"Me too," I said, looking up into his eyes.
We should hug at that moment, and I felt a great sense of relief wash over me.
"If you need anything, if anything comes up, you have my card. All you need to do is give me a call, and I will be there for you." He said, with sincerity. "No matter what."
At the moment, I didn't exactly understand what was happening, but I can say that I thought the side of relief come out from the inside of me.
"Last night, you came inside of me twice," I told him, pointing out the elephant in the room.
"How do you feel about that?" He asked, not breaking eye contact.
"Honestly, I feel kind of scared, and a bit anxious," I confessed. "However, I did love being with you, and if I do end up getting pregnant, I can't think of a better man to be with."
"Well," he said, easily, "like I said, if anything comes up, you can let me know, and I'll be there for you."
"Thanks, Tom," I replied, giving him a hug.
How are embrace lasted for a while, and I relaxed in his arms. I felt great, it was amazing to feel that kind of love from a person that I had been longing to be with for some time. I continued to hold him, not really caring at that moment if my dad were to walk in the middle of Armbrust. I felt so comfortable with myself, and Tom was really helping me feel at ease.
"When I spoke with your dad earlier, we talked about a couple of things pertaining to our business," he began. "Not going to be able to stay here, because I have to go take care of some things. I'm pretty sure that your dad is going to come with me, and looks like this weekend is going to be cut short. I hope that doesn't bother you too much, as I know you were looking forward to this."
"If I were to be totally honest with you," I said, "everything I was looking forward to I already got a chance to experience."
He brought me in for another hug, and then give me a kiss on the lips.
"I'm gonna get out of here," he said, so I'm gonna start on a few things that your dad and I had spoken about." He said. "Who knows maybe with new age comes new responsibilities for you with the family business."
Henry thought about it, but I was getting ready to take on a lot of responsibility in my life, what with finishing up college, and figuring out what I wanted to do with my life.
"Well," I said, "I'll talk to my dad about it, and see what I can do."
"That's the spirit," he encouraged.
Well, I had been in the shower, Tommy got his things together, and it only took him a few minutes to get ready to go. When he was ready to depart, he came out and gave me another hug. My dad showed up just done and greeted the two of us.
"So glad to see both of you," my dad said.
He had a weary smile on his face, but he was authentically pleased to see both of us.
"Thank you so much for taking care of her," he said to Tom.
"Stacey's a grown woman," Tom said, smiling and exchanging glances between myself and my dad. "She doesn't need anyone to take care of her anymore."
"I know," said my dad, "but I'm a father, and I can't help but feel that way sometimes."
"I told her that she should talk to you about and join in with the family business, I think should be to a great asset." Tom said.
I blushed and then looked to my dad to see what his reaction would be. My dad smiled, and earnest and warm smile, that made my heart feel glad.
"We'll have to talk about that," my dad said.
"Well I'm all ready to go, but I'll talk to you next week," he told my dad.
"That sounds great Tom," my dad said. "I think those new clients will be pleased by the attention that you're giving them."
The two of them shook hands, and before he left, he turned around to make eye contact with me once more.
"Stacy, it was great to spend time with you," he said "thanks for showing an old man like me a thing or two on the slopes."
"I had a good time," I replied. "You give me a run for my money on a couple of those black diamonds."
He laughed, and my dad smiled. It seemed as though everything was going to be working out alright.
My dad and I spoke for a bit after Tom left, and it seems as though Tom's information was accurate. The weekend would be cut short, but I didn't mind.
"Next time, you're gonna have to come with me on the slopes instead of Tom," I told my dad, reaching over to hold his hand and get them hug.
"I feel bad for bringing you all the way up here, I'm getting stranded," my dad said.
"Don't worry about a thing," I said. "I took care myself.”
My dad and I enjoyed our ride home, and I honestly didn’t mind that the weekend had been cut a bit short. As I had told Tom, all of the good parts happened on the first day, so as far as I was concerned, it was all a matter of economy of experience.
On the way home, we had a couple of solid conversations about how I might be able to realistically help the family business while still taking care of my final semester of schooling. I was looking forward to it and told my dad that I was interested in learning whatever he thought would be good to teach me. I was also looking forward to any further opportunities to spend with Tom, as I felt like if the two of us were working professionally under the same company, we’d probably have a higher chance of meeting up once more on a casual basis. I knew that I had a lot to look forward to, and I was excited.
A couple of weeks later, I found out that I missed my period. You can bet I freaked out, but inside, there was a part of me that was incredibly hopeful, and glad that I was young and fertile. I had pinned Tom’s card up as well as the note he had written, on my wall, where I could read it every day.
“You make love like a woman, and you ski like a pro. Thanks for being my warmth in the cold. If you need anything at all, I’m going to give you my number, and I want you to give me a call. Even if you don’t need anything, give me a call sometime, just to tell me how things are going in your life. I don’t want this to be a one-time thing.
Love, Tom.”
Looks like I was going to need that number after all.
