Blake
AFTER THE BUSY day we’d had with Cass and Kaity, it wasn’t difficult getting the kids to bed. Instead of watching some sports highlights before bed like I typically did, I decided to call it a night myself. But instead of falling asleep, I lay in bed staring up at the ceiling wondering what was happening between Cass and me.
It’d been a perfect afternoon–terrifyingly perfect. I’m man enough to admit, if only to myself, that I was scared shitless. I wasn’t supposed to meet someone–at least not this soon.
I shut my eyes hoping sleep would come, but instead I tossed and turned all while envisioning Cass’s perfect pink lips and how they would feel pressed against mine. I should’ve kissed her as we stood outside on her porch saying our goodbyes. Her eyes told me that she wanted it as much as I did, but I hesitated. My head tells me I’m ready, but my heart just isn’t quite there.
Twirling my wedding band around my finger, I wondered what Alyssa would do if she was in my situation. Would I want her to be happy with someone else? I knew the answer was yes, but at the same time my heart pinged with jealousy.
“Lys, I think I met someone, and I need to know that you’re OK with it. Just give me a sign,” I whispered. “I need to know if I’m doing the right thing here. I guess we probably should have talked about this, but we thought we had our entire lives ahead of us. You were so young.”
Before I had much more time to dwell on the fact that I was lying in a hotel room asking my deceased wife permission to kiss a girl, I heard Maddy cry out from her crib beside me.
“Right there, Baby,” I said, slipping my feet out from underneath the covers.
Before I’d even rolled out of bed, her whimpers became full-blown sobs.
Flipping on the light, I saw Maddy standing in her crib, tears streaming down her reddened face.
“Daddy’s here, Baby,” I said, trying to soothe her. “Did you have a bad dream?”
“No,” she cried, shaking her head. “I miss Mommy.”
I swallowed back my own feelings before responding, “I know, Baby. I miss her too.” Maddy was still so young. I wasn’t even sure what she remembered about Alyssa. Her confession definitely caught me off guard. She hadn’t mentioned Alyssa in months, and I didn’t often bring her up. I’d decided that I would wait until Maddy was older, and would better understand what had happened rather than just further confusing her now.
I had a feeling spending the day with Cass and Kaity stirred up some of her memories. Listening to Kaity call Cass “Mom,” must’ve triggered something inside her. Was this the sign that I’d asked Alyssa for? Maybe? But what did it even mean?
“I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me here, Short Stack,” I said under my breath.
“Daddy, can I sweep with you?” Maddy asked, wiping her damp cheek against my T-shirt.
“Sure, but don’t wipe your snotty nose against me again, Silly Girl,” I laughed. “I think as a punishment, the tickle monster is going to get you,” I added, tickling her sides.
“Daddy, Daddy! That tickles,” she yelled between laughs.
Her laughter was infectious. Just like her mother’s.
We both crawled into bed, my daughter snuggling into my side. That’s the last thing I remember before sleep finally claimed us both.
“I should probably head home. I have a midterm in my corporate law course next week and I haven’t even begun to study,” Alyssa said as the movie she’d picked came to an end. Whom was I kidding? I didn’t even know what the movie was about or who starred in it. We’d spent most of the last two hours cuddled together on the floor making out like horny teenagers.
“Anything I can say to change your mind?” I asked, batting my eyes.
She giggled, “Why do you have to be so damn cute?”
“Cute? You just think I’m cute? Puppies are cute, Lys! I’m a man. I should be rugged and sexy!” I joked.
“You’re right. You’re so dreamy and hunky,” she tittered.
“I’ll get you for that!” I screamed, as I rolled on top of her, pinning her to the floor.
“Blake, get up! I really need to get going,” she laughed. Her laughter only intensified as I grabbed her sides and began tickling her. “Oh my god. Stop! I’m going to pee my pants!” After a few torturous minutes, she squirmed her way on top of me. We both came to a halt when we realized the position we’d put ourselves in. We’d only been on a few dates, and although I was ready to take things to the next level, I didn’t want to pressure Alyssa into anything.
“I’m sorry, Lys. I was just trying to have some fun. If I crossed the line, I apologize,” I said, looking up into her eyes. I wanted her to see my sincerity–how much she really meant to me.
“It’s OK, Blake. I know you were trying to behave. You may have failed, but I’ll give you an A for effort,” she winked. “And, as much as I don’t want to end this tonight, I really do need to get going.”
“I understand. Can I see you again soon?” I asked.
“Of course. I’ll call you after my exam, and we can meet up. Maybe we can finish what we started here tonight,” she flirted.
This woman was going to be the death of me and I was only twenty-two years old. “Don’t make any promises you can’t keep, Alyssa,” I growled.
“Don’t worry, Blake. I don’t,” she sassed, as she got up and gathered her purse and coat. “Next time.”
I woke up just as the sun began peeking through the curtains. I’d spent the entire night alternating between dreams of Alyssa and Cassidy. My mind was at war with my heart, and I was definitely in the middle of a losing battle.
Rolling over onto my side, I was startled to see my daughter awake and staring back at me.
“Morning, Baby Girl. Daddy didn’t know you were already awake over there,” I said, reaching over to grab Maddy’s little pinky finger. “You were so quiet.”
“I was letting you sweep, Dadda. You wooked tired.”
“Thank you, Maddy. Daddy feels much better now. Are you hungry?”
“Yes, pancakes, please. With wots and wots of syrup.”
“Well then, let’s get your brother up, and we’ll go get you an order of fluffy pancakes with extra syrup,” I said, kissing her on the cheek.
I’d bundled the kids into their winter gear and stuffed them into the back seat of the SUV I’d borrowed from Rich. I probably should’ve called Cass this morning, but I wasn’t sure what I’d say after my fitful night of sleep. After a short drive to the local diner, I was unloading the kids when I heard a familiar voice come up from behind.
