I like the way she looks; and how cutely and innocently she plays it off, wearing the towel around her waist. It covers up her thighs, but she can’t cover up her chest. The way her tits jiggle in the top and the way I can see her nipples. I think that I could’ve stared at her all day if Tyler hadn’t said something.
Before she turns away, I grin at her, letting her know that I like what I see and that there’s no use in hiding what she has.
“Stop drooling,” I hear Darla whisper to me, making me jump.
She has a way of doing that. After all the years she’s worked for me, you’d think that I would be used to it, by now.
“How is it that you come out of nowhere and scare the hell out of me every time you catch me doing something?” I ask her and see the answering grin on her face.
“I’ve a feeling she’s a good one,” she tells me without answering my question.
“Me too. Tyler seems to be taking to her just fine, I’m surprised. He’s taken to her more than he has me.” I feel the pain of jealousy, but slightly.
“If he opens up to her that means he’s opening up to someone, right?” Darla asks, putting a hand on my shoulder.
“Yes, that’s better than not opening up at all,” I tell her, standing there and looking after the two of them.
“If you want to get to know her, other than having her as your maid/nanny, you’d better get out there.” She grins at me, and gives me a wink.
I nod my head, but I don’t move.
“Kevin Adams, have you met your match? Is this the only woman that you’re a little bit nervous about talking to?” She teases me, but I can tell by her tone of voice that she’s shocked.
“Maybe just a little,” I tell her.
“Go get into your swimming gear and go out there and have fun with them. Show Tyler that you want to be involved and the rest will follow,” she suggests.
Darla always has the best advice.
“Alright, I’m going, I’m going.” I laugh at her making my way out of the room and heading up the stairs to my room.
I’m hoping it won’t be long before I won’t have to sleep alone anymore. I won’t have to worry about those lonely nights and the tears that I sometimes fight back.
Going to my room, I close the door and quickly get into one of my pairs of black speedos. I’ve a number of black ones, because I’ve found that the colorful ones show off too much, even for me.
Grabbing a towel, I start to head out of the room, but my phone starts ringing.
For the first time in ages, I don’t look back. I don’t go to answer it. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m in a rush to join Shelly and Tyler or if it’s because I’m afraid that the anonymous caller is on the other end of the line. I try to push that late-night call out of my head, and I put on the best smile that I can as I go out back to the pool.
The two of them are in the shallow end.
“I almost forgot how good it feels to be in the water.” Shelly looks up at me, a little surprised that I’m out there with them.
“How’s he doing? I want to make sure that you two get along today, but tomorrow I have to get back to work.” I already have an excuse made up.
“You don’t have to worry about us. I assure you we’re having a great time together. He’s a fast learner.” Shelly grins at me, not the least bit nervous around me.
That’s bold.
I’m not used to bold, but I’ve noticed that it’s part of her personality.
“That’s good, I’m glad,” I’m not sure what else to say. I watch Tyler holding on to the side of the pool as he makes edges a little further away from Shelly.
It doesn’t go unnoticed, because Shelly is watching his every move out of the corner of her eye.
“Not too far Tyler,” she tells him, and I hear a little worried note in her voice.
I don’t believe that there’s anything to worry about.
I jump into the pool to join them, and the water feels cool. I know that it’s going to warm up by noontime and I enjoy the coolness surrounding my body.
“Man, I haven’t been to this pool for some time. It’s no fun swimming by yourself.” I look at Tyler, but I’m talking to Shelly.
“I love swimming no matter if it’s with someone, or alone. It’s a good way to exercise, first thing in the morning,” she tells me.
I can tell that she wants to swim to the other end of the pool and back and I nod my head at her. After all, I am Tyler’s father and I should be out here with him, if I’m not working.
It just seems better with her here. It feels so good to have someone other than my family to talk to, and to hang out with.
I head over towards Tyler and take his hands off the sides of the pool. For a split second I see fear in his eyes, but then it disappears.
“I’m not going to drop you. Just wait and see. I won’t,” I assure him softly.
At that moment I’m talking about more than just swimming and the water that he’s slightly afraid of. I’ve made a promise to my son that I won’t take back.
That I don’t want to take back.
Chapter 8
Shelly: Someone’s Watching
W hen I first got here this morning, I couldn’t believe the tension that I felt. Maybe I brought some of it on myself for being so bold as to tell him I don’t want help and that I don’t need someone waiting on me.
Gliding through the water to the deep end of the Olympic-sized pool, I have a smile on my face. I like the way my body moves quickly through the water, and I love how long and wide the pool is.
I’ve never been in such a large-sized pool as this.
I can feel his eyes on me. I don’t have to turn and look over my shoulder when I hit the other end of the pool. I hold onto the side, putting my feet on the hard tiled sides of the pool, before I push off and begin to backstroke toward the shallow-end.
The sun is shining and there’s a smile on my face. The sky is blue and what I thought was going to be a disaster, when I had told Kevin that I didn’t want any help, has turned out better than I thought. I get my boldness from my mother. I am thankful for that.
