This Time for Keeps

by Rochelle Alers

  “Of course.”

  Nicole turned and punched several buttons on the microwave. “You can wash up over there.” She pointed to a door labeled Bath at the opposite end of the kitchen.

  Fletcher walked into the bathroom and washed his hands. The space, decorated in shades of blues and grays, contained a shower stall, vanity and commode. It was his first time in the spacious house where Nicole had grown up with her brother. Like the other homes in the area, there were spacious front lawns and backyards, with enough room for children to play under the watchful supervision of their parents.

  He returned to the kitchen to find Nicole had set the table in the breakfast nook with plates, flatware, glasses and serving pieces. A platter with slices of grilled meat loaf, a serving bowl with cabbage and another bowl with oven-baked sweet potato wedges were set out on the table. He took the pitcher filled with ice-cold water from her and filled the glasses. Fletcher waited until she was seated on the cushioned bench before he sat opposite her.

  After one bite of the meat loaf, Fletcher realized Nicole wasn’t a good cook but an exceptional one. The meat was melt-in-the-mouth tender, the red cabbage perfect with tiny pieces of apple, and the sweet potato wedges were dusted with cinnamon and sea salt.

  “Do your nephews know how lucky they are to have an aunt who cooks like this?”

  Nicole peered at him over the rim of her water glass. “They haven’t complained yet. I try to introduce them to vegetables their mother didn’t give them. They’re now eating broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, spinach and mushrooms.”

  Fletcher nodded as he swallowed a mouthful of cabbage. “Good for them. Do they ever eat fast food?”

  “Hardly ever. The closest they’ve come to fast food is what they serve at the Fourth of July celebration. A few times Melissa would take them to the mall and feed them whatever they wanted, which didn’t sit too well with Reggie since we grew up eating whatever Mom put on the table.”

  “Did you get along with your sister-in-law?”

  “I did, because I refused to get involved in her disagreements with my brother. It was the same when Reggie complained to me about Melissa. I didn’t want to be accused of meddling in their marriage. What about you, Fletcher? Do you get along with your brother and sister-in-law?”

  He nodded. “Thankfully I do. My sister is married to a wonderful man, and the same can be said for my brother and his wife. I have to admit I do miss my nieces and nephews.”

  “When was the last time you saw them?”

  “I saw my sister and her kids during the Christmas break, and my brother and his family earlier this spring. Mom is like a kid in a candy shop when she’s around her grandchildren, and is always complaining that she doesn’t see them often enough.”

  “Maybe that will change once you give her a couple of grandbabies.”

  Fletcher picked up the glass of water and drank half of it. At thirty-five he hadn’t felt pressured to marry or to father a child, but had mentally given himself until forty to make that decision. First, he had to find a woman with whom to fall in love enough to propose and, most important, they had to decide whether they wanted to have a family together. He’d met women who had opted not to become mothers, and others who were married and divorced and didn’t want to repeat the cycle.

  He thought of himself as a traditionalist. He believed in marriage and that children should grow up with two parents. That as a husband and father, he would be responsible for providing for his family and, if and when the time came, make certain they were taken care of financially if he was no longer there for them.

  “The operative word is not when but if, Nikki.”

  She picked up her napkin and touched it to the corners of her mouth. “You don’t want children?”

  Fletcher closed his eyes for several seconds. “I want kids, but I’d like to be married first.”

  Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “I suppose no baby daddy for you,” she said, smiling.

  He nodded. “Not if I can prevent it. I’ve never slept with a woman without using protection.”

  “If more men took your lead, then there wouldn’t be so many babies that grow up without having fathers in their lives. My second cousin Tyler, who lives in Baltimore, went to a local college on a full athletic scholarship but had fathered three children by the time he was seventeen. He would complain constantly that his baby mamas were giving him grief because they needed money for diapers and formula. He’d plead with them to wait until he made the pros, because then he would make enough money to take care all his kids, but that fell on deaf ears. He resorted to selling drugs, which got him arrested. He lost everything and they got nada.”

