Booby Trapped and Baby Proofed Read online

  “How has he been other than that?” Dr. Morris asked.

  “He’s been a handful,” Harrison answered honestly. “He gets into and out of everything. We call him Houdini because he’s an escape artist.”

  Dr. Morris chuckled. “Has he shown any symptoms of hyperactivity?”

  Harrison shook his head. “No, he’s capable of sitting still for long periods of time, and he’s not disruptive. He likes to color and watch television.”

  “He’s coloring?” Dr. Morris asked.

  “Yes. I’ve had him tested because the owner of the day care has noticed that he’s a little more advanced than the other students his age. He speaks well and he understands just about everything you say to him.”

  “What were the results of the testing?” Dr. Morris asked, jotting down notes in Ethan’s folder.”

  “He’s gifted,” Harrison said proudly. “But to me that means he’s very inquisitive about things. One morning he pulled a chair over to the television and turned on the cartoon channel, and then he destroyed the kitchen by taking all the pots out of the cabinets. Baby gates don’t stop him and I had to baby proof the house just to keep him safe. But then there are times when all he wants to do is cuddle with his stuffed bunny.”

  “He sounds like a future rocket scientist to me.” He chuckled. “You better enjoy this phase. He’ll be three soon and you’ll have other issues with him, like him discovering his body parts and talking up a storm, testing his new vocabulary.” He smiled. “How does he do around other kids?”

  Now was as good a time as any to voice his opinion on the subject. “He was a bit standoffish at first. He has made a few friends at day care. But one in particular has me a bit worried. There’s a little boy who has become very attached to Ethan. He follows him around and likes touching his hair.”

  “Oh,” Dr. Morris said with a smile. “There’s nothing to worry about. It sounds like this other kid idolizes Ethan because he can do things some two-year-olds can’t. I wouldn’t worry about his sexuality just yet. Kids are curious at this age. They kiss, touch, and even hug each other. They don’t know the difference between boys and girls yet. Just be glad he isn’t biting, hitting, and whining.”

  “He also gets along with my girlfriend. He’s seen the two of us kissing and he got a bit jealous and tried to wipe my kiss off her.”

  Dr. Morris continued to chuckle. “Oh, you’re going to have fun with him when he gets to be a teenager. The girls will be ringing your phone off the hook by the time he hits puberty. He’s tall for his age and ruggedly built, so come to me when it’s time to talk to him about the birds and the bees.”

  Harrison groaned, remembering what he was like as a teen. “Thanks,” he said.

  Dr. Morris handed him the prescription and ruffled Ethan’s curls before leaving the room.

  Ethan climbed into his arms. “No shot this time, partner,” Harrison told him. They left the doctor’s office and drove to the pharmacist to fill the prescription. He also picked up another bottle of pain reliever and some tissue just in case Ethan got a runny nose. Harrison called the day care when he got home and informed the teacher and Angel that Ethan would be out the rest of the day.

  “Oh, the poor little fellow,” Angel said to him. “I’ll make him some homemade vegetable soup and bring it to him for dinner.”

  “He should like that,” Harrison said.

  “What is he doing?”

  “He is actually sleeping. He played a little while with a puzzle I bought him, and then I had to lean on him to give him the grape antibiotic the doctor prescribed for him. He spit it out at first, but I managed to get some in him.”

  “Do you want me to leave work and come hold your hand?” Angel asked.

  He could hear the humor in her voice. “No, I’ll be okay. I can deal with him for a couple of hours. I’ve handled surly Marines before.”

  “He’s not a Marine,” Angel reminded him. “He’s a surly two-year-old.” She paused. “Is he hugging Bunny?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  “Not good. He’s going to have to give that thing up one day.”

  “Why? It’s his security blanket, and possibly his best friend, next to Roy.”

  “I hear you. Dr. Morris already told me that Ethan is not an alien and will probably learn the difference between boys and girls by the time he reaches puberty. And then he’ll be beating the girls off him.”

