Chapter 1 · I Was Kicked Out While Pregnant, Now They Queue To Be Daddy

Four years ago, I signed the divorce papers while six months pregnant.

My ex-husband said, "Tracy, I doubt this kid is mine."

I did not shed a tear or cause a fuss. I took off my ring and placed it on the table. "Then consider that you have never been a father."

Four years later, at the airport, my four-year-old son grabbed my pant leg. "Mommy, that man keeps staring at you. Is he trying to hit on you?

"Tell him to get in line. I've already got his number ready."

I looked down at him, lost in thought.

'Seriously, who does this kid take after?' I wondered.

*****

My name's Tracy Thomas, and I was twenty-seven.

I got divorced four years ago and have been raising my son, Mike Thomas, all by myself ever since.

Mike was four, in the middle class at kindergarten.

People call him "the king of the block" and "the coolest kid in kindergarten."

It's not because he was a brawler; it was all about that mouth of his.

He could talk the dead back to life, make one believe black was white, and charm the hot dog vendor on the corner into throwing in extra toppings for free.

The neighbors always said, "Tracy, your son must be here to bless you, huh?"

I smile and nod. Bless me? More like he was here for revenge.

At 6:30 AM, the alarm blared.

Before I could even open my eyes, I felt a weight squishing my face.

"Mommy, wake up. The sun's shining on your butt." Mike was straddling me, patting my cheeks with both hands.

"Mike, let me sleep for five more minutes."

"No can do. Mommy, you said kids who lie get a long nose."

"But I'm not lying."

"You always say 'five more minutes,' but every time you end up sleeping for half an hour. That means you're lying."

I opened my eyes, looked at Mike, and gave in, dragging myself up. "Mike, were you an alarm clock in your previous life?"

"Nope. I was your baby before, I'm your baby now, and I'll be your baby forever."

That gift of gab definitely came from his dad. Not that I wanted to admit it.

Once I'd washed up, I started making breakfast.

Mike was standing on a stool next to me, "helping" out. "Mommy, the eggs are burning.

"Mommy, you poured too much milk.

"Mommy, the toast is overdone."

"Mike, say one more word, and you're not going to kindergarten today."

"Okay. Mommy, you are the best. Your eggs are the tastiest.

"A little burnt, but that's the best part. You won't get this from any fancy restaurant."

I took a deep breath and dumped the burnt eggs into the trash.

Then I made two perfect sunny-side-up eggs.

Mike sat at the table, his face smeared with egg yolk. "Mommy, who's picking me up from school today?"

"Winnie is coming to get you. I have to work overtime today."

"Overtime again. Mommy, you've been working late for so many days."

"I need to make more money so I can buy you those dinosaur toys you love."

"I don't want dinosaur toys anymore. I want you to come home early."

Mike lowered his head, poking at the eggs on his plate with his fork.

My heart squeezed. I walked over and kissed the top of his head. "Alright, I will do my best to come home early today."

"Pinkie promise."

After dropping Mike off at kindergarten, I squeezed onto the subway.

I work as a graphic designer at a design company.

My salary was nothing fancy, but it was enough for Mike and me to get by.

When we got divorced, my ex-husband, Dash Ludwig, gave me a lump sum.

It was a pretty decent amount; it was enough to let me live comfortably for years.

But I didn't touch a single cent. I put it all into Mike's education fund.

That money was what I got in exchange for my marriage. Just the thought of spending it made my skin crawl. I'd rather leave it all for my son.

My ex? Not worth mentioning. Even thinking about him messed up my mood for the whole day.

At work, my coworker Amy walked over. "Tracy, you look like you're in a really good mood today. Did something nice happen?"

"Nope, just the usual."

"Then why are you smiling?"

"Am I?"

"You totally are. Are you dating someone?"

"Dating? With a four-year-old at home?"

"So what? Just because you've got a kid doesn't mean you can't date. Tracy, you're such a catch. Guys would line up from here to the subway station to ask you out."

"Alright, alright, enough with the jokes. Get back to work."

I fired up my computer and started working on some designs, but I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

As I was heading out the door this morning, Mike planted a kiss on my cheek and said, "Mommy, you're the most beautiful mommy in the whole world."

