Booby Trapped and Baby Proofed Read online

  So far, he couldn’t find one imperfection about her. He sat down across from her again and watched her eat the ice cream. Angel was like a kid. He thought he’d died and gone to heaven when he saw her lick the spoon.

  Angel volunteered to wash the dishes when they finished with the ice cream. “I better get going,” she said when she finished. “I’ve taken up enough of your time.”

  “I’m not tired,” Harrison said. “And I’m enjoying the company.”

  They moved into the den and before he knew it, he was opening up about his life in the Marine Corps. “I worked in ordnance,” he told her. “I was responsible for the maintenance of guns, bombs, torpedoes, rockets, and missiles. And in my spare time, I taught martial arts.”

  Angle giggled. “So what kind of civilian job do you qualify for now that you’re out?”

  Harrison smiled. “Not very many. I don’t think there’s a great need for that type of work in the civilian world. That’s why I kept up with my martial arts training. What did your husband do in the Marine Corps, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “He was a grunt,” Angel answered. “And by choice. He was supposed to go into communications, but he wanted to be near the action.” She didn’t go into details about how she felt about his decision.

  “So what’s your day care center like?” he asked to change the subject.

  “It’s a really fun place for the kids,” she answered. “We have fifteen highly trained and licensed teachers on staff, two dieticians, and a nurse who come in twice a week. And everyone is CPR qualified.”

  Harrison whistled. “And you own the place? You look like you’re barely out of high school.”

  Angel blushed. “I taught kindergarten before that. But after my husband died, I knew I had to generate a bigger income. So I used my savings and the money he left me to open this day care center. And so far, we’ve been operating in the black.”

  “I’m impressed and inspired,” he told her. “I think I’ll take you up on your generous offer to check out the place.”

  “Bring Ethan along,” Angel said. She rose. “I really have to go.”

  Harrison rose and walked her to the door. “I’ve had a nice evening,” he said. “We’ll have to do this again sometime.”

  Angel smiled at him again. “Anytime.”

  Chapter Two

  Harrison rose early the next morning, fixed breakfast and then dressed. Before leaving home he made sure everything was in its place and he had enough baby things for Ethan. Moments later, he was inside his car and heading over to Trudy’s to get Ethan.

  Harrison drove past the dojo, checking out the area. There wasn’t traffic except for people on the way to the two neighborhood churches. He slowed, trying to find the day care center. There it is. What a nice little place. Angel had it decorated with primary colors attractive to toddlers, and the outside walls looked freshly painted. A white-washed fence surrounded the building, and it looked sturdy enough to keep the kids inside. Harrison spotted a couple of swing sets in the yard, which the kids probably loved. But the best part about it all was the location. It stood directly on the corner, two businesses down from the dojo. Satisfied by what he saw, Harrison continued his drive, checking out the beach area next.

  He’d had a lot of happy memories of hanging out there with his friends every summer. There was always something to do, including swimming in the clear blue water. His eyes landed on miles and miles of white sand, and small tables with umbrellas. He noticed a couple of concession stands that he didn’t remember, and there were also boats sailing on the water. As soon as he had some free time, he’d bundle Ethan up and take him on the beach to enjoy the sun and play in the sand. At two, he should be walking and maybe able to run.

  Harrison supposed Ethan would be tall for his age since both he and Olivia were taller than the average person. He wondered which one of them he’d look like since both his parents had been born blue-eyed blonds.

  Harrison finally reached Trudy and Jeb’s home. The gardens were awash in spring foliage. Olivia had always liked working in the gardens too. Trudy had planted some azalea bushes and small crepe myrtle trees to add a little shade to the front of the brick family home.

  Jeb answered the door shortly after Harrison. His brother in-law had put on a little weight around the mid-section and his dark brown hair had grown down to his shoulders. Jeb used to be the typical beach party animal before he married Trudy. He liked to surf and swim and race his jeep on the sandy shore. He and Trudy now owned a couple of swimwear and fishing supply stores along the beach, and probably made a very good living with all the tourists who came in for the Daytona Beach speed races.

