by Maggie Way
“Do you want me to bring Ethan back up? I gotta drop Jackson off for a visit with Sienna at her hotel while on my way to Kai’s.”
I’d paid the neighbor girl down the hill to take the boys to the beach. “Just tell Bella to bring Ethan back up when she’s ready. If they want to come back now, it’s fine.” I tucked my arms behind my head, reveling in the calm. “Today feels like something normal.”
“What’s normal anyway?” Jake sounded reflective. “I still can’t believe Stacia. She just snapped?”
“I guess so. I feel terrible. I had no idea she felt the way she felt about me. She thought I was trying to undermine her as a mother.” I shook my head. “Her poor fiancé, Van. He’s a broken man. He loves her and he loves Emily. This whole thing is fucked up.”
“How did the cops find out it was Stacia? I saw the video, but how did she get caught?”
“When Kai’s mom dropped Emily off, she told Van what had happened, that Kai had been hit by a car and was in the hospital. I guess at some point he saw the damage to his car.” I explained. “Van said he knew right away that Stacia must have been the one that ran Kai over. I’m not sure why he said he knew anything, I didn’t ask for details. He confronted her and Stacia didn’t deny it. She broke down and he talked her into turning herself in.”
“Damn. That’s crazy.”
“Yeah. Van said that when Kai came back into the picture, Stacia couldn’t handle it. The court hearings took a toll on the entire household. She couldn’t accept the fact that Kai was fighting for his daughter. She felt he had no right to come back around after all the years that went by. Van said that Emily wasn’t allowed to speak my name, or share anything about her time with us.”
“So sad,” he said bewildered. “So, she’s in jail now?”
“I’m not sure. She may have posted bail. Or maybe she’s getting some help. I really have no idea.”
“Does Emily know?” “They told her that Stacia’s sick and getting help. We’ve not told her what happened.”
“Kids are so resilient.” Jake declared with zest and bounced up like someone kicked him out of his seat. He swept over to me and tugged on my bun, “But so are adults.”
“Stop.”
“What?
“With the philosophical shit.” I closed my eyes and swung my arm over my face.
“Ok, I’m outta here. Call me if you need anything. I’ll be back later.” I dozed off for about twenty minutes before waking in a small panic. Bolting up the stairs, I checked on Kai. He was still asleep. Just watching him made me want to curl up next to him. That was something I was avoiding. I’d been sleeping in the guest bedroom since I brought him back. One reason was because I didn’t want to be a disturbance and the second reason was I wasn’t ready to sleep in that room with him.
Work commitments nagged my thoughts and I finally braved sitting in front of my computer for the first time in five days. Deleting and sorting emails by priority, a couple new jobs popped up – new record designs for a couple solo artists. I bounced in my seat and brought thankful hands beneath my chin. I prayed and watched the tree leaves dance through the window. They matched the butterflies dancing in my tummy.
Work was something normal.
It was nearly dinnertime when Ethan came shooting through the door. The sound spurred me to the banister. Bella walked through the door about a minute later.
“He’s fast. If only I could run up the hill like him.” She dropped his backpack on the foyer floor. I went for my purse in the kitchen to pay her.
“Thank you, Bella. Today’s been a good day.”
“How’s he doing?” She asked about Kai.
“He’s good. He’s slept all day.”
“Sorry about what happened. It’s so hard to believe. Poor guy. I remember the screeching and you screaming. It was awful. I thought he died.”
I didn’t remember screaming. “I’m just happy he’s ok. I’m not sure how I would have survived if he would have died, too.” The words made me choke. Bella gave me sympathetic pat on the back and I apologized, “I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry for bringing it up,” she took the money from me and just like a teenager she jabbered on, “It almost makes you afraid to love, you know?”
“Bella.” I gave her a cross look. She knew Phillip had died in a car accident.
Her face twisted and she offered me one last apology before she vanished out the door, “I’m sorry. I better go before I stay something else stupid.”
