by Marie Hall
Pulse still racing, she squeezed her eyes shut and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Nobody.”
It’d been over a week since Gretchen’s last phone call-- long enough Betty had almost forgotten about her completely.
“Didn’t sound like nobody to me,” he said, his thumb grazing her chin and tipping it up. Betty huffed, giving him a weak smile.
“It’s nothing.”
His eyes were so blue this morning, deep and bottomless. Dangerous eyes, because if a girl wasn’t careful, she could fall and lose herself in their hot depths. Something Betty could never afford to do. Though when he looked at her like that, all kind and searching, it made heat race through her limbs-- turning them to jelly, and making it hard to remember why she shouldn’t jump in headlong.
He grinned, and rubbed his thumb across her cheekbone. “You’ve a smear on your eye. Grease, I think.”
She chuckled and pushed his hand away. “Makeup. Let me go finish up. Did you pack the sandwiches?”
He pointed to the cooler. Amazed yet again by how efficient he was in her home, how well he knew her place already. How normal and comfortable it all felt, them sharing a home, cuddling each night in bed. Her stomach fluttered.
Betty turned, and he grabbed her shoulder, his large hand gripping gently. “You sure you’re okay?”
She patted his hand. “I’m fine, Gerard.”
As Betty padded back to the bathroom the phone rang again. Her spine stiffened. This was insane, when would Gretchen understand she wanted nothing to do with James? As if! Especially now with Gerard in the picture, it was like comparing boring apples to exotic passion fruit. Betty marched back, intending to hurl some of her own insults at the woman, when Gerard picked up the phone and growled, “What?”
The mask of anger he wore was quickly replaced by a lifting of his brows and a pulling of his lips. He held the phone out to her. “Somebody asking for you.”
“If it’s Trisha, I’m not here,” she whispered and waved her hands in front of her face.
“It’s a boy. I think.”
Only one boy would call her at home. Smiling now, she grabbed the phone. “Hello, monkey butt! What’s crackalackin’?”
Gerard gave her a strange look, and she giggled, clutching the receiver with both hands.
Briley chuckled. “Hi, Aunt Betty. You’re weird,” he said in that high pitched voice of his that never failed to elicit a smile from her. “I want to see you today.”
“Aww, monkey. That’s sweet. Where’s your dad?”
“Dad!” he cried. “Aunt Betty.”
Betty licked her lips. Gerard leaned against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest, and wearing an amused grin. “What is crackalackin’?” his deep burr resonated with a hint of laughter.
She opened her mouth to answer, when her brother got on the line. She held up a finger.
“Betty?” Kelly asked.
“Hey, K, you pulling a shift tonight?”
“Yeah.”
Betty heard the exhaustion in his voice and could almost picture him running his hand over his head. Poor thing. He was working too hard, and now that it was summer vacation Briley would be out of school. Pulling long shifts was tough enough, but pulling long shifts and having to pay for special child care was even tougher.
“Let me take the kiddo today,” she offered.
“Oh man, would you. That would be great.” His relief rushed over the line in a loud whoosh. “I’ve got to head out in about twenty minutes.”
“Yep,” she nodded, “I’ll be there. See you.”
They blew air kisses and hung up.
“Are we not going fishing today?” Gerard asked.
Betty ran to her hall mirror and grabbed a tissue off the end table, dabbing at the black smear. “No we are. We’re just making a pit stop first.”
Once she was satisfied she no longer looked like a raccoon, she grabbed her keys and purse. “Well let’s go.”
Gerard picked up the cooler and followed her into the car. Betty climbed in, turned the ignition, and backed out of the parking lot.
“I guess I should warn you, I’m picking up Briley. He’s going fishing with us.”
She bit the corner of her lip. Hoping he wouldn’t mind. She’d not thought to ask him, mainly because she didn’t assume he’d care. But then again some guys weren’t kid people, and if he in anyway made Briley feel unwelcomed, she’d have a serious conniption. Betty drummed on the wheel.
He didn’t say anything for a moment.
“He’s a good kid. Quiet. A little angel. Really, you’ll like him.”
“What is crackalackin’?” he asked finally.
“What?” Betty laughed, thrown for a moment by his question. “Umm, well, nothing really. It’s slang. Means what’s cracking. What’s happening.” She turned right at the light, heading down the country road toward Kelly’s house.
The countryside was awash in sprays of gentle pinks and soft yellows, the gloom of night still held court at the very tip of the sky as the sun slowly crested the horizon.
“Then why don’t you simply say that?” he asked.
She laughed. “Who knows. It would be easier wouldn’t it?”
He nodded.
Betty gripped the wheel tighter. “So do you mind?”
“Non, Cherie . I do not.”
He seemed so relaxed this morning. Nights spent in his arms, talking about stupid stuff like which superhero movie was better (he’d seen every Spiderman and Superman, and so far thought the superhero customs much too girlie for him-- but she’d promised he’d love Iron Man), or how to make the perfect soufflé without causing the top to sink in, had only made her feel closer to him. Apart from the first night, they’d not discussed the fairies, the pendant, or any other part of his past. It was the elephant in the room both refused to broach. She wasn’t stupid, eventually they’d have to talk about what happened after the month, but not now.
