Daddy Next Door

by Tina Lee

  Brenda stood by the shade of a hot dog stand and watched as the boy wept. She too became teary and she couldn’t understand why.

  When they got back to Mrs. Huckleberry’s apartment, she was sitting on the couch eagerly awaiting their return. “Mrs. Huckleberry, I’m sorry. We didn’t find Mr. Finch,” Amy walked in with slumped shoulders, carrying the weight of her disappointment.

  “No need!” Mrs. Huckleberry smiled, leaving the gang puzzled. She then made kissing noises, and through the kitchen came Mr. Finch with his glorious white fur.

  “Mr. Finch!” Josh scooped up the cat and hugged him. Mr. Finch, bothered by the overemotional boy, wiggled from his arms and sat by his owner’s feet.

  Brenda and looked at each other and smiled.

  “He was stuck in the pantry the entire time.” Mrs. Huckleberry scratched Mr. Finch’s ear, and the feline made a loud purr. “I’m sorry I had you all looking about for him.”

  “That’s fine. We’re just glad he’s okay.” Amy smiled. Mrs. Huckleberry was happy, Josh was happy, and that made her happy. Amy and Brenda returned to their apartment, exhausted and feeling a little bit tanned. Amy ran herself a bath and reflected on earlier, how she had made a connection with Josh, and how his childlike innocence had warmed her heart. He was a gentle soul, and she wanted to make sure nothing ever happens to him. She promised herself to do all she could to protect him. That was a promised she intended on keeping.

  The thought of seeing Luke motivated Amy to use the apartment gym every night. Just watching him pant and sweat were rewarding enough. And oh yeah, she had lost a few pounds, but even she hadn’t noticed until later on. Luke had captured her heart completely, without even so much as lifting a finger.

  For the first few nights, Amy kept their interactions short. She limited herself to chit-chat and nothing more. She was here to work-out and not to drool over Luke’s sweaty body. You’re better off without a man, she thought, they only bring pain into your life, then leave with your happiness.

  Amy ran faster on the treadmill, faster than she ran the night before. She mustered all her pent-up frustration and sorrow and used it to fuel her, pushing herself past the limits she had set for herself. Amy ran faster and faster, trying to outrun her heartbreak. This, however, was merely an illusion. One cannot outrun the pain, no matter how hard they try.

  A week into her nightly schedule of attending the gym, Amy opened up to Luke. They were the only two persons in the gym at the hour, so it was inevitable that they would develop a bond after occupying the same space every night. The topic of Josh was always the conversation starter. Since the search for Mrs. Huckleberry’s cat, Josh had grown fond of Amy, and vice versa. Luke allowed Josh to take walks with Amy to the park, where she would read, and he would play with his toys. There were plenty of other kids his age playing and running through the park, but he wanted to stay by her side to protect her, and would use his superpowers if necessary.

  The topic of Josh’s mom came up once. The way how Luke described her, with such love and respect, was poetic. He held her on a pedestal, a feat so high that Amy was discouraged to even try.

  Amy wondered if David had ever spoken words so beautiful about her. Did she leave any impact on his heart that it would inspire sweet words and even sweeter thoughts?

  “She sounds like a strong woman,” Amy said in complete admiration of a woman she had never met.

  “She is…was.” Instantly, like the flick of a switch, there was a change in his mood. Luke bowed his head and ran his hand through his hair. He really missed her, and Amy could hear it in his voice. She placed her hand over his, and they shared the silence. They were like this for a while; until the sweat in their gears had dried and the clock on the wall struck midnight.

  Over the last two weeks, Amy went from a woman distancing herself from love and all its complications to wanting to taste it one more time. Some say the desire to love and be loved is as innate as an infant sucking on its mother’s nipple. She couldn’t help herself, especially in the presence of a man that was capable of unconditional love.

  Amy walked into her apartment after midnight and saw Brenda asleep on the couch with the television watching her. She woke her up and guided the half-asleep Brenda to her bed. “How was the gym?” Brenda muttered sleepily.

