“Yeah well. Do what I’ve done and you become the black sheep. I’m lucky Marco still speaks to me.”
Black sheep was an understatement. Mama and Papa were upset when I moved in with Trenton a little over three years ago. Her last words were ‘I hope you know what you’re doing. And that you don’t expect us to raise a child that he doesn’t want.’
I’d gone to visit them a couple of times after, but I always had the feeling that I wasn’t quite welcomed anymore. So I would go to the restaurant to see Marco. But he too seemed to always busy. Too busy for me. I think that hurt about as much as Trenton’s leaving me. There wasn’t a time in my life that I could remember when I didn’t have Marco around. I could talk to him about anything. And he was always there when I needed him. So to have him talk to me with a chilly tone or ignore me, stung. A lot.
“If I can find a babysitter for Olivia, I’ll come for a little while. You know that I’m not one for parties.”
“You need to get out more,” Tracy said. “It will do you some good.”
I started to say something else, but was interrupted by Jason, one of the hospital orderlies.
“Hey Lexie, Mr. Burton is here for his physical therapy session. Which room do you want me to put him in?”
I looked up at him, my gaze lingering on his face. From the corner of my eye, I saw Tracy pass an interested look from me to Jason and back. I knew there was going to be questions to answer.
“Um, room three is fine,” I finally answered. “I’ll be there in a moment.”
Jason nodded and went to push the older man into the other room. I watched him leave, feeling a fluttering in my belly. He was really cute.
“Who that?”
I turned back to Tracy. “What?”
She gestured towards the door where Jason had left with her chin. “You heard me? Who’s he?”
“That’s just Jason,” I answered, finishing the note I was making on the file. “He’s one of the orderlies from the hospital.”
“Really? How come I’ve never seen him around?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s new. Been here about three months or so.”
“He’s cute.”
“I guess. I haven’t really paid much attention to him to be honest.”
“That’s not how it looked to me.”
I stood to go to the other room.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She grinned as she followed me out of the room. “I bet you don’t.” She paused outside of room three, looking inside. Jason was in there, leaning against the table talking to Mr. Burton. “He’s hot,” she said loudly.
“Shut up, Tracy,” I hissed.
Too late. He’d heard her and he looked up. A smile crossed his face. I offered a weak smile in return while Tracy grinned at him, gesturing at me with her head. Damn, and I couldn’t even punch her to make her quit without being totally obvious.
“If you’ll excuse me, Tracy,” I said pointedly. “I have a patient to attend to.”
Her smile broadened. “Sure. We’ll talk later.” With one last look at Jason, she swished out of the room.
I turned back to the older man who was waiting for me to start his therapy session. “Sorry Mr. Burton. Tracy can be-”
“A hoot,” he finished with a grin.
I nodded. “That she is. Shall we get started?”
An hour later, Jason returned to take Mr. Burton back to his room. I watched him push the man out of the room, admiring the way the muscles in his arms bulged as he worked. He glanced over his shoulder at me. “See you next time.”
I smiled at him. “Bye.”
After he was gone, I busied myself straightening up the room to get it ready for the next patient. I wondered if Jason would bring down the next one as well. He really was cute, with his long brown hair and dancing hazel eyes. He looked younger than he was. I rather liked the sound of his voice. It was deep, but it held no strong Southern accent like Trenton’s.
Trenton. I wondered why he crossed my mind just now when I was thinking about Jason. I guess maybe I was comparing the two men. In looks, they were similar in their build. Both were well muscled but not bulky. They both had beautiful eyes. But while Trenton’s were watchful, Jason’s were playful. Both had kissable lips. And-
“You okay?”
I jumped startled. Turning, I saw Jason standing in the doorway. “Uh, yeah. I’m fine.”
He came into the room and leaned against the table. “You’ve been here long?”
I frowned. “You mean in the hospital or the city?”
The corners of his mouth curved. “Both.”
