by Claire Adams
My mind kept wandering to the night we had slept together. I kept remembering the way her thighs had felt wrapped around my waist, the way her hair had tickled my skin, the way her mouth had felt on my neck and my lips. She was like my own personal siren, pulling me in, reminding me what it was like to be a red-blooded American man again.
I was looking through my papers, preparing for my meeting in an hour, when a call came through on my personal line. Only Noah’s caregivers and teachers had that number, so I answered immediately. I had dropped him off barely two hours ago.
“Hello?” I said, forgetting all phone etiquette in the panic of the moment.
“Hello?” a voice I recognized as one of Noah’s teachers spoke. “Am I speaking to Mr. Middleton?”
“You are,” I said.
“I’m Kate Lowry,” she introduced. “I’m Noah’s teacher.”
“Is Noah alright?” I asked impatiently.
She heard the panic in my voice and rushed to reassure me. “Don’t worry, Mr. Middleton, I think Noah’s just caught a stomach bug. It’s been going around lately. He’s been feeling a little under the weather ever since you dropped him off. It’s nothing a little hot soup and rest won’t fix.”
“Okay,” I said, feeling a little better now that I knew it was nothing terrible. “How is he now?”
“He threw up a little while ago, so we thought it was best to call and inform you,” she said. “I think it would be best if you came and picked Noah up so that he can rest his body. He might need to stay at home for a few days until he recovers completely.”
I glanced at my schedule sitting in front of me. “Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll get him picked up in half an hour.”
She was still talking when I cut the line, but I was in a rush and needed to get to his babysitter as quickly as possible. I knew Elaine wouldn’t show up on such short notice, so I skipped her altogether and dialed Emily’s number.
“Emily?”
“Yes?”
“It’s Jake,” I said, rushing through my words. “Noah’s sick, and he needs to be picked up from school. I can’t go because I have meetings all day, so could you please—”
She cut me off before I could finish. “I’m sorry, Jake,” she said quickly. “I have classes all morning.”
“What?”
“I’m in college,” she said. “And, I have lectures I need to be at. I can pick him up in two hours if you want?”
“Fuck,” I said, under my breath. “He needs to be picked up now.”
She hesitated a moment. “Sorry, I don’t think I can help you today.”
Sighing, I looked at my schedule and then at my watch. There was no way I could pick Noah up and still make it back here in time for the meeting. But I knew I had to try.
“Fine,” I said, hanging up. So much for being flexible... I needed to find someone reliable and soon.
I grabbed my coat and rushed outside. Kristen looked up with a start as I zoomed past her.
“What—”
“Kristen, see if you can push my meeting. I need to pick Noah up from school”
I didn’t even stay to make sure she had understood my instructions. I just got into my car and drove. Nine minutes later, I parked in front of the school and rushed inside. Noah was sitting outside his classroom with the teacher I assumed was Ms. Lowry. When Noah saw me, his face widened into a tired smile, and I was instantly glad I had come myself.
“Daddy,” he cried, as he walked to me.
“Hey, buddy,” I said. “What happened?”
“I threw up,” he said. “I hate throwing up.”
“I know, buddy,” I said, shocked that I had forgotten that. “How are you feeling now?”
“Little better,” he said as he sunk into my arms.
I returned the hug and then pulled back a little so that I could examine his face. His bright eyes were dim, and his color looked a little off. Other than that, he seemed fine, just a harmless infection that would no doubt pass. I picked him and immediately, he rested his head on my shoulder. I felt a wave of love wash over me, and I kissed the top of Noah’s head, glad that I hadn’t sent anyone else in my place.
“I’ll take him home now,” I said to his teacher.
Ms. Lowry turned her dark eyes onto Noah. “We’ll miss you, Noah,” she said. “But rest up, and we’ll see you again in a few days, okay?”
“Okay, Ms. Lowry,” Noah nodded, without raising his head from my shoulder. “Buh-bye.”
I carried Noah back to my car and strapped him into his seat in the back. Then we started the drive home. I was aware that my meeting would start in ten minutes and I was also aware of the fact that I would never make it in time. The moment we got home, I got Noah into his favorite pajamas and into bed.
“Hey, buddy, do you feel up to eating anything?”
Noah shook his head vigorously. “I’ll throw up again… I hate throwing up.”
“I know, buddy,” I said, rubbing his head slowly. “You don’t have to eat anything now if you don’t want to. But some soup might help.”
“No.”
I nodded. “Okay then… Listen, buddy, Daddy has some important meetings today—”
“I want you to stay,” Noah protested adamantly before I could even finish my sentence. I felt myself tense.
“Buddy, I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can, okay?” I assured him. “It’s just for a little bit. I’ll come home in the evening—early evening, and I’ll spend the rest of the night with you. How’s that?”
“Who will stay with me?” Noah asked, with a frown.
“I’ll call one of your babysitters—”
“I don’t want them,” he said instantly.
I raised my eyebrows. “Buddy—”
“I want Krissy,” he said, without missing a beat.
I paused for a moment. “You want Krissy?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I thought you liked Emily?” I asked curiously.
