Hale’s Song: A single dad contemporary romance

by Tallman, Darlene

  “Then let me go get it. Coca-Cola cake and vanilla bean ice cream coming up,” I state, standing and heading into the kitchen.

  “I’ll help,” Hale says, walking behind me.

  I turn toward him when we’re inside, lean up and kiss the underside of his jaw. “Been wanting to do that for a while now,” I tell him.

  “Well, I’ve been wanting to do this,” he says, pulling me close and kissing me breathless.

  “I will not complain one bit,” I reply when we finally break apart. “But I know there are two little boys who will likely expire if they don’t get their cake and ice cream soon.”

  He laughs before going to the freezer and pulling out the ice cream. While he scoops it out, I slice the cake, then grab a tray and put the plates and silverware on it. When I go to carry it out, he gives me a look and shakes his head. “You should know better by now, woman,” he says. “You just get the door, okay?”

  I nod and hurry to get the door open for him. “Y’all ready?” I ask as he walks through. I’m so damn happy with how this addition looks and seeing it filled with those I call family, as well as my fiancé? I’m over the proverbial moon.

  Hale

  I go through and lock up the house before grabbing us both something to drink. Peeking in on the boys, I’m glad to see them snoring their little heads off. Spike’s in his crate, snoring just as loud. I’m glad that he’s a good rider in the truck since he’s been going back and forth so much. They all worked and played hard today and will be out all night long. A grin plays on my face as I approach her bedroom. Once inside, I close and lock the door, smiling when I see her already in bed, sitting up against the headboard, her hair damp.

  “Let me grab a shower,” I say.

  “Okay, I think I left you some hot water,” she teases.

  I just shake my head and walk into her bathroom. She put out a new toothbrush for me and I grin as I turn the water on to warm. Stripping down, I see that my dick is already onboard with my plans for the rest of our night. I quickly shower then brush my teeth before I head out into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around my waist.

  “Good thing you left some clothes here, huh?” she asks as I slip under the covers and pull her close.

  “Yeah, although I won’t need them tonight.”

  “Maybe when we’re done in case one of the boys needs something.”

  “Probably a good idea,” I admit.

  Her hand is lightly stroking my chest and I grin down at her. “Happy?” I ask.

  “Ecstatic. Never knew I could be this happy, if I’m being honest.”

  “Where do you wanna live?”

  “Can we live here? There’s plenty of room.”

  “Yeah we can and you’re right, there’s enough for all of us to have plenty of space. Your grandfather did a great job with this place.”

  “You’ve done your part to modernize it, y’know,” she says, her hand going lower. “Can I do something?”

  “You can do whatever you want,” I tell her. I’m curious about what she’s wanting to do, but figure I’ll soon find out. When she lowers the sheet and sees my dick, standing there practically waving at her, she gets a grin on her face and scoots down the bed. Ah hell, I think I know where this is going and I’m one thousand percent onboard.

  When she’s near my hip, she reaches out and gently grips me, her hand running up and down my shaft. Before I can say anything, she’s lowered her head and taken me into her mouth. Holy shit. I know she’s got zero experience doing this but it’s not obvious. I wouldn’t know if she hadn’t shared what life was like with her ex. As much as I want to take over, I’m letting her run this show. “Grip a little harder, Addy,” I mutter.

  “Like this?” she asks. I place my hand over hers and show her how tight I like it. Meanwhile, she’s using her tongue and mouth to pull me deeper towards ecstasy.

  I’m lightly thrusting upward, trying not to make her gag, but fuck, this feels phenomenal. Best blowjob I’ve ever had in my life and I don’t know if it’s because it’s her giving it to me, but at this point, I don’t care. “Baby, if you don’t wanna swallow, you need to pull off,” I tell her as I feel the tell-tale tingle down my spine.

  She glances up at me and hollows her cheeks. What sends me over, however, is the wink she gives me. She continues swallowing until I’m finished then licks the head before she slides back up and lays her head on my chest. “Love you, Hale,” she whispers.

