by Rita Hestand
"We are?" Mike jumped out of bed and hugged her around the waist.
"We are my darling." She smiled at him. "Now brush your teeth, jump in the shower and put on those nice black pants and the blue shirt I bought you." She instructed.
"Okay."
"I'm going out to the patio, come out there when you are ready."
"Si."
Leann was still in her robe. Her head was drooping and she grabbed at her belly.
"Aren't we going to church?"
"You and Mitch are but I've got the cramps." She sighed.
"I'm so sorry."
Leann poured them some coffee. "I'll be alright after a while, I took some medicine."
Mitch came out in a nice navy suit and white shirt. He looked gorgeous, Sarah noted. Her hands itched to run through his thick head of brown hair.
Mike ran out to greet them all. He kissed Leann, then Mitch. "Is Auntie going with us?"
"No, she's under the weather." Mitch smiled at him. "But we are, and when it lets out we are all three going to the park for a picnic, how does that sound."
Mike's eyes were wide with wonder. "Do they have swings?"
"Oh yes, swings, merry go rounds, slides, all kinds of stuff." He glanced at the pretty dress Sarah was wearing. "You better run get you some shorts and t-shirt for later."
Sarah nodded and went to get something to wear. She hadn't known they were going and most of her shorts were dirty, but she had one pair, they were very short and she usually just wore them to clean house, she grabbed them and a t-shirt that was kind of baggy. She'd tie it up and it would be fine.
She joined everyone on the patio again.
"I can't wait!" Mike was jumping up and down.
"First we go to church though," Sarah reminded him.
"Of course."
At the church, they sat in one of the front pews and there was a lot of singing. Mike stood up on the pew so he could see everything. The church was beautiful with oak trimmed walls and plush purple pews and flowers everywhere. There was a beautiful cross behind the pulpit too. The stained glass windows added to its charm.
The preacher spoke on the gift of love from the heavenly father. Mike listened quietly, but toward the end, he became a little restless. When Sarah made him settle down, he nearly went to sleep.
When it was over they met the preacher and then they were off to the picnic.
"So what did you two think of the church?"
"It is nice, I like the singing." Mike answered swiftly.
"Me too. The singing is sometimes the best part. But I really liked that they sang some of the old hymns. A lot of churches now days don't."
"The Reverend insists on at least two or three every Sunday."
Mitch glanced around them and parked near the restrooms. "Why don't you duck in there and change your pretty clothes." He suggested to Sarah.
She brought Mike some shorts and t-shirts too, so he was dressed right too.
Mitch had gone into the men's room and changed too, he came out in jeans and a striped polo shirt.
When he saw them come out, he directed them up the hill from the playground.
"Okay, Mike while we set up the food, why don't you try out some of the swings and stuff." Mitch offered.
"Si…" Mike ran off, but the swings weren't far away so they could still see him.
Mitch had his personal chef cook some chicken and potato salad and beans.
After loading food onto the paper plates, they called Mike back.
"I love those swings, they go really high." Mike said.
"Oh no, I'm afraid you are in for a treat. Mike loves to compete on who can go the highest and he's very good at it." Sarah warned.
"That's interesting. I used to be pretty good at it myself. I'll give you a run for your money after we eat."
Sarah opened the cool aid pack for Mike and handed Mitch cola. The park tables were nice, but the chef included his own plastic tablecloth for the occasion.
"It's so shady here." Mike smiled.
"It's a lovely park." Sarah nodded.
"I think one of the things I like most about Texas is the trees. I went to Arizona one year on a business trip and I hardly saw any. I missed Texas that summer." Mitch laughed.
"How can a tree get so big," Mike asked, "like that one over there." He pointed to a beautiful oak.
"It can be hundreds of years old. An oak takes a long time to grow big, and when you see one that size you can bet it's at least a hundred years old, maybe older." Mitch told Mike.
"Really, a hundred years?"
