by Lacey Wolfe
“Yeah, well, dad’s gone, and she barely knows how to feed herself anymore.”
Lily stood. She’d had enough of her big brother. “I can’t talk about this anymore. When you leave today, you’ll go back to your life and return to your once a week phone calls. This is my life, all the time. Trust me when I tell you it’s best for mom to be here.”
Lily went back into the house, practically slamming the door shut as she marched through the kitchen. In the living room, she found her mom and Gunther in front of the TV with cartoons on. Mom wore a smile and her eyes were bright. Her grey hair was up in a tight band and she had on her favorite sweat pants. From where she stood, her mom appeared normal, but she never would be again. Lily wasn’t stupid. One day she’d have to put her in a home, but for now, Mom was where she needed to be.
Lily placed a kiss on her forehead. “I’m going to shower.”
“Okay, dear.”
Lily went into her bedroom and closed the door. She and Gunther shared a Jack and Jill bathroom. After she gathered her clothes, she picked up her phone to find a new text message from Cody.
Last night was great. Can’t wait to see you again.
She held the phone close to her chest. If she could, she’d find a way to see him again today, but didn’t think it would be appropriate to leave Brent here again with her son and mother. Starting this relationship was going to be harder than she expected. Cody was a good man—hopefully he was patient as well.
* * * *
Come by the diner for lunch. I have some news.
After reading the text, Cody glanced at his clock. It was time for his lunch break. This afternoon he had to be in court.
“I’m heading out,” he said to the guy next to him. “See ya in a bit.”
He pulled his jacket from his chair and went toward the entrance of the police station. As he walked in the cold wind, he wondered what the news was.
She wasn’t pregnant, was she?
Of course not, they’d just had sex a few days ago. It wasn’t like she’d know already. Or so he thought. How did that work? Okay, no reason to freak out. She wasn’t pregnant. He doubted if she was she’d ask him to come to the diner for news like that.
Damn, it was cold. He should’ve checked the weather this morning. Snow had been rumored to start, and by the briskness of the air, he might believe it. He hated the snow and was one of those people who would complain about it all season, but wouldn’t move. Though, he had big retirement plans that involved Florida, and a boat.
He climbed the few steps to the diner and entered. Lily was behind the counter and she waved when she spotted him. She pointed toward a booth, and he went that way to sit.
“Hey, Officer Duncan.” An older couple smiled at the table next to his.
“Good day.” He nodded.
Lily sauntered over a moment later with her tray in hand. “I brought you coffee.”
She knew just what he needed to get rid of this chill. “Thanks.”
“Do you need a few or do you know what you want?” She stood there looking professional. He almost wanted to tickle her just so she loosened up.
He stared into her eyes. “I know what I want, but it’s not on the menu.”
Her cheeks turned a light shade of red. “I can see if Mike can whip it up.”
Cody chuckled. “God, no. I’m not sharing you.”
She winked. “Good. I’m not one to share. Glad we got that out of the way.”
Damn straight. She was his. He was hers, end of discussion. “I’m going to do the grilled chicken salad today.” He’d missed his run two days now. A light lunch was in order.
“All right. Let me put your order in and I’ll be right back.” She spun around and headed where ever it was she went. His gaze traveled with her ass until she was out of sight.
She returned a moment later and plopped down in his booth. “Let me know if Kathy is looking. She’ll get me for sitting, but my feet are aching. I need new shoes.”
“I’ll try to take my eyes off you long enough.”
“Cody, stop.” She giggled and set her chin on her propped up arm. “Anyway, I have news.”
That’s right. She did.
“So Kathy and Mike both think it would be awesome for Bo to work here. Mike is looking for a roommate, too. I know he’s a little older than Bo, but it’s a place to stay.”
Wow, she’d been busy this morning. He really liked that she cared that much to help Bo, when she could raise her chin to him like most of society would. “I’ll get in touch with Bo and have him come by here. It would be a good opportunity. One he shouldn’t pass up.”
