Part 2 (1/2)
She looked away. He wasn't making light of the situation. In fact he only chuckled because the request seemed so simple that he was surprised she bothered to call a service.
”Of course I can help. Open the trunk.”
”Oh bless you. Thank you!” She hurried over and released the trunk. Mathew tried to ignore the view of her backside as she bent over to pull on the tire. ”It's down here but hard to reach.”
”Step aside.”
She did as he asked. He set his things down, a briefcase and his suit jacket. Unb.u.t.toning his cuffs, he rolled up his sleeves. ”I have to say that I will expect something out of this.” He slipped her a sly smile. She looked on with a puzzled frown.
”First names? Call me Mathew. It's time.”
She nodded. ”Oh okay, Mathew. Thank you so much for this. Here let me.” She took his suit jacket to keep it from dropping off his briefcase to the floor. ”I've got to get home to my babies.”
It was the first he heard of her having children. He knew she was a widower, but no one ever said she had kids. ”You're a mommy?” he asked, heaving the tire out of her trunk.
”Two boys. Danny and Denny. Twins,” she said and her eyes glistened with repressed emotion. He couldn't tell if the threat of tears was from happiness or a cloud of sadness that seemed to follow her. Mathew bounced the tire, and it gave a short roll before spinning and falling over to its side. He retrieved the hand jack and crowbar next. ”That must be a handful, two little ones.”
”You don't know the half of it. But they are sweet babies.” She checked her watch once more. ”I don't mean to be rude, but how long do you think this will take?”
”Thirty minutes and you're on your way,” he said. He bent with his knees to take off the lug nuts.
”It's my babysitter. She charges me two dollars for every minute I'm late.”
Mathew looked up. His mother was a single mom. He remembered their struggles too well. She died of breast cancer when he was in college. He never really got to reward her for all her efforts. In the dim parking light, he saw Nurse Kimberly Jensen in a different light. Admired her even. ”Don't you worry. I'll get you home in time.”
She cast her eyes away. ”About today, the thing with Lacy. I should have listened to you. I will take full responsibility for this.”
”Mr. Dagwood is stable. He's awake now. I'll deal with Murphy.”
”But how? I know you have to report Lacy and I...”
”My patient. I'll take care of it,” he shrugged. A verbal reprimand should be all she suffered. In fact he'd revisit the discussion with Murphy to make sure of it. The tire dropped off. He reached for the other and rolled it on. He tightened the nuts and had her done in fifteen minutes instead of thirty. She smiled so brightly at him until he found himself grinning with her.
”You're my hero. Thank you Doctor, ah...Mathew. I can't tell you how you're saving my life.”
Mathew set her busted tire in the back of her trunk, with the crowbar and jack. ”You can't ride too long on that spare. Make sure to see to it in the morning.”
”I will. I will,” she said. He opened her car door for her. Kim stopped at the kindness and then smiled again. She handed him his suit jacket and their fingers met, his lingering. She dropped her hand and her eyes. ”Good night.”
”Good night, Kimberly. After a man changes your tire, he's bound to call you by your first name.”
She laughed at his persistence. ”Fine. Call me Kim.”
”Good night, Kim.”
He closed the door. She started the car, gave him a little wave and then backed out. Mathew watched her drive away. A night with a beer and frozen dinner was usually his highlight. Who knew that changing a tire could top that? Dusting his hands, he got his things and headed for his car.
”Hi, Kim,” Anne yawned, sitting up on the sofa.
”I'm so sorry, Anne. I had a flat tire,” Kim said, dropping her purse on the chair near the door. She was only ten minutes late.
”No worries. I got some schoolwork done. The boys are sleep in your bed tonight. They insisted.”
Kim smiled. She couldn't wait to get to her babies. She paid Anne and thanked her again, walking her to the door. As soon as it closed, she began to strip. Her body was worn out. She was in her bra and panties by the time she made it to her bedroom. She stopped at her door and smiled. Danny lay horizontally with his legs over Denny who was spread eagle on the bed. Simone kept telling her that they needed to be potty-trained. So did Anne. But she kind of liked them in their pull-ups. They were still her babies. It hurt her to leave them behind for a long s.h.i.+ft. She grabbed her nightgown, slipping it on, she eased into bed. She righted Danny, fixed the covers and made sure they were both comfortable. She'd make them pancakes in the morning. Reaching for the lamp, she turned it off. As soon as she eased below the covers, she was asleep, at home.
Chapter Three.
My Life Simone ”Joining us today is Keith Livingston. Keith has been with Caspian for seven years. He accepted the role of Senior V.P. of National Accounts. I'd like everyone to welcome Keith into the fold.”
Keith was greeted with a round of applause. Cain looked on, slightly amused that the new neighbor was his boss in some respects. Keith nodded to everyone and gave a half smile. ”I'm welcome to any ideas, suggestions or feedback you may have. I'm the new kid on the block, so bear with me. First thing I'd like to do is meet with your teams and get an understanding of your inflight initiatives.”
”Welcome! You'll fit right in,” Cain's father in-law said. ”Now, shall we?”
The meeting progressed. Down the line, from Marketing to Finance, reports were offered on the status of the various departments. Cain introduced himself when appropriate and offered to share his resources and past business cases, including his quarterly review that contributed to the fiscal year for Keith to manage. He thanked him. When the meeting concluded, everyone gathered around Andrew Hollingsworth for a minute. Cain rose to make his exit.
”Cain,” Andrew Hollingsworth said, silencing the others. ”Can you see me this afternoon?”
”Sure.”
He turned and walked out. Keith Livingston was asking the secretary when he'd receive his computer and phone for his office. Cain stepped up. ”It appears we are neighbors,” Cain said.
Keith looked back. ”Neighbors?”
”I saw you and your wife moving in this morning. Mulberry Heights? I'm your neighbor.”
”Oh, interesting. It's a small world, isn't it?”
”It is. Welcome to Castle Rock. If you need anything, just ask.”
”I may take you up on that. Lunch? I hear you work for me?” Kevin asked with a timbre of arrogance to his voice.
”Sure, let me know when and where.”
Keith nodded. Cain turned and walked away. The day had just begun, and he was already saddled with the worst headache.
Night Maryanne dropped her hand on the inside of the door. She posed for her husband. The barely there sheer lingerie did little to cover her rose tinted nipples or the strip of blonde p.u.b.es over her s.e.x. Cain looked up from his reading. He removed his gla.s.ses. He hadn't spoken much since he came home. Her father gave him the speech about grandkids and how he and Bonnie, Maryanne's mother, were running out of patience. What they didn't realize was that sweet little Maryanne wasn't willing to accommodate their wishes. Months ago he had found the hidden pack of birth control pills she didn't think he knew about.
”Are you still mad at me?” she asked, stepping in the room with a s.e.xy pout.
”The stunt you pulled this morning? You want to talk about it now?”