  “Love you, Addy. More than the stars in the sky.” Even though she just sucked me dry, I’m still hard so I roll her over and make quick work of taking off her nightshirt. “Look at this,” I tease, running my finger through her folds. “You’re drenched, sweetheart.”

  “Guess I liked what I was doing,” she admits, a blush covering her cheeks.

  “No complaints from me whatsoever,” I tell her. Grabbing a pillow, I raise her hips and slide it underneath. Then, I take her legs and place them so they’re on my shoulders before I slowly enter her. “Damn, you feel so good,” I groan out.

  The angle I have us in has me going deep and it’s not long before I feel her pussy fluttering. “You gonna come for me, pretty girl?” I ask, my thumb lightly stroking her clit.

  “Maybe,” she teases, her hands now plucking at her nipples. The sight is so hot I nearly come again, but I close my eyes and focus on her instead. “Hale,” she breathes out, “oh my God, please don’t stop!”

  “Not on your life,” I grunt out, my thrusts now erratic as I chase our orgasms. When she shatters beneath me, I follow behind her, capturing her lips in mine to help stifle the sounds she’s making. First thing tomorrow, I need to see about soundproofing this room because my girl is loud, and I find I don’t mind it one single bit.

  17

  Addy

  Hale and the boys left midday yesterday so I’m now running around and trying to get everything done for the week. I had them leave Spike since I knew they’d be back. He needs that consistency especially since we’re trying to get him potty trained. Every time I see the sparkle of my ring, I grin, still amazed that he loves me enough to want to spend the rest of his life with me.

  Once I get the house back in order and the laundry swapped, I grab my budget and checkbook and head to the back deck, a cold drink in hand. “C’mon, Libby,” I call out to the cat as I head out the door. She curls up at the other end of the porch swing while I write checks and set up this month’s bill pay on my laptop. “Well, girl, looks like we can get that cat tree you were wanting.” Life is very good with all the extra business I’ve picked up.

  She meows and I laugh. “How about we take a nap? It’s been a busy weekend and I know this week is gonna be crazy.” She makes her way up to me and in no time at all, I’m asleep with her purring in my arms.

  * * *

  I’m disoriented when I first wake up, unsure of what, exactly, has awakened me. When I hear the faint chirp again, I realize it’s my phone and grab it, only to see that I’ve missed a call from Hale.

  Calling him back, I say, “I’m sorry I missed your call. I was napping.”

  “Addy, oh God, I’m on my way to pick you up, honey.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ll tell you when I get there, okay?”

  “I’ll be ready,” I tell him before hanging up. I head inside and quickly get dressed in a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, not sure of where we’re going. Grabbing my sneakers, I put them on, then find my phone and purse and head out to wait on the porch. I say a little prayer, completely clueless as to how our lives are about to change.

  Hale

  I’m driving blindly, my thoughts bouncing from one thing to the next. The fear that has a hold on me won’t let go, but I know once I have her near me, I’ll be able to make sense of it all.

  Pulling into her driveway, I see her waiting on her front porch. She’s already moving toward the truck when I finally get it stopped. I unlock the door and she jumps in then says, “Whatever it is, we ca
n handle it together, Hale.”

  God, I love this woman. She has no clue at all what I’m about to tell her, yet she’s already letting me know that she’s by my side.

  “It’s… it’s bad, baby,” I choke out. “When I went by to drop Johnny off, they wanted to take JD with them to the fair. Since I had some paperwork to take care of, I said there wouldn’t be a problem with that, gave them some money for JD and then headed home.”

  By now, she has my hand in hers, but she doesn’t say anything, just lets me take my time to tell her what needs to be said.

  “Anyhow, I was about to call and see when I could expect them home when my phone rang. Addy, someone hit them head-on and killed John and Caroline. All three kids are in the hospital hurt.”