"It is true." Sarah nodded. "And they start from a small acorn."
"Wow!"
When they finished the chicken off, Sarah dug down in the basket and found an apple pie, with a knife to cut it with.
"Look at this, Mike." She brought out the pie.
"Apple…my favorite." He smiled.
They ate and talked about the park and the people around it. Then Mike wanted to play.
"Well come on partner. What do you want first?"
"The swing. I will beat you."
"I don't know. I'm awfully good at this…" Mitch warned him.
"I beat Auntie Sarah once." He grinned.
Mitch wrinkled his nose up, "Well, that's because she is a girl."
"Hey wait a minute. I'll beat you both." Sarah grabbed the third swing and they were off.
It took a few minutes to gain momentum but Mitch and Mike were neck and neck. Sarah purposely lay back so one of them would win. She watched them having fun and scenes from her dreams drifted into her head. Dreams of her walking down the aisle of the church in a white dress…to Mitch
She backed her thinking up there; she hadn't the right to dream those dreams. She hadn't known him long enough...
But that was just a dream. She was a poor teacher, there was no way he would marry her. She knew that. Even if he did court her, it was just fun, she told herself.
Today was fun, she recounted. Letting him kiss her all over was more than a little fun and she wanted it as much as he had.
Watching the two of them together, made her wistful.
When Mitch went down the slide, she was there to catch him. Then they all got on the Merry-go-round. But Sarah got dizzy and got off in a hurry. "Too much for me…" She said.
"You alright?" Mitch asked.
"I'm fine. Go on, have fun."
She watched for a while.
Another kid came up to them and saw them having so much fun and he wanted to play too.
"I'm Mike, what's your name?"
"I'm Aiden. Can I ride on the Merry-go-round with you?"
Mitch smiled, "Sure you can. I'll push."
So the afternoon was full of kids wandering over, introducing themselves to Mike and Mitch pushing it forever.
Sarah laughed. He was so good with kids.
She didn't know when she fell asleep, but something was tickling her nose. When she opened her eyes, Mitch was leaning over her and tickling her with a dry leaf.
She looked around her. She'd gotten the blanket out and had been sitting up, watching them play, when her eyes got heavy, after that she didn't know anything.
"Oh…I must have fallen asleep."
"I didn't mean to neglect you." He said softly.
"I wasn't neglected. I haven't had such fun in a long time." She rose up.
But before she could sit up, he leaned the distance and kissed her. Caught off guard, she welcomed his warm lips.
"Hmm. You are better than apple pie." He smiled at her.
She sat up.
Her shorts were up to her hips almost and she reached to pull them down, but he put a hand over hers. "Don't, I like looking at your legs. They are beautiful."
Shocked she didn't know what to say to him again.
"You better quit staring with your mouth open lady; it's just another invitation to a kiss…" He said and again he kissed her.
"Mike will see." She protested.
"I don't th
ink he'd mind." Mitch whispered.
"I do not know, but no more of that this afternoon."
"You are right, I'll wait until dark…" he smiled at her.
"You are impossible."
"Yes ma'am. Let's go get Mike rounded up and go home."
"Okay," she gathered the blanket and folded it. Mike and several of his new friends came running up the hill.
"Father said they can come home with us and play in the pool." Mike yelled at her.
"Really, but they don't have suits." Sarah said.
Mitch shook his head. "That's okay; most of them are wearing shorts. And Mike can loan them some. I've bought several pair for him the other day before I came home to find you drowning in my pool."
"You did?"
"Of course. All kids love to play in the pool. I already got permission for them to come with us from their parents. I know most of them from Church. They'll pick them up around dark-thirty."
"Sounds like you guys are going to have fun." Sarah laughed.
"And I've called my driver; he's bringing the van so we can haul them all at once. Can you drive my car home?"
"Sure…" Sarah said taking the keys.
"You can go on to the house, we'll be there shortly." He told her.
