20. Chapter 20
Frank
My eyes were locked on Edith as she left the room to change. Meanwhile, Matt still bounced around, unable to contain his happiness.
“Will you play some arcade games with me?”
Reaching out, I pulled him for a hug. “I can do that.”
“Mom’s not big on video games, she tries but.” He shrugged. “I still can’t believe you’re Frank.”
“It’s a good thing, right?”
“It is.” He nodded. “So good. Do you like my mom like really like her?”
I looked down into his eyes, nodding. “I do.”
“Sweet!”
“Let’s go sit and wait for her in the living room.”
“Okay.”
This kid reminded me of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. He bounced everywhere, especially when he was happy.
He made his way to the coffee table and picked up his current Lego creation, moving blocks around, adding to it and focusing on the task at hand.
Good to know something calms him down.
Edith came into the living room and gave me a sweet smile. “I’m ready.”
“Mom!” Matt’s head whipped around to look at her. “Doc is gonna play some arcade games with me!”
“Better him than me.” She laughed and walked over to slip her feet into her shoes. “Gentlemen, I am hungry.”
Together, the three of us went out to my SUV for a family night. Matt chattered away about school, his friends, and the games he couldn’t wait to play.
I reached for Edie’s hand, and she took it, running her other hand over the top of mine. The feeling of being here with her and Matt felt so natural that it blew my mind.
When I pulled into Arcadia, the mostly empty parking lot surprised me. “I thought this place would be hopping.”
“Games.” Edie kissed my hand as I parked. “There’s probably a ton of kids inside, while their parents are at the pub, or parties watching the games.”
I shut the car off. “Even better.”
We got out and Matt stepped between us, taking both of our hands.
My heart felt full and the thought of having a shadow made me smile like a fool. Edie led us over to an empty table and we settled in.
“Okay, buddy, how do we do this?”
“Well usually mom and I order, and I go play until the food is ready.”
Pulling out my wallet, I took out a twenty and handed it to him. “Well, go get your game on. We’ll order the food and get you when it’s ready.”
“How much d’ya want back?”
“None. Go play.”
His eyes bulged out, and he took off like a shot.
“How much do you usually give him, Sweetness?”
“Five.” She shook her head.
“Whoops.” I chuckled. “What kind of pizza?”
“Plain pepperoni.”
“Drinks?”
“Whatever.” She shrugged.
“I’m on it.”
Walking over to the counter, I placed an order, got our drinks, and headed back to Edie. On my way there, I saw Peter and Alex with their dad. He handed them money and gave them a push before disappearing into the lounge.
That guy just keeps getting better and better.
“Root beer for you, me, and the kid.” I set the tray down. “And a pitcher for refills.”
Her eyebrows went up. “That’s a lot of soda.”
“It’s a special night.”
“Agreed. However …”
Leaning over, I kissed her. “Better choices throughout the week.”
“Do you ever lose your temper?” She shook her head. “You’re always so relaxed.”
“Oh. I promise you I lose it sometimes.” I laughed. “Don’t you?”
“Sometimes.”
“You ever been arrested?” I narrowed my eyes at her. “You know I’m a teacher, I can’t be seen with a criminal.”
Edith laughed so hard she spat her soda all over. “Almost, but I wasn’t.”
“Sounds intriguing.” I winked, and I wiped up the mess. “Tell me about it.”
“You first.” She leaned forward with her head resting on her hand.
“I slugged an officer.”
“No.” Edie dropped her arm. “You didn’t. An actual cop or higher up in the Corp?”
“A higher up. He was drunk and being an ass in this bar we all were hanging out in. He was asked twice by the bouncer to calm down.” I took a drink. “Saw he was acting up again, so I went and told him he was being a bad example for the Corp. He told me ‘ go back to being a pup. You don’t know me. I’m motha fuckin’. King Kong! ’. Well, I don’t give up easy so I tried again, ‘ Sir, you are about to get kicked out. You need to chill, please. ’”
“That doesn’t sound bad yet.”
“His reply was to give me a dirty look, and well, I’d been drinkin’ too so that’s when I hit him.”
She covered her mouth to hide the smile and giggles, but I saw her shoulders bounce.
“Got us both kicked out. He reported me to my Command, which got me an office visit.”