  Angel chuckled.

  “You’ve loving every minute of this, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I’m getting off at three today because I have to grocery shop. Do you need anything?”

  “Just you,” Harrison answered.

  “Ooh, you’re so sweet. I’ll see you later. Try not to strangle the child.”

  “I won’t,” Harrison promised. “So far he’s been pretty good. I better go check on him.”

  “See you later,” she said.

  Harrison blew her a kiss through the receiver. “See you later.” He hung up.

  ****

  Angel put her cell phone back into her pocket, relieved that Ethan was going to be okay. She blew out a breath of relief and then went back to work on the accounting books and invoices she’d been working on. When her work day ended, she drove to the grocery to pick up the fixings for homemade chicken and vegetable soup, a crusty French bread, and some sugar free frozen pops for Ethan. She went home and took a bath while she waited for the soup to cook. Afterwards, she changed into a comfortable sun dress and then headed next door to check on her two favorite men.

  Harrison opened the door, appearing harried and tired. He kissed her and squeezed her behind as she entered the house.

  “How’s Ethan?”

  “Back to his normal self. I think the nap rejuvenated him. He woke up and he’s been running up and down the house like he’s on a warpath. But right now he’s watching television.”

  Angel stepped around toys as she carried the food to the kitchen. She put the tureen of soup and the bread on the counter and then put the pops into the freezer to harden for Ethan to eat later should the fever return. “Don’t relax too soon. His fever might return tonight.”

  “That’s what the doctor told me. How do you know so much about kids?”

  “I’ve been around enough. Children are susceptible to ear infections, rashes, and colds.” The volume on the television increased. “What is he watching?”

  “SpongeBob,” Harrison answered.

  “Oh,” Angel said. “No wonder he’s ignoring you.”

  “It should be going off shortly and then he’ll want to be bothered with me again. Wait until he finds out you’re here. I think he’s in love with you.”

  “He’s not a bad catch,” Angel said as Harrison backed her into a counter.

  He lowered his head and kissed her. “Should I be jealous?”

  “No,” she answered. “Well, not until he reaches puberty.”

  Harrison chuckled. “That’s not funny.”

  “Hi Angel,” Ethan said from the kitchen door.

  Harrison moved away from her. Ethan had on a pair of camouflage shorts and a dark green short-sleeved t-shirt just like the outfit Harrison wore.

  “Hello, PFC Calloway. Are you having a nice play day with Daddy?”

  Harrison blushed innocently. “I saw the outfit in a store and I couldn’t resist.”

  “Are you guys ready to eat?”

  “Eat,” Ethan repeated as he walked over to Harrison.

  Harrison lifted him and put him into the high chair.

  “I need two big bowls for our soup and a smaller one for Ethan,” Angel told Harrison. She knew his kitchen almost as well as she knew her own, and she also knew that Harrison liked to feel helpful.

  Harrison got the bowls out of the cabinet, rinsed and dried them, and handed them to her.

  Angel ladled the soup into the bowls while Harrison put the bread into the toaster and began searching for things to set the table. Ethan watched them.

/>   “Are you trying to learn how to set a table or are you trying to figure out ways to use this to your advantage?” Angel asked the child.

  Harrison looked over at Ethan.

  “Are you waiting for him to answer?” Angel asked him.

  Harrison nodded.

  Angel smirked, wondering what Harrison would have done had Ethan answered.

  Ethan continued to watch them with an impish smile on his face and Harrison went back to setting the table.

  Angel placed the bigger bowls on the table first and then placed the smaller one next to hers so she could feed Ethan the broth. She had cut the vegetables and chicken small enough so that Ethan wouldn’t choke on them and so he could feed himself once she got enough of the liquids in him.

  Harrison took the toasted bread out of the oven and placed it on the table.

  Angel smiled at him. They worked well together as a team.

  They finally sat down after Harrison poured the glasses of tea and a cup of water for Ethan.

