“Nope, save it for later. Thank Taylor, Kennedy, and Piper for taking care of you, and let’s go,” Joe said as he entered the door of some type of game room, maybe more like library. He looked around, taking in the bookshelves on all but one wall, which held a flat screen and a small fireplace. Video games were shelved with DVDs and a huge CD collection. They vied for room on the shelves with some books.
“You’ve got school tomorrow, and so do they,” he said, looking around at the room, searching for Shane’s gear.
“Thanks, Piper, I had fun. Can I come back tomorrow?” Shane said, setting his controller down before standing up.
“Let’s give Piper time to rest between visits,” Joe said before she could answer. He picked up Shane’s backpack from the small sofa.
A few moments later, he and Shane led the way back down the stairs, Taylor and Piper bringing up the rear, the dogs running from behind the crowd to the front of the line, reaching the door before all of them, managing not to trip anybody. The dogs were giving a final sniff to Joe’s shoes while Shane grabbed his from the shoe pile.
“Thanks again for bringing him home with you, especially given the short notice,” he said.
“Don’t worry, we enjoyed having him,” Piper said, opening the door, watching as Joe and Shane walked through. She and Taylor stood there and watched them get into their car and drive away, giving them a final wave.
“Shane’s my best friend,” Taylor said.
“You don’t want a girl for a best friend?”
“Nope. Girls are work,” she said. “Like you one minute and the next minute they don’t. Too much trouble. Shane always likes me.”
Piper locked the door, set the alarm, and couldn’t argue with her sister’s logic.
“Well I’m glad you have a friend. Shane is a nice kid. It’s always nice to have a good friend.”
“Did you have friends growing up?”
“Yeah, like you, they were more male than female. Plus I had your older sisters, Blair and Samantha, for company when they weren’t getting on my nerves,” she said, walking to turn off the lights in the living room, Taylor trailing along behind her.
“I don’t know them that well,” she said.
“We’ll have to fix that,” Piper responded, reminding herself to check with Margarite again. “They are nice, and fun. You would like them.” Piper headed toward the kitchen to lock up in there.
“Where are they now?”
“Samantha, the oldest, is in her first year of college at Rice University. Blair is a junior in high school.”
“I wish I were around them more. I like being here with you. Sometimes I feel different, not like I belong. You know, being from two different parents. It would be nice to know my sisters, though, since they are kind of like me.”
Piper was surprised, but maybe she shouldn’t have been. It was hard trying to find where you fit in, even when it was clear who you were. She couldn’t imagine having to make a choice.
“I know. I’ll see if I can get us together, soon, I promise,” she said, pulling Taylor to her side, walking out the now dark kitchen headed back to the stairs.
“We’d better get ready for school tomorrow.”
Chapter 9
A week later, Joe walked into Home Away From Home on his lunch hour. He hadn’t been by since school started. But today he wanted to ask Reye’s opinion about something as well as bring her up to date on Shane. He could have called, but he liked seeing her in person. He considered her a good friend, one of the few people who he felt truly cared about him and Shane. He didn’t talk about himself much, and she knew more than most, which wasn’t a lot. She wasn’t pushy. That was one of his favorite traits in anyone.
He’d been feeling out of sorts lately, the upheaval in finding a permanent sitter for Shane, he guessed, and maybe this uncompromising desire to have Piper in a purely sexual way pitted against this fierce need to protect his heart, although it usually hadn’t been this much of a struggle.
He rapped his knuckles on the side of the door in warning before he opened the screen door and strolled in. She was heading to him, a smile on her face. She was almost as tall as him, spiky locks on the top of a heart-shaped, beautiful face. Her smile widened.
“Hey, stranger,” she said, walking over to give him a hug.
“Hey,” he answered, returning her hug, letting himself be comforted, surprised that he’d needed it. He pulled out of her embrace.
“So what brings you by?” she said.
“Nothing. Just wanted to let you know Shane was doing well. No problems with school, fitting right in so far.”
“That’s great. He’s a great kid. You’ve done a lot for him,” she said.
He brushed it aside, his habit to always underplay his commitment to his nephew.
“So how are the sitters?” she asked, walking to the couch placed in the room that held her computers.
She sat, and so did he.
“Not much luck,” he said. “I came to the end of your list three weeks ago. I’ve been using the lady next door, Mrs. Lewis. She has grandkids of her own and felt sorry for me, but it’s getting old. She’s getting old.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Who knew it would be so hard to find competent help,” he said, looking out the front door. “How is Stephen?”
“Fine. Busy at work,” she said.
“So he was a good decision for you, a good mate for you?” he asked, looking ahead.
“That came from nowhere, but yes, he is,” she said. “Why?”
“No reason, just making sure,” he said, his eyes moving around the room. “There is a woman I know. She’s taking care of her two younger sisters while their parents work out their lives. Not formal custody like me, but acting as their parent now. They attend Shane’s school.
