by Anne
"A watched pot never boils," Sara said, but got no response. They continued to stare out the window. They had never been this excited about a party before. What was so different this year? She went to stand beside them.
"Why so anxious?" she asked. "Somebody promise you a good present?"
A car slowed down in front of the house. "It's him!" Kari cried. "He's here."
"Who's here?" Sara asked in confusion as the car went by. They had only invited girls.
"Oh, rats," Megan muttered.
Sara took each of them by the hand and led them away from the window. "Who are you expecting?" she asked quietly.
Kari looked uneasily at Megan, who was chewing her lip. "Mike," she said.
"Mike?" Sara looked from one to the other, shaking her head in astonishment. "What in the world would Mike be doing here?"
"It's our birthday," Kart pointed out. "He promised to come."
Megan nodded quickly. "When we were on vacation."
Sara didn't know what to say to them. She sighed and sat down. How did she explain a summer fling to nine-year-olds? "When you're playing with your friends, don't you sometimes make plans for things you're going to do the next day or the next week?"
They nodded.
"Do you always do them?"
"No," Kari said slowly. "Sometimes we change our minds."
"Adults do too," she said gently. "Sometimes adults are having fun and think how nice it would be to keep on having that fun later. But when later comes along, they've changed their minds."
"But he made a promise," Megan said.
"Honey, he wouldn't even know where we live or what time the party was."
"He does though," Kari cried, happily grasping at straws. "We sent him an invitation."
Sara groaned. "Girls, he lives too far away. People don't take an airplane just to come to a birthday party.1'
"He could afford to. he's got lots of money," Megan told her seriously.
Sara just shook her head. How could she tell them he might not even remember them anymore? That he probably had forgotten all about them as soon as they were gone? But it hurt her unbearably to think that, and there was no way she would pass that hurt along.
"Just don't count on him too much," she said. "Maybe he was away filming, like he was when we met him, and he didn't get the invitation in time."
"He has to come," Megan insisted. "We told everybody he would."
"Oh, girls," she moaned, and got to her feet. "I hope you're good at making excuses."
They went back to the window where they waited patiently until their guests started to arrive.
"Where is he?" each girl asked as she came in.
"He hasn't gotten here yet."
They unwrapped the presents and began the games, but Sara could see Karl and Megan glancing at the clock anxiously every few minutes. The other girls began to look suspicious.
"He's not coming, is he?" one demanded.
"I bet you never really met him," another said.
"We did too." Karl insisted. "Didn't we. Mommy?"
"Yes, we did meet Captain Wonder," Sara said in support. If only the girls had told her of their hopes beforehand, she would have warned them that he wasn't likely to come. She could have stopped them from telling the other girls and adding humiliation to the hurt.
"Then why isn't he here?"
"Yeah, your own father didn't show up for your birthday. Why would Captain Wonder?"
Kari looked about to burst into tears and Megan was ready to start a fistfight. Sara picked up the remains of the game they had been playing and ushered them all Into the kitchen. The wonderful party the girls had planned was rapidly becoming a disaster. All she wanted was to see them happy again.
"Maybe his plane got delayed," Sara said quickly. "That happens sometimes, you know. Why don't we have the ice cream and cake?"
"I guess we might as well," Kari agreed halfheartedly.
Sara gave her a quick hug, then got all the girls seated around the table. She sent Megan to get some matches from the living room and arranged the candles on the cake.
"Anybody not like apple juice?" she called over her shoulder, getting ready to pour the drinks.
There was a collective gasp that surprised her. Hardly the normal reaction to apple juice, she thought. She turned around in time to see Karl race from the table into the living room. The rest of the girls followed right behind her.
"Girls?" she asked, puzzled, and went after them.
Mike was standing in the middle of their living room. He was wearing his Captain Wonder COS' tume and looked perfectly ridiculous and perfectly wonderful. Amid hugging the girls and shaking hands with their awed guests, he looked up and met her eyes. Her knees felt as weak as if he'd actu^ ally caressed her, and she fought the urge to throw herself into his arms as her daughters had. Nine' year-olds could get away with things like that. A lit' tie more decorum was expected of their mothers.
