Booby Trapped and Baby Proofed Read online

  “I’ll only agree if you let me take you out to dinner next Sunday to show my appreciation.”

  Angel smiled. “You have a deal.” She turned to Ethan. “Bye, honey. I’ll fix you something special too.”

  Harrison walked her to the door. “I really do appreciate the help. I don’t know why he doesn’t like me.”

  “It will take time,” Angel told him. “This is the first time he’s seen you in months. He doesn’t remember you, so he’s confused.”

  He hadn’t thought of that. “Okay, I’ll take it slow. He can keep the rabbit for now.”

  Angel smiled at him again. “He’s so cute,” she said. “Just like his father.” She stepped out the door, waved, and walked to her house.

  Harrison watched until she went into her home before closing the door. Minutes later, he found Ethan on the sofa instead of in the playpen. The child looked at him as he entered and smiled. “I see I have to keep a very close eye on you,” Harrison told him.

  Ethan just laughed and hugged Bunny.

  ****

  Ethan was on his best behavior throughout dinner. Angel had brought over meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, and sweet peas. Ethan got very animated as Angel fed him the mashed up food, including the peas.

  Harrison ate his dinner and watched his son bond with the neighbor. He even offered her some of his food that he scooped out of the bowl with his fingers. Angel accepted it, smiled, and then cleaned Ethan’s hands. Harrison groaned, jealous of the attention his son gave Angel and the attention Angel gave Ethan.

  After a struggle to get him washed up and into his pajamas, Harrison finally got Ethan into bed and he went right off to sleep hugging Bunny, giving Harrison a couple of minutes alone with the pretty next door neighbor lady.

  “You’re real good with kids,” Harrison told Angel when they were alone seated in the den enjoying coffee and the pecan pie she brought over for dessert.

  “Kids have always taken to me,” she replied. “Even as a child other kids liked to play with me. Our house was always filled with kids and I used to help my mother with my two younger siblings.”

  “Are you from a big family?” Harrison asked. He didn’t want to be nosey. He was just interested in finding out more about her.

  She nodded. “I’m number five of seven. How about you?”

  “I’m an only child. My mother wanted more, but was unable to get pregnant again.”

  “Do you want other kids?” she asked.

  He nodded. “I always wanted a larger family, but after Olivia got sick, I just gave up on the idea.”

  “Was that your wife’s name?”

  “Yes. I met her in junior high school and married her after we graduated from high school. Then I joined the Marine Corps.” He sighed. “Had I been able to see into the future, I might have re-evaluated my career choice and spent my time being with Olivia instead of dragging her round the country.”

  “Did she complain about being a military spouse?”

  “No,” Harrison replied. “But she came back here to have Ethan after she discovered she was pregnant. I was stationed in North Carolina, but Olivia just got sicker and couldn’t join me.” He stopped talking for a moment to reminisce. “Did you like being a military spouse?”

  “Hell no,” Angel replied. “I liked the idea in the beginning, but I didn’t like being away from my family and living in base housing. I know it sounds selfish, but Henry was gone more than he was home. And he changed. He went from a darling man to a drinker that liked to argue about everything. I saw the toll stress took on him. We used to argue about everything. Then when the news came that he’d been killed, the first thing I thought was at least I didn’t have to argue or fight anymore.” She sighed. “And then I cried like a big baby, felt sorry for myself, and was angry at him for leaving me alone in this world. What a waste.”

  Harrison scowled at her, not understanding her choice of words. “He died defending his country.”

  “I understand that,” she said defensively. “I didn’t mean it like that. We were having problems in our marriage. Do you know what it’s like to try to cover up a black eye and pretend that everything is okay around everyone? I hated when he returned home from deployment the most. He would give me the third degree like I was cheating on him while he was away. I didn’t have time to look at another man. I was busy working. I’d known him and loved him since we were kids, but like I said, he changed.”

  “I’m sorry,” Harrison said. “This happens more than you think.”