“Hopefully not. I’ve only spent a small amount of time with him, but I want to see him succeed in life.”
“I will definitely pass the info on.”
She leaned closer, letting her breasts push against the edge of the table, giving him a good peak into her shirt at her big, plump breasts. “I have more news.”
More? She was bursting at the seams today. “Share away.”
“My brother is coming back.”
This was good news. Perhaps that meant he’d babysit some. “Oh, yeah. For how long?”
Her contagious smile spread wider. “For good. I mentioned I suspected trouble in paradise at his home, and turns out I was right. So he’s going to get a place in town and be around more to help with mom.”
Wait, that meant she would have more time. Things were working out better than he thought. “So we might get to see each other more?”
“I can’t make any promises.”
He took her hand. “Good. After one taste of you, I’m ready to dive in again and again and again.”
She stared at him a moment, and he could see she felt the same longing he did. If only this diner was empty, he’d lay her right here on this table and have her for lunch.
“Lily, order up!” Kathy called, staring at them.
She pulled her hand back and stood. “I better get back to work. Kathy’s cranky today.”
Lily hurried toward the glaring Kathy, who then winked at him. He smirked. The older lady was giving him and Lily a hard time, and yet she was married to the owner of this place. Go figure.
He stared out the window as the rain started to fall. Darn, he’d forgotten an umbrella. He hated to work in a wet uniform all day.
So her brother was moving to town. This was going to be a good thing for Lily. She’d have some of her stress off her shoulders, and she could devote more time to herself and Gunther. Him, too, of course, but he didn’t want to get his hopes up just yet.
“Can I get you anything else?” Kathy placed his salad in front of him heavily.
“No, ma’am.” He grinned at the older woman.
“I like that girl, Officer. I hope you’ve got good intentions.” She gave him a stern mama hen look.
“Only the best.”
Chapter Ten
“How was your day?” Lily slid into her chair at the kitchen table that evening. It felt so good to finally be off her feet. Screw the dishes or anything else that required her attention. She was going to sit here for at least fifteen minutes.
“It was okay.” Gunther frowned.
Lily hated how hard this transition was for her son. She thought she’d made the right choice moving here, but Gunther was always miserable.
“I’ve got a conference with your teacher and school counselor this week regarding the issues you’re having at school. We will get to the bottom of it.”
“School is fine.” He pushed his peas around his plate.
“Obviously not. You’ve been in two fights.”
“That’s better now,” he insisted.
“Yeah? And are you friends with the kid now?”
“We worked it out.” Gunther kept his gaze on the table. “Why isn’t Nana eating with us?”
“She’s a little sad Uncle Brent left, so she’s not feeling up to eating here tonight. I’ll bring her a plate after this and help her eat.”
Gunther sip
ped his milk. “When do I go to dad’s again?”
Their current arrangement was once a month, and that had been Heath’s doing. He wanted Gunther to adjust to living here, but her son missed his father. “Why don’t you call him after dinner and see when he can get you again?”
Gunther nodded. “I’m really not hungry. Do I have to eat?”
She wasn’t really hungry either, but she wasn’t about to let him off that easy. “I told you not to eat that big snack. At least eat some of the chicken and a few peas. Then you can be excused.”
Her son ate a few bites, then set his fork down. She expected him to jump up and escape the confined kitchen with her, but instead he sat there, his face twisting in deep thought.
“Something on your mind?” she asked.
“Is Cody your boyfriend?”
She’d tried to avoid the last time her son mentioned it, but he was a smart kid. “Yes, honey. He is.”
“Why have you been keeping it from me?”
She was shocked by the question. “I haven’t on purpose. I just wanted to see if things worked out between him and me before I told you about it.”
“Are you going to get married?”
She giggled slightly. “Oh gosh, I have no idea.” Though she liked the sound of Lily Duncan. “Do you like him?”
