for in a guy. As she was about to knock on her mother's door, an idea came to her. She quickly got her notepad and colour pencil and began jotting down the qualities her mother was listing. When she was finished, she ran to Nathan's room with notepad in hand and her idea in her head.

She knocked once and before Nathan could answer, she burst through the door.

"What the heck, Nola," Nathan shouted, surprised. "I didn't say you could come in."

"Relax, grumpy pants. This is important," Nola stated.

"What is it?"

"I heard mom crying again."

"Oh," Nathan's voice was sad.

"Cheer up, Nate. I think I know how to make mom happy again," Nola squealed. Her little button nose wiggled out of excitement and her chubby cheeks got a rosy pink tint that made her look like a cupcake doll.

"I'm listening." Nate placed his tablet on the bed and gave his sister his full attention. Nola handed him her list. "What is this?" He asked as he snatched the notepad from Nola's hands. He read it. "How is this supposed to make mom happy?"

"Because we're gonna find mom a new husband, silly," Nola giggled. "I overheard mom on the phone with aunty Taryn."

"Ooh, someone's in trouble. You know, we are not allowed to listen in on adult conversations."

"I didn't mean to," Nola whined. "And besides, I heard mom telling aunt about the stuff she looks for in a husband."

"And?"

"Don't you see, silly pants," she shook her brother by the shoulders. "We can find this perfect man for mom."

Nate looked over the list one more time, and then it hit him. "Yeah, you're right. Mom is so busy with the new café and also being our mom and cooking us those delicious meals, she doesn't have the time to search for this new husband," he explained. "So, because we are good kids, we will find mom a husband, and then she can be happy again."

"Yeah," Nola shrieked. She gave her brother a high-five. "Now mom will never have to cry again."

"Nola, you're a genius."

"I know," she giggled. And Nathan began laughing too, then he saw his sister looking like she was lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about now?" He asked her.

"Where do we find this new husband?"

"I don't know, this was your idea!" Nate rolled his eyes. "This will be hard."

"Yes it will. But we must persevere for mom's sake," Nola nodded.

"Yes, we must persevere," Nate mimicked his sister's words. "Sis, what does persevere mean?"

"I don't know. I heard mom use it once, and it just sounded right." Nola shook her shoulders. She got up to leave her brother's room. "And Nate, one last thing. Mom cannot find out about this."

"Agreed," he answered while he spat in his hand for his sister to shake. She rolled her eyes and left him standing there with his palm outstretched.