Men of Endurance Limited Edition Collection

by Siera London

  Before Kirsten, his life had been a studious and isolated existence. His parents had disliked Kirsten on sight. They thought her too worldly for their boy genius. It was exactly the reason Rui was drawn to Kirsten. With her, he was welcomed into a world full of sound, color, and laughter. Everyday with his wife had been a party, even when Simone was born, he'd loved every sleepless night, every spilled jar of food, every unidentifiable stain on the carpet. But, motherhood had changed Kirsten. She missed the lights, the audience, and the adoration. Though she had a daughter and husband who adored her, she needed the pulse of the crowd. So, when she mentioned a European tour, he encouraged her. Wanted to see the spark in her eyes again, not realizing with her gone, he would lose his.

  The car door opened. "I want pizza tonight," Simone ordered, closing the door.

  "Hello to you, too."

  She looked over at him. "Why do I have play nice with her, Daddy?"

  He rubbed his face in frustration. They'd had this conversation more than once. "Being courteous costs you nothing. You should be polite to others."

  She shrugged. "I'll think about it."

  On the road, he passed the road leading to home and the town center. She looked up from her cell phone. "Pizza."

  "No."

  Her head snapped in his direction.

  "You said no," she paused. Several seconds ticked by before she asked, "You dying?"

  Had it been that long since he’d denied his only child?

  Glancing at her, he frowned. "Not nice."

  She dropped the phone into her lap. The Jeggings had been a birthday gift from her mother two years past. Simone had struggled to hide her tears when Kirsten had forgotten to mail her gift this year. Rui had tried to make things better, buying Simone a six-hundred-dollar smart phone. It had worked, but she'd stopped asking about her mom coming home after that.

  "So, you're not dying?"

  Face tight, he took one of the narrow roads leading to the mountain trails.

  "No. Enough about death. You and I need to talk about this morning."

  She dropped her head. "What about it?" Little shoulders hunched over. "That car was a piece of crap. Stealing it was a favor."

  Rui had to hide his laugh. Simone was correct. If something had happened, the insurance carrier would probably write the car off of as a total loss and stroke Autumn a check."

  "It was wrong."

  Simone picked up the phone, twisting the blasted attention-sucker in hands that used to curl around his in fascination. She'd been such an inquisitive baby. With big brown eyes flitting around the room, she observed everything around her baby domain. Rui had changed her mobiles every week. He would read her bedtimes stories every night to keep her mind engaged. She seemed to light up the more he exposed her to environmental differences. Kirsten had called him insufferable. No, he had loved being a husband and a father. He still wanted that life.

  Reaching across the console, he lifted her chin. A flash of shame colored her cheeks.

  "Sorry," she mumbled.

  "You owe Miss Autumn an apology, too."

  After a quick nod, she said. "I will when I see her again."

  This was the moment he'd been leading up to. "You're in luck."

  She stopped fumbling with the phone. "How?"

  "I know where she is?"

  "Where?"

  He started the car.

  "At home waiting for you." Adrenaline spiked in his system at the thought of Autumn at home waiting on them. "She's your nanny. Starting today." He knew it was wrong, the thrill pumping through his veins.

  "I don't need a babysitter."

  "Watch it, Simone. Your tone is going to get you grounded." He could tell by the abrupt paleness of her skin that she understood he meant to deliver on his promise.

  “She won’t stay.”

  There was a time when a flippant response would never fall from Simone's lips. Rui had been her best friend, and then he wasn’t. Now, she needed something he couldn’t supply. Maybe, he and Autumn could find the answer...together. She was his daughter's nanny, not his. But for some reason, he had a hard time denying that a part of her was there for him, too.

  Chapter 5

  Had Autumn actually thrown herself into her boss's arms and kissed his chest? Yes. She wondered how far she would have pushed him if he hadn't stopped her. When he returned home, should she act as if the kiss never happened? Technically, did lips to torso count? Maybe, kissing a man's chest was equivalent to kissing a woman's hand. Courteous. Nah, she'd have to do something to make amends. An idea struck, to make up for her slip in decorum. With both Rui and Simone out of the house, she could get a lot accomplished.

  Autumn made quick work of putting away her clothes and setting up her toiletries. She tackled the kitchen first. Rooting around in the pantry, she found a large plastic bag. The empty food boxes were the first to go. Next, she folded the clothes, and put the canned goods in the pantry. Then she transferred the books to Rui's office. It took her a minute to figure out his shelving system. After she cleared the bulk items off the tables, she found the offensive smelling gray, green, and brown chicken nuggets in a balled up fast food bag. Wrinkling her nose, she grabbed the putrid stench with gloved hands and deposited it in the trash can outside the back door. The gush of fresh air helped to clear her nostrils and her head. She decided to leave the door open and lift the window over the sink.

  With the stench gone, the table and counter top cleared, she started looking through the cabinets orienting herself to the pots, pans, and utensils. For a man, Rui had a well-stocked kitchen and pantry. Finding the ingredients for a vegetable soup, she pulled a pot from behind the stove top and set the water to boil. The house was too quiet.