  “It was great.” Amy smiled and pulled the covers over her. “Goodnight.”

  “Night.”

  Chapter 4

  L uke had a date tonight.

  It was his second date in a month. He met Diana on Tinder, and her profile intrigued him. She was a gorgeous 27-year-old Puerto Rican who loved to play volleyball and had been to over 20 countries.

  Mrs. Huckleberry usually babysat Josh in the days, but in the nights when Luke wanted to go out, which were rarely, he had to hire a babysitter. This date, however, was very last minute, and Luke was left with very few options. Then an idea came to him; why not ask Amy? They lived on the same floor, Josh loved her and most importantly, he could trust her to watch his only child.

  “Yeah, sure! I’d love to babysit Josh,” Amy replied when asked if she could babysit.

  “Great! Thank you.”

  She folded her arms and smirked. “So…hot date tonight?”

  “You know I don’t date off appearance. It’s all about personality.”

  “Bullshit.”

  They chuckled. “Yeah, she’s hot.” Luke noticed something about Amy. Under her right ear, there were three freckles that formed a triangle. Every time they met, he would discover something new about her, subtle things that the average person would care less about. In the gym the night before, he learned that Amy’s voice got higher when she blushed after he had complimented her work ethic.

  “Have fun tonight. You deserve to,” she said.

  What did she mean by you deserve to? He thought. Was it so obvious that he had no dating life? Who was he kidding? Even Mrs. Huckleberry, who hardly left her apartment, could tell he hadn’t been bringing women home. Luke had his reasons.

  “I will.” He ended with a mischievous grin.

  “Where do you want to go next?” Luke asked the stunning woman sitting across the table.

  Diana’s finger played with the rim of the wine glass. “Iceland. I heard it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth, although, every country is beautiful in its own way.”

  “Iceland. I’ll keep a note of that.” Luke took his phone from his pocket and wrote Iceland in his notes application. “If it’s the most beautiful place on earth then I have to see it.”

  Diana leaned in closer. “We could both go there.”

  Luke tried to figure out what color lipstick she was wearing. He was never good with colors. Red was red to him. This red, however, intrigued him. It was darker and more mysterious. This shade of red was villainous and wanted nothing good in the world. He liked this shade and couldn’t wait to kiss it.

  “If you don’t mind my son tagging along.”

  Diana smiled. “I love kids. Does he like the outdoors?”

  Luke chuckled. “He thinks he’s a superhero. So yes.”

  “A boy who wants to save the world. I admire that.”

  “Josh is a strong kid.”

  Diana rested her chin on her knuckle. “He got that from you, I’m guessing?”

  “Oh no! Not at all. He got his strength from his mother.”

  The waiter arrived with their plates: Truffle oil, roast salmon and mushrooms for the lady, and Steak Pizzaiola and Pasta for the gentleman.

  Luke listened while Diana told stories of her adventures. He didn’t have a problem with listening. He was a good listener. He preferred to. With each story, Diana revealed more and more about herself. Luke was used to catching small details as it was his job to do so. He learned that she didn’t like the cold weather, and it was a break up that initially started her tour.

  Luke suspected that Diana had been here before with a different date. What gave it away? She barely made eye contact with the waiter, ind
icating guilt or shame, which led Luke to believe it wasn’t just once or twice, but with quite a few guys.

  Josh jumped from one couch onto the next. In his mind, they were building tops, and his most evil villain yet, Dr. Crook, was getting away from him. His Superman towel was tied around his neck. He had his goggles on and also his gloves. He was in full superhero mode.

  Amy sat back and watched him play. The sooner he tires himself out, the better. She sipped her coffee and laughed as Dr. Crook eluded Josh’s grasp.

  “What is your superhero name?” she asked.

  “Superboy,” Josh replied.

  Josh took up the cushion and threw it on the floor. He had caught Dr. Crook and wasn’t planning on letting him get away.

  “What’s your superpower?”