She brought me up as a single mother. I never knew my father, but it’s something I’ve grown to feel less sad about, over the years. That doesn’t mean that I don’t think about it from time to time.
“Hey!” Tyler cries out with glee when I end up spraying water on him as I quickly set my feet against the pool’s floor and whip around to face him. I flick my hair so that I get both him and Kevin with the water, at the same time.
“Do you think that you’re ready to get off the wall of the pool?” I ask him, holding my hands out to him, and seeing that he’s still a little hesitant.
“Come on, I’ll be out there with you,” Kevin assures him giving him the extra push of encouragement that he needs.
Tyler gives Kevin an uneasy look and then he looks at me his smile fading slowly.
“There’s nothing to fear. The only thing to fear is fear itself and when you have that behind you, it disappears quickly.” I grin at him, wiggling my fingers for him.
Tyler reaches out for my hands and true to his word, Kevin comes out to the middle of the pool with us. Tyler looks like he wants to scream when he realizes his feet can’t touch the bottom, but this is our way of showing him that we’re not going to let him sink.
“Are you okay?” I ask him softly.
“Yes.” He nods his head looking down at the bottom of the pool and then up again into my eyes.
I glance at Kevin for just a minute and see that there’s a silly grin on his face. I don’t see lust in his eyes, I don’t see desire. I see the happiness of a man who believes that everything is going to be alright. The stress I saw last night is gone, as if it never existed.
“Thank you for taking this job on,” he tells me, talking to me over the top of Tyler’s head.
“I love kids; Tyler is easy to manage . . . so far.” I laugh and roll my eyes making Kevin laugh with me.
I know there’ll be hard times as well as good times. Every kid goes through something. I just have a feeling that Tyler is different.
“Who’s hungry for a snack?” We hear Darla’s voice and even though I haven’t had a chance to talk with her yet, I think she’s friendly enough to get along with.
“Me!” Tyler shouts.
I’m not sure if he’s ready to get out of the pool or if he’s excited about getting a snack.
Kevin takes him from me, and they head towards the pool ladder. Looking around the pool, I notice that there’s a ladder set into the side every few feet. Maybe that’s to assure Tyler that he can get out whenever he wants to. I don’t think much about it and instead, I look up at the windows of the mansion that face the backyard and the pool area.
There’s a shadowy figure in the window. I can’t tell who it is, because the sun is reflecting off the glass. However, as soon as I notice that someone’s watching me, they quickly turn away from the window. I wonder if maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me.
“Are you coming?” Kevin asks me, and I give him my best smile. I nod my head and swim to the nearest ladder.
“Is everything alright?” Darla asks me. There’s a little concern in her voice that makes me look at her as if something might be the matter.
“I just thought I saw something.” I look up at the window again and when my eyes meet Kevin’s I notice the smile isn’t on his face anymore.
“That would probably be my father.” He clears his throat sounding and looking a little embarrassed about that fact.
Why would he be embarrassed by his parents?
Jenny has only told me a little about her family, such as the crazy rules they had when they were growing up, and how she couldn’t understand why Kevin would ever allow their parents to stay with him, even for just a short visit.
I try to brush the strange feeling off as I sit beside Tyler for the crackers and slices of cheese, with Kool-Aid, that Darla has made.
“How do you like it so far?” Darla asks me.
“I like it, a lot better than I thought I would. My boss is nice; the kid I’m watching isn’t a brat . . . at least not yet.” I laugh, feeling good and when Darla smiles at me, her eyes sparkle.
“I have a good feeling that things are going to change around here.” Darla nods her head happily, and she seems almost relieved that I am here.
I can’t help but wonder why.
Chapter 9
Kevin: My Father
I don’t like the fact that my father was looking out of the window and watching her in the pool. How long was he standing there? What was he doing?
It’s something that I should talk about with my mother. The last time I checked he was supposed to be working on his little project for getting money and getting out of my house.
They’ve been here long enough, and I don’t know how many times I’ve told my mother that they’re on borrowed time. I don’t mind them visiting, but now I want to push them out even more. I don’t want them here and I don’t want them getting to know Shelly.
“What are you thinking about?” Shelly’s voice brings me back to Tyler and her.
“Nothing,” I tell her quickly – maybe a little too quickly.
“I don’t believe it.” She rolls her eyes at me.
That bluntness again.
Anyone else would have brushed it off; would’ve left it alone.
Not her.
I don’t know why, but it makes me feel better that she calls me out on my bullshit. She can tell that something’s the matter, and she refuses to let me lie to her – even a little white lie.
I look at Tyler and hope that she catches on that I don’t want to talk about it until Tyler is out of earshot.
I don’t want Tyler to think that anything is the matter. I don’t want him to worry about anything at all. I want him to be a happy child, here.
So far so good, I don’t have to worry about him asking too many questions, at least not yet.
I look back at Shelly, and she nods her head at me, realizing what I’m trying to tell her without using words.