  “Come on in,” Jeb said after they hugged. “When did you get in?”

  “A couple of days ago,” Harrison answered. “I had to wait for the utilities to be turned on and the furniture to arrive.”

  “I passed the house last week. It looks good and it’s in a prime location near a day care center and church.”

  Harrison nodded. The smell of freshly brewed coffee caught his attention. Come on in, we’re just about to sit down to breakfast.”

  “I’ve already eaten breakfast,” Harrison told him. “But I could use a cup of coffee.”

  His eyes landed on a play pen stacked with stuffed animals and toys. “How’s Trudy feeling?” Harrison asked when they were finally in the kitchen.

  “She’s fine,” Jeb said as he poured the coffee. “She’s doing great now that she’s over the morning sickness.”

  Harrison smiled politely. He’d missed out on that. Olivia had returned back to Daytona Beach once she found out that they were expecting so she could be close to Trudy. He was being shipped to North Carolina, so it worked out pretty well.

  “She’s giving Ethan a bath.”

  Harrison added a little cream to his coffee and two sugar cubes and then stirred. “I supposed he’s growing tall.”

  “Like a weed,” Jeb said. “I’m going to miss the little guy. He’s getting into everything now that he’s walking.”

  Harrison sighed and lifted his coffee to his lips. He’d missed out on his baby’s first steps.

  “He’s even potty trained during the day,” Jeb said.

  Harrison raised an eyebrow. “Already?”

  Jeb nodded. “He still has a couple of accidents during the night, but we’re limiting his liquid intake after six pm.”

  “Is he talking yet?”

  “He says a couple of words,” Jeb told him. “He’s a quiet child, but a bit adventurous. He reminds me of you.”

  “Define adventurous.”

  “He likes to climb and get into things like the kitchen cupboard. We had to secure a couple of closets too since he’s tall enough to reach the door knobs. I’ve baby proofed most of the house now. Having a toddler around kept me very busy.”

  “I want to thank you and Trudy from all you’re done for us. I don’t know how I would have gotten through all these months without you guys looking after Ethan.”

  “It’s been a pleasure,” Trudy said, entering the kitchen with a squirming two-year-old in her arms. “Look Ethan, it’s Daddy.”

  The child stopped wiggling and gazed at him.

  Is that Ethan? The last time he’d seen him he was a small infant sleeping in a sitter. Now he was a big boy with a head of golden curls and big blue eyes. Trudy had him dressed in a blue and white sailor suit and a pair of brown sandals.

  Harrison rose and reached for the child to take the extra weight from his pregnant sister-in-law. “Come here, fellow,” he said, reaching for the child.

  Ethan turned his head and clung to Trudy.

  Harrison hadn’t expected that reaction.

  “Ethan is a bit shy around strangers,” Trudy said.

  Harrison frowned. He wasn’t a stranger. He was the child’s father. Harrison sighed. Well maybe he was a stranger. Ethan hadn’t seen him in a year and naturally, he’d grown attached to Trudy and Jeb.

  “It’s you
r daddy, Ethan,” Trudy told the child. “He’s come to take you to your new home.”

  Harrison reached for the child and met with the same resistance.

  “He’ll warm up to you soon,” Trudy insisted, putting Ethan in the high chair at the table next to Harrison. “Let me feed him. He’s usually friendlier after he eats.”

  Harrison nodded and sat back down to finish his coffee. He watched as Trudy dished up tiny pieces of fruit and dried cereal for Ethan. She also gave him milk in a sipping cup.

  “He doesn’t like sweet stuff,” Trudy told him. “Which is a good thing, and he does like milk and fresh fruit.”

  A health conscious two-year-old? “Jeb was just telling me that Ethan’s potty trained already.”

  Trudy nodded. “His aim isn’t that great yet, so you still have to sit him down on the toilet seat. But he took to it like a trouper.”

  “He likes to watch educational television and he’s fascinated by commercials,” Jeb said.

  There were so many things he didn’t know about his son and had to learn.

  “Is there anything he doesn’t like besides me?” Harrison asked.

