by Diana Currie
My phone buzzes.
I discreetly pull it from my jeans pocket and check the text message. It’s from Rebecca. I look over at her and she’s staring at the movie screen smirking.
WIPE THE DROOL AND KISS HIM ALREADY. OR HOLD HIS HAND. JUST STOP THE PATHETIC GAWKING!
Mortified to be caught I toss my phone in my purse and focus attentively on the remainder of the movie. I can only hope Adam didn’t notice my staring at him. I’m sure Brett did since he’s sitting behind me. Thankfully he doesn’t call me out on it.
On the ride home Eric drives again but this time Brett sits up front with him to discuss the movie. The consensus seems to be it was a good Bond flick. Adam is sort of quiet now but I don’t think much of it. Everyone is tired. It’s late and the good buzz I had going from the wine consumption has now turned to exhaustion. I’ve had a fun time tonight but am really looking forward to my bed.
We all say good night on the porch of the B&B. Adam asks if I’m coming inside but I just have zero energy left. I tell him I’ll see him in the morning. Later when I’m finally home and turning over the events of the night in my mind a few things stick out as unusual to me. Certain things Adam did and said seemed remarkably date-like. But even so, we were out in a group of six people. This evening was in no way a real date. I still can’t wrap my head around the possibility that Adam could be interested in me in any other way than friendship.
My baggage is far too heavy. Too heavy even for his lean muscular arms to carry. Even so, I can’t stop thinking about those arms, and his face, hair, eyes, and smile for that matter as I snuggle in under my covers and fall into a deep dreamless sleep.
Chapter Eight: Dinner Plans
Saturday morning I hurry over to Tommy’s apartment to pick up Tyler and Gabby. Going out to Savannah with my friends last night was fun but I miss the kids so much I can barely stand it. I don’t even want to think about how they are planning to spend the night at their dad’s again tonight. I just want to focus on the fun day I have planned to spend with them.
Tommy and I don’t have a set schedule for when each of us gets the kids, which I know makes things more confusing for them. Kids are better off with stability and it’s been hard enough for them with the separation, but we both work jobs with fluctuating schedules. So far there haven’t been any issues with determining what days they go to see Tommy and hopefully we can continue that after the divorce is finalized. I don’t ever want to fight with Tommy over custody issues.
The one nice thing about Tyler and Gabby spending the night with Tommy is that I get a big hug from both of them when I go to pick them up. I love how happy they are to see me. All three of them are still in pajamas when I arrive and eating cereal in front of the television. I’m forced to make conversation with Tommy in the time it takes the kids to pack their overnight bags and get dressed.
“Did you have fun last night?” Tommy asks sitting on the couch in flannel pajama bottoms and a gray t-shirt.
“Yeah, we did. Brett thought that the restaurant he picked was too expensive but the rest of us really liked it.”
Tommy nods his head while chewing his Cocoa Pebbles. “I heard that Bond movie was good.”
“Yeah, it was good,” I reply ambiguously. There isn’t much for me to elaborate on about the movie. I spent a good portion of it studying the profile of Adam’s face. I can’t even recall how it ended.
“You don’t even like action movies,” Tommy chuckles. “How did Brett get you to agree to a Bond film in the first place?”
I smile politely. “Yeah, well I’ll admit I enjoyed dinner more than the movie. It was worth it to get out and see Becca and Rachel.”
“Rachel went too? That’s cool,” he replies.
I purposely don’t bring up Adam’s name. There’s really no point in upsetting him, not that anything is going on between me and Adam that would cause Tommy to be upset. I’m just not ready to start mentioning other guy’s names yet. That would just be too weird.
“So you want me to come get them at the house after dinner?” he asks shifting awkwardly in his seat.
“Can you come to the B&B around five instead? I have four guests this week. I’ll have to cook for them and it’s easier if the kids aren’t underfoot.”
“Sure. Everything going okay there?”
I nod my head and fight off a blush in my cheeks. Work has been great. I’ve really enjoyed my job the past week and a half and I’d rather not explain to Tommy why that’s the case.
