by Ivy Jordan
“Really? What about Bruce?” Aiden asked.
“Well, she wants to break them up,” I admitted.
Aiden laughed. “Do you and Alyssa get a say in this?” he questioned.
I shrugged. My cheeks started to burn as Aiden’s stare grew stronger.
“I wouldn’t mind it,” I chuckled.
“Wow. You and Alyssa back together again, and this time with a kid,” Aiden sighed.
“I know, crazy, huh?” I smiled.
“Well, no one thinks much of Bruce, so I can’t say anyone would miss him,” Aiden commented.
“Not even Alyssa?” I questioned curiously.
“Hell, he’s always making her pay for everything, and all they do is argue. I can’t see her shedding any tears for him,” Aiden laughed.
“I don’t want to cause her any trouble. I mean, if she’s in love, and he makes her happy, then I would back off,” I confessed.
“I don’t think you have to worry about any of that,” Aiden laughed.
A wild relief rolled through my entire body, relaxing me from the weeks’ worth of tension I’d felt. Knowing that Alyssa wasn’t happy, wasn’t in love with this other man, it was all the confidence I needed to move forward. I wanted to win her back. She was the only woman I’d ever loved, and I realized, I’d never stopped.
“Here we are,” I said cheerfully, pulling into the gravel lot of the furniture shop.
The bed was perfect, just as it was pictured online. Aiden helped me load it, and the road home, we talked about Holly, how proud I was of her, and what an amazing little girl she’d become. No more talk about Alyssa, even though she was heavy on my mind.
“Thanks, man,” I patted Aiden on the shoulder as he climbed out of my truck.
He turned and smiled. “Good luck.”
The bed was unloaded and put together in Holly’s room. We’d already painted the walls bright purple, her favorite color, and hung lace curtains that she’d picked out. I stretched the new sheets over the new mattress and fanned out the fluffy comforter. I stood back, impressed and knowing that she would absolutely love it.
The buzzing in my front pocket pulled me from my thoughts. It was Holly.
“Hey, pipsqueak,” I greeted.
“Hey, Daddy,” she giggled.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I have an idea. On how to break Mom and Bruce up,” she whispered into the phone.
“Oh yeah, what’s that?” I queried.
“I think we should send flowers to her from Bruce,” she whispered.
I paused. That didn’t sound like a way to break them up, but possibly push them together. Bruce could buy his own damn flowers, but from what I’d heard, he wouldn’t.
“I don’t see that working,” I chuckled.
“No, we put the wrong name on them, like he meant to send them to someone else,” she explained.
“You don’t think that would upset your mother?” I asked. I didn’t want Alyssa hurt.
“She would be mad, but only long enough to break up,” Holly said quickly.
I thought about what Aiden had told me about Bruce and Alyssa. He wasn’t good for her, or for Holly, and hell, he was probably a cheat as well as a mooch. Why not?
“You think that’ll work?” I asked.
“I do,” Holly insisted.
“Okay,” I agreed.
Chapter Twelve
Alyssa
My feet ached from a week of days at the dentist’s office, and three shifts of nights at the laundromat. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could push myself so hard.
A note on the coffee table explained that my mother had taken Holly to gather supplies for the fall carnival. Good, a quiet house. I didn’t need my mother’s mouth rattling about how I work too much or how I needed a better man. Not tonight.
In the kitchen, a beautiful bouquet of flowers sat in the center of the table. They were tall, full, and colorful in the tinted blue vase, and a small card was attached at the stem of one of the flowers.
To my one and only Althea
Love, Bruce
Althea? Who the hell was Althea?
My fingers tightened around the tiny card, my knuckles turning white as my palms began to sweat. Were these meant for another woman? Surely not.
I sat in the wooden chair at the table, staring at the card. The name was odd, unfamiliar, and finally I decided that it was a misspelling by the florist.
