Chapter Two #2
Cora tosses my phone back into the chair, and I hand the fish to Jake, who takes it with confidence and tosses it back into the lake.
I’m still surprised at the things that kid does.
Last week, he was out in the barn feeding animals with me like it was no problem.
Then, yesterday he wouldn’t walk across the kitchen because the sunlight was hitting the floor a certain way.
“Have you gotten any others today?” Violet asks, sitting beside me in the little beach chair she’s unfolded.
I try not to make a scene out of staring, but she’s stretched out so casually that I can’t help but look from the corner of my eye.
Long legs bent out toward the sun, her bathing suit cover hanging off the back of the chair now, her curved frame hidden ever so slightly by a few thin pieces of fabric.
My imagination goes wild wondering what her naked body looks like. Are her nipples small and tight or big and puffy? Is her pussy small and open or curved and full? Either way, I want to run my tongue along them all.
My cock presses at my shorts again as I remind myself that I am not a fucking animal. I’m, in fact, a grown man who has responsibilities and cares about his family’s future. I can’t think of her like this.
You can’t fucking think of her like this!
“Nah, you must be good luck,” I finally say to the question about fishing she asked three minutes ago.
“She is good luck!” Bella adds. “Very good luck. I bought a lottery ticket with her last week. Won five bucks on a one-dollar scratcher. So, I’d recommend a trip to the grocery store later.”
I’d love to go anywhere with Violet later.
Jake moves from the water’s edge and rubs his eyes before reaching up for Violet.
“No, bud. It’s Ms. V’s day off. I can hold you.”
“That’s okay.” Violet lifts my son onto her lap. “It’s naptime. Naptime is a religion. I get it.”
Jake nuzzles against her chest and stares out at the lake, his eyes blinking low and slow until finally they close.
I was a little worried when Violet came that he wouldn’t warm up to her. For the most part, it takes him months to get used to someone new, but there’s something about Violet he took to right away, like he recognized her softness before she even said a word. This only makes me want her more.
My kids have been through hell. They deserve a soft, sweet, feminine spirit to heal them.
She turns toward me and whispers low, “Did he have crackers and candy for breakfast, too?”
“I’m terrible,” I say, grinning.
“No, you’re not terrible. It’s adorable.
You’re this big, strong guy with everyone, but when it comes to the kids, they’ve got you wrapped.
Besides,” she shrugs, “that’s what they’re going to remember most. Candy for breakfast and days at the lake.
We should check out that new food truck that parks on the other side for lunch.
They have some grilled cheeses everyone is talking about. ”
“I’ll hold Jake,” Bella says. “Why don’t you guys take a walk and get us some food? I’m starving.”
I could offer the snacks that we brought, but I’d love a walk with Violet. I really would like to get to know her better, for the kids’ sake. At least that’s the lie I tell myself.
I’m getting pretty good at that.
“I don’t know,” Violet says, brushing her hand down over Jake’s hair. “He just fell asleep, and he’s wary around new people.”
“Everyone likes me.” Bella reaches out for Jake with a smile. “Besides, I work with all kinds of kids at the school, and Cora is right here if he gets scared. We’ll take it slow.”
“We’ve got Jake, Dad! He’s met Ms. Bella before.” Cora dumps a handful of quartz down by my chair like she’s taken on mining as a full-time career. “Just get us some lunch. I’m starved!”
“There are snacks beside the chair if you need something before we get back.”
She makes a B-Line for the bag as Violet and I step out onto the beach, my eyes desperately trying to focus on the horizon and not Violet’s big, swaying tits as they move.
Maybe she wore this to get my attention. I mean, it’s hot, but it’s not this hot.
“It’s been great having you at the house,” I say, trying to sound normal. “You’re amazing with the kids and… everything. I don’t know what we’d do without you at this point. It’s been hard since their mom left.”
“Yeah.” She glances toward me, her sunglasses hiding her expression. “My dad didn’t give me any details. What happened?”
I pause for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts. It’s been a while since I’ve told this story.
“I mean, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’m sure it’s a sensitive subject. I’m sorry.”
“No, no. I don’t mind talking about it. It’s a reasonable question, given I brought her up.
I just… haven’t really talked about it much.
” I pause again as I take a heavy breath.