  “Do you need me to drive? I can drive, Hale.” I’m shaking so hard all I can do is nod. We switch seats and she adjusts hers before she backs out. Once on the road she connects her phone to my hands-free system then says, “Call Boz.”

  Mere seconds later, he answers and she says, “Boz, Hale needs you. John, Caroline and the kids were in an accident. We’re on our way to the hospital. John and Caroline are gone, and the kids are hurt. “We’re on our way,” he states. “Y’all drive carefully and we’ll see you there.”

  Addy

  He hangs up and I focus on driving, tears slipping down my face at the thought that those two little ones are now orphans. “Hale? What will happen to Johnny and Rosie?”

  He laughs but there’s no mirth. “How do you feel about becoming a mom to three kids?” he asks. “John and Caroline made me their guardian in the event something was ever to happen.”

  I’m stunned by his words. Here I am, a woman who never thought she’d be a mom and now, through a horrible tragedy, I’ll be entrusted to raise two children plus his son? “We can handle it, Hale,” I tell him. “I’ll be the best mom possible, even though I’m not ever going to replace what they had.”

  “Next to JD, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he replies, squeezing my hand.

  We pull into the hospital and within minutes, are being escorted to the room the boys are in. Rosie is up in the pediatric ICU wing, but the nurse assures us that she’ll have the doctor come down to tell us what’s going on with all three of the kids. I take a deep breath before we walk into the hospital room, scared of what we’ll find.

  “C’mon, Hale,” I encourage, opening the door. JD is in one bed, Johnny in the other. JD’s right arm is casted, and he’s got an IV in his left arm; Johnny’s left arm is casted with his IV in his right arm. As Hale heads to JD, I walk over to Johnny.

  “Hey, sweetie,” I say, my voice soft in case he’s sleeping.

  “Miss Addy?” His voice is groggy and drugged sounding and I do what I can to keep my expression neutral. His whole left side is cut and bruised. Glancing over at JD, I see that his right side is the same and it dawns on me what likely happened. These two little boys did what they could to protect Rosie. I’d bet my life on it.

  “I’m here, Johnny,” I murmur, pulling up a chair and sitting down. I take his hand in mine and ask, “Are you in pain right now?”

  “No. Miss Addy, we tried to protect her.”

  “Who, baby?” Although I know the answer, I feel like he needs to talk.

  “Rosie.” His voice is barely above a whisper.

  “That’s how you guys got hurt?” I ask.

  “Yeah. Mom screamed and Dad yelled, and I looked up and saw a truck coming at us, so I leaned over and JD did too so we could cover her.”

  “You did good, sweetheart,” I tell him.

  “But she wouldn’t wake up!” he cries out.

  “Shhhh, I’ve got you,” I say, letting the side-rail down and pulling him gently into my arms. His sobs are breaking my heart and I can’t help the tears that flow down my face at his anguish. “It’s okay, you go ahead and get it all out,” I tell him.

  “Mom and Dad… they’re dead, Miss Addy,” he sobs out.

  “I know, baby.”

  “What’s gonna happen to us? I’m not old enough to take care of Rosie!”

  “You and Rosie will go live with JD and your uncle, and when we get married, you’ll all come live with me. It won’t be the same, but you’ll have people who love you both,” I reply. I’ve found with both of these boys that they have a better grasp on things than most adults, so I try to be as honest as possible whenever they ask me something.

  “Why did this happen, Miss Addy?” he asks.

  “I don’t know, Johnny. I’m sure your Uncle Hale will find out, though. Hale?” I question.

  “Yeah, baby?”

  “Let’s move their beds together. They need one another right now,” I say.

  “You’re right.” He starts moving the beds so they’re together when Boz and Marvie walk into the room.

  “I got it,” Boz states, moving me out of the way. I want to collapse into Marvie’s arms, but I need to be strong right now. Once they’ve rearranged the beds, completely switching them so that their ‘good arms’ are on the outside, I see the two little boys curl into each other and cry.

