Authors: Natalie J. Damschroder
"Parker, I'm sorry. Are you done with the show?"
"A few minutes ago."
Sophie opened her eyes and made a move to get up, but he kept one hand on her feet. She relaxed against the door jamb again and Parker relaxed. A step forward.
"I need to ask you to pick up the kids," Mare said. He barely avoided growling. A step forward, then a step back.
He'd been planning to take Sophie to a real dinner and hopefully move their relationship to a deeper level.
Maybe he still had a chance. "How long do you need me to stay with them?"
"Um, well, this meeting may go pretty late."
Parker sighed. Pretty late meant he was probably spending the night. "No problem, Mare. I'll go get them now." He hung up the phone and glanced at his watch. It was already twenty of six.
"Mark, are you done with us?" he called to the engineer.
After a muffled "go ahead" from behind the shoe he stood and pulled Sophie to her feet.
"I hope you don't have plans. I have to pick up my nephews by six."
Sophie shrugged. "No problem. You can all drop me at my car after we get them."
They walked quickly to Parker's Toyota Sequoia. He noticed that Sophie had no trouble keeping up with his long stride.
"It's nice to find a tall man who walks with his whole legs,"
Sophie said, surprising him. She grinned. "Most guys your height kinda
mosey
," she added, sliding into the truck after 107
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
he opened the door. She looked over her shoulder and noticed for the first time the booster seats in the back. She was glad she hadn't seen them before she knew about his nephews.
"How old are they?" she asked once Parker was in the truck.
"Four and seven." He checked traffic, then pulled out of the public parking lot. "Sorry we had to do this. Mare hasn't been working late because I've been doing the show, but every so often it's inevitable."
"No problem. I'm not going anywhere." Sophie settled into the fine leather bucket seat and let her eyes drift to half mast. She was whooped, but not exhausted, thanks to Parker's foot rub. It was something Jake would do for Kira, she thought, and wondered if Kira felt this same tingle deep in her abdomen when he did.
It only took five minutes to get to the day care. They walked in the front door just as two boys followed their teacher into the lobby.
"Hello, Parker," the serene-seeming older woman said.
"Frick and Frack here were getting worried." She strode behind the counter, smoothing nonexistent strands of hair into her bun, as the boys attacked their uncle's legs. Parker gave them each a one-armed hug, then quickly keyed a code into a key pad. Sophie watched screens flash on the attached monitor and guessed he was logging the boys out. She also guessed, based on his speed, that he did it often.
"They the last ones?"
108
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
"Trina is still here. She's in the little girl's room. Mary called to say you were coming, but they never believe her until you're here." Her lips thinned. "It's been a while since Mary has asked you to pick up the boys, hasn't it?"
The smallest was now hanging by Parker's forearm. The only indication that he even noticed was the stiffness of his forearm as he played tree. The older boy jumped up and grabbed Parker's shirt by the shoulder, climbing onto his back. Parker supported him with his free hand, all the while keeping his attention on the woman who spoke to him.
"I've been working later," he explained. "Radio show.
Maybe you've heard it? Rant and Rave?"
The woman's lips thinned further. "I've heard
of
it, Mr.
Cornwall."
Oo, Mr. Cornwall now. Sophie wondered what had happened to "Parker."
"It's hardly the type of show we'd play in a day care center." Her mouth was now completely pursed.
"Of course." He pulled his left arm up until the monkey-boy dangled at waist height, then yanked his arm free and caught the boy against his hip. "Thank you, Mrs. Persimmon."
The door behind them opened and a rumpled woman rushed in. "I'm so sorry I'm late," she said, heading directly for the keypad and following the same procedure Parker had.
"Where's Trina?"
Before Mrs. Persimmon could answer, the bathroom door opened and a frail little girl stepped out.
109
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
"There's my baby!" When the woman bent to hug her daughter, she was gentle to the point of caution. Like hugging an elderly person, Sophie thought.
"Hello, Diane."