I had to laugh as the door latched behind her. She was clueless and I prayed that life would spare her my unimaginable heartaches.
While prepping dinner an unfamiliar noise sounded, a knocking and thumping. I dropped the knife on the cutting board and rinsed the potato muck from my hands, thinking Kai must have woken up. I headed for the stairs where he clomped down slowly in his knee high brace.
“Wait, you shouldn’t be out of bed.” I rushed up to the middle of the stairs to stop him.
His green eyes glimmered and he pecked me on the lips. “I’m all fresh. Can’t you tell?”
“What?” I said looking him up and down. His hair was damp. “How did you? You’re not supposed to get your cast wet.”
“I had to shower. I was sick of sponge baths.” He grabbed the railing and stepped downward saying, “I’m also sick of being in bed. I can sit up now without too much pain.”
I was afraid to touch his broken arm. “Is your cast wet?”
“It’s a little damp.” He turned to look up at me from the bottom of the stairs and he held his arm above his head. “I took a shower like this and used one hand. Quite challenging.”
“Oh Kai.” I sprung down the steps looking at his bristly face. I rubbed his cheeks. It no longer felt like sandpaper beneath my hands. “You’re lookin’ a bit mountain man, you want me to shave your face?”
He curled his good arm around my waist and his cast felt hard between my shoulder blades. “Maybe. I’m thinking I’m gonna see how long it’ll grow until the cast comes off.”
I looked at him horrified and he kissed away my frown. “You are kidding, right?”
He chuckled. “Sorta.”
“Please don’t.”
I pried myself from his arms and he limped next to me into the kitchen. The sole of the boot he wore for his sprained ankle was two inches thick. I watched as he studied Ethan doing his homework at the dining room table. Then he pulled out the barstool and cautiously sat down with slow, deliberate moves.
“You ok?” I shook my head. “I really think you should stay in bed.”
“Not gonna happen.” He winced. “Doc said I needed to move around.”
Ethan kept a watchful eye on Kai then asked something surprising, “Are you living here now?”
A jolt of shock shot through my limbs and Kai’s mouth clamped shut. He looked at me for an answer. Six-year-olds. “Ethan, you know how when you get sick I take care of you?”
“Mhmm.”
“Kai got in a bad accident and he needs help to get better. He lives alone and no one is able to take care of him. So he’s staying here so we can take care of him.”
“Okay.” Ethan looked back down to his paper unaffected either way by my explanation. Then he followed up with, “Does that mean Emily will stay here too?”
Kai again deferred to me. “Emily goes to another school. So she’s with her grandma for now. Until Kai gets well enough to go home.”
“Can Emily come over after school?” “She can come on the weekend.” I answered.
Continuing to prepare dinner, I dropped chunks of potatoes into the boiling water and heard Kai’s voice. He’d moved into the living room. I could tell he was talking to Emily by the questions that he asked. “What did you eat.” – “Did you do your homework.” Finally, after a few minutes of talk he said, “Let me talk to Grandma.”
With a little salt and pepper pinched between my fingers I dusted the chicken breasts and sprinkled fresh rosemary atop them befor
e sliding them into the oven. I froze when I heard Kai’s voice grow harsh, “Mom, this is why. What you’re saying isn’t something that needs to be discussed. No, I just told Jake today and I was planning on telling you too. No. No. I’m not discussing this with you now. You know, you’re like a double-edged knife. You say things that make people uncomfortable. You offer to help and then you turn into a martyr.”
Silence. I glanced at Ethan and he seemed unaware of the strife.
Kai’s voice downshifted. “Either you can bring Emily here after school tomorrow or I’ll send someone to get her. OK, fine. OK. Yes. OK. I love you too.”
He hobbled back into the kitchen with an ambivalent look. “Sorry you had to hear that.”
“You didn’t say anything untoward.”
“I wonder if all mother’s with sons are this way. Every guy I know seems to have an overbearing mom.”
I laughed saying, “Mom’s love their offspring to a fault.”
