Chapter 5
The party was in full swing. For a little while Seth and Suzanna sat at a picnic table in the backyard and watched the kids play. They laughed at their antics and small-talked about the mild weather. What they didn’t talk about was that intense moment in the doorway when she had first arrived.
It had been wild and crazy…that breathless minute of pure sexual hunger that had radiated between them. She had wanted him to take her in his arms and absolutely ravish her. There was no question he had been on her mind all week.
She hadn’t realized just how lonely her life had become until she was no longer tutoring Sammy.
She definitely missed Sammy’s wit and loving ways, and she definitely missed the conversations she’d shared with Sammy’s daddy.
He made her feel so beautiful. He made her feel young and vibrant and completely alive in a way she hadn’t felt for a very long time.
After about a half an hour, Seth called the kids in to eat the pizza.
She helped him serve the pie onto dog-decorated paper plates, and the kids scattered all around the kitchen, sitting at the table and on the floor.
There was a lot of chitchat as the kids enjoyed the pizza and their togetherness outside the classroom.
Not long after the pizza was consumed, he cut and served the chocolate birthday cake.
They all sang “Happy Birthday” to Sammy, who appeared to be having the time of his life. His blue eyes were bright with happiness, and the wide smile never fell from his lips.
Sammy was very popular with his classmates.
He was not only friendly, but he was also generous and caring.
On the other end of the spectrum was little Holly, who was the only kid from their classroom who hadn’t shown up to the birthday party.
Suzanna had to admit, she didn’t miss the little girl one bit, and apparently none of the children missed her, either.
Throughout the day, she was intensely aware of Seth. He was exceedingly patient with all the children and looked incredibly hot in his jeans and a blue polo shirt that exposed his muscled biceps.
She was vaguely surprised Celeste Winthrop and Gina Hightower hadn’t moved in on him.
Both women were attractive, hungry divorcées eager in their desire to find their next husband.
Neither of the women had children and the handsome new man in town must have garnered their attention.
Sooner or later, they’d come for him, and that thought stirred a bit of jealousy inside Suzanna.
Finally, it was time to open the gifts. Sammy oohed and aahed over each item he unwrapped and thanked the gift giver profusely. Suzanna had bought him a set of books that were fun to read and popular with boys his age. They were about a little boy explorer and full of adventure.
The last gift he opened was from Seth. It was a nice wristwatch that Sammy immediately put on. It was almost time for the party to be over when the doorbell rang and Seth went to answer it.
He returned followed by Curtis Nacomber, an older farmer Suzanna knew from around town. Curtis carried a large box with a big, blue bow on top of it. He set it on the floor in front of him.
“Sammy, I nearly forgot. I got you one more present, and Mr. Nacomber was nice enough to deliver it for me,” Seth said. He grinned at Sammy. “Go ahead and open it, son.”
Sammy opened the top flaps and then squealed in delight. He reached in and pulled out a wiggling, happy golden retriever puppy. He held the puppy against his chest and giggled as the dog lavished kisses on him.
“Oh, Daddy, I’m so happy right now,” Sammy exclaimed as the other kids gathered around him to pet the pooch.
Seth turned to Curtis and shook his hand. “Thanks, Curtis, for the delivery service.”
“No problem. I think the little girl is in good hands here,” Curtis replied. “And now I’ll just get back home.”
“Do you want to stay for a piece of cake?” Seth asked.
Curtis looked around at the bedlam and shook his head. “Nah, I’m good. There are just too many munchkins around here for my taste. I’ll see you later.” The older man turned on his heels and went out the front door.
By that time, it was five o’clock and the party was officially over. Parents began to arrive to pick up their children, and there were several minutes of utter chaos.
Suzanna sat at the table and out of the way of the pandemonium while Sammy stretched out on the kitchen floor with his new puppy.
Finally, the last of the children had been picked up, and Seth returned to the table and sat. “Whew.” He expelled a deep breath.
“I should get out of here, too,” she said.
“Please, stay a little bit longer.” His eyes were warm as he gazed at her. “With all the kids here, we barely got a chance to visit.”
“Okay, I’ll hang out a little longer,” she agreed. What did she have to hurry home for? Another lonely Saturday night? She’d much rather spend more time here, enjoying Sammy’s happiness and Seth’s warm gazes.
“Dad, you never, ever have to buy me a birthday or Christmas present ever again,” Sammy exclaimed. “You got me my dream present today.”
