The watch's hands always remained at twelve o'clock. Winding it would start a countdown backward in time, and instantly put Jack to sleep. Setting it to twelve thirty would let him sleep for half an hour, three o'clock would grant him three hours, all the way to eleven hours fifty nine minutes. He could use it as often as he wanted, and once, while Tiffany was over a friend's for a weekend, he'd slept for twenty-four hours straight, with only the single break to start the countdown again. He dreamed, and it was one of the best times of his life.
Mortals, even supernaturals, took sleep for granted. It came, whether they wanted it or not. But not Jack. He almost felt a tear coming on as he stared at the antique pocket-watch.
Casting one last look to Erica, he saw his girlfriend's attention was elsewhere. He leaned toward the smelly woman and opened his mouth to whisper, but thought better of it. Reversing direction, he gave the note-taking lady next to him a light tap on the shoulder.
"Hi," he said, keeping his voice low. "What's your name?"
She gave him an incredulous, annoyed look. Trying to ignore him, she looked back to her notes. It was only when she realized Jack wasn't leaning away did she sigh.
"Stephanie."
"Stephanie," he repeated. "I'll call you Steph. Listen, would you mind if I fall asleep on your shoulder?"
Steph's jaw dropped as she whirled toward him. She said nothing, trying to figure out if Jack was serious. Her face turned red. He waited patiently for a response, still rubbing his thumb along his trinket.
"I'm…married!"
"And my girlfriend is right over there across the room. I'm not asking to rip your thong off. I just need a shoulder. Yours looks nice and soft, and you smell pretty good, not like Miss Sewage next to me here."
Steph was quiet as her brow furrowed. Confusion, anger, curiosity all played across her face.
"Come on, Steph. Hook a parent up. We're supposed to look out for each other."
A hint of a smile, and she started to speak, when Jack heard Mrs. Galloway say something that caught his attention.
"This is just a little reminder, but in case you weren't aware, the school's no-hugging policy went into effect this past week."
Jack frowned as he leaned away from Steph, and she went back to her notes. He was shocked by the non-reaction in the room. Mrs. Galloway was ready to move on when Jack threw his hand up.
"Whoa. Hold on there. Did you say no-hugging policy?"
Mrs. Galloway was surprised at the interruption, and didn't look happy. She blinked a few times as she searched the group, finally spotting Jack's hand. It seemed like more of a lecture than a meeting.
"Uh, yes, Mr. Kursed. Like I just said, it went into effect this week."
"And what, pray tell, is a no-hugging policy?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. If you were at our other meetings, you would know. Children are not allowed to hug one another in the building or on the playground during school hours. It's been causing disruption."
Jack slipped his pocket-watch into his jeans as he stood up. He was no longer in the mood to sleep. For the first time all evening, the entire room was attentive.
"This has been discussed," Mrs. Galloway said. "Again, if you would have spared the time to come to our other meetings—"
"Let me get this straight. If my daughter…let's say she gets whacked in the face with a dodge-ball at recess. She's not that graceful. She's crying, embarrassed. Another kid comes up and gives her a hug, to make her feel better. What happens?"
"If your daughter returns the hug, then both students are suspended," she said, without an ounce of humor. "Hugging is simply not permitted—"
"Just because your husband would rather hug the babysitter than you, that's no reason to take it out on the little nose-pickers in school."
There was hushed laughter throughout the room, uncomfortable giggling. Some parents were in awe, their eyes wide.
"Mr. Kursed—"
"Let me tell you something. If my daughter comes home crying about how she got suspended…not for bad grades or cussing out a teacher, but for hugging, then I'm coming back here and personally putting my foot in every ass in this room."
The room was a whispering frenzy as the adults talked amongst themselves. More laughter. He spotted Erica, looking mortified, holding her head in her hands. He turned his anger, his disbelief, onto the other parents in the room.
"I can't believe you idiots agreed to this. You all thought this was a good idea? Or are you all just too pussified?"
Silence. Jack searched their faces. Some of them looked ashamed, but no one dared speak. He shook his head.