“Can they love a little bit less?” His eyes pleaded.
I looked to Ethan and back to Kai. “No, we’ll love you fiercely until our last breath.”
Chapter Fourteen
Kai
Grace tucked me in bed then disappeared into the bathroom to soak in the tub. Instead of turning on the TV, I listened to the running water. When it shut off and I was sure she was beneath the water, I threw the covers off me. I stared at the bags sitting on the chair in the corner, the bags that Jake had brought over. He said he’d stuck the box in my toiletries bag.
My brace sat next to the bed but I didn’t want to put it on, the large Velcro straps were too noisy. So I just tried not to bend my ankle and shuffled over digging out the little blue box. My heart leapt feeling it in my hand. It was a dream, an impulse. I’d picked out the ring before I knew I’d ever have a real chance with Grace. I saw the ring in a magazine ad someone had left on an airplane and ripped out the page. I’d folded it up and stuck it in my wallet. One day about a month later when I was shopping for a birthday present for Emily, the Tiffany storefront caught my eye. It’s like the sign winked at me, and the doors opened without any effort.
I was the only customer in the store and the sales girl who looked like a twelve-year old angel with shiny pink lips greeted me. She was so blonde I swore she had a halo. I remembered feeling light headed and she asked me if I wanted some water. One of the guards came over and asked if I was ok. I’m sure I freaked them out when I braced myself against the jewelry casing, looking like a broke biker more than someone who could afford even the private label water she handed me.
“Thank you.” I said cracking open the cap to the water. I took a long drink and the guard stood a little closer. I didn’t give a shit that they thought I was about to rob the place. “Where are the engagement rings?”
“Over here.” She said and walked to the other side of the store.
I followed her and the guard followed me. I noticed he wore a Taser and had his hand on it. I almost laughed but I felt sick. Taking out my wallet, I placed my black American Express Card on the glass case where a hundred engagements sparkled. I pulled out the ad and unfolded it.
“I want this,” and I handed the girl the ad.
“This is one of our most sought after rings.”
“I’m sure it is. Charge it.”
She swallowed looking a bit confused. “Wouldn’t you like to see what it looks like in real life? The stone in this ad is nearly a two-carat stone. We have a few other sizes.”
“Nah, I think she’ll love the one in the ad.” I looked at the guard. “She has no idea.”
He’d finally taken his hand of his Taser and gave me a kind nod.
“Ok, um, by the way my name is Marci.” Reaching into the case, she took out the ring that looked exactly like the ring in the ad. She placed the little velvet stand on the counter and took the ring between her fingers and held it out to me. “This is it.”
I just stared at it, like it would explode if I touched it. I smiled nervously. “You’ll have to excuse me, this is a big deal.” I ran my damp palms down my jeans. “When I say she has no idea. We’re not even dating. We broke up ten years ago.”
Marci sighed. “Oh my god. This is so sweet.” Then she looked concerned. “Have you even seen her?”
I nodded. “Yes, and she blew me off.”
“Oh my. Well, Mr.?”
“Burton.” She nodded slowly, eyeing me more closely. “Mr. Burton. Once you buy the ring you only have thirty days to return it.”
“Okay.”
That’s how that day panned out. I ended up with an engagement ring for a woman I had no idea if I’d ever see again. Talk about manifestation. I put the box back in my bag and zipped it shut. I stared at the bathroom door, the light shining through its milky glass and thought it was now or never. Grabbing the little bag’s handle, I limped to the glowing door and tapped on it.
“Yes,”
“It’s me.”
“Kai, you shouldn’t be up.” I heard the water splashing as I slid the door open. Her glorious body dripped with suds.
“Sit back down.” I smiled. I was so nervous that I thought for sure she’d see my lips twitching. Holding up my bag, I said, “I thought since you were in here you could give me a shave.”
“Okay. Umm.” She smiled, “I can get out…”
“No, no.” I interrupted, scanning the tub. It was big enough for the two of us. “How about I get in with you?”
