Never Saw it Coming

by Bernadette Marie

  Even the thought of it made his stomach tighten.

  He pushed it out of his mind as he plated the sandwich and poured a hearty stack of Doritos on the plate.

  With the bottle of beer tucked between his fingers, he carried the plate to the table and placed it in front of her. Opening the bottle, he sat down in the chair next to her.

  “I can get a glass if sharing the bottle bothers you,” he offered.

  Her eyes, tired and sad, lifted to his. Then she raised her hand and rested it on his cheek before moving in closer to press a kiss to his lips. “I think we’re past worrying about sharing a bottle.”

  And that was progress he thought. Thank God.

  As she sat back in her chair and considered the sandwich, he reached over and took a chip. “Tell me about this horrible night of yours,” he said as he crunched the chip in his teeth noisily and she smiled.

  Instead of taking a half of the sandwich, she leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms in front of her, and took in a deep breath.

  “About an hour ago I got a call from the police department. Austin was picked up on a DUI which resulted in an accident.”

  Mike moved toward her, taking her hand, and giving it a squeeze. “Everyone is okay?”

  She nodded. “He’s got minor injuries. It was a single car accident. They hit a pole. The guy he was with has a broken leg.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “He wants me to bail him out, but I don’t have that kind of money.”

  “I can help you.”

  She lifted her head and shook it. “That’s my dilemma. I don’t want to bail him out.”

  That queasiness in his stomach seemed to settle when she said that. “So now what?”

  “I have to tell Jason that I left his father in jail.”

  “That’s okay, Mom.” Jason’s voice came from the doorway of the bedroom. “If he broke the law, that’s where he should be.”

  Tears that might have been bottled up inside released the moment he spoke.

  Mike nodded for him to join them. Jason rubbed his tired eyes and moved right to his mother to hug her. And that, he thought, was the compassion she needed. Her son loved her unconditionally. She’d done well with him.

  “Don’t cry, Mom. It’s not worth it,” Jason said as she clung to him.

  “Why are you not sleeping?” she asked as she wiped her eyes and Jason sat in the chair to her other side.

  “I heard you come in.”

  She gave Jason’s hand a squeeze. “I can’t help him.”

  “You’ve helped him enough. I love him because he’s my dad. But, Mom, we can’t take care of him forever. He’s already stayed longer than normal. It’s been nice, but you had to know it would be over soon.”

  Chandra batted her tear-filled eyes and looked toward Mike. “See, I got lucky. How smart is this kid?”

  Mike nodded with a smile. “I’ll let you two talk.”

  She reached for his arm as he tried to rise. “No. You’re part of this. You don’t have to leave.”

  He eased back in his chair.

  For the next half hour, there were tears, and emotions moved from guilt to anger to sadness and back again. Mike sat silently as he watched her ten-year-old son console her. He was a prize, that was for sure.

  “We’d better get home. You have school and need some sleep,” she said wiping her eyes for what he assumed was the last time for the night.

  “I don’t want to go home tonight,” Jason said. “I’d feel safer if we were both here. Dad isn’t the kind to be violent, but let’s just play it safe.” He looked up at Mike. “Can we stay here?”

  “Of course. I’ll make up the couch for myself, and the two of you can sleep in my room.”

  Jason gave him a nod and turned back to his mom. “I’ll go to bed. You can finish talking. Don’t feel bad, Mom. We have Mike. He’s a good guy.”

  Mike had to look away when he felt the tears sting in his eyes. He hadn’t seen this coming when he’d moved to Colorado. The moment he’d seen the closed sign on his office door he was sure everything had been lost. How could he ever have known it was just the beginning?

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Mike heard the shower running in the other room. He winced when he realized that it was her normal time to start her day after they’d had a very long night.

  He’d have liked it to have ended with more kissing, oh and his mind had wandered all night, but she’d kissed him gently and gone to bed. And that was the best, he knew.

  Realizing that his morning ritual of getting up and having to pee was now interrupted, he focused on not focusing on it and headed to the kitchen to start some coffee. He had a few things for breakfast, but he didn’t know what their routine was, so he’d wait. Though, he’d need to sneak into the bathroom soon. He wasn’t sure how long he could hold on.

  As the aroma of coffee filled the air, he heard the bedroom door open. At that moment he caught a glimpse of the most beautiful sight ever.

  Chandra was freshly showered. Her hair, still wet, hung over her shoulder. She was dressed in a pair of his USC sweat pants, and a T-shirt he recognized from the back of his closet.

  “Good morning,” she said softly as she moved to him.

  The thin fabric of his lounge pants didn’t disguise his reaction to seeing her in the early morning light dressed in his clothes.

  “I’ll have coffee ready in a moment.”

  “I could use it. It’s going to be a long day.”

  “I’ll help. I’m going to sneak into the bathroom quickly. I’ll be right back.”

  He’d wanted to scoop her up and press a kiss to that full, soft mouth, but some things just couldn’t wait.

  While in the bathroom, he took advantage of his toothbrush and remembered that he had some extras in his closet which Esther had brought him when he’d first moved in. He laid them out on the sink for both of them.

