CHAPTER TWO
I was still living with Gabe and Ivy, but they didn’t seem to mind, which was great. I loved looking after the twins every afternoon. Being with the girls calmed me in a way I never thought possible. Who would have thought that taking babies for a walk to the park would be so relaxing? But it was. They would sleep the whole time when they were younger, but now that they were eleven months old, they would look around and gabble nonsense to each other the whole way.
Knowing it gave their parents a break made me feel that much better about it. Sometimes Ivy would use the time to catch up on some sleep, or take a bath, or if Gabe was home from work, they’d no doubt be getting busy while they had the chance. Gabe didn’t care that I cut out of work at four o’clock every day since he knew how much Ivy needed the break.
I pulled in the driveway at four fifteen and made my way to the front door. As soon as I opened it, the girls were there waiting for me. I crouched down and lifted them both into my arms.
“Hey, ladies, you ready to go to the park?” I asked them.
They began clapping their chubby, little hands and laughing. I heard Ivy coming down the hall before I saw her.
She shook her head as she began to speak. “I should have known you two would be here waiting for Kai-Kai. Mummy was looking for you.” She frowned pretending to be cross with them.
They wrapped their arms around me tighter and snuggled into my neck. “Kai-Kai,” they said together. Love and pride surged through my heart when they said my name. It was the best feeling ever. I loved these two as if they were my own.
“That’s right, girls, Uncle Kai loves you, too.” I kissed each of them on top of their little heads. Tessie and Gracie owned me, they had me wrapped around their little fingers from the moment they entered this world.
Ivy laughed. “I’ll get the stroller, shall I?”
I nodded to her and took the girls to their room. “Let’s get your shoes and hats, hey?”
I sat them on their change table side by side and got their tiny shoes and socks out from the shelf below. “Pink shoes for you today, Gracie? Or Purple?” I held the shoes out in front of her, and she took the pink ones like she did every day. And Tessie took the purple. They began to chew on them as I put on their socks.
When they were ready, we went back out to the foyer where Ivy had the stroller waiting. I buckled them in and yelled out our goodbyes. “Be back in an hour.” Then we were off.
The park was a fifteen-minute walk, but the girls liked it better when I ran, so I did. Eight minutes later, we were at the park, and the girls were in fits of giggles. I took them over to the swing set first where I got Gracie out and popped her into the infant swing. She gripped the chains, ready to go flying through the air.
“Just a minute, Princess, let me get Tessie out first.” I turned back to get Tessie out of the stroller before I started pushing Gracie. She squealed with delight as she began to swoosh higher and higher toward the tree tops that shaded the park. Tessie wriggled in my arm, eager for her turn. “Calm ya farm, baby girl. It’ll be your turn soon.”
After a few minutes, I swapped them over, and that’s when I noticed a girl sitting on the bench seat over by the base of the large Raintree trunk. She was alone, her hand sat protectively over her flat belly as she watched us silently. A couple of other families in the area that used this park quite regularly, but I had never seen her before.
I gave her a small wave when she noticed me watching her in return. She blushed and looked down at her feet that were covered by an old, worn pair of runners. Beside her feet sat a full, black garbage bag.
I continued to watch her from the corner of my eye as I pushed Tessie in the swing. She wore a baggy t-shirt that was definitely made for a man and a pair of denim short shorts. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, and she looked tired. The thought that she was possibly homeless settled in my mind, and I didn’t like it.
When Tessie finished her turn on the swing, I took the girls over to the sandpit and set them down to play. I turned around to see the girl was still sitting on the bench watching us. My protective instinct kicked into overdrive as she looked around nervously when she realised she had my attention. What had happened to her?
I bobbed down to the girls and gave them a cup each and a plastic spoon which would keep them entertained for a while. “I’m just going to sit on the bench over there with that nice lady, okay? You two play nice now.” A cheeky grin appeared on Tessie’s little face as she plonked a scoop of sand onto Gracie’s head with her spoon, and then toppled over giggling. Gracie didn’t even flinch. She just continued to fill up her cup. I dusted the sand off her hat and then got back to my feet.
The bench was only about ten feet away, so I wouldn’t be far from them. Turning around, I saw the girl had a huge, bright smile on her face as she watch Gracie and Tessie play. I strode over to her and held my hand out in front of me. “Hi, I’m Kai. Mind if I sit?”
Her eyes widened at my approach. She didn’t take my outstretched hand, just nodded her head in response. I sat down on the bench, mindful not to get too close to her since she was jumpy and I didn’t want to frighten her.
We sat in silence for a few moments, watching the girls play in the sand. Tessie was sitting up again and filling her cup with sand now, too. Then Gracie stood up and tipped her full cup of sand all over Tessie. I burst out laughing, and so did my quiet companion.
“They have a love-hate relationship,” I told her.
She looked in my direction for the first time since I sat down and smiled. And what a beautiful smile it was. She was a pretty little thing. “They’re adorable,” she murmured softly.