“It’s cool he gets to carry a gun at work.”
Of course that was cool. Only a boy would think that. “It is, isn’t it?”
“Can I go now?” He pushed back in his chair.
“Yup, but go shower.”
“Do I have to?” he whined.
Lily couldn’t understand why a shower was the worst thing in the world to her child. Anytime she said it was time to get clean, it was instant pout time.
“Yes. It’s been three days.”
Gunther stomped out of the kitchen. Bedtime was around the corner. All she had to do was get him clean, her mom fed, then Gunther tucked in, and her day would be complete. Well, except for her nightly phone call to Cody. That was one thing she was looking forward to.
She finished her dinner then against her earlier decisions, cleaned up the kitchen a little. She prepared her mom’s plate and headed for her bedroom.
“Hey, mom.” She moved the TV tray in front of her mother’s chair, setting the plate down.
“Hi, dear.” Her voice was weak.
Lily grabbed an extra chair in the room, opened it and sat. “Brent sent me a text a little while ago. He plans to be back before the weekend.”
Her eyes never left the TV screen. “Good. I miss him.”
She rubbed her mom’s shoulder. “I know you do.”
“I want all my children here with me.”
It wasn’t a tough request. She deserved having them all under the same roof with her, even if it was for just a weekend. “I’ll have a talk with Jake and see when he can get some time off of work.”
Mom’s frail hand picked up her fork and shook as she went to scoop up her food.
“Need help?” Lily asked.
“I can do it.”
Lily sat back in her chair and watched as her mom slowly fed herself. After a few bites, she set the utensil back down, looking almost defeated by the small task. “The news is calling for snow. Does Gunther have snow boots?”
“He does. I picked some up the weekend he was with his dad.”
“Why isn’t Heath here?”
Not this again. “He and I aren’t together anymore.”
Her mom looked surprised. “You’re not?”
Short-term memory was hard for her mother, but she thought her mom had understood this by now. “I’m actually seeing a kind guy. He’s a police officer here in town.”
“But what about Heath?”
“Mom, we are divorced. It’s what both him and I wanted. It’s been about two years now since we split up. I think he’s okay with me seeing this new guy.”
Her mother picked her fork back up and continued to eat silently. Dinner continued this way. Whenever her mom got news she didn’t like, she usually shut down. Lily had to get Gunther settled into bed, then come back and assist her mom with whatever she needed before her night was over.
*
Over an hour later, Lily crept into her room and stripped out of her clothes. She pulled on an over-sized t-shirt and sweats. Finally, she climbed into her bed, with her phone in hand. Yawning, she wasn’t sure she had the energy to stay up late tonight. Hopefully Cody would understand.
She unlocked the phone screen and dialed his number.
“I didn’t think you were ever going to call,” he said when he answered.
“Sorry, it’s been quite a day since you left the diner.”
“Everything okay with Gunther?”
The fact he asked and cared warmed her heart. “Yes, just missing his dad. He called him after his bath. Heath is going to come in town this weekend and stay here.”
“Like, in the same house?”
“Yup.”
Cody groaned.
“Before you freak out, you’ve got nothing to worry about. We just think this might be best for Gunther. Best part, my brother and Heath will be here. So I can’t see any reason why I can’t sneak away to be with you.”
“Okay, him visiting might not be so bad.”
“Maybe you can meet him…if it’s not too soon. Am I getting ahead of myself?”
“No. It’s a good idea. I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
She grinned and her heart sped up. “How was your day, hot shot police man?”
“Boring. Court day usually is. Some days I wished things got a little more interesting around here, aside from the gossip.”
“Yes, but the low crime is what makes Brookfield so attractive as a place to raise a family.” As soon as that statement left her mouth, she wondered if Cody wanted kids. Then she had to think about if she wanted more. She’d always felt her life was complete with just Gunther.
“True. Is your mom okay?”
