“What kind of jelly donuts did you buy?” he asked, entering the dining area.
“Blueberry, strawberry, cream, and spiced apple,” Renee answered, giving Adam the napkins to place on the table.
“What can I do?” Aaron asked.
“Sit yourself down and eat. Adam and I have everything ready.”
“Good job, Buddy,” Aaron praised and extended his hands for Adam and Renee to pray with him over their morning meal. “Father, thank You for giving us a great day to visit the zoo. Bless us and keep Your protective hedge over Marie and her children.”
Adam added, “And God bless Grandma and Grandpa and Nana and Papa.”
Aaron gave her hand a slight squeeze of reassurance. Renee cleared her throat. “Lord, thank You for bringing Adam and Aaron into my life. May I be as good of a friend to them.”
Aaron concluded. “In Jesus’ name, amen.”
The prayer over, they all dove into their egg sandwiches.
“Renee?” Adam mumbled.
“Adam, don’t speak with your mouth full.”
“Sorry.” He swallowed a huge amount. “Renee, have you been to the zoo?”
“In the Bronx.”
“The Bronx, where’s that?”
“In New York.” Aaron found himself watching her every move, like the delicate way she wiped her mouth with the napkin.
“Oh, where you used to live?” Adam asked.
“That’s right.”
“What’s your favorite animal? I like the elephants and their big floppy ears. But the lions roar real loud. Wanna hear?”
“Sure.” Renee smiled.
“Roar!” Adam yelled.
“Oh my, you sound just like them. Can you sound like a monkey?”
The next few minutes passed with each of them imitating animal noises. The sandwiches done, Renee opened the box with the delightful array of sin to the waistline or backside—Aaron never was sure which. Either way, it meant more laps in the pool. Of course, he’d be doing some serious walking today. . . . Aaron took two.
Renee giggled but kept her comments to herself. He supposed she had a right after the way he’d ridden her case last night about the pizza.
“I’m done. Can we go now?” Adam’s smile, accented with powdered sugar and strawberries, broadened.
“I think you need to wash your face, Buddy. Then you’ll need to get dressed for the zoo. Wear shorts and a T-shirt, and don’t forget your backpack.”
“Okay.” Adam’s jelly-stained hands grabbed the back of the chair.
Aaron groaned.
Renee jumped up. “I’ll take care of it. I brought the messy treat.”
Aaron pushed his chair back and gathered the paper debris. They collided as Renee came out of the kitchen. “Oof.”
“Sorry,” she said, stepping back.
“How are you this morning?” he asked in a whisper.
“All right, I guess. I spent several hours looking for any other customers that we bid on. But I think you found them all.”
“It’s disturbing, but I don’t want to discuss work today. I’d rather focus on more pleasant things, like Adam and you.”
Renee’s cheeks instantly blushed.
“Do you know you produce the most beautiful shade of pink?” He winked.
The blush deepened. Desire surged through him to wrap her in his arms and kiss her senseless. “Are you prepared for today with some sunblock?”
“Ah, um,” she fumbled over her words. “Yes, why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Look, I might not be the brightest when it comes to male-female relationships, but I know you were. . .”
“Come here,” he cooed, pulling her to himself. Raking his fingers through her golden strands, he placed one hand behind her neck and tilted her head back. “May I?”
She blinked. He prayed it was a yes. Slowly he lowered his lips to hers. Her arms wrapped around him. He wrapped his around her. Desire and passion fused with a mind-numbing sensation, rendering him unaware of anyone, anything, other than Renee. His hands caressed her shoulders. The kiss deepened.
“Daddy, are you kissing Renee?” Adam giggled. The world, reality, came crashing back down. Aaron pulled away and stepped back.
Stunned, Renee opened her eyes. How could she and Aaron have forgotten that Adam was in the house? How could they have gotten so lost in that kiss? Renee sighed and leaned against the counter with her back to the open living area. She––no, they––should have known better.
