My Stepmom's Boyfriend

by Cassandra Dee

  “Please, can we talk about this? I promise I’ll pay half of the living expenses as soon as I get a job. I just need a little time.”

  Fiona merely yawns and stares at her nails again, picking at a small chip. Then she looks at me and sniggers.

  “Sure, that sounds good … not. Shut up, Caitlin. I said I want you out of my house, and that’s final.”

  “Give me a week, at least, to find a place to go.” I hate the pleading tone in my voice, but things are getting desperate. Unfortunately, my stepmom just looks bored.

  “No, I told you to get out of my house and I meant it. What are you still doing here?”

  “Right this minute?” I gasp. “Not even later tonight? At least give me a chance to pack. Fiona, come on!”

  She merely bends over and hisses, spittle flying in my face.

  “Get. Out. Now!”

  How did this escalate so quickly? It’s clear my stepmother means what she’s saying, and I jump up from my desk and scurry around the room in a panic. My backpack from school is leaning against my closet, so I grab it and throw a few random things inside.

  I don’t even know what I’m doing, to be honest, but I manage to remember my phone charger and the ancient laptop my friend gave me when her parents bought her a new one.

  “Your time is up,” Fiona hisses. “Get the hell out of here and don’t you dare think of coming back.”

  Without glancing over my shoulder, I scurry out of the room, down the stairs, and out the front door. Tears fill my eyes, but in truth, I’m so shocked that they don’t fall. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what’s happened, and to figure out what comes next.

  After all, where am I going to go? What am I going to do? Should I give Fiona some time to calm down? Maybe if I wander the neighborhood for an hour or two, she’ll have changed her mind and I can come back.

  I begin by purposefully striding down the street, trying to look confident. For the first time ever, I’m angry with my father for putting me in this position. If he hadn’t married Fiona, this never would have happened. Maybe I would have ended up in a group home, but surely that’s better than this.

  Once I’m about five blocks away, the desperation of my situation hits me. I’m all alone with nothing but the clothes on my back and a bag full of random things. I’m not even sure I have my driver’s license with me. How will I find a place to stay?

  Tears spill from my eyes and I lean forward, letting out a huge sob. I always knew that Fiona had it out for me, but I had no idea another human being could be so cruel. Evidently, evil stepmothers really do exist, but I’m no Cinderella. There’s no Prince Charming waiting for me, nor is there a pumpkin chariot ready to squire me to a fancy ball. Instead, I’m broke, alone, and homeless, with no idea what to do next.

  2

  Caitlin

  * * *

  The sky darkens above me. Oh shit, oh shit, it’s going to rain and I’ll be soaked within minutes. Desperately, I dig my phone out of my back pocket and call the only person I can think to call.

  “Hey, Cait!” my best friend, Cammie, answers. Her voice is chipper, and my heart leaps.

  “Hey Cam.”

  “What’s going on? You sound hoarse.”

  I let out a rough chuckle.

  “It’s been a long afternoon. Fiona kicked me out.”

  “What the heck?” she gasps.

  I take a deep breath. “Yeah, she said I was a freeloader and that she wanted to kick me out the second I graduated but out of the kindness of her heart, she let me stay a little longer.”

  I don’t want to relive the conversation with my stepmother again. I’m glad that Cammie senses this and doesn’t push. But then there’s a crash in the background and Cammie sighs. “Hang on one second,” she apologizes.

  The line goes quiet for a minute, and then my friend comes back.

  “Sorry about that. Les just knocked over another vase. I don’t know why my parents keep putting vases in the hallway. You’d think with a house full of kids, they’d keep everything locked up, but no. They’re just insane.”

  “He didn’t get hurt, did he?”

  “No, he’s fine.”

  I can hear Cammie’s three younger siblings screaming and running around in the background, and I wince. Poor Cam doesn’t have much private space in her apartment because the six of them are squeezed into a two-bedroom apartment not far from where I am now.

  “Back to you,” my friend chirps. “What happened? This came out of nowhere.”

  I sigh. “I don’t know what happened. Fiona just decided that she was done, and now I’m out on my ass.”