“Yeah. Today was rough because Brent left.”
“You’ve not really told me what she’s sick with.”
Did she have to tell him? “She’s got Alzheimer’s.”
“Wow.” He was silent a moment. “I don’t know what to say.”
“My day’s been rough, and I don’t want the conversation going down this road. Let’s talk about something happy. That’s what I need from you, Cody.”
“I can do that. How about you guess what I’m wearing?”
She pulled her covers up around her and snuggled in. “Your uniform, only your shirt’s unbuttoned to show off your muscled chest.”
“You’re absolutely right.” He chuckled.
“Good.” And she’d fall sleep imagining that. “What do you think I’m wearing?”
“Oh, you’re in a French maid’s outfit, with those sexy leg things that go around your thighs.”
She joined him in a laugh. “Oh yeah, that’s just what I’m wearing. It’s so comfortable and soft against my skin.”
After she quit giggling, a yawn took over. “I’m exhausted. I wish I could talk longer.”
“Do you have a day off this week?” he asked.
“I am leaving early Thursday, but I’ve got a conference with Gunther’s teacher to get to the bottom of this bully thing.”
“My week’s kinda busy, too. Guess we will hope for this weekend.”
“Definitely. Don’t forget, you’re welcome anytime for lunch at the diner.”
They talked a few more minutes before finally ended the call. Lily lay in bed feeling conflicted. Even with Brent moving to help with mom, her life was still chocked full. She worried she just didn’t have the time Cody deserved. Then she went back to thinking about kids. He’d yet to be married, and as far as she knew, he was childless. If she did end up marrying him, she needed to figure out if she wanted more kids or not. It’s not like she was old, but having a child now, with Gunther so much older, she just wasn’t sure she wanted to go back to diapers
and night feedings.
She didn’t have to worry about this now. She’d only just started seeing Cody. For all she knew, he’d get frustrated by her lack of time before long and move on.
* * * *
The next few days went by in a blur. As Lily climbed into her car after her conference with Gunther’s teacher, she felt like giving up. The weight of the world was on her shoulders—or so it seemed. She needed to find away to delegate some of this to others. It was time she finally accepted help and raised her white flag that she couldn’t do it all.
Hopefully things would start to get better for her son. His teacher said he’d been doing better and playing with more kids. It seemed like he was finally beginning to settle in and make friends. In general, he was happier. That she was thankful for.
It was her mom, though, that had her the most worried. The week just wasn’t going well. Even the nurse was frustrated in the evenings when she left. Brent arrived back in town this afternoon. As much as Lily shouldn’t do it, she really needed some time away. Go to a park or something, and just be alone.
She picked up her phone and dialed her brother.
“Hey, Lily. How did the conference go?” He sounded chipper and upbeat for a man who had just left his family.
“Good. The school has really been handling this bully thing well. Luckily the kid’s parents have stepped in and are helping as well.”
“Excellent. You on your way?”
She took a deep breath before she answered. “Would you mind if I just took some time to myself? It’s been a heck of a week.”
“Yeah. Go ahead. I got this, sis.”
She smiled. It was going to be nice having him around. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.”
“Brent, you’re moving away from your wife and kids.”
“I know. We’ll talk about it later, okay? You go enjoy your time and maybe this weekend we’ll share a six pack and go into the woes of life.”
That sounded like a good Saturday evening. “Sounds like a plan. See ya in a bit.”
She set the phone down then started up the car. Raindrops hit the windshield. Crap. There went her quiet time in the park. Surely there was somewhere else she could go that would make her feel better.
* * * *
Cody removed his uniform and found a pair of jeans and a T-shirt to put on. It had been a long day. The one upside of his day was when Bo came by the station to thank him for his help in finding a job. He was going to be one of the night cooks at the Swift Water Café. He still wanted to look into the police academy once he got on his feet, but just knowing he was able to help this kid had made his day. Well, it had been the only good part.
