Delivered Through the Storm

by Nicole Garcia

  I set him back down on the bench and wipe his face with the sleeve of my sweater. “No. I’m not going anywhere. I promise to always be here for you whenever you need to have a man to man talk, okay?”

  He nods. “Promise?”

  “I promise.”

  The sun has begun to set and if I don’t have these kids home soon, Madison will have my ass. I don’t want to give her a reason to not allow me to see them again, especially since I just promised Aiden that I would always be here for him. I want him to trust me and breaking a promise to a kid is not on my list of things to do anytime soon.

  On the car ride home Aiden fell asleep. I was worried about him the entire drive, glancing at him through the rearview mirror every so often to make sure he wasn’t crying again. What I didn’t need was Madison upset and breathing down my neck because I made her son cry when I didn’t. I know that would have been the first thought in her mind with how wound up she is. That woman definitely needs a way to relieve the stress in her life.

  I park my car in the driveway of Madison’s house. Her car is already here so I’m assuming Tyler had it dropped off at work for her so she could get home to feed the boys dinner, but I already have that taken care of. I took them out for dinner to give Madison a little break and to give Aiden some time to calm down before going home. I texted Madison a while ago telling her we were on our way so she wouldn’t be worried. Only now we’re late and she’s called about a hundred times, which I would have known if I hadn’t had my phone on silent. I must have hit the button in my pocket by accident getting the baby in the car and didn’t notice until now.

  I don’t call her back because both of the boys are sleeping and I don’t want to wake them up. I know, dick move on my part if I want Madison to like me, but I’ll sacrifice a chewing out if it means Aiden and Caleb get some much-needed rest. I pull the stroller out the trunk and gently close it. I walk around to the passenger side and open the backdoor to take Caleb out, placing him ever so gingerly into his carriage.

  I then take Aiden out and he sleepily wraps his arms around my neck. I slowly head up the walkway leading to the steps before the front door swings open.

  “Where have…?”

  Madison’s loud voice trails off when I put my finger to my mouth to quiet her. “Shhh. Get the baby.” I wait for her to take Caleb out of his stroller, instead she walks down the steps and picks him, the stroller, and the heavy diaper bag up the stairs in one swift motion as if it were nothing. That tiny woman is a beast because that little boy is heavy, never mind everything else she had in her arms. I follow her into the house and she stops in the doorway.

  “I’ll take him.”

  Whispering, I shake my head. “No, you’ll wake him. I’ll put him down. Go get Caleb to bed.”

  “Ryder…”

  “Shhh. Where’s his room?”

  “Second door on the right.”

  I follow her down the hall and set Aiden down on the bed. I remove his shoes and search his drawer for a pair of pajama pants to change his dusty jeans. The boys got filthy rolling around in the dirt and sand at the park today. They were having so much fun I didn’t have the heart to tell them to stop. When I finish changing him and tuck him neatly into bed, I grab his soiled clothes and head out the door closing it behind me. I meet Madison in the hallway as she holds Caleb’s dirty clothes in her hands. I give her my pile. “You may want to wash these.”

  She takes them from me, arching a brow. “You mean burn them.”

  I chuckle. “Yeah, you might have to do that.”

  She opens the bathroom door and throws the clothes into a laundry hamper in the corner of the room. “What took you so long? Didn’t you get my phone calls? Do you know how worried I was?”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I must have hit the silent button getting the kids into the car. I didn’t mean to make you worry. Really. The kids had fun and I never let them out of my sight for a minute.”

  “They do look very content. But they didn’t eat dinner though. They must be hungry.”

  “Do you think I would have them out all day and not feed them? I took them to lunch this afternoon and we ate dinner right before we came home. Shit, I forgot the bag in the car.” I run to my car and grab the paper bag and hold it out to Madison. “I picked you up something to eat. Aiden said you’d like a cheeseburger, with extra pickles.”

