by Bria Daly
Not wanting to ruin the moment, but knowing that if she didn't stop this wonderfully peaceful feeling at any given moment, Emma would end it with a bang, Sera unstrapped Emma and climbed carefully out of the car with Jeff’s help.
They reached the door and Deb opened it before they even knocked. "I saw your car and Marion just called to say you were on your way and that Emma was asleep. I threatened the kids to keep their mouths shut and to not say a peep. If Emma gets going again ..." she let her voice trail and shuddered.
Sera laughed at Deb and said, "I know exactly what you mean." And then, looking around and not seeing any little bodies running around the house, she asked, "What did you do with them?"
"Don't worry, I didn't kill them. Yet. They're in the den watching a movie. At least the little ones are. Pete and Tiff are sitting next to each other and not saying a word, but I think they're texting each other."
"Are they ready to leave?"
"I guess they could be. How long do we have before Emma wakes up again?"
Sera looked at her watch. “I think we still have a couple of hours."
"Jeff," Deb was only slightly taller than Sera, and paused as she looked up at Jeff, "I didn't realize how tall you were. Anyway, do you have time for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine?"
"Sure, I have a great secretary at the office. She can fill in for me if I sleep in tomorrow."
Sera looked up at him and rolled her eyes. Jeff might have heard something, but if Sera had said anything, it was more like an “ugh” than anything else.
"I think I'll stick to coffee though. Tonight at dinner I think I met my quota."
"But you only had a couple of glasses," Sera countered.
"That's right. I’ve met my quota. On weekends I can do better, but on week nights, I'm just a wimp."
Sera remembered how Peter used to drink too much and make an ass of himself. She would have to drive him home sometimes and put up with him pawing at her and even other women ... He probably did that when he was sober too. He just had that tad bit of “decency” left where he would at least wait until she turned her back when was sober.
"Yes, coffee for me too. Is it made?"
"No, I'll just go to the kitchen and start it. I think I'll just stick to decaf tonight ..." Deb said with a smile as she rubbed her belly softly.
"That's right! I should have known when you said you didn't want to drink tonight that something was up! That was a dead giveaway."
"Sera, Sera, you make me sound like the lush that I am. Shame on you girl," she said laughing. "Hey Jeff, Chad's in the other room, over that way. He's playing a game on the computer. Go and bother him while Sera helps me with the coffee."
Jeff did as he was told and as he walked by the dining room and past the den, before he got to the office where Chad was in fact playing some kind of shooter game, he thought he saw kids everywhere. Doing a mental count, he realized he probably did see kids all over the place, with Sera’s four, and now that Chad and Deb were expecting their fifth child ... They could start their own school. Wow, he thought and shook his head as he popped in to sit with Chad. He couldn’t blame the guy for taking a break from the insanity and shooting stuff up to relax.
Chad stopped what he was doing when he saw him. "Hey Jeff, didn't hear you come in. Everything all right?"
"Yeah, your kid eat any more Barbie limbs?"
"It was a shoe, and no, not since dinner today. Hey, by the way, thanks for driving Sera to my mom's and now here. I would have come to get her you know."
"I think everybody is too worried about me and that I might not have the time to do this. Although you married folk like to dream about what we single guys get to do in our free time. I hate to disappoint you, but tonight was the best night I've had in a long time."
"That is just sad. You disappoint me."
"Now you on the other hand ... five kids?"
"Yeah, I don't know how that happened ..."
"I have a general idea."
"Guys," they could hear Deb's voice calling them from the other room. "If you want coffee you'll have to come and get it. It's self-service tonight!"
"Is there anything other than self-service any night?" and with that, Chad slapped Jeff on the back and followed him into the living room where his wife and sister-in-law were looking very smug.
Chapter 12
Sera was a little self-conscious by the time the men came to the living room for their coffee. Deb had drilled her mercilessly about Jeff. What was he like? What did Marion say? What did she think of him? Did he hint anything to her? Deb only stopped when Sera told her to back off.