  “Darn, Cait. I’m so sorry. What are you going to do? You can crash here, you know that. My parents love you.”

  That’s exactly what I wanted Cammie to say, but it’s crazy because that house is far too full to add another person to the mix.

  “Thanks, Cammie, but I’ll figure it out.”

  “Come on, Cait,” my friend says persuasively. “At least come tonight. We’ll figure it out together tomorrow, okay? You need a roof over your head!”

  “Thanks Cam,” I say with tears in my eyes. “I’m so grateful, but let me just try and figure some things out first.”

  “Alright.” Then, there’s another horrific crash in the background. “Shoot. Cait, I’ve got to go. Mom and Dad aren’t home and the little terrors are driving me crazy.”

  “Of course, of course, I get it. I’ll call you if I’m going to come stay.”

  “Okay. I love you, Cait. You’ll get through this! Chin up!”

  Then with a click, my friend is gone and I’m standing in the street, the phone hanging lifelessly from my hand. I appreciate Cammie’s generosity, but where would I sleep? In the bathtub? I know that her parents share one bedroom, and then Cammie sleeps with one of her siblings in the other bedroom. The remaining two kids share the sofa bed in the living room. Clearly, there’s no space for me.

  But realistically, what are my options? I only have a few dollars, so a motel is out of the question. Is there a homeless shelter in Medina? Some place that opens its doors to wayward girls? I’ve never had to know the answer to that, but now, it might be my only hope.

  I continue walking, and come upon my city’s proverbial tracks. On one side of the tracks is my neighborhood. Apartment buildings reign, although there are a few rickety old houses with beat-up, rusted old cars out front. But on the other side of the tracks, I know what I’ll find. This is the rich part of Medina, where folks eat caviar every night and retire to five-hundred thread-count sheets. I’ve never been before, but what the hell? There’s nothing to lose now.

  I cross the tracks and begin to walk. Sure enough, the cracked sidewalks and decrepit houses fade away and large, gorgeous mansions take their place. The homes are even more magnificent than I thought possible. Quite a few have circular driveways with sculpted topiaries and water fountains that tinkle gently in the evening air. Clearly, I’m out of my usual environment.

  But now, I haven’t eaten for a while and my entire body aches with exhaustion. Finding a slightly shaded spot, I sit down on the curb and bury my head in my hands. What a sight I must be, sobbing on the side of the road in the nice part of town. Hopefully no one calls the police on me. Then again, at least if I’m in jail I’ll have three square meals and somewhere to stay.

  Suddenly, something cold and wet presses against my arm. I lift my head and find a large dog standing in front of me, wagging its tail while its tongue lolls out, dripping drool.

  I jerk away, startled, but the dog isn’t deterred. It presses its nose against my arm again, begging me for attention. He’s cute. Tentatively, I scratch between its ears.

  “Hey, buddy. Who do you belong to?”

  He looks at me with friendly eyes and his tail wags even more furiously, like a metronome going berserk.

  “Buster, Buster, what the …? Sorry, Miss. Buster doesn’t usually molest people.”

  I grin.

  �
��No, no, it’s fine. Buster wasn’t doing anything wrong.” That’s when the air evaporates from my chest because when I look up, the most attractive man I’ve ever seen is looking down at me. He’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous with hair like charcoal and blue eyes that remind me of the ocean. Right now, he just looks apologetic though.

  I jump up and brush off my clothes.

  “I’m so sorry. I was just…”

  The man stands back for a moment, shooting me a puzzled look. “Hey, don’t worry about it. I didn’t mean to startle you. Are you okay?”

  I realize that I must look like a homeless person. My clothes are from the local discount store’s sale bin. My hair’s a mess, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are smudges of dirt on my cheeks. Fortunately, Buster doesn’t mind and he nudges against my leg. I pet the dog while speaking tentatively.

  “I’m fine. Sorry for intruding.”

  The man’s gaze sharpens, and his eyes are a piercing blue. He frowns again.