  “I love that boy for remembering the small things. Ryder, that was very sweet. You didn’t have to get me anything. You didn’t have to do all that for the boys either.”

  “It’s fine. I don’t mind at all. I had a blast with them today.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah. Why is it so hard to believe I’d enjoy myself with your kids? You do know them, right?”

  She tilts her head to the side, giving me a dirty look. “Of course I do. They are mine.”

  “Well, then you know how amazing they are.”

  She smiles. “They are pretty great aren’t they?”

  “The greatest. Now, are you going to take this food or not?”

  “Well, since you went to so much trouble.” She snatches the bag from my hand and sits at the kitchen island. “Thank you.”

  I chuckle. “You’re welcome.” I stand there for a few awkward seconds. “I guess I should be going. You have my number, feel free to call me for my babysitting services any time.” Before I reach the front the door she calls me back.

  “Hey Ryder?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Would you like to stay for a minute?”

  I smile, flashing her my famous cocky grin. “I’d like that.”

  She rolls her eyes at me. “Only to talk.”

  “I can talk.” I wink as I take a seat across from her. “Amongst other things.”

  “I’m not interested in other things right now.”

  “I can wait. I’m a very patient man.”

  She shakes her head at me then takes a bite of her cheeseburger. “How much do I owe you for the food?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Ryder, I…”

  “I said nothing okay? I didn’t do something nice to get anything in return. Unless... you want to repay me in some other way.”

  She rolls up a paper napkin and throws it at me. “Don’t you ever quit?”

  I pick a French fry off her paper plate and take a bite. “Not until I get what I want.”

  She nervously clears her throat, avoiding eye contact with me. “Thank you for watching the boys today. You really saved me. Aiden hates it when I have to take him to the museum.”

  “Like I said, I had a good time with them. It was my pleasure. If you ever need me again, just call.”

  “I’m sure you have better things to do than watch two kids that aren’t yours.”

  “Nope, sadly I don’t.”

  “No girlfriend?” She quickly glances at me and then goes back to eating her food.

  “No girlfriend. But I was hoping you could fill that position.”

  “What? Oh Ryder, I am nowhere near ready to date anyone.”

  “Who said anything about dating. I’d be more than willing to deliver the goods to a woman who needs pleasing. She doesn’t have to be my girlfriend.”

  She chokes on a bite and clears her throat. “And how many women have you delivered goods to?”

  The expression on her face proves she’s just as shocked at her question as I am. I can see she desperately wants to take those words back, but it’s too late. And I could have sworn I heard a hint of jealousy in her tone. Well, now I’m going to work even harder to get this woman under me, and from the way she squirms when I say anything sex related, I know it will only be a matter of time before she gives in.

  She wipes her perfect pouty lips as she looks down at her food. “I’m sorry, that’s none of my business.”

  I smile, enjoying how uncomfortable she is. “No it isn’t. But it could be your business if you were my girlfriend.”

  She laughs. “Is everything a joke to you?�
�

  “No, I can be serious.”

  “When?”

  I lean over the counter and slide my hand to the back of her neck, gently pulling her close to me. I place a slow, open mouth kiss in the corner of her mouth and whisper against her parted lips. “Whenever you need me to be.” Her eyes are closed, waiting for more, but I don’t give it to her. I ease away from her, relishing the way her cheeks have pinkened from my touch. My cock is rock hard, and my balls are aching for a release that isn’t about to come anytime soon, but seeing the wanton expression on her face is totally worth any discomfort I’m feeling.

  Her eyes flutter open and she quickly straightens herself. “I think it’s best if you go now Ryder.”

  I stand, taking one last fry from her plate and put it in my mouth. “Yeah, it’s getting late.”

  “Oh, before you go.” She turns around, picking up my game system and hands it to me. “You left your thingy here. I checked it out if you don’t mind.”