Sera was confused enough already and didn't need her sister-in-law to egg her on when she had no idea what she was even thinking. First of all, she hadn’t even thought of another man for over fifteen years, and what Deb didn't seem to understand was that the timing was awful.
Sera was still married and financially in a big mess, although things were much better now that at least she was bringing home some money. She had four kids – and one of them was Emma who had to be counted at least twice - so bringing a man into her life was just stupid. Besides, what was even harder in bringing someone into your life when you had kids, was that not only did you have to choose for yourself, but you also had to choose the best match for your kids.
Of course, Deb also pointed out that Peter wasn't exactly the best fit for her kids and they were his. Okay, she had a point, but that had just been pure bad luck. Peter made awesome kids and a terrible dad all at the same time.
Sera wished Deb hadn’t met Jeff. For two weeks he was a nice boss to Sera. Now she thought of him as husband material! She knew Deb wouldn’t let it rest.
"So where's this coffee you made us, woman?"
Deb rolled her eyes at her husband, "In the kitchen my little man. Do you think you can handle getting it yourself?"
"I am the master of the house and I have much practice fending for myself - unfortunately. Come on Jeff. What did I tell you about the service in this place?"
"Mommy, mommy! When did you get back?" A little boy ran up to Sera and jumped up on her lap.
"Hi little monkey. I just got in and went to see you, but you were right in the middle of your movie. How was it? What did you see?"
"We saw Mulan ... again. Melle always wants to see that one because the girl dresses up like a boy and beats all the boys up."
"Yeah, I kind of like that movie myself." Sera said looking over to the men who had just come in and caught the tail end of Charlie’s remark.
"Personally, I like Aladdin. Didn't he have a harem or something?" Jeff said looking at Sera.
"No, I think you're confused. For Aladdin, there was only one woman, Jasmine. She was the princess, and his only job was to do as she said." Sera retorted.
"What's a share-em?"
Chad choked on his coffee, and Deb elbowed him in the ribs.
"Hi Charlie." Jeff had jumped in to help out, but mainly to save his own butt. He knew from experience with nieces and nephews that mothers didn’t appreciate it when you used foul language or brought up things you couldn’t really explain. He thought he had done a good job distracting the boy, but then looked over and still saw dirty looks coming from both Sera and Deb.
"How do you know my name?" the little boy asked, suddenly noticing the stranger in his aunt and uncle's house.
"Your mom has a picture of you on her desk at work. My name is Jeff, and I work with your mom. She told me about you, Pete, and Melle, and I just met Emma today."
“Emma’s loud,” the little boy said, pretending to shake in fear.
“Yeah,” Jeff laughed, “my ears are still hurting.”
Charlie giggled, "Are you my mom’s poz?"
"Yup, but I'm a nice boss." Jeff told him with a wink.
"Do you have kits? You look like you have kits."
Jeff puffed out his chest at that. “Why, do I look like I have kids?”
“Cause you’re
old. Old person’s hab kits.”
Sera almost choked on her coffee over that, and Chad just laughed.
Jeff cleared his throat, “Well you’ve got a good point. I should have kids at my old age, but I'm not married. Maybe someday I'll get married and have a hundred and seven kids."
"My mom is meh-weed. She used to say she wanted twelve kits, but you need your hubband for that, and we don't know where her hubband is, do we mommy?"
Sera looked only slightly uncomfortable because after all, she was among family, and with someone she was starting to think of as a friend. "Well, we think he's on a trip somewhere. Maybe he can't call us, that's all."
"Yeah, and I'm nine feet tall." A boy of about twelve or thirteen years of age, and somewhere near five feet tall had walked in and sat down next to Sera after giving her a quick peck on the cheek. He had his iPod plugged into his ears, and didn't even look around or see that there was someone he didn't know in the room. Then again, maybe he just didn't care.
"Pete, don't talk that way to your brother," Sera reprimanded.
"He doesn't even know what nine feet tall means," the boy retorted.
"All the more reason not to tease him."
"I do too know what nine feets tall is!" Charlie yelled back.