  With the touch of a button, she streamed a soulful rhythm and blues number from Aria Arie's Lover Mine through the fragrant space. By the time Rui arrived home with Simone, she was singing along with the music and setting the oven timer.

  She spun to find a slack-jawed Rui and a wide-eyed Simone staring at her.

  "Wow," Simone said, scowling. "It smells weird in here."

  Autumn smirked. "It's called fresh air."

  Rui didn't move. Actually, he stared at the iPhone pumping the house full of bass and frowned. He examined the cleared table, the folded clothes, and then her.

  Autumn ducked her head and turned off the music. She was unsure how he'd respond to her taking the liberty to start organizing his house. What had gotten into her? Never would she walk into someone else's house and take it upon herself to start cleaning and tossing out stuff she deemed trash. She opened her mouth to apologize.

  "I love it," he said before she could speak. "Do I smell dinner?"

  She nodded and smiled. He wasn't upset. "Yes. I used some of the fresh vegetables."

  "Great," he said stepping in the house. "How long before food is on the table?"

  Simone scowled at her. "I want pizza."

  Autumn felt her smile slip. What kid chose pizza over a home-cooked meal? All of them. Her aunt rarely had the money to splurge on ready-made food. The few field trips they had been able to afford, Autumn had felt no shame asking for a second helping of fries, pizza, burgers, or cake. Sadness washed over her, but Rui's easy smile at such a small gesture overtook her.

  "You have about ten minutes. The rolls are almost ready."

  He approached, and then brushed his shoulder against hers. A tingle skirted up her arm. Had he deliberately touched her? Maybe, he felt the same pull that she did.

  "I have a few emails to answer."

  "Yeah, me too," Simone said, dropping her backpack by the door.

  "Not so fast, young lady." Autumn might as well lay down the ground rules now. "Your backpack goes with you to your room."

  "Dad," she whined. "She's being mean to me."

  Rui crossed muscled arms over his chest. "I think she's being nice considering you haven't apologized."

  So, he had addressed this morning with his daughter. Autumn's respect
for him grew in that moment. Recalling the anger she felt at the police station, she was happy to see she'd been wrong about Rui. His justice, though not swift, was administered.

  "Go on now. Look her in the eye and apologize."

  Autumn waited, hoping her discomfort didn't show.

  "Sorry," Simone muttered.

  Autumn nodded in acceptance. "Apology accepted. Thank you."

  With apologies made and accepted, dinner was a quiet affair. Both Rui and Simone ate heartily. Inwardly, Autumn beamed that she'd provided for her temporary family. She knew it was hokey, but they belonged to each other for now, so she'd enjoy being included.

  After dinner, Rui volunteered to clean up the kitchen, while Simone disappeared behind her bedroom door.

  Autumn peered in the child's direction.

  "Don't worry. I usually have her choose her school clothes before bed."

  At eight, Simone should have some role in readying her clothes for the next day.

  Rui must have followed her train of thought. "She'd wear the same pair of leggings everyday if she could."

  Autumn had noticed the pant legs were creeping up Simone's rail thin legs.

  "I remember doing the same at that age." More because her aunt didn't put much in the budget from replacing Autumn's clothes each school year.

  "I can start helping her with her wardrobe,” she offered.

  Rui paused in his ministrations with the dishes. "That would be alright."

  Was he implying some activities were off limits?

  "Maybe you should define my duties here."

  "You can do what you want."

  Like kiss the boss when she wanted?

  She laughed. "Somehow, I don't think that's how employment works."

  Rui sighed. "You're right. How about you go check on Simone while I finish up here? We'll talk afterwards."

  She nodded and padded away, confused by Rui's unease with giving her instructions. No man would unleash a complete stranger on his child without some parameters. What was going through his head? Maybe, her actions had scrambled his brain, too.

  Autumn knocked on Simone's bedroom door. When she twisted the knob, the door slid opened. With Simone's short comments over dinner, she half expected the door to be locked.

  Unlike the entertaining spaces, Simone's four poster bed was free of clutter. A mounted chalk board over the bed proclaimed, Princess Simone's throne in bold pink letters. Two rows of LED lights had been used to form the shape of a princess-worthy ball gown on the wall next to the attached bathroom. It was an ingenious way to install a nightlight for a little girl that would surely object to such a practical utility. Around the upper left bed post hung a crown of chrome plastic with hot pink plastic jewels, while white tulle hung in wavy swatches surrounding the bed. In the corner, a small white-washed desk held framed photos of Simone from birth to current day, and a small assortment of stuffed animals. The love poured into creating this storybook world pulled at her heart strings. Simone's mother had outdone herself. It made Autumn want to ask after the woman who so obviously adored her daughter. This is how every little girl should be treasured.

  "What are you looking at?" Simone snapped.

  The enchantment bubble burst. "Your father asked me to choose your clothes for in the morning."

  "Already done. You can leave."

  The fact that Simone dismissed her while her fingers flew across her smartphone keyboard, well...it smarted.

  Autumn approached the bed. She would not be run off by an eight-year-old tyrant. "Look, Simone. I would like us to be friends."

  Legs folded under her butt Indian-style, Simone uncoiled her limbs. "Back up, lady. I don't know you like that."

