“It’s Claire’s feeding time, I almost forgot,” she says, and I have to prepare myself. I have to steel myself for what follows next.
For some time now, Chelle’s been feeding Claire either when I’m not around, which is almost never, or in the company of others, like little Jason here, or even Randy, but only at a pinch.
Reason?
Well, I can’t just have my woman getting out my two favorite accessories of hers and having them on display without wanting some action myself, can I?
So rules are rules now. Feeding time is a public spectacle in our household, which is fine for the kids and Mommy, even grandpa. But he usually always finds an excuse to leave the room.
Me, I have to distract myself and little Jason’s just who I need right now to do just that.
“What did you make, sport? You wanna show me, or just tell me about it?” I ask him, only glancing over at Chelle, long enough to see her flash me, making me growl before I focus on my son again.
“I made a growth chart… so I can count the days until I’m as big as you, daddy.” He chimes excitedly.
“A growth chart, huh? Sounds cool,” I exclaim, grimacing a little when he’s not looking. I know my son well enough, and when he makes something, he sure does make it.
“Show me then, champ. I wanna see,” and I crouch down a little, taking his tiny hand in mine and we go up to the end of the hall, where Chelle can still see us both and there it is, in bright red permanent marker.
All the way up the wall, and a good sixteenth of an inch deep, like he’s somehow carved it into the woodwork of his door frame.
“Son!” I announce, “It’s beautiful, but I’d like to see you grow taller than that! Best way to make sure you do? Maybe ask for some help before taking on such a big project, huh?” I ask him, not even thinking about getting upset with him.
“Jason! You’ve inspired me. Let’s make a taller one, maybe one as tall as me, okay? Then we can put it up and you’ll be able to chart your height, long after you get only this high,” I whisper to him, getting in nice and close, and he readily agrees.
It’ll also buy me some time to fix the door frame…
We get to work, and in around fifteen minutes we have a fine example of a personalized chart for both Jason and Claire to use, and it should hide the ‘damage’ underneath, which I plan to leave there anyway.
Talk about permanent family memories, and way better than any paper chart, we just might give Mommy a few days, maybe a week before we tell her about it.
“What are my two favorite men up to?” she asks, letting me know it’s safe for me to show myself, that she’s ‘decent’ again and I’m in no danger of wanting to have my way with her.
That comes later, when the kids are asleep and Grandpa’s gone home, or out on his boat.
“Jason’s made a growth chart and I think he wants to go see Grandpa’s boat, Claire looks like she needs a nap too, don’t you think?” I ask, listening to Jason whoop and holler as he races off to find grandpa, the mere mention of the boat exciting him to near hysteria.
Claire is yawning, and Chelle gives me a suspicious look.
“How convenient, sleepy baby… busy grandpa and son… what are Mommy and Daddy going to do?” she asks, her smirk turning to a sudden look of arousal, her narrowing eyes and teeth biting her lower lip the green light for a little afternoon delight.
“I’ll just put Claire down,” she tells me, a restrained urgency in her voice.
“And I’ll tell Randy to set sail. Jason’s always wanted to go on that boat…Two conditions, Randy.” I tell him directly, “Lifejackets on and no further out than we can see you.”
“Meaning?” Randy asks me, looking just as suspicious as his daughter did just now.
“Meaning, gimee an hour and knock before coming in when you get back,” I tell him.
“Oh…” he says.
“How is married life treating you, Quinn?” he asks, giving me a sideways glance.
“I dunno… I think it always helps to have the right teacher when learning anything new.”
“Dad? What are you still doing here?” Chelle asks, suddenly appearing in the doorway, looking very flushed.
“I was just going, darlin’… I’ll see you in an hour, maybe two… Quinn just said you need some time… for Claire to have her nap so we can all go out on the boat together, isn’t that right old buddy?” he says heading out the door.
“I thought you hated the water,” Chelle asks, scrambling to undress both of us as we know the clock’s ticking once we hear the front door close.