by Freya Barker
I still find her staring at me from time to time, trying to gauge me. Not quite sure how I fit into this little world of hers that has existed of only Seb and Janet for as long as she is able to remember. I myself am still confused half the time, talking to someone who looks like an adult for all intents and purposes, but can only think and reason like an eight-year old. It takes a little practice. But the love between Faith and her brother, is something to behold. The adoration in her face when she looks at Seb is enough to make me fall as hard for the sister as I did for the brother. I may not be the world's most nurturing figure, or all warm and cuddly like Emma or bubbly and cheerful like Janet, something people gravitate towards automatically, but I have a feeling Faith and I will find our way.
The rental loaded up with Seb and my small bags and several suitcases with as many of Faith and Janet's belongings as we can carry, we pull up to the curb at the airport. Seb's dropping us off with the luggage before quickly dropping off the rental and meeting us at the baggage check-in. While Seb and Janet get Faith into her wheelchair, I take off in search of a cart. Those fucking things are never around when you need them, but you trip over them any other time. A security guy directs me into the terminal where he says I can find more. I scan the large hall in front of me in search of the carts, when my eyes catch on something. Something that has the blood turn to ice in my veins. A movement, a gait, that seemed all too familiar, but when I turn back in the direction I think I saw it, I can't find it.
After a minute to scold myself for being an idiot, I finally spot a row of carts by the set of outside doors and head over to grab one for our bags.
The cart piled high, Seb deposits us right inside the doors and tells us to wait while he returns the car.
"I have to pee." Faith is squirming in her chair and is obviously uncomfortable.
"I'll take her," Janet says. " Are you going to be okay here with the stuff? I have to find a disabled washroom."
"Of course. Go. Better now than on the plane."
With those two off to find the washrooms, I wheel the cart over to a row of seats and sit down. I'm amusing myself by watching people go by, when I can feel the hair on my neck stand up and goosebumps rise on my skin and I stand up, feeling suddenly very vulnerable sitting. An uneasy tingle along my spine has me scanning the terminal from side to intently trying to spot what it is that has me on edge. Is someone watching? I am so focused on the faces and the bodies in front of me, I don't register the soft footsteps approaching me from behind. When a hand falls on my shoulder, the breath stalls in my throat.
"Hey you, what are you looking at?" A familiar rumble sounds from behind me and I whip around.
"Holy Christ, Seb! You scared the shit out of me!" Bending over, I lean my hands on my knees and try to catch my breath.
"Whoa, babe. What is that all about? You almost jumped out of your skin? Something happen?" Concern evident on his face, he pulls me upright by my arms.
Don't I feel like a fool now. So I'm not going to expand on that and decide to say nothing. "Nope, just tired and jumpy I guess. Eager to get home."
"Me too. I miss the diner. Miss cooking. Miss our bed."
He makes me smile, despite the residual shakes. "Our bed, huh? You didn't like the bed in the hotel?" I ask, eyebrow raised.
Wrapping his arms around me he comes close enough to touch my nose with his.
"Love the bed in the hotel, and the shower, and the tub and the counter… oh, and the wall." He chuckles. "But there is something about the bed at home that just feels… right."
Putting my hand on his chest, I push him back a little and look in his eyes. "Are you sure you are okay with all of this?"
"Of course. It's amazing. Why? I don't seem happy?"
"It's just that… you never said anything one way or another about moving in on a more… permanent basis." Fuck. This is why I don't like emotional stuff. I suck at being careful or sensitive. I just need to know things, even when I am terrified I'm the one who will get hurt.
"Permanent? You want me around, permanently? Arlene, are you asking me what I think you're asking me?" Seb's face is a blank, I can't get any read of him, so I panic.
"No! No… of course not. I'm just- just…" My mouth slams shut when Seb bursts out laughing and I shove his chest hard, trying to get out of his arms. The bastard won't let me, though. He has me pinned tight.