She smirked. “Now Mr. Burton,” she batted her eyes. “But really, if you were to slip you may end up back in the hospital.”
“I’ll take the risk.” I put my bag right next to the tub, leaning it up against the side and pulled my t-shirt over my head and dropped my pants. Grace stepped out of the tub to help me get in.
She sighed, “Why do you want to do this?”
“Because, why not. We can soak here together and when you’re ready to get out you can give me a shave.”
I fought showing any pain, even though crouching down into the tub nearly made me pass out. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea. But as soon as I leaned back against the tub the pain subsided. The water felt good. It wasn’t too hot. Grace got back in and her smooth, silky legs moved over mine. My free hand dipped beneath the water and I ran my hand over them. I began to get excited, then I got nervous as soon as the blue box came to mind.
I breathed in, trying to relax, feeling the softness of Grace beneath the water. I closed my eyes. “Now I see what all the fuss is about. You chicks got the 9-1-1 on the chill vibe.”
She giggled and the water sloshed. Her legs moved around me and I opened my eyes. She shifted to crawl to me. And I almost put my cast in the water to help her get comfortable. She moved between my legs and I felt her foot press against my balls.
“Careful.” I warned.
“Oh, I’m sorry did I knock ’em too hard?”
“No, I’m good.” I said running my hand over her arm and down her back.
“Her hands cupped my cheeks and she leaned in to kiss me and whispered at my lips, “I missed you.”
She kissed me tenderly sending little zaps of excitement straight the tip of my junk. I moaned. And then she ran her wet hands through my hair over and over again staring at me with her vivid blue eyes.
“I love you, Gracie.”
“I love you too.”
“Thank you for taking care of me, and Emily.”
“Please don’t thank me. I love you. This is how it’s supposed to be.” She said as her lips came over mine like warm melted sugar.
I had a full-on boner that she took it into her hand, making me groan with desire. “Hey,” I said. I could barely breath as it was. I was pretty sure my spleen would explode if we tried anything.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered into my neck as she kissed it and gave me one last stroke. “I can’t wait to shave this hair off your face. I’m ready to get out since I can’t crawl on top of you.”
I whimpered. “Oh baby, I want you so b
ad. I think getting in here with you was a bad idea.”
She laughed as she grabbed her white robe and put it on. “Think about your mom and the argument she had with you today.”
“Aw, man. That’s it, boner gone.”
Grace tied the robe around the waist and sat down on the side of the tub. “Hmm, I may have to get back in.”
“Hand me my bag.” I asked and my hand shook as I took it from her.
I placed it on the other side of the rub’s white granite ledge and unzipped it. I took in a deep breath before I pulled it out. I heard her gasp and when I faced her she had her hand covering her mouth.
“Kai, it’s not…” She muttered
“Gracie,” I said, removing the black padded box from the blue Tiffany encasement. I cracked the lid open and stared her in the eyes. Her face grew pink as she stared between the ring and me. Her sapphire eyes shimmered with tears. “Will you marry me?”
“I can’t breathe…oh my…yes, yes.” She shook her head over and over again.
I removed the thick platinum band with the brilliant princess cut stone from its box. I took her left hand, praying it would fit and it slid onto her finger as if it were made for her.
“Baby, I hope I did good by the style.”
She stared at the ring as she wiped the tears away with her right hand. “I love it. You didn’t have to go so big.”
“That was never a question.” I chuckled. “Wait till I tell you the story.”
She looked down at me sitting in water that was now getting cold. “So you still want me to shave you?”
“I think you deserve a clean shaven face.”
A coy smile spread to her glowing face and she pulled the plug to drain the rub and ran the hot water to warm it up. When the tub was filled again with hot water, she dropped the robe at her feet and stepped into the tub with me.
“Hand me the shaving cream.”
“I can do the cream.”
“No, let me do the cream.” She begged, “I’ve never shaved anyone before.”
“Hmm, maybe I should use my bad hand.”