Page 23 of Stolen Kisses

–five–

–emma–

I’ve really missed the boysthis weekend. I’m always restless when they’re with their father, but this weekend has been particularly tough. Whenever the kids come home from his place, they’re always ratty; Austin has an attitude that I don’t appreciate and Sunday night is generally spent with Lachlan having a meltdown. Thank goodnesshe only has them one weekend a month. I couldn’t stand him having them any more often; partly because I don’t trust him to have the patience required for Lachlan, but also because he never shows interest in the kids outside of his designated weekend. He never attends any parent/teacher meetings or therapy sessions, and if the boys’ birthdays fall on a day outside of his designated weekend, he doesn’t go out of his way to see them.

I’m pulled out of my musings by a small knock at my front door. If I wasn’t cleaning up in the living room, I probably wouldn’t have heard it. Poking my head around the corner, I spy the gorgeous little girl from next door, so I step out.

“Hey, Kenny. How are you today?”

She’s joined the boys and me at the park after school a couple of times over the past week.Kennyand Austin have really hit it off. Interestingly, Lachlan seems to enjoy her company, too.Sincethe first time we all went to the park together and Lachlan kept his distance, he’s become more comfortable with Kenny, joining in with games.

“I’m good. Does Austin and Lachlanwannago to the parkwivme?”

“They’re not back from their dad’s yet.” I check the time. “They’re due home in about an hour. You can come back then.”

Her little face drops in disappointment. Looking down at her feet, she whispers,“But I’m lonely.”

Her little forlorn face makes my heart break. “Where’s youruncle?”

“He’s too busyweadingall the books he got from thelibwawy.”

That man has no freaking idea what he’s doing. You can’t ignore a four-year-old little girl. Mind you, it wasmychild that fell from the roof the other day. “How about we ask him if you can hang out with me?”

Her face snaps up to mine as a smile lights up her cherubic face, her eyes twinkling in excitement. “Weally?”

Stepping out of my front door, I take her tiny hand in mine and head over next door. Theo’s sitting on a stunning rocking chair on the front porch, with a stack of books to his left and one in his hand. He doesn’t notice our approach because he’s studying as though he’s going to be tested on the material. I catch the title,Raising Girls, and smile to myself. At least he’s reading something worthwhile. Kenny drops my hand and runs up the few steps to reach him.

“Uncle Theo, can I play at Emma’s house?”

His head snaps up as though he’s surprised to be interrupted by his niece, his eyes catching on me and I realize that I look a mess—again!His eyes start at my bare feet and travel up my yoga-clad legs to my ratty ‘Friends’ t-shirt, scan my face thoroughly, before finishing at the messy top knot on my head. When his eyes make their way back to mine, there’s a heat I’d recognize anywhere—a certain male appreciation.

Wow!

I haven’t had anyone look at me like that in a very long time. My body heats under his gaze and I’m concerned that sweat patches will begin to form underneath my armpits. Slowly, he pulls his eyes away from mine, giving his attention to Kenny.

“Did you go next door by yourself again, Munchkin?” He places the open book face down on the pile of parenting books next to him before leaning forward. His feet are bare like mine and he looks relaxed in gray sweats and a worn college t-shirt.

Kenny scoots closer to me, wrapping her arms around my thigh before being brave enough to answer him with a single nod. Automatically, I reach down and smooth my hand down her ratty hair offering her support. “I wanted to go to the park with Austin and Lachlan.”

“I get that, I do. But I told you that you weren’t to go next door by yourself. You need to tell me that you’re going next door to visit with the boys.”

“Sowwy, Uncle Theo,” she whispers, her head bowed low, looking at her bare feet. He drops to his knees in front of her and uses his pointer finger to tilt her chin up so he can catch her eyes—his face so close to my most intimate of places, I have to consciously stop myself from rubbing my thighs together.

“I just want to make sure you’re safe. Okay? Can youpleasetry to remember?” His voice is gentle, soft—a marked difference from the first day I met these two.

“Okay.” She looks up at me. “So can I play at Emma’s house?”

He looks up at me from his crouched position right next to my thigh and my body tingles from the tips of my toes to the ends of my hair. “Is that okay with you?” He’s still using that soft, gentle voice he used with Kenny.

I swallow down—hard. His eyes tracking the movement of my throat. “Of course. The boys will be home from their father’s soon.” I look down at Kenny. “Kenny and I can have some girl time. I never get any girl time.”

“Me either,” she states as though she’s twenty years old. Her head swivels back to her uncle. “Can I please, Uncle Theo? Please.”

“Sure. Remember your manners though.”

“I will.Pwomise.” She tugs on my arm. “Come on, Emma. We need to get started.” As we step down onto the path, I look back to Theo over my shoulder to offer him a smile, only to find him staring at my ass. There’s certainly something about being appreciated by a hot guy that puts a spring in your step and a sway in your hips.

We spend the next hour painting our toenails, while we wait for the boys to come home. Well, I paint Kenny’s toenails. I think she got more nail polish on the skin around my toenails than what she got on my actual nails. She was excited to return to pre-kindergarten last Monday, telling me all about how she missed her friends. We’ve only got four weeks left of the school year, and Kenny’s excited for the last Monday of the year when she gets to meet her teacher for next year. Our school also does an orientation, helping the kids to transition from one school year to the next. It’s a great way to help them settle more easily into their new class when they return after summer vacation. They already know which friends they’ll be with and it eases any uncertainties they may have.

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