Now was a time of discovery.
Each day was a new surprise. Like finding he was a closet metro. Though, that wasn’t really all that surprising. Even now, just to go fishing, he had his dark brown hair slicked back, he’d chosen the pair of jeans with cross stitched pockets and a dark burgundy shirt. In no way did he look comfortable, unlike her in a pair of cut off blue jeans and ribbed tank top. Then again, she was wearing makeup… bit of a pot/kettle moment there.
But there were other things, cool things she bet only she knew now. Like the fact that he loved to have the shell of his ear rubbed right before bed. That his favorite color was gray-- though not the dreary gray of a cloudy morning, but the lavender gray of twilight. If he’d been born on Earth he’d have been a master chef, that apart from sex, the man also had a true passion for cooking and was damn good at it.
In turn he put up with her Manga obsession, watching one episode of Dragon Love Spell after another, long into the night. Discussing why overly dramatized facial expressions conveyed a truer sense of emotion as opposed to the Americanized drawings, and how Xena could have kicked any gladiator’s butt. A point he hotly denied.
“I’m going to have to introduce you to my brother,” she said.
He brushed the pad of his thumb against her neck and the touch was electric, snapping her nerves to life and making her every cell hyperaware of his proximity. She breathed, tasting the scent of his woodsy cologne on her tongue.
“I was beginning to wonder if you’d let anyone else know I existed.” His tone was teasing, and the deep tenor of his accent made her roll down a window, suddenly hot and shaky.
The cool breeze caressed her flesh, helping her to think clearer.
“He’ll want to meet you because of Briley.” She nibbled her lip. “Have you ever been around someone with down syndrome, Gerard?”
“What is that?” he asked, cocking his head.
Spying Kelly’s white farmhouse in the distance, she slowed down to twenty miles per hour so she could finish their talk.
“It’s a c
hromosomal disorder. Makes kids slower to learn and develop. But they’re smart as a whip.” She jerked to look at him, nodding hard. “So don’t you dare treat him bad, or be mean. I’m serious, Gerard. I’m very careful who I let around my nephew, so if you’ve got a problem now, you tell me.”
His eyes widened, and he held up his hands. “Peace, Cherie . I’ll not harm the boy. I confess I know nothing of that disorder, but I’ll be on my best behavior.” He crossed his heart and she was pretty sure hers melted.
“Okay, well come on then.” She pulled into the gravel driveway and parked the car. The moment she stopped, the red door flew open and an adorable blond headed child waved at her.
She smiled.
“Is that Briley?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Aunt Betty,” Briley was halfway down the steps and running full tilt toward her, his arms open and wearing his hunter’s green fishing jacket. A tan piece of fabric bulged from his hand. “I’m ready. I’m ready. I’m gonna catch lots of largemouth bass.”
Then he slammed into her with the joyful exuberance unique to him. She hugged him tight, squeezing hard and peppering his forehead with kisses. “Missed you, monkey butt. Golly, it’s been a long time. Well let me look at you.”
She pushed him back to arms length, putting on a show of studying him. His warm brown eyes glowed, the exact shade of melted chocolate, they always sparkled with life. He giggled. “You saw me three weeks ago.”
“No way,” she shook her head, “because I swear you grew an inch. No five!”
“Aunt Betty,” Briley giggled and hugged her again.
She ruffled his hair. Kelly clapped her on the shoulder, his other hand full of fishing rod, tackle box, and a Spiderman book bag. Betty looked up. “Oh jeez, K, you’ve looked better.”
The man didn’t just sport a five o’clock shadow, more like a ten, and his brown hair had been finger brushed, if that. His blue scrubs though were sharp and wrinkle free as always. “Too many shifts, not enough sleep, and now Jennifer drops him off late last night...”
Betty rolled her eyes. “Another get rich quick scheme convention?”
“Something like that,” he growled, forking his fingers through his hair. “I’ve got the rest of the week off, but today.” He grabbed his hands as if in prayer. “You’re a life saver.”
Betty kissed his cheek, his gray-black stubble rubbing her cheek. “Anything for my, big bro.”
Gerard cleared his throat, and Betty jumped guiltily, she’d almost forgotten him. “Gerard, this is Kelly and Briley.” She clapped Briley’s back.
Kelly stepped forward and grabbed Gerard’s hand. “Who are you and how do you know my sister?”
Gerard straightened almost imperceptibly, meeting Kelly’s hard gaze head on.
“I’m--” he started.
“My boyfriend.” Betty smiled at Gerard’s startled expression and nodded at Kelly. “New boyfriend.” She grabbed Gerard’s hand.
Kelly cocked his head. “And why am I just hearing about this now? Does Trisha know?”
Betty ignored Gerard’s burning look. “No, she doesn’t, and besides when did you start getting so chummy with Trisha? As I recall you burned her in high school. Minor miracle she and I stayed friends after that.” She arched a brow.
