"I think it's more than that. I think she made me who I am," Mitch said as he went back to working on the next section of fence. "When she was born, and I first held her, she didn't weigh anything at all. I thought my heart was going to stop beating. I felt overwhelmed, and that was before I knew I would be raising Sammy on my own. Then it was years of just getting by, taking any job I could get, always being afraid the money would run out. Working all the time, I couldn't give her the attention she needed, but she was still so wonderful and loving. She taught me how to be a dad. She taught me what's important."
"She is a great kid because of you," Rico told him. "And just so you know, I had it rough too. One summer we went on vacation and Mom forgot to pack my Hulk beach towel. So my first day on the beach, I had to use just a regular, hotel towel. I felt like such a dweeb."
Mitch could tell how he had suffered. "That is a hardship."
"I know. But it made me stronger," Rico told him. "And from what I can tell, Sammy made you a great dad." He clapped Mitch on the back and watched him smile. Damn him, his smile made Rico's heart skip a thousand beats. That man was going to be the death of him.
Chapter 26
Working alongside Enrico almost counted as a good time for Mitch. His presence warmed and brightened everything. Without him, every moment stretched out bleak and chilly like an overcast day. But Mitch wondered if it was simply missing him that got him to make up with Enrico. It might have been fear more than anything.
What if Enrico found someone else to hook up with who wasn't reluctant or conflicted about it? In a small town like Peach Tree, there shouldn't be much to worry about. That's what Mitch told himself, but there might have been other gay guys here that he didn't know about and who weren't engaged to each other. Plus there were always tourists coming into town. What if one of them caught Enrico's eye?
Mitch could just add that to his list of obsessions. Already his head was full of Enrico every day, wondering when he would see him again.
In all his life, Mitch never waited for anyone like he did for him. He even expected Enrico when he wasn't expected. No one was ever on his mind this much.
If he was smart, Mitch wouldn't risk getting in any deeper, but he couldn't deny himself the heat of his body, the taste of his skin, the way he kissed and everything else. Even when they were just working, not touching, the nearness of him was enough. Then there was the sunlight reflected in his eyes and sweat glistening on his skin.
With all the staring he did, Mitch was surprised at how much progress they made with their work. The fence was done and they were refinishing some of the doors and frames. Distracted by Enrico, Mitch had to be reminded to take a break for lunch.
After cleaning up in the kitchen, Mitch came out to find Sammy reciting the names of the tools in his toolbox. "Level, screwdriver, other screwdriver, file, hammer, caulking gun, putty knife, sparkling knife."
"Spackling," Enrico corrected her with a laugh. Then he noticed Mitch standing there. "Why do so many tools sound so violent?"
"I never thought about it, but I guess they do," Mitch said to him. "Were you teaching her?"
"Being your daughter, she should already know the names of some of them," Enrico said.
"I don't usually take her to work with me," Mitch said as they went back to sanding down some doors while Sammy sat on the porch with paper and a box of crayons.
Mitch noticed Enrico giving him a disapproving look. "How is Sammy ever going to follow in your footsteps and become a super handy woman?" he said then he clapped him on the back. "It's good that she gets to see you in action."
"I don't know. She cries if I get hurt, and that happens pretty often. She saw me get a scratch from a nail, and she thought it was the end of the world," Mitch told him. "I'm glad I only have some sore muscles from working on this house so far."
"You're sore? I'll rub you down," Enrico offered with a wiggle of his eyebrows. Then Mitch gave him a sharp look, and he started to look unsure. It was like he wasn't a hundred percent clear where they stood with each other right now so he tried to backtrack. "I mean... Umm, pretty much what I said. Any time you want, I'll rub you down."
Mitch grinned. That was more like him.
That evening they were talking about dinner, when Enrico got a text from Sam. "They want to have Sammy over for dinner and a sleepover. What do you think?" Then he got another text. "Gloria is going too. And she is demanding the kittens join them."
"Do Sam and Wyatt know what they are signing up for?" Mitch wondered as he pictured the house full of pets and kids.
"I think they're starting to get the idea," Enrico said with an evil grin. "So what do you say?"
"Let's ask Sammy," Mitch said and he called her over.
Enrico told her the deal. "How would you like to have a slumber party at Sam and Wyatt's with the kittens, the dogs, the Hayes boys and Gloria?"
For a minute Sammy looked overwhelmed then she said, "OK." She bounced restlessly around the kitchen, like she didn't know what to do with herself.
"You better get ready then," Mitch told her.
"Lara is coming by to pick you up," Enrico said after he got another text.
"I need my special teddy bear pajamas for a slumber party!" Sammy said. As she ran off, Mitch went up to help her.
Just as Lara and Gloria arrived, Sammy was ready to go with them along with the kittens. There was a lot of excited squealing as Natalie and Veronica got loaded into the back of Lara's car and started clambering everywhere. Mitch was sending the pet carrier along with them too though.
