AWKWARD OR WHAT?

Mike pulled his truck into the parking lot of our low-income housing unit and helped the girls out of the back seat, then began shuffling my grocery bags to the building.

"Oh, that's all right. I've got this, Mike. I do it all the time," I said, pulling the keys out of my purse and holding them in my mouth while juggling my purse along with the girls' backpacks.

"I know you got it, and I know you do it all the time. This is one time you don't have to. Relax."

Uh, oh. That sounded like Matt when I first met him. Was this a red flag or a verbal rose?

"Well, if you don't mind. You work hard at camp too, you know."

"Yeah, but I don't have to go home and take care of two kids every night."

"Yeah, Mommy, he just has to take care of a cute kitty," Katie reminded us.

Beanie chased Skunky all over the freshly mowed lawn, hugging him and kissing him whenever he let her catch him. "Mommy, I love him. Can he stay with us tonight?" she begged.

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. We can't have pets in our building," I broke her heart again today.

"Mike, she's just the meanest Mommy ever. She never lets us do anything fun," Beanie whined to a new ear.

"You can visit with Skunky anytime you want at camp. I work lots of hours and poor Mr. Skunky is home alone. Maybe in between activities, Mommy will let you help me."

"I don't know, Mike. Your RV is a little off the beaten path. Maybe she could play with him in the picnic area in front of the store?" I suggested.

"What about me?" Katie piped up.

"You can both play with him while I'm working. That would be great," Mike promised. "You had a long day, Karol. How about if I pick up some fast food for you guys?"

"You don't have to. But thanks."

"I hate eating alone and I do it all the time. Let me pick up something quick and you girls can keep me company," he insisted.

"Well, okay. I'll put away the groceries and meet you out front. You can leave Skunky with the girls and they'll keep an eye on him."

The girls were overjoyed. Not because Mike was getting them burgers and fries, but because they snagged a few more minutes with the kitty.

"You stay right in front of the kitchen window and I'll be right out. I mean it. Don't go around to the playground," I cautioned.

Groceries put away, makeup fixed, toilet done, and I was ready to find out more about this amazing man, who I almost passed over for a total asshole. But, then again, that was my life story. A good guy wants to date me and I go for the guy with devil horns waving red flags my way.

"Over here! Over here! I promise you a bad time and trouble!"

Perhaps my life was complicated because I made it that way. A good friend of mine, Mark, once pointed that out to me and I thought he was simply jealous of my ex. Nope. Looks like he may have been right.

"Cheers, Mark. You were correct once again," I said, sitting on the front stoop and watching the girls chase the kitty around.

Even if nothing comes of Mike and I, at least I am beginning to be more cautious about who I keep company with. The girls have to be safe, even if that means I go through life alone. The worst thing I can do is invite another creep into our lives. No more jumping into the fire, and then scrambling into the frying pan in a panic.