by Nita Johnson
“Daddy!” Kaylee ran in, saving me from having to make anymore small talk with Rob. He picked her up and pulled her close to him, giving her a loving squeeze. I had to turn away, I just couldn't watch them together.
“Hey, baby. I came to see if you wanted to do something today. How about the zoo?” Kaylee tilted her head back and shook her head. “Mama and Jesse took us to the zoo yesterday, can we go the movies instead?” Not realizing what she had said she got down off her dad’s lap and sat in her own chair. I carried on making my coffee as if I hadn't heard what she had said.
“Who’s Jesse, baby?” Rob asked her calmly but I could hear the edge in his voice, he seemed pissed yet he had no right to be. Jesse’s our neighbor who is becoming a good friend. What we did was no business of his as long as it did not affect the children.
“Oh, he lives over there.” Out of the corner of my eye I saw her point out of the window over to the Baker’s house. “He's my new friend, isn't he, mama?”
Finished making my drink, I blew on it to cool it down a little before taking a much needed gulp. “Yes, baby. Jesse is your friend. Do you want some breakfast here or when you go out with your father?”
She seemed to need a minute to think about it so I left the room to go and wake Nate. “Wake up, baby. Your dad is here, he wants to take you and your sister out for the day.”
Nate sat up and wiped his sleep filled eyes. “Tell him to go to hell.” He flopped back down on his bed, pulling the covers over him. His words shocked me, not for one minute had I expected him to act like that when it came to his beloved father. They'd always had such a great relationship.
I crouched down so I was level with him as I pulled back his covers. “Are you sure, Nate? I don't know when he's going to be able to see you both again,” I told him truthfully. Who knew when Rob would have time to see them again. I wasn't going to bad mouth his father to him though. No matter how much I despised him, he was still their father.
“Yeah, I’m sure. Tell him I’ll speak to him later,” he replied without even opening his eyes for me.
“Ok, Nate. I’ll tell him.” I stood up bracing for the coming argument I knew would be happening when I told Rob Nate didn't want to go with him.
“Mom.” Nate’s quiet voice stops me in my tracks. Turning around I see that he's sitting up again. “I love you.” He said it so brokenly that I rushed to him and scooped him up in my arms like I used to do when he was younger.
I felt his little body shuddering as he sobbed in my arms. “I love you too, baby. Always.” He didn't speak again as I continued to rock him back and forth.
It took a few minutes to calm Nate down but he finally fell back to sleep, obviously exhausted after his emotional outburst. I hadn't seen him cry like that for years and that sight will haunt me forever. Storming back down the stairs I’m surprised to see that Rob has made himself at home in the kitchen, making Kaylee some toast and cereal which she was just finishing up. Something he could never do back at our house.
“Where’s, Nate?” he asked me as I picked up my now stone cold coffee. Taking one gulp I frowned in displeasure and chucked it down the drain. I set to making a new one, determined to ignore Rob until he fucked off out of the house or nan came down and caught him here. I prayed for the latter one to happen.
I bent down to kiss my precious baby on her head, knowing that if this was going to get nasty I wanted her out of the way.
“Baby, why don't you go and get ready for your day out with Daddy? Chose something really pretty to wear and I will come do your hair soon.”
“Ok, Mama.” Giving me a megawatt smiled she got down off her seat and ran out of the room, eager to get ready to go out.
“You know my nan will be out of bed soon, you don't want her catching you here.” I told him, wishing that he would hurry up and leave. I didn't want to be around him any longer.
“She won't be up for ages yet, plus how am I meant to see the kids if I can't come here. It would easier if you had just stayed at home, which by the way, thanks for telling me you left. I wasted a journey going there first this morning only to find out that you hadn't been home all week.”
“How dare you act all pissed off for me not wanting to live in a house that you fucked another woman in. For Christ’s sake even you can't be that stupid to think that I’d still want to live there after that?” Folding my arms across my body I faced him showing him all the anger I could muster. All I really wanted to do was go slap the shit out of him but I remained calm and contained, for now.
“Well, if I’d have known you weren't going to be there I would have stayed there, saved wasting money on a hotel room.” He picked up his drink and sipped some, eyeing me over the top of his cup. When the hell did he make that!
Looking at him, I cannot for the life of me see any of the man I fell in love with back when we were in school. Sure he looked the same. Light blond hair, baby blue eyes, tall and charming, but his attitude was all wrong. This wasn't my Rob standing in front of me, this was someone completely new and I didn't like him one bit.
“I’m so fucking sorry I didn't get in touch to tell you. Heather could have fucking told you for all I knew, so I didn't see the point in bothering you. Sooner we sell that house, the better. We both get our share and move on with our lives.”
Rob dropped his cup on the counter, both arms bracing himself as he leaned slightly forward in my direction. His normally loving baby blue eyes looked cold. He really was a changed man.
“One, Heather isn't there. She's gone to stay with a relative until this blows over and two, I won't be selling the house. That is my house. I bought it and I intend to keep it.”
My mouth dropped open in shock. If he wasn't going to sell the house, how would I get any money to move into a new home with Nate and Kaylee?
“What am I going to do? I need money for a new house, Rob.”
