Playing with Fire

by J. S. Cooper

  “I can’t believe people were paying $20 to win a bingo pot of $10.” Cara and I made eye contact and started giggling. “Who knew people wanted to be winners that badly?”

  “Apparently Grandma Louise knew.” I shook my head and my voice softened. “Ever since Grandad Fred died five years ago, she’s been doing all sorts of craziness, but I can’t help but love her.”

  “So what’s her newest idea?” Cara leaned forward on her white marble island excitedly.

  “She’s set me up on a date.” I took another huge gulp of wine and groaned. “Kill me now.”

  “Wow, a date?” Cara looked intrigued. “With who.”

  “With her new best friend, Addie’s, grandson.”

  “At least it’s not her new best friends grandfather. Though maybe you’d have a connection with someone a bit older.”

  “Cara.” I glared at her, but couldn’t stop myself from agreeing with her. Grandma Louise was a loose canon. You never knew what craziness she would think up. And men could have kids until they died, so age wouldn’t be a factor if she just wanted me to give her great grandkids. “I’m not dating a grandfather and I sure as hell don’t want to go on a date with some rando’s grandson. God, I bet he’s a huge loser. Who goes on a date their grandma set up?”

  “Uhm...” Cara pointed at me and I just made a face at her. “At least you’re getting to go out on dates.” She sighed. “Between the boys, my job and dad, I don’t even have time to think.”

  “I’m sorry, Cara.” I leaned forward and grabbed her fingers. “You know I’m here to help whenever I can.”

  “I know, you’re the best.” Cara nodded. “So do you know what this guy looks like?”

  “Nope, but what do most guys that live in their grandma’s basement look like?”

  “Does he live in his grandma’s basement?” Cara’s jaw dropped. “Like some sort of Criminal Minds psycho?”

  “Exactly like a Criminal Minds psycho.” I nodded and then laughed slightly. “Well, I don’t know that officially, but you know what I mean.”

  “Oh Sadie.” Cara put her glass down and got back to seasoning her chicken drumsticks. “Do you want to stay for dinner?”

  “Yeah, that would be nice.” I smiled at her. “Want me to make a salad?”

  “Please.” She nodded. “Not that those terrors will eat any of it though.” She poured half a bottle of tomato ketchup on the drumsticks. “I’ll be lucky if they eat these. All they ever want is chicken nuggets.”

  “Boys!” I exclaimed as I went to the fridge and took out a head of lettuce, some tomatoes, a cucumber and some carrots.

  “So tell me about the new job. How’s it going?”

  “Ugh.” I groaned as I placed the produce on the countertop and grabbed a bowl, a cutting board and a sharp knife. “I swear my boss is Cruella Deville?”

  “Oh?” Cara gave me a curious look. “Do explain.”

  “This lady is the most over-the-top, meanest person I’ve ever met.” I pouted. “She also hates all dogs. Like tell me how you can hate dogs?”

  “How do you know she hates dogs?”

  “She told me she hates dogs when we saw one walking past the coffee shop the other day.” I rolled my eyes. “She literally pointed out the window, screwed up her nose and said I can’t stand those stinky creatures, can you?”

  “What did you say?”

  “I just sipped my latte.” I said as I took another gulp of wine. “I can’t afford to tell her the truth. I need this job.”

  “So what exactly are you doing for her?” Cara covered the chicken with Aluminium foil and started peeling potatoes. “She’s like a millionaire right?”

  “Billionaire.” I sighed. “Well her late husband was a billionaire and now she has all his money. And she wants to invest in art. So she’s hired me to go around to all the museums in New York City and pick out my favorite pieces so that she can bid on them and buy them.”

  “What? Are they for sale?”

  “Girl, who knows?” I rolled my eyes. “She’s totally oblivious. I mean really?”

  “Well that doesn’t sound like such a hard job.” Cara looked at me hopefully.

  “I have to report back to her every other day on pieces I recommend. And list all the reasons why I think they will be a good investment. Like how the hell am I supposed to know?”

  “How did you get this job again?”