  Jeb smiled. “He’s not fond of having his hair washed and he won’t go to sleep without Bunny.”

  “Bunny?” Harrison asked.

  “Bunny is a brown stuffed rabbit we gave him for Easter,” Jeb explained.

  Harrison raised an eyebrow. The son of a Marine attached to a stuffed animal. He was never going to live this down.

  Jeb must have seen the concern on his face. “Like I said, he won’t go to sleep without it. So I advise you to keep an eye on Bunny most of the day because Ethan likes to hide him and make us find him.”

  Harrison smirked. He’d take care of that quick enough. Bunny would have to go.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Trudy said, finally sitting down at the table. “We’ve tried to take it away. Ethan throws a temper tantrum and after a couple of minutes of hearing him cry I give in and give the rabbit back to him.”

  Harrison smirked. Trudy had buckled under the demands of a toddler. His approach would be a little different. He’d just teach Ethan that big boys didn’t need to sleep with stuffed animals.

  “Good luck,” Jeb chuckled as if reading his mind. “And you’re going to need to baby proof your house if you haven’t done so already.”

  “Baby proof?” Harrison asked.

  Both Trudy and Jeb nodded.

  “We haven’t found a door he can’t open. And he somehow manages to get out of his bed and that high chair.”

  Harrison scratched his head. “So you’re trying to tell me that he’s an escape artist.”

  Both Trudy and Jeb nodded again.

  “We haven’t found anything he can’t get out of, including his car seat. So you better baby lock the doors when he’s riding in the car with you.”

  Harrison looked over at Ethan who was busy toying with his cereal.

  Ethan looked up as if sensing Harrison gazing at him. He wrinkled his bow and pouted.

  Harrison ignored it. He’d handled hundreds of troops before. How difficult could it be to look after a two-year-old? “I think I found a day care center for him,” Harrison said. “It’s two doors down from the dojo.”

  “Oh, you mean Ms. Robbins’ place,” Trudy said.

  “You know about it?”

  Trudy nodded. “We’ve checked it out. Ms. Robbins seems like a real nice person and she keeps the place clean.”

  “We’re even thinking about putting our future bundle of joy there,” Jeb said. “Trudy plans to return to work after she has the baby.”

  “Ms. Robbins just happens to be my next door neighbor,” Harrison said. “She’s a real nice lady. She brought me over a casserole yesterday.”

  “So what do you think of her?” Jeb asked.

  “Like I said, she is nice and very friendly. Her husband used to be a Marine.”

  “Oh, so the two of you have something in common,” Trudy said.

  “Well, yes,” Harrison said. “We ate dinner together and she told me about her day care.”

  “Darn, you’re a fast mover,” Jeb teased.

  “Not really. It’s not what you think. We had dinner and dessert.”

  “What type of dessert?” Trudy asked.

  “Banana split,” Harrison answered. And he wasn’t stupid either. They were prying and match making. “She likes cherries.”

  Jeb chuckled. “I’m surprised you noticed.”

  “I’m not that anal,” Harrison said. “But anyway, don’t try to make too much of this. She was probably just being neighborly.”

  Ethan reached over and handed him a piece of dried cereal.

  “Thanks, sport,” Harrison said, accepting the cereal. He put it in his mouth, letting Ethan see him do it. “Yummy.”

  Ethan smiled at him and then gave him a piece of fruit.

  “Thank you,” Harrison told his son. He popped the little piece of fruit into his mouth.

  Ethan giggled.

  The sound brought joy to his heart.

  “I think he’s beginning to warm up to you,” Trudy said.

  “Maybe,” Harrison replied.

  Ethan raised his cup of milk and sipped. Some of it spilled on his cheeks.

  Harrison reached for a napkin and tried to clean Ethan’s face.

  Ethan whined and tried to move his head.

  “Oh yeah, he doesn’t like being touched,” Jeb told him.

  Harrison stopped trying. “He’s two. Why does he have boundary and personal space issues?”

  Jeb shrugged. “I bet he takes after you.”

  Harrison scowled at him.

  “You have to figure out how to get him to stop being anti-social,” Trudy said.