I’d been so cold to Bruce, so distant, that he must’ve been concerned about our relationship. It was sweet, something he’d never done before, and something I didn’t think he’d ever do.
I picked up my phone, dialed his number, and waited for him to answer. It was Thursday, and I hadn’t seen him since last week when he’d forgotten his wallet conveniently at dinner.
I thought maybe I should make plans, show that I still care. I still cared, didn’t I?
“Hey, babe,” his voice was winded.
“Hey. Are you busy?” I questioned.
“I’m just under a car, trying to put on new brakes. What’s up?” he asked.
“I just wanted to thank you,” I said softly.
“Thank me for what?” he questioned.
“The flowers, they are beautiful,” I gushed.
There was a pause on the other end of the phone, and then rustling and clanking of tools.
“I doubt they are as beautiful as you,” he responded.
My cheeks blushed at his compliment. He was a sweet man; at least he could be at times. I was being too hard on him.
Holly and Maria walked in the front door, both stopping in the kitchen and glaring at me as I finished my phone call.
“I know you’re busy, but I wanted to see you tomorrow,” I stated.
“Yeah. I could use a night out,” he agreed.
“Pick me up at seven,” I replied, and then hung up the phone.
“Who was that?” Maria asked.
Holly’s eyes were filled with curiosity and eagerness as she awaited my answer.
“Bruce. He sent me the most beautiful flowers,” I smiled.
“Yeah, you sure they were meant for you?” Maria asked, her nose wrinkled up as she spoke.
“Yes,” I sighed.
“I saw the card when they were delivered. Looks like they were for Althea, not you,” Maria snipped.
“That was just a misprint. I just spoke to Bruce; they were for me,” I hissed.
“Bruce said he sent them to you?” Holly questioned.
“Yes. I just talked to him,” I replied, curious that she was so interested in the bouquet.
I watched my daughter’s face turn red, and her eyes narrowed into thin black lines. Her foot stomped onto the kitchen floor, and she turned in a huff. What the hell was wrong with her?
I heard her feet stomping through the hall, and then a slam of her door.
“Why’s she in such a mood?” I asked Maria.
She shrugged. “She’s been acting strange for the last couple days.”
“Do you think this is about Liam?” I asked, figuring the look of eagerness on Holly’s face when she came in was hope that I was making a date with Liam, not Bruce.
“Maybe you should talk to him. They’ve been spending a lot of time together,” Maria groaned.
I knew she didn’t like the fact I’d been so easy and open to Liam’s relationship with Holly.
“I have to take off. Supplies are in your garage,” Maria half-smiled, and then turned to walk away.
It wasn’t a bad idea to call Liam, but I wasn’t prepared to hear his voice. I picked up my phone, entered his number, and started a text instead of a call.
Me: Hey, have you noticed any difference in Holly’s attitude the last couple days?
Liam: No, why?
Me: She just got upset over nothing.
Liam: Had to be something.
Me: She’s eleven. Probably hormones.
Liam: You women do have lots of those.
Me: A
nd you men don’t?
Liam: We can release our tension with sex; you girls need cake, ice cream, a talk, a cry. A man’s way is easier, and a lot more fun.
Me: I like cake
Liam: And you don’t like sex?
Me: I didn’t say that…
Liam: I remember you liked it quite a bit.
Me: Things change
Liam: Really? Maybe you only liked it with me.
Me: I didn’t say that either…
Liam: There are lots of things you don’t say; what do you say we go grab a drink?
I stared at my phone. My body was aching with excitement, but why? Why was I letting him get to me like this?
Me: I can’t. I already made plans.
I knew that was a lie, but I couldn’t face him. He was flirting with me, and I liked it a little too much.
Liam: Plans?
Me: Yes. I have to eat cake.
Liam: Ha!
Chapter Thirteen
Liam
“Good morning,” Bill called to me as I stepped onto the front porch.
“Good morning,” I replied, lifting my coffee cup towards him as I sat down on the steps.