"Wow. Not a single testicle among you. You know, this reminds me of Germany, World War II." He cringed at the memory. Hitler was powerful, even before he had the aid of a half witch. "Adolf Hitler would stand there, talking to his people. He would lean slightly to the left, and the crowd leaned with him. Then he'd pause, and lean right. The people moved right along with him. It was the scariest shit I'd seen in my whole life…until tonight, right here in this room. Like little sheep, just wandering around—"
"Mr. Kursed!" Mrs. Galloway shouted. "That is quite enough! Regardless of your feelings, we've already discussed this—"
A voice came from the back. "Uh, actually, Mrs. Galloway…." A father stood up and adjusted his shirt. "That's not really true. You brought up the policy, but we didn't really talk…" He trailed off. "Anyway, I have to agree. It's a bad idea. There are so many more things we have to worry about with our kids than hugging."
It was hard to argue that. Jack killed one of those worries earlier in the day.
He pointed at the man. "Thank you, random parent."
A mother stood next. "Yeah. We really need to talk about this."
Jack sat back down as more parents voiced their opinions. Mrs. Galloway's gaze didn't leave Jack, her features seething.
He merely smiled.
*****
Jack leaned against his truck as he waited outside school. Other parents were milling about as they slowly made their way to their cars. Some talked in small groups, with the occasional glance finding its way to Jack. He scanned their lips, picking up conversation, and nearly laughed when the question 'Is he single?' popped up once or twice.
He was still surprised when the second set of parents stopped at his truck to talk. No one ever stopped to talk to him.
"Hey, Jack, is it?" a father asked. "That was nice in there. Galloway, well, I'm sure you know now, but she's a real bitch."
Jack was thankful the father didn't extend his hand. He didn't like shaking hands.
"Yeah," he said. "I can see that."
"I'm Tom, and this here is my wife, Violet. Everyone just calls her Vie."
Jack nodded in greeting at the husband and wife he wouldn't remember past the night. "Uh, pleased to meet you."
Vie stepped forward. "Listen, about Tiffany, it's such a shame what she had to go through. But she's doing very well in school, and my son tells me everyone likes her."
One of the minuses of living in a small beach town was everyone knowing everyone's business. Tiffany was still something of a local celebrity, even though she barely remembered the events that surrounded her when she was four years old. Her mother had died, and her father abandoned her, literally, in their apartment. She lived off scraps until she was finally found weeks later. She was bounced between abusive foster homes, until finally wedging herself into Jack's life.
He smiled as he thought of his daughter. Like him, she could survive any challenge.
"I'm proud of Tiffany," he said, finally glad to be able to say something he meant. "It's good to hear she's adjusting okay."
"Let us know if you need anything," Tom said. "And don't forget Halloween's coming up. I'm sure a bunch of us will be taking the kids around. You're welcome to join us, if you want."
He cringed at the thought of spending an evening with mortals not named Tiffany or Erica, but managed to put on a fake smile.
"App
reciate it."
Tom and Vie said their goodbyes, and Jack was blissfully alone once again. A few of the unhappily married wives ogled him as they climbed in their cars, gossiping with each other like little girls. Jack snarled and crossed his arms.
The teachers finally started leaving school, and Jack spotted who he was looking for. Tiffany was the mortal who made Jack realize he was still capable of love. Erica was the woman who made him think there may be something beyond a one night stand.
Erica adjusted her purse on her shoulder as she said goodbye to another teacher. Her eyes fell on Jack, and he read her features as easily as reading a book.
He was in trouble.
There was a hint of a smile. She was always glad to see Jack. But a volcano bubbled under the surface. Her eyes were serious, her movements tense. Her right hand was clenched around the loop of her purse. She brushed her hair back behind her shoulder, but not in an attempt to be seductive.
Jack admired her as she approached him, while he still could. He had the feeling it'd be difficult to appreciate her figure while she was bitching him out.
"Hey there, sexy woman," he said as she drew nearer. "Has anyone told you you're the hottest teacher in this school?"
