Summer tried to move Midge's small body into another position but the little girl had her own ideas and was very strong. She stood up on Summer's thighs and clung to her neck, bouncing up and down happily. "She's so beautiful." Summer patted her back gently. "You're so cute, yes, you are."
Midge pinched at Summer's scalp, by picking at her hair with her fingers.
"This is your surprise. You and I get to care for this little one until her mom is back late this afternoon."
"All day?" Summer was over the moon at the prospect. She'd wanted to get her hands on this little thing since she got here. But there was no way that Zula was going to just pass her over, though.
"Yep. All day. Come on," he said, taking the little creature out of her arms. "We're going to go down to a holding room so she can play."
"What'll we feed her?"
"She can have some vegetables and when she's tired, you can give her a bottle if you like."
"Oh, I can't wait to do that. Is she tired now?"
"No, she had a bottle this morning already, just after her mother left. She'll be fine for a while."
Ben led Summer into a large cement room where the walls were decorated with a giant mural of a jungle scene and transferred Midge back into her arms. "This room will be somewhat familiar to her. She's been in here with her mom before."
"I love it in here. It's kind of a cross between a daycare room and a barn isn't it?" She looked at the large mural of a jungle scene that wrapped around every wall. There was a climbing frame that reached almost to the ceiling. And a play pit with leaves instead of sand.
"Yeah, I guess it is." Ben looked around the room he was used to seeing like he was seeing it through Summer's eyes.
"So what do we do with her?"
"Not a lot at the moment. Her bottles have been ready prepared and she doesn't need to eat just yet, so she can play for a while."
"You want me to just place her down on the ground?"
"Why don't you sit over there in the corner and wait until she climbs off you. She'll let you know when she's ready to explore."
"Ok." Summer moved Midge onto her hip and went and settled into the corner. From this position she could see the whole room.
Ben came and sat cross-legged next to her with a basket full of colorful toys.
Summer cuddled the little primate on her lap, but it didn't take long for her to get fidgety.
"Loosen your hold a little," Ben coached gently.
Reluctantly Summer did so, giggling as Midge slowly found her way off her lap.
She walked tentatively on all fours towards Ben and his basket of toys. He pushed the basket a little closer to her and her fingers gripped the edge, rocking the basket hard until a couple of things fell off. That seemed to please her to no end and she rocked it a little harder. When the basket finally fell and the rest of the toys toppled out, she rolled over excitedly, snatching up the basket with her feet and dumping it on her head.
They nearly fell over laughing at the little imp's antics until she finally crawled back into Summer's lap.
"I'll get you a bottle." Ben quickly heated the bottle and passed it over.
"Is there a special way to do it?" She was so honored that she was getting the chance to do this.
"Have you fed a baby before?"
"Uh huh. I have three nieces."
"Then just like that."
Summer scooted back so she could lean against the wall and placed the bottle into Midge's mouth. She didn't take it at first and pushed it away. "What do I do? She doesn't want it."
Ben leaned over and touched Summer's head softly to reassure her. "Don't panic. She doesn't know what it is, that's all." He squeezed a little milk on the little one's tongue first and then placed the teat right near her mouth. "Come on baby," he whispered.
Midge licked the teat and then took it into her mouth sucking greedily once the milk started to flow. The bottle was empty in no time, but she was still fidgety.
"I have an idea," Ben said. He found a pillow and a blanket. He spread the blanket out and then dropped the pillow on top of it.
"She likes a pillow?"
"No silly, the pillow's for you." He reached down and plucked Midge from her arms. "Lay on your tummy."
Summer eyed him curiously but did as he asked, settling herself as comfortably as she could onto the blanket. She swung her head around, startled when the hair elastic suddenly slid out of her hair.
"Baby primates like hair," he said simply as he spread her long hair out across her back with his fingers.
"I'm kind of attached to it myself. She won't yank it out will she?"
"No. She might mess it up a bit. Sorry, I should have asked."
"It's fine, so long as she doesn't give me a bald spot."
Ben lowered little Midge onto Summer's back and she immediately snuggled in and closed her eyes with two hands and two feet clinging to Summer's dark locks. Ben dropped to floor beside her. "Did you like your surprise?"
"It's the best."
"See what happens when you're a good girl?" Ben said smoothing a stray hair out of her eyes.
"Why do you care?" Summer asked suddenly.
"That's a question I've asked myself."
"What was the answer?"
"I like you. I think you're worth the effort."
"Why?"
"What do you mean, why?"
"What is it you like about me?" She peered at him coyly through her long lashes. Summer knew she was putting him on the spot here, she wasn't sure what had gotten into her, but all of a sudden she felt the need for some answers. Some kind of alarm was ringing inside her and she wasn't sure what it was trying to tell her.
"I don't know what it is you want me to say."
"The truth. All right I'll make it easier for you. Do you like my face?"
"You're very pretty."
"Do you like my body?"
"Ok, we're wading into dangerous waters here."
"Why? It's just a question. I answered all your questions."
"I'm the boss, remember. It's my job to ask the questions."
"Okay, then, we'll skip that question for the time being and come back to it. Have you ever spanked anyone else that worked here besides me?"
