6. Galen

“Hey John, what’s up?”

I’d put Rikki into her bed and managed to get a bit of scotch poured before my phone had started buzzing. I wasn’t surprised to see who it was.

Walking into my bedroom I stared across the way to the house next door. Tara had been calm and collected, appearing to be unfazed by her evening with my daughter. That was a good thing.

“I’m on a break between sets, thought I’d check in. Is she still alive?” he asked.

“Who?”

“Tara? Rikki? Both?” His answer was short and couched in laughter.

“Ah, they’re both fine. No problems at all. She’s agreed to watch Rikki for a little while until I can find something more permanent.”

I noticed Amanda leaving Tara’s house and watched her go. She had a fine figure, but my eyes were drawn to the window I’d learned was Tara’s bedroom one night when she undressed whilst I was sitting in the backyard.

I’d looked away but my eyes had moved back on their own, only to be disappointed she’d moved away.

“Cool, man. Have you thought about that meeting tomorrow? What you’re going to do?” John sounded like he wanted to ask more but didn’t.

“Not really. It’s crazy, pointless. Surely they’d have to prove I was some kind of terrible human being before they’d take her away from me?” I let my disbelief drip through, not certain why the courts were even entertaining it.

“Just see what the lawyer has to say first, then maybe you should think about that thing.”

“What thing?”

“You know, that thing. Getting married,” John said in a deadpan voice, trying not to push my buttons.

“I don’t have any candidates, John. Who could I possibly get to do that for me? It’s crazy, no, it wouldn’t work anyway. I don’t have time for it.” I was trying to stay calm and listen to my friend. Sometimes he gave good advice, even if it was shit I didn’t want to hear.

“Maybe she’d do it.” He spoke very quietly, very softly. “I think she digs you, man.”

“Who?” I asked, totally lost now.

“Tara, that girl. She was so hoping you were going to ask her out today.” John wasn’t laughing now, just stating what he thought was a fact.

“Seriously? No way! That girl has no interest in me, at all. She’s too serious. Have you seen those glasses? Those are birth control glasses designed to keep men away.” I remembered the thick, black frames of Tara’s glasses, and though I thought they were cute, I instinctively knew they’d been chosen for their practicality, rather than as an accessory.

“She’s cute and willing, I’d bet on it, Galen. Don’t be so quick to dismiss it.”

John sounded distracted and I knew he’d have to go soon. I was almost glad of it. I took a sip of my scotch before I responded.

“Fuck, no. She’s so young.”

I saw the lights going off next door and waited, holding my breath as I watched. Her light came on in the bedroom and she came to the window, clad only in a bra, hair down around her shoulders.

Even with the thick glasses, there was still something about the roundness of her shoulders that drew my eyes. Tara was a little thicker than most of the women I dated, but there was still something that kept my attention, though I had no idea what.

“As if age was ever a problem for you before! She has to be in her twenties, she’s fine. Look, I have to go, but seriously, think about it.”

I told him goodbye and he hung up, leaving me with a lot to think about.

It was a crazy idea, silly really. Marry someone I don’t know just to convince a court I was a good father. I waited at the window and Tara didn’t move. She stared up at the moon, her face intent. What was she thinking? I wondered.

She was nothing like Amy, the last student I’d slept with. Amy had been blond, self-assured, and determined she just wanted to fuck me and move on. She’d got me off then moved on to her next conquest. Even my wife, Kayla, had been slimmer, more open about her sexuality than Tara. Tara hid behind large shirts, baggy jeans, and those glasses of hers that she was constantly pushing up her nose.

Marrying her would be an insanity too far, even for me. There wouldn’t be any sex, first of all. I couldn’t live without sex so it would have to be a marriage in name only. That kind of marriage wasn’t going to convince anybody.

I saw the light go off in Tara’s room and went to my own bed, enjoying the feel of cool, clean cotton sheets against my skin as I slid in. No, I couldn’t marry Tara. She’d probably turn me down anyway, why would she want to marry me, even if I did make it worth her while? Crazy idea, not worth thinking about, I thought, and closed my eyes to let sleep take me.

* * *

Maybe it wasn’t such a crazy idea, after all.