  “I told her I studied Art History.” I made a guilty face and I could feel my face growing red. “And I mean I did take some history classes and I took that one painting class.”

  “Oh my God, Sadie.” Cara burst out laughing and she just shook her head. “You don’t know the last thing about art.”

  “That’s not true. I know a little bit.” I wrinkled my nose. “And by a little bit, I mean I can identify the Mona Lisa, like 99% of the planet.”

  “Oh Sadie.” Cara spoke to me as if I were one of her sons. Completely exasperated, but with love. “You know lying never gets you anywhere.”

  “Well, I didn’t really lie and it did get me somewhere. It got me this job.” I grabbed the glass and gulped down what seemed like half of the glass of wine. “And that allows me to pay you rent.”

  “Girl, I don’t want you to work a job that you hate just to give me money.” Cara’s face was serious. “Quit and look for something you really want with a nice boss.”

  “Girl, I love you, but you have three sons and Christmas is coming up.” I shook my head. “There’s no way, I’m going to be a deadbeat on you right now.”

  “You’re not a deadbeat.”

  “Shh.” I put my hand up. “We’re not going to have this conversation. I’m still looking for new jobs, but for now I’ll play the art aficionado.”

  “Oh Sadie.” Cara put her glass down. “I’m so irresponsible. I should not be drinking right now.”

  “Girl, you need the wine to deal with those brats.” I laughed as I looked around the kitchen. It looked a lot messier than normal and as I paid closer attention to Cara, her appearance seemed to be more frazzled. “Hey, everything okay?”

  “It’s fine.” She nodded and then sighed. “Well kinda. You know I love my job.”

  “I know and heaven knows why.” I made a face. “Accounting was never my thing.”

  “Well, they have me working nights.” She sighed. “We’re auditing a couple of hotels in this chain that is being considered for purchase by some billionaire hotshot and well nights are the only time we can get access to all the files and not be in the way.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Yes, it does.” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m barely keeping up and I just don’t know what to do with the boys.”

  “I’ll babysit anytime, you know that right?”

  “I know, between you and dad, I’m so blessed. I just feel bad.” She looked away from me and it looked to me like she was blinking furiously; as if she wanted to cry.

  “Hey, is everything okay?” I asked her as I walked closer to her. “Cara??”

  “I just didn’t think this would be my life.” She gave me a small smile. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, but I just didn’t think this was were I would be.”

  “I know girl.” I nodded my understanding. “I didn’t think this was were I’d be either.”

  “Go on that date with that guy.” She urged me suddenly. “Maybe it will be fun.”

  “Really?” I shook my head. “What is going to be fun about a date with some crusty guy my grandma set me up with.

  “Maybe you’ll at least end up with an orgasm for your troubles.” Cara winked at me and I groaned.

  “You’re joking right?” I laughed incredulously. “You think I should have a one-night stand? With a guy I’ve never even seen or met before.”

  “What can it hurt?” She grinned widely. “I mean if he has no teeth or is butt fuck ugly, then no. However, if you think he’s hot, just go for it.”

  “Won’t that ruin my chances at having a relationship
with him?”

  “Do you want a relationship with him?”

  “No.” I said adamantly. “I’m in no place to have any sort of relationship right now, well of Mr. Right came along, maybe, but I’m almost sure this guy is not Mr. Right.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “I think Grandma Louise said his name is Dante.”

  “Dante.” Sadie nodded excitedly. “Yes, that’s the perfect name for a hot stallion.”

  “Hot stallion?”

  “Yeah, someone to go wild and crazy with.”

  “What’s wild and crazy, mom?” Dylan’s voice interrupted our conversation and I could feel my face growing red.

  “Something you should never be.” Cara said smoothly without skipping a beat as she winked at me. “Now go and get your brothers and clean up. Dinner is nearly ready.”

  “Yes mom.” Dylan said and went running. “Brandon, Brody, dinner is ready. Mom said to get washed up and come now or no brownies.”

  “Brownies?” I asked Cara with a tilt of my head as she just shook hers.

  “That’s his way of trying to guilt me into making them brownies.” She rolled her eyes. “Not about to happen, buddy.”