"Hi, Mike." she said calmly, walking forward.
"Hi."
The sound of his voice sent an ache through her heart. She had forgotten just how much she had come to love him.
"His plane did get delayed, just like you said, Mommy," Karl announced triumphantly as she clung to one of his hands. Megan was holding on to the other as if she'd never let go.
"Mommies are sure smart." Mike said.
"They know everything," Megan agreed.
"Sure wish I had one around," he added. His eyes met hers again as all the girls giggled.
Collecting her rapidly vanishing wits, Sara got everybody back to the kitchen table with Mike seated between Karl and Megan. She tried to keep her mind on the party, but found it increasingly difficult. What was he doing here? Had he really just come for the girls' birthday? What would she say to him once all the guests left?
Before too long, Mike had all the girls entranced, just as he had charmed them so easily on their vacation. He told stories, answered questions, and was the perfect guest of honor. He gave gold charm bracelets to each of the girls for her birthday, and Captain Wonder posters to all their guests. And then, suddenly, It was time for everyone to go-Mothers who came to collect their daughters were equally enthralled by him. Little brothers and sisters were brought in from the cars to meet him until Sara was ready to scream. Was she never to have a moment alone with him?
Finally the door was closed after the last of the guests and she collapsed against it. "I thought they'd stay forever," she said with a sigh.
Mike grinned as he came closer. "So did I."
Then suddenly she was in his arms and he was kissing her deeply. The touch of his lips made her body cry out with delight. Memories of their nights of passion came rushing back as she clung to him. She yearned to know the pleasure of his body again. She wanted to feel his hands on her breasts, her stomach, and her thighs. She wanted to relive the ecstasy of his embrace and the deep peace of sleeping at his side. His hands slid over her back, pulling her ever closer to him, and suddenly she remembered where she was.
"Mike, the girls," she protested, pushing away from him slightly.
He turned to them, not letting her out of his arms. "You don't mind, do you, girls?"
They fell into a fit of giggles, lying on the sofa and covering their mouths with their hands. "Kissee, kissee, kissee," they sang out in unison,
Mike turned back to Sara with a grin. "I think I've got two more kisses to go."
But Sara slid out of his grasp. "Come on, girls. Let's get this place cleaned up."
4'Can he stay here, Mommy?" Megan asked, carrying a pile of crumpled-up wrapping paper to the kitchen.
"Here?" Sara had a vision of all the neighbors looking into her windows, intrigued and shocked by the idea that she was entertaining Captain Wonder.
"He let us stay at his house," Kari reminded her.
"At his guest house." Sara corrected, careful not to look at him. To let her eyes linger too long on him would be inviting danger and temptation. No one knew her in
Los Angeles, but here she had her reputation to think of and her job. Grade school teachers were not supposed to have sex symbols for their weekend guests. "And well do the same. He can sleep in our guest house. Its called the Holiday Inn and it's about three miles down the road."
"Mom!" the girls wailed.
"No, it's all right," Mike said, making her feel even worse. "I don't want to impose. 1 was invited for your party and that's what I came for, not to force myself on you."
He started toward the door and Sara panicked. He wasn't leaving, was he? He couldn't just waltz back into her life for her daughters' birthday party, kiss her madly, then leave, she thought wildly. That wasn't fair. Her early suspicion that he liked the girls better than he liked her came back. Maybe he did ...
"We can't put you up for the night, but you will stay for dinner, won't you?" she asked.
"Sure," he said. "Just let me get a change of clothes from the car. okay? I'd feel a little silly wearing these tights all evening.1'
The evening passed all too quickly. She made frozen pizzas, a terrible thing to serve a celebrity like him, she thought, but that was all she had in the freezer, and no one complained. They all helped clean up the kitchen, then they played a game the twins had gotten as a gift. Pretty soon it was the girls" bedtime and, although they tried to drag it out as long as possible, they were finally tucked in, the light off. and the door closed. She was alone with Mike at last.