The Babysitter he couldn't resist
Grace blew into the chewing gum in her mouth till it grew into a big pink bubble. With the long finger nail on her little finger she popped it, Lulu giggled and clapped her hand beside her. Grace threw the six-year-old a triumphant smile and lay back down on the deck-chair. The sun was strong and in her eye, she reached for her dark glasses on the deck beside her and just as she was about to place it on her eyes a shadow fell over her.
It was Ben Perry and he loomed over her. She shaded her eyes with her hand and squinted up towards him.
“My wife wants to know if Lulu’s been fed. She has her play date at five” his voice was gruff. He almost sounded annoyed at her for some reason. Grace looked at her wrist watch.
“It’s not even one o'clock,” she said defensively, but he only shrugged his bare shoulders. He was ready for the pool and his naked torso glistened in the bright sun. Grace looked away, but she had caught a look at the muscles on his thighs, the way they clenched and relaxed in unison when he walked.
“Just do what she says so that I don’t have to listen to her complain” he said and threw his daughter a quick embarrassed smile.
“Yes Mr. Perry” Grace said mechanically and reached for the towel that she had hung on the back of the chair.
“Here, let me” he said and grabbed it for her. Grace stood up and faced her back towards him as he placed the towel on her damp shoulders. His fingers grazed the soft skin on the curve of her arm as he did it and she could feel the goosebumps on her arms erupt. She could smell him in their close proximity. He smelled like expensive cologne, as always, even right before a dip in the pool.
He turned away from her quickly before she could catch a glimpse of his eyes, to try and figure out if their innocent touch had affected him in the same way as it did her. She tightened the towel around her instead as she watched him walk over to the edge of the pool. He threw her a look
then, just one small look. But that was enough for her to know that he had noticed her, noticed how she looked in her skimpy red bikini before he had wrapped the towel around her.
“C’mon Lulu” she said to the little girl who had been playing with her barbie doll by her side. She stretched out her arm for Lulu to hold on to before she turned away from Ben Perry. Grace heard the splash of water when he jumped into the water as she continued to chew on her gum. When she reached the sliding glass doors of the house, she could see in the reflection; he had risen up from the water again and rested his folded arms on the ledge of the pool. He was looking at her walk away, looking at the way her red bikini bottom clung damply to her ample bottom.
“Let’s go in” Lulu pulled her hand and snapped her out of her thoughts. When she looked back at the reflection in the glass, Ben Perry had ducked back under the water and was swimming to the other end of the pool.
“Grace please feed the child. She has a play date later” Moira Perry was lounging on the ivory colored couch in the living room as Grace and Lulu entered it.
“Yes, we’re headed to the kitchen for exactly that Mrs. Perry” Grace said, as politely as she could make her voice sound.
“Hello, Lily. Are you excited for this evening? Do you remember what I told you? You have to make a good impression on little Carter. He’s the Governor’s son” Moira was speaking to her daughter in a forced baby-voice and Lulu turned to look at Grace instead.
“I’ll prep her on her manners, don’t worry Mrs. Perry” Grace hugged Lulu closer to her and Moira rolled her eyes before sinking back into the couch again.
“I don’t trust children to ever be on their best behavior” she said and turned a page in the magazine she had on her lap, which she was clearly not reading.
“Well, then we can’t trust little Carter either, can we?” Ben’s voice cut through the air icily. He was standing at the entrance of the living room, blotting out the water on his skin with a bright blue towel. His chestnut brown hair was wet and slicked back on his head. Water was dripping from his bare wet torso on to the hardwood floor.
“Carter can do whatever he pleases. He’s the Governor’s son. Lulu is the one who needs to be well behaved” Moira said, barely looking at her husband as she said the words.
“You can’t expect a child to maneuver her way through adult politics Moira” he said gruffly and hung the bunched up towel around his shoulders.
“Just don’t get water on my carpet Ben and leave the bringing up of our daughter to me” Moira said, flipping another page of the magazine. Ben muttered something under his breath as he pushed past Grace and Lulu and left the room.
“Don’t just stand around here. Go feed Lulu. We’ll need at least two hours to get her dressed and ready for the evening” Moira finally looked up from the magazine and narrowed her eyes on Grace. Lulu tugged at Grace’s arm and they both left the room quietly.
“Grace do I have to go and play with Carter? I don’t like him. He’s mean” Lulu pleaded with Grace as they walked down the long hallway to the kitchen. Grace patted her head lightly and beamed down at her.
“It’ll be fine Lulu. I’ll be there if you need me” Grace said and hugged her tightly to herself.
*****
Grace shut Lulu’s bedroom door behind her and let out a sigh, the little girl was finally asleep. It had been an eventful day to say the least. Moira had accompanied them to the play date and made Lulu cry. Carter had pulled Lulu’s hair and broke one of her barbie dolls and Moira insisted that she apologize to the boy instead.