“I’ve lived here all my life, but I’ve worked here for a bit over three years. You?”
“I’ve been living up North. But I came back when my dad got sick. I’ve been taking care of him.”
“Sorry to hear he’s sick.”
“Me too.” He grinned and I found myself smiling back. ”Tracy called you Lexie. Is that your real name?”
I shook my head. “My name is Alessandra.”
“Alessandra,” he murmured, trying the word on his tongue. “Pretty. You must be Italian.”
“Yep.”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
Well there it was. At least he was upfront. “No. Not anymore.”
“Me neither.”
I had to smile at the tone in his voice when he said that. “You sound so sad,” I said.
“Then why don’t we make each other happy again and go out sometimes? Maybe dinner. A movie. Whatever you want.”
I looked at him. I so wanted to go out with him, to see what he was about. But men didn’t tend to hang around long when they found out about Olivia.
“I don’t know,” I said softly.
Jason moved closer to me but didn’t touch me. “Aw come on. We’ll have a good time.”
I started to say something else, but was cut off when a younger woman came into the room with my bouncing girl in her arms. She grinned at me. “Olivia missed you. Her buddy Colin just went home. I figured I’d save you the trip in coming downstairs to get her.” Her eyes darted from me to Jason. “Oh I’m sorry to interrupt. I can take her back to the daycare. No problem.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s ok. I was getting ready to leave anyway. My last patient canceled. I get to go home a little early today.” I opened my arms and my baby hurled her little body into my embrace. “Hey squirt,” I said, kissing her on the cheek.
“Mama,” she crowed, throwing her arms around my neck.
God I never got tired of hearing her say that! I hugged her close and glanced at Jason who was watching. “Jason, this is Molly. She works downstairs in the daycare. Molly, this is Jason, one of the orderlies.”
“Hi,” Molly said brightly. Her eyes twinkled as she gave Jason a quick up and down look. He didn’t pay her much attention. His gaze was on me and Olivia.
“Hey,” he answered absently.
Molly could take a hint. She tickled Olivia once more before leaving me and my baby alone with my would-be, probably-not-going-to-be, suitor.
Jason came over to where I stood holding my baby. He held out his hand to her and she hesitated only a second before grabbing his fingers. “What’s your name cutie?”
“Owiva,” was my girl’s prompt answer.
Jason looked at me for the translation. “What’s her name?”
“Olivia,” I answered.
“Hi Olivia,” he said, touching her fingers with his. “How old is she? Two?”
“Three.” I paused watching him play with my daughter. “I guess you don’t want to go out now.”
His hazel gaze met mine. “Why not? The three of us can have fun.”
“What?”
That same smile curved his whole mouth this time. “Just what I said. The three of us. So what if we watch a cartoon instead of a movie? Or go to Burger Town instead of Michelle’s? I don’t care. I’ve been watching you for a while now. And there’s
something about you that calls to me. You’re sad about something and well, I want to be the one to bring back your smile.”
“That sounds nice,” I said quietly. “But how long before-”
He held up a hand. “Before I bail?” He shook his head. “Look, I don’t care if Olivia comes on every single date. I only want to see you and spend time with you. If you want to that is.” He reached under his shirt, pulling his phone from the clip on the waistband of his scrubs. I watched as he flipped through the apps until he found what he was looking for. He held out the phone to me.
I took the phone from his hand to study the picture he’d pulled up. Olivia squirmed in my arms so that she could see too. “Baby,” she said, touching the screen.
I looked up at Jason. “Who’s this?” I said, gesturing to the picture of the cute, chubby-cheeked blond boy with the big brown eyes and wide smile.
Jason took the phone back, looking at the picture adoringly. “His name is Devon. He’s three now, like Olivia.”
“Your son?”
He nodded. “My boy,” he said proudly.
“So you’re married?”