  “Was he good enough to turn pro?”

  Nicole slowly nodded. “The basketball scouts would come to every one of his home games to watch him play. He would score on average at least twenty-eight points a game. And his three-throws were comparable to Steph Curry’s. Some of the guys would tell him to wear a condom whenever he slept with a woman, but he refused to listen and it cost him.”

  “What happened to him after his arrest?” Fletcher asked.

  “I don’t know. The news of his arrest spread like wildfire around his campus, but no one was willing to openly talk about it because the administration saw it as a black mark on their school.”

  Fletcher concentrating on eating while staring across the table at Nicole. He’d realized they’d talked about a lot of things, yet Nicole still hadn’t revealed that much about herself. And he wondered if she had had a relationship or relationships that had left her wary of a commitment, or if she was so career focused that she wasn’t willing to allow a man to share her life.

  Despite growing up in Wickham Falls and attending the same schools, Fletcher understood that he and Nicole were worlds apart. Her parents were lawyers. His father owned and operated his own business and his mother was content in her role as a wife and stay-at-home mother to her three children. He’d disappointed his parents when he hadn’t gone to college, yet had redeemed himself in their eyes when he’d become an elite soldier. He had come home to assist in the family business, purchase property and put down roots in the town where he’d been born and raised.

  Now, like some of the students with whom he’d graduated, Fletcher had to decide what he wanted for his future. And, if he were truly honest, he could see himself settling down with someone like Nicole and spending the rest of his life with her. However, he knew that wasn’t possible because her time in The Falls had an expiration date. He recalled her saying, I’m not going to get involved with someone and then break it off when I leave next year.

  What she did not know was that he was willing to get involved with her and hopeful he could convince her not to leave. He saw her as a challenge, and there was nothing Fletcher liked better than a challenge, because whenever he played, he played for keeps.

  He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I’m really looking forward to coming tomorrow for dinner and to meet your nephews. And if tomorrow’s dinner is anything like today’s lunch, then I wouldn’t mind stopping by every once in a while to sit at your table.”

  “You’re welcome to come whenever you want. Just call or send me a text to let me know you’re coming.”

  “You may regret those words, Nikki.”

  She scrunched up her pert nose. “I don’t think so, Fletcher.”

  He stood. “I’ll help you clean up, then I’ll drive over to the shop to get a loaner until your SUV is ready. Billy can follow and drive me back.”

  Nicole also rose. “I really appreciate you helping me out.”

  “As I said before, folks in The Falls always look out for one another.”

  Chapter Four

  Nicole waved to the bus driver before she closed the door and drove off. She let out a sigh when she noticed Luke dragging his backpack on the ground rather than wearing it on his back. Sh
e had explained to him that it was called a backpack for a reason. Daniel followed his younger brother, and it wasn’t the first time Nicole noticed him squinting. She made a mental note to set up an appointment to have his eyes checked.

  She hugged Luke and then Daniel. “Hi, guys. How was school today?”

  “You ask us that every day, Aunt Nikki,” Luke said.

  Cupping the back of his head, Nicole kissed his sheared scalp. When she’d taken the boys to the barber before the start of the school year, they had insisted on little or no hair. She hadn’t wanted them to have shaved heads, so they’d compromised and told the barber to leave just enough to cover their scalps.

  Each time she looked at her nephews she was reminded of their late mother. The most distinctive feature was their wide startled eyes that were the color of newly minted pennies. The summer sun had darkened their complexions to a rich mahogany, while they’d grown several inches since she’d begun caring for them.

  “I say that because I want to know what you did in class.”

  “I looked in Luke’s room and saw him sitting on the naughty chair next to Miss Harper’s desk,” Daniel announced proudly.

  Luke rounded on his brother. “Why do you always snitch on me, Danny?”

  Daniel glared at Luke. “I’m not snitching, Aunt Nikki. Luke was bad again.”

  Nicole held up her hand. “That’s enough, Daniel.”