Finally, Tyler comes out of the bedroom dressed with his book bag over one shoulder. Gabby follows him but her shirt is on backwards and her hair needs brushing. I hold out my arms for my little girl and help her with her shirt. Then the four of us watch the remainder of the Spongebob episode they were watching when I arrived while I comb out Gabby’s hair.
The day of fun I have planned begins with a trip to the library. We get there in time for ten o’clock story hour. This weekend’s story is a fairy tale with knights, dragons, and a princess. After that is a Lego building competition for 4-7 year olds. Samantha texted me the other day to say Aiden wanted to go and I wrote back that Tyler would love it too. The boys have so much fun building with the Legos while Gabby and I wander around the children’s room looking for a few new books to read at bedtime.
When the activities are over we say goodbye to Aiden and his mom and head over to the diner for lunch. I promised the kids they could order whatever they want. This is an exciting idea for both of them. Tyler orders French toast with whipped cream and Gabby asks for macaroni and cheese. I could have made her the same exact thing at home but I don’t point that out. As long as she’s happy it doesn’t matter what she orders.
We go home after lunch so Gabby can take a nap and Tyler and I play with Play-Doh at the kitchen table while she sleeps. By the time Gabby wakes up it’s after two o’clock and I need to get over to the B&B. I show the kids a new DVD I bought for them and the promise of watching Despicable Me is an easy way of getting them to agree to spend the next few hours at mommy’s work.
As I expected, a sink full of dirty dishes is waiting for me at Thatcher’s. The fishermen tracked mud all over the kitchen floor and the place smells like fish again. I’ll bet anything that John, Dave, and Larry have made their rooms stink the same way. I put the new movie on for the kids and roll up my sleeves. First I wash all the dirty dishes. Then I start preparing dinner and an apple pie for dessert. No one seems to be home and that makes my chores easier to accomplish. I clean the bathrooms and then mop the dirt off the kitchen floor. Every room has a laundry bag waiting for me and I was right about the aroma coming from three of the guest rooms.
The red room smells divine, like soap and cologne. I want to stay in Adam’s room just so I can smell him, but I force myself to leave after just a few sniffs. I don’t know when to expect him home and really don’t want to get caught snooping in his room. I’m in the basement folding laundry when the front door opens. I can tell by the one set of footsteps that it is likely Adam who’s returned, but since Tyler and Gabby are up there alone I decide to finish my laundry upstairs so I can see for myself. The credits are rolling on the TV set and I find only the kids in the living room.
“Who came in?” I ask Tyler.
“Doctor Adam,” Tyler replies with a grin. He’s got a lollipop in his hand. I glance over at Gabby and see one of her arms is hidden behind her back.
I roll my eyes and smile. “Go ahead and eat them. I hope you said thank you to Doctor Adam.”
Gabby cheers and pulls her lollipop out from behind her back. I listen to them tell me about their favorite parts of Despicable Me while I finish with the laundry. Adam can be heard walking around his room and then the shower turns on but I try not to focus on his movements. When the laundry is all folded I go back to the kitchen and check on my apple pie. I’m making a meatloaf with mashed potatoes and carrots for dinner so as soon as the pie is done I set it aside to cool and put the meatloaf in the oven.
<
br /> It’s about 4:30 when the stairs creak and I hear Adam coming down, one hand rubbing his muscular abdomen through a lightweight t-shirt. His eyes find mine immediately; like he knew I’d be standing in the kitchen waiting for him.
“There’s my girl,” he greets me with a smile.
I blush and turn my back to him pretending to set the timer on the stove. “I’m your girl now, huh?” I reply dryly.
I hear him chuckle as he walks into the kitchen. “Anyone who makes me homemade apple pie is my girl,” he says teasingly. “I could smell that heaven baking from my room. I don’t know what you’re trying to do to me, woman.”
I smile while butterflies invade my stomach. I hope everyone else is hungry because there’s no room left in my belly for me to eat any of the food I’m making. Adam comes to leans against the counter next to where I stand, prompting me to look at him.
