Chapter 4 – Marco
I’d be lying if I said that having Caroline around kind of felt like having a third child sometimes, but I was happy to care for her. She was watching my children when she fell, after all. And Bea has just been a huge help.
I had an extra key made for her so that she could come and go during her lunch hours to check up and make sure everything was okay.
“She’s all good,” she reported one day after stopping at my house.
“Great. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
I smile. “Well, maybe not for you. But you’re not like most people.”
“What do you mean?”
“Taking care of your boyfriend’s ex-wife’s mother? I don’t think ever girl would be so open to that.”
“Really? Hm.”
“Yes, really. You’re amazing. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Hey, do you want to have dinner at my place tonight?” I ask.
“Sure!”
“I’ll cook.”
“Oh . . .”
I put down the document in my hands. “Hey! I’ve gotten a little better, have I not?”
“I was just kidding. You definitely have.”
“Great. So, we’ll meet up after work.”
“Sounds good! And I’m picking Aurora and Alessia up from school today, right?”
“Yes, if that’s still okay.”
“Yep.”
When the end of the day comes, I go to the grocery store to get the ingredients. But when I make it home, Bea is already there with my daughters, and she’s reading a story to them and Carolina on the couch.
“Daddy!”
“Hey, angels! How was your day?”
“Good.”
“What about you, Caroline?”
“I was bored. She won’t let me watch TV.” She’s pointing at Bea.
“Well, I’m sorry. I read that it might be too much stimulation for your brain as you heal.”
Caroline just continues to pout.
But Bea comes over and gives me a quick hug before snooping in the bags I brought home. She has the top of her hair pinned up with a clip, and her natural flowery fragrance is the perfect thing to come home to.
“What are you making?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Ooo! That’s fun. Do you need help with anything?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Bea! Please come back! We want to know the end of the story,” Alessia cries.
I smile. “And it seems as though you’re needed elsewhere.”
She walks over and opens the book again.
I made stir fry, and everyone gave it a ten out of ten.
Bea helped me clean up and get both the girls and Caroline into bed.
After that, we’re sitting on the couch and watching a movie when her hand starts creeping down the front of my pants.
Then, she rubs up and down a few times before she’s sure I’m ready for more.
“Let’s go into your bedroom,” she suggests after nibbling on my ear.
She doesn’t have to ask twice when it comes to me, so I grab her and rush up the stairs.
The baby gate trips me up for a second, but it isn’t long before I’m flinging her onto my bed.
“I want you so bad,” she says.
I pull my shirt off and climb over her before realizing something.
“Isn’t that open mic night tomorrow?”
“What? Who cares. Kiss me.” She tries to pull me down, but I refuse.
“No, seriously.”
“Seriously, what?”
“I really wish you’d reconsider that whole thing. You’re an amazing singer, Bea.”
“If I agree to sign up, will you please shut up and fuck me?”
“I promise.”
“Fine.”
As usual, our bodies make beautiful magic together and orgasm around the same time.
“You know I was serious about that whole singing thing, right?” I say breathlessly as she lays on my chest.
“Ugh. I know.”
“And the girls and me are going to be right there, front and center to see you.”
“Really?” She pops her head up and looks deeply into my eyes.
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss that for the world.”
“That makes me simultaneously excited and more nervous.”
“Oh. Well, we don’t have to come . . .”
“No, no. I want you to.”
“What’s with all of your trepidation in the first place? As far as I understand, you used to sing live all of the time?”
She takes a deep breath in and out. “I did. But that was until the incident.”
I sit up a little. “I’m listening.”
“Okay, I don’t talk about this to almost anyone.”
“Well, then I’m honored.”
“There was this one night when I was singing in a bar that I was hired to perform in regularly.”
“Okay.”
She’s chewing at her fingers like she always does when she’s nervous or concerned.
“And my mind just went blank. The guitar player started the beginning of the song over and over again. But the words just never came to my mind.”
“You didn’t have them typed out or anything?”
“No, it was a song I’d sung probably hundreds of times.”
“Hmph. We all have off-times, Bea.”
“I know, but the stage was where I felt most comfortable. And in that moment, it stopped being my safe space and turned into an enemy of sorts.”
“Well, thank you for telling me about that night, and I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“Thanks.” Then, she looks up at me with doe eyes. “Does that mean you feel sad for me, and you’re going to let me back out of our deal?”
“Absolutely not, missy!”
“Darn it.”
She cuddles in next to me. “You’re going to do great. I promise.”
“You say that now, but wait until I bomb tomorrow, and you want to break up with me due to the pure humiliation you feel.”
I take her face in my hands. “Sorry to tell you this, but it’s going to take a heck of a lot more than that to get rid of me.”
A small smile spreads across her face. “Good.”
We kiss again.