"Just a bunch of fifth graders," she said.
He hugged her tightly and kissed her on the lips. She returned the kiss and stepped back at arm's length.
"So, my first PTA meeting," Jack said. "How did I do?"
"Oh, it went great. I especially loved how you embarrassed my boss in front of everyone. And then you ripped on every parent in the room. What did you call them? Idiots? Oh and let's not forget how you managed to work in a Nazi reference."
He smiled. "Hey, you're the one who said I should come." He paused. "No-hugging policy, Erica?"
She rolled her eyes. "Of course it's a terrible idea," she admitted. "And that would have come out on its own in a few weeks. You didn't have to make my job harder by verbally bitch-slapping Galloway in front of everyone."
He laughed at her choice of words, then put the smile away when he saw she wasn't amused.
"What do you mean? Make your job harder?"
"Galloway knows we're dating, and I know she doesn't like it."
"Hey, I don't like her fat nose, but I'll just have to deal with that, won't I? Tiffany's not in your class anymore, so they can't yell favoritism. You can date and have nasty, dirty sex with any guy you want."
"Shh, Jack!" Erica searched the parking lot. "People are still leaving."
"Okay, look…." He took a breath, mustering courage to say something still unfamiliar to him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make your workday harder. I won't go to any more PTA meetings."
She sighed and took his hand. "As much as I hate to admit it, you got parents actually talking. They were actually discussing ideas and speaking their minds, not just sitting there listening to whatever Galloway had to say. Or sleeping, for that matter."
He put a hand to his mouth. "People actually sleep at the PTA meetings? That's just terrible. I'm outraged."
"Yeah, I'm sure you are. Anyway, you're not banned from the PTA meetings. To be honest…it was funny watching her face turn red."
Jack pulled her close, resting his hands on her hips. One reason was to feel that body of hers. Another was to piss off Galloway as she crossed the parking lot. He flashed the principal a smile as he leaned close to Erica's ear.
"That little comment you made about dirty sex has me thinking. You still have the blanket in your car? We can have ourselves some fun right here."
Erica laughed shortly, and Jack sensed a dismissal coming. But she didn't push away.
"I didn't make the comment. You did. And sex right here on school property? That's sort of against the rules."
"You didn't say that in your classroom that one night. Did you ever get that desk we broke replaced?"
"Oh, stop," she said, playfully smacking his arm. "You caught me in a moment of weakness."
"Yeah, right. You didn't feel weak when you ripped my clothes off."
"Jack," she whispered. She fought amusement and embarrassment as they touched each other. A few more parents and teachers left the lot. She put her hands on his chest and grew serious as he hugged her around the waist. "I'm afraid I have to say no to sex in the parking lot. But how about I go home, take care of a few things, and then I swing over your place? You can cook me something quick and tasty, and then we can pick up this conversation."
"Now we're talking," Jack said. They embraced and kissed once again. "I'll slip Tiffany a bottle of Benadryl when I get home."
She frowned and wagged her finger. "Jack—"
"I'm kidding! I'll see you in a bit."
CHAPTER 6
It was nearly eight o'clock when Jack stepped inside the living room and closed the door behind him. Tiffany and Andee, the babysitter, sat on the couch. They were engrossed in the TV, but that didn't last long when Tiffany's eyes fell on her father.
"Jack!"
He smiled and tossed his workout bag aside. "There's my little partner."
Tiffany leapt from the couch and crossed the living room in a second. Her pigtails bounced in the air as she ran with her arms out, a huge smile on her face. He dropped to one knee and nearly fell over as she tackled him. They hadn't seen each other since he dropped her off for school, and Tiffany was on a select list of people that he actually missed when they were away.
She kissed him on the cheek as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I missed you," she said. "Do you see my pigtails? Andee did it."
"I see. They look…like pigtails. So cool."
"Did you get done what you had to get done after school today?"
"Indeed, I did."
"Good. I don't like other people getting me from school. Pick me up."
"You're too big for that."