“Yes, Son, I was.”
“Oh. Does this mean Renee will be my new mommy?”
Aaron glanced back and grasped her hand. “Too soon to say. Daddies and possible new mommies have to spend time together before they know if God wants them to get married.”
“Good answer, Son.”
Renee spun around. Standing in the living room, looking right in the kitchen, were Aaron’s parents. Renee prayed the floor would open up and swallow her whole. How could she have not heard Aaron’s parents come in through the front door?
Aaron coughed and cleared his throat. “Hi, Mom, Dad.”
His father spoke first. “I guess we stopped in at the wrong time.”
Aaron placed his arm around Renee’s shoulders. “We’re heading out to the zoo for the day. Would you folks like to join us?” he offered.
His mother answered in Spanish. Renee couldn’t speak. She couldn’t look at his parents or Adam. She felt too guilty. Why? You’ve been wanting to kiss him. Obviously he’s been wanting to kiss you too. It’s one thing being caught by Adam, but by his parents. . . She felt the heat on her cheeks increase enough that a cool compress sounded desirable. Of course, with the amount of heat she was feeling, steam would probably rise from the cloth.
“Speak in English, Mom. Renee doesn’t understand.”
“Si. Yes. Sorry. I was apologizing for walking in,” Gladys Chapin explained to Renee.
Embarrassment flooded her cheeks. Renee realized she wasn’t being condemned. And it wasn’t her place to say whether or not it was a problem. Obviously they had a key and were used to just walking in. Which would be perfectly natural with Gladys taking care of Adam.
“Mother, relax, no harm done.”
Adam went to his grandmother and hugged her.
“Excuse me.” Renee stepped from Aaron’s embrace and left to finish clearing the table. She needed to do something, anything. How could she have allowed herself to get carried away like that? Or Aaron, for that matter?
He came up behind her. “Renee,” he whispered.
She jumped and turned to face him.
“I won’t apologize for kissing you, but I am sorry that we didn’t pick a more appropriate time. Next time, I’ll be more careful.”
“Aaron, I’m so embarrassed.”
“Shh.” He pulled her back into his embrace. “Don’t fret about it. My parents were well aware of my growing affections toward you.”
“But. . .”
“Shh.” He placed his finger to her lips. “It was an awkward moment, but we’ll survive. Come on, the zoo awaits.”
Renee picked up the box of donuts and handed it to him. The rest of the items she removed.
“Are you folks going to join us?” Aaron asked upon re-entering the kitchen.
“No, Son. One of the reasons we came over was Marie.”
Aaron stiffened. “Is she all right?”
“Yes, Manuel’s disappeared again. I figure he came into some money somehow and is drinking it away.” Charles sighed. “Your mother and I thought it would be good to visit Marie and the children.”
“I’ll pray for you and your visit.” Aaron placed the box of donuts on the counter.
“Thank you.” Charles turned toward Renee. “It was nice to see you, Renee. Perhaps you can get this guy to invite you over to the family meal tomorrow after church.”
Renee cleared her throat. “Food?” She wiggled her eyebrows. The room erupted
in laughter.
“Grandma, Renee can eat a whole pizza,” Adam boasted.
“She can? My, my.” Gladys giggled. “Where does she keep it? She’s too skinny.”
It was true, she was skinny, always had been, despite eating like a horse. It had made so many of her roommates in college jealous of her eating habits.
Aaron lifted his hands in surrender. “You invited that one on yourself, Girl.”
“I run,” she defended.
❧
Aaron put the dollar in the machine that would make a plastic model of three monkeys. He remembered having his own set of zoo creatures when he was a child. He chuckled. They hadn’t improved on the machine. It still worked the same, smelled the same. Memories washed over him to a time when he and Marie were both small and didn’t have a care in the world.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Renee whispered.
Aaron turned. “Where’s Adam?”
“On the slide. It’s great that they put these play areas in for the children.”