“That they are. Mischievous but adorable.” I returned her smile. “So I haven’t seen you around here before. Have you just moved to the neighbourhood?” I asked.
Her smile vanished. “I, um, no, I’m not from around here.”
I nodded. “Just visiting, then?”
“Something like that,” she replied.
I turned my full attention back to the girls, not that I’d taken my eyes off them since sitting down. They were a funny little pair. Tessie was always the one to start the fight while Gracie was always the one to finish it. But in the end, they would always end up cuddling, laughing and talking in their own little language to each other.
I could feel the girl watching me cautiously, but I ignored it. I wanted to say more to her, find out what she was doing here and where she had come from, but I knew I had to buy my time. Since she hadn’t been forthcoming with her answers, she obviously had trust issues, so I decided not to push her.
Gracie and Tessie got up and walked over to us on the bench. “You girls ready to go home to mummy, hey?” I asked them as they climbed up onto my lap. Tessie pointed at the girl sitting next to us wanting to know who she was. “This is our new friend—” I waited for her to fill in her name.
“I’m Mia,” she said softly.
“And this is Gracie and Tessie, my goddaughters.” I don’t know why I felt the need to clarify the fact that I wasn’t their father, but I did.
Mia smiled at the girls. “Nice to meet you, Gracie and Tessie. You’re very pretty little girls.”
The girls may have only been eleven months, but they knew what pretty meant. They smiled big at Mia, showing her their new little teeth, and nodded their heads.
“I better get these two home for their baths. It was nice to meet you, Mia. We come here at the same time every afternoon, so maybe I’ll see you again.”
Mia nodded. “It was nice to meet you too… Kai.”
I liked the sound of my name from her lips. She was soft-spoken, but her voice was smooth and silky like honey. I couldn’t help but smile at her, my mouth tugged up on one side. I strapped the girls back into their stroller and winked over at Mia as we left the park.
Leaving her there didn’t feel right, but I knew I couldn’t push her to tell me where she was staying. She was homeless. I could feel it in my gut. As soon as I got the girls home, I told Ivy I had some errands to run and wouldn’t be back for dinner tonight. She eyed me suspiciously, but didn’t say anything. Since the girls were born, I had been here every night. I liked helping the guys out with the girls. I didn’t bother going out trying to pick up. Mrs Palmer was doing a fine job of satisfying my needs.
Axel had been riding my arse about hitting the town with him, but I honestly felt like I was too old for that shit. I know I’m only thirty-one, but I swear Tessa’s death aged me another ten years. I had grown so attached to her that being around her made me feel like I had Kelly back. Then just as suddenly as Kel had been ripped from my life, so was Tess.
I had a quick shower before I jumped in my car and headed to the closest takeaway joint. It was a little burger shack and it made the best chips I’d ever had. I ordered a double serve with extra chicken salt and made my way back to the park to see if Mia was still there.
As soon as I pulled up by the curb, I saw her. It was just on dark, and she was still sitting in the same spot I had left her in an hour earlier. The lights positioned underneath the big raintree trees surrounding the park had just come on as I pulled up, casting a soft glow over her. My chest grew tight at the thought of her spending the night there on that bench. I couldn’t let that happen. I reached over to the passenger seat, grabbed the chips, and jumped out of my car.
When I slammed my door shut, her head spun around in my direction. She watched me approach her, but she didn’t move. When I got closer and she realised it was me, her posture relaxed a little but not much. I decided now was the time to speak if I didn’t want to freak her out any more than I already had.
“I had a feeling you might still be here, so I thought I’d come share my dinner with you,” I said as I sat down on the opposite end of the bench. As I put the chips down between us and ripped the package open, I heard her tummy growl. I looked up with a raised brow. “Hungry?” I asked.
Her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes widened as a soft pink blush covered her cheeks. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up from my stomach. “It’s fine, really. Dig in. They’re better while they’re still hot.”
She picked one up and took a small bite. “Mmm, so good,” she mumbled as she shoved the rest of the chip in her mouth.
“Glad you like them. So tell me a bit about yourself, Mia,” I said, trying to keep my tone light.
To my surprise she continued eating while she mulled over what to tell me. “There’s not much to tell really. I’ve just gotten out of a pretty controlling relationship, so I’m trying to figure out just who I am without him.”
That was a lot more than I was expecting her to tell me, and judging by the surprised look on her face, it was more than she had planned to say.
“Fair enough, so where are you staying?” I couldn’t put it off any longer. I had to know for sure.
Mia didn’t answer right away. She just kept eating. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t feel comfortable with. I just—” I looked out to the playground in front of us and thought about how I could reach out to her without giving her the wrong impression. The last thing I wanted was for her to think I was some kind of creeper trying to lure her back to my place.
I sighed, then looked back to her. She was watching me expectantly, waiting for me to continue. I rubbed the back of my neck as I spoke. “Look, Mia, I get the impression that you’re planning to stay on this here bench tonight.” I tapped the bench with my hand. “And I won’t be able to sleep knowing you’re out here all alone. I know this is a pretty safe neighbourhood and all, but still, it’s not safe for a pretty girl to be staying in a park by herself.”
