Chapter 10: 09- Them Kids, Not Kids Kids

09

Saturday finally came which meant tomorrow’s Sunday and there’s no work. Oh and today meant Allie’s birthday too.

Ever since Tuesday, Blake and I would hang out before he had to go to work after dropping Liam off. This became my ritual recently for the past few days and I secretly hoped it would last forever.

Dani and Marcs have been a more pain in the ass ever since. They kept on teasing me, and embarrassing me in front of Blake. They were like a gift sent from the devil himself to torment me every single day. Even when Blake wasn’t around and I was on the phone, they’d automatically presume it’s Blake- it’s not, and start nudging me, or write inappropriate stuff on a piece of paper and show it to me.

I brought Liam with me to work today since I didn’t want to leave him alone anywhere. He’s in the comfort of my office, coloring and watching Disney.

I was in the decorating room with Dani, finalizing Allie’s birthday cake.

It was a simple three tiered round cake. It alternated with pink fondant, chocolate brown, and the top was also pink. The design was simple. I had hand piped filigree designs all over it in white and gold. Allie’s name was in the middle tier. There were star shaped cake pops in sticks on the top to look like fireworks. The number four was in the middle of the makeshift fireworks.

“You really went the extra mile for Blake’s daughter, huh?” Dani smirked.

I rolled my eyes. “What are you talking about?”

She picked up the a piping bag beside me. “You insisted on doing all of the filigree designs on the cake by yourself.”

“Your point is?” I cocked my head to one side. “I can pipe; of course I can do it.”

“That’s not what I meant.” She said. “What I was trying to say is that you usually don’t do all the designs by yourself. Even in baking the cake, you don’t but with Blake, you did everything yourself for the past few days.”

I shrugged. “I haven’t made a tiered cake all by myself for a while now so I thought why not rebuff my skills?”

“Fine, keep telling yourself that.” She rolled her eyes at me. Okay? “What do you want me to do with this?”

She raised up her left hand showing me the piping bag she just took.

I shrugged. “Go and make rosettes or something like that.”

She stared at me flatly.

“What?” I asked in confusion. “Did I say something?”

She thrust the bag to me. “You do it. Your roses look so much better.”

“There’s not much difference Dani.” I snorted. “Stop being so over dramatic.”

“Come one,” she elbowed my on my side. “Wouldn’t it be better if you did it? You can brag to Blake that you did it all by yourself.”

“Why would I do that?” I rolled my eyes. “Nothing is going on between us Dani.”

“Sure.” She responded, dragging the word with her as she mimicked me, rolling her eyes.

I ignored her for the most part of the day until it was time to deliver the cake. Liam was with me, sitting on the passenger’s seat as I drove to Blake’s house. He was excited so much that the schoolboy grin never left his lips, his grasp on the paper bag where a bear he built in Build-A –Bear on Sunday lied never loosened.

I came by a house where a few kids with moms went in, and I automatically know this his. I parked the truck nearest to his house which thankfully was just right outside. I pulled the key out of the ignition and dropped it in the pocket of my chef whites and opened the door. Liam bolted out faster than the speed of light.

“Wait for me Liam.” I told him.

“Okay.” He nodded and trailed me going to the back of the truck.

Opening it, I prayed nothing had happened. Sure the road had no bumps and we didn’t really swivel out of the way nor did I make any sharp turns but still. Anything could happen and I could destroy Allie’s cake.

I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw everything was still intact. I mentally sent a prayer of thanks.

Fishing my phone from my jeans, I dialed Blake’s and he picked up on the third ring.

“Bethany?” his familiar voice was on the other line.

“Hi. Uh, I’m outside now.” I mutter, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. “Should I just go in or is this cake a surprise?”

“Uh,” he hesitated. “No just stay right there. I’ll go get you.”

“Mm, okay.”

I climbed inside and took out a trolley table that was tightly strapped on the sides and placed the cake on top when I was already down.

“Bethany.” A voice came from behind me.

I turned around and found Blake in a grey button down shirt and in dark charcoal jeans. His hair wasn’t the same as I saw him this morning. His usual slightly gelled back hair was now in messy but in a good way look like he had ran his fingers through them at least ten times.

“Blake.” I acknowledged him.

He raised his index finger and motioned me to follow him. Liam was in tow too.

Blake led us to the back door and stopped us from entering.

“Go in about thirty seconds after me, straight to the living room.” He ordered, his gray eyes on the white painted wooden door.

I nodded in response as Blake headed in with Liam. I was now alone outside, tapping my foot at the ground, mentally counting to thirty.

It wasn’t hot out anymore. The sun was about to set, sending beautiful colors through the horizon. Looking at the multi colored sky, I admired the different shades of purple and orange that decorated it. Birds in flocks soared through the sky making the view even more beautiful.

I frowned. It was never this beautiful at home.

