13. Chapter 13
Edith
“… and when the boys were pulling on my legs, Doc blew the whistle and made them stand on the fence.”
“Again?” I looked up from loading the dishwasher.
“No.” Matthew pouted. “But I wanted to be sure you knew.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s a good thing to have in a dad, right?”
I paused, rinsing the plate in my hand.
Doc. Doc. Doc. Doc. Doc.
“Mooooom.” Matt whined. “Doc is good at everything . I want a dad like him.”
Ah. There is it.
“Matthew, it’s not like there’s a dad order center.” I put the plate on the rack and looked at my son. “There’s no store where I can walk in and just pick a dad for you out.”
His determination impressed me, but I wasn’t going to marry an absolute stranger.
“Well, you’ll never find me a dad if you don’t go on dates. Aunt Evie said so.”
Irritation crawled on my skin.
Of course she did.
“Why isn’t it enough that you’re the man of the house?” I turned to see my son and my heart broke. His eyes shone with unshed tears.
“Fine.” He turned and walked away.
Shit.
“Matthew? What if I agree to go on a date?”
He ran back, looking at me with wide eyes. “Do you mean it?”
Nodding my head, I felt my resolve melting. “One date.”
Every day after school, this felt like all we talked about. If a date will make it stop, I’ll do it.
“Yay!” He bounced around in a circle. “We could date!”
“Wait!” I giggled. “What do you mean, we could date?”
“Well, you can’t do it alone!” He ran over and wrapped his arms around me. “I’ll interview them over dinner.”
I turned back to the counter, bracing my hands on the counter. My shoulders shook with my laughter.
Matthew’s feet pounded on the floor, and he came back with a notebook. “Okay, Mom. What traits do you need in a husband?” He stopped and ran to the door. “Never mind. I’m gonna go ask Nana. You’ve never been married, so you don’t know.”
With that, my son disappeared, and I let out the laughter I held inside.
I had no idea what he had in mind, or what he thought dating was. What I did know was he wasn’t going to let this go.
I went to the table and picked up my phone, shooting a text to my sister.
How could you tell Matthew that I wouldn’t find him a dad if I didn’t go on dates?
Because it’s true.
Evelyn you had no right to say that
I call bs
I won’t lie to him
You know greg wants nothing to do with him
Yeah? Well someone better tell mattie something
Like before he gets interested in dating and possibly ends up falling for his half-siblings
“Fuck.”
I dropped into a chair and let my head fall forward and hit the table.
She’s not wrong.
Pushing up from the table, I got Matthew’s lunch for school ready, tucked it in the fridge and went to shower before my shift.
Once I had my uniform on, I walked over to the diner to find my whole family there waiting for me.
“What?” I looked around at them. “I’m not late.”
“Sweetheart.” My mom started. “Maybe it’s time for you to go on a date?”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” I rolled my eyes and stomped over to get a cup of coffee. “First Evie fills Matthew’s head with that idea. Now you’re all about to tell me what I need to do?”
The bells on the door jingled, and I turned to see Frank.
Fucking great.
“Edith, what your mom means …” Dad stepped closer to me.
“Stop right there.” I sighed and held up my hand. “Francis? Do you have plans Friday night?”
“No.” He narrowed his eyes at me.
“Fine.” I slammed my cup down, sloshing coffee on the counter. “You can take me out.”
“Excuse me?” He did that thing with his damn eyebrows that drove me wild. The one where he lifted only one. “You’re accepting my offer of a date?”
“Yes.”
He took a seat at the counter. “What time would you like me to pick you up?”
“Wait!” Evie stepped closer. “You work Friday night.”
“Not this one.” I spun to see her and glared. “You can cover my shift.”
“Okay, I’ll change my plans to Saturday.” She shrugged.
“Guess again, little sister.” I cocked my hip and tilted my head. “You can work your Saturday shift too. I’ve covered enough for you.”
Evie blew out a breath and nodded. “Fine. Besides I knew it was bullshit anyway.”
She spun, and her ponytail flew, smacking me in the face.
“Mom? Frank is taking me out on Friday, would you mind keeping Mattie?”
“I would love to!”
“Good.” I moved to get the coffeepot and filled Frank’s upturned cup. “What’re you in the mood for tonight?”
Lord help me. The smile he gave me, combined with the look in his eyes, told me exactly what he wanted.
“Evening, Beautiful.”
Shivers ran through my body hearing his voice.
You’re the idiot who froze him out after your night together.
“What can I get you tonight?”
“Surprise me.” He winked.
“You got it.” Turning, I faced Big E. “Adam and Eve on a raft with Noah’s boy.”
“On it.” He turned back to his grill, and my family scattered to do their work.
Frank reached out and took my hand. “Why wouldn’t you talk to me?”
“Don’t.”
“Edith.” His thumb stroked my skin. “If I did something wrong, I need to know.”
“It’s not you.” I pulled my hand away. “It’s me.”
