Serial - Suddenly Daddy Part 34

You watch Poppy go.  You still couldn't believe she had taken your side against her own father.  You worried about that kid.  What was all that she said to Roger about going to the media?  Why had he been so frightened of that statement?  Whatever it was it surely wasn't good.  You were happy she'd be with the family this weekend and not here by herself.  

You return your attention to your boy.

Your hand cups under Jeremy's cheek and jaw, your thumb strokes his smooth cheek.  It had suddenly gotten real quiet.  Your eyes slowly scan up his beautiful face to stare into his azure eyes.  You are suddenly struck speechless.  So was he.

You slow, gently, tenderly stroke his hair and down along his neck.  He shivers at your touch.  Leaning forward you give him a feather soft kiss.

You clear your throat.  “Umm...you okay my boy?”

He giggles lightly.  “You already asked.  I'm okay now.”  He grins and lays his head down on your chest, his arms hold you tight around your middle.

“Sorry you had to see that.”  You whisper to him.  “I shouldn't have...done that.”

He just holds on to you and lets you hold him.  Surely feeling more safe and secure and loved in your strong embrace.   He is quiet a time before he finally says.  “That was...pretty great of Poppy.  Backing you up like that.  Sorry I didn't help...  I tried to stand up to him, before you got here...but...I...he...”  His voice trails off before he whispers.  “I'm not strong like you.”

You stroke his head.  “Shh.  It's okay my boy, it's okay.  You're stronger than you think you are.  You did great.”

You hug him tight, holding his head to your chest.  You were so happy to have him safe in your arms.  More than happy.  The intensity of your emotions in that moment takes you completely off guard.  The drama of the previous few minutes followed hard by this tender intimate connection...it had you reeling.  You were short of breath, your heart beat like a drum, you could feel a rush of blood to your face.  You actually had to blink tears from your eyes.  

You loved your boy so fucking much it almost hurt!

How had he gotten to you so quickly?  You were head over heels for the young man!  It had been a long looong time since you felt like this about someone, since you fell for someone this hard and this fast.  The last time probably when you were a teenager yourself.  Since you were a teen...since your first love back in high school.  Rebecca, the first girl you'd fallen for.  Jeremy was the first boy you'd fallen for.  Even though it was his femininity that had you so physically attracted to him, he was still a boy.  A tiny worry germinates within you.  Was this just puppy love all over again?  Your first crush?  Your first adolescent sexual infatuation?  Was that even possible at your age?  Would this all end in pain and heartbreak once the novelty wore off?

You hug him even tighter.  You wouldn't let that happen.  He coos happily, relaxing even more in your arms.

Your slender girlish boy simultaneously made you feel both old and wise as well as young and full of life.  Claire and Jeremy gave you very different things.  Different but equal things.  You loved them both so much.

You hold him for a few long intimate minutes.  He finally says in his soft voice.  “Are you okay Ted?”

You say in a low serious tone.  “Jeremy sweetie.  If you want me just to be your Daddy, you need to tell me now okay.  I...I love you kid, but...if you just need a father, without the other stuff, I'll be that for you.  I understand.  But I need to know soon.”

Jeremy hugs you with all his strength.  “Can't we have both?  Mom and I talked this morning.  She said it was complicated but...she said she wouldn't stand between us.”  He then laughs.  “I mean, we'll have to let her watch sometimes, but that's just Mom being Mom.”

You chuckle at that.  Fuck this family was nuts.  This family...your family.  Your heart sings.  You hadn't known them long but you now couldn't imagine your life without them.  You wonder again whether Claire had been joking about that marriage comment.

He asks again.  “So, you're okay Ted?”

Taking him by the shoulders you look at him and grin.  “I have never been better!  Hey, come on.  I got something for you.”

His pretty face lights up.  “You got something for me!?

You nod quickly, caught up in his youthful enthusiasm.  “It's in the truck.”  You motion toward the door.  He leans up and gives you a little peck to the lips then pulls away.

As he slips his shoes on you step outside first to make sure Roger was gone.  You see no sign of him.  You could still see broken bits of his phone on the sidewalk.  He had obviously beat a hasty retreat.  As Jeremy steps out and beside you you slide your hand down the curve of his lithe waist and slide it into the back pocket of his tight shorts.  You give his tight little ass a nice grope.  He looks at you in surprise.  This was a very public display of affection.  Once more the sale lady's words call out in your mind.  Be reckless, fall in love like it's your first time, act like a fool.  Well...acting like a fool wouldn't be a problem for you.

That beaming smile returns to him once more, he reaches around you and takes a handful of your ass as well.  He presses himself into your side and the pair of you make your way to your garbage truck proud as could be.  You take him to the passenger side door and open it up.  An unexpected bout of nerves hits you hard as you reach up to take the bag off the seat.  What if he didn't like it?  What if he hated it?  Did he even wear scarves?  Would this be too much?  Too little?  You were suddenly a bundle of nerves.

You trip over your words.  “Uh...um...It was just...a little thing I saw.”  Fuckin hell, where was your usual confidence?  You were shook.  You pull the box from the bag and hesitantly hand it to him.  “If you don't like it that's okay, I can just return it or whatever.”  You shrug as if it was no big thing.