  “Oh, hahaha. Kids.” I giggled.

  “Just wait until you have kids.” Cara took a deep breath. “You’ll see, they are a handful.”

  “Trust me, I already know.” I laughed as I grabbed the wine bottle and poured myself another glass. Dylan, Brandon, and Brody may not have been my biological kids, but sometimes they really seemed like they were.

  ***

  “Sadie, Sadie is that you?” Grandma Louise’s voice was almost shouting into the phone and I frowned as I listened to the loud sounds of pumping music blaring from her background.

  “Yes, Grandma.” I said patiently, knowing she knew exactly who it was. “Where are you?”

  “Is that why you called me Sadie Johnson?”

  “No, Grandma.” I rolled my eyes, knowing she was most probably at a casino with some of her friends. “I’m just jealous that you seem to have more of a life than me.” Which was 100% the truth.

  “Well I am trying to help you get a life.” Grandma Louise said and then she gasped. “Darn it, I needed one more cherry.” Yup, grandma Louise was playing the slots. Penny slots if I wasn’t mistaken.

  “Well, I’m calling to say that I’ll accept that date with Dante on Saturday night.”

  “I thought you would. He’s a very good looking young man.” She said approvingly.

  “Well, I’ve never seen him, so hopefully he’s goodlooking.”

  “Trust me, Sadie and if Addie is being honest, then he’s quite well off as well.”

  “What do you mean if she’s being honest? I thought she was your best friend?”

  “Now now, Sadie. Don’t start going all Columbo on me.” She paused. “Though that Peter Falk was quite a looker. You’d be so lucky to get a man like him with your attitude. You girls these days...”

  “I’m going to go now, Grandma Louise.” I said trying to keep my patience. “Just let me know the plan for Saturday and I’ll be there.” Normally I would have just told her to give him my number so that he and I could set it up, but with all the stress I was feeling related to my lack of funds, sucky new job, and love life, I just didn’t want to deal with it. Let them sort it out and I would show up. Maybe it wouldn’t be absolutely horrible. Just maybe.

  Chapter Two

  “Five pounds, really?” I exclaimed to myself as I got off the scale and tried to erase the flashing numbers from my mind. “How the heck did I gain five pounds in one week?” I looked at my reflection in the mirror to see how evident it was that I was now gaining weight instead of losing it.

  “Cupcakes.” I heard a giggle from outside the bathroom door and I frowned. I quickly walked to the door and flung it open. There sitting outside my bathroom door, playing with a toy truck was Dylan.

  “What are you doing, Dylan?” I frowned as I stared at his chocolate stained face. Though I knew he had a point. I had been eating far too many delicious cupcakes as of late. I put it down to stress; even though I knew stress eating was the worst for my body.

  “Playing.” He held up his small red truck as if to say duh.

  “Why are you playing up here?” I questioned him, not that I really minded. Dylan was like family to me. It was just sometimes I liked my privacy. Especially at times when I was in the bathroom weighing myself.

  “Cos.” He shrugged his little shoulders and jumped up. “So you got any more cupcakes?”

  “No, I don’t.” I shook my head at him and tried to give him my sternest face. He really was the most incorrigible little boy.

  “Cos if you give them to me that will help you with the extra pounds.” He grinned at me and I glared at him; even though I knew it was not really the done thing to glare at little boys, but I knew that Cara wouldn’t judge me for it. She glared at him like no-ones business.

  “Dylan, it is very rude to go around talking about a woman’s weight.” I chided him. “This is a lesson you should learn from a young age.” I felt proud of myself for introducing him to a life lesson instead of getting mad at him, like I wanted to. “You don’t talk to women about their weight. You don’t ask them how much they weigh or try and guess how much they weigh and you sure don’t tell them why you think they gained weight.” I paused then and considered something. “Unless, of course, you are a personal trainer or a doctor. Then you can because it will be a part of your job.” I concluded, feeling even more proud of myself. Perhaps, I should become a teacher. I seemed to have a knack of talking to kids. Maybe I was the kid whisperer or something?