“I suggest you get a job then, Wills. Start saving, in the meantime you have this house here so you're not exactly stuck.” He sneered, making me take a small step backwards.
“What's happened to you? The Rob I knew would never be like this, would never act like this.” He really has thrown me for a loop. I thought he’d agree to sell the house so we would both be able to start afresh.
“I woke up, Willow. Now if you're going to start divorce proceedings be prepared for a fight. I won't let you take everything that I’ve worked hard for away from me.”
“Get out!” I ordered him, done with him for one day. “You can wait for Kaylee in your car. She won't be long.”
“I’m fine just where I am thanks,” he responded not listening to what I had told him, instead leaning back against the kitchen counter, a huge ugly grin on his face.
“I think Will asked you to leave. Go now of your own free will unless you want to be made to leave,” an angry voice said from behind me. I turned around stunned to see that Jesse was standing in my kitchen aiming a deathly glare at Rob who was now cowering in the corner, looking for a way to escape without being hurt.
What completely surprised me was Nate, he was standing just behind Jesse. “I heard Dad shouting at you Mom, so I ran across the road to get Jesse.” From the way he was talking he must've thought I’d be mad at him when I was anything but.
“That's ok, baby. You were looking out for me, that's good honey.” I reached for him and he came into my arms quickly. I noticed that he didn't once make eye contact with his father.
“You going to let me walk out of here?” Rob spoke up breaking the momentary silence, his gaze trained firmly on Jesse.
Jesse replied with a nod to his head and stepped out of the doorway, allowing Rob to scuttled past. “Tell Kaylee I will see her next time,” he muttered as he slammed out of the house.
Jesse placed his fingers under my chin, lifting them so I could meet his stormy gaze. “You, ok, sweetheart?” he asked me gently, his fingers grazing my cheek softly.
I was now that Rob had gone but I didn't get a chance to
voice any thanks before the connection between us was broken.
“What the hell did I miss?”
“Nan’s up.” Nate stated the obvious when we saw her come into the kitchen. Billy the bat faithfully at her side.
Whoever said Sundays were the day of rest?
I had been awake for a little while when I heard a loud pounding at my door. Who the hell would be awake this time on a Sunday morning?
Imagine my shock when I saw Nate standing on the other side. Not giving me a chance to ask him what was wrong he took my hand, pulling me toward his great grandmother's house.
“Buddy, what's the matter?” I noticed a strange car in the driveway and all my senses went on high alert. I hadn't seen this car around before and trust me when I say I had noticed a lot to do with this family over the last week.
“Dad’s here and he's shouting at my mom. He's never shouted like that and he needs to leave,” he informed me as he pulled harder on my hand quickening our pace. We reached the front door as I heard Willow’s husband spit some vile shit about divorces and her not getting anything and I just saw red.
“Stay behind me, Nate,” I instructed him as we headed to the kitchen where the voices were coming from.
Seeing Will standing there in just in her robe floored me for a moment but then I saw the weasel on the other side of the kitchen casually leaning on the countertop like he had every right to be there. It took all I had not to storm in there and punch the living shit out of him.
After a stare off and some anger filled words her husband finally tucked tailed and fucking left, good thing too because I was barely holding onto my temper.
I had just gotten my first touch of the girl I wanted to cherish forever when the bubble burst and Betty appeared as large as life and carrying that goddamn bat.
“This is what happens when I down far too much whiskey before bedtime,” Nan grumbled to no one in particular. I had just explained to her what had gone between Rob, Jesse, and me.
“What happened, Nana?” Kaylee innocently asked her. She had taken the news of her Dad leaving without her well, declaring that she hadn't wanted to go with him anyway but she didn't want to hurt his feelings by saying no.
“I missed out on-” Cutting Nan off I smile sweetly at her. “Don't even finish that sentence, young ears and all that.” I tipped my head in Kaylee’s direction discreetly.
“In other words, Nana. Don't tell my little sister that you wanted to use that bat on my Dad’s head,” Nate piped up, finally giving something other than is iPad some attention. To be honest I was more shocked he had even been listening to our conversation.
“That's exactly what I was gonna say! Good boy, you know your old Nana so well.” I couldn't help it, as she winked at me I stuck my tongue out her. She drew the kid out in me.
“Want me to chop that off, child?” she taunted me acting just as childish as me.
“Wanna try it?” I backtalked, knowing that I was beginning to push my luck with her.
“They always like this?” I heard Jesse asking the kids and his snicker when they both answered, “Yes”.
“You guys wanna come over to my house, I have a pool.” Jesse didn't need to ask the kids twice. They both took off to find their bathing suits leaving us three on our own. My Nan and I were still giving each other side glances, both of us waiting for the other to break the silence first.
“You two quite finished now?” he teased both of us, the humor very much present in his voice.
“She started it!” Nan said exactly the same time as I did.
“No, you did!” We both declared together.
“I really am starting to question who the adults are in this place.” Jesse was really belly laughing now as the kids came skidding to a stop dressed in their bathing suits, towels in their hands. Kaylee had even managed to dig out a sun hat and glasses. Although it was early, it was shaping up to be a warm day so part of me happened to be very pleased that my baby had thought ahead.