  Realizing this was a fight for dominance, Autumn further encroached by sitting on the edge of the bed. "My being here is important to your father. He cares about you, so let's play nice together." She smiled trying to coax the child to her side. "What do you say, friends?" Autumn extended her hand in a peace offering.

  The little miscreant looked at her hand, bare of jewelry and nail color, like she had stuck it up her nose in front of the whole school.

  "Sorry, lady. I get to choose my friends."

  At the rejection, Autumn snatched her hand back from the venomous words. The response was irrational, but after years of having her olive branch trampled on, she was less than willing to offer twice in one night. Tomorrow, she told herself would be better.

  Stiffening her chin, she said, "Fine." She came to her feet. "It this your closet?" Autumn pointed to the only closed door in the room.

  "Yeah, why?" Simone scrambled from the bed, socked feet hitting the floor with a muffled thud.

  "Let's see your clothes for tomorrow."

  "I can dress myself," Simone said in a confident tone. The kid didn't back down. Autumn admired her spunk. Then she physically moved her out of the way.

  "Hey," the girl protested. "Put me down."

  "Sure thing."

  On the closet handle, a pink t-shirt with a rainbow unicorn hung in front of a pair of pink denim jeans. Cute pairing, but she didn't see any shoes.

  "Which shoes?" Autumn asked without looking behind her.

  "Haven't decided."

  There was a curious note in Simone's tone, so Autumn took a chance. "Sandals or a pair of Uggs might work."

  A little body darted beneath her arm and entered the well-organized space.

  "I have two pairs. Tan with fur and black with white inside.

  Autumn smiled to herself. Gotcha. She felt the fine web of a friendship begin.

  "Black matches everything, but tan makes a fashion statement."

  Simone wrinkled her nose. "Kids don't make statements."

  "Of course they do." She counted off on her fingers. "In magazine ads, television commercials, and on the internet."

  “So, you, uh, are an adult, right?”

  Autumn sucked in a long pull of air sure that she’d addressed this topic to the fullest extent.

  “Simone,” she warned.

  “Okay,” she huffed. “It’s just that,” she hesitated. “There’s a mommy-daughter tea at school.”

  “Yeah,” Autumn said, eager to help.

  “Well, I don’t know nothing about tea. My teacher said we should practice dancing too. My, my mom probably can’t come with me.”

  Simone stopped talking. Autumn frowned, and then waited, hoping the kid would break the silence. The little girl’s taut shoulders spoke volumes. This conversation was hard for both of them. Without having any details, she knew the absence of Simone’s mother had left deep wounds.

  Autumn moved closer. “I can help you. We can try different teas,” she said adding more enthusiasm than warranted to her voice. “We’ll need music, but you can practice your dance steps with me.”

  With a raised brow, Simone gave Autumn a twisted frown.

  Okay, she was a poor replacement for a mother, but this could work. “Hey,” she chided. “Only if you want to or until your mom comes.”

  With a furrowed brow, her new charge considered the offer, and then gave it a nod of approval.

  “Great. We can start tomorrow after I speak with your teacher.”

  "My dad said my mom was on television once."

  On impulse, Autumn reached down and brushed a hand over Simone's reddish-brown locks.

  "If she's half as pretty as you, I bet she was," she whispered. At the compliment, Simone's sharp comments took on a more rounded edge.

  "She left us. My mom."

  It was said with such bluntness, Autumn stood stunned for a second.

  "You don't ever leave people you love, even if you're apart," Autumn said. Did she really believe those words? If that was the case, she was doomed. Autumn thought back to her bedroom. Rui’s house was another woman’s shrine. It didn’t matter. She was here to help Simone. Rui’s love life didn’t involve her.

  "Let me put an app on your phone to help you learn the different types of tea leaves. And,” she beame
d remembering a little jewel she’d found while cleaning the kitchen, “there’s a Terra Cotta tea set tucked away in the pantry. I’ll ask your dad can we use it."

  Simone didn't share her enthusiasm, but she handed over the phone. Autumn took it as a positive sign.

  Later, when she entered the family room, she found Rui placing the last of the dishes in the cupboard, still dressed in his clothes from earlier.

  “What are you doing?” She would’ve taken care of tidying the kitchen. Autumn believed in honoring her commitments. Housekeeping, including the kitchen cleanup was a part of her job.

  “Helping out,” he said, brow raised. “You look surprised.”

  She told him the truth. “A little. I guess I’m used to doing everything myself.”

  Depending on folks to help her hadn’t been an option…until now. Endurance had some drawbacks, but the way people pitched in to help anyone in need made this town special. Owen let her eat meals at the bar when her cash ran low. Ivy, his wife, she considered a best friend and confidant. Now, Rui had given her a safe place to lay her head and a job. She shouldn’t ask for more, but…

  “Can Simone and I use that Terra Cotta server for the mother-daughter tea?”

  She stopped under the arched entryway. This was probably a safe distance. She hoped.

  “Sure,” he replied without hesitation.

  Maybe the tea set wasn’t a part of the shrine. Though it was a bit forward, she asked the question that had bugged her from the moment he gave her a tour of the house. "Are you married or something?"