Paul Stalone inhaled a deep breath of warm summer air, the scent of fresh grass clippings lingering in the atmosphere. He’d just finished mowing the lawn, it was one of the smaller things he’d missed while on active duty. The biggest source of his duty-induced melancholy raced around the front lawn, striking home the fact that at least for a time, he was truly home. A smile graced the blue-eyed man’s grizzled face, and he lurched from his seated position to chase after his pride and joy. James Stalone laughed uproariously, racing in circles around his father. Paul swung his son in circles, pulling him in for a hug before setting the boy loose.
“I’m so glad you’re home, Dad!” James announced for what must have been the thirtieth time that day. The older man’s lips curled into a smile, and he threw himself backwards, hitting the plush grass of their lawn with a thud.
“I’m glad to be home, little man,” he breathed, closing his eyes as the sunlight warmed his skin. It had been difficult, being away from his son for the duration of his active duty. Coming home was a dream come true, though it was one he knew could end at any given moment. He planned to make the most of the time he had with the boy who made his life worth living.
Life as a Navy SEAL had been lonely and though he’d yet to begin scoping out a woman to help soothe his more primal desires, the thought of the woman he’d left behind lingered at the back of his mind. He remembered her name and face as clearly as the beautiful day spread before him, though he dare not contact the number he had for her. They had parted on rather unfortunate terms, and he was sure she still cursed his name as she went to bed at night. That is, if she even remembered his name.
He tried to shake off the thought, not wanting to get caught up in the negative feelings of the past. For now, he had all the time in the world to spend with his son. Speaking of, the young boy chose that moment to flop on the ground at his father’s side. James was the byproduct of his failed marriage, though he and his ex-wife were on good terms for now. He was grateful to have her, considering the fact that he didn’t know where his son would otherwise end up. Paul hated to even consider the thought that James be shuffled off to Paul’s mother’s house, or worse, his father’s.
It seemed typical, a man joining the service to escape his less than ideal childhood. While his past was far behind him, Paul was still sometimes troubled by his parents’ misguided attempts to contact him. He had vowed many years ago that he would be the father to James that he had never had, himself.
Reaching out to muss up his son’s hair, Paul chuckled as James lightly shoved him. The boy sat up abruptly as a moving truck pulled into the driveway of the house next door, and Paul raised up on his elbows to watch with a quirked brow.
“Didn’t know we were getting new neighbors,” he murmured under his breath, amused by his son’s excitement.
“Maybe they’ll have a kid. N-not that I get bored hanging out with you, but,” James stammered. Paul chuckled, waving off the boy’s intended apologies. He sat upright, wrapping his arms around his knees as a sporty little SUV pulled in beside the moving truck. He was rather curious regarding the newcomers as well, but he managed to keep the cool and steely exterior he had carefully molded over the years. It was the mask he wore every time he ventured into an unknown situation, and though he should have felt at ease in his own yard, he couldn’t help the vague suspicion that crept over him.
“Oh, looks like your wish is granted,” he mused as a boy no older than six came racing around the side of the SUV. James cheered, nearly leaping to his feet in excitement. It was clear he was eager to go greet the other boy, but a certain nervousness held him back. He glanced towards Paul with uncertainty in his gaze, and Paul hummed softly under his breath before rising to his feet. He extended his hand towards his son, and James eagerly gripped it before beginning to drag him across the lawn. However, as another figure emerged from the SUV, the father was forced to put on the brakes. James noticed his father’s hesitation, glancing towards the older man with a curious tilt of his head.
“Dad…?” He inquired softly, though Paul scarcely heard him. Out from the SUV stepped a tall and curvy woman, with long brown ringlets and emerald green eyes. She seemed oblivious to her new neighbors, calling out to the boy who was exploring their new lawn excitedly. Her son, presumably, but in Paul’s mind, that simply could not be so. The woman that stood yards away was beautiful, captivating, and familiar in a manner that was nothing short of heart shattering. His heart seemed to throb in his chest, and his mind tried to reason that it was impossible for this to be the woman he suspected her to be.