“Sounds like Evelyn.” She snorted.
“I told my side, which was backed up by bar security. I got a reduction in rank and pay loss for 6 months. Officer got nothing.”
“What the hell?” Her jaw dropped. “That’s not right.”
Shrugging, I gave her a smug smile. “Next time I saw said officer, I hit him again. Nothing happened to me that time. Gotta love when your bud is an M.P.” I winked.
“Damn.”
“Your turn, sweetness.”
Edie rolled her eyes. “You really don’t want to know this.”
“Oh. I really do.” I propped my elbows on the table and put my head in my hands, batting my eyes.
“Mom and Dad left for a second honeymoon. They left Big E in charge of the diner and Gene ran off with some friends to Vegas. That left me with sixteen-year-old Evelyn and my four-year-old son.”
She took a drink. “Well, Cesare Cordova showed up with some buddies. Evie had her bestie there, and the boys brought over a shit-ton of beer with them. All was going well until someone got a brilliant idea to see who can throw the bottles the farthest.”
I watched the tense smile on her face, and her nostrils flared. “These shithead kids threw not only the empties but full bottles. Long story short, someone called the cops, the cops arrived and I’m about to piss myself because I am the only person of age.”
My body bounced with laughter, and the new sneer on her face didn’t help.
“It was Officer Campbell. And my damn sister came out of the apartment with hands on hips sassing him. He told her, ‘why don’t you go inside and get a broom, and dustpan and sack to hold for these boys to clean up their mess’ .”
“So that mouth worked from the get go.”
“Oh yeah. She’s like a rabid Chihuahua.” She frowned. “My heart was calming down, I wasn’t panicking at this moment and I thought everything was going okay. Until Evie comes out the door with a dustpan, broom and held up both hands yelling at him, ‘ paper or plastic, officer? ’”
“Oh shit.” I busted up with laughter.
“That’s what I said too.” She pressed her lips together. “I was sure I was going to jail, but he just had her put one bag in the other and hold the bag for the boys to clean up.” She refilled her cup. “It was the only time in my life I was scared to lose my son.”
“Your parents wouldn’t let that happen.”
“No, they wouldn’t, but when you’re young, don’t party or get in trouble your mind goes to the worst.”
“Paper or plastic?”
“Oh god.” She laughed. “When I ask her if she’s serious about something that’s the answer I get.”
Our food arrived, and Matt showed up with Peter and Alex in tow. “Can they eat too?”
“There’s plenty.” I offered.
“Go wash your hands.” Edith made loops in the air, suggesting all their hands.
They ran off and I looked at her. “I’m sorry, I just …”
“No. No.” She shook her head and waved her hands. “It’s fine. You ordered a lot of food.”
“But this is our date.”
She threw her head back. “With a kid?”
I sat back. “You’re testing me.”
“Not really.” She loaded up three plates for the kids. “More like watching you.”
The boys argued as they came back. “Hey, hey, guys, c’mon, settle down.”
All three sit. Peter looked confused. Matt and Alex were both mad.
“What gives?” Edie gave them all a mom look.
“Mom, Alex said his dad is my dad.”
Shit. I wasn’t prepared for that.
“I heard my mom and dad talking, they said that Matt’s our half-brother and one day it’s going to come out.” He stuffed the slice of pizza in her mouth.
I shrugged, looking around at all three faces. “And? Is it a big deal?”
“What do you mean, Doc?” Peter scrunched his face up.
I loaded up my plate and gave Edie a wink. “Aren’t you guys friends?”
They all looked at each other. “Yeah.”
“So, all that changes is now you know you have brothers.” I poured all three some soda. “And they have you.”
Edith
What the hell?
Frank reached over to hold my hand, and I pulled away. I didn’t know what I felt for him, and now Matthew knows who his sperm donor was.
After I took a few deep breaths, I looked around at the boys. “Here’s the thing. Yes, you all have the same father so you have a connection. But he’s not your dad in the same way he is Alex and Peter’s.”
“I thought you said he wanted to go to school.” Matt’s face scrunched up and before I could answer Alex jumped in.
“He did go to school.” Alex grabbed his drink. “But mom made him marry her first.”
“They didn’t want me.” Peter tossed in.
“Whoa!” I held my hands up. “Were they by chance yelling at each other when you heard these things?”