“Nah. Divorced. She’s remarried. I don’t get to see him but maybe twice a year if that. She and her new husband think that he’d be better off not seeing me. I bet she doesn’t turn down the child support checks I send every month though.”
“Sorry Jason,” I said sympathetically.
“Me too. He’s a great kid.” He brushed a hand through Olivia’s dark curls. “What’s her father’s story?”
I hugged my baby close. “He doesn’t know she’s alive.”
“What?”
“He broke up with me and I didn’t tell him I was pregnant. He doesn’t know he has a daughter.”
Jason’s eyes flashed. “You should have told him,” he said quietly. “He probably would be in her life if he knew.”
“You don’t have the right to tell me what I should have done,” I said curtly. “You don’t know me well enough.”
He met my gaze. “You’re right. I don’t. I’m sorry. I guess you have your reasons for why you didn’t tell him.”
I nodded, calming down. “Yeah, I do.” I looked away from his probing gaze. “I figured that since he decided that he didn’t want to be with me anymore, telling him he was about to be a daddy wasn’t going to change his mind. Nor would it have stopped his transfer.”
Jason nodded. “I guess you’re right. He’s military? Do you know where he is?”
“Yeah. I know where he is. But so what? I’m sure the two of them are happy and probably have their own family.”
“He could help you out. You know, pay child support or something.”
“Yes well, I can take care of her by myself. I’ve been doing it for three years now. I don’t need his help.”
A smile curved his lips again. “No I guess you don’t, do you?” he whispered. For a moment, he stared at me. “Are you going to Gloria’s birthday party tonight?” he finally said.
“Nope. I have a date with the couch after Olivia goes to bed. Are you going?”
He lifted a shoulder. “I had thought about it. I guess I was going to ask you to go with me. But-” His voice trailed as he looked at Olivia.
“I guess you won’t be asking now, huh?”
“I was going to. Would you like to go with me?”
I shook my head. “I can’t. I don’t have anyone to watch Olivia.” He looked disappointed and I said quickly, before I thought better of it, “But we can watch a movie or something if you want to.”
His eyes twinkled. “Are you asking me out, lady?”
I shrugged. “If you want to.”
“That sounds nice. I’ll bring a pizza.” He paused as his pager went off. “I gotta go. But I’ll see you later.”
“Ok,” I said softly. “See you later.”
Looks like I had a date.
BACK IN YOUR ARMS
JASON AND I SAW EACH other as often as we could. He was super sweet and good with Olivia. She adored him. But I was hesitant about her getting too attached to him. While I enjoyed his company, I wasn’t sure that I was as into him as he was with me. We laughed and talked at work, and would talk for hours on the phone at night. But I didn’t feel the same attraction for him that I had for Trenton.
Maybe it was dumb and I should have been over Trenton a long time ago. It had been three years since we’d broken up or even talked after all. But I couldn’t forget him. I still loved him. And I often wondered what would have happened if he hadn’t been transferred or he’d refused Maggie’s advances. It would be him in the living room, playing blocks with his daughter instead of another man. He would be watching her grow up and showering her with love and toys instead of my brother.
“What’s wrong with you?”
I glanced over at Marco, who was stacking several colorful plastic blocks on top of each other to make a tall, wobbly tower. It fell apart and Olivia dissolved into peals of laughter and crawled into his lap to build it again.
I smiled at her antics. “Nothing. Just thinking I guess.”
“About him?”
I didn’t have to ask who the him was. “Maybe.”
Marco got up, leaving Olivia to play with her blocks. “Don’t do this to yourself, bug. He’s the one missing out on his daughter’s growing up. But you don’t need him. You have me.”
“I know. And I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I blew out a breath. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course. What?”
“Why can’t I seem to forget him? I mean, I’m comparing him to Jason. I want to be with Jason. I really do. But it’s not the same. He’s not him.”