"Okay then, what is it short stuff?"
"Peter, cut it out. Charlie, it’s about this much taller than uncle Chad,” she showed with her hands.
“Pete, I haven't introduced you to my boss, Mr. Mason. Jeff, this is my son Peter."
"Hi Jeff,” Peter gave Jeff a measured look and made sure not to say Mr. Mason, “I'm Daniel."
The adults all looked at each other, wondering about this new bit of information.
Deb was the one who asked first, "Daniel? Since when? You sure look a lot like my nephew Pete."
"I changed my name since my dad's name is Peter and I don't like it anymore. My middle name is Daniel, so I'm going to be using that name instead. I already told my teachers." Then, after rattling his audience with his detailed explanation, Daniel asked, "When are we leaving?"
"I don't think you can just change your name. I mean ..." Chad was about to say something else when Sera interrupted him.
"Daniel? You know, that was really my idea. Your dad wanted to name you Peter after himself, but I really liked the name Daniel. It might take some getting used to, but I'll try. Just remind me if I forget, okay? Oh, and please go tell Melle we'll be leaving soon. We had better get a head start before Emma starts up again."
Daniel, left the room and all eyes were on his back.
Chad looked over at Sera and told her, "He's getting a little rebellious, isn't he? Do the teachers go along with it?"
"He's the one that's been hurt the most. I wasn't sure at first, but Pe ... Daniel, understands what happened and hates his dad for leaving him, and for leaving me. I don't think he misses his dad that much. They never did anything together anyway, but he resents his dad and the many character flaws that are surfacing. If calling him Daniel will help put a smile on his face, so be it. I will call that kid anything to make him happy again. And yes, I spoke to his teachers and told them if that’s what he wants, I’m okay with it."
"Have you thought of therapy?"
That was Deb asking, and Sera had considered it, but wasn't sure if her son was ready, or even if she could afford it. She told Deb that much, and Jeff added, "We haven't done the paperwork to include you in our health insurance yet. I forgot all about that. Do you have any health insurance right now?"
"It expires at the end of the month. Since Peter just up and quit his job, he lost his benefits, but they were nice enough at his company to keep us insured for six months afterwards. I've been checking out insurance rates and I can't really afford them. I didn't realize you offered it."
"We have a basic insurance coverage for the employees. There are specifics attached to it, like liposuction isn't covered, but having a tree fall on you is ... I don’t think either of those things should be a concern to you though. I can see about adding you in and check if mental health is covered. My sister has a good counselor my niece went to when she was about this age."
Sera smiled broadly at him. That was another big worry on her list. "Thanks Jeff. That would definitely take a lot of weight off my shoulders. I'm not sure if he'd want to go see someone, but having insurance is ... wow, even if it only covers their regular immunizations. Anything helps."
"Mommy, can I spend the night? Jenny said I could."
"Well hello to you too missy," Sera grabbed the little girl by the waist and pulled her on her lap. "Didn't you miss me?"
"A whole bunch, but now that I saw you ..." she looked at her mother sheepishly.
"I think your aunt and uncle have put up with you enough for the last few weeks."
Deb had just had another girl about the same age go sit on her lap. "Please mommy! We were in the middle of an art project and we want to finish it together. Please?"
Deb looked a little nervous, "An art project?" Looking at Sera, "I don't even want to know ... If Melle stays, will you two clean up the 'art project' after you're done?"
Both girls jumped off their mothers’ laps and went onto the floor on their knees begging, "Oh yes, yes, please, please. We promise we will clean everything up. Promise. We're making presents for you," one of them added.
"Shush! You weren't supposed to tell."
"It's not like they know what it is, do they?" and then, suddenly noticing Jeff in the room.
"Who are you? Do I know you?"
“Melle! There are nicer ways to ask!” Sera looked at her daughter exasperated.
Jeff shrugged and got up to introduce himself, shaking each girl’s hand. "I'm Jeff. I work with your mom Melle. And you must be Jenny. Pleased to meet you both."