"Well, I guess I'd better be going too," he announced when they got back to the living room.
Now? So early? "Oh?* was all she could manage.
"It's been a Jong day,' he explained. "And a rough couple of weeks. You look pretty pooped yourself. Probably wouldn't hurt you to. get to bed early."
That was what she had hoped to do, but not to go to sleep. Unfortunately, though her mouth opened and shut a few times, she was completely speechless,
Mike came over and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "That's for the parry and the dinner. I'll be seeing you."
'Mike!" she cried finally.
But he just smiled and let himself out.
Sara had thought the previous nights of missing Mike were bad. but the night after the party was far worse. Thinking of him, knowing he was in the same town—had been in the same house even, but had left—was unbearable. Her body longed for him, needed him so badly that she wanted to cry. If she had known what hotel he was staying at, she might have called him. Instead, she pretended to sleep, fixed breakfast for the girls, and got them all off to school.
Even though Karl and Megan did not attend the school where she taught, word had gotten around.
"Is It true?" her students asked her. "Did Captain Wonder really come to your house?"
It was almost impossible to get them to concentrate on their math, almost as impossible as it was for her to concentrate. Finally, she made up Captain Wonder problems for them to solve. In spelling, she had them write a story about Captain Wonder, using their spelling words for the week. Was she never to escape from the man?
Around eleven o'clock, in the middle of the reading lesson, there was a knock at the door, and in walked Captain Wonder. She had been expecting it, fearing It, wanting It all morning. Her class reacted predictably, moving from shocked silence to an uproar in the space of about two seconds.
"Boys and girls," she cried, trying to get them under control. She had a sudden urge to strangle Mike, but since he was carrying a huge bouquet of roses, she doubted that she would. Boys and girls, if you can't be quiet. I’ll have to ask Captain Wonder to leave."
"I will too," Mike said. The silence that descended as soon as he spoke made his voice seem loud. "I certainly wouldn't want to Interfere with your assignments.'
"That's okay," one wisecracking student said.
Mike didn't join the other students in laughing at the joke and pretty soon the giggles faded away. "I was told this was the best third grade class in Kansas City," he said. "Maybe I got the wrong room. It could be the third grade class next door."
"No, this is it," they all cried, not willing to give him up to the other third graders. Suddenly they were all sitting up taller and paying close attention. Mike watched them silently for a moment, then turned to Sara and handed her the flowers.
"I hope these make up for the inconvenience of having me drop by," he said.
"Certainly," she murmured. She was barely able to hold the bouquet. There had to be three dozen long-stemmed red roses. "Kathy. want to see if there are some vases in my locker?"
While she waited for her student to find something to put the flowers in, she cast a cautious glance at Mike. He was smiling at the students, but suddenly he turned and caught her gaze. He winked, causing her to blush. Lord, what was he doing here? she thought.
Kathy came back with two coffee cans. Not exactly lead crystal, but they'd have to do. Sara sent another student with Kathy to get some water, and carefully laid the flowers on her desk. She cleared her throat, hoping that she wouldn't sound like a fool.
"And to what do we owe the honor of this visit?" she asked. Why did he have to look so incredibly gorgeous in that dopey costume? A grown man should look ridiculous in tights and a cape.
"I'm on a quest," he said. His eyes caressed her for a moment, then he turned back to the class. Tve heard that the Dark Avenger has caught some of my loyal fans and is making them misbehave.'
Several of the students turned around and stared at poor Billy Bailey, who was constantly getting into trouble. "Surely you don't suspect anyone in here," Sara said.
"I'm not sure. If it's all right with you, I'll just sit in the back of the room- and keep my eyes open."