“Jeez, Betty, chill.” Kelly rolled his eyes. “She was calling looking for you last night, apparently she called five times and went straight to voicemail each time.”
“Hot date.” She winked at Gerard, who suddenly seemed to understand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, giving it a gentle squeeze. Whoa, did her stomach just flutter? Sheesh, she felt sixteen and unsure again.
“Aunt Betty, is he gonna be my uncle?” Briley asked, brown eyes creasing into a deep frown. He stepped behind her back.
“No, monkey butt,” she said.
“Maybe,” Gerard said.
She shot him a venomous look. He didn’t need to get into character that much, no need to give Briley hope. They both knew that wouldn’t happen. His smile faltered.
Already the sun grew warmer on her back. Betty wore a green tank top and hadn’t yet slathered her desperately pale body with sunscreen, she needed to get her butt in the car before she turned into a lobster.
“Okay, who wants to go fishing?” she raised her voice to an exaggerated pitch, trying to regain the happy vibe of only a moment ago.
She snatched the fishing rod, box, and bag from Kelly’s lax hands and gave him a weak smile. “So yeah, I’ll bring him back safe and sound tonight.”
Kelly still looked like he was trying to work his way through her weak explanation, and if she hung around too much longer, her brilliant brother would see it for the white lie it was.
“Welp, k then!” She kissed his cheek, grabbed Briley and Gerard’s hands, and dragged them to the car.
“Bye, Daddy!” Briley waved happily.
Once in the car, and all buckled up, she waved again and pretended she didn’t see Kelly mouth: Wait!
“Boyfriend?” Gerard’s deep barrel voice did weird things to her insides, made them feel all tingly and fuzzy. She squirmed in her seat. “Hmm…” He sounded amused and heat bloomed on her cheeks.
“Hush,” she whispered, she didn’t want Briley hearing she’d lied. After all, she always told him how bad it was to do that, if he found out she’d lied, he’d hound her about it all day long.
Gerard’s jaw clamped shut with an audible click. His nostrils flared, and her eyes widened when she realized what she’d done. The pendant flared hot against her breast.
“And I mean that in a totally independent non-bossy way.”
He took a deep breath and glared at her. “You swore you wouldn’t.”
She peeked at Briley in the backseat. He was oblivious, staring out the window with a happy grin.
“I’m sorry,” she hissed. “I forget sometimes. But…” she pointedly looked at the mirror and jerked her head, “not here. Cool?”
Gerard thinned his lips. “Non, I’m not cold.”
She frowned and then laughed. “No, I mean is that okay?”
“Why don’t you just say that then?” he grumped.
“It’s called a colloquialism. An informal expression used in common speech and you’re right, it’s total nonsense. Unfortunately I speak a lot of nonsense.” She bit her lip and tapped his forearm. “Still friends?”
The world stretched out like an endless horizon of trees and sky. The robin’s blue sky held barely a trace of clouds.
Gerard nodded. “Cool?” His brows furrowed, seeking her approval.
She fought the grin and nodded. “Good enough.”
“Aunt Betty,” Briley chirped. “I want music.”
“Well, you’re in luck.” She popped ol’ faithful into her radio and cranked it up loud.
Briley clapped his hands and started singing loud and clear. “I love you-”
Her heart soared as she crested the hill. “You love me,” she joined him, her warble strong, but uncaring how badly it cracked. Briley thought she had the voice of an angel, and Gerard, sticking his finger in his ear with a wince, wouldn’t stop her from making her little man happy.
Chapter 12
The fish had stopped biting hours ago. Although the mosquitos were still going strong. Betty smacked her leg and sighed.
Briley laughed, a glop of peanut butter coated the corner of his plump pink lips. “Should have brought the bug spray.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re totally right, Aunt Betty is a dunderhead sometimes.”
He giggled, wiggling his rod in the algae tinted water. Bugs danced ripples across the placid lake. Bubbles surfaced next to their boot. A minnow had been teasing Briley all day, stealing his worm before jumping off the line. Briley was determined to catch the thief.
“Don’t bob the line, garcon,” Gerard touched his rod, stilling Briley’s excited movements. “You’ll scare the fish.”
“Garcon ain’t a word,” Briley laughed and
shook his head, blonde wisps of hair slipped into his eye, but he did stop jerking the rod. Gerard only smiled.
This morning she’d feared Gerard might do or say something wrong to Briley. But the man had been as patient as a saint. Threading Briley’s hook with one worm after another. Or when he snapped the hook off on a piece of drift wood, he’d rethread the hook again. He smiled and laughed often and Briley had complemented his superior sandwich making abilities-- looking shyly at Aunt Betty and stammering he might love her, but her food tasted really yucky sometimes. To which she’d blustered and pretended to be offended until he crawled over the wooden seat-- worrying her for a split second when the small paddle boat rocked precariously-- and gave her a big hug. After that hug (two hours ago) she’d been chopped liver, it’d been Mr. Gerard this and Mr. Gerard that, and Betty’s cheek muscles were sore from smiling so hard.