The woman beamed up at Parker. She looked less exhausted when she did. Sophie knew the feeling, and resented that Diane felt it.
"Parker, hi! Long time no see. How's the show going?"
They made small talk as the gang maneuvered out the door. Once outside, Parker paused on the sidewalk.
"How are Trina's treatments going?"
Diane stopped beaming. "As usual. She's starting to lose stamina. I'll have to quit work soon to be home with her. I'm putting it off as long as I can because she needs her friends, but soon she won't be able to keep up with them."
Sophie watched the children and tried not to eavesdrop on the adults' conversation. Any annoyance she'd felt at being ignored faded immediately. The boys, though young, seemed to understand Trina's limitations. They all sat on the curb in front of the center, tossing tiny pebbles. The older boy handed Trina a pure white stone the size of a pea.
"Here," Sophie heard him say. "It's magic."
Trina closed her fist around it, then put her hand in the pocket of her dress. "Thank you," she said primly. Sophie's heart threatened to break.
"Thank you, Parker, Trina would love to see the boys when she's done with school. We'll see you around."
She gathered her daughter and moved slowly across the parking lot to a Volkswagen Beetle. The first kind.
110
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
"Hey, boys, calm down a minute." Parker crouched in front of his nephews, who'd gone rambunctious again as soon as their friend had left. "I want you to meet my partner, Sophie.
Sophie, this is Timmy," he placed his hand on the older boy's head, then the younger's. "And this is Josh."
"How do you do?" Sophie asked, surprised when they held out their hands.
"I'm four!" yelled Josh.
"Wow! I'd have guessed six at least!" Sophie shook his hand, then Timmy's. Timmy was either more reserved or putting his best foot forward.
"How old are you, Timmy?"
"I'm seven, ma'am," he answered with all the solemnity of a preacher's child. Not that Sophie knew any. She bit back a smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both."
Timmy looked up at his uncle. "Partner? Is that, like,
'we're not really married but act like it' kind of partner?"
Sophie gasped and bit her lips to keep a giggle in. Timmy didn't give Parker a chance to answer.
"Bobby has two dads, and they call each other 'partner.'
Bobby says they can't get married but they pretend they are.
They tell everybody 'he's my partner' and 'he's my partner'
and sleep in the same room and stuff, just like married people."
Parker steered them all toward the truck and when Timmy finally took a breath, cut in. "Sophie and I are business partners. We work together at the radio station." He leaned into the back to buckle Josh's belt. Timmy had already 111
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
buckled his. Sophie shut his door and climbed into the front seat.
"Cool! Can we go to the radio station?"
"I wanna see the radio station!" Josh yelled. Sophie wondered if he had any other volume.
Parker looked at her apologetically and she lifted a shoulder.
"You have to drop me off anyway. Might as well show them inside."
The boys cheered and Parker shook his head as he climbed into his seat. Sophie noticed he pulled his seat forward, even though that made his knees straddle the steering wheel. Josh was blissfully oblivious, bouncing his little feet and watching out the window.
"If you guys are good and promise not to touch anything,"
Sophie said over her shoulder, "maybe Frank the Jock will let you come into the booth."
"Really?"
Sophie adored the wide-eyed looks the kids gave her, and grinned at Parker. He didn't look so amused, however. He looked ... he looked....
He looked the way Jake looked when he watched Kira nurse his son.
Sophie turned away to cover up the rush of emotion she felt. "On to the station, then." Her voice came out thin, constricted by her swollen throat. Her heart felt too big for her chest. Other parts of her—parts unthinkable while in a car with children—filled and tightened.
112
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
Parker was turning out to be everything she wanted in a man.
113
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
CHAPTER 7
The boys were even more hyper by the time they left the station. Frank had not only let them in during the break to see the microphone and the control board, he'd interviewed them on the air about their sports preferences. Josh had turned shy and hid his face in Parker's shoulder, but Timmy rambled on for a couple of minutes about why Larry Bird had been better than Michael Jordan, spouting statistics Sophie would never be able to remember in a million years.
