“Be careful, please,” I called out.
Their laughter drowned out my words. I watched them play, swim, try to duck Robert under the water and enjoy themselves. I pulled off my sun dress and headed for the hot tub. It wasn’t long before Robert joined me, leaving the boys to race each other the length of the pool. He found my hand and brought it to his lips.
“You look like you’ve had fun,” I said.
“Yeah, exhausted though,” he replied, laughing.
“They’re good for each other. I should imagine they’ll sleep well tonight.”
“Hope so, because you look damn hot in that bikini,” he said as his hand snaked up my thigh.
I slapped it away. “Not in front of the boys,” I said.
He rested his head back and relaxed and it didn’t take long for Harley and Gerry to join us. Both wanted to sit next to Robert so I was shoved to one side. I laughed at the sight of them. Robert had his arms stretched along the back and the two boys were snuggled into his side, laughing at their shorts ballooning with the bubbles. When they started to pretend the bubbles were them passing wind, it was time for me to get out. I dived in the pool, swam a couple of lengths and then climbed out.
“Ten more minutes boys,” I called out as I wrapped a towel around me and darted for the house.
Evelyn was in the kitchen and I called up, told her we had Gerry as well for dinner before heading to the bedroom for a shower and change of clothes. I wondered if we should have let the boys share a room, the bed was big enough but then I thought of the giggles late into the night and the grumpy faces in the morning through lack of sleep. Evelyn set the table as there were four of us. She had made burgers and chunky chips for the boys and steak and salad for Robert and I. I asked if she wanted to join us but she had planned on taking some food over to Travis and Elaine. I thought that was a lovely gesture and was sure both would appreciate it.
The kids chatted all through dinner, dressed in their pyjamas and their hair still wet from a shower. Robert and I listened to their chatter, enjoying their company. I had told them they could watch a movie and then it was time for bed. Harley had had a late night the previous one and with their activity in the pool, I was sure they would drop off quickly. Robert selected a film and the boys settled down in the TV room, leaving Robert and I to enjoy a glass of wine and a moment of peace at the breakfast bar.
“Who knew kids could be so exhausting. How do people do that every day?” he said.
“They don’t do that every day,” I replied, referring to the swimming and drowning and flying through the air.
“I wonder if Elaine has thought about Harley’s father, he’ll be his legal guardian,” I said.
“He’s never met his dad, has he?” Robert asked.
“No, I don’t think so. Maybe as a baby but I doubt he would remember him.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when it comes. I might get one of the lawyers to check it out though, so she knows her rights.”
“Do you think she can cope with Harley long term? I don’t mean for this to sound cold hearted but she’s getting on a bit herself,” I said.
“Don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see I guess,” he replied.
Our conversation was halted by Gerry calling for me, we both headed to the TV room to find Gerry hugging Harley who was crying.
“He got upset, Brooke, about his mom,” Gerry informed me.
“It’s okay darling. Do you want to talk about it?” I asked.
“I want my mom, she’s not coming home is she?” he said.
No one had spoken about Caroline’s condition in front of him, perhaps this was just him assuming or intuition. I knelt down in front of him.
“I know you want your mum, I wish she was here as well. I don’t know if she’s coming home, I want to be honest with you, but we are here for you, your nanny is here for you,” I said.
“And me, I’m here for you too, Harley. My mom died and it’s really sad and I cried a lot but Robert and Brooke look after me, they’ll look after you too. We can play soccer all the time,” Gerry said.
I looked at Robert, perhaps we needed to have an honest conversation with Gerry too. We didn’t know Harley’s future.
“Can we make a camp tomorrow?” Harley asked, looking at Gerry.
“Sure, we’re gonna make a huge camp. We’ll cut down trees and make a fire too,” he replied.
“I don’t know about cutting down trees or making a fire but we can make a camp,” Robert said. “I think it’s time we get you two to bed,” he added.