  “You’re not intruding, sweetheart, because this is a public street. I’m Travis, and this nosey dog is Buster. Come on, boy.”

  “Hi Buster,” I say to the sweet mongrel. His tongue flops out of his mouth and I swear he smiles at me.

  “I’m Caitlin,” I add in a tentative voice. The man nods.

  “Well Caitlin, it’s nice to meet you. I haven’t seen you around before. Are you new to the neighborhood?”

  I bite my lip. “Um. No, sort of. I actually lived on Newberry Street.”

  Travis’s forehead crinkles. “Newberry Street? I’ve lived in Medina a while, but I’m sorry to say I’ve never heard of Newberry. Whereabouts is it?”

  My face goes fire-red. At first I sputter, but then I force myself to get the words out.

  “It’s not in this neighborhood. I’m, um, from the other side of the tracks.”

  Realization dawns on his handsome face.

  “Ah.”

  I swallow hard, looking at the ground. I don’t have zip code envy, but never have I felt like so out of place, like I’m a dark smudge on this picturesque neighborhood.

  “So where are you headed?” he asks kindly. “Can I help you find your way?”

  I swallow hard, cheeks flaming. “Um, actually, I’m just taking a walk,” I say weakly. “Checking out the real estate. There are some nice digs in this part of town.” I can tell he doesn’t believe one word I’m saying, but he’s too polite to remark. “Um, so would you recommend the neighborhood?” I continue in a weak tone.

  His black brows shoot up almost to his hairline.

  “I would,” he replies. “Why, what kind of home are you looking for?”

  Oh shit, oh shit.

  “Maybe a two-story house?” I ask in a squeak. “With a yard? That’d be nice.”

  He throws his head back and laughs.

  “Honey, all the houses in this area are two stories, if not three, four or five. And they sit on lots at least an acre in size. It sounds like you’re a bit out of your depth, but if you’re intent on looking at the real estate in this area, can I invite you to my home? I live not far from here, and I could show you around.”

  Travis must know I’m lying, and he must suspect that something’s seriously off. Yet, he’s too polite to comment on it, and instead is going along with my ruse. At first, I’m tempted to say no because I’m already caught in a web of my own creation. But what are my options, really? To go back to Fiona’s? Instead, I smile and nod.

  “That would be great,” I say in a rush. “Your house might be a little bit beyond my price point, but I appreciate the personal tour.”

  His blue eyes gleam, but there’s a friendly smile on his handsome face.

  “Sure. I’m just over this way. Come on, Buster. Let’s go and show this pretty lady where we live.”

  Buster turns to look at me, tail wagging, and I swear he’s waving his head as if to say, “Over here.”

  “Okay, okay,” I laugh, my anxiety dissipating a bit. “I’m coming.”

  We walk a few blocks, Buster weaving between us, until we turn a corner, revealing high hedges. Then there’s a gate covered in ivy, which Travis unlocks before gesturing me to step inside. I have no idea what to expect. Maybe I’m being led into a dungeon.

  But instead, a gorgeous castle stands before me. There are literally several turrets, as well as a sparkling expanse of emerald green lawn before it. I half expect to see knights in armor riding up to the gate, but instead, there’s a sports car parked casually to the side.

  “You live here?” I gasp.

  Travis chuckles and nods.

  “Me and Buster both,” he says lightly. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

  We make our way up to the huge wooden door, which Travis opens easily with a touch of his fingers. Inside the foyer, I let out another amazed gasp. There’s a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling, sparkling with glimmering crystal pieces, and straight ahead is a spiral staircase leading to the second floor, perfect for fancy ladies to make an entrance.

  “Wow. Just wow,” I breathe.

  Travis chuckles. “I know what you mean. That’s what I thought when I first saw it too. Too bad I don’t have any use for eight bedrooms.”

  “Eight bedrooms?” I squeak.

  He grins. “Yep, four for me, and four for Buster.”

  The dog trots away, maybe towards one of the bedrooms he’s claimed as his own.

  “Wow,” I manage again, utterly breathless. “This place is incredible.”