It wasn't all right with her. but what could she say with all her students watching him adoringly? She feared that the same look was in her eyes, and briskly told him he was more than welcome to watch out for the Dark Avenger's spies. She asked Billy to carry her chair to the back of the room for him, and went on with her teaching.
Or tried to go on. It was far from easy, feeling his eyes on her, wanting to look at him, but knowing she shouldn't. The next forty-five minutes seemed the longest of her life and she was immensely relieved when the lunch bell rang.
"I think you've got a good bunch of students here, Mrs. Delaney," Mike announced solemnly, and produced a small bag of Captain Wonder War7 rior pins. "Maybe if they'll all wear these, we'll chase the Dark Avenger away for good."
The students promised to wear the pins and work hard. Mike took one out of the bag. "I think we should start with Mrs. Delaney, don’t you?"
Of course they all agreed. They'd agree to anything that would make her blush so.
Mike walked over with the pin and carefully put it on her. In order to protect her skin, one hand slid inside her collar as he stuck the point through the fabric. His hand lingered just a moment In the gentlest of caresses. Her blush deepened and a giggle was heard from the back of the room.
"Mrs. Delaney will give yours out after lunch," he said, stepping back from her. "Then you'll all be Captain Wonder Warriors and always have to work your hardest."
He waved to all of them, winked at her. and was gone. If it weren't for the roses, the bag of Captain Wonder pins, and her racing heart, she'd think It had all been a dream. What was he doing?
The next day Captain Wonder appeared next to Sara in the grocery store. He carried on a pleasant, chatty conversation with her as she went up and down the aisles, paying only slight attention to the squeals of delight from the youngsters In the store.
Wednesday, he drove the girls to their Girl Scout meeting and Thursday he pulled into the gas station right after her. She was beginning to feel haunted by a red and black monster, and was getting a little annoyed.
It had been wonderful to see him on Sunday, and amusing on Monday. But it was no longer so. Her body was tense with desire and her nerves were on edge. She had had it with Captain Wonder. She didn't know what kind of game he was playing, but whatever It was, it wasn't funny.
""Just what are you doing?" she hissed at him as she took the nozzle from the gas pump
"Filling my tank," he said mildly, and took the nozzle from the pump next to hers.
"Why here? Why now?"
"Why not?"
She glared at him, feeling close to tears. Why was he doing this to her? Was this all some sort of joke? She shoved the nozzle into her gas tank and watched the numbers fly by on the pump.
"Sara."
She refused to look at him.
"Sara. Have dinner with me."
"Why?"
"Come on, Sara," he pleaded, touching her arm gently.
She had not expected the brief caress, and a shiver of need went through her. She kept her eyes on the pump. "Don't you feel silly parading all over town in that outfit?"
"Don't you feel silly talking to a gas pump?"
She tried not to smile but it didn't work. Her eyes went to his of their own accord. "What are you doing, Mike?" she asked. "What do you want?'
"What do I want? That's simple." he said. His voice was quiet but his eyes were dark with desire. "I want you to come back to Los Angeles with me."
For a long moment she could not believe that she'd heard him right. "Come back?" she repeated. "What for?"
He smiled and took a step closer. "Come on, Sara. We both know what for. You can't hide anything from Captain Wonder."
It was just too much. She had fallen hopelessly in love with a guy who wore tights and thought he was a superhero. "You may not have noticed, but I have two children I'm responsible for.' There was a screech of tires from the street as someone spotted Mike. "Plus a job and a house. My whole life is here," she said quickly, before the passing fans could interrupt.
'I never meant for you to leave the kids here,1' he said. "Of course they’ll come with you, but you can sell the house and quit your job. I've got more than enough money for all of us."
A car pulled into the gas station behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know there were Captain Wonder fans in It. Their screams of excitement were evidence enough. Thankfully, the pump had reached the ten-dollar mark and she shut it off.
"1 see," she snapped. "Captain Wonder's kept woman. That'd make a great new character for the show, wouldn't it?"