We made our way downstairs, Robert took Gerry and I took Harley. I sat with him for a little while brushing his hair with my hand and he very quickly fell asleep. I crept from his room and headed for Gerry’s. I stood at the doorway. Robert was lying on the bed and they were facing each other. The looked like they were having a serious, whispered conversation so I just stood at the door and watched. Robert looked so comfortable, so natural. I watched him kiss Gerry on the forehead then roll off the bed before catching sight of me. We headed back upstairs.
“That looked a serious conversation,” I said.
“I was telling him about Harley and that we didn’t know what was going to happen. That Harley wouldn’t get to live at the home. He thinks all kids who lose their parents end up there.”
“Oh, bless him for trying though,” I said.
Robert’s phone had beeped, he had received a text. I passed it along the breakfast counter to him. He read and then replied.
“Tony has found Rogers,” he said.
“Do you need to go, be somewhere?” I asked.
“Not yet.”
I nodded as we settled on the sofa. Every five minutes Robert was turning his head thinking he had heard a noise from downstairs. I’d laughed and told him to relax, the kids would be fine. He had never had children stay over and was on edge. As I headed to the kitchen to fetch us both a drink, his phone rang.
“Mack,” he said.
He listened for a while before speaking. “Case closed then?”
Again another pause as he listened to Mack. “Okay, thanks for letting me know.”
I sat beside him and handed him his coffee.
“A neighbour found Irene and called the police. She’d been dead a couple of days from a drug overdose, her place was full of the shit,” he told me.
“How did she get it all?”
“My guess would be with whatever she earned from selling her story to Rogers.”
“Didn’t you have someone watching her?” I asked.
“No, other than throwing a brick, she’s not a threat to us, physically. I don’t waste manpower on someone who’s just a pain in the ass, Brooke. I’d need to employ a fucking Army to cover every pain in the ass out there,” he said with a chuckle.
Before heading off to bed, Robert insisted on popping his head through the doors of both bedrooms to check.
“They’re asleep,” he said as he stripped off.
“Of course they are, now will you just relax.”
“Gerry was curled up with his teddy in his arms and Harley was sideways, he’d kicked the covers off. I straightened them up and tucked him back in,” he said.
I smiled at him and he furrowed his forehead at me, in question. I shook my head in wonderment at how well he had done, how much he appeared to have enjoyed himself with the kids.
“Come shower with me,” he said, it wasn’t a question. He took my hand and led me to the bathroom.
I had been a little selfish in our love making lately, enjoying just taking so as we stepped under the jets of water I kissed his chest, his stomach, slowly lowering myself to my knees. His cock was hard, the veins underneath bulging as I held it in my hand, gently massaging. I ran my tongue over the tip before taking him in my mouth. I rolled his balls around in my palm, gently scratching the skin just behind with my nails. His fingers tangled in my hair guiding my head as I slowly sucked and licked my way up and down.
I loved
the feel of him in my mouth, I loved the fact that I could arouse him as much as I did. His breathing was ragged, his stomach clenched and his fingers tightened in my hair. I knew he was close. Every time I drew my mouth to the tip my hand followed, squeezing and sliding. His hips bucked against me in time with my movements and I watched as he threw his head back and a growl rumbled from deep within his chest as he came.
He pulled me up, lifted one of my thighs until my leg curled around his hip. His body pinned me against the wall and his kiss was urgent. He dipped his knees slightly, gripped my waist and lifted me onto him. I gasped as he slid inside me slowly and so deep, I could feel him at my core. With every thrust my stomach clenched, my breath caught in my throat and my thighs tightened around his waist.
My orgasm came fast, I fought for breath and to slow my racing heart. His mouth covered mine, stifling my scream as my hands clawed over his back. I had to draw back from his kiss, I had to drag air into my lungs. I rested my head back on the cool stone of the shower wall while he kissed my neck. His teeth dragged along my skin as he came again.