I stared across the expensive oak desk at my lawyer, Bill Woods, the next evening, wanting to strangle him.

“What do you mean they have a good chance at winning?” I glared at him, certain my stare would turn him into little more than ash but he persisted in sitting there unharmed.

“They have a judge that’s sympathetic to grandparents and hates men. He, yes he often finds in favor of women over men. Plus, I think there’s more here than we’re being told. Something’s got my nerves strung tight but I can’t quite figure it out.”

I sat back in my chair, watching him. Something has his nerves strung tight? Mine were about to snap!

“Aren’t they supposed to hand over their evidence and all of that, Bill?”

“Yes, but there’s something missing. Something that gave them this idea and they haven’t listed it yet. They’re far too confident about this. They allege you’re unfit but give few reasons why. I don’t think working long hours is a good reason, do you? Your book on historical French art certainly isn’t enough, even if there are a few nude examples in the contents. What have you done that you haven’t told me about?”

The rather talented Amy crossed my mind but I dismissed it. She’d moved on to the next professor on her list. Rebecca had graduated and gone to grad school in another state. Sarah was in med school now, too engrossed in her studies to even think about me. I hadn’t kept up with the girls personally, I never really cared much once we were done with each other, but I’d heard snippets through conversations. It wasn’t any of them.

“Nothing that I can think of. I don’t know. What can I do?” I looked to him for advice, advice I paid dearly for but he shook his head in momentary defeat.

“Right now, nothing. I mean nothing, Galen! Don’t do anything to make this worse. I mean it.” He glared across the desk at me, his aged skin and rheumy gray eyes drilling into me. “Keep your dick in your pants, your hands off your wallet, and your voice off the phone.”

“Sure, Bill. Whatever you say.” I held my hands up in surrender, giving him a look that said much the same.

“I mean it. People do stupid shit sometimes and I don’t need you fucking this case up before I can even get it started. Don’t be like one of my other clients and hire a hitman. And don’t try to solve this on your own like another did. He tried to talk his wife into taking him back and ended up with a restraining order. That shit doesn’t look good to judges, Galen. Don’t do it.” He glared over at me again, his white hair a brilliant halo in the afternoon sunshine.

“I hear you. Call me when you know something. Are we done now?” I stared at him, hoping he wasn’t going to grill me anymore.

“Yes, I’ll call you as soon as I know something. Give me some time. And remember what I said!” He looked up before turning back to an ancient laptop on his desk, dismissing me already.

“I could have sworn I was the one paying him,” I muttered to myself as I left his office. Exiting the building I went to my car, ran my usual check for Rikki, and pulled out the parking lot.

The meeting hadn’t been very productive, and I was disappointed. I’d wanted to hear that the judge had thrown it out already, that I could pay Bill a little more money and he’d make it all disappear. Instead, he’d told me that a pair of baby-snatchers might succeed in taking my daughter away from me.

They’d barely had anything to do with Kayla after we were married, which had confused me. My parents were both gone, my dad disappeared when I was young; never to be heard from again, while my mom had died from breast cancer. My mom would have been right by our sides if she’d been around, helping us with the baby, and she’d have loved Kayla.

My heart sank as I thought about the woman I’d rarely allowed myself to think about in the last year. After she’d died I’d gone a little crazy, totally lost without her. She’d grounded me; she’d been a strength I hadn’t realized I’d needed. I’d met her at a conference we’d both attended in Atlanta and we’d hit it off.

She’d been a little different from my usual choice in women, but she’d been beautiful. Just the memory of her smile made me smile. I went through a green light, careful to be sure the way was clear before I went through. Kayla had caught my attention and changed my life. She’d become my wife a year after we met, and she’d given me our daughter ten months later. Within weeks she’d died, and my world had started to crumble.

I pushed the memories down, the heartache that made it hard to breathe too much to deal with while driving. I’d become adept at pushing them down, the skill necessary to stay alive. For Rikki.

I pulled into my driveway a few minutes later, but instead of walking to my house I headed for Tara’s to pick up my little girl. This time Tara stood in the doorway with her hair down around her shoulders. As the sunlight caught it, it turned into a red halo. For a moment, she was breathtaking. Then she turned as Rikki waddled up to her and clutched her leg. The moment passed as Rikki beamed up at Tara.