  “But I never strayed,” Angel insisted. “I loved him and I worked hard to keep house and to make things nice for when he did come home. Anyway, I’m not the kind to hold grudges and live in the past. I’m sorry that he died, but at least he died doing what he loved to do. I’m just sorry that he died before we had a chance to find happiness.”

  Now he understood. She didn’t hate the Marine Corps or her husband. She was just lonely. “Military life can change a person,” Harrison told her. “Some can cope with the transition from boyhood to manhood without a problem. But there are others who can’t deal with the added stress. I had to take a lot of bullshit from officers, staff NCOs, and drill sergeants from the moment I stood on those footprints and was sworn in. But in the end, it made me a better person knowing I had done my part to keep this country free.”

  “You’re okay in my book,” Angel said. “I mean, I don’t think you’re the violent type.”

  Little by little, he understood what she had gone through. A lot of his friends and associates turned to alcohol to cope with the rigors of military life. And one or two of them had to go through domestic violence classes. It angered him that Henry had hurt Angel in the process and taken his frustrations out on her. “I passed the day care earlier and I liked what I’ve seen so far,” he said, trying to change the subject. “What time would you suggest I come for a visit tomorrow?”

  “Around nine would be fine,” Angel said, finishing up on her pie. “The kids should be finished eating breakfast by then and settling into their morning classes.”

  “You teach them things?” Harrison asked.

  “Yes. We like to start early teaching kids the things they need to know before entering kindergarten, like their colors and how to write their names.”

  “What can you teach a toddler?”

  “We teach them how to interact with other kids and we start them off with little books and puzzles. This year we’ve even begun teaching both English and Spanish to them so they can have an extra advantage.”

  The more she spoke, the deeper he found himself falling for her. “Have you ever dated anyone since your husband’s death?”

  Angel looked up, surprised. “No. He’s only been dead a little over a year. What about you?”

  Harrison shook his head. “I haven’t even been tempted.” He paused. “Until now.”

  Angel looked over at him, blushed, and then picked up her coffee cup and sipped. “Are you telling me that you’re interested in dating me?”

  “Does that surprise you? You’re a nice, caring lady. You’re pretty and you love kids.” It didn’t take him long to figure out that she couldn’t take a compliment. She blushed like a school girl. “I might be a little rusty at this, but I’m willing to give up widowhood for a solid relationship.”

  “Me too,” she said shyly. “And I like what I see so far.”

  Harrison smirked at her. “You mean you like my good looks or have you been swept away by my paternal skills?”

  That incited a smile out of her. “Both,” she answered. “But you need to work on those paternal skills. Ethan is an adorable child, but even I can see that you are in way over your head with him. First thing you have to do is spend some quality time with him so he can get to know you. You’ll see. Kids learn real fast at his age.”

  The object of their conversation appeared in the doorway of the den in drooping pajamas and holding Bunny.

  “Didn’t you put him in the baby bed?” Ange
l asked.

  Harrison nodded. “I can’t figure out how he does it. You’d think he’d fall or something.”

  “Forget what I just said. You need to baby-proof this house first. If he can get in and out of his crib, there’s nothing stopping him from climbing up and getting into cabinets or out of the windows. I’ll get you a list of things that you’re going to need and I’ll give it to you tomorrow when you come to the day care center.” She rose. “But I better go. He has a wet diaper and will probably go back to sleep if he doesn’t fixate on me.”

  Harrison rose, scooped Ethan into his arms, and walked Angel to the door. Ethan tried to reach for Angel, but Harrison held him back.

  “Good night, Ethan,” Angel told the child. “Try to play nice with Daddy.” She left out of the door, leaving him with the wiggling child.