He rested his forehead against mine, his dark eyes closed as he steadied his breathing. He released my shaky legs but kept a hold of me by the waist. I was glad, my legs wouldn’t hold me up. We stood and let the water run over us.
***
It was a scream that had me jolted awake some time in the early hours of the morning. Robert had woken at the same time. For a few seconds we sat and listened, not entirely sure what had woken us but it came again. A high pitched cry. We rushed from the bed, I pulled a robe around me and Robert struggled to get in his shorts as we ran for the door.
Harley had woken from a nightmare. He was sitting on his bed, the covers in a tangled heap on the floor, where, I guessed, he had thrashed about in his dream. His hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat and his whole body was shaking. I gathered him in my arms while Robert sat on the bed, running his hand over his hair and soothing him.
“Shush, now. It’s okay, it was just a dream, it was just a dream,” I said as I rocked him.
He didn’t cry as such, although his cheeks were wet with his tears but he looked so sad. I caught a movement from the corner of my eye. Gerry was standing at the doorway, holding his teddy by the arm. He looked upset, having been woken with a start as well.
“It’s okay, Gerry, it was a bad dream, that’s all. He’s fine now,” Robert said.
Gerry nodded but instead of heading back to his room, he came and climbed on Robert’s lap. The two boys faced each other. They didn’t speak and after a few moments Gerry nodded, very gently. I could hear Harley’s breathing ease, slow down and knew he was dropping back off. I lifted him back onto the bed. Perhaps he had got too hot in the night so I folded the duvet on the bottom of the bed. Robert stood and carried Gerry back to his room.
“Where’s my phone?” Robert asked as he came back to our bedroom.
“On your table, there,” I pointed. “Why?”
“Something Gerry said.” He picked up his phone and looked at it.
“What did he say?” I asked.
“He said, when his mom died he was asleep and he dreamt that she spoke to him, told him to be a brave boy and everything was going to be okay. When he woke up she was dead.”
“Wow, does he think his mum actually spoke to him?”
“Yes, he believes she came to him in his dream. He said that might be what happened to Harley,” he said.
“I’ve heard people say things like that but, well, I don’t know if I believe it or not,” I replied.
“Intuition, Brooke. Or instinct, whatever word you want to use.”
He climbed under the covers satisfied he hadn’t missed a call in his sleep. I snuggled into him but neither of us really slept, just dozed on and off. We were woken by a call just before dawn. Robert answered, listened and replied that he would be there as soon as he could. I sat up and waited for him to end the call.
“That was Travis. Caroline took a turn for the worse, Elaine thinks that Harley should go to the hospital and be with her. Travis disagrees but Elaine has the final say, I guess.”
Robert and I looked at each other. Could Harley have dreamt his mum was about to die? He hadn’t told us what the nightmare was about or were we making too much of what Gerry had said?
“I’ll take him, you stay here with Gerry. I’ll give you a call a bit later. I won’t stay, just find out what happened then I’ll be back,” Robert said as he started to dress.
I nodded, there was no point us all going and there was no way I would take Gerry. I know I could have called Evelyn over but this was family time and we would be in the way. I made my way to Harley’s room and was stopped short at the door. Two little boys lay on the bed, Gerry with his arm over Harley’s shoulder and both asleep. I felt Robert as he came up behind me. We stood for a moment just looking. By waking Harley we were about to destroy his world. I hated to do what I was about to but I stepped forward and gently untangled Gerry. I picked Harley up and walked him to the bathroom to rouse him while Robert picked out some clothes.
“Hey darling, I’m sorry it’s so early but you need to go see your mum,” I said.
He nodded as he dressed. He didn’t ask any questions but his eyes were wide with fear. Robert had headed out to start the car and as I tied his shoelaces he looked at me, tears pooled in his eyes.
“Is she dead?” he asked.
I swallowed hard. “No, but she is very poorly. It might be nice to sit with her, hold her hand and talk to her. She’ll hear you. Don’t be scared, okay?”