“Well if it isn’t Blake Mitchell,” Brooke beamed. “I thought we would’ve heard from you yesterday. I only knew you’d made it to town because one of our cars was missing.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. We were all a little tired and Ben wasn’t feeling well so we decided to stay at the hotel for most of the day,” I lied.
“Daddy, can we go swedding again?” Maddy interjected, pulling on the side of my leg.
Brooke eyed me suspiciously before turning to Maddy. “When did you go sledding, sweetheart?”
“Back in New York before we left,” I shouted, not allowing Maddy a chance to answer.
“No, Daddy. We swedded here. Member?” Maddy insisted.
“Crazy kids. They say the darndest things,” I laughed.
“Uh huh,” Brooke said. “Whatever you say, Blake. What do you say you buy me breakfast? I’m meeting Cass and her daughter here in a few minutes.”
I laughed under my breath, “We wouldn’t want to intrude on girl time. We’ll just get a booth in the corner. You won’t even know we’re here.”
“Nonsense. Besides, I know you’ve been trying to reach Cass. This would be the perfect time,” she winked.
“I don’t know, Brooke. And, what would Rich say about you trying to play matchmaker?” I joked.
“What Rich doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Besides, you owe me breakfast for borrowing one of my cars.”
“Fine, you win,” I laughed. “Lead the way.”
As we walked into the diner, I noticed Cass already sitting in a booth toward the rear of the restaurant. Her blond hair cascading over a bright red sweater. Sitting with her back to us, she seemed startled when I approached from behind.
“Fancy meeting you here, Miss Carpenter,” I said, placing my hand on her shoulder.
“Blake,” she said, nervously. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I don’t mean to be rude, but we’re meeting Brooke here, and I still don’t think it’s appropriate for her to see us together.”
“Too late for that, Cass. She already saw us in the parking lot. She’s the one who invited us to eat with you guys,” I said, pointing toward Brooke, who was making her way toward us.
“Wait, what?” Cass asked, sounding alarmed.
“Don’t worry,” I whispered. “I didn’t tell her about yesterday. Our secret is still safe–for now.”
“Hey, Cass!” Brooke said, bending over to place a peck on her friend’s cheek. “I assume Blake told you that I invited them to eat breakfast with us?” she asked, scooting into the booth next to Cass and Kaity as I took the opposite side with Maddy and Ben.
“Yep, he sure did,” Cass said, sarcasm evident in her voice.
“Hi Maddy! Hi Ben!” Kaity beamed.
“Kaity, you’ve met Maddy and Ben?” Brooke asked curiously.
Without giving Kaity a chance to respond, Cass interrupted her daughter, “Yeah, they met at the wedding.”
I internally groaned at her admission knowing that my children weren’t at Brooke and Rich’s wedding. “Blake’s kids weren’t at my wedding,” Brooke responded.
“What? Oh, what I meant was just that Kaity has seen pictures of them at your place. That’s all.”
“No, Mommy! I met them yesterday, remember!” Kaity piped up.
Biting down on her lip, Cass turned and glared at her daughter.
“You two saw each other yesterday?” Brooke questioned, suspiciously. “Blake, I thought you stayed back at the hotel all day because Ben wasn’t feeling well?”
How was I going to get myself out of this one? “You’re right. You caught us. We ran into Cass and Kaity at the pharmacy that’s all,” I explained.
“Swedding Dadda, swedding!” Maddy yelled.
Shit! These kids were going to give us away. “Yes, Baby. We’ll go sledding after breakfast,” I said. “She’s been begging to go sledding ever since we got here,” I laughed, addressing Brooke.
“Uh huh,” Brooke said, not seemingly convinced with our explanation. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I suppose I’ll let it go for now. Just know, I do know that you two are hiding something from me, and I’ll figure it out later.”
Finishing our breakfast, the kids and I left the girls alone for some chitchat–or whatever it is that women do when they’re alone. Do their nails? Brush their hair? Talk about their upcoming visit to the pussy doctor? Who the fuck knows, really. It was an unfathomable mystery that men would never understand.
Before pulling out into traffic, I shot Cass a quick message to apologize for leaving her alone to suffer through Brooke’s interrogation.
Blake: I’m sorry I left you alone. I hope she isn’t being too hard on you.
Cass: Yeah, you’re an asshole, lol. Luckily Kaity had to use the bathroom so I was able to escape her for a few more minutes. I have no idea what to tell her. I feel horrible lying to my best friend and right in front of my daughter! I’m a horrible mother!
Blake: You’re not a horrible mother. Just don’t be alarmed when your daughter turns into a lying, cheating kleptomaniac by the time she’s sixteen and you get a call to bail her out of jail.
Cass: Oh my god! Shit! I have to tell Brooke the truth. Fuck, Kaity already knows I lied. I’ve ruined my daughter. This really is all my fault!
Laughing, I realized Cass didn’t understand that I was being facetious. I suppose that’s the problem with text messages.
Blake: Cass, calm down. I was only kidding. Kaity won’t end up being a kleptomaniac, I promise. I think it’s best if you don’t tell Brooke about our date yesterday. At least until we can talk.
Cass: You’re an asshole.
Blake: You already said that. ;)
Cass: Well, it’s true.
Blake: Well this asshole would like to see you again. We’re leaving the day after Christmas. What do you say?
Cass: I need to get back out there, or Brooke will send a search party into the bathroom. I’ll let you know.
Tossing the phone into the passenger seat, I smiled, knowing she hadn’t turned me down flat this time. “We’re making progress, Miss Carpenter,” I said to myself, shifting the car into gear and pulling into traffic.