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“That's part of it Gina was so special,” I said “She was truly my soul mate, and I don't even believe in that shit But we had so with anyone else”

Dr Miller nodded “You'll never replace Gina,” he said “Never in a e it even if you could You shared so special with her that can't ever be duplicated But that doesn'tequally as special in its own right And just because she's gone doesn't mean you have to live the rest of your life alone She wouldn't have wanted that, Marcus Gina would have wanted you to be happy”

His platitudes were the same I'd heard from almost everybody since the day I'd lost her I was al told she'd wantthat But she also wouldn't want just anyone raising our children I had a right – an obligation, really – to be picky It wasn't just about me, it was about those two precious kids who deserved a stepmother who loved and cared for them as deeply as a mother would

They needed someone they could love in return

No one I'dsites to that point, had co up to that standard Sure, I hada financially well-off and reasonably attractivetheir interest in o to a bar and pick up any beautiful woman I wanted, but I didn't want that

I wanted someone who met my standards

“I'll keep looking,” I said with a shrug “But as you know, I can't force a connection if there's nothing there”

“That's very true,” Dr Miller said “All I want you to do is keep trying Keepnew people and open yourself up to the possibility of so able to care for so your heart to them”

It was easier said than done, but I'd keep doing what I was doing I h

I left the session focused on the rest of what he'd said, which interested irlfriend online I decided that he was on to so so that the three of us could learn and enjoy together

As I walked out of his office, I decided that we needed to sign up for surfing lessons Maybe Dr Miller was right about surfing We'd start very basic, but it would get us out of the house and on the beach ood for all of us

On the way home, I stopped by the local surf shop and inquired about lessons The man at the counter looked, and sounded, stoned out of his mind, which al my decision

“Your surfing instructor is rad, bro,” he said, which made ood with kids You're gonna dig her”

She Huh At least our instructor wasn't going to be the stoner with the tribal tattoo who looked a little too old to be working the front desk of a surf shop With his help, I picked out surf boards and wetsuits for the kids andto be so excited And Zack, well, he'd warm up to it

It felt like the right thing for all of us