Then, she shifted to look towards his son and himself. Her eyes widened a bit, and her mouth fell agape, tantalizingly. Her lips looked as soft and plush as ever, but now certainly wasn’t the time to be thinking such things. Not when faced with the woman who had haunted his dreams ever since he was deployed.
Kelly Carpenter, the young woman with whom he’d shared the most riveting night of his life. She was a sweet girl, luscious in all the right places and with a smile that could bring lesser men to their knees. He’d taken her virginity, and short days later left town to pursue his career in the navy. He could still remember the desperate messages she had sent him, begging him to stay. He also remembered how he had callously ignored the messages, turning off his phone and not sparing it a glance for the next six years.
The idea that another man had touched her soft and tender flesh, that someone else had lay with her, sent unwelcome shudders down his spine. It seemed unfathomable, but the very proof lay before him, tugging at his mother’s sleeve as she stared holes through Paul’s head.
“Dad, what’s wrong?” James asked nervously, pausing at his father’s side. Paul hesitated, releasing his son’s hand and averting his eyes from the scrutineers gaze of his new neighbor. If the look in her eye was any indication, she had no trouble placing his face. It explained the suddenly sour expression that turned her lips downward, and her eyes away from the two of them.
“Nothing’s wrong. I just think I’m going to sit this one out. Go introduce yourself to the neighbors. I have to put the mower up and finish tidying up out here,” Paul explained, somewhat dismissively. It was clear that the young boy didn’t quite believe him, and he was relieved when his young son didn’t press the issue.
“Alright,” James muttered uncertainly, remaining a moment longer before sprinting across the yard. Paul could only hope that Kelly wouldn’t hold his actions against his son, but she simply smiled brightly as the boy stepped between the two yards. James thrust his hand out, and she laughed loudly before gripping it firmly in her own. The sound was musical, even from a distance. Paul longed to reach out to her and make things right, but knew that now was the absolute worst time to bring up his previous transgressions.
Busying himself with pretending to clean the yard, he watched the interactions between his old fling, her son, and his own. The boys seemed to be striking it off well from the start, laughing and tossing around a ball that the younger of the boys had grabbed off of the moving truck. Kelly excused herself, glancing towards him where he stood awkwardly poised with a hose in his hand. She narrowed her eyes, calling out to the boys that she was going to fetch some ice water for the two of them.
Paul couldn’t deny the obvious ache in his heart, the pain of knowing he had caused an irreparable gap between himself and the woman he had felt so strongly for. Was she waiting for her husband to come pulling up in the yard, eager to flaunt her new life in the face of the man who had left her behind? As much as Paul wanted to curse her for letting someone else touch her, he knew he hardly had any business dictating who she spent her time with. Exhaling a sigh, he glanced up as his housekeeper stepped out of his home and offered him a small smile.
“You’re not going to introduce yourself to the new neighbors, Mr. Stalone? I’m sure they’d be happy to know they have a serviceman keeping their neighborhood safe,” she said with a kind smile. Paul chuckled humorlessly, brushing his hair away from his ocean blue eyes. His housekeeper was an older woman who had scarcely known English when he’d last seen her. She seemed to have a rather impeccable grasp on the language now, but he supposed that was just one of many things that had changed in his absence.
“I’ll make a point to stop by later this evening. You should have warned me, Roberta, I would have properly prepared a pie or something,” he chuckled, eyes widening as the housekeeper smiled with barely contained delight.
“Oh, I was hoping you would say something like that! I made an apple pie for you to take next door, and it’ll be much more delicious if it’s served warm. I’m sure they’ve had a long drive,” Roberta announced cheerfully, slipping back into the house. Paul resisted the desire to groan, glancing into the neighboring yard where the two boys still seemed to be having a blast playing catch.
Kelly stepped back out the front door, a pitcher of ice water in one hand, and a tray with two glasses balanced on her other palm. The boys rushed towards her, each of them taking a glass and gulping down the water as soon as it was poured. He felt like an outsider intruding on a moment even though it was his own son interacting with the new neighbors.