That one line was enough to keep me smiling all day.

Chapter 1

Four years ago, I signed the divorce papers while six months pregnant.

My ex-husband said, "Tracy, I doubt this kid is mine."

I did not shed a tear or cause a fuss. I took off my ring and placed it on the table. "Then consider that you have never been a father."

Four years later, at the airport, my four-year-old son grabbed my pant leg. "Mommy, that man keeps staring at you. Is he trying to hit on you?

"Tell him to get in line. I've already got his number ready."

I looked down at him, lost in thought.

'Seriously, who does this kid take after?' I wondered.

*****

My name's Tracy Thomas, and I was twenty-seven.

I got divorced four years ago and have been raising my son, Mike Thomas, all by myself ever since.

Mike was four, in the middle class at kindergarten.

People call him "the king of the block" and "the coolest kid in kindergarten."

It's not because he was a brawler; it was all about that mouth of his.

He could talk the dead back to life, make one believe black was white, and charm the hot dog vendor on the corner into throwing in extra toppings for free.

The neighbors always said, "Tracy, your son must be here to bless you, huh?"

I smile and nod. Bless me? More like he was here for revenge.

At 6:30 AM, the alarm blared.

Before I could even open my eyes, I felt a weight squishing my face.

"Mommy, wake up. The sun's shining on your butt." Mike was straddling me, patting my cheeks with both hands.

"Mike, let me sleep for five more minutes."

"No can do. Mommy, you said kids who lie get a long nose."

"But I'm not lying."

"You always say 'five more minutes,' but every time you end up sleeping for half an hour. That means you're lying."

I opened my eyes, looked at Mike, and gave in, dragging myself up. "Mike, were you an alarm clock in your previous life?"

"Nope. I was your baby before, I'm your baby now, and I'll be your baby forever."

That gift of gab definitely came from his dad. Not that I wanted to admit it.

Once I'd washed up, I started making breakfast.

Mike was standing on a stool next to me, "helping" out. "Mommy, the eggs are burning.

"Mommy, you poured too much milk.

"Mommy, the toast is overdone."

"Mike, say one more word, and you're not going to kindergarten today."

"Okay. Mommy, you are the best. Your eggs are the tastiest.

"A little burnt, but that's the best part. You won't get this from any fancy restaurant."

I took a deep breath and dumped the burnt eggs into the trash.

Then I made two perfect sunny-side-up eggs.

Mike sat at the table, his face smeared with egg yolk. "Mommy, who's picking me up from school today?"

"Winnie is coming to get you. I have to work overtime today."

"Overtime again. Mommy, you've been working late for so many days."

"I need to make more money so I can buy you those dinosaur toys you love."

"I don't want dinosaur toys anymore. I want you to come home early."

Mike lowered his head, poking at the eggs on his plate with his fork.

My heart squeezed. I walked over and kissed the top of his head. "Alright, I will do my best to come home early today."

"Pinkie promise."

After dropping Mike off at kindergarten, I squeezed onto the subway.

I work as a graphic designer at a design company.

My salary was nothing fancy, but it was enough for Mike and me to get by.

When we got divorced, my ex-husband, Dash Ludwig, gave me a lump sum.

It was a pretty decent amount; it was enough to let me live comfortably for years.

But I didn't touch a single cent. I put it all into Mike's education fund.

That money was what I got in exchange for my marriage. Just the thought of spending it made my skin crawl. I'd rather leave it all for my son.

My ex? Not worth mentioning. Even thinking about him messed up my mood for the whole day.

At work, my coworker Amy walked over. "Tracy, you look like you're in a really good mood today. Did something nice happen?"

"Nope, just the usual."

"Then why are you smiling?"

"Am I?"

"You totally are. Are you dating someone?"

"Dating? With a four-year-old at home?"

"So what? Just because you've got a kid doesn't mean you can't date. Tracy, you're such a catch. Guys would line up from here to the subway station to ask you out."

"Alright, alright, enough with the jokes. Get back to work."

I fired up my computer and started working on some designs, but I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

As I was heading out the door this morning, Mike planted a kiss on my cheek and said, "Mommy, you're the most beautiful mommy in the whole world."

That one line was enough to keep me smiling all day.