Chapter 15
Abigail
“Mommy, what are you doing?”
My child calling me brought me to my senses. Feeling embarrassed, I quickly moved away from the door where I was attempting to hear the conversation. What did it matter what they were saying anyhow? It didn’t.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.” I sat back down at the table and quickly finished up my food. “Eat up. The game is about to start.”
“Yes, mommy.” She picked up the pace, shovelling the food into her mouth. I didn’t think she could eat so fast. Normally, it took her forever to get through any meal, she was such a picky eater.
Just as the teams were being called out over the loud speaker, Devon returned. He looked a little distraught, but as soon as he saw me watching him, his expression changed, and he gave me a wide grin, clapping his hands together with enthusiasm. “Game time, ladies.”
“Yeah!!!” Isabella jumped from her chair at the table and found a seat in front of the window with a wide grin on her face. “So cool, Mommy. Come sit.” She patted the chair beside her and the patted the one on her other side. “Devon. Sit here.”
“You got it.” He ruffled her hair and she giggled as he sat next to her.
Taking a seat on the other side of Isabella, I found myself spending more time watching the interactions between Devon and my daughter than on the game itself. Isabella was more interested in going to a game than watching the game itself. She seemed to really be taking to Devon, and a new fear emerged within me. What if she became attached to him? It could certainly happen in a month, especially with him lavishing gifts and attention on her.
Another thing struck me. He seemed to be very good with her. That was certainly a surprise. Who’d have thought it? Certainly not me.
“Mommy, I have to go pee.”
It took me a moment to realize I was being spoken to. I’d been virtually ignored since we’d sat down. “What’s that sweetie?”
“I got to pee,” she said a second time, her large brown eyes staring up at me.
“Okay. Then we can go.”
“There’s a private washroom through that door,” Devon said, pointing to a closed door that I’d noticed when I entered, but hadn’t paid much attention to.
“Of course, there is,” I said under my breath.
Bitter much, a voice in the back of my head chimed in. Okay, perhaps the voice was right.
Getting up, I led Isabella over to the door and opened it. Sure enough, there was a single bathroom. “In there. Make sure to wash your hands before coming out.”
“Okay, mommy.” She disappeared inside, closing the door behind her.
“Alright. Give it to me. What’s your problem?” I spun around to see Devon leaning against the countertop which was holding the food, his arms crossed over his chest.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what is going on with you? You look a little pissed.”
“No.” I laughed, waving a hand at him, making my way back to my chair and sitting down. “No problem. Nothing at all.”
“You’re lying.” He stated sitting down in the chair next to me.
“Oh and you think you know me so well that you can tell that easily, huh? A little full of yourself, aren’t you?”
“It’s only been four days, but I’d like to think that I’m getting to know you. At the very least, I know when you’re annoyed with me over something. God only knows you’re annoyed with me enough.”
I looked over at him and sighed. Keeping my voice low as to not have Isabella inadvertently overhear, I said, “I’m concerned about the ramifications of you spending too much time with Isabella.”
“I don’t follow.” He looked genuinely perplexed. “She seems to be having a good time.”
“That’s the problem.”
He laughed. “Alright. Let me get this straight, I’m not allowed to buy her a thing or two or take her out a few times? She’s a child. Am I expected to ignore her?”
Glancing at the door, I ensured Isabella wasn’t about to emerge. “I don’t want her getting attached to you or the house or this life. This is a limited time thing. It can be confusing to a child her age.”
“Again, am I supposed to ignore her? Is that what you want?”
~*~ TT ~*~
Devon
I genuinely wasn’t sure what she expected from me. I’d be the first to admit that I had no clue about kids. Having and raising kids never really entered my scope of being. I was always way too busy. If there was hardly any time for me, then there certainly wouldn’t be time for a child or wife. I’d been coming home early because Abigail was staying with me, but normally I wouldn’t be walking into the house until late in the evening.
She had some valid points though, I’d give her that. The last thing I wanted was for that adorable little girl to be hurt in the crossfire of the game Abigail and I were playing. But she couldn’t be tucked away in a corner somewhere until the month was up.
After giving the situation some thought, I finally responded. “If you want my opinion on this - ” she opened her mouth to cut in, but I put my hand up stopping her. “I think, if you haven’t already, you need to sit down with Isabella and explain to her the situation. I’m your boss and friend and you two are staying with me for the month. Nothing more or less. She seems like a smart little girl.”
“She’s young. Impressionable.”
“But she’s also smart. If you explain to her that this isn’t forever, then I’m sure she’ll get it. It’s like having a generous uncle. And you will be walking away from this with a half a million - ”
“A full million,” she corrected.
I leaned a little closer to her, countering, “That remains to be seen.”
A confident grin spread across her lips. “I can guarantee.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
She ran a hand through her dark locks. “I’m nowhere close to falling in love with you.”
Clucking my tongue off the roof of my mouth, I was about to hit her with a remark that would skirt the line of inappropriate when I heard the sound of the toilet being flushed, followed by the running of water. Shifting back to my assigned seat, all I said in return was, “We’ll see.”
“Mommy! I washed my hands,” Isabella announced with gusto as she emerged from the bathroom. She was wearing the cutest little NY Knicks jersey over her pink dress. The jersey Abigail didn’t bitch about me buying her. She really was a charming little girl.
“Great, honey. Good remembering.”
Isabella showed her mother her wet hands, then proceeded to wipe them in her pretty dress. I forced myself not to chuckle watching the scowl form on her mother’s face and the look of confusion on Isabella’s.
“You don’t wipe your hands on your clothing, Isabella,” her mother chided.
“Why?” Isabella asked, climbing back onto the chair she’d selected between us.
“That’s what towels and paper towel are for.”
“But my hands were clean, Mommy,” she pouted, looking at the floor and swinging her feet.
Placing a hand over my mouth, I hid the chuckle I couldn’t contain any longer. As much as I wanted to win, I didn’t grow up being a loser, it occurred to me that if I lost the bet it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Would I stop my pursuit to let her win? Not on your life. But I’d be okay if I lost. A million dollars wasn’t the end of the world for me, but it would be a life changer for both of the ladies sitting next to me.
~*~ TT ~*~
“When can we do it again, Devon?” Isabella asked me as we began exiting the Gardens. The beauty about having a box was that you could wait in comfort until most of the stadium was empty before leaving, thereby avoiding the crowds. The Knicks had won, which awarded them a spot in the playoffs. Needless to say, the crowd was over-the-top enthusiastic, and I didn’t want Abigail or Isabella getting lost in the fray.
“We might be able to.” I looked over at Abigail who was smiling but wasn’t giving me an indication either way.
She ran over to me and hugged my jeaned leg. “Oh please! It was so much fun. Please! Please! Please!”
“Isabella. That’s enough.” Her mother’s voice made the little girl quit her pleading immediately, although she kept those big eyes turned up to me.
“Your mom and I will discuss it later. How’s that?”
She nodded her head, releasing my leg and taking her mother’s outstretched hand. “Okay.”
“Don’t forget the bear.”
“My bear!” Isabella dropped her mother’s hand and ran over to the bear, hugging it around the neck and attempting to carry and drag it along. With all the excitement, it seemed everyone had forgotten about it.
After watching her struggle with it a minute, I stepped forward and assisted, settling the bear under my arm, and to my surprise, she took my hand from my free arm. I froze for a moment, not sure how to react to the sign of affection.
I didn’t dare look at Abigail; no doubt she’d be scowling.