“She’s not like Krissy,” he told me. “I love Krissie.”
“Love, huh?” I said, unable to suppress my smile. “That’s a strong word.”
“I know.”
My smile grew wider. “Okay, why don’t you try and get some rest. I’ll call Krissy.”
I left Noah lying in his bed with a smile on his face. I walked into the living room and dialed in Kristen’s number. Her first question was for Noah.
“How is he?”
“He’s okay,” I said. “Just a stomach bug. He’ll be fine.”
“Soup might help when he’s up to eating something.”
I sighed. “Kristen, I have a huge favor to ask.”
“Of course,” she said willingly. “Ask me anything.”
“I need you to come and watch Noah for me,” I said. “I have meetings the whole day, and I can’t miss them all. I would have called Emily or Elaine, but Noah is refusing to stay with anyone else. He personally requested you.”
“Really?” Kristen sounded exceptionally pleased.
“Yes.”
“Of course, I’ll come and stay with him.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, aware that I was taking advantage of the fact that she was my assistant. “I know you have tons of work yourself.”
“I’ll bring my laptop with me so that I can still work from your place,” she said. “Don’t worry; I’ll manage.”
“You’re something else; you know that?” I said, extremely grateful.
I couldn’t see her, but I knew instinctively she was smiling. “I’ll see you soon,” she said. “Oh, and I pushed back your meeting. It starts in half an hour.”
I smiled. “Bless you.”
Fifteen minutes later, Kristen was at my door, and I ushered her in with relief. “He’s sleeping now,” I told her. “Went out like a light, a sure sign that he really is sick. He never sleeps that easy when he’s healthy.”
She smiled. “I’ll keep you posted if there are any new developments.”
“Thank
you,” I said.“Also, you should know, he hates throwing up. He usually refuses to eat anything even when he can because the memory’s fresh in his mind.”
She nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I was at the threshold of the front door when I paused and leaned against the doorframe. Kristen looked at me sympathetically, and after a moment she put her hand on the side of my face.
“What’s wrong?” she asked kindly.
I just wanted to turn into her arms and let her comfort me like she had done that first night. But I resisted the urge. “I’d forgotten…” I admitted.
“You’d forgotten what?”
“How hard it is when you’re the one who has to show up for everything,” I said. “The last year I’ve been palming off my responsibilities on babysitters so that I could focus on building this company.”
“You’re juggling a lot on your own,” Kristen said. “Don’t beat yourself up about that. You were there for him this morning when his teacher called, weren’t you?”
“I was prepared to send someone else in my place.”
“But you didn’t,” she pointed out. “You went yourself.”
“Because I had no choice.”
“No one ever said being a single parent was easy.”
I sighed. “You’re kinder than I deserve.”
Kristen leaned in and kissed me softly on the cheek. I desperately wanted to pull her in for a long and passionate kiss, but this was not the time, and I was already late.
“Go,” she said as if she could read my mind. “Noah’s in good hands.”
“I know,” I said.
It was amazing how quickly and unexpectedly it had happened, but I realized as I made my way down to the car, that of all the people who’d come in and out of my life in the last three years, Kristen was the one I trusted the most.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kristen
Once I’d finished sorting through the ledgers, I closed my laptop and went to check on Noah. He was still sleeping soundly, so I shut the door quietly and went back to the living room.
Daphne’s picture was directly facing me, and again, I felt as though her eyes were following me around the room. It was sad to think we’d missed out on a potentially great relationship, but Daphne hadn’t been ready, and I had been forced to accept that.
I remembered the morning we had met for the first time. And just like that, I was back in Michigan. I was sixteen again. I was standing in front of the sister that I’d always wished for.
We had agreed to meet in the park by the water fountain. I had spent an hour trying to figure out what to wear. Ultimately, I had decided on jeans and a thin blue sweater that was simple and practical. Then I’d showed up by the water fountain, forty minutes early and so nervous I felt as though my stomach were going to drop right out of me.
She had shown up five minutes late in jeans that were similar to mine and a gray long-sleeved t-shirt underneath a cool beige jacket. Her hair was the same color as mine, and her eyes were a similar hazel. I felt my heartbeat increase instantly, and I prayed she would like me.
I should have realized that her body language suggested hostility, but at the time, I was young and naïve. When she approached, I all but ran to her, eager to prove that I wasn’t an awful person.“Hi.”
“Hello,” Daphne’s eyes were cold.
“I’m Kristen.”
“I know who you are,” she nodded. “Why did you want to meet me?”
I raised my eyebrows. “I… We… I just thought…”
“Yes?”
“I didn’t know you existed,” I stuttered. “Until about a year ago.”
“That’s why you called my mother?” she asked.
I paused. “I thought she should know.”
“That Ted was cheating on my mother with yours?”
I cringed. “Yes.”
“How did you find out?” Daphne asked.
“He came home after a few months’ absence. I found this box under my bed. There were pictures of you inside it.”
“What?”
“Um… He had pictures of you…”
“Really?” Daphne sounded shocked.
“Yes.”
“What did you do next?”