  I flash her a coy smile. “You checked out my thingy? Shit, I don’t mind at all. You can check out my thingy anytime you want to Peaches.” The blush in her cheeks turn to a bright red and she stammers, trying to find the right words to respond in a way where it doesn’t sound dirty. Little does she know I can turn anything into a filthy situation. But I let her off the hook and relieve her of the embarrassment I caused her. I laugh. “Aiden can have it. He’ll get more use out of it than I do.”

  “No, Ryder. I can accept this.”

  “I wasn’t giving it to you. I’m giving it to Aiden and I won’t take no for an answer. Tell him I’ll see him soon.”

  “Says who?”

  “Says me. And pick a day for me to take you out sometime, kid free.”

  “Ryder, I just told you I’m not ready to date. I can’t just leave my boys whenever I want. I have…”

  “Don’t make me call Tyler and make arrangements for you. I have his number now.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Yes I would.”

  “You’re seriously going to blackmail me into a date?”

  “If I have to, yes. But, I’m hoping you’ll want to. Think about it. Just don’t have me waiting too long because I will come for you. Hopefully sooner than later.”

  She grabs the doorknob and swings the door open, ushering me out of the house. “Good-bye Ryder.”

  The door slams and locks behind me, leaving me standing alone and cold on the front porch and that’s okay because that feeling won’t last long if I have any say in the matter. I walk to my car and get in, but before I drive off, I dig into my pocket for my phone and type a quick text message.

  Me: Good night Peaches.

  I pull out of the driveway and head down the street. When I reach the corner, my phone chimes. I stop at the stop sign and pick up my phone, sliding my thumb across the screen.

  Madison: Good night Ryder.

  Chapter Ten

  Madison

  Ryder has been sending me text messages all week and I’ve been ignoring them. It’s not that I don’t want to go out with him, I do, God I really do, but I can’t. It’s too soon for me and I don’t want to confuse the kids, especially Aiden. He’s having a hard-enough time coming to terms that his father doesn’t visit him anymore. I don’t want to bring another man into his life only to have him leave as well. No, I won’t put my son through that heart ache ever again.

  “Mom?”

  “Yeah Aiden?”

  “Can we do something fun next week?”

  “What’s so special about next week?”

  “We have school vacation and then it will be Thanksgiving soon too, remember?”

  I tuck him under the covers. “Already? Wow. I’m sure we can find something to do. I guess we should go to the supermarket during the week before they run out of turkeys, right?”

  “Mom?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can Ryder come to Thanksgiving dinner?”

  I don’t know what to say to him. It seems he’s already grown attached to Ryder in the one day they spent together. Hmm, I wonder what else they did besides go to the park to have gotten so close that my son keeps asking for him every day. “I don’t think so buddy. Ryder probably has his own family to spend the holidays with. But, your Uncle Tyler will be here for sure.” The disappointment in his eyes tears me apart and I know without a doubt I’m making the right decision to not see Ryder romantically. If Aiden is this sad not being able to see Ryder now, I can only imagine the anguish he’d have to endure if he really got to know him and he left like his father did.

  Ryder is definitely a charmer and knows exactly the right thing to say to get whatever woman he wants. I’m sure if I ignore his texts a few more days I’ll be forgotten, and he’ll move on to the next woman who catches his eye. I will be nothing more than a distant memory.

  “Mom?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can I call Ryder?”

  I furrow my brows, wondering what on earth he wants to call him for. “Why?”

  “He said I could call him when I wanted to talk.”

  “Aiden, I’m here if you need to talk.”

  “I mean a man to man talk.”

  “I’m sure Tyler would talk to you about anything you want.”

  He turns on his side, his back now facing me. “Forget it.”