“I see,” she finally says.
“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you. I just think that it’s best that we wait until later on. That’s if you’re willing to have drinks with me by the pool, tonight,” I dare to suggest.
I don’t want her thinking that I’m asking her out, or that I’m nervous to be around her without the kid. I want her to know that I’m just as bold as she is.
“That would be wonderful.” Shelly accepts my invite happily and Darla laughs a little, shaking her head. I thought she’d already gone back to the house.
“Would you excuse me, please?” I clear my throat, and take a cracker with me as I get up from the table.
I don’t want to leave them, but I must talk to Darla. I need to find out what that was all about.
“Why aren’t you out there enjoying your time with them?” Darla asks me as soon as we’re out of earshot.
“What was that before you went into the house?” I dare to ask.
“She’s rubbing off on you just a little.” Darla beams, her blue eyes laughing at me.
“Maybe, but what was that?” I ask her, letting her know that I’m not going to let her get away with not answering me this time.
“You’re worried about your father. You’re worried that if you tell her what’s going on with your parents, she’ll leave. That she’s won’t care about the bond she’s creating with Tyler; that she’ll run far, far away from here,” Darla accuses me, her smile gone.
“Darla, I don’t want anyone knowing. You know that Jenny wouldn’t want it out in the open either. Nor Jonathan. They are only okay with him being here because he’s on one the top floor – away from everyone. Mother said that he’d go back to work, and that he would be just as successful as he was all those years ago,” I point out to her, rushing the words.
“You have to stop being so worried. It’s going to make you more stressed than you need to be. I’m not saying that you need to tell her right away. I’m not saying that you need to introduce them. I wouldn’t want it thrown on me either.” Darla nods her head.
“I have it all worked out for tonight. I want to talk to her, but I can’t do it in front of Tyler. That’s the reason I invited her for drinks outside tonight – long after Tyler’s in bed,” I tell her.
“Oh, before I forget there’s something upstairs, on Tyler’s bed. Go take a look.” She grins at me.
That’s how I know everything is okay again. That’s how I know the loving lecture that she’s trying to give me is over.
I hurry out of the dining area and make my way through the living room. Taking the stairs two at a time I go up to Tyler’s bedroom and push the door open.
On the bed, I see a small package lying on the covers. I walk closer and pick it up. I realize that it’s a Paw Patrol night light for Tyler.
I’m not surprised that she got it for him. I’d forgotten all about it myself. I feel like a jerk for not remembering something as simple as a night light.
“Thank you, Darla.” I grin and shake my head as I open the package.
Plugging it into the wall, I conform that it’s enough light for when it gets dark. The face lights up and the police uniform that the pup is wearing glows.
I pull it from the wall socket and set it on the dresser. Now all I have to do is remember to plug it in for him.
“Good job,” I whisper nodding my head as I look at Tyler’s room, one more time before leaving. I am glad that my life is finally coming together.
I head back downstairs, the smile on my face growing wider, until I look up. My parents are sitting in the dining room.
The last thing I want is for Shelly to meet them on her first day of work.
Chapter 10
Shelly: A Late Night Talk
A s soon as I get Tyler into bed, I see a night light is already plugged in. I can’t help but laugh a little. H
e’s almost asleep, as I slip out the door and head to my room to change into a pair of sweatpants and a thin hoody. I do have to say that I love Jenny’s clothes and it’s amazing how they fit me so well.
I go down to the pool and sit at the table. I’m the only one out here, but the pool lights are on. There are lights not only on the sides of the pool but in the bottom as well. I hadn’t noticed the lights when I was in the pool earlier.
I have a bottle of water sitting beside me, with ice in it, and I sip from it as I reflect on the day. I think about how great today has been. I not only enjoyed spending time with Tyler but also with Kevin. Getting to know my boss just a little eases my worries about on how I am going to get on with him.
To be honest, I’ve spent all my time with Tyler letting him know that he has someone that is not only willing to take care of him but that I care about him. I think that’s what Tyler needs the most right now, to have someone show him that he can trust them.
“I thought that I would make it out here before you.” I hear his voice, and even though it’s already familiar I jump slightly in my chair.
“I know the feeling of being jumped from your thoughts and I’m sorry,” he apologizes with ease as he sits down beside me.
“I thought that we were going to have drinks?” I grin at him.
“Are you much of a drinker?” He challenges me, raising his eyebrows.
“No, I hardly drink, not even on occasions. I sip my drinks and carry them around.” I giggle at him.
“That will be good for the charity events that we attend. It’s better to have a beautiful date that is a little uneasy than a flirtatious bimbo who wants to get drunk and make a spectacle of herself.” He compliments me.
“Thank you.” I nod my head and drink more of my water.
He has a bottle of beer in his hand and he sips from it.
“I’m sorry that my father made you nervous, earlier,” he starts, taking a deep breath and letting it out in a rush.
“You don’t need to apologize, and I don’t want you to apologize for someone else,” I assure him that there’s nothing for him to be truly sorry about.
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