  “I wasn’t naughty, Auntie,” Luke said defensively. “I pushed Colin when he made fun of my missing teeth.”

  Nicole kissed his forehead. “What did I tell you about using your hands instead of your brain, Luke? You only use your hands when someone assaults you, to protect yourself, otherwise just walk away. There’s an old saying about sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never harm me.” She wanted to tell Luke that if at six Colin hadn’t lost his front teeth he soon would.

  Daniel tugged on Nicole’s arm. “Daddy told us you used your hands to knock a man down on the ground.”

  “That’s called hand-to-hand combat, Daniel. Soldiers are taught to use their hands to defend themselves in case an enemy attacks them. Enough talk about fighting. After you two change out of your school clothes, I need you to come to the kitchen so we can talk about something.” She wanted to tell them about sleepovers with their grandparents every other weekend and Fletcher’s potential involvement on their lives.

  “Can we have milk and cookies for a snack?” Luke asked.

  She smiled. “Of course, you can.”

  Daniel pointed to the sedan parked in the driveway. “Is that your new car, Aunt Nikki?”

  “No. It’s a loaner. My car is at a repair shop getting fixed.”

  “But Othello can’t fit in it,” Luke whined. The dog, who had been reclining on the porch, stood at the mention of his name.

  “That’s true,” Nicole confirmed, “but I should have my car back in a few days.” Fletcher had offered her a Honda Civic for her use until the Pathfinder was repaired. Othello always claimed the SUV’s cargo area whenever she took the dog with them during a road trip. “Go inside and change so you can have your snack. Don’t forget to—”

  “Wash our hands,” the boys chorused, laughing.

  Nicole hid a knowing grin as she waved at one of her neighbors driving slowly down the street. It was if nothing had changed since she’d left The Falls for college. Fletcher was right when he said folks in her neighborhood weren’t willing to sell their homes to anyone; the exception was family members. Once her parents had decided to downsize and retire to a warmer climate, they’d offered Reggie the house as a wedding gift.

  She had loved the house where she’d grown up and had looked forward to coming back during college breaks and military leaves. But once her parents had moved to Florida, she hadn’t felt comfortable asking Melissa if she could stay with them until her next assignment. Her sister-in-law had become very territorial about her house and didn’t want outsiders just dropping in to stay. Nicole had held her tongue when she’d wanted to remind Melissa that she wasn’t an outsider and that Reggie was her brother.

  She had come to look forward to sleeping in her parents’ guest bedroom and had grown fond of Miami’s vibe and weather and her conversations with her mother about her future in the corps. Elizabeth Campos, or Liz as most of her close friends called her, had suggested she consider becoming a lawyer because she’d spent many summers accompanying her father to witness his courtroom proceedings.

  Liz’s kernel of an idea took root when Nicole registered for online courses at the California School of Law, Santa Barbara, and passed the FYLSE—first-year law students’ exam—with a near-perfect score. She had selected California because it was one of four states that allowed matriculated students from online schools to take the bar in another state.

  She felt Othello’s nose on her bare ankle and reached down to scratch him behind his ears. “Sorry, but I can’t take you for another run because I can’t leave the house now that the boys are here.” Nicole found herself talking to the strong, agile and intelligent canine as if he understood everything she was saying. “I’ll let you out in the back where you can chase your furry friends.”

  Reggie had fenced in the property after Daniel had begun walking. Melissa would sit out during the warmer weather with her young son to keep an eye on him.

  Othello loved chasing any unsuspecting wildlife that ventured onto the property. Most times he’d lie completely still and then pounce. The first time he’d caught a squirrel he’d held it in his mouth, shaking it gently before releasing the frightened rodent. He had been trained to track and capture a target but not kill. She walked around to the side of the house, opened the door to the white PVC gate, and Othello loped through. She closed and locked the gate, then returned to go inside the house.