Marco sighed. “I don’t know. I guess I felt the same way after Angelina. I was in love with that girl. I was going to marry her, you know. Just like you felt for Trenton, she was everything I could ask for. Beautiful. Smart. Loving. Italian.” He would have to drop that tidbit in. “But when we broke up, it seemed like every girl I dated after her was not good enough. Like, they weren’t on her level, and so I didn’t let myself get too close. And I think in the back of my mind, I was always waiting for the woman to let me down. Then I’d have a valid excuse for ending things.”
Damn. He’d hit the nail on the head. “That’s exactly how I feel,” I said.
Olivia came over to Marco and he scooped her into his arms. He rumpled her hair and she hugged him tightly around the neck. He looked at me over the baby’s shoulder. “At least you got the best part of him,” Marco continued. He patted the child’s back lovingly. “Her.”
That was true. Olivia looked a lot like Trenton, but she had my temperament. I loved her more than anything in this world. And I loved her father. I just wished I’d told him. Maybe he’d still be with us.
A knock on the door startled me. Marco looked over at me.
“You expecting someone?”
“No. It’s probably Tracy.” I went to open the door. Jason stood on the other side.
“Hey,” he greeted me.
“Hi.”
He gave me a quick look. “Is this a bad time? I know I didn’t call or anything. I just wanted to see you.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s okay. Come in.”
Jason stepped inside and I closed the door, steeling myself for Marco to meet him. We were just friends and nothing more right now, but my brother wouldn’t see that. I hoped he wouldn’t treat Jason the way he’d treated Trenton.
Said brother came back into the living room, carrying Olivia. He stopped, his dark eyes roaming over Jason. He didn’t say anything, but waited for me to introduce the men to each other.
Jason was eyeing Marco as well. His gaze went back and forth between us. I knew he was silently questioning who Marco was to me and why he held my baby like he was her father. I figured it expedient to go ahead and clear the air before they started in on each other.
“Marco, this is Jason Sloan. He’s an orderly at the hospital on base. Jason, this is my bro
ther Marco.”
Relief passed over Jason’s face before he smiled and offered his hand to Marco. “Nice to meet you. Your sister is something special. All of her patients love her.”
“I know she’s special,” Marco said as he shifted the baby to the other arm to shake Jason’s hand. “Just so long as you remember that.”
Oh goodness. Here we go again. “Marco, Jason and I are just friends. Don’t start.”
Olivia squirmed out of Marco’s embrace and ran over to Jason. She pulled him hand and he knelt to hug her. I noticed Marco watching him closely as he played with my baby. I was pretty sure that Jason noticed it too.
“I see you got my niece’s vote,” Marco commented dryly.
Jason looked up. “She’s sweet.”
“And not yours.”
“Marco,” I hissed.
Jason stood up. “No, it’s okay Lexie. I get it.” He looked over at Marco. “I know she isn’t mine. I have a son. He’s three. His mom won’t let me see him.”
“So you’re using my niece?”
“I’m not using anyone. I like your sister very much and I want to spend time with her. And that means spending time with her baby as well. Believe me, I have no intentions of trying to take Olivia’s dad’s place.”
Marco eyed him for a moment more then relaxed a little. “My sister has been hurt enough. I won’t stand here and watch it happen again,” he said meaningfully.
Jason nodded. “I got it. I won’t hurt her or Olivia.”
“You better not.”
I glared at my brother. “Stop it with the tough guy routine, Marco. We are just friends.”
He stared at me for a moment. “You like him?” he asked me in Italian.
“Yeah. I think I do.”
Once again, he looked over at Jason who was now stacking blocks with Olivia. “Have you gone out with him?”
I shook my head. “It’s hard to date with a baby. Fortunately, Jason is a dad and understands. Besides, it’s not like I can ask Mama or Papa to watch her.”
“But you can ask me.”
“You work all the time. And besides, I didn’t want to hear you fuss at me for having a baby.”
Marco’s brows pulled together. “Olivia is my niece,” he said softly. “You’re my sister. Haven’t I been there from day one?”
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