The girls both giggled and then turned to their mothers.
Sera and Deb exchanged a look that said even the younger girls were smitten by good looks.
"Well?" Jenny asked her mother.
“Well what?” Deb looked at her confused.
“Can Melle stay if we clean up?”
Sera and Deb looked at each and shrugged, "Sure, why not?" Then Sera yelled out as they both ran off, "But if you don't help clean up, you're never coming back here again!"
"Music to my ears. One less, but haven’t I heard that one before? When was the last time those two ever cleaned anything?" Deb shot back at Sera.
"I know, I know, but I'm obligated to reinforce," Sera explained, and then, "if only to practice. Maybe one of these days I’ll get it right." Then getting up, she said, "We'd better go. Emma's about to get her second wind ..."
"Not that I'm counting or anything, but this would be more than just a second wind, wouldn't it?" That was Chad who decided to chime in.
Jeff also got up to leave, and Deb, always the perfect hostess, said "You don't have to go you know. Just because Sera's a party pooper, doesn't mean we can't sit and chat."
Jeff smiled at his hostess. "I appreciate the offer, but unlike the rest of you, tomorrow I have to go into the office."
"You do?" This time it was Sera asking. "I didn't see any appointments or anything."
It was Friday night and the office was closed on Saturdays.
"No, no appointments. I have this new secretary and she organized everything really well, but now I can't find anything. I'm going in to fill out some estimates and get reacquainted with my office."
"Do you need me to help?"
Jeff looked at Sera and debated on how he should answer. Tonight had given him the opportunity to get to know her and her family better. He really liked her, felt comfortable with Chad and Deb, was pleased to see that Marion didn't hold Sera responsible for her son's disappearance, and had enjoyed the interaction between Sera and her children. Tonight had been much better than he had planned, but it was time to call it a day. And as for Sera's question about him needing her help? He didn't think it would be wise to find himself alone with her
on a day off when nobody else was expected to show up. Not yet. Besides, even a super-mom needed time off.
He shook his head, smiled, picked up his keys saying thank you, and after a few goodbyes, he was off.
Chapter 13
Sera's weekend was busy. Melle had a dance class in the morning on Saturdays and had to be picked up from Deb’s. Charlie had tee-ball at ten, and Pe ... Daniel had to work on a school project with a friend. Emma, well Emma just had a lot of screaming to do somewhere in between all of that.
On Saturday night, they made pizza together, and Sera and the three youngest watched a Disney movie while Daniel listened to his iPod and texted his friends.
Sunday was a lazier day, and Daniel and Melle were picked up by the parents of some of their friends, so Sera tried to dedicate some time to Charlie and together they baked some cookies for when Charlie’s siblings came back.
It was a normal weekend for Sera, and a nice rest before having to go back to work again on Monday. Or was it the other way around?
On Monday, Sera decided her first task was to go over each account from this year and check its status to see if it was paid or not paid. She wasn't sure what the usual procedure was to collect on past due payments, but first she wanted to know how much money they were out. That is, minus the $5,768 that she still owed, which would be paid off within the next six months, if not sooner.
After about an hour of going through the files, Sera was amazed that the company even had any money left to pay for the remainder of her salary. Obviously, it helped that the business was booming, but without money being paid when jobs were completed, she didn't know how long they could keep up at that rate.
Jeff obviously loved what he did. It showed in the quality of his work, but the business side of the job had most definitely been neglected. From what Sera had tallied so far, it had been neglected in excess of $120,000, and she wasn't even close to finishing her search for past dues yet.
Sera looked at the clock above the door and saw that it was nine o'clock. How strange that Jeff hadn't come in yet.
She wondered what his weekends were like. He was single after all, so it was possible that he stayed out late. She had heard somebody mention a woman's name ... Lucy? No, that wasn't it, Louise? Lydia? Yes, that was it. Lydia. She didn't hear much more than just the name, and the fact that she and Jeff had gone out, but Sera wasn't sure if they were still an item, or if that relationship was history.