"Sure you can manage them all by yourself?" She asked.
"No problem." He lowered his head and kissed her on the mouth in front of all of them.
Sarah turned red as a beet. Now the whole park would know about it, and all their parents and Mike especially.
But Mike just looked slightly embarrassed and smiled.
Sarah went home, bent on scolding Mitch for his actions in front of the kids. That was no way to act.
Leann and Jerry were on the patio, Lucas had brought one of his assistant chef's home, she was a pretty little blond and quite shy. Ray drug in but he was so bushed he had to excuse himself to get some sleep.
Sarah went to her apartment and changed clothes.
She put on a pair of shorts she had thrown in the dryer that morning and a short midriff top. She also had a hat with a wide brim to shade her eyes and her sunglasses.
"Hi, I'm Sarah, Mike's nanny and Aunt." She introduced herself to Lucas's friend.
"I'm Emily."
"Please to meet you. Do you work with Lucas?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, I only started a week ago."
"Really. I bet you are a good cook." Sara smiled.
"I'm learning a lot." She smiled.
Sarah looked at Lucas who was totally relaxed. "Mitch is bringing a mob of kids to play in the pool. I hope it doesn't disturb any of you?"
Lucas laughed. "Sounds like something my brother would do. Won't bother us a bit. I'm cooking out this evening; we're having steaks and grilled asparagus with baked potatoes, French wine and home-made bread."
"Sounds like a feast." Sarah remarked. "But I thought home-made bread had to be kneaded and tended to regular."
"Not these days with the machines available. It'll be good." Lucas promised.
"What do you think about your sister getting engaged?" Sarah asked.
"It's about time. I figured he would pop the question soon."
Jerry leaned over at Lucas. "Heard Mitch broke it off with Claire."
"Now that's the best news of the day. I couldn't stand the woman myself." Lucas laughed.
Jerry laughed, "That's what Leann said."
Ray came back out for a few minutes. "Got any beer around here?"
"In the fridge."
"Good, I'm going to have one and hit the sack. Haven't slept for two days."
"You been that busy?"
"Well, the captain wanted the place spit polished for the brass inspection. So we had to clean most of the time. Had a few calls, one guy got stuck in his car, and it was on fire. That was pretty hairy. Got him out without having to cut his leg off so we felt lucky with him. Had a house fire though and a dog was found near a baby crib. The baby was in it. The mother went to sleep with a cigarette in her hand. She made it out." Ray looked bushed.
"Man, you really had a rough shift." Leann looked up at him. "Get some rest honey, you need it."
"I'm going to." He said and about that time, Mitch came in with a load of kids.
"Okay, ya'll go dress in Mike's bedroom and then you can get in the pool. If you can't swim, let one of the adults around the pool know. And don't go in the house after you've gotten wet, please."
They were all hollering and laughing and Mitch had to wait until they all headed for Mike's room before he could get by them.
"Ray, you look terrible."
"That's not the half of it."
"Rough shift?"
"I'll say, but it'll be much better when I go back in three days." He assured him.
"Try to get some rest. If I had known I wouldn't have invited the neighborhood over."
"That's okay, as tired as I am, a bomb could go off and I wouldn't know it." Ray laughed.
Everyone told him goodnight and he left.
Mitch joined everyone on the patio. He congratulated Jerry and met Lucas's friend.
Lucas got up and Emily went with him to start the fire and get the food ready.
Mitch moved toward him. "Got any hot dogs?"
Lucas frowned, "Hot dogs?"
"For the kids." Mitch motioned.
"Oh….yeah, I'm sure we do. I'll put a load of them on in a bit. It won't take long to cook them." Lucas explained.
"Okay, thanks…"
Mitch sat down by Sarah and they talked and watched the kids as they ran to the pool and jumped in. One kid turned around and looked at Mitch. "You gonna holler at us for splashing so much?"
"Nope. Splash away." Mitch laughed.
