Serial - Suddenly Daddy Part 25

You just get your pants up and your cock away as Claire walks through the door.  She was on her phone speaking with someone and she stops dead both in her tracks and her conversation.  You hurried zip up your pants and fasten everything up as Claire says.  “Uhhh...I'll have to call you back.”

She looks over your shirtless body, the cuffs and head harness lying to your right and left, the box of Jeremy's stuff in front of you, your rustled hair, your flush face.  She shakes her head.  You say breathlessly.  “Hey baby, how was work?”

“How was work?  What the hell is this?  Did you have a surprise planned for me but you just couldn't wait?”  She swings the door closed behind her.  “Jesus, this is some sight to come home to.”

“Err...uh, Poppy and I were just...uh...you know.” You say like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.

“Oh?  I thought you liked Jeremy.”  She says.

You bow your head and look even more guilty.  “Um, well, he and I kind of did it earlier today...”

She looks at you in astonishment.  “Jesus Christ Ted!  I know I said it was okay...but pace yourself man!  Save some for me will you?”  She looks concerned.  “I mean, I am glad you're open minded about us but...you seem a little TOO into this.  You're not just here for the sex I hope.”

By this point you are putting your shirt back on.  “Of course not!”  You get up and finally go to meet her.  You hug her round the waist, she is looking at you suspiciously.  “Hey, I'm here for you Claire.  I like what we have.  I like your kids.  Not just for...that stuff.”  You motion back toward the sofa.  “I think Jeremy and I really made a connection today.  He's a good kid.”

This melts her frosty demeanor.  She smiles and kisses you.  “I'm glad to hear that.  Hey, I wasn't expecting you here.  Are you sticking around tonight?”

“If I am welcome.”

Her smile widens.  “Of course you are Ted.”  The pair of you come together for a longer, more intimate kiss.  Stroking your shoulders she says.  “I like having you around.  I never cared for sleeping alone.”

You nod happily. “Me neither.”  You take her coat from her shoulders and hang it up for her.  She has her phone in her hand.  “I really should call this client back.”  She points to the box.  “Could you get rid of that?”  She asks.  You nod as you go to collect the cuffs and harness and put them back in the box.  You pick up the torn condom wrapper and pocket it.  She then says.  “Oh and...whatever Poppy said to you while you two did it...sorry about that.  She's a wild child that one.”  She turns and heads into the kitchen, phone at her ear.  Now she tells you.

Picking up the box you head upstairs.  You approach Jeremy's door, it was closed.  You knock softly.  Poppy's door was open a crack and you could hear her talking with someone on the phone.

“Yeah I did.  Yeah I did.  Nope, I'm serious.  Uh huh.  You shoulda seen him go!”  There is a torrent of laughter and then she adds.  “Not too bad for an old guy I guess...but I thought he was going to have a heart attack or something!  Ha ha ha ha ha!  His face was so red!  Ha ha ha ha ha!”

Aw, for fuck's sake...she was telling her friends now?  Did she tell them everything?  That was the teen girl stereotype.  Stereotypes come from somewhere.  Shit, you had a feeling you wouldn't hear the end of this from the little brat.  Shaking your head you ignore the girl talk happening down the hall and knock once more on Jeremy's door.

A very glum Jeremy opens the door.  His make up and pony tail were gone, his hair hung loose around his head.  He wore plain shorts and a loose white t shirt.  He doesn't say anything, he doesn't even make eye contact with you.  “I brought your stuff back.”  You say.

He takes the box from you and begins to close his door.  You put up your hand to stop it.  “Hey, what's that matter my boy?”  You ask him gently.  He wants to say something, you could tell he did.  It is quiet in the hall until you hear another round of giggles from Poppy's room.

She squeals in hilarity.  “It's true!  I fuckin kept it!  Ha ha ha ha ha!”

At hearing this Jeremy's bottom lip pouts out, his eyes look pained.  “Hey, don't listen to her...okay?  That was just a bit of fun.”  You say.  “You guys...your Mom said...you guys are all liberated and shit right?  Free love or whatever.”