  Chandra was standing by the window, a cup of coffee in her hands, looking out over the street.

  He moved to her, he wrapped his arms around her, and she eased back against his chest.

  Her hair was damp against his skin, but it shot heat through him which he hadn’t felt in a long time. The length of her neck was exposed, and when he pressed a soft kiss to her skin, she moaned.

  “You get up this early every morning?” he asked quietly.

  “Since my mom moved out. I have to get him up and ready for school.”

  “I’ll give him a ride.”

  She set her cup on the windowsill, and turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  “I said I’d pick you up at Gabe’s.”

  “You did.” He stroked his hand over her cheek. “I have to say, I’ve never seen a sexier woman than you in my clothes.”

  “I felt as though I needed a change from yesterday. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Oh, I don’t mind.”

  She lifted her chin so that her eyes met his. “Thank you for last night. You’ve been there for me at every turn for the past month. I don’t know what I would do without you.” She lowered her hands so that they splayed over his chest.

  He wondered if she could feel the rapid beating of his heart in his chest.

  “I don’t know how to do this,” she said. “Austin is the only relationship I’ve had since Jason was born. I’m out of practice.”

  Mike ran his hands over her arms. “I married my college girlfriend. I’m out of practice too. I guess we have to first admit that we’ve turned a corner here. Are we thinking we’re entering a relationship? Or is this just heat and attraction?”

  He held his breath and waited for her answer. They couldn’t just have a physical relationship, not with Jason involved, he thought. It wasn’t fair to him. But it sure would be hard to turn away.

  Her fingers brushed his skin gently. “I’d like to explore this relationship. I mean, there is heat,” her fingernails gently dug into his skin, and he moved his hands back to her back wher
e they were safe. “I’d definitely like to feel that out.” She bit down on her bottom lip and then ran her tongue over it. “I think there’s more here, though. I see how you are with Jason, and how he is with you. He needs someone like you in his life.”

  Mike shook his head. “What about you?”

  Chandra raised her arms again to wrap them around his neck. “I’d like to see what happens when I love a man who is good for me. One that’s stable and secure in himself.”

  He swallowed hard. “When you love a man? That’s a bold statement.”

  “I wouldn’t bring a man into my son’s life if I didn’t think I loved him.”

  Mike moved lifted his hand to her cheek. “I think I fell in love with you the minute you looked at me that first day I walked in at lunch.”

  “You did?”

  “Looking at you I thought we were on different planets, but there sure was a tug in your direction.”

  “Things are going to get sticky when Austin gets out of jail. You might want to rethink all this.”

  “What kind of relationship starts by one of the participants moving on when things get tough?”

  “Oh, I should have taken that sign years ago.” She chuckled.

  “This is going to be different.”

  Chandra rested her head on his chest again. “What do I tell Jason?”

  “He gave me permission to kiss you,” he admitted, and she lifted her head.

  “He did not.”

  “Oh, yes he did. I think he’ll be fine with it.”

  The alarm on her phone rang in the other room. “I have to wake him up.”

  “Does he like Frosted Flakes?”

  “He does.”

  “I’ll pour us all some. We might as well all get started with our day.”

  ~*~

  Mike pulled up in front of Gabe and Holly’s house. The truck must have been loud enough to stir the house’s occupants, because as soon as Mike climbed from the truck, Gabe was standing in the doorway with the baby in his arms.

  “Did you get all moved?” Gabe called out toward him as he walked up the front steps.

  “I did. Thank you for the loan,” he said reaching out to touch the baby’s hand. “How’s paternity leave?”

  Gabe looked behind him and into the house. “I’m ready to go back to work.”

  “I heard that,” Holly said as she walked toward them. “Actually, we’re ready for him to go to work too.” She wrapped her arm around her husband and looked down at their daughter. “I’m kidding. But I know he’s ready to get back to normal.”

  “Well, when you get some time, come look at the apartment. Just a few more touches and I think it’ll be done.”

  “Really? I didn’t expect you to get done so quickly.”

  Mike shrugged. “I have another project.”

  Holly smiled. “I heard. You’re buying a house. Tracy told me all about it.”

  “We close this afternoon. Then my son comes to visit. It’s a big week.”

  He heard Chandra’s car pull up behind Gabe’s truck. “There’s my ride.”

  Holly waved. “I’m sure she’s ready for Gabe to be back too. She’s been invaluable.”

  Gabe waved too. “Can’t wait to see her face when I give her that bonus I have for her.” He turned to Mike. “Don’t tell her I said that.”

  Mike chuckled. “I wouldn’t dare. Thanks for the loan. I’ll talk to you soon,” he said as he walked toward the street to where Chandra waited for him.

  “I didn’t know they were going to be at the door waiting for you,” she said as he climbed into the car.

  “I think he heard the truck.”

  “They probably think I’m in a mood. I didn’t want to get out wearing your clothes,” she offered as she pulled from the curb.

  Mike reached over and took her hand in his, interlacing their fingers. “The other option is for them to see you out of my clothes, but me first.”