Taking out a lighter from my pocket, I started igniting the makeshift fireworks.

Twenty nine.

Thirty.

I came to a stop and opened the door. Sliding my way in through the bustling kids, I finally made it to the living room where everyone’s eyes and attention were directed at me. The kindling sparks literally caught everyone’s attention, even Blake’s.

Allie who was dressed in a pink dress that somehow made her look like a Disney princess had a huge grin on her face as she stared at the cake wide eyed, her jaw dropped. Blake looked pretty impressed himself, with his arms crossed over his well-built chest, his head nodding with a small smile playing on his lips.

When I reached them, Blake announced.

“Surprise.” He picked up Allie from the ground so that she was now eye level with the cake. “Happy birthday princess. Do you like it?”

Allie opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She just nodded dynamically and threw her arms around her father’s neck.

“Thank you!” she squealed and clapped her hands excitedly.

Blake messed up his daughter’s hair. “Okay princess, make a wish.”

Allie instantly squeezed her eyes shut, her mouth muttering something none of us could hear and when she was done, she opened her eyes again and blew out the fireworks.

Everyone- which was composed of mostly kids and a few chaperones of kids whose parents have too much money to spend- clapped and cheered. Blake had set Allie down and went by beside me with a knife in his hand and a bunch of paper plates in the other.

“That is completely edible, right?”

“What?”

He nodded, looking skeptical. “You know, safe to eat?”

I stare at him flatly, ignoring his latest words. “Yeah it is.”

“No Styrofoam? Or some other things?

I sighed. “The entire cake is made of well, cake and frosting.”

“Great.” He thrusts the knife to me. “Could you start slicing? The kids are already eyeing this.”

I laughed and started slicing the cake into thin triangle pieces and lifted them to the paper plates in Blake’s hand as he gives them to the awaiting children.

Cake, the secret to children’s heart.

When we were done, I helped Blake move the cake to the kitchen where Liam and Allie were, all alone, eating cake. Oh sweet Jesus.

“He’s smooth.” I muttered, a grin plastered on my face. “Real smooth.”

“What is?” Blake asked me and when his eyes landed on the two little lovebirds in his dining table, a small smile escaped his lips. “Well then, if he hurts Allie that boy is going to get it.”

I laughed. “I should go now.” I gestured my hands towards the back door where I entered earlier.

Before I could even step closer to the door, a hand on my wrist stopped me from doing so.

“Stay.”

I shook my head. “I can’t, I still have to go back to the bakery and finish things up. My car is still there anyways. And besides this is a children’s party that I came as a baker who delivered the cake.”

Blake frowned at me. “When I asked you if Liam was coming, I also meant it for you.”

Now I feel bad, and utterly embarrassed but thank the heavens I didn’t blush. But this still doesn’t change the fact that I still have work to do, and my car. I do not want to drive home in the truck. It won’t fit in the garage.

“I still have work though, and my car…” I trailed off, looking down at my sneaker clad feet. “And I’m in my uniform, not dressed for a party.”

“It’s a children’s party.” He said, staring at me flatly.

I sighed, giving in. I guess sending more time with him won’t hurt, right? “All right. I could just do the work on Monday and get my car afterwards.”

“Great!” Blake smacked his palms together, his gray eyes twinkling and his mood lifted. “Come, let’s leave them alone,” he cocked his head towards the direction of the dining table. “And feed you.”

He grabbed my shoulders and pushed me back to the living room. We stopped at an almost empty kid’s table and he pushed my shoulders down, making me sit on the small plastic chairs. A girl wearing a red princess party hat sat in front of me, looking at me weirdly, as she slowly ate her food.

Well talk about awkward.

“Uh, hi.” I tried to start a conversation, well tried. I don’t think she heard me because she was still forking up the food in her mouth. For such a small girl, she ate a lot.

Blake came back moments later, carrying two plates containing at least a mountain’s worth of food. “Here, eat.”

“That’s a lot.”

He shrugged. “It’s snack and dinner for you then.”

I stared at the plates. It contained mac and cheese, lasagna, and mini pizzas in the first; chips, fries, chicken nuggets, and an assortment of dips in the other.

“Well for one if I was Liam’s mom, I would reprimand you for serving such unhealthy food to kids.” I took a chicken nugget and held it in my fingers. “But since I’m not, I have to say that this has got to be some super snack or something.”

“Super snack?” he stared at me for a moment and was about to open his mouth to say something when his eyes landed on the little girl who sat in front of us. “Oh hello Amanda.”

“Hello.” She greeted back. I made a face. She won’t say hi to me but she’d say hello to Blake? This is unfair.

“This is Bethany.” He placed his arm on my shoulder. “And Bethany, this is Amanda. She’s my boss’s daughter.”

“Hello Amanda.” I smiled. This is take two and this time, she finally says hello back to me.