“She watched Shane for me once. I couldn’t get away from work in time to pick him up from the school’s aftercare program. He loves being with her and her sisters, and is always asking to go home with them. One of the girls is in Shane’s class, the older one, who is actually turning into a good friend to him,” he added, looking at Reye now. “I’ve been thinking about hiring her to pick him up for me, you know, on the days I’m working late or get tied up.”
“Sounds like a reasonable plan to me. She must be nice if you are considering her.” Reye’s tone was tentative, almost inquiring.
“She is, actually, owns the two Lights Out Coffee shops. You’re familiar with them?”
“I’ve not been there. But I’ve heard of them, good things, too,” she said, masking her curiosity.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“You should ask her. Sounds like the perfect plan for you and Shane.”
“I wouldn’t need her every day, just a couple of times a week,” he said, pausing. “And maybe someone to call in case of emergencies. You know, if I get hit by a truck, someone he could stay with.”
“If you get hit by a truck, I would take him,” Reye said.
“I know, but I wouldn’t impose, and you have a husband now.”
“Stephen doesn’t mind. He likes Shane as much as I do,” she said.
“It would be perfect, her taking care of him,” he said. “Her shops are located close to school and close to her home. Shane is in her sister’s class. They are good buddies, so why not encourage it? You know, it can’t hurt for Shane to have one good friend. Everyone needs that, right?” He was rushing through his words now. “She’s taken in her sisters, manages two shops.” He was sitting forward on the couch now, arms on his thighs, as he explained the benefits of his plan.
A woman, huh? Finally, and not his usual type, Reye thought. Joe always had women, but went nowhere near any that would maybe last past temporary. He never talked about them, and he wasn’t talking about her much now, but this was huge for Joe.
“So you think it might work, that it’s a good idea?” he asked her.
“It’s worth a try,” she responded, rea
ching for his hand.
“That’s what I was thinking,” he said, glancing around, watching for signs on her face that he’d given away his appreciation for Piper in his conversation. He squeezed her hand.
“She sounds like a nice woman,” she said. “What does she look like?”
“Why?” he asked, now on the alert.
“Maybe I’ve seen her around. Austin’s not that big, and I’ve hit most of the popular coffee places. I may have met her.”
“She is about your height, hair long, curly, all around her face, light brown skin, athletically built,” he said. Reye’s eyebrows lifted at that description. It was more than she expected.
“Okay,” she said. “Well let me know how it goes.”
“I will,” he said, sitting back like this had been a major decision for him. Reye smiled. Joe liked a woman. Her smile widened. No way was she telling him that, but inwardly she was so pleased. Oh, please, let him find someone to love. He deserved it. She didn’t know about the whole of his childhood, what had brought him to this place where he loved his nephew fiercely, but guarded his heart like his life depended on it.
No one but the sturdy got through to Joe. She hoped this woman was sturdy enough to withstand Joe and the guard dogs surrounding his heart. What a catch he’d be for the one who could break through. A more loving, committed man she’d yet to meet. She had included him with Stephen, her brothers, and her dad—the gold standard for them all.
* * *
October
Saturday morning Piper stood behind the counter of her shop with the girls, surprised as she watched Joe and Shane walk through the door.
Shane waved at her before moving to his friends, who were dancing in front of the TV to a video game. Joe walked over to her with something in his hand. The look on his face was uncomfortable.
“Hi,” he said, a little tentatively.
“Hey,” she replied.
“Shane and I were out shopping today and we thought…. I mean we wanted to drop this off as a way of thanking you for the help last week. ”
“It wasn’t a problem. We don’t mind helping if you need us,” she said.
“Thanks again anyway,” he said handing her a small square-shaped object wrapped in plain brown paper.
Piper opened it. It was a CD of zydeco music. She wasn’t familiar with this artist.
“He’s new on the scene,” said Joe, watching her face. “You’ll like him.”
“Thanks, Joe, that was very thoughtful.”
“Do you have time to talk for a second, maybe in your office?” he asked.
“Sure, let me call some help and we can head back.”
She stuck her head into the kitchen and said something to someone. A few minutes later, Joe watched as a college student dressed in the coffee shop uniform came out and moved to the counter.
“Shane, Taylor, Ken,” Piper called, waiting for the three heads to turn her way. “Joe and I will be in my office for a second.”
“Sure,” all three children replied in unison, happy to have more time with Shane.
He followed her in and over to the small couch where she sat down and looked at him expectantly as he joined her.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“I have a proposition for you,” Joe said, getting straight to the point, catching the interest as it flickered across her face. “I would like to hire you to pick up Shane after school on the days that I’m tied up. Picking up Shane has become a problem for me since I’ve accepted this new position. I thought I could manage it and Shane, and I haven’t had much luck finding a long-term sitter I could count on. And believe me, I’ve tried. Shane really likes being around you and your sisters, and I need a reliable place for him to be.”
“I offered, remember?”
“I know, but this could be more than occasionally.”
“Still, it’s not a problem. Shane’s easy, my sisters love him, and he’s a sweet kid.” She turned to find his eyes on her, serious. She was finding out when it came to his nephew, he was always serious.