Grace walked down the hallway in the quiet house to the kitchen where she planned on making herself a peanut butter sandwich. Manuel, the cook, would have left her some dinner but she wasn’t in the mood for anything elaborate.
When she walked into the kitchen she realized that Ben Perry was sitting there in the dark. Grace had flipped the light switch on and found him on a kitchen stool, cradling a glass of Scotch in his hands.
“Is Lulu asleep?” he asked, turning exhausted eyes towards her. She had been startled by his presence at first.
“Yes” she said quietly.
“There’s some dinner in the fridge I’m sure” he said and tipped his head towards it but Grace shook her head.
“I’ll just make myself a sandwich” she said but remained standing. Ben turned his attention back to the glass of whiskey in his hands and didn’t respond. He looked more upset than she had ever seen him. In the reflection of the french windows that adorned the kitchen walls, she caught a glimpse of herself. She looked exhausted as well. Her dark blonde curls looked messy and unkempt as they fell in tufts over her eyes. The dark green eyes which usually sparkled, now looked dull and tired. At least, the simple white cotton dress she’d worn had managed to remain stainless the whole day.
“Would you like one as well?” she asked him as she walked over to the fridge. He looked at her puzzled, like he had already forgotten about the sandwich she had just referred to.
“A sandwich? I’m going to make myself a peanut butter one” she said and opened the fridge door. He shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head in response. Grace bent down to pull out a bottle of soda which she plonked on the counter and poured herself a glass. She watched him from the corner of her eye as she prepared the sandwiches for them. His dark brown hair was combed back and to the side, neatly and away from his face. His straight chiseled jaw betrayed a late-night shadow which was peppered with grey in some places. The loose checked shirt he wore was left open at the corner and a tuft of dark curling hair peeped out. She knew what his chest look like bare; she had seen him take a dip in the pool several times for that. However, she suddenly had an incredible urge to see it. The way the hair scattered over the rugged muscles of his torso and disappeared in a fine line down the elastic band of his swimming trunks.
“Be honest Grace. Today was a disaster wasn’t it?” his voice startled her again. She sandwiched the two pieces of bread each and placed them on a plate before bringing them over.
“For Lulu, yes” she said finally and offered him a sandwich. Ben reached for one and held it in his hand, suspended in the air. He was waiting for her to take a bite first.
“You must think we’re such horrible parents. Lulu must hate us” he said and rubbed his face with his free hand. The glass of whiskey was now on the counter and Grace could see that it was nearly empty.
“I don’t think she hates you” Grace said quietly. She wanted to stroke his head, run her fingers through his hair. She felt sorry for him yes, but seeing him this vulnerable tied her stomach in knots too.
“I’m so afraid that our daughter will grow up to despise us” he said. He had covered his face with his hands again and spoke into his, his voice slightly muffled.
“She doesn’t despise you Mr. Perry” Grace said, as gently as possible and he finally looked at her again.
“Moira told me what happened, or rather yelled it out to me. I could see how it must have affected Lulu” he said, holding her gaze. He finally bit into his sandwich just as Grace took a bite from hers. She wasn’t sure what she could tell him to comfort him, not without bad-mouthing his wife in the process.
“I can’t leave Moira. Even if I wanted to” he said and shut his eyes tight. Grace was uncomfortable, she couldn’t imagine why he was telling her his personal problems. She was sure he must be drunk.
“She’ll get custody of Lulu and then I’ll never see my daughter again” he said. He looked like he was waiting for Grace to respond. His mouth was set grim, in a thin line, she could see that he was urging her with his eyes, to say something encouraging to him.
“I don’t know what to say Mr. Perry” she said.
“Call me Ben please. You’ve been with us for more than two years now” he said with a weak smile.
“I don’t know what to tell you Ben. I think you should do what is best for you and Lulu” Grace said and looked away from him. She didn’t know how to make him feel better, what adv
ice to give him other than to leave his wife, which he wouldn’t do.
“What is best for me is to be with somebody who loves my daughter and cares for her. That person doesn’t happen to be my wife” he had taken the last sip of whiskey from his glass and he now banged it down on the marble kitchen counter before standing up. Without a word he left the kitchen and Grace remained seated in silence. His half-eaten peanut butter sandwich was now on the floor.
*****
Grace and Lulu had just returned from the park when they heard screaming in the house.
“Go play with your toys in the room, I’ll be there in a few minutes” she told Lulu and gave her a gentle push in that direction. Elena, the housekeeper was dusting the paintings hanging from the walls and she turned to look at Grace.
“What’s going on?” she asked Elena, who simply rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. Moira was yelling, but Grace couldn’t hear the other person speak, the one who was at the receiving end of the abuse. She tiptoed over to the base of the staircase that led up to the bedrooms on the first floor and stood there, curious.
“Don’t tell me how to bring up my daughter” she heard Moira yell and then the muffled voice of a man, Ben.
“Who told you that you’re an authority on children?” Moira’s voice reverberated through the house and Grace winced inwardly. She didn’t want Lulu to hear any of this.
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