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I stand and move to the doorway. “I’ll be in the lounge room if you change your mind, okay?”
Again, no words, just a quick nod.
I end up on the couch with the notebook and pen I always carry in my bag. I’ve been writing more the last week than I have been for a long time. Curling up with some words today sounds like my version of heaven. Well, besides playing with Luke.
I lose myself for what must be an hour or so. Sean is awfully quiet so I make a quick visit to check on him. I find him still playing quietly—this time with his blocks and puzzles. Being so engrossed in his toys, he doesn’t notice me, so I quietly leave him be.
I’ve just settled myself back on the couch with a cup of coffee and my notebook when a knock on the front door demands my attention.
Glenda’s bitchy face stares back at me when I answer the door. “Oh. You’re here again,” she mutters, bustling past me without waiting to be asked in.
I close the door. “Yeah, me again.”
She walks past the kitchen after noting there’s no one there, to the lounge room. Stopping, she turns to face me. “Where’s Luke?”
The mower has stopped so there’s no way for her to know he’s outside. I briefly consider telling her he’s not home, but I can’t bring myself to lie. “He’s outside, gardening.”
“So why are you here, then?”
What the fuck?
I settle in for a bitch fight because that seems to be all this woman wants. “Well, I came over so Luke could spend some time with my mouth… you know, he seems to like that part of me on a certain part of him, but Paris couldn’t look after Sean, so I’m doing that while he does his gardening.” My gaze zeroes in on her shock, and I push the point a little further. Leaning closer, I whisper, “Later on, I’ll suck him so good he’ll never forget my lips.”
“Glenda,” Luke’s voice sounds from the hallway.
Her eyes are wide with distaste from what I’ve just said and she takes a moment to look away from me. Turning to Luke, she says, “Callie was just telling me that Paris couldn’t look after Sean. You should have called. I would have been happy to take him for the day. Save you looking elsewhere for help.” I don’t miss the nasty way she says that last bit.
He frowns and takes a moment to reply. “There was no need. We’re both here.” I don’t miss the way Luke says “we”. It makes putting up with Glenda worth every second.
She appears a little flustered and unsure of herself. Clearly she also noticed the way Luke phrased his reply. Smoothing her dress, she says, “Well, I just came over to talk to you about Sean’s birthday. I’ve had some ideas for a party and wanted to run them by you.”
The lines on Luke’s forehead deepen. “I haven’t had a chance to think about it yet. His birthday is more than three months away.” He seems confused as to why she’s thinking about it so soon. I’m confused as to why she’s even thinking about planning his party at all.
“These things take time to plan, Luke. And I want to make his party really special this year.”
“Okay.” He nods. “Can we talk about this another day? I’m in the middle
of trying to fix the mower and tidying up the yard.”
Her face falls, but she quickly recovers with what I presume is a fake smile. “Certainly. I’ll arrange a day for you and me to get together to go over it.”
“Great. Line it up with Callie and Paris, too. We’ll need to make it a weekend.” With that, he leaves and heads towards the kitchen.
I do my best not to laugh. The look of fury on her face tells me Glenda didn’t achieve what she set out to here. It amuses me that an adult can engage in such childish behaviour.
“Does Luke know he’s picked up trash?” she asks. “I hardly think he’d like to hear the way you talk about sex in public.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, go fuck yourself, Glenda. And take a course in men. They love that kind of dirty talk; maybe you should try it one day.” When she doesn’t move, I add, “You can see yourself out.”
I settle on the couch and pull my notebook out to begin writing again. No way am I going to allow her to rain on my parade. Luke wants me in his life. Glenda can’t ruin that.
I kiss Sean’s forehead and tiptoe out of his bedroom. He’s finally asleep after a whiney time at lunch fighting me about eating the sandwich I made him. He also didn’t want anything to do with the apple I cut up. I’m getting better at this, though. I stood my ground and he ate most of it. This gig is the hardest one I’ve ever had in my life. But I wouldn’t give it up for the world. The way his little arms clung to my neck when I carried him to bed and the way he showered kisses over my cheeks before he let me go wiped away the mental exhaustion I felt after lunch.
After I retrieve the sandwich and drink I made Luke, I make my way downstairs to find him. I slow when I catch a glimpse of him. So does my breathing. He’s finished the mowing and is currently cutting branches from a tree down the back of the yard. His back and arm muscles flexing with each movement hypnotise me. I realise where Luke gets his muscles from—hard work in his garden rather than in the gym. That and the daily workouts he does at home.
He finishes with the branches and stops to wipe his brow. As he does this, he turns and our eyes meet. Only for a moment, though, because I can’t help but drop my gaze to take in everything on display. I continue staring as he comes towards me.
“Is Sean asleep?” he asks when he reaches me.