“Yeah, gives the parents a chance to catch their wind. Why can’t we bundle that energy? We’d make a fortune.”
Renee chuckled.
The large spatula pushed the newly formed plastic monkeys down to the bin waiting below.
She scrunched her nose. “It’s a noisy thing.”
“Did you put sunblock on your nose?”
“Yes, why?” She placed her delicate fingers on the top ridge of her nose.
“It’s turning pink.”
“Oh no.” She ran to her backpack and ruffled through for the sunblock.
“I burn easily,” she mumbled.
“I figured.” Aaron sat on the bench and watched Adam for a moment. “Here, let me reapply it to your shoulders and back.”
She handed him the bottle, then lifted her ponytail.
He pressed his finger against her pink skin and saw the white imprint. “You might already be burnt.”
“Ugh,” she groaned. “I probably should have worn a blouse with short sleeves and a high neckline.”
“You look just fine, but you probably would have been better prepared for the sun. I’ve heard people with fair skin really have to be careful. You ought to wear a hat too.”
“Yeah, right and look like a tourist. I don’t think so,” she quipped.
“Oh, so sun poisoning is a better alternative?”
“I’m not that badly burnt, am I?”
“I don’t think so, but like I said, I’m not used to such fair skin.”
“Where’s the nearest rest room? I’d better go check.”
Aaron pointed it out on the map. “Adam and I will wait right here for you.”
“Okay.” She bolted off. He’d never seen her run. Her form was excellent. Had she competed in college? he wondered.
“Daddy,” Adam squealed as he slid down the slide.
“Hey, Buddy, having fun?”
“A blast.”
Aaron’s cell phone rang. “Hello.”
“Mr. Chapin, this is Detective Diaz.”
Aaron rolled his eyes and leaned his head back. “Yes, Detective?” Why’d he ever given the man his cell phone number?
“Your store’s been vandalized.”
“What?”
“It doesn’t appear that anything is missing, but someone threw a huge hunk of coral through the front door. I’m afraid I need you to come to your office to verify that nothing was stolen.”
“I’m in South Miami at the Metro Zoo. It’ll take me an hour to get there.”
“No problem. I’ll have an officer stand guard until you come.”
“Thanks.”
“Adam,” Aaron called. “We’ve got to go, Son.”
“But why, Daddy? We haven’t seen the zebras yet.”
“Next time, Sport. Someone threw a rock through the office door. I have to take care of it.”
“Why would someone throw a rock, Daddy? Didn’t their mommy and daddy tell them not to throw rocks?”
“I guess they weren’t listening to their parents.”
“They need to get a spanking and be sent to their rooms, huh, Daddy?”
Aaron scooped up his son and held him close to his chest. Lord, help me protect Adam from the truth. And what is the truth, Lord? Why am I being targeted? No other storefronts have been recent victims. At least not that I’m aware of.
Aaron straddled Renee’s backpack over his left shoulder and left the play area to walk in the direction she’d been going. “Look for Renee, Buddy.”
“Okay.”
“Ugh,” he grunted, wincing from Adam using his hair as an anchor. “Son, would you mind leaving my hair on my head?”
“Sorry, Daddy.
“I see her,” Adam shouted, bouncing up and down. Which was worse—ribs kicked or hair pulled—Aaron wasn’t sure. He bent down and let the offending feet hurry off to their target.
Renee opened her arms wide and cradled the boy as he slammed into her with full force. Aaron grinned.
Her eyes locked with his. Aaron nodded. Obviously Adam had shared the news.
“Can I drop you off with Adam at my place while I deal with the police?”
“Sure. I’ll make supper. Leave me Adam’s car seat, and we’ll go grocery shopping if I can’t find what I need.”
“And she cooks,” he chuckled.
Eleven
“You better believe it, Buster,” Renee snapped. “I had to in order to survive.”
“Huh?”
Oh dear, I’ve said too much. . .think, quick! “Remember I told you my aunt wasn’t much of a parent figure?”