“Ready, Jesse.” Kaylee held out her hand to him, obviously comfortable enough with him to go leave without me or her Nana. “Ready as I’ll ever be, pumpkin. Let’s go. Come on, Nate. Let’s leave these children to fight amongst themselves. If by any chance you do make up, we will be in the pool, having fun. Come on kids, last one in the pool is a rubber donkey!”
As the front door closed Nan spluttered, “What the hell is a rubber donkey?”
It didn't take long for Willow and her nan to appear in my backyard, their little squabble from earlier put behind them for now. Willow in a bikini was the hottest thing I had ever seen. The image of her walking toward the pool will be forever ingrained into my mind.
I couldn't wait for the day I could call her mine. I just hoped I wouldn't be kept waiting for too long. There was only so long a man could wait for what he had deemed his and mark my words, she was mine. She just didn't know it yet.
Monday rolled around far too quickly. Shutting my alarm off I woke Kaylee, which she wasn't happy with. She had always been the worst to get out of bed and she really wasn't a morning person. It usually took her to well after breakfast for her to even smile. Yesterday had been a one off, the joy of seeing her Dad had made her forget that it had been early but this morning she was back to her usual grouchy self.
“Want me to send your nana in to get you out of bed?”
“No.”
“You sure, baby? I don't see any movement under those covers.”
“No.”
“Right, let me go shout her, she's bound to be up getting a start on breakfast.”
“I’m up, I’m up. What do I have to do to sleep in around here?” Her grumbling continued all the way to the bathroom but I pay her no attention. Her moaning loudly did me a favor, waking Nate so that saved me having to go into his room.
I quickly dressed, throwing on a pair of denim shorts and a racer back tank. Running a brush through my hair before adding some serum, I then fluffed out the natural wave in my hair. The school run was the only time I was thankful for having wavy hair. It saved me so much time in the mornings especially as it took me so long to get Kaylee up and sorted for her day at school.
Luckily for the rest of us Kaylee managed to perk up a little and breakfast passed without incident much to my relief. Both her and Nate went into school without any problems and yet again I was faced with nothing to do. I debated going back to the home I had shared with Rob to get some more of our belongings but I already felt that we had taken over enough of Nan’s home without turning back up with yet more possessions.
I really didn't think that we’d have to impose on her for long, but if Rob meant what he had said yesterday about selling the house, then I really was in a bind.
“You look like someone who's got the weight of the world on her shoulders.” Jesse’s deep warm voice broke into my thoughts, snapping me back to reality. It was then that I realized that I hadn't moved from outside the school. I was still standing by my car, yet to get inside.
“You’d be right there.” I gave him a small smile, tilting my head back to take him in. He really was so sexy. In another life I might have thought about asking him on a date but l was recently separated and I came with far too much baggage. Jesse seemed like a laid back guy, I’m not sure if he’d ever want to take a chance with someone like me.
“What are you doing around here?” I asked him, the school was in the opposite direction of the construction site he's working on.
“I followed you.” He laughed when he spotted my confused expression. “Nothing like that, sweetheart, so take that look off your face.”
“What look!” I exclaimed albeit a little too loudly trying to cover my embarrassment.
“Never mind.” He carried on chuckling. “This is why I followed you.” Holding out his hand I saw the reason for him being here with me now. My wallet. How the hell did he manage to have that?
“You really do have the most expressive eyes, Will. I can see what you're thinking before it ha
s chance to come out of that pretty mouth of yours.” He used the hand that wasn't holding my wallet to trail a finger down my cheek. I had to fight with everything inside of me not to lean into his touch.
“I was out getting my mail when I saw it lying beside your mailbox,” he told me, while still looking into my eyes. “I didn't know if you’d need it, so I followed you here. You looked so lost just now, sweetheart. Are you ok?”
Gulping I nodded nervously, still having to fight the reaction I was having to him. Nothing I had with Rob ever felt like what I was feeling right now and all he'd done was touch my face. I felt like my body was burning from the inside out. Pretty sure that my cheeks were bright red I ducked my head, breaking out of his hold over me.
“I’m just distracted today, got a lot on my mind, you know. Thank you for coming out of your way to bring me my wallet. I really appreciate the gesture.” Reaching a hand out to take my wallet from him I then tucked it into the pocket of my jean shorts.
“Anything you want to talk about, sweetheart? I’ve been told I’m a good listener,” he said so sincerely, like he really did want me to talk to him about what was troubling me.
“I don't think you have enough time to sit and listen to what's on my mind,” I joked, trying to lighten the tone a little but failing epically.
“When it comes to you, Willow, I will always have all the time in the world. Come on, let's go grab a coffee.”
Taking my hand in his, he led me over to his truck. We both got in and drove in comfortable silence. Inside my head my mind was racing with what he’d just said to me. I could fall for someone like Jesse Baker and that scared me right to my core.
Once we were at the coffee shop, I sat at a table and Jesse went to get us coffee. “Thank you,” I said all too gratefully as he pushed a large cup of coffee over to me before taking a seat opposite me at the table. “This is just what the doctor ordered.”