Chapter 5 #4
“Officer Flynn said that Benny wants to talk to me.” He took his own seat at the table. “I think I’ll go see him.”
“That would be terrific. I know Benny would love it. Ellen too.” And it wouldn’t hurt Brogan, either, to get a little more appreciation.
Fifteen minutes into the meal, she had to tell Brogan how impressed she was. He cut up his food first, then fed himself while also holding Shayna’s bottle. The man was a master, never missing a beat.
“You’re really good at that.” She’d only eaten half of her portion and Brogan was almost done. She got up to give him the rest, smiling when he gladly accepted. A man his size probably needed a lot of fuel.
“When I first got Shayna, everything was scary.” He reached out and wiped broccoli off Andy’s nose.
“I had no idea what I was doing, so I spent half the time carrying her around and worrying while I researched everything I could. I held her in one arm and read on my phone at the same time. It was hard, I won’t lie. ”
Pixie often thought it was still hard. There were days when exhaustion caught up to her, but she was the only mother Andy had. The only parent. So she put on a happy face and did her best. Sometimes that meant the laundry wasn’t done and the house wasn’t anywhere near tidy.
Other times, she managed it all, and when that happened, she honestly felt like a superwoman. But when she fell short, she tried to cut herself some slack with a reminder of how far she’d come.
“Now,” he said, “it’s a little easier. Never been this easy, though.” He nodded at the food. “Thanks for getting everything together. This is really nice.”
“The Docker makes great food.”
“Agree, but I meant all of it. Getting the food ready for me and the kids. Setting the table. Watching them while I made my call. Usually, I’m trying to do all that at the same time. I can multitask when necessary, but it was nice that I didn’t have to.”
She was about to reply when a chunk of food came flying across the table. Somehow Brogan dropped his fork and caught it. Then he stared at her, and after two seconds, his incredulous gaze slowly swiveled toward Andy.
Andy grinned at him. Still speechless, Brogan opened his hand and saw that he’d caught a mishmash of vegetables and meat.
It took everything Pixie had not to laugh out loud. She pinched her lips together and got to her feet, going to the sink to wet a paper towel while saying, “Andy Nolan, that’s a no-no. We do not throw food.”
“No-no,” Andy said in his most serious voice, his face scrunched while he wagged a finger at Brogan. “No-no-no.”
Brogan made a choked sound that was halfway between a growl and a laugh. He took the wet towel from Pixie and cleaned the slimy food off his fingers. “Kid has one heck of an arm.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, still struggling with her own laughter. “That started when we were having dinner with Cort and Marlow. Cort teased Marlow, she threw a pea at him; and from then on, Andy has thought it’s a game.”
Brogan cleared his throat. Loudly. When he looked up, he’d managed to remove most of the humor from his expression.
Then Andy said, “Fend.”
And Brogan’s mouth lost the battle. Grinning, he said, “Your friend doesn’t want to wear your food, buddy.”
Andy offered another squished morsel from his pudgy little hand.
Brogan eyed it dubiously.
Pixie tried to help, saying, “Hey, Mama wants a bite.”
“Fend!”
Brogan gestured at her. “Ladies first.”
Frowning, Andy gave in and offered it to her. She bent to his hand—and without touching the food—made ridiculous “nom-nom” noises while pretending to chew.
Andy laughed.
“Ah,” Brogan said, catching on. He leaned forward. “Okay, then, let’s do this.”
Unfortunately, he got too close and Andy smashed the food against his mouth and chin.
The stunned look on Brogan’s face was so priceless, Pixie lost it.
She laughed so hard that she couldn’t sit up straight.
Bending over, her head on her knees, she tried to keep Andy from seeing her, but he surely heard her.
Tears came to her eyes, and every time she tried to catch her breath, she ended up cackling with hilarity.
Soon Brogan was chuckling, too, but he managed to get out a “Mm-mmm,” just to appease Andy.
That made her roar. “Ohmigod,” she said between gasps. “You even …” Another snort of laughter interrupted her. Even Shayna kicked her legs and giggled.
“I’m glad everyone’s having such a good time,” Brogan said, deadpan. He reached over to rub Pixie’s back. “Breathe before you fall out of the chair.”
She tried, but one look at his face set her off again. It took her well over a minute to wind down—and Brogan was still touching her.
While she struggled to get it together, Brogan said to Andy, “No more throwing, dude, okay? It’s not cool.” Then he seemed to have an idea. “Although, we could divert you with a ball, maybe at the park. Or even in the yard.”
He helped Pixie to straighten, but she couldn’t do anything about her watering eyes and the giant smile still on her face.
Brogan’s smile turned tender as he smoothed down her hair. “What do you think? Could you impress on him that a ball—outside—is the only thing he should throw?”
It felt as if her heart floated. “He’s still so young, but we can certainly try.”
After that, everything seemed more relaxed. They talked easily, joking and sharing stories, remaining at the table long after the food was gone. Even then, they didn’t say goodbye.
The kids were cleaned up and the playpen was moved closer. Shayna went into it and Andy was given toys beside her. That worked out well while the adults put the kitchen in order, but then Andy tried to drop one of his toys in for Shayna, and it almost landed on her head.