Both boys nodded.
“Guys, adults say things when they’re mad, that aren’t true and some that are but only to hurt someone else.” Turning to Peter. “I am sure you were wanted and that was said out of anger.” I looked at Alex. “And yes, you are half-brothers though I’m not sure how they meant for you to learn that.”
Frank got up, and I grabbed his hand. “Let’s eat first?”
He nodded and sat back down. “Dig in, boys.”
My stomach pitched, and I felt like I was going to be sick. This wasn’t how I planned to tell him who his father was. All three boys took the information well, and they were joking with each other, stuffing the food in.
Frank had one hand under the table on my leg, and the other was shoveling food into his mouth at almost the same pace as the kids.
It’s weird that kids can go from one extreme to the next and that’s the norm, but when an adult does, they’re bi-polar.
Once the boys ate almost everything in sight, I sent them back to the bathroom to wash their hands before they went back to playing.
“I love it when you’re bossy.” Frank leaned in and kissed me.
“Freak.” I laughed.
He cupped my cheek. “Sweetness, you handled that really well.”
“It was a kick to the teeth.” I blew out a hard breath.
“Yeah, but you didn’t lose your shit or throw blame.” He stroked my cheek. “How you handled it set the tone for how they would.”
“Francis.” I looked into his blue eyes and smiled. “I really hate that mother fucker.”
His head fell back in laughter as the boys came back. “Doc, we need a fourth player in laser tag.”
“I’m in.” He made a gun with his fingers and shot it. “Be right back, baby.”
“Okay. Good luck, boys.”
“That my kids goin’ off with that teacher?” Greg grumbled behind me.
“Yep.” I reached for one of the few pieces left and took a bite.
Maybe if I eat, I won’t lose my shit.
“I’m ready to go home.”
“So go.” I shrugged. “We’ll bring the boys home.” I snapped.
“I don’t need you to drive my kids around.”
“Um, yes. You do. You don’t need to be driving your kids around with as much as you’ve had to drink.” I wrinkled my nose. “You smell like cheap booze and women.”
“Who do you think you are to say that to me?” He wavered on his feet.
“I’m the parent of one of your sons. And unlike you, I give a shit about them all.” I growled in a lowered voice, trying not to draw attention to us. “Call your wife to come get you.”
“Damn, Edie, you ain’t my boss.” He rocked on his feet. “You seem more pissed off than usual.”
“Try your son told my son they’re brothers since they heard you and Lori arguing about it. Oh and your oldest thinks he’s unwanted.” I gave him a small shove back. “Bang up parenting job there.”
“So he knows. Now what? Now you want money? Let’s all be a family?”
My mouth fell open. “Are you that dense? I don’t want shit from you.” Shaking my head, I glared at him. “Hell no.” I bussed the table. “Matthew is my son. Mine. Not yours. Mine.”
“Whoa. Calm down there, big girl.”
Margo McCall slithers over. “Greggy? Is there a problem?”
“Hey Margo, why don’t you take your boy home.” I turned my gaze to her.
“Well, I could do that.” She linked her arm with Greg’s and whispered into his ear. “But what about the boys?”
“Frank and I will drop them off.”
Greg smiled at me. “You’re a pal, Edie.”
“Ugh, I’m not doing this for you.” I sneered and took the dirty dishes up to the counter. When I got back to the table, the boys were back.
“How was it?”
“Peter and Doc killed us.”
Trying not to smile, I looked at Alex and Matt. “Well, you boys know he was in the Marines. So, he might know a thing or two about being sneaky on the field and taking shots.”
“Way to point that out now, Mom.” Matt rolled his eyes.
“You boys want to bowl? Shoot pool? Or play more games?” Frank clapped his hands.
“Can we play more games?”
Frank pulled out some bills and handed each boy a ten. “Go get your game on.”
“Thanks, Dad!” Matt yelled, running away.
“Thanks, Doc!” the other two yelled out, running with him.
“You shoot stick?” He pulled me to stand.
“Does a bear shit in the woods?”
“Let’s go.” He motioned to the pool tables.
“I’m not very good at pool, Frank.”
“That’s okay, baby.”
I watched him put the money in, and the balls came rolling down. “Want me to rack them? Then you can … what’s the word? Break?”