You hold your breath as you watch him open it.  His beautiful sky blue eyes go wide as he sees the folded silk.  His mouth opens as he gasps.  …  He just stares at it.  Slowly he reaches out to touch it, running his fingertips over the surface.  You shift from foot to foot as you awaited his reaction.  …  A huge bright smile lights his young features.  “Oh!  It's...it's beautiful!”

You let out a sudden breath, you were able to breathe again.  That incredible smile just now was worth every last dollar you had spent on this gift.  You smile and blush.  “You like it?  I-I'm glad.  I just kinda saw it and...I thought of you...ya know...I'm glad you like it.”  God, you were stammering like a love struck schoolboy.

“I love it!”  He exclaims.  “Oh my god...Dad...it's...it's just...so beautiful.  This is Mulberry silk!  This is so nice...oh wow!”  You hold the box from the bottom and allow him to pull it out with both hands.  “It's a scarf!  A...a woman's scarf.”  His clear blue eyes scan over it, his slender fingers and thumb feeling the sleek smooth quality.  You pull the box away and toss it back into the cab.  Jeremy pulls has hands apart, allowing the luxurious fabric to flow through his palms.  He says in a breathless whisper.  “No one's ever...oh, no one's ever done something like this...for me.”

He looks up into your eyes.  You see his previous infatuation with you had deepened and transformed into something much more true and substantial.  His joy as pure and brilliant as the sun in the sky.

He throws his arms around you and gives you a quick hard kiss.  He bounces back again to continue looking over the exquisite silk.  He is mesmerized by it, fawning over it's supple glistening blue waves.

He smiles.  “Would you put it on me?”  He asks.

You nod and take the scarf from him.  You drape it over his thin neck, then wrap it around once.  The matching color of the garment, the whole reason it had grabbed your attention, indeed accentuates the flawless azure blue of his eyes.  There is almost a radiance to them as they look at you just now.  You straighten the scarf out and loosen it a bit so it wasn't too tight.  As you look at him he is looking at you, seeing the approval in your eyes he glows with pride.  He looks down at it and begins stroking it and feeling it once more.

“Oh, it is soooo nice.  Feels so nice against my skin.”  He says.

“You make it look good.”  You reply.  “Do, um, do you have a dress or something this might go with?”

He looks up once more and giggles.  “Yeah, I think so.  Do you want me to wear a dress tonight?”

You clear your throat and shift from foot to foot.  “Um...I mean if you want.  I'd...I'd kinda like that.  Only if you want to though, ya know.”

He giggles again.  “Dad.  I could wear girls clothes most of the time if you want.”

You blush.  “You...you don't mind do you?  You just...you look so good...”

He places a dainty hand on your chest.  “Mind?  Oh my god, I'd love to!”

You slip your hands around his narrow waist, interlocking your fingers behind the small of his back you pull him close.  “That's my boy.”

He is all smiles as he continues to admire his gift.  “Mmmm, this feels so nice.”  He takes the longer end hanging from his neck and wraps it twice around his right wrist.  He then tightens it up and gives it a little test tug.  “Mmmm.  So nice against the skin.  You could tie it pretty tight.”  He glances up at you with smoldering playful eyes.

You laugh.  You hadn't even thought about tying him up with it.  Leave it to Jeremy's mind to go there right away.  He continues to admire it for a time.  You simply happy to watch him be happy.

It is then that you notice a young married couple walks by looking at the pair of you.  The guy just gives you a glance and smiles and nods hello, probably mistaking Jeremy for a young woman.  The wife however gives you an odd look of disapproval, her face screwing up in disgust.  You weren't sure if it was the age discrepancy or if she saw through Jeremy's girlish look and it was the male on male show of affection that she didn't like.  You realized that you better get used to such looks one way or the other.

You ignore them and return your attention to Jeremy.  “My boy...I gotta go.  I really gotta go.  I'm going to be in so much shit already.”  He nods in understanding.  You continue.  “Remember to pick up those supplies and stuff.”

He rolls his eyes as a child does with an exasperating parent.  “Daaaad, I know!”  You both laugh.  He nibbles his bottom lip in that adorable way he has.  “Um, I think I'll bring a few of my...things...too.”

You continue to laugh as you shake your head.  “Sure, sure.”  You step back from him and take him by the shoulders, staring him in the eye.  “If you need anything, or if Roger comes back, don't hesitate to call me okay?”

He nods.  “I know.  Thank you.”

You take him and share a long deep kiss, he melts inside your embrace.  Your loving passionate kiss soon begins to escalate.  You finally push off of him.  “Damn it!  Stop making this so hard!”

He laughs his feminine laugh and shoots you a wink.  “Fine, I'll make it hard later then.  Bye Dad!”

You groan at his bad joke.  You hoped no one heard that.  You shake your head and laugh as you make your way around to the driver's side.  “See you tonight.”  You call back as you watch him head toward the house.

He stands on the stoop and waves you goodbye as you drive your truck up the street.  You wave back...and then you put the hammer down!