  Hale comes over and the haunted look on his face guts me. I pull him into a hug and whisper, “We gotta be strong right now, honey. We can fall apart later.” He nods and kisses my head.

  “I’m going to go find a doctor, see if we can get some information,” Marvie states.

  I nod before I walk over and rub JD’s shoulders. Once I have the attention of both boys, I say, “You boys have been so very brave today. I know it was probably scary, but you protected Rosie the best way you could. You don’t worry about anything, okay? We’ve got you now.”

  “Miss Addy?” JD’s voice is shaky, but he’s turned so he’s looking at me. “Does that mean we get ice cream?”

  My laugh is equally as shaky, but I reply, “You can have whatever you want, young man, within reason of course.”

  I’m about to say something else when a doctor walks in. “Mr. Johnson?” he asks.

  “That’s me,” Hale responds, walking over to the doctor.

  “Can I see you out here, please?” the doctor inquires, looking at the two boys.

  “I’ll be right back,” Hale says to us as he follows the doctor out.

  Hale

  I’m not sure what the doctor has to say that can’t be said in the room, but since it might have to do with either John and Caroline, or little Rosie, I don’t question him. Once we’re outside and the door is closed, he says, “I wanted to fill you in on what we know.”

  “Okay.”

  “According to the police and witnesses, a larger vehicle hit your sister’s minivan head-on, causing it to spin and get struck by several other vehicles.” Well, that explains the boys’ injuries, especially if the sides of the van got struck. “Your sister and brother-in-law had injuries that were incompatible with life, unfortunately, but all three children were brought in as soon as they were cut out of the vehicle.”

  “Oh, God, tell me they weren’t awake at least?” I can’t imagine what they saw and am already making plans to get the boys into counseling of some sort.

  “No, it appears, from the reports I reviewed at least, that the boys were unconscious, and were laying across the little girl who was in the middle of them.”

  “What’s going on with Rosie?”

  “Well, simply put, she sustained something very similar to shaken baby syndrome. It’s not as severe as you’re probably thinking. More of a severe concussion as far as the tests and scans can tell. She was properly restrained in her car-seat, however, the impact was sufficient that the straps became stressed, so she was tossed about. We don’t anticipate any long-lasting brain damage, but right now, we’ve got her in a medically-induced coma to help with the swelling on her brain. She also has some lacerations from the flying glass, but no broken bones. Those two little boys protected her with their own bodies.”

  I can’t help the tears that well up and fall, knowing that they did wha
t many adults wouldn’t be able to do - put themselves in harm’s way to protect someone else. The doctor’s eyes are wet as well when he says, “They’re both very brave. Now, I understand you are now the guardian of the two whose parents died?”

  “I am, yes. What do you need me to do? I know John and Caroline had health insurance on the kids. They were almost ridiculous with the policies they had, but it seems it’ll be a good thing.”

  “Just sign here,” he replies, opening his tablet and handing me a stylus.

  “Stuff sure has changed, huh?” I state as I sign my name giving permission for the kids’ continued treatment.

  “Yes it has and for this old dog, it’s not always easy embracing today’s technology.”

  “How long do the boys have to stay?”

  “We’d like to keep them overnight at least for observation and to make sure we have their pain under control. I presume you’ll want to stay?”

  “Yes, myself and my fiancée if that’s possible?”

  “I’ll make it happen. I’m sorry for your loss and I’m sure there are arrangements you’ll need to make. Let myself or a nurse know if we can be of assistance.”

  “Thank you.”

  I go back into the room to find all eyes on me. “Dad?” JD asks.

  “Yeah, little man?”

  “How’s Rosie?” I glance at Johnny and see the worry on his face as well.

  “The doctor said that you boys protected her which is how you got hurt. She got shook up a little bit, so they have her in another part of the hospital in order to watch her closely. I know you’re both worried, but right now, she’s in the best possible place, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Hale? Marvie’s gonna take me to the store so we can get something a little more comfortable for them to sleep in, as well as clothes for when they’re released. Want me to grab you anything?”