I walked him to the car and buckled him in the back seat. He looked so small against the black leather, his feet just hanging over the edge of the seat. My brother had died abroad, my parents were still alive, I had no idea what Harley was going through right then. I was glad he was with Robert because he did. He understood every emotion flowing through that little boy, the fear, the uncertainty, the loss. When our eyes locked before he pulled away, it was clear Robert wasn’t just understanding, he was feeling all those emotions.
I closed the front door quietly behind me and headed to the bedroom to dress. There was no point in going back to bed. I sat in the kitchen nursing a cup of tea and thinking back on the previous evening. Those two boys had just looked at each other, no words had left their lips. They had communicated something the same way Robert and Travis could. They had a level of understanding because they were about to share the same experience. I couldn’t begin to understand it but I was glad that we had brought them together. Wherever Harley ended up, Gerry would always be a good friend, I was certain of that.
I heard his footsteps as he climbed the stairs, his bare feet slapped against the wood. I planted a big smile on my face as he rounded the top and saw me.
“Good morning, did you sleep okay in the end?”
“Did his mom die?” Gerry asked.
“No, his Nan thought it would be good for him to be with her though,” I replied.
He climbed on a stool next to me.
“Would you like some milk, something to drink?” I asked.
He nodded his head and twisted his teddy in his hands. The poor thing was threadbare, an eye lost and stuffing missing from one ear. I imagined he’d had that teddy for years, I had seen it sitting on his pillow in his bedroom at the home.
“What’s his name?” I asked, patting the teddy on the head.
“He doesn’t have one. Should he?”
“Well, that’s up to you I guess. I had a teddy once just called Teddy.”
“Can I call him Robert? He won’t mind, will he?”
“I should think he would be honoured. So, would Robert like some milk too?”
I made my way around the bar and poured a glass for Gerry and a smaller one for the teddy. I put a plate of cookies in front of them both.
“What’s going to happen to Harley?” Gerry asked.
“I don’t know darling. He has a nanny, I guess he will stay with her.
You can still see him though and Harley can visit whenever he wants.”
“Can’t he live with us?”
“It doesn’t work that way.”
I had to be really careful with what I said. I didn’t know if Gerry knew he had grandparents, whether he had ever met them. If he thought children lived with their grandparents after losing their mum, it might upset him to know he hadn’t had that chance. We sat in silence for a bit, Gerry twisted his glass of milk in one hand, the teddy in the other. We both looked to the stairs when we heard the front door open. I knew it wasn’t Robert, the car hadn’t returned and was pleased to see Evelyn.
“You’re up early,” she said, ruffling Gerry’s hair.
“We had a bad night,” he informed her.
Gerry had the manner of someone so much older, he would often make me chuckle with some of the things he said or did. As much as he was a little terror at times, he was so kind and considerate, it was hard to think of him as only nine years old.
“A bad night, huh? That doesn’t sound good,” she replied.
“Yeah, Harley’s mom got sick so he had to go and see her. She’s gonna die you know?” he said.
Evelyn looked at me and I nodded.
“Well, that’s just a real shame. How are you feeling?” she asked him.
“Okay, I slept with him last night, tried to make him feel better. Did your mom die?” he asked Evelyn.
“She did, when I was young as well. I say young, I was a bit older than you.”
“What about you, Brooke, did your mom die?” he asked.
“No, I don’t get to see her though. She lives far away. My brother died so we all have something in common,” I replied.
I wasn’t sure whether to change the subject or not. Should I let him ask his questions? In one way it was good therapy for him too. He had been without his mum for three years and had been coping well enough until Kerry. Perhaps we had done wrong, introducing him to Harley. I didn’t want for him to get upset. While I was pondering, a car drove up to the house, Robert had arrived back. It took a few minutes more before I heard the car door open and then close.
Fallen Angel, Part III Page 18