Chapter 7 #2
“Isn’t that one of those things on the computer where you can find people to do sex stuff with?” she asked just as plainly as could be, and Kyle could feel himself getting flustered.
“No. Well, yeah, it’s possible, but that’s not the same thing as a dating site.
It’s where you can go in and put information about yourself, then other people can look at it, and if they think they might like to meet you, they can message you.
It’s kind of like meeting a bunch of frogs, then kissing them to see if they turn into a prince or princess. ”
“And did somebody decide they want to meet you? Somebody nice?”
“Actually, I got a message the other day from someone special.”
“From a man or a woman?”
“From a woman. I’m not gay, Myla,” he said firmly.
“Well, duh. I know that. But they are. Gay men, I mean.”
“Uh, yeaaaaahhh, no. Not a man. Nothing wrong with it. Just not for me. No, from a woman. She’s the lady I told you about. Her name is Gina.”
“Do you know her?”
He smiled. “I do now.”
“And do you like her?”
“I do.”
“So are you going to marry her and have babies? And she’ll be my new mommy?”
“We don’t know yet about the marrying thing. It’s too early to tell. But she won’t be having babies. She’s too old to do that.”
“Is she a grandma?” she asked, tipping her head to one side and lifting her little eyebrows.
“No. She had to have a surgery a long time ago that made it so she can’t have babies. But she’s got two kids.”
“Could I play with them?”
“I don’t know. They’re older. Fourteen and sixteen. A girl and a boy.”
“Do I get to see them sometime?”
“We’re going to her house tomorrow night for dinner. They’ll be there, and you’ll get to meet them.”
“Okay. I’ll take one of my dolls and my tablet so if they don’t want to play with me, I can play a video game and not look stupid.”
“Why would you look stupid?”
“Because if they don’t want to play with me and I have to sit there by myself, I’ll look stupid, like nobody wants to be my friend.”
He patted her leg. “Let’s just imagine that they’ll like you and want to play with you, okay?” God, I hope Hadley likes her and wants to do something fun with her. Otherwise, I’m screwed.
“Okay.” That seemed to placate Myla, and she scooted down in the bed and pulled the covers up under her chin. The smile she gave him was cherubic. “Goodnight, Daddy.”
“Night, cookie. I love you.” The little peck he dropped on her lips was followed by her tiny hands rising to his face, and she patted his cheeks.
“I love you too, Daddy. Night.” Before he stepped through the doorway, he turned off the lamp on the dresser, then left the bedroom door open a crack.
The next evening would tell the tale, and he hoped it wasn’t written in blood. If the kids didn’t like him or Myla didn’t like Gina, there’d be hell to pay, and the whole thing would be over before it began.
Before they piled into the truck, he’d sent Gina a text saying they were on their way. She sent back a little emoticon. It was hands, and he wasn’t sure if they were clapping or praying. Either would be appropriate.
They sang along to the radio as he drove. “The lady singing … Is she the one with the giant boobies?”
“You mean Dolly?”
“Yeah! That’s her, right?”
“You’ve got a good ear.” He grinned as she sang along, pretending her doll was singing. The miles slipped away and soon they were turning onto Gina’s street.
But when they pulled up, Kyle almost had a heart attack.
It was a huge house. Had to be three thousand square feet.
Three-car garage, and he was betting there was a pool out back.
The neighborhood was pretty damn swanky, and he was instantly ashamed.
What had she thought about his little cardboard box of a house?
“Fancy house, huh? Can I ring the doorbell?” Myla asked when they stepped up onto the porch.
“Sure. Go ahead.” She pressed it and from somewhere inside, he could hear the Westminster chimes playing. Swanky indeed.
In just a few seconds, the door opened, but it wasn’t Gina. It was, however, a girl who looked a lot like her. “Hi. Are you Kyle?”
“Yes. Hadley, right?” She nodded. “Is your mom—”
“Come on in. She’s in the kitchen.”
“Hey, my name is Myla,” his little daughter called out. “You didn’t ask, but that’s my name.”
Hadley stopped and turned around, then squatted down. “You’re right. I didn’t. I’m sorry. That was really rude. Hi! My name is Hadley. And your name is Myla? That’s a pretty name.”
“My Aunt Cornie calls me Mylanta sometimes. That’s tummy medicine.”
Hadley giggled. “That’s pretty funny. You’re cute. Do you like kittens? I have a kitten you can pet.”
“Yes! I love kittens! When can I see it?”
“In just a second. Mom? Kyle and Myla are here.” They passed through the kitchen doorway and Kyle almost gasped.
Gina was standing at the counter, doing something to a dish of some kind of food, and she looked absolutely gorgeous.
The sunlight from the back of the house framed her hair and gave it a reddish glow, and her cheeks were pink and dewy.