I hadn’t talked to my neighbor much since I’d arrived home, but I knew he’d been watching me. He was one of them that knew about Holly. His behavior when I first arrived made more sense once I knew.
“Looks like you’ve been pretty busy,” Bill said, looking towards the painted boards lining our fence.
“Yeah,” I smiled, looking up at the old man as he stood above me.
“All this for the carnival?” he questioned.
I nodded. “Have a seat,” I offered, scooting over on the steps to make room.
“Things look like they’ve been going really well with Holly,” he said softly, taking the seat offered to him.
“They have,” I agreed.
I wanted to say something about him knowing, but I didn’t see what difference it would make now. I needed to let it all go and just enjoy the fact that I knew now.
“Good,” he reached out, resting his hand on my shoulder.
His approval felt good, father-like.
“There’s our girl now,” he said, lifting his hand from my shoulder to point towards the sidewalk.
Holly ran towards the house, her purple backpack bouncing past her shoulders as she neared.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in school?” I questioned.
Wow, I sounded like a real father for a moment. It was eerie.
“My bus doesn’t come for twenty minutes,” she gasped, partially out of breath.
“Good to see you, Holly,” Bill smiled.
Holly nodded in his direction, and then placed her eyes on me. She looked like she was upset but reluctant to speak.
“You doing okay, kiddo?” I questioned.
A sigh escaped her lips, and then she plopped down on the bottom step at mine and Bill’s feet.
“What is it?” I asked, placing my hand on the top of her head.
“Mom has a date with Bruce tonight,” she grumbled.
My stomach let out a growl, one loud enough I was certain it was heard.
“That man’s an idiot,” Bill spat.
I was surprised by his interjection, and by the look on Holly’s face, she was too.
“I know. I want them to break up,” Holly admitted.
That’s what I wanted as well, but I didn’t say it aloud.
“Adults don’t always do what’s best for them,” Bill groaned.
“She didn’t even care about the name being misspelled; she blamed it on the florist,” Holly rambled.
Bill looked confused as his eyes landed on mine.
“We tried,” I shrugged.
“Name misspelled?” Bill asked.
I felt foolish for taking part in such childish pranks and was certain Bill would find me to be an idiot, just like Bruce, when he found out what we’d done.
“Yeah. We sent flowers to Mom, from Bruce, but with the wrong name,” Holly confessed to my neighbor.
“Wow,” Bill chuckled.
“I guess I shouldn’t have made the name so close to hers,” I laughed nervously, still unsure what Bill was thinking about me and my immature prank.
“What name did you use?” Bill asked.
“Althea,” I sighed.
Bill laughed a loud, belly laugh that echoed into the still morning on our quiet street.
“Yeah, maybe Betty would have been better,” he grinned devilishly in my direction.
“Oh well. Now she thinks Bruce is sweet, and she made a date with him for tonight,” Holly grumbled.
“I’m sorry, pipsqueak. We tried,” I apologized.
“Maybe he’ll stand her up,” Bill offered.
“No chance. It’s a free meal and someone to drive him around while he drinks,” Holly growled.
That was true. I couldn’t see Bruce passing up the chance at a designated driver and a night out with Alyssa, his sugar momma.
“I heard sugar in the gas tank can disable a car pretty quick,” Bill smirked.
Holly stared at the old man, her eyes lighting up, and her lips curling into a devilish smile.
“Is that true?” she quickly turned to me.
“It turns the gasoline to goo, but it doesn’t always disable the car,” I admitted what I knew to be true.
“Let’s do that,” she said excitedly.
“I don’t want to destroy a man’s vehicle,” I retreated.
“He’s a mechanic. He can fix it, just maybe not quick enough to get to his date,” Bill smiled.
Why was all of this sounding perfectly fine to me? I knew I wanted Alyssa, but was this the way to do it?
“Yes,” Holly squeaked.