The scent of apple pie wafted under his nose, and his stomach grumbled hungrily. He glanced towards Roberta, tempted to sneak the pie back inside and enjoy it alone. She seemed vaguely aware of his intent, pushing the pie into his hands and gesturing towards the next yard over.
“You can tell them that you made it, if you would like. I doubt they would care to know your silly housekeeper,” she said, self-deprecatingly, and Paul frowned, reaching out to take her by the arm.
“Don’t be silly, Roberta. I’m sure they’ll be just as pleased to meet you as they’ll be to meet me,” he assured her, though he was more certain that they would be more eager to meet the housekeeper than the man who had broken Kelly’s heart all those years ago. Roberta seemed pleased to be included, just as well, so the two of them began to cross Paul’s lawn. Kelly looked up as the two approached, her expression reproachful. It shifted into a much kinder one, however, as Roberta rushed forward and held her arms out to the taller woman.
“Hello, hello. I’m Roberta Estavez, I work for your neighbor, Mr. Paul Stalone,” she said cheerfully, and Kelly chuckled before pulling the older woman in for a brief hug. “Oh, and here I thought I was the only one who hugged as a greeting,” Roberta said with a bright grin. Paul awkwardly lingered behind his housekeeper, keeping the pie gripped in his hands.
“It’s nice to meet you, Roberta. And… Paul, it’s a surprise seeing you here,” Kelly said, carefully. It was obvious she didn’t plan to lie and say she was happy to see him, but he wasn’t particularly surprised by that. He simply clung to the pie, smiling nervously as the boys tumbled towards them.
“Dad! Dad! This is Jeffrey. He just turned six, and he’s never had any other guys to play with either!” James announced, wrapping an arm around the younger boy’s shoulder and smiling brightly. Paul considered Jeffrey with a torn expression, not sure how to address the boy. He had kind blue eyes, and hair as dark as his mother’s. Truthfully, Paul saw a bit of himself in the boy. He was clearly nervous to meet the navy seal, and in spite of the man’s regrets regarding how he’d treated Kelly, he wasn’t going to punish her kid for it.
“Hey there, Jeff. I’m Mr. Stalone, but you can call me Paul. It’s nice to meet you. James has always been eager to make a friend in the neighborhood, so I’m sure the two of you will get along just fine,” he said with a faint smile. Jeffrey seemed somewhat flustered, wringing his hands uncomfortably. It was obvious that he wasn’t used to being around people besides his mother, and Paul was beginning to doubt his initial theory that a father figure would be pulling in the driveway any time soon.
“H-hello. James has been very nice, a-and… I’ve always wanted another boy to play with. It’s always just been me and mom,” he trailed off, chuckling awkwardly.
“And your mommy wouldn’t have it any other way,” Kelly crooned, reaching down to pinch her son’s cheek. He squawked, batting her hands away. She smiled to herself, glancing towards Paul with her lip drawn between her teeth.
“Mr. Stalone, the pie,” Roberta hissed urgently, and Paul laughed awkwardly before offering the dessert to his old lover turned new neighbor. She accepted it reluctantly, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. It felt like electric shocks were jolting through Paul’s body as soon as they locked eyes, and Kelly cleared her throat before glancing away.
“Thank you. I, uh… I’m sure it will be interesting, being neighbors. I’m glad that Jeffrey has a friend in your son,” she said, haltingly. The tension in the air could have been sliced straight through with a knife, and as Paul struggled to find the words to explain himself and how sorry he was, Kelly took her son by the arm and guided him towards the door. “You boys can play more tomorrow. It was nice to meet you James, but we need to get settled in for a bit. You’re welcome to come over anytime,” she smiled.
Though it went unsaid, Paul was rather sure the invitation wasn’t extended to him. He simply stared at the woman as she slipped into her house, swallowing a despairing sigh that threatened to spill past his lips.
He wouldn’t cause a scene in front of their children. He fully intended to speak to Kelly however, whether she wanted to or not.