  “I’m sure I can find a baby boot camp,” Harrison said sarcastically. “But you’re right. I have to find a way to get him to warm up to me.” He rose again and stood near Ethan. “You have milk on your face, slugger. Let Daddy clean it for you.” This time, he held Ethan’s chin. The child still struggled, but Harrison managed to remove the milk. “The solution is you have to show him who is boss early. Are his things packed?”

  Jeb rose. “I’ll get them for you and load them into your car. Bunny too.” He left the kitchen.

  Trudy hadn’t said much, just watched him quietly from her seat. “I’m going to miss him.”

  He was afraid this would happen. “We’re ten minutes away,” Harrison said. “Drop in any time. “ He walked over and kissed her on the head. “We’ll be fine.”

  Trudy got out of her seat and started cleaning the leftover cereal from the high chair. Then she moved Ethan out of the chair and handed him to Harrison.

  Ethan whined and wiggled, but Harrison held on to him and refused to give him back to Trudy. “Tough it out, buddy,” Harrison said to the child. He carried Ethan out of the kitchen.

  ****

  Harrison stared at the stuffed rabbit that Ethan clung to with a tight grip. He managed to get him home without much trouble because Ethan had fallen asleep on the way hugging Bunny. Ethan had awakened about a half hour ago and burst into tears until Harrison found Bunny again and gave it to him. Now they just stared each other down in a battle for power. And so far, Bunny was winning.

  Now what am I supposed to do with him?

  Harrison turned on the television and surfed through the channels until he found an educational station.

  Ethan turned toward the sound while he stood in his playpen.

  Life-sized puppets in bright colors frolicked around the screen. This incited a smile from the silent child, and then a giggle.

  So the kid had an addiction to the boob-tube. Harrison didn’t know if it was a good thing or not. He’d brought some books and planned to read to him later. “Are you hungry?”

  Ethan’s eyes never left the screen.

  The door bell rang. “Don’t move,” Harrison told him.

  Ethan continued to laugh at the television.

  H
arrison walked out of the den and headed to the front door. Angel stood on the other side wearing a pretty dress, stockings, and high heels. Everett had mentioned that she was a church-goer.

  “Hi, I just stopped by to see how you’re doing with Ethan and to find out if you needed anything.”

  “A child psychologist,” Harrison said sarcastically. “He doesn’t like to be touched and he sleeps with a rabbit.”

  Angel laughed. “He doesn’t need a shrink. He’s an average two-year-old.”

  “Would you like to meet him?”

  “Could I?’ Angel asked.

  Harrison stepped back and let her inside. She smelt like sweet perfume. “He’s in the den in his playpen watching some pre-school crap on the television.” He led the way. They found Ethan seated on the sofa watching the show.

  “I thought you said he was in the playpen,” Angel said.

  “He was. I forgot to mention that he’s an escape artist.”

  “Hello, Ethan,” Angel said.

  Ethan looked away from the screen and damn if he didn’t smile at Angel. “Hi.”

  “Well I’ll be,” Harrison said, scratching his head. “That is the first word I heard him utter all day.”

  Angel sat down on the sofa next to Ethan. “May I hold him?” she asked Harrison.

  Harrison nodded. “If he’ll let you. He doesn’t like to be touched.”

  Angel lifted Ethan on her lap. Ethan wrapped his arms around her and cuddled.

  Harrison stared. The little imp had excellent taste in women.

  “You are a little darling,” Angel told Ethan. “Are you trying to show Daddy who’s the boss?”

  Ethan giggled.

  Little stinker. And Angel didn’t have to use Bunny.

  “Have you fixed dinner yet?” she asked.

  “No,” Harrison answered. “Ethan had about an hour temper tantrum until I gave in and gave him the stuffed rabbit. So we’ve pretty much been sitting here feeling each other out.”

  Angel placed Ethan back into the playpen. “Don’t worry about cooking. I’ll bring you something over.”

  “Ah, I can’t let you do that. You must be tired after being at church all day.”

  “I have to cook anyway,” she replied. “I’ll bring it over when it’s finished.”