  “You’ll get to see her again tomorrow,” Harrison told him as he locked the door. He carried Ethan back to his room, changed his diaper, and read a story to him. Ethan fell asleep halfway through Peter Rabbit. Harrison put him back into his crib, noting the height from the top of the crib to the floor and wondering what he could do to stop Ethan from getting out. After he was satisfied that Ethan was deep into sleep, he left and went to clean up the kitchen before retiring for the evening.

  ****

  Harrison appeared to be a nice man and he was certainly handsome. He having a young child wasn’t a problem either, with the added plus with not having to deal with baby mama drama. Yet, she didn’t know if he was serious about her or not, even though he’d asked the right questions. She wasn’t interested in dating a man who only wanted a home cooked meal or a babysitter. But every now and then, she’d catch that look of interest in his eyes. Maybe he was hesitating because he’d never dated a black woman before, or maybe he was a little hesitant since he’d been out of the dating game for a long time. He seemed very appreciative of the two meals she’d fixed for him. She didn’t mind cooking because she liked to cook and that she knew he’d have his hands full just trying to keep up with Ethan.

  Angel closed the refrigerator and headed to her room for a shower. Her eyes landed on Henry’s photo on the mantle. He’d taken it in his dressed blue uniform and looked quite dashing. She’d been thinking a lot about him lately and debating if it was time to put the picture in storage and go on with her life. Hell yes, she thought. Henry wasn’t coming back and she guessed he didn’t expect her to mourn him until she died.

  Angel changed into her gown after a quick shower and then crawled into her bed to read. She’d been reading this interracial romance she’d bought about a month ago about a woman falling in love with a Marine. She was halfway through the book the morning Harrison had moved in. Call it fate, but she had to see how the book ended. She felt her eyelids starting to droop when the couple in the book had finally made it to the bed room. Angel yawned, wondering if Harrison was asleep. She smiled. He was so cute. Hopefully one day soon she’d be falling asleep in his arms after hours of mind-numbing sex. She smiled again, put the book aside, turned off the light, and buried beneath the covers.

  Chapter Three

  Harrison hadn’t seen so many kids in one place at one time in a long time. And none of them were running around and cutting up. The day care facility was orderly and clean, and from the first moment he arrived, he knew he’d have to enroll Ethan there.

  Angel met him at the front door dressed in navy blue business suit. He’d seen her in shorts and in Sunday clothes, but he had to admit she looked real cute as a business woman. Angel introduced him to the all the teachers, including the two that would be responsible for Ethan. Angel put Ethan in a room with some of the other kids his age to observe him. Ethan didn’t cry when they left him alone. He just walked over to a yellow truck he saw and started playing with it. He kind of ignored the other kids.

  Harrison shook his head.

  “Don’t worry,” Angel told him. “He hasn’t been around any other kids so he has to get used to them.”

  “Like he has to get used to me?” Harrison asked.

  Angel nodded. “I’m afraid so.”

  The dietician came around with the morning snack. She gave Ethan a cookie. The child looked at it, tasted it, and then placed it down on a storage box and ignored it.

  “He doesn’t’ like sweets,” Harrison told her.

  Angel smiled. “He ate sweet peas yesterday.”

  “He likes vegetables. Go figure.”

  “I’ll inform the dietician of that. But you know you’ll have to share banana splits with me instead of him since he doesn’t like sweets.”

  “Any time,” Harrison said. “Next time we’ll get a little frisky and try it with sherbet.”

  Angel ran her tongue over her lips. “I’ve never had it that way before. Is it good?”

  Harrison nodded. “Especially with nuts shredded on it.”

  “I like nuts,” Angel said.

  He smirked. “Are you flirting with me?”

  She nodded.

  They turned their attention back on Ethan. Another child had joined him and he’d brought along a red truck. The two of them appeared to be having a fascinating baby discussion about the wheels while giggling.

  A little girl toddled over to them carrying her doll and both boys ignored her.

  “Stupid boys,” Harrison said. “That’s a pretty girl checking you guys out.”

  Ethan stopped playing with the truck, took the girl’s hand, made her sit down on the floor and play with the truck.