  Josh flexed his tiny muscle. “I have super strength and I can fly.”

  He jumped from the couch onto the cushion, pinning Dr.Crook to the ground.

  “And what’s your weakness?” Amy asked.

  “Cancer.”

  Amy was taken aback. It was not the reply she was expecting. She thought it was best not to ask why.

  Josh handcuffed the cushion and threw Dr. Crooks in jail. The city was now safe thanks to Superboy.

  “Is Superboy hungry?” Amy asked.

  Josh nodded. “Super Boy must eat a super meal.”

  Amy laughed. “A superhero should expect no less!”

  Amy fixed Josh a ham sandwich with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. “Do I have to eat the tomatoes?” Josh asked.

  “You want to stay strong and healthy don’t you?”

  “Yeah, because I want to save the world.”

  “That’s right. Now, eat it all. The world needs Superboy.”

  Josh sat around the counter and ate his sandwich bite by bite. The superhero had done well. He was pleased with himself. After his meal, he took off his cape and goggles and gloves and put them in his closet. He wasn’t Superboy anymore. He was Josh again, the regular seven years old who did seven-year-old things. When asked what he would like to do next, his reply was to watch Spongebob.

  Amy returned the cushions and tidied the messy couch. They sat together and watched Spongebob. SpongeBob and his gang were singing at the Superbowl. Amy had watched this episode before when she was just a few years older than Josh. The pessimistic and doubtful Squidward was surprised to see his band perform beautifully in front of the football spectators and in front of his longtime rival, Squilliam.

  The absurdness entertained Amy and the singing entertained Josh. He drew closer to Amy until they were touching. Once comfortable, he leaned on her and Amy took him into her arms. Josh liked the feeling of being embraced by Amy. He felt loved. Her arms were cozy and safe. She smelled good too. He liked having Amy around. She made him happy.

  The steak was amazing. Luke knew for sure that she was a regular here. Just how many men did she recommend this steak to? Not that it was a problem. Numbers are abstract. He cared not whether it was two or ten, but his curiosity grew as to why. Why did her dates fail? This question itself was fairly easy; it was the nature of dates. Dates were all about picking and refusing. So, to further narrow his question, he was curious to know if she was very picky or did she have an off-putting feature that he had not yet discover. Two very different answers.

  If this was to be their only date, Luke would suggest that the Steak Pizzaiola be eaten with California Zinfandel instead of Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon may be the king of red wines but Luke felt California Zinfandel’s bold, grapey spiciness would be a better pairing. Her next date would enjoy his steak with the right wine.

  Then it came to him. The color of her lipstick was classic burgundy!

  Her hand brushed his. He held her hand, intertwining their fingers. “What matters most to you?” he asked.

  “Freedom,” she said with a glimmer in her eyes. “The world is out there, Luke. And my God it’s breathtaking.”

  “Diana the explorer.”

  Her burgundy lips smiled for a moment. Luke was everything she hoped he would be and more. “And what about you? What matters most to you?”

  “My son.”

  Diana nodded, expecting that answer.

  “And just family in general. I grew up in a big family so I want a family of my own.”

  “Do you plan on having more kids?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Maybe five or six more.”

  Diana laughed. “Oh my! You could have your basketball team of kids.”

  “That’s the plan.” Luke chuckled. “In all seriousness, I would like one or two more. A baby girl would be my wish.”

  She squeezed his hand. “That’s sweet.”

  “You plan on having kids?”

  Her eyes dropped to her plate. “Kids deserve somewhere they can call home, and I believe that’s the problem. I don’t like being in one place for too long.” She paused. “I hope you don’t think I’m selfish.”

  “Not at all.” Luke had figured it out. She brought all her dates here because it was the only place she really knew. Her dates never become anything more than just dates. After returning from her travels, she would have sex with the men she dated until it was time for her to leave again. Diana wanted to have a good time. That’s all. Now that Luke was sure he would never see her again after tonight, he recommended the California Zinfandel.

  “I want to show you something,” Josh said.