"No I'm not. Pick me up."
He rolled his eyes as he scooped his daughter in one arm. She had gone long enough thinking she didn't belong to anyone, that she didn't have a family. Being carried around at nine years old was perhaps beyond her age, but if that's what she wanted, Jack would carry her anytime she wanted.
He looked down at Andee. She was a decent enough babysitter. Polite girl, over-sized glasses, charged a fair rate. The only thing that annoyed Jack was when she unleashed her teenage speak, a seemingly foreign language in and of itself. But Andee had a few benefits other babysitters didn't bring. She was seventeen, and had her driver's license. Jack wasn't sure he could handle her if he had to tote her back and forth to her home. For a few extra dollars, she also had no problem picking up Tiffany after school. His daughter also simply liked Andee, which carried significant weight.
Deep down, if he was pressed to answer, he didn't hate the girl, either. She made him laugh.
"Hi, Mr. Jack." He winced. He always insisted she call him Jack, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. "How did the PTA meeting go?"
"Well, Mrs. Galloway got so mad at me I thought she'd spank me in front of everyone. I compared her to Hitler, and told her that her husband doesn't like hugging her."
Andee's eyes shot open as she adjusted her glasses. She burst out laughing. "Are you serious? Oh, I wish I could have seen that. I always hated her."
Jack laughed with her and gave the first floor of his home a quick glance. He could see clear into the eat-in kitchen. Nothing was out of place.
"Any problems on this end?"
Andee shook her head. "Nope. Picked up Tiff after school. She did her homework. We watched a cartoon, and then some TV."
"Did you bring any guys over?"
She frowned. "Mr. Jack, please. That would be so…unprofessional."
He looked at Tiffany. "Did she bring any boys over?"
"No. She just talked to one on the phone. His name's Chris. They talked about how they were gonna sneak out this weekend—"
"Okay, Tiffany!" Andee interrupted. "He gets it. Anyway, we've eaten dinner already. We ordered a small pizza
, since, you know…you won't let me cook in the kitchen."
"No one touches that kitchen but me, Andee," Jack said. He lowered Tiffany to the floor and dug out his wallet.
"But I swear, I can cook. Seriously. I wouldn't have to charge you an extra twenty bucks if you let me cook something for Tiffany."
"I know you think you can cook, but…you can't. That kitchen is too much power for you."
The corner of her mouth lifted. "I bet I can cook better than you."
"No, you can't. I know a guy not too much older than you who said the same thing, and I kicked his ass. Besides, I'd still have to cook anyway. Erica's coming over."
"Awww." Andee stood up and gently placed her hands over her heart, batting her lashes. "Is Mr. Jack gonna get himself a lil sumptin sumptin wit Miss Eeee Hernandez?"
Jack and Tiffany glanced at each other in confusion. Tiffany could only offer a shrug, and then returned to the couch.
"No. I'm not doing…whatever the hell it is you just said." He counted out her fee. "What I will do is cook Erica a nice, light meal. Then, after Tiff goes to bed, I'll take her upstairs to my bedroom. Then, the clothes come off. Probably the shirt first, so we can play a bit—"
"Whoa!" Andee said, covering her ears. "What the hell? Keep that crap to yourself."
Tiffany looked up, puzzled. "I don't get it. Are you gonna give Miss Hernandez a bath?"
Jack smiled. "I guess that's one word for it."
"Ewww, gross!" Andee said. "Give me my money before I get sick."
He slapped the bills in her hand. "Thanks again, Andee."
"You're welcome." She looked at Tiffany. "Give me a hug before I go."
Jack smiled at the simple sight. Tiffany had been through a lot. She'd experienced men trying to hurt her, had even seen a horde of demons with her own eyes. She still had nightmares, but here she was, hugging the babysitter in the living room with a warm smile on her face.
"I had fun, Andee," she said.
"Me, too. I'll pick the cartoon out for next time. Remember, Mr. Jack, about cooking—"
Damned and Cursed (Book 2): Witch's Kurse Page 7