“That sounds good.” He walked around to where I stood and kissed me before bending over the table and breaking the balls.
He knocked a solid in, then missed the next shot. I lined up my striped ball and made it in, then I fudged the next shot. We continued to play, taking turns. Some shots were done with pinpoint accuracy, some were slop.
Once we finished the game, Frank looked around the arcade. “Boys aren’t back yet. Wanna go again?”
“Sure.”
He came over and pulled me close. “Do you want to try breaking this time?”
“Sure.” I leaned in, kissing him, and then reached for the chalk.
I watched him set the balls, put the frame away and, looking as innocent as possible, I sent the cue ball flying across the table. It cracked into the balls, knocking them around. One stripe and one solid dropped into pockets and I felt my lips twist as I eyed the table.
“Hm, since I knocked both in, I’m going to stick with stripes. Thirteen, corner pocket.” I pointed with my cue, lined up my shot and knocked it in.
I did this with my next three shots, then I missed one, letting Frank have a turn.
“You played me.” He strolled up to me. “Hustler.”
“Maybe.” I pushed my bottom lip out into a pout. Moving up his body, I whispered against his lips. “You’ll have to spank me later.”
His eyes closed, and he groaned. “I’ll never get enough of you.”
“Good. Because you’re stuck with me now.”
We finished our game as the boys came back and it was easy to see they were running low on energy.
“You boys ready to head home?”
“We gotta wait for our dad.” Alex shrugged.
“Nope. We’re taking you home.” I hugged Matthew. “Already worked it out.”
“Cool! Can we get ice cream?” Matt bounced with less energy than when the night started.
“Of course. Can’t end a night out without some treat.” Frank winked at the boys.
We made our way outside to the SUV and after we all were belted in; he drove us to an ice cream place that had a drive through. Once the boys were busy with that, I gave him directions to Greg and Lori’s house.
There’s very little discussion happening while we all ate our treats. When Frank pulled up at their house, the boys high five him and got out, running up to their door where their mom let them inside.
Frank made his way to my apartment and followed us inside, where Matt headed straight for his Legos.
“Shower first then you can play.”
“Can we watch a movie when I get out?”
I looked over at Frank, and he plopped down on the couch. “I’m good with it.”
Nodding at Matt, he whooped and went to do his thing.
“Hey, Edie?”
“Yeah?”
He motioned me over with his finger.
I sauntered over to him, sat beside him, and whispered in his ear. “Turns out I do come when you finger me.”
Frank pulled me into his lap, then captured my lips in a demanding kiss. I ran my fingers through his hair, scratching his scalp.
We made out like horny teenagers until we heard the shower cut off. I moved to sit beside him, and he smiled at me.
“Your lips are puffy.”
“And?” I reached over and cupped his erection. “Your dick’s puffy.”
“Do we have snacks?” Matt yelled as he came into the living room, dripping wet, trying to put his shirt on.
Frank let out a rich husky chuckle. “Dude, did you dry off?”
“Uh-huh.” The head in the shirt nodded. “I swear I did, Doc.”
“I’ll get the popcorn and cupcakes.”
Matthew sat beside me, taking the middle of the couch to be between us, and hit play on the DVD player.
“It’s the Lego Ninjago movie.” He smiled. “You haven’t seen it yet have you?”
“I have not.” Frank stretched his arm out along the back of the couch, and I did the same so we’re touching.
Halfway through the movie, Matt’s head ends up leaning against Frank’s ribs and he snored lightly.
“I’ll wake him and tuck him in.” I moved, but Frank stopped me.
“When the movie’s over I’ll carry him to bed. I wanna see how it ends.”
Laughing softly, I sat back. We stayed there like a family for the rest of the movie and true to his word, when it ended, he picked my son up and carried him to bed. I followed and kissed his forehead before tucking the blanket around him.
Once we made it back to the living room, Frank pulled me close and kissed me deep. “I want to stay, but I’m going to be a gentleman and go.”
“What if I want you to stay?”
“We’ll figure things out.” He cupped my face. “I love you.”
I covered his hands with mine and pressed a kiss to the base of his thumb. “Thank you for tonight.”
Frank kissed me goodbye and left, leaving me breathless with three words I couldn’t say.