"No. I haven't."
"Have you ever brought anyone else in here to mind one of the babies?"
"No."
"Well," she said slowly. "I think we've established that this is all a bit out of the ordinary. We've already crossed some kind of imaginary line so I don't see why you're so scared to tell me whether or not you like my body."
"Ok. Yes, you have a lovely body." Ben looked up at the ceiling to stop himself from leering at the body that was stretched out before him.
"Thanks. Are you attracted to me?"
"Oh, dear God, Summer, you're killing me here. Even if I were attracted to you, nothing could happen. I'm your boss, YOU'RE still in college."
"I was only asking." Summer laid her head down on her folded arms. "What would it matter anyway?"
"It just would."
Summer closed her eyes. If she couldn't see him, he wasn't there. Hiding like a two year old was one way to make her look mature, she guessed. She'd pushed too far and now she'd made a fool of herself and ruined the best experience she'd had at the zoo so far. "Sorry," she said into her arm, her eyes still tightly shut.
Ben ran his hand through his hair, frustrated that his answers had obviously upset Summer. "Don't be sorry."
Summer didn't answer.
He slid down the wall into the space next to her while he tried to think of the right thing to say. Finally, he laid down next her. "You're good at this. You'll be a great keeper when you're finished studying," he said gently.
"You think so?" Summer asked, cracking open her eyes at last.
"Of course I do. I wouldn't say it otherwise."
Midge sat up a little and looked at Ben curiously.
"Hello there, Missy. Nice sleep?" Ben put his finger up for Midge t
o grasp, laughing when she climbed off Summer and sat on his head.
* * *
"Thanks for today. Sorry if I made it kind of weird."
"No, you didn't. Everything's fine. Really. I really enjoyed working so closely with you and if things were different..." he started, but then changed his mind. "Don't forget to set your alarm."
"I won't." They were standing at a fork in the path. Ben was set to walk one way and Summer the other towards the exit. She lifted her hand to wave, but Ben must have thought she was putting it out for him to shake so he put his hand out towards hers. Summer got the wrong idea and leaned in instinctively for what she thought was going to be a kiss, although why she thought that was beyond her. She'd heard what he said, he wasn't interested; but then he confused matters by saying something about wishing things were different. It just happened. She leaned in and made an idiot of herself, again.
"Summer what are you doing?" Ben said, jumping back with fright. "People could see. I could lose my job. What if they made me give you your marching orders?"
"I'm sorry!" Summer turned tail and ran; even though he was calling her name, she didn't stop until she reached her car. The distraught young woman climbed in and took off like a bat out of hell. When she was sure he wasn't behind her, she pulled the car over and burst into tears. "I'm never going to be able to go back there," she sobbed out loud. Her phone beeped with a message but she turned it off, she never wanted to talk to him again.
* * *
When she parked the car outside her building she kind of hoped that Poppy would be going out again. Better still, have already gone. She really just wanted to shower, fall into bed and cry herself to sleep. How cold she have been so dumb? The day had started out so perfect and she had to go and ruin it. There was no way she was going to be able to face Ben. Not ever. What she was going to do about her credits, she had no idea.
As soon as the key turned in the lock, Poppy was on her. "Great you're home. So how did today go?" she asked.
"Fine," Summer said schooling her face to look somewhere near normal.
"Oh, that is so not the face of someone whose day went fine." Poppy said, peering into Summer's face. "You've been crying. Spill. What happened this time? Get yourself spanked again, you lucky girl?"
"Urgghh!" Summer threw her backpack onto the chair and stormed off to the bathroom without another word, leaving Poppy frowning behind her.
It was good hour later when Summer came back out wearing a pair of shorty pajamas and a sad smile. "Sorry Pops, bad day, I didn't need to take it out on you."
"Come sit," Pops said, patting the sofa beside her. "I can listen if I really try and I have it on good authority that in some cases I can even do it without interrupting."
"I don't know what went wrong. It started out great."
She went on to explain everything that had happened since the morning.
"Something's not right here."
"I know, right? So many mixed signals."
"Probably, but that's not what I was talking about. I'm the one with the life, you're the one that has work and school."
"With a little forced partying on the side," Summer said with a wry grin.
"What the hell happened here? When did your life get interesting and mine turn into my old granny's?"
Summer noticed her friend's pajamas for the first time since she got home and realized she must be having a rare night in. "I don't think staying home for a night here and there means you're turning into a granny, but I guess you're in tonight?"
"Yes, everyone has other stuff to do so I'm home alone. Well, home with you." She giggled at her own joke. "You may have lucked out, though, because I have plenty of time to be your fairy godmother and figure out how to cheer you up."
"I don't want to be cheery, Pops. I just want to go to sleep and wake up a year from now when I don't care anymore."
"That's good."
"What's good? That I want to sleep for a year?"
"No, that you've admitted that you care. You really like this guy."
"How is that good? He doesn't like me."
"Hmm. Well as cute as you look with the whole coverall thing and the ponytail? I'm not surprised that he doesn’t want to jump into anything. You look about twelve dressed like that. What we need is a plan for him to get the chance to see you dressed like a grown up. A very sexy grown up."
