begin in the first place. Now I must take a corrective course of action.”
“In English please?” He knew what she was trying to say, but he needed to hear her say it straight out.
“I’m ending this before either one of us gets hurt,” she said, lifting her hands as if she was physically passing him a ball of responsibility. He stared into her dark eyes, absorbing what she’d said, and wanting so badly to kiss the stupid conversation out of her mind. Instead, he nodded, and turned away.
“Bit too late for that, Doc. See ya around.” He moved as quickly as he could in the opposite direction. He needed space to breathe. He couldn’t believe he’d just fucked up the best thing that had ever happened to him.
----
J eanette’s throat was tight with a ball of emotion. She hadn’t expected this to happen, but she should have. As much as Hawke hid behind laughter and jokes, he was a very sensitive soul. The last seven nights had been bliss, yet every morning she awoke with the same questions and confusion. As great as Hawke was as a person, she couldn’t see how he could be anything more in her life. They were polar opposites, and they’d never be able to make things work long term.
She repeated the whole diatribe over again and again as she went through the morning, trying hard to convince herself that what had happened was for the best. Sadly, the harder she tried not to think about it, the clearer it became that she’d made a big mistake.
“Hey, Jeanette, would you be willing to do me a big favor?” Nolan appeared in the doorway of the family room where she’d been organizing some old files of foster children for Drannon. At six foot five, with rich, chocolate brown skin, and light hazel eyes, Nolan was an extremely good-looking man, and Todd, was an absolute angel.
“Of course, what’s up?” she responded, grinning at Todd who was slobbering on a stuffed rabbit toy.
“I need to do some Christmas shopping.” Nolan gestured with his head to his son. “But I can’t exactly take short-stuff with me. Would you mind babysitting for a couple of hours? I just want to go into Montford and see what I can find while the roads are still drivable.”
“Sure! I’d love to watch Todd.” She rose from the couch, pushing the files into a pile before she went over and held out her hands to the baby. “We can eat Cheeto’s and watch Elmo together, isn’t that right Todd?”
“Thank you, I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate it. He’s already had lunch, and he should get sleepy soon. There’s a bottle made up in the fridge that he can have when he’s ready for a nap if he needs it. Hopefully, I’ll be back before he wakes up.”
“Take your time. I don’t get much time with babies, and besides, Lacy and Marilyn are around here somewhere if I have any questions.” She buried her nose against Todd’s temple, inhaling his baby fresh scent. She’d never really had much of an urge to be a mom, but there was something special about the happy little boy that made her crave it just a little.
“You have my cell number, right?” When she nodded, Nolan bent and kissed the top of his sons head. “I’ll see you soon munchkin. Be good for Jeanette.”
Todd just gurgled into the slobbery toy and smiled, his big, blue eyes staring up at his father adoringly. Jeanette settled in with Todd on a blanket on the floor of the family room, playing with toys, and singing silly songs until he began to grow fussy.
“Are you getting tired little man?” She scooped him up, carried him into the kitchen, and pulled the bottle from the fridge. She tried to give it to the baby, but after a few sucks, he pushed it away, fussing even louder. “What’s the matter? Your daddy said you would want this at naptime.”
The back door opened, and to Jeanette’s dismay, Hawke came through the door. He carried his hat in his hands, and she noted instantly that it was mashed up and had blood on it. Hawke lifted his head,
“In English please?” He knew what she was trying to say, but he needed to hear her say it straight out.
“I’m ending this before either one of us gets hurt,” she said, lifting her hands as if she was physically passing him a ball of responsibility. He stared into her dark eyes, absorbing what she’d said, and wanting so badly to kiss the stupid conversation out of her mind. Instead, he nodded, and turned away.
“Bit too late for that, Doc. See ya around.” He moved as quickly as he could in the opposite direction. He needed space to breathe. He couldn’t believe he’d just fucked up the best thing that had ever happened to him.
----
J eanette’s throat was tight with a ball of emotion. She hadn’t expected this to happen, but she should have. As much as Hawke hid behind laughter and jokes, he was a very sensitive soul. The last seven nights had been bliss, yet every morning she awoke with the same questions and confusion. As great as Hawke was as a person, she couldn’t see how he could be anything more in her life. They were polar opposites, and they’d never be able to make things work long term.
She repeated the whole diatribe over again and again as she went through the morning, trying hard to convince herself that what had happened was for the best. Sadly, the harder she tried not to think about it, the clearer it became that she’d made a big mistake.
“Hey, Jeanette, would you be willing to do me a big favor?” Nolan appeared in the doorway of the family room where she’d been organizing some old files of foster children for Drannon. At six foot five, with rich, chocolate brown skin, and light hazel eyes, Nolan was an extremely good-looking man, and Todd, was an absolute angel.
“Of course, what’s up?” she responded, grinning at Todd who was slobbering on a stuffed rabbit toy.
“I need to do some Christmas shopping.” Nolan gestured with his head to his son. “But I can’t exactly take short-stuff with me. Would you mind babysitting for a couple of hours? I just want to go into Montford and see what I can find while the roads are still drivable.”
“Sure! I’d love to watch Todd.” She rose from the couch, pushing the files into a pile before she went over and held out her hands to the baby. “We can eat Cheeto’s and watch Elmo together, isn’t that right Todd?”
“Thank you, I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate it. He’s already had lunch, and he should get sleepy soon. There’s a bottle made up in the fridge that he can have when he’s ready for a nap if he needs it. Hopefully, I’ll be back before he wakes up.”
“Take your time. I don’t get much time with babies, and besides, Lacy and Marilyn are around here somewhere if I have any questions.” She buried her nose against Todd’s temple, inhaling his baby fresh scent. She’d never really had much of an urge to be a mom, but there was something special about the happy little boy that made her crave it just a little.
“You have my cell number, right?” When she nodded, Nolan bent and kissed the top of his sons head. “I’ll see you soon munchkin. Be good for Jeanette.”
Todd just gurgled into the slobbery toy and smiled, his big, blue eyes staring up at his father adoringly. Jeanette settled in with Todd on a blanket on the floor of the family room, playing with toys, and singing silly songs until he began to grow fussy.
“Are you getting tired little man?” She scooped him up, carried him into the kitchen, and pulled the bottle from the fridge. She tried to give it to the baby, but after a few sucks, he pushed it away, fussing even louder. “What’s the matter? Your daddy said you would want this at naptime.”
The back door opened, and to Jeanette’s dismay, Hawke came through the door. He carried his hat in his hands, and she noted instantly that it was mashed up and had blood on it. Hawke lifted his head,
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