  A flush spread across her cheeks. “Is that where we’re at now? Sex talk?”

  He relaxed in the seat. “Let me just say you’re damn sexy in my clothes. I’m not going to deny that I haven’t thought about you out of them.”

  She gave his fingers a squeeze. “Jason, asked me if you’d kissed me again,” she said as she turned at the stop sign.

  “What did you tell him?”

  The smile on her face enhanced the glow in her cheeks. “I didn’t know what to tell him.”

  “He gave me permission to kiss you. I didn’t think it would be you kissing me.”

  She sighed. “I didn’t know it’s what I wanted. Things are so complicated in my life.”

  “They don’t have to be, Chandra. I’m not complicated.”

  “Sure you are. You’re too good.”

  “My ex-wife might argue.”

  “I don’t think she would,” she said as she pulled up in front of her house. She put the car in park and sat for a moment. “I’ve seen how you talk about her. You’re not sure you were in love with her, but you don’t hate her.”

  “You don’t hate Austin.”

  She winced. “I can’t hate him. He gave me Jason. But I’ve learned, very recently, I don’t like myself when I’m with him. He doesn’t bring out the best in me. I think you might.”

  Mike reached for her face and placed his palm on her cheek. “My one stipulation to a relationship is that it’s just me. I don’t play the field.”

  “I don’t either.”

  He nodded in agreement. “But I’m talking about you cutting ties. I don’t mean that Jason shouldn’t have Austin in his life. I’m talking about you holding on as you have been. There’s no need to go into detail or tell me what’s happened since he’s been back. I’m telling you that I want this, but I don’t want any competition.”

  “You don’t have any. I promise.”

  He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I want you to consider staying with me, both of you, until Austin is out of jail and on his way.”

  “He’d never hurt me.”

  “I’d like to make sure of that,” he admitted. “I care about both of you too deeply to see you get hurt.”

  “I need to go in and change my clothes. I’ll grab a few things to stay tonight then. Come on in and have some coffee. I’ll only be ten minutes.”

  He lingered his gaze on her until the corners of his mouth turned up into a smile. Perhaps he could bring out the best in her. Damn, he’d sure like to try.

  There was no denying that Austin was out of jail. Chandra looked around her house and wanted to burst into tears. He’d gone through everything and left a trail. No doubt he was looking for money, and by the looks of it, he’d found all of her stashing areas.

  “Maybe you should call the police,” Mike said as he pulled his phone from his pocket to hand it to her.

  “No, he’s gone.”

  “He broke into your home and trashed it.”

  “Can’t say too much when he has a key.” She let out a breath. “He came for money. He has what he needs. Now he can move on.”

  “I don’t like this.”

  “You can trust me. He’s moved on.” She walked further into the house, toward her bedroom. The box which had housed a substantial amount of money laid open and on the bed empty. Wincing, she turned to Mike. “Go make some coffee. I could use some.”

  He agreed and left her standing in her shambles of a bedroom. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she pressed the speed dial for the school. They needed to know that Austin might try to pick up Jason before she could get to him. In her heart, she knew he’d never, ever hurt him. But looking at the mess he’d left her, she was afraid that this was more than alcohol and weed. Somewhere he’d lapsed into something bigger. He’d done it before.

  Okay, she admitted to herself as she hung up the phone, maybe she was a little scared.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Because Gabe had somehow gotten word about what had happened to her house the day before, he came in to ta
ke over Chandra’s shift.

  “You can argue all you want, but you’ve been working non-stop for nearly two months now, and you need some time off,” he said as he threw the towel over his shoulder and pulled the order off the printer.

  “I don’t have anywhere to go. Jason is at school. My mom, Tracy, and Mike are closing on that house. And this is where I belong.”

  “Then sit your ass on the other side of this bar and order lunch. But get out of my way.”

  He went about pouring drinks and setting them on trays that were picked up by the wait staff. In true Gabe style, he moved around her as if she didn’t exist to make his point.

  There was no use to argue with him, she thought. Making her way around to the other side of the bar, she sat down.

  “What can I get you?” Gabe asked as if she were a regular customer.

  “A glass of water. I’m on duty.”

  “No, you’re not,” he said as he pulled a tall Blue Moon from the tap and garnished it with a wedge of orange. He pushed it her way. “I have a prime rib sandwich already in the works for you too.”

  “Gabe…”

  “Don’t Gabe me. You have always taken care of me and what’s mine. Let me give back a little, Chandra. You can’t carry the world on your shoulders.” He took an envelope from his pocket. “I was going to give this to you when you were walking out the door. But since you won’t leave.” He slid it toward her.

  “What’s this?” She ripped it open. “Gabe this is a check.”

  “You’re right. It’s for you, and you can’t give it back. You can’t tear it up, or I’ll deposit it right in your damn account.” He turned to her, placed his hands solidly on the bar. “Not many people step up like you do. God, I got to see my daughter be born. I didn’t miss anything in her first few weeks. That’s because you gave up everything to be here so I could do that.”

  “It’s important to be there for that.”