"I was thinking...have you ever considered giving me a ride on your motorcycle?" Emily asked, a bit hesitantly.

Alex thought for a moment. It wasn't every day his stepmom asked him for a motorcycle ride. But there was something in her eyes that made him agree. "Okay, but you have to promise to wear a helmet and hold on tight," he said with a grin.

Emily, or "stepmom" as Alex and Mia sometimes affectionately called her, had always been a bit of a free spirit herself. Before marrying John, she had traveled extensively and had a varied career. Her past was as colorful as her personality, filled with adventure and spontaneity. However, becoming a stepmom had brought her a new sense of purpose and joy.