“What are you going to name her?” Suzanna asked.
Sammy sat up with the pup in his arms. He frowned thoughtfully. “I don’t know yet. I’ve got to think about it for a little while.”
“Not only do you need to come up with a name, but you’ll be responsible for feeding and watering your dog. You’ll also need to take her outside to potty,” Seth replied. “A dog comes with a lot of responsibility.”
“That’s okay, I’ll be the most responsible boy I can be for Lady.” Sammy grinned at Suzanna and his dad. “Her name is Lady.”
“Now that’s a fine name,” Seth said.
“And she is a beautiful little lady,” Suzanna added. The dog squeaked out a tiny bark as if in agreement, and they all laughed. For a moment the warmth of family filled Suzanna. But of course, that wasn’t her reality. She was just a visitor in their world.
“Sammy, there’s a box in my bedroom that has food and bowls, a bed, and a collar and leash for Lady. Why don’t you run and get that now,” Seth said. “You can leave the dog bed in your room.”
“Okay,” Sammy replied, and then he left the room, Lady following close behind him with her entire back end wiggling happily. “That definitely looks like a match made in Heaven,” Suzanna said as boy and dog disappeared down the hallway.
Seth laughed. “I think you’re right.” He sobered. “I noticed you didn’t have any cake earlier. How about I make us some coffee, and I cut you a piece of cake now?”
“That sounds good,” she replied. “I didn’t have a piece of cake earlier because I was too full of pizza, but now cake sounds great and it’s my favorite kind.”
“So, you’re a chocolate cake kind of woman,” he said as he got up from the table.
“Definitely, what about you? What kind do you like?”
“My all-time favorite kind of cake is vanilla with raspberry filling.” He turned on the coffeemaker and got two cups down from the cabinet.
“Sounds good, but chocolate is far better,” she replied.
He laughed once again. “Well then today you’re in luck because chocolate is what’s on the menu. Chocolate is Sammy’s favorite, too.”
She looked around the room. It was more than a bit of a mess, with dirty paper plates left on the floor and countertops, along with wrapping paper and drooping party banners. “After we have coffee and cake, I’ll help you clean up the place.”
“You don’t need to do that,” he protested. “You’re a guest here. It’s my party, and Sammy and I will do the cleanup.”
“That doesn’t mean I can’t help,” she replied. “Besides, it doesn’t seem right that the birthday boy has to clean up after his own party.”
“We’ll see,” he replied. Within minutes he placed a cup of coffee in front of her, along with a generous slice of the cake. He then grabbed his own coffee cup and returned to sit across from her.
“You’re not having cake?” she asked.
“Nah, if you remember I ate a big piece when the kids were eating theirs. It’s a little too chocolatey for me to want another piece right now.”
She grinned at him. “That little too chocolatey is what makes it so good.”
At that moment Sammy came back into the kitchen, Lady at his heels and his arms full of all kinds of dog items. “Daddy, can you help me put the collar on Lady? I tried and tried to do it, but I can’t get her to sit still long enough to get it on her.”
Seth laughed. Suzanna loved the sound of his deep laughter. It warmed places inside her that hadn’t been warmed in a very long time.
She watched as Seth got the pink-and-white collar on the squirming puppy and then showed Sammy how to fasten the leash. “Daddy, she doesn’t like it,” Sammy exclaimed unhappily as Lady fought against the leash.
“She just needs to get used to it,” Seth replied. “Let’s all take her outside.”
“I’ll carry her out,” Sammy replied, still obviously upset that the puppy was upset. Sammy picked Lady up in his arms, and then the three of them went out the door to the backyard.
Suzanna knew she should probably leave, but she was thoroughly enjoying her time with Seth and Sammy and the new puppy, and so she was reluctant to head back to her quiet, lonely home.
“Now put her down in the grass, son,” Seth instructed. “And when she does her business you need to tell her what a good girl she is and give her lots of loving. Once she’s finished, you take her back inside. Before long she’ll learn the routine.”
“I just hope I remember the routine,” Sammy replied as he put the dog down in the grass. Lady continued to fight against the leash for a few minutes and then settled down and began sniffing the grass.
Within minutes the dog peed and Sammy picked her up and lavished love on her, and then they all went back inside. Sammy and Lady went back into the living room to play, and Suzanna began to pick up the trash in the kitchen.
“You really don’t need to do that,” Seth protested.
“I don’t mind at all,” she replied. Besides, it gave her a reason to hang around a little longer.