Authors: Louise Behiel
“Apparently some of the neighbors don’t want you and the kids – actually the kids – living here.”
“On what grounds?” He wasn’t making any sense. Who could take exception to her children? Her choices might irritate some people but they didn’t know her kids.
He reached out and took her hands, holding them between his, rubbing his thumbs over their backs. “The neighbors are mostly retired, Andie. Some of them are scared of what’s going to happen because of the kids living here.”
“What kids?” She couldn’t understand what he was trying to tell her, but the hole opening in the pit of her stomach said she probably wouldn’t like it.
“Your kids.” He took a deep breath. “They’re concerned the kids’ families will start hanging around, causing trouble for everyone.”
She snorted. “If the kids had families they wouldn’t be with me.”
“I know that and you know that, but they don’t. They only know you’ve got kids from social services living with you.”
“For Pete’s sake.” She pulled her hands away as she rose to her feet and stormed across the deck. “These aren’t juvenile delinquents. They’re kids who need love.”
She stomped back, and stopped in front of him, hands on her hips, then swallowed a scream of frustration. Short-sighted pig-headed people who’d had all the advantages of life and been able to offer them to their children were trying to deprive her kids of a decent life - their shot at the brass ring. She wouldn’t tolerate it. She’d worked too hard, both in the system and outside of it to let a few narrow-minded bigots harm her family.
“What’s the matter with these people?”
He rose, sliding his hands up her arms and around her shoulders, pulling her against him. “I have no idea,” he whispered against her hair. “They don’t realize what you’re doing for the kids. Or the chances you’re giving them.”
Andie felt her anger softening into sadness. “Why didn’t they ask me, if they didn’t understand? I’d have been happy to explain to them what’s going on. These kids are like my own. I couldn’t love them anymore.” She took a breath, forcing down the lump in her throat. “I’m Bonnie’s family. She doesn’t have anyone else.” She sniffed. “Not anybody she can count on, anyway.”
“If they were legally mine no one could complain.”
Enfolded in his warmth, she took a deep breath, releasing it heavily. “How can they do this?”
“I don’t know.”
She knew his hands were on her back, and slowly became aware of the circles he was rubbing. Of the security and comfort from being held in a man’s arms. She’d missed it more than she realized.
Suddenly, being held wasn’t enough. The fire of fury had morphed into sadness and then became another kind of heat. She reached her lips for his, planting little kisses along his jaw and chin and then taking his lips captive with hers.
She wasn’t timid or shy with Gray. She needed his taste, the feel of his mouth beneath hers to get through this.
His response was immediate. He opened and allowed her to plunder for a moment before taking charge. First sipping, then tasting all she had to offer.
Wrapping her arms around his waist, she pulled him close, needing to feel the length of his body against hers. A guttural groan escaped him as he slanted his mouth more firmly against hers, his tongue taking hers deeply.
His erection pushed between them, teasing her. Her hands slid down his back and over his cheeks, filling with his butt, kneading and feeling and pulling him harder against her. She ached and he had the remedy for her pain.
“Andie, sweetheart, slow down.” Gray struggled to catch his breath as he leaned his forehead against hers. “Let me catch my breath for a minute.”
His words penetrated her fog.
“We need to slow down or I’m going to lose control of the situation.”
Disappointment slithered over her. Her control had flown away a few minutes ago. “Have you still got some?”
“Barely. And it’s in tatters.” He pulled away from her, looked deep into her eyes. “I want you more than I’ve wanted a woman in a long time. But I don’t want the first time to happen on the deck with the whole world around us. Too many kids and neighbors around.”
She’d forgotten. The kids. The neighbors. The risks. For a few minutes she’d felt safe and ... safe was the right word even if she had been going up in flames.
She leaned her upper body further from him, creating a semblance of space without completely breaking their connection. “You’re right. Thanks for remembering. I think.”
“Don’t get me wrong.” He gently coaxed her. “I want you. But the time isn’t right.” A dry chuckle vibrated his chest. “Mr. Kapinski warned me about keeping my immoral activities to myself. I don’t think he wants to see anything he’s forgotten.”
“Old goat.” A giggle escaped. “I don’t want him watching us either.”
“Come on, let’s leave them all wondering and go inside. I’ll have a cup of tea and we can figure out our response to their petition.”
His words, as much as his tight, quick squeeze, warmed her heart. “Come on. Tea it is.”
***
After loosely braiding her hair, Andie pulled on a long blue tee shirt. Shutting off the bathroom light, she noticed her queen sized bed, sitting in the moonlight. It seemed lonely tonight. And sterile.
She’d kept herself so busy after Dave died, she hadn’t had time to feel alone. In less than a year, she’d turned her life upside down. Initially, except for Bonnie, there’d been a succession of foster children until the powers that be authorized her exclusively for long-term care. Gradually her home had become the haven she’d dreamed of. A place offering safety to children with nowhere else to go.
Some had come and gone. But the older two gave her a family. Stability. A reason to get up in the morning.
Looking at her bed, she realized that caring for children was no longer enough.
After placing the duvet on the chair by the window, she crawled between the cool sheets. Turning on her side, she faced the moon, examining the cold white light. Kind of like her life.
The kids gave her purpose. They gave structure to her day. Her work provided an income, though God knew the money from social services didn’t stretch much beyond necessities. By cutting corners and having the house paid for, she managed.
As long as the neighbors kept their complaints to themselves or with her, she wasn’t going to worry. But if they started creating trouble for the kids then she’d have to take action.
She didn’t want to move again - this place was finally starting to feel like home. She knew where things were and where they should be. The kids were settling into their new routine at school. And Jamie was starting to relax a little.