"Let me go, you ass!"
"Nope. I'm just having some fun with you, Spot. Relax. Hey!" I give Arlene a little shake when she won't stop trying to wrestle out of my arms and force her to look me in the eye. "Listen to me. I couldn't imagine not being able to wrap myself around you every night. Not having your freckled face to wake up to every morning. There is nothing I want more than permanency with you, Arlene. And let's get this straight, even if you wanted me to leave, you'd have a hell of a fight on your hands, 'cause I wasn't planning on going anywhere."
I can feel the fight going out of her and her forehead comes to rest on my collarbone.
"We good?"
"Yeah… we're good." She says in a soft voice, nodding her head against my shoulder.
"Perfect. Now where have my sister and Janet gone off to?"
"Bathroom, they must have a hard time finding a suitable one for Faith. It's been a while."
"Let's go find them and get this load checked in." Pushing the cart with one hand and grabbing Arlene's with the other, we start walking.
We've checked three washrooms and still no sign of Janet and Faith. Arlene is starting to fidget at my side and I'd feel a whole lot better knowing where they are too.
"Let's walk back to the entrance." Arlene suggests. "Maybe we've just missed them."
Walking briskly, we make our way back to the seats where I found Arlene earlier. Nothing. Fuck.
"Try calling Janet's phone."
Berating myself for not thinking of something so simple earlier, I pull out my phone and dial her number, which goes straight to voicemail. I shake my head at Arlene who is watching me closely.
Just as I am about to walk over to an information desk to have a call put out over the sound system, I hear my name.
"Sebastian!"
From the other side of the check-in counters I can see Janet pushing a waving Faith in her chair, coming toward us and the tight feeling that had started building in my chest deflates like a balloon.
"Sorry it took a while." Janet apologizes when they reach us. "The only washroom large enough to allow me to help her was downstairs at the Arrivals level."
"No problem. We were just worried when we couldn't find you. Oh, and your phone is off." I point out.
"Turned it off already. I always forget on the plane." Janet explains.
"Okay. Well, let's get this show on the road."
Janet and Faith lead the way with Faith chattering on about the nice man from the elevator, while Arlene and I follow behind.
Forty-five minutes later, we are boarded and ready for take-off.
CHAPTER THIRTY
"Can we go out in the snow?"
It's been a little over a week since we've been back from Montana and it's been snowing off and on for a few days. Faith and Janet are getting settled in at Gus and Emma's in the guest house, getting spoiled rotten by Emma of course. I have to admit I was a little disappointed when Faith wanted to stay with Janet, but Arlene pointed out that with all of the changes in her life, Janet was the one constant right now and it made sense for Faith to want to hang on to that for a bit. I get it. But it still stings.
I look outside where the snow has just stopped falling, leaving behind a pristine white blanket Faith is eager to explore. With little else other than occasionally checking in on the construction progress at the diner, and trying out some new recipes, I keep myself busy finding ways to keep Faith occupied. Finding out she loves the snow had me run out and get the biggest, old-fashioned wooden sled I could find and rig it up with a heavy-duty stadium seat and a harness. It holds her in snug while I pull her thr
ough the snow, and I love hearing her laugh and having fun again. Next week she would enter the outpatient recreation program at the Vista Mesa in Cortez, a long-term care facility we hope she will like. The waiting period for a room for her will give us a chance to get her familiar with the facility, the people and the routine through this outpatient program. By the time a room becomes available, she will be quite comfortable there already and it won't be as much of a transition. In the meantime, Janet is here and doesn't appear to be in a hurry to go anywhere soon. I have a feeling there is something going on with her, but I don't know her well enough to dig.
"Okay, pumpkin. Let's get you bundled up and outside for some fresh air."