“Hey! You’re here!” she sang out, then crossed the room and gave him a kiss.
“That was a nice greeting. Can I go out and come back in again?” he whispered to her and watched as Hadley rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. We won’t go any farther than that,” he said to the girl, and she rolled her eyes again.
“And who do we have here?” Gina asked as she squatted in front of Myla.”
“My name’s Myla, and you must be Miss Gina.”
“I am. Welcome to our home.”
“Thanks.” He was busy looking at Gina when he felt a little tug on his jeans and looked down to find Myla looking up at him. “Can I go see Hadley’s kitty now?”
“Sure, baby. Go right ahead. We’ll call you when it’s time to eat.” He watched as Hadley took Myla by the hand and they strolled out the back patio door.
“What have you been up to today?” he asked Gina as the girls disappeared into the yard.
“Work and then cooking.”
“Smells great. And this house … Wow. It’s, um, big. And amazing.” Separating the kitchen from the dining area was a huge opening framed by tall Georgian columns, their pediments covered in scrollwork. The floors were polished marble, and so was the mantel on the fireplace.
“Thanks. I bought it unfinished and had the work done. It’s a work in progress.”
“Looks pretty fine to me.” The back of the kitchen opened out into a huge den, and through its windows Kyle could see he’d been right—a pool. The landscaping was incredible, and he worried that Myla would get lost out there and never find her way back. “Where’s Briley?”
“He’s in his room finishing up his homework. He’ll be out in a minute. Beer? Soda?”
“I’ll just have a soda. Where are they? I’ll get it. You keep going.”
“In the refrigerator. Bottom shelf.” The huge stainless refrigerator had two doors, so he opened both and looked in. “Find ’em?”
“Yep. Thanks.”
There were footsteps somewhere nearby, and Kyle turned to find a young man striding toward him. He was taller than Kyle, but lanky and sinewy, with a headful of hair the color of Hadley’s but Gina’s eyes. “You must be Kyle! I’m Briley. It’s good to meet you.”
Kyle was surprised at the boy’s grip. “Same here! Your mom’s told me a lot of good things about you. Haven’t heard—how did the tournament go this weekend?”
“Ah, only got second place, but it was good. Got to meet with Terrance. Guess she told you about that too.”
“Yes, and I’m impressed. You stick with him, you’ll do fine.”
“That’s what everybody tells me. He’s a really nice guy. Mom, ETA on dinner?”
“About ten minutes.”
“That means I have time to go out to the garage and unload that landscaping stuff you bought today.”
“You should have time. Thanks, son,” Gina said, stirring something.
Here’s your chance, Miller. “Can I help?”
“Sure. Come on,” the younger man answered, so Kyle followed him to the garage.
It only took about five minutes to unload the landscaping plastic and vinyl edging in the bed of Gina’s truck. “So, Kyle,” Briley said as they worked, “what are your intentions toward my mother?”
I knew this was coming, Kyle told himself. “They’re all honorable, I can tell you that. Did she tell you about my wife?”
Briley’s head snapped around. “No.”
“She died when Myla was six months old. Your mom is the first woman I’ve dated since.”
“Damn it,” Briley muttered.
“What?”
He grinned at Kyle. “I’m trying to hate you, and I just can’t.” Kyle started to laugh. “No, seriously. I want to hate you, but Mom says you’re a good guy, and you sure seem to be.”
“I don’t know about that, but I try. You haven’t met Myla yet. She can tell you how mean I am sometimes,” Kyle told him, still laughing.
Briley was grinning. “Yeah, Hadley says that about Mom sometimes too.”
“It’s the universal parental flaw, to be horrible people.”
“So I’ve heard! Well, at least this is done. I guess we should go in and wash up for dinner.”
An hour later, Kyle stood from the table and started clearing dishes. When Gina tried to join him, he pointed into the other room. “Go. You’ve been on your feet this whole time. The kids and I can clean up the kitchen. Right, crew?”
“I’ll help, Daddy,” Myla said as she gathered silverware from the table.
Briley was collecting the glasses and side plates. “Sure. We can do that. Right, Hadley?” he said and turned to look at his sister.
She rolled her eyes again, and Kyle wondered if they’d just come unscrewed and fall out. “Yeah, sure.”
In a little over ten minutes, the kitchen was clean and everything was loaded into the dishwasher.
He and the kids had worked shoulder to shoulder the whole time, and he thought they were getting along pretty well.
When they were finished, Hadley asked Gina, “Can I take Myla to my room? We can draw.”
Gina nodded. “You should ask her dad.”
“Oh, it’s fine with me. Have fun.” Kyle watched as the older girl took Myla by the hand and led her down the hallway.
“I should probably go do something else in my room,” Briley said, throwing a thumb toward his doorway.