The Friends We Keep

“You are so annoying.”


“Back at you. Now give me the celery and I’ll chop it.”

*

Nicole handed over the frosted cupcake. Jairus dusted it with sprinkles and put it next to the others. Tyler was having friends over tomorrow and she wanted to get the baking out of the way. Jairus had offered to help.

He studied their completed cupcakes. “Nice. We’re a good team.”

“If only you did windows,” she teased. “Then this would be perfect.”

“I have the name of a company that does windows. Does that count?”

“Not in the least.”

She carried the empty frosting bowl over to the sink and filled it with water. There were a dozen cupcakes. Eight for tomorrow and four for them. Well, three and one spare that she was planning on sending home with Jairus.

Because, despite the fact that they had been lovers for a few weeks now, he wasn’t spending the night. She was careful about that. Their time together consisted of stolen moments. No matter how much she enjoyed having Jairus around, she didn’t want Tyler getting too attached. In case things didn’t work out.

When she found herself thinking there was a chance...that this was special, she remembered what had happened with Eric. How he was so disinterested in his only son that he was willing to sign away his rights.

She’d been to a lawyer, had talked to her friends and still didn’t have an answer. Next week she would speak to a child psychologist to get her take on the right path. Forcing Eric to be a father when he didn’t want to be wasn’t right, but letting him simply disappear—was that so much better?

She wanted to believe he would change his mind. That one day he would regret what he was giving up. But she wasn’t sure that would ever happen.

“What are you thinking?” Jairus asked gently.

“The Eric thing. I don’t know what to do. No one has the answer.”

“You’re looking for someone to tell you what to say that will change him. You think there are words that will turn him into someone who wants to spend as much time with his son as possible.” He put his arm around her. “A great sentiment, but it’s not going to happen. Eric is what he is.”

“A selfish jerk?”

“Pretty much.”

She knew Jairus was right. There wasn’t a magical solution. There was only what was best for Tyler.

“Speaking of my son, he’s been quiet for a while.” She started for his bedroom.

Jairus kept pace with her. “He said he wanted to work on a few drawings.”

“Thanks to you, he’s getting good at doing Brad.”

“Maybe he has a future as a cartoonist.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready for my son to become your apprentice in the Brad department,” she said with a laugh. “I already feel that dragon overwhelms me.”

“He’s a good guy and you can handle it.”

They walked into Tyler’s room. He sat at his small table. There were crayons spread all around. On the far wall, the nearly finished mural glowed with light and color. It was an impressive piece of art, she thought. A thoughtful gift from a man who genuinely liked kids. Jairus would never walk away from his child. He would give 100 percent.

“What are you working on?” she asked.

Tyler grinned at her. “I did a drawing of all of us,” he said proudly and showed it to them.

The picture was clear. Tyler and Nicole and Jairus stood together, along with Brad. They were all holding hands.

“Cool,” she said, kneeling next to him. “I really like the colors.”

Brad was his usual red, while the rest of them wore clothes.

“You’re getting better all the time,” Jairus told him. “Great trees there in the backyard.”

“Thanks.” He pointed to the paper. “Did you see we’re a family, Mommy? You and me and Jairus and Brad. Brad’s like my brother.”

Nicole nodded and kept smiling. It was easy because she couldn’t actually move and she’d been smiling before he spoke. Cold numbed her and dread made her so heavy, she was a statue. Only her mind kept moving.

The thoughts tumbled through her. Regret. Fear. The knowledge that she should have seen this disaster coming.

She’d been so careful to keep things light. To not let Tyler know she and Jairus had fallen for each other. But her son hadn’t needed to know any of that to assume. To care. All he’d needed was time with a good man. Because while Tyler might not miss his father, he had a hardwired need to have a father figure in his life.

Nicole tried to tell herself that no harm had been done. That Jairus wouldn’t hurt the boy. Only, what happened if the relationship ended? Tyler would be devastated. She’d wanted to spare him that and she hadn’t. She’d put her child in harm’s way. All because she thought Jairus was sexy.

Jairus pulled her to her feet. “We have cupcakes,” he said, his expression tight but his voice friendly. “Want me to bring you one?”

Tyler nodded. “Yes, please.”