Aaron nodded.
“Well, she didn’t cook. And you know how much I like food.”
“Junk food,” he corrected. Pulling out his keys, he handed her the backpack. “Hop in, Sport.”
Aaron opened the door for Renee. A gentleman. She melted into the front seat.
“Buckle up, Adam.”
Renee heard the click of the buckle latching. “Did you have fun, Adam?”
“Yeah. I liked the giraffes. They have really long necks.”
Renee thought back on how far they had to spread their front legs in order to bend down far enough for them to eat the grass.
Aaron slipped behind the wheel.
“What about how slow that tortoise moved?” Aaron asked as he turned the key in the ignition.
“The gorilla scared me.”
“Me too,” Renee agreed. “I thought he was going to come through the viewing window.”
“He picked his nose, Daddy. It was gross.”
“Eww,” Aaron and Renee said in unison.
They spoke for awhile about the various sights and sounds of the zoo. In spite of the wonderful day, her mind kept jumping to the office. Who had broken the door? Was it another robbery attempt?
Aaron reached over and took her hand. “I’m sorry about this.”
“Phooey, you didn’t break the door.” She glanced back. Adam was nodding off to sleep. “Do you think it’s the same person as before?”
“I don’t know. I guess I just assumed it was, but more than likely it was kids with nothing better to do.”
“True. The last time it was at night, and they were professional. This time, well, we don’t know yet, but it seems like it’s possible the two are unrelated.”
“Quite.” Aaron glanced over at her. “So, what are you fixing for dinner?”
“You’ll just have to be pleasantly surprised.”
“Hmm, well you know how I like my steak,” he rambled. “I had a wonderful time today, Renee. Thanks for coming.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it.”
He lifted her hand and kissed it. “I’d like to take you out on a real date, just the two of us. What do you think?”
Was she ready to go to the next level in the relationship?
“Renee?”
“I’m sorry, I guess I’m still afraid.”
“I thought we settled that last week.”
>
“We discussed it. Sometimes deciding something isn’t the same as acting on it.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that. Let’s pray about it; does that sound reasonable to you?”
“Aaron, you’re unlike anyone I’ve ever known. I love that you want to pray about everything, but I’m also taken aback by it. Do you pray before you decide on all matters?”
Aaron let out a guttural sigh. “No, I’m not perfect. I’d love to say I always act in a spiritual manner and put the Lord first in everything, but I fail miserably at times. I do want the Lord to be central in our relationship. I don’t want to have Adam’s expectations high when it’s possible nothing more will develop other than a mutual friendship.”
“Has he been asking for a new mother for awhile?”
Aaron released her hand and placed both hands back on the steering wheel. He leaned back in his bucket seat and nodded his head. “For a few weeks now. Honestly, when he first approached me about the idea, I couldn’t see past the loss of Hannah. Now, well now, I think it’s possible. But I want to be cautious. There’s no question about the attraction between us, and I truly enjoy our conversation but. . .”
“But are we good for one another?”
He glanced over at her and smiled, then broke the connection and concentrated on the highway. “I don’t have time to waste on dating anyone who comes my way. I’m just not interested in frittering away my time on such relationships. I do believe the Lord is bringing us together, but the questions remain.”
Accepting the possibility that this attraction to Aaron could come from the Lord had kept her tossing and turning more than one night. “Aaron, I don’t want to repeat my past mistakes. Brent used me. I know that now. But I used him. I wanted a husband. I felt I needed one to be complete. I’ve been working on trying to be complete in who I am with the Lord and understanding that I don’t need a man for that.”
“You’re right. You don’t need a man to be complete.”
“I also have a past that’s been colored by my environment. I’m concerned that I didn’t have a good role model, at least one I can remember, on how to have a good relationship with the opposite sex. I thought I’d been a good partner with Brent, but apparently I was fooling myself. There’s so much you don’t know about me and—”
Cords Of Love Page 9