She’d already bounced to her feet, her eyes lingering heavily on mine while awaiting an answer, a go-ahead on the plan.
“Well, I don’t start work for another few weeks, so it’s not like I’ve got anything better to do,” I laughed.
Holly’s arms reached around my neck, squeezing tightly as her tender lips pressed into my cheek. I loved seeing her so happy.
“Like I said, there’s no guarantee it’ll work,” I sighed.
“It’ll work,” Holly exclaimed and then rushed back down the sidewalk, towards her bus stop.
“It’s good to see you two found something to do together,” Bill laughed.
“Yeah,” I chuckled, still feeling foolish.
“I’d like to see Bruce out of Alyssa and Holly’s lives. I think the entire town would,” Bill stated, slapping me on the back as he stood.
“Is this really the way to do it?” I questioned.
“When it comes to love, there are no rules,” Bill grinned and then walked away.
After school, Holly rushed into the house, slamming the front door. I stuck my head into the living room, watching as she tossed her backpack onto the floor, and then stood with her hands on her small hips.
“So?” she questioned.
“I did it,” I grinned.
She jumped up in the air as if she’d just won the super bowl. I still didn’t feel good about what I’d done, at least not entirely. I’d driven over to the next town where Bruce worked, parked a few blocks from his shop, and then snuck the sugar into his gas tank while he was underneath a Jeep Cherokee.
“I told Mom I was staying with you tonight since she had a date,” Holly grinned.
“How will we know if he stands her up?” I asked.
“I’ll know. She always complains to Grandma whenever Bruce does something stupid, and he always does something stupid,” Holly announced.
“Well, how about we go into town, buy a few more supplies, and get some food,” I suggested.
It was nice having Holly around all the time. She lived so close, she could just walk to my house now that Alyssa seemed more comfortable with the arrangement. Maria had stopped complaining so much as well and appeared to be happy that Holly had her dad in her life. Everything was workin
g out great, expcet for Bruce being in the picture, and hopefully that would change soon.
Holly and I walked around the craft store, tossing items into the wobbly cart. Maria had helped make one of the game boards and stacked supplies into Alyssa’s garage for her to complete the rest. She hadn’t had time, and Holly thought it was a good idea if we did it ourselves to surprise her. We had the boards all cut, painted, and mostly decorated, and now we just needed the final touches.
I was delighted with how creative Holly was and let her lead the way on what games to make, how to decorate, and even what prizes should be awarded.
It was after six o’clock when we left the craft store, and my stomach was grumbling with hunger and anticipation of what the night would bring.
I looked at my watch as we checked out. It was six forty-five, only fifteen minutes until Bruce was supposed to arrive to pick Alyssa up for their date.
“You hungry?” I asked Holly.
She rubbed her belly, smiled widely, and nodded.
“Pizza,” she blurted out excitedly, causing the cashier to smile.
“Pizza it is,” I agreed, paid for the items, and then pushed the cart towards the store’s exit.
“Do you think he’s called and canceled yet?” Holly asked as I loaded the truck.
“Probably,” I replied, concealing my own excitement.
“I’ll call her to check in after we eat,” Holly smiled.
The pizza place was packed as we made our way to the only open booth in the back. Holly squeezed in beside me, instead of taking the seat across the table. Her small frame pressed into mine, warm, comfortable, loving.
We ordered a large Hawaiian pizza, something I’d never tried before. Holly snickered as I wrinkled my nose at the pineapple on my pizza.
“Try it,” she pushed.
I pushed the first bite into my mouth and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
“I told ya,” she boasted.
The waitress returned to the table with another pitcher of Pepsi and left a box for our leftovers. There was half a pizza still untouched.
“I think our eyes were bigger than our stomachs,” I chuckled as I loaded the leftovers into the small cardboard box.
“Mom might want it,” Holly grinned.
Shit. I looked at my watch again; it was eight o’clock already.