“So how was your day?” I ask.
The second the words leave my mouth I regret them. I’ve just made myself sound like a happy housewife. All I need is the frilly apron and a strand of pearls. Before he has a chance to reply the front door opens again and John, Dave, and Larry shuffle in. They are loud as they enter, laughing and talking about their trip to the lake. I’m relieved for the interruption because Adam steps back to put a little more space between us in the kitchen. I hadn’t even realized how close he’d been standing to me.
“We had a terrible time out on the water today,” John grumbles as he walks through the hall on his way to his room.
“Yeah, those fish weren’t biting for anything,” Dave agrees. “So we’re going to drown our sorrows over at Sarah’s again.”
I glance down at the food I’m in the middle of preparing and frown. “Are you going to have dinner first?” I ask politely.
“Nah. Thank you, but I think we’re going eat at the bar, right guys?” Larry answers.
John laughs. “Yeah, since we couldn’t catch any fish today we’re just going to settle for drinking like one.”
Larry and Dave both laugh and head towards their rooms. Adam crosses his arms over his chest and his face scrunches up in what looks like annoyance. John is still in the hall and I can tell he smells the apple pie.
“I’ll make up some dinner plates and put them in the refrigerator if you change your minds later tonight. And there’s apple pie here too,” I offer cordially.
“Thanks, Amanda. It smells fantastic,” John says before disappearing up the stairs.
Adam’s expression softens when I look at him. “I suppose it’s just the four of us then,” he says smiling.
“Actually it’s going to be just you and me. Tommy is picking up the kids in a few minutes so I hope you’re really hungry.”
“I skipped lunch today so I’m famished. I’ll get out of your way and go hang out with the kids for a bit. Then you and I can have a nice quiet dinner together,” he replies, his words sounding more like a question.
I nod and smile at him before turning back to the stove where my potatoes are now boiling. I listen as Adam joins Tyler and Gabby on the couch and asks them about their day. I listen to them as I continue to cook. Tyler regales him with the story of his Lego competition and Gabby asks him to read one of the books we picked out from the library. He agrees and from the kitchen I listen closely while he reads Madeline and the Bad Hat to my daughter. John and his buddies come down freshly showered and dressed a few minutes later and say goodnight to everyone before leaving for the bar.
Just after five o’clock the front door opens and Tommy comes in. The kids run excitedly to greet him, leaving Adam alone in the living room. I peek in to see him getting up from the floor where he was sitting with Gabby and reach for the newspaper that is lying on the coffee table. Tommy hugs the kids and tells them to go pack up their things. He follows them into the living room and smiles when he sees me come around the corner from the kitchen.
“Hey,” I greet.
“Hey Mandy,” he replies. “What smells so good?”
“It’s probably the meatloaf you smell. And I made a pie earlier.”
Tommy nods. “It’s the meatloaf. You’re still using my Nana’s recipe, huh?”
“Yes,” I answer bashfully. My eyes dart over to where Adam sits in one of the wingback chairs. I catch him looking at me briefly before he turns his attention back to the newspaper in his hands. “Um, so the kids haven’t eaten yet. I have plenty of food here if you want to stay,” I offer.
The newspaper rustles in Adam’s hands and I notice him watching Tommy. I don’t know what possessed me to invite Tommy to dinner other than wanting to make sure the kids eat. A quiet meal with just Adam and me sounds really tempting, but a small part of my subconscious is also nervous about the idea of being alone here with Adam sharing food I’ve made and talking about our days.
“No, it’s okay. I already took food out at home,” Tommy answers as he glances over at Adam.
Adam’s grip on the newspaper relaxes and he smiles politely at my soon to be ex husband. This is going to be awkward but I have to make introductions now.
“Tommy, this is Adam Brickman. He’s moving to town to work at the doctor’s office with his father. Adam, this is Tommy Miller,” I say.
Adam leans forward to stand but Tommy holds his hand up gesturing for him to stay seated. “It’s nice to meet you, Adam. Are you a doctor too?”