She considered my words silently.
My knee started to bounce as my patience began to wear thin. “Will you let me help you, Mia?”
Her eyes locked on mine. “Why would you want to help me? You don’t even know me.”
I laughed, but it held no humour. “It’s what I do. I help people. When I can, that is.”
She scrunched her nose causing her eyebrows to pull together. “You don’t look like any social or aid worker I’ve ever seen.”
“That’s because I’m not. I work with a friend of mine who runs a private investigations firm. But before that, I was a marine. I ran a lot of rescue operations.” I shrugged. “I like to help people.”
“Oh.” Her response was barely above a whisper.
“So, will you let me help you?” I asked. I wasn’t above begging, and if she didn’t accept my offer, that’s just what I would do.
“Maybe… it depends,” she said.
Relief flooded my body. She was at least willing to hear me out. “Alright, that’s a start. What does it depend on?”
She stuffed another chip into her mouth. “What kind of help are we talking about here? And what do I have to give you for said help?”
I frowned. “Nothing. I don’t want anything from you. Why would you ask that?”
She rolled her eyes at me. “Because nothing is free, Kai. I’m not stupid.”
Unease rose in my chest. What kind of people had she been spending her time with if she thought a simple offer of help came with a price tag? “I don’t think you’re stupid. My help doesn’t cost anything except maybe your friendship. But if you decide I’m a dick, then feel free to cut all ties with me. Just let me help you get settled first. You need a roof over your head. Not just for you but for your baby, too.”
Shock registered on her pretty face when I mentioned the baby. “How do you know?”
“I’m observant. It’s an old habit that makes me good at my job. You’ve had one hand protectively covering your lower stomach since the moment we met this afternoon. And given what you said about recently getting out of a controlling relationship, I’d say it’s a good guess that,” I gestured to her tummy with my chin, “is the reason you left.”
She blinked a few times and tilted her head to the side. “What do you want with a pregnant, homeless girl?” She was still watching me with suspicion.
I was kind of glad she didn’t just accept my offer right off the bat. It meant she had smarts. She wouldn’t just climb into a car with a stranger. That was comforting, but it didn’t help my case. “I told you, I just want to help you out. I swear I’m not some pervert with an agenda,” I tried to reassure her.
She wouldn’t be swayed easily. She pressed on, “But you still haven’t told me what it is you want to do to help me.”
I nodded. “You’re right, sorry. You’re going to think this is creepy, but I swear it’s not. It would just be for tonight until I could work out something more permanent for you tomorrow. I’d like you to come back to my place. Well, it’s not really my place. It’s my friend’s house. The little girls you met this afternoon? Well, I live with them and their parents. It’s not far from here.”
I watched and waited for her to skitz out on me, but she didn’t. She just narrowed her eyes at me. “I don’t know why, but I believe you. Just know this, I will nut you in twenty seconds flat if you try anything suss. Got it?” Venom dripped from her voice with her threat.
Loud laughter erupted from deep within me. I hadn’t laughed like this since Tessa… Thoughts of Tessa shattered my moment of guiltless freedom. I cleared my throat. “You’ve got yourself a deal. Nothing suss and I keep my nuts.”
She nodded, clearly pleased we were on the same page.
“You ready to go now?” I asked.
“Yep. Let me just get my things. Oh wait, these are my things.” She patted the garbage bag beside her and laughed.
I liked her light-hearted nature. Here she was single, pregnant, and homeless, yet she was laughing and joking with me. It made me feel even more guilt, guilt for the way I’d been living my life this last couple of years. Moping around feeling sorry for myself, I felt like a right self-centred prick.
I picked up her garbage bag with all her worldly possessions inside and walked towards my car with her by my side. When we reached my car, I opened the door for her, and she slid into the seat. I was glad I drove an SUV so she could just slip right in without having to bend down. I waited for her to buckle her seat belt, and then I closed her door. Walking around the back, I opened the boot and threw her bag in.
When I turned the key in the ignition, music started to pulse through the speakers. I quickly turned it down to a more respectful volume. “Sorry, I like my music loud,” I muttered.
Mia smiled widely. “That’s okay, I don’t mind. I haven’t listened to music for the longest time, except for the radio in the supermarket and that sort of thing. Who sings this?” she asked.
I turned my body towards hers. “You’re shittin’ me, right?”
She shook her head. “Nope.” She didn’t look embarrassed at all. She just shrugged her shoulders like it was no big deal.
No big deal my arse! “Well, shit. Looks like I’m going to have to give you a musical education, Pretty Girl. This is The Middle by Jimmy Eat World from one of my all-time favourite albums, Bleed American.”
I watched her from the corner of my eye as I pulled out into the street. She leant forward and turned the volume knob to make the music louder. I couldn’t help but sing along. Music was my solace— it provided me with a sweet escape from reality and the constant guilt plaguing my soul.