“Mmm… Lucas… mmm,” Abby mumbles between kisses as she tries to create space. Pulling away with swollen lips, she gives me a sexy look. “You have guests downstairs,” she reminds me.
“True. But as soon as they leave, I am taking you in the pantry or laundry room. We can be quick yet efficient,” I warn her.
“Deal.”
Two hours later and we now know which position works best in my laundry room. Good old classic, her sitting on the dryer while her legs are snaked around my waist. The laundry room has a lock, which made it a clear tiebreaker with the pantry.
The next morning, Theo wakes at 7am with an eager Romeo needing to go out. We head downstairs and let Romeo into the back so he can do his thing and roll in some snow. All the while, I get some cartoons on the television and pull out some boxes of cereal. Before I manage to grab some milk to pour in the bowls, the doorbell rings. Heading to the door, I yawn as I try to wake myself up, and I’m still in my sweatpants and shirt so hopefully it isn’t a new neighbor.
It’s still dark out as I open the door, and I smile and quickly glance over my shoulder to make sure Theo can’t see me. Placing a quick peck on Abby’s lips, I pull her into the warmth of the house.
“Morning. I love this, but why on earth are you here so early? And why didn’t you just use the key?” I wonder.
She begins to take off her coat.
“Well, figured Romeo would want to go out and didn’t use my key because I am just a friend visiting, remember?”
I have to admire how serious she is taking the role of not confusing Theo.
“Plus, thought I could make French toast. He likes that, right?” she says as she heads straight to the kitchen and pulls out ingredients.
I love that she remembers. “Yeah, he does.”
She gives me a smile before getting to work on breakfast. I make a pot of coffee and lean against the counter marveling at her. Wishing it was like last weekend when she was only wearing my shirt as she cooked us eggs. But her skinny jeans and sweater are still just as effective.
After getting breakfast together and enjoying the meal with the three of us, we agree that sledding later is in the cards and Nate will meet us there. It all feels like a perfect Saturday. One that I haven’t had in years. Not planned out with event after event or a to-do list that will take all day to complete. We go with the flow. There were plenty of laughs, smiles, and humorous words exchanged. Abby seemed to be enjoying the day too, which makes me feel hopeful for the road ahead.
* * *
On Sunday,Theo and I return from the supermarket to find my mother waiting for us in the living room. She looks like a cat that caught a mouse. Why I gave her a key, I don’t quite remember. But my mother and I have always had a strong bond.
Theo quickly runs to her for a hug and then hurries to the living room to play with a new toy that he managed to convince me to buy.
“You will spoil him, Lucas,” my mother warns as she comes to join me in the kitchen to unpack shopping bags.
“Mother, not again on that. What brings you by?”
“I’ve come back early to help with a fundraiser and your father comes in a few weeks. Thought I would see my grandbaby.” My mother’s accent has mellowed through the years, yet there is still that subtle reminder of her roots.
“He would like that.”
She carefully stirs her coffee that she poured and sits at the kitchen island looking at me. A smug grin forming on her face.
“Yes?” I have to ask, entertained.
“I found somethingtrès intéressantwhen I was folding Theo’s laundry in your laundry room,” she begins. Her helping out with Theo isn’t new, and her re-organizing my house or folding laundry also isn’t new.
What is new is my mother throwing a purple lace bra across the counter. One that fits Abby’s breasts perfectly with enough coverage to support those beauties, but only enough so there’s enough overflow for my mouth to attack. The bra that I thoroughly enjoyed watching her take off. The bra that I most definitely need to hide away before my son asks what it is, so I scrunch it into my pocket.
My look is of a man getting caught, yet finding it very entertaining as even I know I am a grown adult now.
“There is a woman?” My mother gives me a stern eye.
I lean against the counter with my hands finding my jean pockets. “There may be.” I try not to give an overly enthusiastic smile.
She puts both hands on the counter and leans in with excitement. “Are the rumors true?”
This makes me laugh. Theo comes running into the kitchen and tugs my arm.