"Who's hungry?" Parker called out when they exited the building.
"Me! Me!"
"Memememememe!"
Sophie reluctantly backed away. The boys were delightful, and in interacting with them Parker demonstrated a side she hadn't seen yet. She didn't want to leave. But none of them were hers.
"Where are you going, Sophie?" Josh rushed up and grabbed her hand. "We're gonna have dinner now."
Sophie looked at her watch. It was past seven, but she had nothing to get home to. Brianna hadn't shown up at the theater, which meant she had found Juanita and they were out pretending to cruise for guys.
"Come on, Soph. I could use your help," Parker pleaded softly. He was full of it, she knew. He had complete control over these kids. But she didn't want to go home and be lonely, so she gave in quickly.
114
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
"Where are we going?"
"Hooters," Parker said, laughing at Sophie's jaw drop. "I'm kidding! I don't go to Hooters! I just wanted to see that look on your face."
"Hmph." She turned to the boys. "Where do you guys want to go?"
"Fire and Ice! Fire and Ice!"
"You game?" Parker asked.
"They like stir fry?"
"They get to pick their own food."
She shrugged. "Okay, then. Fire and Ice."
They piled back into the truck and soon were at the restaurant. Timmy knew what he was doing and overstuffed his bowl with vegetables and beef. Parker helped Josh, who seemed a bit pickier, choose his food. Sophie followed, going heavy on the veggies and light on the meat. The kids chose teriyaki sauce, Sophie mango, and Parker habañero.
"Too hot for me," Sophie commented.
"You haven't tried it," Parker murmured, much too close to her ear. She moved away and pretended she hadn't heard, though her body reacted like she'd downed half a bottle of the hot sauce.
They gave their food to the cook, got their number, and returned to the table. The boys immediately began thumb wrestling, so Sophie quietly asked Parker about Trina.
"She has a heart condition," he said, keeping his own voice low. "Her prognosis isn't good."
"Oh, no," Sophie said, hating to think that tiny little girl was dying.
115
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
Parker lifted a shoulder. "They've tried medication, and a heart transplant isn't an option for some reason. Diane's holding on as long as she can at work to try to save enough to get them through when Trina can't handle day care anymore." He took a drink of his beer, then leaned closer and lowered his voice even more. "Josh has known her since the infant room. He's going to take it hard when she goes. She's his best friend."
Sophie's eyelids tingled and she blinked, not wanting to cry in front of the boys. Or Parker, if she was honest. The injustice, though not uncommon, still managed to anger her.
"Uncle Parker, I gotta go." Josh stood next to Parker, holding himself and hopping.
"I'll take him." Timmy slid out of his seat and ushered his brother across the room, his grumbles and rolling eyes belying his quick offer.
Sophie watched them until they went into the men's room, then turned to Parker.
"I know this is none of my business," she murmured fiercely. "But why can't
you
help Diane?"
Parker took a swig of his O'Doul's to hide the flash of anger. It surprised him, that flash, as much as Sophie's lack of belief in him hurt. He swallowed, then finally looked at her.
"What makes you think I'm not?"
She pulled back a little. "Well, you said how she's struggling..."
"Where are you, socially, Sophie? Middle class? Never had to worry about money?"
116
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
She frowned at him. "When I was growing up, yes, that was the case. We were lucky. I've done very well for myself since, but I wouldn't say I'm rich."
"Did you know many poor people?"
"A few."
"People who work hard but earn enough money to barely survive are generally full of pride. They take handouts reluctantly, if at all, and feel like less if they do so." He felt his voice rising and modulated it. He didn't need to preach to Sophie, and realized the irony of it. He, who'd never gone without a single thing his whole life. "I've spoken to Trina's doctor. There's very little that can be done, with or without money. When Diane has to stay home because Trina is too sick, she'll start working for me, at home, managing an online storefront I just bought."