“I’ll help, but you don’t have to pay me,” she said.
“Yeah, I do. It works better that way.”
“Okay,” she said, choosing not to argue the point. Just ’cause he gave it to her didn’t mean she had to spend it.
“So how long would you need me?” she asked.
“For as long as you have the girls living with you. I wouldn’t expect you to help if you didn’t have your two,” he said.
“Okay,” she replied.
“There are some days each week that I’ll run late, usually no more than two. I’ll know as early as Monday which days they’ll be. I can pick Shane up from the shop. Would you be willing to take him home with you if I’m later than 6:30?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“So,” he said.
“So,” she replied, chuckling.
“I thought we could meet every Monday morning to cover our schedules, to confirm the times that I’ll need you. I’ll drop by the shop, if that’s okay.”
“Sure, if you want. You could just contact me by e-mail instead of coming here if that’s easier for you.”
“No, I stop somewhere for coffee most mornings anyway, it might as well be here. I would also like to list you as an emergency contact for those times when I can’t get to Shane. There are also last-minute things that might come up. If I’m on call I might need your help, too. Most times I can work from anywhere, but there are occasions that I need to go in.”
“Okay,” she replied.
“Can you start next week? Thursday and Friday, to be exact. Can you take him with you from school both days?”
“Sure,” she said.
“So what about the pay schedule?” he asked.
“What about it?”
“What do you want?”
“Whatever you pay the others is fine. You’re more familiar with all of that than I am.”
“Fine,” he said and sat back, relaxed now. She could see the loosening of his body.
“Thanks then,” he said, looking around her office. “Is your other shop similar to this one?” he asked.
“It’s older, and a different crowd too, more college kids.”
“It’s impressive, what you’ve done.”
“Not really. I’ve been lucky to have my dad to help,” she said, catching his gaze. She had no idea what he was thinking.
“Well, if you need me, call me on my cell, and of course Shane has his own cell and can call me when he likes. I’ll notify the school to add you permanently to the list of people who have my permission to pick up Shane,” he said, standing up. “I’d better get going. Shane and I still have a few more errands to run.”
He led the way back to the front and immediately called Shane, who said goodbye to the girls. They left just as unceremoniously as they’d entered. Interesting, she thought, her mind moving in so many directions; dissecting his visit, the gift, his request for help.
* * *
What time was it, Joe wondered, checking the clock on his nightstand. Two in the a.m., late Saturday night, or early Sunday morning was more like it. He’d hung out with Shane the rest of the day after he’d dropped that package off to Piper.
After his talk with Reye, he’d decided that Piper’s taking care of Shane would be a great idea and was glad that she’d agreed to help him. The purchase of the gift had come from a different place; his spur-of-the-moment decision surprised him. He and Shane had been at one of those all-in-one music, video, and electronic stores. While Shane looked for a new video game, Joe had been browsing the music section. He found the CD and purchased it with her in mind.
Before he knew it, he’d had it wrapped, and didn’t think to put it away before Shane had gotten an eyeful. Then the inquisition began, so he’d ended up explaining what an impulse purchase was to his nephew. Then, of course, he had to deliver it to her amid all his second thoughts and misgivings of what it meant.
He liked watch
ing the delight on her face, and the pleasure reflected in her eyes at receiving it. A bit of something else was in her eyes, too, and he liked watching that part as well. He was glad he’d done it. He still felt weird, a little disconcerted by the whole of it.
So, he called up Sondra—red hair falling down her back, no-strings-attached Sondra, professional-by-day, wild at night Sondra. They’d gone to a movie and then come back here. He turned to find the space next to him in his bed empty and sighed. He hated when that happened, and it almost always happened. Woman on the roam in his home.
He sighed, sat up, pulled on his jeans, and walked out of his room, running his hand through his hair. There was a small light on in the kitchen. He headed toward it.
And yes, there was a nude woman, hand on the door, staring at the contents of his refrigerator. He stood quietly and watched Sondra move, admiring the female form before walking over to her to slap her softly on the part that was the closest to him, causing her to jump and giggle. She pushed herself into his body, seeking his lips, which he gave over quite willingly.
“Hey, sweet cakes,” she said, smiling, and then lifted her head up to his again for more.
They stood there for a second, lost in the kiss, when Joe heard a sound and turned. Shane stood in the doorway, taking it all in, and Joe moved to put Sondra behind him.
“Didn’t see your light on,” he said to his nephew.
“I heard a noise,” Shane said. “Sorry.”
“No, nothing to apologize for,” he said. “Head on back to bed. It was just me making noise. I’m sorry I woke you,” he said.
He knew better, he thought. He was usually more careful, but it was two in the morning and Shane usually slept like a brick. Still, Joe silently admonished himself.
“Night, Uncle Joe,” he said, turning and walking back toward his bedroom.
* * *
Shane stumbled back to bed. His Uncle Joe was something. Women loved his uncle. He’d noticed women checking his uncle out when he wasn’t looking, even Piper, but she turned away before his uncle noticed.
Lights Out (Indigo) Page 10