  “Oh yeah? What is it?”

  “It’s a surprise,” Josh said with a smile. He pulled Amy by the hand, forcing her out of the couch.

  “I’m too tired for games, Josh. Plus, it’s almost your bedtime.”

  “Almost.” Josh ran to the door. “Please?”

  She didn’t want to screw up her first babysitting job by letting him wander the complex at night. It was past ten. The passageways were quiet and eerie. The tiniest of steps would be loud enough for the neighbors to hear. Mr. Pecherov would certainly be up at this hour. One could always hear Mr. Pecherov television in the wee hours of the morning. “Okay,” she gave in. “We’ll do this quickly.”

  “Yes!” Josh held Amy’s hand and led her out the door. He carried her down the passage, left, past Mr. White’s apartment—the African American lawyer with the ironic name, up three floors of stairs, and past Alice’s apartment—the waitress who one day dreamed of being an actress.

  “Where are you taking me?” Amy asked.

  “Just wait.”

  At the end of the passage was the Janitorial closet. “Don’t tell me we’re going in there.”

  “No one uses it.” Josh opened the door and led Amy in. He flicked the light switch and the tiny room revealed itself. Mops, brooms, buckets were all moved to one side. While walking in, Amy nearly tripped over one of the wet floor signs. “Be careful.”

  Josh put the bleach bottles in a bucket and pushed it to the corner to create more room to accommodate his guest. He spun one of the buckets and stood on it. He unlatched the small window and opened it, letting in the cool breeze. “Look!” He called Amy to see.

  Outside was a beautiful view of the moon floating In the starry night sky. Under the ball of light, building tops and light posts twinkle like stars in some strange concrete galaxy.

  “Look there.” Josh pointed. Birds lined the edge of the neighboring building, all seemingly watched the moon like it was on a big screen of your favorite cinema. They were spectators, no different from Amy or Josh, and together they all marveled at the blend of nature’s beauty and man’s design.

  “Wow,” Amy said, watching the birds sit under the moonlight.

  “Cool, right?” Josh gleamed as Amy was impressed.

  “Gotta hand it to ya. It’s beautiful.”

  “I sneak out and come here sometimes when my dad’s at the gym. I like it here. I know you may think it’s a creepy old closet but I don’t see it that way.”

  “How do you see it?”

  Josh looked around the small room. “It’s my secret layer
. Every superhero needs one.”

  “You take being a superhero very seriously.”

  “I have to.”

  “Why do you want to be a hero.”

  “Because no one was there to save my mom.”

  “Oh, Josh.” She rubbed his back. “There was nothing you could have done.”

  “I was too young then. I’m older now. I will be eight soon. I will protect everyone: You. Dad. Mrs. Huckleberry. Brenda. Mr. Finch. Everyone.”

  Amy felt sorry for the boy. He was willing to carry such a heavy burden on such tiny shoulders. “And who will protect you?”

  “I can protect myself. I have super strength, remember?”

  “Oh yeah. I remember.” Amy ruffled his hair. “I don’t want you to worry about saving people, okay?”

  “What kind of superhero would I be if I didn’t?”

  Amy knelt to his level. “Somethings in this world are just out of your control. We just have to accept that.”

  Josh shook his head, refusing to believe everyone couldn’t be saved. People who think that way couldn’t be heroes. Maybe that’s why there are so few left.

  Josh didn’t have much memory of his mother but he imagined that Amy sounded like her. He was forgetting his mother as he got older. He could once vividly imagine her like a character dancing on a screen, hearing her laugh and seeing her smile. Now he only remembered fragment, tiny bits here and there. He remembered a moment of her smiling. The way how she said ‘goodnight’ and the way she said his name. He remembered how she smelled and how warm he used to feel in her arms. His mom needed a hero. His mother needed him, he thought.

  “I miss mommy,” he confessed. He did not remember exactly who was mommy, but he missed a sense of her. It was more of a feeling than anything else. He imagined the rest to fill the gaps in his memory.