Chapter 10
REBEKAH
Pinching myself until tears formed in the corner of my eyes, I looked over to where Beau had settled once again, across the yard, watching me play in the garden. I still couldn’t believe that he was sitting in my backyard watching me without any care in the world.
I had slipped easily into Middle space this morning, and now my mind was racing as I realized he was seeing me in this state. Big me was slowly making her presence known, and all she felt was embarrassment for my behavior while he was here.
Middle Bekah had never felt comfortable enough around people to come out and play, yet she didn’t hesitate to accept the invitation from Beau when he asked to bring over dinner. I didn’t have time to analyze my actions right now, though.
I needed to figure out how I was going to get out of this situation with a small part of my dignity intact.
I knew that being a Middle was nothing to be ashamed about, but it wasn’t something I wanted my employer to know about me.
That was personal and a sacred time for me that I normally kept from other people.
My mind kept trying to come up with every possible scenario to get me out of this, but nothing was coming to mind that wouldn’t have me cringing on Monday morning. Sucking in a breath, I turned and faced Beau.
“Thank you for dinner,” I tried to muster with as much enthusiasm as possible.
“You’re welcome, Rebekah.”
“Why do you call me by my full name when everyone else calls me Bekah or some other shortened form of my name?”
“Because I’m not like everyone else.”
Well, okay then. That wasn’t what I thought he was going to say, and he was clear that he wasn’t going to elaborate.
“Well, I think I’m going to head back in and go grab a shower. I had fun tonight, though.”
“Me too. I’ll head out now, but be sure to lock the door behind me before you go shower,” Beau said as he stood and led the way inside.
“Yes, Dad,” I sassed, throwing open the door for him to walk through.
“I prefer Daddy,” he replied as I shut the door.
My brain short-circuited. There was no way I heard him say that.
Being outside all day had me delulu. That was it; it was the heat that was getting to me.
Yep, that’s what I was choosing to believe because if I tried to dream up anything else, I didn’t know how I would ever show my face at work on Monday.
I texted Beau, faking a headache, and told him I wasn’t going to be coming into work. Snuggling down in my blankets, I pulled Ophelia closer. I wasn’t ready to face Beau.
Groaning, I wiggled out of my nest and grabbed my phone from where it was buzzing beside me on the bed.
Seth: Bex! Boss told us you had a headache.
Josh: Yeah! Are you all right?
I smiled at the group chat. It was nice to have people who cared enough about me to check in when I wasn’t around.
Rebekah: Yeah, I’m totally fine
Seth: That doesn’t sound very convincing
Rebekah: Really, just a small headache. I’m okay.
Josh: Are you sure? Or did you just need an excuse to skip out of work today?
Seth: Oh? Josh, what do you know that you’re not sharing?
Oh, here we go. Of course, Josh knew what had happened this weekend. Beau was one of his closest friends, and it wasn’t like that group of gossipers could keep anything a secret there.
Rebekah: I have no idea what you are talking about, Josh.
Josh: Mhm… Suuuureee you don’t
Seth: Is someone going to fill me in here?
Josh: Idk… Shortstack, do you want to fill him in, or shall I?
It was clear I wasn’t going to get out of this conversation.
Honestly, it was probably for the best since I didn’t have anyone else to talk to about what happened on Saturday.
I had thought about texting Vic, but I didn’t want to out someone as a Daddy without their consent. That was a very ugly thing to do.
Josh: Shortstack?
Rebekah: Ugh, fine!
Rebekah: So, Beau came over to my house on Saturday and brought dinner.
Seth: Okay? And? Something else had to have happened if you were willing to fake an illness to avoid coming to work today.
Rebekah: So I might have been in Middle space. I was playing outside in the fairy garden.
Rebekah: Anyway… At the end of the night, when I was walking him out… He made a comment and I sassed him.
Josh: How did you sass him?
Rebekah: I may have said something along the lines of “Yes, Dad,” and he replied, “I prefer Daddy.”
Rebekah: But I’m just being delulu because there’s no way he said that.
Seth: I see.
Rebekah: What? What do you see?
Josh: I see a man just making his preferences known.
Seth: Seems to me like Beau is ready to throw caution to the wind and finally snatch up what he’s been dreaming of having for years.
Rebekah: And what would that be?
Josh: A Little, or in this case, a Middle, to call his own
Rebekah: He thinks I’m The One? He barely knows me… Plus, he’s my boss. We couldn’t go there.
Josh: When a Daddy knows, they know. You working for him is just semantics.
Rebekah: What happens if it doesn’t work out? What am I going to do then?
Seth: Beau would never risk your job like that, but something tells me you don’t need to worry your pretty little head about that.
I hope that they are right. I don’t know what I would do if I lost my job. Deep down, though, I know they are right. Beau didn’t seem like the kind of man to let personal things get in the way of taking care of the people who worked for him.
I chatted for a few more minutes before telling the guys I was fine and making them promise not to tell Beau about what we had talked about. Throwing my phone to the side, I decided that it was a good idea to take a nap. I would reward myself with some more gardening after resting a little longer.
“I thought I might find you back here,” called a voice from my left. I’d been outside for a few hours. Playing in the garden had always been my therapy, both mentally and physically. It was my happy place, even when I was a young girl; my grandpa always found me digging around in the dirt.
“Oh, hey, Beau!” I replied after a moment, realizing I had never spoken.
“I knocked on your front door, but you didn’t answer. I tried to call you as well, but I guess you left your phone inside. So I took a chance, thinking you might be playing in the fairy garden again.”
“Caught me. I must have left my phone in the house when I went to get water earlier. Anyway, what’s up?”
“Nothing, I was just dropping in to check in on you. Josh and Seth said that they spoke with you and that you were okay, but I wanted to see for myself that you were fine.”
I felt a blush travel up my cheeks at his words. “Yeah, I’m okay. The headache dulled after I took a nap earlier. I’m sorry for calling out of work. I hope that I didn’t leave you in a bind.”
“Not at all, sweetheart. I would rather you stay home and rest than come to work and be miserable.”
“Well, thank you for checking in on me. I really appreciate it. I promise I’m okay.”
“You’re welcome. Do me a favor and grab your phone and bring it back out here. Just in case you need something.”
“Yes, Sir.”
I heard him groan at my statement, causing my blush to deepen when I thought about his words this weekend.
I wonder what he would do if I called him Daddy?
Shaking that thought from my mind, I waved Beau goodbye as I headed inside to get my phone.
I tried not to think too hard about how I was so willing to do what he asked me to.
Taking a small break, I checked my phone and grabbed a snack.
I snapped a quick picture of the fairy garden and sent it to Vic, who was really excited to hear about my plans.
I dropped back to my knees and ran my fingers over the flowers I had planted.
It was slowly coming together, and I couldn’t wait to see the final product.