  * * *

  Nicole watched Daniel and Luke dunk their cookies in the glasses of milk before biting into them. Once a week she baked homemade cookies; this week it was peanut butter shortbread. “I saw Grandpa Clarke today and I told him you can have sleepovers every other weekend.”

  Luke’s eyes grew wider. “Really?”

  She smiled. “Yes, really.” Nicole knew how much the boys loved hanging out with their first cousins even if it meant sleeping on an air mattress in the small, cramped bedroom.

  “When are we going?” Daniel asked.

  “This Friday and then the next Friday. That will be the Labor Day weekend, so you can stay over until Monday evening. I told Grandpa that I’ll drop you off before six and pick you up on Sundays around six.”

  The two boys exchanged high fives.

  “Aunt Nikki, why can’t we go to Grandpa’s every weekend because we don’t have homework?” Daniel questioned.

  “You’re going to be with me and my friend, whom you will meet tomorrow. I’ve invited him to dinner to meet you.”

  Luke narrowed his eyes. “You have a boyfriend?”

  “No, Luke, I don’t have a boyfriend.”

  “Danny has a girlfriend,” Luke said in singsong.

  “I do not!” Daniel shouted. “Daddy said I couldn’t have a girlfriend until I am sixteen.”

  Nicole rolled her eyes upward. She didn’t know when it had happened since they’d returned from Florida, but the brothers seemed unable to stop teasing or tattling on each other. “If you two keep at it, then you’re not going anywhere. You will spend every weekend in your rooms reading. Is that what you want?”

  “No, Auntie,” they said in unison.

  Whenever they called her Auntie, she knew they were attempting to diffuse the situation. And despite having them in counseling, the therapist said considering what they’d recently gone through, both boys appeared to be adjusting well now that they’d accepted that their mother and unborn baby sister were with angels in heaven.

  Her voice and expression softened when she said, “My
friend wants to take you hiking and fishing. He also knows how to make old cars new again.” Nicole knew the mention of cars had elicited some excitement when both boys exchanged high fives for the second time. Daniel had admitted he wanted to become a race-car driver, while Luke had exhibited artistic talents when drawing images of the Batmobile. “I invited him to join us for dinner tomorrow, so I expect you to be on your best behavior,” Nicole continued.

  Daniel’s eyes were as round as silver dollars. “Aunt Nikki, will he show us how to fix a car?”

  “That’s something you will have to ask him.”

  Daniel asked another question. “Does he race cars?”

  “I don’t believe he does.”

  “Will he let me draw pictures of his old cars?”

  “If you ask him, Luke, then I’m sure he’ll agree.”

  They continued to bombard Nicole with questions about Fletcher, which she was unable to answer. She was certain once they met him, he would get an earful about what they wanted to do. She sincerely hoped he was ready for her inquisitive and somewhat rambunctious nephews.

  “You need to finish your milk and cookies so you can do homework.”

  “What’s for dinner, Aunt Nikki?” Daniel questioned.

  “Guacamole, Mexican street corn and tacos.” She’d planned to make beef, shrimp and chicken tacos.

  Daniel cheered, while Luke got up and did a happy dance. Even though they’d complained about the intense Florida heat and humidity, her nephews had become obsessed with Latin cuisine. Although Nicole had purchased several cookbooks with recipes from Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America, the only drawback was finding herbs and spices in rural West Virginia. She’d managed to offset her problem by calling her mother and asking her to overnight mail whatever she’d needed for a recipe. The spice cabinet and a refrigerator drawer contained everything she needed to replicate her favorite dishes.

  * * *

  Fletcher rang the doorbell and then stared down at the toes of his spit-shined boots. He knew he’d shocked his father when he’d informed him that he was leaving early because he had to go home to shave and shower before meeting someone. Jesse Austen had attempted to press him about who he was seeing, but Fletcher had refused to take the bait. His father and all of Wickham Falls would know soon enough that he, Nicole and her nephews would be seen around town together. The Falls had a documented population of less than five thousand living within four square miles and keeping secrets was nearly impossible.