I watch Arlene as I slide myself in and out of her. Her beautiful green eyes are heavy-lidded and her body is arching off the bed every time my hard cock hits the right spot inside her. I'm on my knees and have pulled her up on my legs, using my hands to spread her wide. My favorite position. Watching every part of her come apart under me, being able to touch her as I can see myself fucking into her. Phenomenal. My balls pull tight against my body as I can feel the surge of release starting at the base of my spine. Not wanting to go over alone, I lick my thumb and rub in tight circles over her engorged clit, causing her to shiver at each pass. When I can't hold back anymore, I press down with my thumb and I can feel the walls of her pussy clamping down on my cock.
"Fuck baby, every time is better." I manage, lifting her up by the hips and pumping into her until my own orgasm fills her. I pull her up and roll on my back, Arlene on top with me still inside her. I love to feel the weight of her on me.
Sated and lazy, we stay like that for a while.
"Good morning to you too." She says finally, a smile in her voice making me chuckle.
"Damn right it is. Only way to start a day off right."
"Mmmmm. But now I need a shower. I want to be at the diner for ten, that's when the new bathroom fixtures are being delivered and I want to make sure they sent the right ones this time, before the driver takes off again."
Arlene has been supervising the construction and renovations at the diner in quite the 'hands-on' manner. Taking on tasks like accepting and checking deliveries to the site, helping out with the scheduling and making sure the guys are all stocked with food and drink, she doesn't want anything to stand in the way of the diner opening as soon as possible. Clint has been quite good-natured about her involvement and after their initial run-in, those two actually get along quite well now.
She lifts up and rests her chin on her hands on my chest. "What are your plans for the day?"
"I need to drive into Durango. There are a few kitchen supply places I want to check out and I can make a stop at the Home Depot to pick up those tiles we ordered for the backsplash behind the counter. With all the structural work almost done and Clint starting on the re-finish of the dining and bathrooms, next on his list will be the kitchen. I want to make sure we know what we want and can get it on time, so there is no lag in the schedule. But I might be a little late to pick up Faith, can I call you?"
"Of course, why don't you just let me pick her up. That way you don't have to rush at all. Oh and by the way, you know Home Depot delivers, right?"
"Yes I do, wise-ass. But why pay extra for delivery when I'm going to be in Durango anyway? I'll drop Faith off at Vista Mesa and drive right through. Anything you need?"
"Nope. I have all I need right here." She says as she snuggles in to my chest again.
"Thought you were having a shower, Spot?" I chuckle into her hair.
"Shut up, Cookie. You talk too much."
I lie back and laugh harder than I have in a very long time. Life is fucking good. Finally.
"Ems!"
"Yo, girlfriend! How's it hangin'?" Emma goofs when I pop in on her on my way to the diner.
Gus is sitting at the counter, just shaking his head at our antics.
"Morning, big guy. How does it feel to live in something other than a doll house?"
"Much better now that the last of the hammering and drilling is done." He says.
My eyes flick to Emma, and I burst out laughing when I see her pout at him.
"Jesus, you two. You feed off each other, I swear." One more shake of the head and Gus dives back into whatever computer file he's working on, doing his best to ignore our cackling.
The expansions on their house finally done, Emma has been busy trying to clean the layers of dust that have settled on everything - only to reappear a day after.
"So. You wanna come see some shiny new bathroom fixtures?" I ask Emma who nods eagerly.
"Anything to escape the dust." She says.
"Not so sure coming with me to a full on construction site is gonna help you do that, sweet cheeks." I point out.
"Okay. Anything to escape my dust. That better?"
"Whatever you say. Well, get dressed already. It's fucking freezing outside and I gotta get there before the driver takes off again."
"Sergeant-Major, Sir!" Emma toddles off with a jaunty salute to get her coat. Brat.
We pull in just as the delivery truck is trying to leave. Oh hell no. I turn the wheel of my old F-150 and park it right across the entrance to the diner's parking lot.
"What the hell are you doing, Arlene?" Emma demands.
"The bastard is about to drive off again. Last time he did, he left us with the wrong supplies. I'm not letting him go until I've checked the delivery. You stay put."