“I went to my mother and asked her about the pictures,” I said. “That’s when she told me that Ted had another family, which was why she had never been able to marry him.”
“Your mother admitted to the affair.”
I felt instantly ashamed. “Yes.”
“She sounds exactly like I’d imagined she’d be,” Daphne said bitingly.
And despite everything, I found myself defending my mother. “She’s always had issues. She’s just lonely and sad and confused a lot of the time.”
“So because she’s lonely, I should excuse the fact that she intentionally stole another woman’s husband?”
“No, of course not—”
“Why did you want to meet me, Kristen?” she demanded.
“Because…we’re sisters,” I said lamely.
I thought I saw the coldness in Daphne’s eyes fade for a moment. She turned away from me and looked towards the fountain. “I used to wish I had a sister,” she said. I allowed myself to smile, wondering if this was the turning point. But then she looked back at me, and the coldness had returned. “I was a fool to have wished for that. After I found out about you, all I wanted was to be an only child again.”
She had walked away from me, and I thought I’d never see her again. But then two weeks later she called. She apologized for being so rude and asked if we could meet again. The second meeting went much better than the first. By the end of it, we had approached the fragile boundaries of friendship, and I could see her walls begin to lower slightly.
The third time we met, I was shocked to find myself face-to-face with Daphne’s mother…again. The first time I’d met her had been at the threshold of her own front door. She had stood there in shock while I unleashed the horrible truth—then I’d walked away, leaving her to her crumbling reality.
I wasn’t quite sure why she had wanted to meet me again, but I realized quickly that Isabelle was a different kind of woman. It was an awkward lunch, but she was gracious, kind, and friendly. She didn’t ask me one question about my mother. But at the end of the lunch, she did ask about Ted.
“Have you seen him lately?”
“It’s been almost ten months since I last saw him,” I admitted. “I think sometimes he calls to speak to Mom, but she’s never confirmed it. He’s still angry with me because I told you about…everything.”
“That was the main reason I wanted to come today,” Isabelle told me. “I wanted to thank you. Your call is what gave me the courage to finally divorce Ted.”
After that, Daphne and I continued to see one another occasionally. It was a strange relationship, and I knew it only worked because we never discussed my mother.
But I could tell that Daphne was struggling a little; there were days when she was moody and sullen and days when she was happy and open. It seemed as though she wanted to be my friend, but she just couldn’t get over the fact that I was the product of her father’s infidelity. I should have known then that my dream of sisterhood was a hollow one.
“Krissy?”
I turned to find Noah standing in the hallway, rubbing his eyes.
“Hi, honey,” I said, going to him. “Your dad had to run to work, but he left me here to look after you.”
“He told me he would.”
I smiled. “How are you feeling?”
“Sick.”
I kissed the top of his forehead. “Poor kid,” I said. “How about your tummy?”
“It’s rumbly.”
“Rumbly, huh?” I said. “Well, sounds like you need to eat something.”
“No,” Noah said immediately, just like Jake warned me. “I don’t want to eat anything.”
“Because you’re not hungry?” I asked. “Or because you don’t want to th
row up?”
“The last one,” he admitted.
I hugged him close for a moment. “I promise you we’ll be careful, okay?” I said. “If we be careful and eat just a little bit, then you won’t throw up. Do you trust me?”
“Yeah,” Noah said skeptically.
I took his hand and led him to the kitchen. Then I opened up a box of crackers that I’d picked up on the way and handed him one. “Try a bite of that,” I said.
Noah took the cracker tentatively and had a bite. He chewed carefully and swallowed with a loud gulp. “Well?” I asked, after a minute. “Do you think it’ll stay down?”
“I think so,” he nodded hopefully.
I smiled. “Great,” I said. “Then drink a sip of this.”
“What is it?” he asked. He was eyeing the glass I had handed him.
“Homemade lemonade,” I said. “It’ll help settle your tummy.”
Noah took a sip, and his face lit up with a smile. “That’s yummy.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I said. “Now finish that cracker and the lemonade. If you manage to keep it down, we’ll try eating something else in another hour or so. How does that sound?”
“Good.”
“Good,” I smiled. “Now, how about I read you a story?”
We spent a nice cozy afternoon reading stories, and Noah seemed to be getting better by the minute. Every hour, I sent Jake updates to reassure him and then I would get back to entertaining Noah.
“I love you, Krissy,” Noah said unexpectedly, just after I’d finished reading him another story.
I felt a lump form in my throat. “Aw, Noah,” I said. “I love you, too, sweetheart.”
“It’s nice to have a mommy look after me when I’m sick.”
I froze for a moment, feeling slightly uncomfortable. “Noah, you know that I’m not your mother, right? I mean, I do love you, sweetheart, but I’m not your mommy.”
“But you can be,” Noah said, giving me a sweet innocent smile.
I felt my heart melt at the sight, but I also felt a thrill of fear that made me take pause. What was I doing? Noah wasn’t just any kid…he was my nephew, and I was pretending to have no real connection to him. How could I explain all this to Jake? He would never believe that my intentions were sincere from the start.