Nothing heavy, just his soft vinyl book, but it put both Pixie and Brogan on alert. They spent a good five minutes explaining to Andy how dropped toys could hurt Shayna, and then he wanted to kiss her head. He kept telling Shayna, “No boo-boo.”
“He’s a terrific kid,” Brogan said. “Smart and considerate, especially for his age.”
Drying her hands, Pixie stepped up beside him and watched her son squat down to peer at Shayna through the mesh netting on the playpen. “So you’ve recovered from the food incident?”
He nudged her with his shoulder. “I’ll have you know I’ve handled worse things being thrown at me than a little mushy food.”
“Still.” Pixie smiled up at him. “I’m sorry it happened, and sorry I found it so hilarious.”
“No.” He shook his head, firm in his denial. “No apologies, okay? I enjoyed the whole thing. It was a perfect way to top off a day that could have been tragic.”
“Yeah.” Thinking of Ellen and Benny, and what a close call they’d had, she turned back to Andy. She was so thankful to have him in her life, even when he occasionally misbehaved.
Andy jabbered to Shayna, but whatever he said was indecipherable. Shayna cooed back.
Seeing the two of them so close to each other, practically nose to nose, was eye-opening. “Wow. It just struck me that they could almost be siblings.”
Beside her, Brogan went as still as stone.
“Their hair is almost the exact same color, and of course they both have blue eyes.” She felt Brogan’s wariness and glanced at him. “Many babies have blue eyes, at least until six months or so. Then they might start to change.”
“Andy’s will stay blue,” he predicted softly. “They’re almost as blue as yours.”
She knew the truth. “Blue, yes, but darker like his father’s.”
Brogan stepped away to lean a hip on the counter. “So he had blue eyes, too?”
“Yes. What about your sister?”
“Connie’s eyes were like mine.” He twisted his mouth. “Gray, like our father’s.”
“Do you know anything about Shayna’s father?”
His inhale was slow and deep. He didn’t look at her. “Enough.”
“Oops.” Pixie was instantly distracted when she realized Andy was falling asleep. “I need to clean his teeth and get him into his pajamas.”
Brogan checked the time. “Will you go through your whole routine?”
“Probably not. A b-a-t-h right now might give him a second wind—then we’d be up all night.” She spelled the word so Andy wouldn’t start demanding. He did love to splash in his bath, and that would definitely wake him up again.
“I assume you’re tired, though?”
Because he said it like a question, she answered honestly. “Not particularly. I think I enjoyed the evening too much.” She grinned. “Guess I got my own second wind.”
Brogan’s jaw worked as he looked at Andy with his head on her shoulder, his eyes heavy. “I don’t want to push my luck, but do you think you’d want to …”
When he didn’t finish, Pixie’s heart started racing. “Would I want to what?”
He glanced at Shayna, back at Andy, then at Pixie. “Would you want to let the kids sleep so we can talk a little longer?” He went on, “I totally get it if you want me to hit the road. I can’t stay much longer anyway. Definitely not more than an hour. I just thought—”
“I’d love to,” Pixie said before he could retract the offer. She thought of how the day had gone, how easily Brogan had taken charge at the restaurant, how he’d run to the rescue of a boy he didn’t know, then willingly agreed to meet Ellen at the hospital.
She thought of how he’d played with Andy, how he’d cared for Shayna.
And she thought of those awful scars on his body.
He’d gone above and beyond, not just today, but apparently for most of his life. If tonight he needed to talk, she’d happily listen.
They stared at each other a moment; then she let out a shaky breath. “Make yourself at home. I should be back in fifteen minutes or so.”
“Long enough to read him a story?”
She trailed her fingers over her son’s spiky pale hair, then kissed his forehead.
“Always. Every night.” Smiling at Brogan, she admitted, “I enjoy it as much as he does.” She started to turn away; then it occurred to her.
“Oh, there’s only one bathroom—it’s through the bedroom.
I need to brush his teeth, but if you’d like to go first? ”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll make it quick.” He went past her … through the kitchen and into her bedroom.
Pixie stared after him. He didn’t rush, and she saw him glance around the bedroom as he entered. She had the panicked thought that she might have left something out of place. A bra? Panties? Please don’t let it be either. Jeans, shoes, or a top—she could handle that.
She was tidy, but not fanatical about it, especially when she also had to get Andy ready to go out.
Less than a minute later, she heard the toilet flush, heard water run, and assumed Brogan was using her scented soft soap to wash his hands.
It struck her as funny.
She, Pixie Nolan, had a man in her house. Not just any man, but Brogan Rafferty. All six feet five inches of him.
And he wasn’t just in her house, but he’d walked through her bedroom, too.
The very moment he reappeared in the doorway, Pixie rushed past him. “I won’t be long,” she said quietly, and she slipped into the room, her gaze searching every surface. Whew! Fortunately, the only things out of place were a few of Andy’s toys and her sleep shirt.
Without thinking about it, she kissed Andy’s sleepy little face. “Today is a day of monumental proportions.”
When Andy cuddled closer and yawned, she knew she had to get his teeth cleaned now or it wasn’t going to happen.
“Do you want a book, Andy?” she asked as she carried him into the bathroom.
“Book,” he agreed sleepily.
Pixie was grateful that he didn’t ask about the baby—or his friend.