  “See,” Angel said. “He just needed to get used to the situation.”

  Harrison sighed with relief. Maybe he wouldn’t have to pay for a psychiatrist to cure Ethan’s anti-social behavior. But he did have other issues that did need to be addressed. Ethan had put the truck on top of one of the crates and was trying to get on top of it.

  “Did you manage to get the list together of the things I’m going to need to baby proof the house?”

  Angel dug into her pocket and extracted a folded piece of stationery. She handed it to him. “Maybe I should have put a toddler bed on the list. I don’t think you’ll be able to keep him in the crib much longer.”

  “Noted,” Harrison said as he pulled out a pen and added the bed to the list.

  “And add a first aid kit,” Angel said as she watched Ethan try to pile a second crate on top of the first one. They got to Ethan before he made it to the top of the stack.

  Angel escorted Harrison to her office and he filled out the registration form. Trudy had thought ahead and prepared him an envelope with Ethan’s birth certificate and immunization card. He and Ethan left the day care center right before lunch was served. Ethan threw a mini tantrum because he didn’t want to leave his new friends. “Don’t worry, you’ll get to play with them again tomorrow.” He’d already made up his mind that he had to have some free time during the day to get the dojo up and running. He still needed to clean the place, hire instructors, and advertise, and he couldn’t do it with Ethan. So he’d planned to drop him off early tomorrow morning and pick him up at five.

  ****

  Harrison felt nervous as he dressed for his date with Angel. He’d already dropped Ethan at the day care center and would be picking him up as soon as they left the restaurant. He looked at himself in the mirror. It’d been a long time since he’d seen himself in anything except a uniform. His body still had most of its muscle, but he’d have to get back to exercising if he planned to maintain it. And he would have to watch his sweet intake if he planned not to get his love handles back. After dropping Ethan off earlier, he stopped for a haircut. Some routines were hard to break, and at his age, he didn’t think he looked good with long hair. He laughed, remembering what some of his friends looked like now since they retired. Most of them had put on a considerable amount of weight, wore their hair long, and some even had beards. That type of look was not for him. He liked looking neat with every hair in place. Once he finished admiring his face in the mirror, he decided it was time to leav
e. They had reservations for seven and he didn’t like to be late for anything.

  Harrison put his wallet in his pocket, grabbed his keys, and headed out of the front door. Less than five minutes later, he stood at Angel’s door. After a couple of seconds of nervousness, he rang the doorbell. Angel opened the door a few minutes later and all his nervousness disappeared. His heart thudded in his chest as he ran his gaze over her. His body hardened with desire. Luckily, his suit jacket came down to his thighs and covered up his rising erection.

  Angel looked fantastic. Red was definitely her color. The dress she’d chosen to wear showed off her spectacular curves, those shapely legs, and slender waist. Her nice set of jugs peeped out at him just above the collar. She’d added just a little lipstick to those luscious brown lips. Harrison gulped. He couldn’t wait to sample them. “You look lovely,” he said as they stared at each other like two randy teenagers.

  “You clean up pretty nice yourself,” Angel said. “You look good in a suit. It shows off all those muscles.” She stepped aside. “Come on in. I just have to get my purse.”

  Harrison stepped inside. “Wow, this is nice,” he said about her place. Angel had an eye for color. The walls were painted a pale shade of yellow. The dark brown leather furniture was the focal point of the room, and she accented it with green throw pillows and window curtains.

  A family portrait hung right above sofa. A picture of her deceased husband stood on a shelf. He recognized him from the dressed-blue uniform. He didn’t see any other pictures of Angel, just a couple more of her parents.

  The living room wasn’t over-crowded with whatnots either. She just had a couple of small plants and a wide screen television to give it a homey feel.

  Angel left him and went off to get her purse. She returned a few minutes later and they left the house. They decided to take his car since he needed the car seat for when they picked up Ethan from after-care.