  Angel decided to feed Ethan first. She took Bunny from him and placed him in a chair to the right of her. Ethan looked like he was about to protest, but changed his mind. She dipped the spoon into the bowl and fed Ethan.

  Ethan eyed her curiously, moving the liquid around in his mouth and then swallowing.

  “I guess he’s trying to decide if he likes it or not,” Harrison told her.

  Angel ladled more soup into the spoon. This time, she added bits of vegetable and chicken.

  Ethan made a smacking sound as he ate the mouthful. “Eat,” he said, smiling and kicking his tiny feet beneath the tray of the high chair.

  “I think he likes it,” Angel said, which made her glad because he needed to get enough liquids so he wouldn’t dehydrate.

  “How was your day at work?” Harrison asked.

  “Pretty good,” she answered. “We took the kids out into the yard and let them play for a while to get some exercise.” She paused. “Roy missed Ethan. He kept looking around for him and asking for him. He calls him ‘E.’ He had to end up playing with some of the other kids.”

  Harrison chuckled and went back to eating.

  “The teachers missed him too,” Angel continued. “They all adore him and those big blue eyes. We also had a staff meeting to plan a field trip.”

  “A field trip?’ Harrison asked. “When and where?”

  “Next week to a petting zoo.”

  “That sounds like fun.”

  “It will be. Would you like to come?”

  He looked at her oddly. “To a petting zoo with a bunch of kids?”

  “Yes. It will be fun and we could use more parents to help chaperone.”

  “Okay, what day?” he asked, smiling at her.

  “Tuesday morning at nine.”

  “Pencil me in,” Harrison said, finishing up his soup. “I’ll bring my camera. I need to start taking pictures and videos of my son. He’s growing up so fast, and I’ve missed out on so much already.”

  “You sound like a father,” Angel teased.

  “I’m trying real hard to learn to be one,” he admitted. “Thanks for the help.”

  Angel winked at him and then placed the bowl of soup on the tray of the high chair for Ethan to enjoy.

  ****

  Ethan’s fever did return that evening, but this time Harrison stayed up and assisted Angel in bathing him in cool water and reading to him. The fever disappeared around midnight, giving the two adults a little time together. They made love slowly and quietly, afraid that they might disturb Ethan’s rest. Harrison just wanted to keep thrusting inside of Angel and keep her coming. He didn’t even mind the scratches she made in his shoulders and back to express her emotions.

  “Ah!” Angel said as she rolled her pussy in time to his thrusts. Moments later, she drowned his probing member with her juices.

  Harrison moved her from his lap onto her back with a gentle turn and pushed inside her again. He sighed contently, gliding in and out with her natural moisture.

  Angel recuperated quickly and wrapped her legs around his waist to help him achieve release.

  His body strained to fight off the approaching orgasm, but her pussy was so good he just couldn’t hold off any longer. He grasped her by the hips, moved her body back and forth, and humped her with powerful jabs. He made a hissing sound as his body jerked and he shot cum deep inside of her.

  Angel stopped moving beneath him so he could enjoy the afterglow.

  Harrison let go of her hips to wipe the sweat from his face. He eased out of her and lay down beside her, exhausted and satisfied. Angel moved until she rested her head on his chest. Her damp braids tickled and her warm breath felt soothing against his skin.

  Ethan’s whine woke them up several hours later.

  Angel lifted her warm body from his and Harrison slipped into a pair of pajama pants to go and see to him.

  Angel followed, having donned her sundress.

  Ethan saw them and jumped up and down on his toddler bed excitedly.

  “Where are the tears?” Harrison asked, checking Ethan’s brow for fever. “No tears and the fever is gone.”

  “Why does he look so lively?” Angel asked, yawning. “It’s one in the morning.”

  Harrison tried to lay Ethan back down on his bed, but Ethan wrapped his arms tightly around his neck.

  “No,” he said. “Eat.”

  Angel chuckled.

  “You’re going to have nightmares if you eat this time of night,” Harrison told him.