She’d bonded with her already, I could see it in her eyes. Eyes that were the mirror image of my own. On her, they were beautiful, feminine, and her little pink rosebud mouth was just precious. Chubby cheeks, dabbled with red from her rush across the floor, were full and perfect as she grinned up at Tara.

“Tar-wah, Daddy home!” She grinned a toothy grin at me as Tara picked her up, holding my little girl on her hip like she’d done it from day one. I blinked at them both, seeing something I wasn’t sure I should. I remembered what Bill said, but this was just perfect. Tara was perfect.

“Hi, baby, you ready to go home? Your boyfriends are coming over in a little while.”

I took her from Tara who smiled at me as I held Rikki close.

“Noncle Zohn!” Rikki threw her arms in the air and cackled a laugh of joy. She loved John.

“He’s not playing tonight?” Tara asked, her eyes twinkling as she watched Rikki.

“No, he’s got the night off. We’re playing poker. I’d ask you over but it’s just us guys. Except for Rikki. She’s special, you know?” I gave her a bit of my dazzling smile, the one that had just as much twinkle as hers now did.

“Oh, I imagine she has them all wrapped around her finger. She’s good at that, aren’t you, darling?” She ran a finger down Rikki’s cheek and bent to kiss the girl. “She has me wrapped around her tiny little finger already.”

I wish I could wrap you around something, I started to say but managed to stop myself. Where had that thought come from? She wasn’t my type!

“Good. She deserves it! I have to go and get set up. Tomorrow evening okay, still?” I glanced at her and when she nodded I turned to go. “Thanks a lot, Tara! I’ll talk to you tomorrow, alright? Have a great night.”

She murmured something and shut her door with a last wave.

* * *

As the fellas began to arrive I grew nervous, all but bouncing by the time John arrived to complete our usual number.

“What’s up, man? Why are you so anxious?” John asked as soon he walked in.

“I think I’m fucked. We have to talk about this getting married thing some more. I’m serious.” I watched John and the other guys, seeing their astonishment. “I know, but Bill says something is up. I have to do something, I can’t let them take Rikki from me. Look at that face, what would we do without her?”

My daughter had changed me. Yeah, I still have that whole other life where I’m a man, not a father, but I approach women differently. I hadn’t always been so careful in the past; I’d made some stupid decisions. The moment I’d seen Rikki’s tiny little body on an ultrasound I’d changed.

I looked around the table at the faces staring back at me and saw their agreement. “What can we do?”

Tom was ready to do whatever it took. I gave him a fist bump, then the others as they all agreed.

“We have to find a way to get Tara to agree to marry me. I’ll propose a marriage of convenience. What do you think I should set down as rules?”

“Sex shouldn’t be obligatory but, man, if I was you, I’d get that into bed as soon as possible. I bet she’d blow your mind. The quiet ones are always the best, you know.” That came from Steve and for a moment I stared at him, shocked. He’d always gone for loud and brash, as far as I could tell. “Serious, dude. She’ll rock your world.”

“I don’t know about that, from the looks of her she’s not very experienced, but yeah, that’ll be rule one.”

“She can’t claim Rikki as hers, otherwise this would be pointless. No trying to take her from you later.” John looked like he’d break anyone’s nose who tried.

“Poker night is in stone, she can’t put a stop to that!” Tom again. “And maybe she could make us pancakes if she knows how?”

“I’m not having my wife cook for you, moron!” I gave Tom a mock glare.

“No men in your house!” Steve piped up on that one. “And she has to dress the part. Get that girl some skirts for crying out loud!”

“Right, so an allowance, a makeover, and she stays in school, right?” John said, serious this time. “You have to make sure she stays in school. It wouldn’t be fair otherwise.”

“No, she definitely has to stay in school. What else guys?”

I looked around, knowing we could solve all of the world’s problems if people would just listen to us. I was also excited, it might work. It was an awful plan but it might work out.

We talked into the night, one of us eventually getting out pen and paper to write it all down. We didn’t even play poker; we just sat around discussing rules, benefits, and plans. That still didn’t mean Tara would agree, and that kept me up the rest of the night. How was I going to spring this on an unsuspecting young woman?