“She’d been anxious for a while, and she had frequent questions about what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.
Then one night, not long after Jake was born, she came to me and said she didn’t think she was cut out for motherhood, and that she needed a break to figure things out.
” I stare down at the sand. “She grabbed her things, and before the sun rose, she was gone. I got the divorce papers two months later.”
“What?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I got her on the phone a few times and offered to help. Said we could do therapy or make some life changes to lighten her load, but she’d made up her mind.
Being the mother of two young children was too much.
So now, she doesn’t call, doesn’t want to spend time with them.
She just moved on with her life like none of us ever existed. ”
“Jesus!” Violet gasps, her hand landing on her chest. “I’m so sorry! That’s terrible!”
“It hurt a lot at the time, but I figure she did us a favor, leaving when the kids were too young to remember her.”
“So, Cora doesn’t talk about her at all?”
“At first she was confused, and it was really difficult getting her to transition, but as the years went on, she stopped bringing her up.” I glance out at the lake.
“My heart still breaks for Cora. Every little girl should have her mom around, and the fact that someday I’m going to have to tell her that her mom chose to leave…
it’s just,” I groan under my breath, “it sucks, which is why I swore off women after she left. Dating is far too risky with small kids.”
“Dating is far too risky in general.” Violet shakes her head back and forth as she swishes her feet in the water while we walk.
“My dad keeps trying to set me up with this guy, Andrew. I’m pretty sure my dad’s the one in love with him, though.
They go fishing every weekend together, and Dad takes him to sporting events from time to time.
They’re really close, and he’s always giving me the hard sell.
You know how it goes. The ‘he’s a family friend, has a great job with the fire department, and he’s a real hero’ stuff. ”
Some weird form of jealousy washes over me at the thought of this kid I don’t know going near her. It catches me off guard, sudden and hot, curling tight in my stomach.
Why?
I’m sure he’s the right age. Probably has no children, no baggage, and a bright future. I’d bet he’s perfect for Violet. Yet, I feel an irrationally hot, burning rage inside of me that I can’t control. I don’t even want this guy on the same planet as Violet.
“Anyway,” she continues, “I don’t blame you for not dating.”
“You really should date, though.” Why am I encouraging it for the sake of conversation? “You’re young.”
“Exactly.” She kicks at the water, splashing little circles around a rock. “I’m still deciding what I want, and boys my age only want sex. I’m not ready to give that one special thing away yet.”
Is she a fucking virgin? A sweet, tight, innocent, little virgin!
My God, my cock is pulsing uncontrollably. There’s a breeze, but I’m sure I’m sweating as my mind runs wild with thoughts of stripping her down, sliding into her, and making her mine.
I’m no better than one of these fucking teenage boys she’s talking about.
Fuck.
“I think dating makes just as much sense for you,” she says, twisting her long dark hair to her shoulder. “The kids would benefit from seeing you in love, and… I think you would benefit from having companionship.”
“The kids are my focus until they graduate. I just don’t see a relationship happening unless she’s a family friend or someone I’ve known very well beforehand.”
Violet lands her hand on the back of my shoulder. “I get it. I’m always here to listen.”
How is this girl not snatched up? How is she not riding shotgun in the seat of somebody’s big fucking truck while they ride her around and buy her whatever the hell she wants?
“Oh!” She jumps up excitedly, her tits bouncing with the same enthusiasm. “That’s the food truck from online. They have all these frozen drinks we need to try too. Apparently, they’re famous for their strawberry-blueberry-lemonade slush. You know what you want?”
I shake my head. “I just found out about the truck fifteen minutes ago,” I grin, “so I’ll default to you.”
“Well, I think you’d like the grilled—”
“If it ain’t my best buddy and my firstborn out here today.”
My stomach tightens as I see Violet’s father walking toward us in this slow, deliberate way that makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong.
“Thought that was you two.” He nods toward a tall, built kid who’s jogging in toward Violet with purpose. “Andrew and I were out here fishin’ for trout and thought we’d get ourselves a snack.”
Andrew!
Fucking great!
My fists clench at my sides instinctively as he barrels into Violet, her perfectly round tits squashed against his solid chest before she starts to fall.
My pulse spikes, heat rushes to my face, and the world narrows to this one, single moment.
I’ve never wanted to murder someone more.