  Ethan kissed him on the cheek.

  “I’ll steam him some vegetables,” Angel said, turning and heading out of the room.

  “Okay, eat,” Harrison said. “But first let me change you out of that wet diaper.” He had to walk to the dresser to get the disposable diaper and wipes with Ethan still clinging to his neck. “No more liquids for you after six for you once the ear infection goes away. You’re a big boy now and diapers are for babies.”

  Ethan wiggled and laughed while he changed him. “I think if you can figure out how to get in and out of things, you’re smart enough to use the potty during the night.” Harrison disposed of the diaper and then carried the playful Ethan to the kitchen.

  ****

  Ethan returned to day care the next day, much to the excitement of Roy. They found the child waiting for Ethan to enter the classroom. Most of the other two-year olds were glad to see him too. But it was very clear to Harrison that Roy didn’t plan to share him.

  “See you later, Ethan,” Harrison said.

  Ethan waved quickly and dismissed him to play with Roy.

  “See what I get for staying up with his sick butt,” Harrison said to Angel.

  Angel just chuckled and walked him to the door. “He still loves you, but sorry, you’re not more exciting than another two-year old.”

  Harrison left the day care and walked down the street to the dojo. Bill and Frank had already arrived and were busy getting two of the rooms ready for their older students who had retired but wanted to keep in shape. Harrison didn’t have the class until six…a class of beginners aged five to eight. He shuddered. It was a class of recruits just like boot camp. There would probably be a few who cried, and some over-achievers who liked to kick. He chuckled to himself, waiting for the time when he’d have to train Ethan. At two, Ethan displayed a real good sense of balance and he wasn’t afraid of anything except getting his hair washed.

  Harrison busied himself with paperwork, checking medical forms and logging in tuition checks. He heard the other instructors as they taught class. Bill and Frank went easier on the older guys because their bones weren’t as strong as they used to be and the movements were limited.

  By four, he’d finished, talked to Angel, and then started preparing for his class. At six, he looked down at a class of about thirty students, all decked out in their white do-baks. Cute, he thought. Only one child cried and he stopped as soon as another child talked to him.

  Tyrone, Everett’s son, was
also in his class. Tyrone was tall for five and took to the lessons like a trooper. The class ended at seven and parents took away their offspring so they could go home to dinner and perhaps study. He arrived at the day care at seven-thirty to pick up his own little ankle biter and then they went grocery shopping because they were running low on vegetables.

  Harrison had promised Angel some chicken. He made it the last stop so the chicken could be warm when they reached home.

  Angel arrived carrying a SpongeBob DVD with a smile.

  Ethan made a mess of himself eating the mashed potatoes and gravy and had a fit when Angel put him in the tub and washed his hair. She lost some brownie points in Ethan’s heart for doing this, but she won them back when she put the SpongeBob movie into the DVD player.

  The three of them sat in the den and watched together.

  “I never thought I would be doing this,” Harrison said, trying to figure out what kids saw in this cartoon.

  “SpongeBob is cool,” Angel said. “Kids love his voice, his color, and all the other characters.”

  “Why?” Harrison asked. “It’s silly.”

  “Not to kids,” she said. “And it does keep them occupied.”

  Ethan hadn’t moved from his seat except to laugh.

  “Do you think he understands what he’s watching?” Harrison asked.

  Angel shrugged. “He is laughing at the right parts.”

  Harrison raised his arms. “I’m for anything that keeps him happy, but I would like him to watch Sesame Street.”

  “He gets to watch that twice a day at the day care,” Angel said. “He needs some SpongeBob to relax after a busy day.”

  Harrison chuckled and shook his head. “What about me? I’ve had a busy day too.”

  “Later,” she told him with a saucy little smile. “I’m sure we can find a little adult entertainment on the television.”

  Ethan’s fever didn’t return that night. In fact, he went to bed after the movie ended. True to her word, Angel found Harrison an adult channel after they tucked Ethan into his bed for the night.

  Chapter Nine