Blake suddenly stood up when I finished eating. I stared down at the plastic plates in front of me. It was empty. Blake had forced me to eating them all- he says I’m too skinny which I am not- and when he realized my stomach couldn’t take any more he unwillingly (although I bet he was very much willing to) help me finish the food.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me up. “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?” I asked, trying to balance my newfound weight after eating probably over three pounds of food. “What about the kids?”

A blush blossomed on my cheeks. That didn’t sound like what I wanted it to. I wasn’t saying our kids, just Allie- which is literally his kid, and Liam which is my nephew.

“I meant Allie and Liam.” I uttered quickly, trying to recover what had clumsily slipped out of my mouth. “Them kids, not kids kids.”

Blake chuckled out loud, clutching his stomach with his other hand that wasn’t on my shoulder. I furrowed my eyebrows together. What was so funny? Did I have something in my face? A slab of the dip? Sauce from the lasagna?

“God, you’re cute when you get embarrassed.” He said answering my question as if he heard it. Or did he? “I’m being a terrible host.”

“You are?”

“Yes.” He nodded and guided me away from the tables. “I should show you around. Something I should’ve done before I shoved down a mountain’s worth of food down your throat.” He admitted, looking down the floor, rubbing his nape.

This caused me to grin. “I don’t mind. The food is delicious by the way.”

“Thanks. Those were the only edible things I could make.”

Blake dropped his hand from my shoulder to my wrist as he led me up the stairs. I couldn’t help but feel a little giddy as my heart raced faster when his hand grasped my wrist. I started feeling conscious about it. Was wrist too big or too small? Did he like small wrists?

I smacked myself mentally. I sounded like an obsessed stalker.

There were only a few doors as we passed the hallway. He dragged me to the last one, the furthest from the staircase.

“This is my room. Allie sleeps with me here sometimes when she wants to.” He motioned his head towards the door. “You want to take a look?”

I tilted my head to the side. Why was he asking me that? This was his house. “It’s up to you.”

“Well I haven’t had time to clean up, so sorry about that.” He sighed and pushed the doors open.

I was expecting clothes littered on the ground or piled up in a corner, or a few crumpled papers scattered over the floor like a typical teenage boy’s room. I was mistaken. It was spotless. No clothing randomly thrown around or a paper out of place. Well, typically he is a man already, not a teenage boy.

“What mess are you talking about?” I blurted out when I laid my eyes on his room. “It’s so clean!”

I have to admit; even my room was sort of messier than this.

He looked embarrassed. “Well I guess living with Stephanie for years made me some kind of neat freak then.”

“Stephanie?” I asked, now confused.

He nodded. “She’s my wife. Well, ex-wife since she passed.”

“Oh.” I lamely responded. I didn’t know what to say so instead, I took a brave step forward and looked around. A flat screen television was mounted on the wall with the king sized bed across it with matching end tables beside it. There was a loveseat in front of the bed. A dresser was plastered on the side. A full length mirror was placed by one of the corners, against the dresser but what caught my eye was the photo mounted on top of the dresser.

It was a close up of Blake and what I assume was Stephanie on their wedding day.  She looked gorgeous. Even though the photo was in black and white, I could clearly see she had brown colored hair; the same shade as Allie’s that was kept up in a neat bun. Their eyes locked into each other’s with a real genuine happy smile.

“She’s beautiful.” I muttered, my eyes never leaving the picture.

“She is.” Blake let out a breath beside me.

It felt like something dropped on my gut. Something that felt like weighed a ton. I wasn’t jealous. No, that wasn’t it. Why would I be? Stephanie was his wife and the mother of his child, of course he’d have a picture of them on their wedding day. Of course he’d say she’s beautiful. It’s a given.

What made my stomach churn was that how good they looked and that I felt like the third party. I felt like Blake was cheating on Stephanie with me. I felt like I was intruding a happy marriage. I know she’s gone but seeing it made me uncomfortable.

I felt like I was interfering.  I felt like I was that kind of woman.

“Are you okay Bethany? You look a little pale.” Blake let go of my wrist and this time held my hand.

A mixture of butterflies and whipping was what I felt. And let me tell you it doesn’t feel good.

I didn’t even realize my hands were shaking until Blake held me, calming my nerves.  Using his other hand, he placed it on my back to soothe me.

“Breath Bethany.”

I blinked a couple of times to get back to my senses and let out a breath I didn’t know I held. Turning to face Blake, he looked worried, his eyebrows knitted together as his gray eyes bored into mine.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concern dripped from his tone, leading me to the bed. He gently let me sit and I did so. “Are you alright?”

I nodded timidly, opening my mouth to say something but just couldn’t find my voice. In the end, I closed my mouth and said nothing.

***

I don't get why this chapter turned Sugar Rush to PG 13. Seriously.