  But before I can say any more, Travis sees me shiver and disappears down a hallway. Just as quickly, he returns with a hoodie over his arm.

  “Here. I get chilly in this big place sometimes. Cavernous spaces cost a fucking fortune to heat, so you should keep that in mind while you’re house-hunting.”

  I put the hoodie on and smile weakly.

  “Duly noted.”

  Then Travis grins again, taking my breath away with that charismatic smile.

  “Can I offer you a bite?” he asks.

  “Oh no,” I say quickly. “I’m just here for the tour.” But he’s already striding through a doorway, and I trail along in his wake. Sure enough, we enter a chef’s kitchen with granite countertops, an enormous silver refrigerator, and every gadget known to man. You could feed a crowd with the tools in here.

  “I think my cook left some food around,” Travis says absent-mindedly, already opening the fridge to peer inside. “She knows I like to eat when I get back from walking Buster.”

  Then he reappears with several Tupperware containers in his hands and fixes us each a plate with chicken, creamy mashed potatoes and bright orange carrots.

  “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly,” I babble as a warm plate is placed in front of me. Sweet aromas waft to my nose, and I almost faint at the smell. My mouth is watering and before I know it, I’m sitting at the counter, talking through a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

  “Thank you so much.”

  Travis grins, sitting down with his own plate.

  “Don’t mention it.”

  I take another big bite and moan deliriously. Tears literally spring to my eyes because I was so hungry, and I didn’t even know. “Oh, wow, this is delicious. Thank you so much. Please give your cook my compliments.”

  He grins, taking a swig of his beer. “I will. I have the best cook in town, and she keeps me well fed. She even makes treats for Buster every once in a while and he adores them. You can’t get him out of the kitchen when he knows there are special snacks coming.”

  I swallow hard because it’s clear we live in completely different worlds. I’m the cook in my house, and I only prepare the bare minimum using whatever supplies were on sale at the grocery store. Meanwhile, this guy has a chef for his dog. The chasm between us couldn’t be more pronounced.

  “That’s amazing. Your lifestyle sounds fantastic.”

  He shrugs.

  “I’m happy to hear you say that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Travis
leans forward slightly, tapping a finger on the counter while taking another swig of his beer. Then he turns to me.

  “Well, I wasn’t born yesterday, as you may have guessed. I know a damsel in distress when I see one.”

  “What?” I ask, my cheeks going hot. I feel like I’m going to die of embarrassment right now.

  Travis merely grins again. “Sweetheart, it’s not every day that my dog stumbles upon a beautiful woman sitting forlornly on the sidewalk in our neighborhood. More often, Buster scares the daylights out of a squirrel, or maybe a rabbit, if he’s lucky. So yeah, we both knew something was up the moment we saw you. It’s like a dream come true for him to find a new friend.”

  I laugh a little, feeling a bit less awkward. This guy does seem nice, and maybe I can let down my guard a tiny smidge, even though he’s a strange man.

  “Well,” I say, taking a deep breath. “You’re kind of right. I did have a place to stay up until a few hours ago.”

  Travis’s black eyebrows go up.

  “What happened? Was it an Airbnb gone wrong?”

  I shake my head.

  “Hardly. Do you believe in evil stepmothers? I know everyone believes in fairy godmothers, but what about evil stepmothers?”

  Travis throws his head back and laughs, showing off gleaming white teeth.

  “I’m happy to believe anything,” he remarks.

  I giggle a little too. How is it that I’m in a terrible situation right now, and yet this man makes me laugh?

  “Well, my stepmother, the evil one, threw me out of the house. With no notice. So I started walking, an wa-la! Ended up in your neighborhood.”

  His brows go up.

  “And am I the handsome prince who saves you from your fate?”

  I pause for a moment, my heart beating hard. I know that I’m at a crossroads right now, and what I say could make all the difference in the world. Slowly, I reply.

  “Why, do you want to be?”

  For the first time, those blue eyes gleam a bit, and I realize that I’m out of my league. Not just financially, but also emotionally too. This man is smart with a plethora of resources at his fingertips, and he knows what he wants. What’s going to become of me?