“Yes, I’m going to be the new pediatrician.”
“Oh, nice. So I guess I’ll see you next time one of the kids gets sick,” Tommy replies.
I watch nervously as my husband and my infatuation converse politely. And I chew the crap out of my bottom lip. Tyler and Gabby are oblivious to the tension I feel, happily packing their toys in the book bags.
“Well, welcome to town,” Tommy says and turns his attention back to me.
Tommy and I discuss the logistics of my picking up the kids again tomorrow. He doesn’t seem to have any problem talking to me just the same as if we were alone. He even mentions my request for him to sign the divorce paperwork and promises to get to it soon. Adam has gone back to reading the newspaper but the expression on his face keeps changing and I know he’s paying more attention to me and Tommy than what he’s supposedly reading. Tommy obviously doesn’t consider Adam to be anything more than another guest at the B&B. It makes me a little nauseous with guilt to think of how quickly I’ve come to consider Adam to be so much more than just another guest.
Finally Tommy leaves with Tyler and Gabby in tow. I miss them the second the door closes, and not just because I now have to go another night without my two babies. It’s also because I’m trapped here alone with Mr. Sex on Legs. And he wants to eat my pie.
Just as that thought begins to bounce around my brain the oven timer beeps. I poke my head into the living room to let Adam know dinner is ready but he’s already out of the chair and headed into the kitchen. I catch him just as he’s opening the oven door.
“You weren’t kidding about being famished,” I tease.
He shoots me a devilish grin over his shoulder and proceeds to pull the meatloaf from the oven. I laugh at the sight of Adam wearing the oven mitts on his hands that Mrs. Thatcher knitted. He places the hot dish on top of the stove and takes a long sniff.
“Damn. Nana has some mad skills,” he says referring to Tommy’s comment about my meatloaf smelling like his grandmother’s.
I roll my eyes deliberately. Nana Miller certainly did know her way around the kitchen. I have no intention of telling Adam that Nana passed away two years ago, or that a majority of the yummy dishes I’ve fed him the past two weeks were her recipes.
Adam helps me get the food to the small kitchen table where we decide to eat. He looks like he can barely hold himself back from starting to eat until I’m seated. I pour us each a tall glass of water and sit down across from him. Just as I expected, he picks up his fork the second my butt hits the chair and shovels in a fork load.
I can’t help giggling at his behavior. “Why didn�
��t you eat lunch at the office today?” I ask curiously.
He finishes chewing the food in his mouth and takes a sip of water. “It was a long day. We were busy and until my license comes in I still can’t do anything more than observe. It’s very frustrating.” I nod my head, chewing. Before I can respond he changes the subject. "Did you have a good time last night?" he asks, his eyes focused on the plate in front of him.
I push my fork around some carrots and then spear one before answering. "Yes, it was really nice to get out of town for a while. What did you think of my crazy friends?"
He smiles at me and the soulful look in his eyes makes my insides melt. Does he have any idea the power he holds over me without even trying? "They seem like really good people, but that doesn't surprise me being that they're friends of yours."
I blush a little and busy myself with taking another bite of my food. "So you had a good time too?" I wonder.
"I did. I feel the same way about getting out of Swainsboro for a while. Small town living is proving to be more of a challenge than I expected."
"There's a lot more to do on a Friday night in Chicago I'm sure," I reply.
"That's an understatement. You are the only reason I haven't gone stir crazy here yet."
I look down again and see Adam's plate is empty. Instead of responding to his comment about me I wuss out and change the topic back to dinner. "Do you want another slice of meatloaf? Or more potatoes?" I offer.
Adam pushes his chair back an inch and places his hand over his stomach; the international sign of a full belly. "No thank you. I'm saving room for your apple pie."
What is it about hearing Adam's sexy voice utter the words "apple pie" that sounds so dirty? I blame my reaction completely on being a child of the 90's. Chris Klein's demonstration of what a woman feels like on the inside will forever be burned into my brain.