I get out and walk over to the delivery truck, where the driver is already dropping down from the cab, swearing up a storm.
"Are you nuts, lady? I got a schedule to keep. What the heck do you think you're doing, blocking like that?"
I walk up to him, crowding in his space. "Listen here. Last time you delivered, you high-tailed it out of here as well. I didn't even have a chance to sign off on it. Not that I would've; it was the wrong stuff! If you think I'm gonna let you go, without checking and signing off on those fixtures, you've got another thing coming!"
The driver's face is turning an unhealthy shade of red. "I don't have time for this. Get outta my way."
I'm about to give him a crushed scrotum for Christmas as he grabs my arms to manhandle me out of the way, when someone pulls him off me and slams his back into the side of the truck.
"Tell me you weren't putting your hands on the lady now, were you?" Clint has to bend his big frame down to get in the face of the driver, who visibly shrinks at the sight of the burly contractor and simply shakes his head. "Good thing too. Why don't you back the truck right up and come on in, so she can check the delivery first. The way it's supposed to be done."
Stepping back, Clint lets the guy climb back in the truck and back up. When he turns to me and gives me a wink, I can't resist.
"I had him, you know." I put my fists in my sides for emphasis, but it only makes Clint smile bigger.
"Oh yeah?" He says, eyebrows raised.
"Would've served him crushed nuts for Christmas." I say, turning around to get my truck parked, leaving a deep booming laugh from Clint behind me.
"Shut up." I say to Emma, who is chuckling beside me, which only serves to make her laugh harder.
"Sorry." She says, not sorry at all.
The next ten minutes are spent opening and looking over every one of the boxes that were dropped off. Finding all but one of them correct. One had a wrong model faucet, which oddly pleased me. I walked over to the driver and waved it under his nose. "See? Still not right. This is the wrong one, I'll sign off on the rest but not this. And I'm gonna need it within twenty-four hours."
"Call the office," is all he'll say. So I make him wait while I contact the supplier, taking great pleasure in pointing out their incompetency. They promise to send someone else out by the end of day. Just in time I remember having to pick up Faith, so I give them my home address, telling them to drop it off there after five.
With a great flourish I sign off on the correct boxes and hand the papers to the driver, who tak
es off, swearing all the way.
"You are one heck of a lady." Clint says, leaning against the wall to the new kitchen with a big smile on his face. "Too bad someone got in there before me." And with a wink he turns around and walks away.
"Wow." From Emma, who sidles up beside me and is staring at where Clint disappeared.
"No shit, wow." I agree, a little baffled, especially given the initial treatment I got when we first met. Nice man he turned out to be. Fine-looking big man too, and I have to admit, feels good to be looked at that way again, but the only man I want is already mine.
Emma sticks her finger in her mouth and pushes it to my arm. "Psshhhhh, hawt!" She giggles.
I whack her hand away and wipe the spit off my arm. "You're weird and oh gross, woman!"
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
It's not easy, getting Faith up in the cab of my truck, but with her hanging on to the door opening and me trying to lift her by the legs so I can slide her butt on the seat, we are both giggling. That, of course, is not helping matters. We finally manage and I am relieved that getting out will be a shitload easier, when she can just slide out.
Faith doesn't seem at all fazed that I came to pick her up and is quickly telling me all about her activities of the day and the new friends she is making.
"…and you know what? They will even let us make a garden in the spring. Kim told us we could." She says, her contagious smile beaming up at me.
Kim is the therapist who is working with the group that Faith is assigned to. She was quickly taken with Kim, who seems to have the patience of a saint. Me? I'd be hanging off the chandelier by now! Faith is one of only two outpatients in the group and the rest live at Vista Mesa full time. They range anywhere from eighteen to eighty-three, but no one seems to care about the differences in age. Nor do they seem to notice each other's limitations, whether physical, developmental or both.
