Page 18 of Pooh

“The guys are here to work on the fence. Why don’t you put the hose down and go say hello to Pooh and Axel,” I reason with him.

The motorcycles shut off and it goes quiet before I hear the men talking to each other.

“You’ll just grab me then and that’s not gonna happen, Pips. Promise or we’re both getting clean.”

I think about my odds of him actually spraying me versus me being able to outrun the little shit on spikey heels and I cringe. This is not going to end well for me. He gives me another evil grin and squeezes a little harder on the nozzle. A small stream of water erupts and hits me square in the crotch area of my skirt. Decision made, I bolt for safety. As I’m rounding the back corner of the house, I see several bikers standing in the yard. I’m not faring well on my heels. They’re sinking into the soil and slowing me down.

Just as everyone’s eyes hit me, I get a blast of ice cold water in the middle of my back. I gasp and slam to a stop. Why did I stop? Because I’m stupid. It was not a smart move. I whirl and see Craig racing toward me with hose in hand. I throw the washcloth to the ground and raise both hands in the air while shouting, “No! Stop, Craig! Stop, now!”

He does stop his feet but that just gives him better aim when he lets loose with a full, hard blast of ice water, hitting me directly in the chest. Water sprays off my poor girls and hits me in the face. He doesn’t stop the spray, so I turn and take off again. I don’t have to outrun Craig himself, I just have to outrun the length of the hose, I reason.

The demon child from Hell continues blasting me with water while giggling his ass off. I finally make it to safety. I’m out of range of the water pressure so I turn back to see several bikers smothering laughter and smiles, some not, and a small boy pulling on the hose for all he is worth. Boom! No more hose, you demented child!

I see Pooh separate from the other men and walk quickly in my direction while pulling his hoodie off. Upon reaching me, he wraps it around me and I slide my arms into the sleeves while he zips it up. I’m soaked and I know he just saved me the embarrassment of everyone seeing my girls in their cute, lacy demi-bra.

I look up into his hazel eyes and see amusement there. His mouth is twitching and I know he is fighting laughter. I’m not amused by him, his brothers or Craig. I’m wet, dripping hair and clothing, and annoyed that I just got a shower so that a bossy little boy could avoid one.

I mutter thanks to Pooh, step around him, and start toward Craig. I wouldn’t approach him yet but I see the hose in the hand of the largest man I think I’ve ever seen before. A man that is currently battling his amusement and slowly losing the fight. Whatever. I have a little boy to get even with. I try to stomp my way to Craig, but spiky heels in wet grass don’t allow much in the way of stomping. So, I just give it up and walk the best I can in his direction. He must see the look on my face, through his continuing giggles, because his eyes get wide and he starts backing up.

I reach up and push the wet strands of hair out of my face and shoot daggers at Craig with my eyes.

“Holy hell, Pips is pissed!” shouts Craig as he tries to make a run for it, but is caught by the back of his shirt by that huge man holding the hose. Craig’s little legs continue with the running motion even though they’re not touching the ground at this point.

I get a grip on Craig’s shirt and start marching him to the house. He decides to alert the entire neighborhood to his predicament.

“Help! 911! Stranger! She’s going to drown me! I’m being stolen! Save me!”

Craig is still screaming for help when we enter the back of the house and I hear the men lose their fight with their amusement as I slam the door behind me.

-*- -*- -*- -*-

“It’s such a shame,” mutters Tammy while looking out the window.

“What is?”

“That Trigger is gay. I thought he was just my type. But I guess he really isn’t my type at all. What a shame.”

“I’ve seen you date a little over the years, but I’ve never seen you obsess over a man before, Tammy. Why him? I mean, yeah, he’s nice looking and in great shape for a man his age, but what makes you so sure you’d be good together? How do you know?”

“Are you asking for me or yourself, honey? Because I’ve seen you date a little, very little actually, over the years too and yet I’ve never seen you watch a man as closely as you have been watching Pooh. Something there you haven’t told me about?” she returns.

“Pooh asked me out on a date,” I answer her, quietly. I still have a feeling I messed up, bad.

“And you said no,” Tammy states, not asking.

“Yeah, I did. I think I might have missed out on something good but I don’t even know him. A date seemed a little fast for me.”

“A date isn’t a commitment, Pippa. It’s an opportunity to get to know each other. Nothing more.”

“My life is complicated enough with men. Running this place doesn’t lend itself to making me more comfortable around them. I’m hesitant to add more complications.”

“Because he’s a man doesn’t mean he’ll be a complication. He could end up being your saving grace. He strikes me as the type that would protect his woman to the ends of the earth. He’s outside right now donating his time to a house that protects battered women and children. He could be riding his bike, drinking with his buddies or partying at their clubhouse. But he chose to be here instead. I like what that says about him, about all of them.”

“My gut agrees with you but I can’t shut off my brain sometimes,” I say.

“That’s just fear talking, Pippa. You are letting Cal still rule your life, honey. I’m sorry to say it like that but as long as you live in fear of having another relationship, he wins. He took enough from you, don’t let him control the rest of your life too. I love you, girl, and I want you happy but this job isn’t going to be there at night when you need a hug or a shoulder to cry on. Whether it’s Pooh or some other guy, you need to open your life up to new possibilities. So do I. We’ve gotten in a rut and it’s time to step outside of our comfort zones and live a little.”

“I’ll put some thought into what you said, Mama. I think you’re right. We’ve created our own little world and it’s time to open the door and windows to it,” I tell her.

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