  “But you asked how you gained five pounds.” He protested and he just looked at me like I was an idiot. Maybe I wasn’t the kid whisperer after all. I stared back and him and he started giggling and I could have sworn that he was staring directly at my stomach. Little bugger.

  “I didn’t ask you.” I made a face. “I was in the bathroom and…”

  “I’m thirsty.” He interrupted me. “I want milk.”

  “That’s not how you politely ask for milk.” I shook my head at him. I was going to have to talk to Cara about making sure her kids had manners and respected my privacy. This was getting ridiculous. “Maybe go back downstairs and ask your mom?”

  “Mom sent me up. She asked if you could babysit us tonight because she has to go into work.” He ran his truck across the floor. “Vrooom....vroooom.”

  “Tonight?” I groaned. “I can’t tonight. I have a date. She knows that.” I had finally told Grandma Louise that I would meet her best friends grandson and now I needed to look after the brats? What was Cara thinking? Had she forgotten?

  “That’s okay.” Dylan said as he held up his truck. “I’ll tell mom that her boss will have to fire her after all because you can’t take care of us cos of your date.”

  “Dylan…” I stared at the little boy shrewdly. Was he really trying to pull a guilt trip on me? Was it even possible for someone that young to be so manipulative? He was only six after all. I thought back to an old movie I’d watched on TV called The Good Son and wondered if perhaps, Dylan could be a little psychopath, but then I just shook my head and rolled my eyes. Even I knew I was being overly dramatic at that thought.

  “Yes, Auntie Sadie?” He said in his most innocent voice, his big blue eyes shining at me as if he were a precious angel. I wasn’t deceived though. I’d known Dylan since before he was born and he was no angel. He was no psychopath, but he was no angel either.

  “Nothing.” I shook my head and sighed. “Let’s go downstairs and let me speak to your mom and see what I can do about tonight.”

  “Okay.” He jumped up and grinned. “Can we get pizza please? Ham, pineapple, mushrooms, pepperoni and extra cheese.”

  “Pizza?” I looked at his little face and shook my head at him. “There are no words Dylan, absolutely no words.”

  “No words for what?” He asked innocently and t
hen put his small hand in mine. “Do you know what I love most about you, Auntie…”

  “Nope.” I put my hand up. “You’re not going to guilt trip me into getting you pizza.” And then because I couldn’t help myself, I gave him a quick hug. “You’re going to break a lot of hearts when you’re older, Dylan.” I said with a quick laugh as he grinned at me and then he pulled away from me and went running down the stairs.

  “Mom, mom, Auntie Sadie said she can look after us and we can get pizza tonight.” He went screaming in excitement and all I could do was roll my eyes as I followed him down to the lower level of the house trying to figure out exactly what was going on.

  ***

  “Sadie, I know you have your date tonight.” Cara’s face looked despondent as we sat in her living room and chatted. The boys were playing in their bedrooms for once and I watched as she played with her fingers nervously. “And I wouldn’t ask, but dad is out of town and I can’t find a babysitter that’s available.”

  “I know you didn’t plan this.” I sighed. “I’m just meant to meet Dante in a couple of hours.” I ran my hands through my long dark brown hair. “I don’t even have his number to call and cancel on him.” I bit down on my lower lip. “And Grandma Louise would kill me if I stood him up.”

  “You’re meeting him at the coffee shop right?” Cara asked me thoughtfully.

  “Uh huh.” I nodded. “Grandma Louise wanted us to meet at some steak house, but I told her no way. I’ll meet him for a coffee and if I like him, I’ll casually suggest we can continue on for dinner.” I made a face. “No way, I’m getting stuck on a three hour dud date with some loser just for a free steak.”

  “You’re going to the Peets? Next to Ice Cone King?” She asked me and I could see something was ticking in her brain.

  “Yeah?” I nodded.

  “So what if,” She made a face. “And I know this is not the ideal situation. But what if you took the boys. They could sit in Ice Cone King, they have seats at the front and you could sit outside the Peets. They have those nice Adirondack chairs now.”