I walked away and went through the swinging door, almost running to the back door. My hands slammed against it as I shoved it open and drew a deep breath in.
It’s one date. Only one date. You can do this.
I leaned up against the building and smelled his damn scent before he was beside me. Frank held out a pack of cigarettes, offering me one.
“You looked like you needed it.”
“Don’t pretend that you know me and what I need.” I grudgingly took it and then his lighter, sucking in deep and letting out the smoke.
“Edith, I’m not here to make your life miserable.” He took a few steps back. “I rolled into town and saw the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“Fat chance of that.” I took another drag.
“Look. I’ve been stationed around the world. I’ve seen my share and then some of women.” He toed the ground. “And I’m not prone to bullshit people. If you want to go out Friday, without me and let your family think you did. That’s fine. Or if you want to let me take you out, well, that’s fine too.”
What the fuck was I supposed to say to that?
I turned to look at him, but he was already going around the building.
“What the fuck are you doing, Edith?” I looked up into the sky and watched the clouds.
The back door opened, and my sister poked her head out. “So, you gonna fuck off your entire shift? Or you think you can handle coming back in for dinner rush?”
I turned my head and glared at her.
“Look, you can be a bitch all you want. I can handle you, Edith Rose.” She opened the door wider. “And that’s your problem with Frank. He can handle you too.”
“Fuck off, Evie.” I took another drag.
“Fine. You have five minutes to get your ass back in here or I’m telling mama you didn’t quit.”
“Bitch.”
“Love ya. Mean it.” She disappeared, and the door closed.
Fuck! She was a pain in my ass.
But she was right.
Matthew turned in a circle, trying to get his pajama top on. “Mom? Do we have plans for Saturday?”
“Not that I know of.” I tilted my head and chuckled at his failed attempt. “You know, if you actually dried off when you got out of the shower this wouldn’t happen.”
His head poked through the neck hole. “Cool.” Mattie sat down beside me on his bed.
“Why? What’s up?”
“I wanna do something nice for you.”
Good lord. Now what?
“Okay? Like what?”
“I just need you to trust me.” He sighed and leaned against me.
“I can do that.” I wrapped an arm around him. “Friday night you’ll be staying with Nana and Grandpa.”
“Are you going out with Aunt Ronnie?”
“No.” I took a deep breath. “I am going to go to dinner with Frank.”
Matt sat up and shook his head. “No. You can’t.”
“Matthew, I assure you I can.”
He jumped up from the bed and paced. “You can’t. You just can’t!”
“Mattie?” I tried reaching for him. “You wanted me to date.”
He stopped and faced me. “But that’ll ruin everything.”
“Ruin what?” Irritation laced my voice. I was tired and just wanted to shower before curling up to read before bed.
“Never mind.” He skulked off to the bathroom.
I gave it a few moments and then went to him. “Mattie, I’m not trying to hurt you.”
“But I don’t know Frank.”
He’s trying to be protective.
“I know.” I nodded and used my fingers to brush his hair. “Maybe it would be best for me to have dinner with him, and then if things go well, we can talk about introducing you?”
He loaded up his toothbrush and turned on the water. “Only Friday, right?”
“Only Friday. Saturday I’m all yours.” I pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
“Okay.” Matthew brushed his teeth, and I left him to finish his routine.
I heard the disappointment in his voice and knew this had to be hard for him. He’s had me all to himself for nine years. Honestly, it’s hard for me too and I’m the adult.
Selfishly, I wanted one more night with Frank. He can rock my world again and fill up my spank bank, then go about his life.
Why does that thought gut me?
“You know why, dipshit.” I blew out a hard breath. “You just don’t want to admit it.”
My phone pinged, and I looked to see who messaged.
How long do I get to keep you Friday?
Depends
On?
Where you take me for dinner and how you behave
What if I take you to a fancy place? And I treat you like a lady?
Depends on what you consider treating me like a lady involves
Flowers, opening doors, pulling your chair out, feeding you dessert
Oh yeah? What’s for dessert?
Depends
What are you hungry for?
Cake
Or ice cream
Or me ??
…
You want me to fill that dirty little mouth again?
My cheeks burned as my son came back into his bedroom. “You okay, Mama? Your face is red.”
I pulled the covers back. “Hop in.”
Matthew snuggled into his bed, and I pulled the blankets up and kissed his cheek. “Sweet dreams.”
“Night, Mama.”
Leaving his room, I flipped the light off and went to my reading chair.
Somebody’s mind is in the gutter
Yeah? It’s not alone
He’s not wrong.
Pick me up at six
We’ll see where the night takes us
I’ll see you for breakfast. Wear something sexy
I work at a diner, sexy doesn’t work there
Sleep well, Edie
Night Frank
“Get yourself together, girl. This is just to shut everyone up.” I mumbled to myself while shaking my head.
Blocking out the random thoughts, I put my phone on the charger and went to shower. I didn’t have time to think about Frank or how he made me feel.