A move was more than she could consider at the moment. It was too overwhelming. And as long as Gray was next door she had another reason to stay – at least as long as he lived in his house. She wanted to explore what was happening between them. To feel the heat. And desire. It had been a long time for her but she realized as she drifted to sleep, she was hoping the drought was coming to an end. And her sexy neighbor was going to help her end it.
That night, she dreamed of towering piles of moving boxes all threatening to fall and crush her and the kids. People with pickets moved in and out of the piles, scaring her and causing pandemonium for the movers. In the midst of the chaos Gray stood beside her, kissing her senseless, then pushing her away. Several times she woke, and once half-asleep, she thought she heard something outside. But when silence prevailed, she fell back asleep, only to have the dream begin again.
When full consciousness returned, daylight filtered through the blinds. She might as well get up, since she wasn’t going to be able to sleep anymore.
Rolling her head on her shoulders, she padded to the kitchen and turned on the coffee then returned to the master bathroom. A hot shower would wake her up, then strong coffee would clear the cobwebs.
With her hair wrapped turban-style in a towel and wearing her ratty, blue terry robe, she poured a coffee and savored the aroma before taking her first sip. It was Saturday and the kids were still sleeping, but that wouldn’t last long. Chloe always woke early.
An azure sky covered an already warm day. Another lazy day of dry heat. A good day to take the kids to the zoo or Lake Simcoe, the man-made lake on the south side of town. A good day for relaxing and she was going to begin right now. She’d allowed the faceless neighbors to dominate and disturb her sleep last night. She wouldn’t let them steal today as well.
After pulling the morning newspaper, the Calgary Journal, from her mailbox, Andie crossed the house, grabbed her coffee from the counter and used her elbow to open the screen on to the deck. She wasn’t changing her routine one whit for the sake of the neighbors. They weren’t going to scare her into anything.
Red paint caught her attention as soon as she stepped outside. Red paint running down the cream colored siding. Incredulous, she turned toward the desecration. It had been applied in a hurry and it ran down the wall. But the words were clear:
“you didn’t listen so now you’ll be sorry”.
***
The pre-mixed concrete was hard to stir by hand but since it was too early to use a drill, Gray stirred it with a steel rod. He’d slept through the night for a change and woke remembering – with a smile on his face and an erection. Nothing much unusual in the latter, but his memories might be the reason for its painful intensity and his smile. After splashing water on his face and brushing his teeth he’d put on clean jeans and a tee shirt.
Wanting to get to work on the pool fence, he decided to grab breakfast later. His plan had been to finish cementing in the posts today. Since the weatherman had promised a scorcher, he’d decided to start early and finish before the deep, dead heat of the afternoon.
Hurrying down the steps, a splash of color on Andie’s house caught his attention. As he took in the words, his smile died. As did his plans. Things had gone too far. Way too far. First the brick and now paint. Rage simmered near the surface – nearer than he remembered. Then fear. How far would they go to get rid of her?
Once the police checked it out, he’d get busy and start cleaning up the mess. Taking a couple of steps around the back of the house, he stopped and checked his watch. It was barely five a.m. Way too early to go barging in and waking the whole house.
He’d have to wait until he saw some sign of life. Then he’d go over. In the meantime, he looked at the hole in the ground; he might as well get some work done while he was waiting. Maybe he’d be able to work off some anger in the process.
Steadying the pole with one hand, he held the pail with the other, allowing the concrete to ooze out and settle around the post. Pail empty, he was setting it aside when he heard Andie’s door open. He straightened in time to see her put her fist against her mouth.
Dropping everything, Gray ran out of his yard, around the fence and up the stairs to the deck. She turned in his direction as he hit the first riser, fear making her eyes huge.
“Oh God, sweetheart, I’m sorry.” He pulled her close, overwhelmed with the need to keep her safe. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Whoever was behind the vandalism had to be stopped before somebody got hurt. And before the empty look in her eyes broke his heart.
“What is wrong with these people, Gray? How can they have so much hate against my kids?”
“I don’t know.” He held her tight against him, the dampness of the towel on her hair moistening his neck. “Rest assured, we’ll find out who’s responsible.” He stepped back and took her hand. “Come on, we have to call the police.” When despair crossed her face, he squeezed her hand, trying to share his strength. “We don’t have a choice, hon.” Gray took a step toward the kitchen.
She didn’t follow him. “Maybe that’s what they want.”
He looked back at her. “What do you mean?”
“Maybe they want us to call the police. Maybe they’ll keep it up until we hit the news, hoping social services will take the kids away. We all know the department’s had more than its fair share of bad publicity lately. They’ll go to any lengths to avoid more.”
“You’re probably right, but we’ll fight that battle when it comes. If it comes.” He tugged her hand. “Right now, the only thing we know for a fact is your house has been targeted by vandals. Twice. It could pose a risk to all of you unless the police catch whoever’s responsible.” He gave her a hard look. “That’s our best shot at ending it, hon – catching them.”
She took a deep breath, her battle visible in the shadowed depths of her eyes. “You could be right.” She shrugged, a heavy, weight-of-the-world on her shoulders kind of agreement. “I don’t know.”
After reporting the damage, Andie disconnected the call, placing the phone on the kitchen table. “She said they’d send a car right out. We’re to stay out of the back yard.”
“Did she give you any idea how long?”
Andie shook her head. “No.” She pulled some threads from her robe, then looked up. “This is a great outfit to wear when you meet a guy after he kisses your socks off.”
“Did I kiss your socks off?”
Her blush said it all.
“Actually, I think the robe’s kinda cute.”
“This old thing?” She smoothed her hand down the front of it. It’s my favorite. As you can tell.” She fiddled with the belt. “Dave hated it.”