"How would we arrange that? I think I would look a bit odd turning up for work at a zoo in a short tight dress, a G string and hooker heels."
"You think? You know you really have to open that creative part of your brain. Some would say that you are becoming a cup half empty person."
"This is a mute point. I don't think I can even go back to work there at all, I'm too embarrassed."
"Oh, this is too much, now you're making me be the sensible one! You have to. You need the credits, remember? That's what you told me."
"I know I do! I just don't want to think anymore tonight, that's all. Please. Let me lick my wounds for one night and then I'll let you help me." Summer knew she'd just opened a can of worms, but at that moment she wanted peace and it was the quickest and easiest way to get Poppy off her back.
"Ok, let's not think. We'll eat sugar and watch all our favorite movies until we fall asleep on the sofa."
"Sounds good." Summer let Poppy pull her into a hug because she needed one. Pops could be an over the top pain in the ass but she was a good friend and the closest thing she had to family in this town.
* * *
Summer must have been exhausted, because she didn't wake up until lunchtime the next day when Poppy brought her breakfast in bed.
"Today's the day you promised me, remember?"
"Huh?"
"You said if I left you to pout for one night then you would let me help you my way."
"I don't think those were my exact words."
"Close enough. So here's what's going to happen. Tonight we're going to have a party here and guess who's coming?"
"Who?"
"Everyone!"
"Oh, really, will they fit?"
"Sure. Nothing like close dancing to cheer a girl up."
"I don't get a choice, do I?"
"No, not really. The problem is that you have no ID so we can't go out to any clubs. The only other option we have is to bring the clubs to you, which leads me to my next surprise."
"I'm almost too scared to ask."
"JOEL is coming."
"Oh, really, Joel." Poppy nodded in confirmation. "What time is this all happening?"
"Around eight. I just have to clean and then go and get some stuff."
"What stuff?"
"Beer and chips mostly, I'm guessing. More beer than chips."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Wear whatever I put out for you and turn up."
"Why do I feel nervous?" Summer asked as she popped a strawberry into her mouth.
"Because you're about to have the best time ever!"
"If you say so." Summer rolled her eyes, but then smiled. "You now what? I know I don't tell you nearly enough, but you are a great friend. What you lack in common sense you make up for with enthusiasm."
"One more thing. I want your phone."
"Why?" Summer was suspicious; she didn't want Poppy to get any weird ideas about contacting Ben.
"I won't touch your contacts, I promise. I just don't want you to get any bright ideas about turning it on and checking your messages. If he has messaged you'll stress, if he hasn't you'll get upset. Either way it's going to ruin the party. So give." She held out her hand and didn't move it until Summer dropped the phone into her hand.
* * *
Summer yanked at the hem of the dress that Poppy had left out for her to put on. She'd even left underwear, if you could call it that. The dress barely covered her ass cheeks that were left uncovered by the lace thong that she usually saved only for very special occasions. When she slipped on the heels that were higher than she usually wore, she giggled. Sh
e looked like a hooker. Poppy had done her make up and the lashes that she wasn't used to wearing seemed to clap together when she blinked. Her hair was teased up into a small hill on the top of her head and the sides had been curled and strategically placed over her shoulders and then cemented in place with a can of hair spray. She made an attempt to walk out to the living room at her normal speed, but found she was much slower and more wobbly than usual. The only things on her person that moved freely were the silicon chicken fillets that were stuffed into the bra that was too large for her.
"Oh, Summer you look great!" Poppy ran up and pulled her into a hug, her own outfit reflecting the taste that had clinched the choice for her friend's outfit.
"I look just like you. Except the opposite because my hair is brown and yours is blonde."
"Of course; see, I told you the eyelashes weren't too much. They're a necessity if you're going out."
"I'm not going out."
"Don't be a nay sayer, Sum."
Summer had to admit that the place looked great. Poppy had managed to string Christmas lights all around and the place was dark, except for the glow of the lamps that were covered with silk scarves. The kitchen server bench had some nibbles and bowls of chips and there was a large bucket on the floor that had been filled with ice and beer. "Very festive in here, Pops."
"Thanks! I just have to turn on the fountain."
Summer giggled when the fountain came to life. The engine started grinding, the lights went on and pink liquid flowed through, spurting out of the top and landing in the punch bowl full of ice. It was pretty and it was very Poppy.
"Punch?"
"No one drinks punch anymore, Sum. It's cranberry juice and vodka."
"What time is it?"
"Eight-fifteen. People will start filtering in soon." The words were no sooner out of her mouth than there was a knock on the door.
* * *
Ben hadn't slept a wink. After messaging Summer repeatedly and getting no reply, he tried to phone, but the call went straight to her message service. All day his thoughts were scattered. He tried to call again after he'd picked around his dinner, but again it went to the service. On a whim, he snatched up his keys and drove to Summer's apartment, determined to explain why he'd reacted the way he had. He should have a word about her turning off her phone, but he couldn't blame her, really. The whole thing had been handled badly, by him.
Saving Summer Page 5