"Thanks." The kid was heavy and when he jumped in the water went everywhere.
It was a good evening.
Chapter Fifteen
Exhausted after playing a couple of kid games, Sarah excused herself early and was going to take a bath and go to bed.
She got the bath going and got in. It felt wonderful soaking.
An hour later, she got out, dried off, and blow-dried her hair.
After a few routine things, she was headed for bed when she came in and found a man in her bed. He was wearing a knit cap, and what looked like street clothes of a bum.
Scared witless, she tried to find something she could hit him with, but there was nothing. Frantic, she threw on her robe and ran out to the pool.
The kids had gone home. Leann and Jerry went out and Lucas and Emily were in the kitchen. Mitch sat out in the lounge chair where they had nearly made love.
White as a sheet, and shaking, she ran to him. "There's….there's a man in my bed!" She screamed.
Mitch's mouth flew open. "A man…in your bed?"
"Y-yes…come quickly." She hollered.
He followed her back to her apartment.
He took one look at the man lying on the bed sound asleep and he pulled Sarah back outside. "That's Daniel, my other brother."
"Oh my God. W-well, why is he in there?"
"He's obviously been on some kind of stake out and crashed in the first available place. He doesn't like to disturb anyone when he comes in because it could be any hour of the day or night."
"For heaven's sake. I was scared out of my skin." She cried.
Mitch took her by the arm and led her back to the patio.
She sat down in a lounge chair next to him.
"Don't worry. I'll wake him in a bit and you can go to bed."
"Alright. He does look tuckered."
"And then some. Must have been in the slums, he looks like a real bum." Mitch laughed.
"You tried to warn me about him, but I would have never guessed from looking at him that he was your brother."
"I don't know why he got in that line of work. He loves the disguises. Crazy if you ask me."
"Must be exciting work though." Sarah smiled.
"You wouldn't believe some of the stories he tells us. Drug dealers, mafia t
ied in murders, celebs pranks. All kinds of stuff."
"I just took a bath…I don't know how long he's been in there."
"At least he didn't walk in on you." Mitch laughed.
"I guess I should be thankful?" She chuckled.
"So, when are we enrolling Mike in school?"
"I've got the papers filled out; I did it the other day. There were a couple of things I didn't know how to fill in. But Leann told me how to fill that out. So maybe Monday I will take him up there."
"I'll go with you."
"Oh that isn't necessary." She protested.
"Maybe, but it's my son, and I want to be there. I'm making it necessary. This is kindergarten, his first big school time. I want to be there and enjoy it."
She smiled. "Alright. I was going to scold you when you came back from the park."
"What for?"
"Kissing me….in front of everyone." She looked at him with a mock scold on her face.
"What stopped you?"
"Too many people around."
"There's no one around now…"
She nodded, "That's right. There isn't. So…don't do that again."
"Oh, no, I said there would be nothing but kissing, but I plan to do a lot of that. And in front of people too. So just get used to it."
She firmed her lips about to give him a lashing.
He placed a hand on her arm. "Look, I just came out of a three year cold relationship. I don't want another one. I dated one of the biggest snobs in the business. I want a warm relationship, filled with kisses…and I plan to steal them any time I can…" He smiled at her. "Like now…"
He leaned the distance and kissed her hungrily on the mouth.
Problem was she was just as hungry and responded.
When he pulled away, he looked deep into her eyes. "If you don't want more than kisses, don't respond that way…"
"What way?" She barely whispered.
"Like you want more…" His face turned serious.
"I guess I do…but…we made a pact. And I'm holding you to it."
"You know we both want the same thing, don't you?" He asked.
"Yes…" she answered swiftly, breathlessly. He saw the swift intake of breath that made the material of her t-shirt strain and he licked his lips as though remembering the taste of her.
"Then why not?" He asked still staring at the rise and fall of her chest. "Neither of us are married. Not even in a relationship. So what's the harm. We enjoy being together…I mean really together."