  “Aiden.” I reach for him, but he slides away from me, pulling the blanket over his head. Tears blur my vision and I blink them away. He can’t see me crying again. This boy needs a father and no matter how much he loves Tyler, it just isn’t the same as having a dad around all the time. I see how he watches the other kids at school when they’re dropped off by their dads and the rejection he must feel is gut-wrenching. What makes things worse is that Mitch doesn’t make an effort. Not a visit, or a phone call to say hi and ask how his son’s day was. Mitch didn’t even bother taking him to his first father/son school camping trip. Tyler of course offered to go, but according to Aiden it wouldn’t have been the same. I stand in the doorway to his room and quietly die a little more inside knowing my son is heartbroken. “Good night Aiden. I love you.” I whisper, hoping he’ll understand how much I do care about him and not blame me for his father leaving.

  I close the door, wondering if I made the right decision to divorce Mitch. Maybe I should have stuck it out for the boys. My feelings don’t matter to me as much as Aiden’s do. Maybe I just should have stayed married, that way Aiden would have a father figure in his life. I would be willing to endure anything for the sake of my kid’s happiness and self- confidence. Halfway to my room it dawns on me why I kicked Mitch out in the first place. He’s a manipulative, lying, cheating bastard. I must be out of my damn mind to think him being in Aiden’s life would be a good thing. What could Mitch possibly teach his son about being a good man? The only thing he would teach him is how to degrade women and be nothing but inconsiderate of other’s feelings. That’s not the kind of man I want my son to grown up to be. If I have to play the role of both mother and father to my kids, so be it. I rather be alone than have to deal with another man like Mitch ever again.

  This morning went kind of slow getting the boys ready to go, but we were actually on time for once. Aiden barely said two words to me as he got dressed and didn’t say anything to me at all in the car ride to school. I don’t know what to do anymore. Tyler was a big help at first and still is, yet it isn’t enough for Aiden. Sometimes it isn’t enough for me either. I wish there was something more I could do for him. Me, I can cope with anything. It’s my boys that I worry about.

  Sitting at this desk for the last few hours staring at the computer is not my idea of fun today. Usually I enjoy doing my job, only not today. I don’t think there is one thing that would make me happy right now, except Aiden feeling better, or at least getting him to talk again. I never thought I’d say this, but I miss his incessant chattering and constant questions. I glance at the time in the corner of the monitor. Two more hours to go before I can leave and p
ick up the boys. Thank goodness today is Friday and we don’t have to wake up too early tomorrow. We can use a break from rushing out of the house like we normally do. Maybe if I take them to the movies and spend some quality alone time with them it will lift Aiden’s spirits.

  “Hey!”

  I take my eyes off the computer screen. Tyler is standing in the doorway, waving his hand and giving me a questioning glance. “Hey!”

  “What?”

  “Did you hear a word I said?”

  “No, what did you say?”

  “What’s going on with you today?”

  “Aiden won’t talk to me because I told him he couldn’t call Ryder.”

  “Why didn’t you let him? Ryder’s a good guy.”

  I fold my arms over my chest. “How do you know?”

  “Because instead of leaving your drunk ass at the bar, he went out of his way to take you home and then babysat your crazy kids the next day.”

  “He could only be trying to get into my pants.”

  “Girl, he can get into my pants anytime. Have you seen that man?”

  I laugh. “Yes, I have. Can you be serious for one minute please?”

  “I just don’t see the problem with letting Aiden call him.”

  “Tyler, I can’t afford Aiden getting close to a man that won’t be sticking around. It will only break his heart even more.”

  “How do you know he won’t stick around if you don’t give him a chance?”

  “Because men like him are only interested in one thing from a woman, especially a woman like me. To him I’m easy prey. A desperate single mother who would do anything to have a gorgeous man like him in their life.”

  “And you’re basing these facts off of….what? You’ve only been with one man your whole life. Honey, you cannot compare every man to Mitch. Not every man wants to take advantage of you and treat you like dirt. Ryder seems like a sincere guy. Why don’t you give him a chance? Take a leap of faith. Maybe he’ll be the one who’ll catch you this time.”

  I sit back in my chair, leaning my head back to look up at the ceiling. “I don’t know Ty.”