He shakes his head.  He was still refusing to look at you.  He was angry, he was jealous, he was upset, and he was sad.  All at once.  He didn't want to talk to you right now.  You could actually see a tear in his eye!  You pull your hand down and he closes the door in front of you.  Despite what Claire had said obvious not everyone in this family was as lassez-faire about this free love stuff as she was.  You knew he was a sensitive boy, you knew how he felt about you, you knew how Poppy was going to hold this over him...fuck.

He was being a hypocrite.  No two ways about it.  He had been happy enough for his Mom to share you with him, but now he didn't want to share you with Poppy.  He may have been hypocritical, but that didn't make you feel any better about it.  You think back to how happy he'd been in your arms after your lunch hour tryst.  You think about how sad he looked just now.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.  You should have talked to him first.  You rest the palm of your hand on his closed door.  You hoped he was okay.

You head back down stairs and then outside to grab your overnight bag again.  You start considering bringing some items over here permanently.  That might seem inappropriate, but things were moving so fast.  You'd only known Claire now for a few weeks and had only been coming to her house for a few days and yet it felt right.  You'd have to talk to her about it.

When you get back in Claire is on the couch.  She is sat sideways, back against the arm rest and her legs stretched out.  In one hand was a glass of red wine, the other was at her forehead rubbing her temples.  You set your stuff down and kick off your shoes then go to join her.  You can see she already had an open beer on a coaster for you.  Fuck, she was the best.

You sit down by her feet.  Lifting her legs you scooch under them.  Without making a thing of it you just reach out and begin rubbing her feet through the pantyhose.  You take her left foot, your two big hands eclipsing it, and you squeeeeeze.

“Mmmmm.”  She sighs happily.  You smile at each other.

“Tough day?”

She nods.  “Fuck, this judge I'm dealing with...he's a god damned dinosaur.  I don't think he's got a god damned clue.  Hell, I don't even thinks he approves of women lawyers.  He is a nightmare.”

You rub and massage her feet as she drinks wine and for the better part of an hour goes on a diatribe about this judge and the case she was currently focused on.  She was stressed out by it.  Probably a good part of the reason she'd been testy when she walked in to find you like she did.  After a while, the wine and massage working their magic, she relaxes.  Her hand strokes your shoulder.  She was feeling much better now.

“Mmmmm.”  She sighs again.  “I'm glad you're here baby.  Thanks for letting me get that out.  It's nice to have someone to talk to.  The kids...they just don't understand.”

You smile.  “Anytime Claire.”

“So, tell me about your day.”

You had finished your foot and calf massage but you kept her legs on your lap.  Your hand rests on her thigh and your other holds your beer as you recount your day at work with Jeremy.  You tell her what a good job he did as your helper, you tell her how the pair of you had gotten on so well, you tell her almost everything.  As you spoke of her son in such glowing terms she is looking at you with undisguised admiration.  It was plain to see that her feelings about you were evolving and deepening.

You even tell her about the lunch hour quickie and the after work craziness of when you got home, including the aftermath upstairs.  You do hold a couple of things back.  You don't tell her about the spanking or false threats to Poppy.  You also don't tell her about Jeremy using the L word with you.

Claire shakes her head as she hears all this.  “Poppy...that kid.  I'll talk to her Ted.  Sorry, I really should have warned you, she can be so mischievous sometimes.  She has a free impetuous spirit.”  That is one way of putting it.  “I think it is a strength of hers.  She is a real dynamo don't you think?  Such a strong vibrant young lady.  But she can be careless with other people's feelings.  Don't take anything she says personally Ted.  She's just a kid.”  Claire might be apologizing for Poppy's behavior, but you had the feeling nothing would actually be done about it.  Poppy had free reign, no wonder she was so wild.  You really liked Claire but she certainly had blind spots as it related to her children.

She continues.  “As for Jeremy, he'll be okay.  Those two are so competitive and he's such a sensitive soul.  He'll probably spend the night over at his boyfriend's and be right as rain by tomorrow.  You'll see.”

You look at her curiously, she looks back at you much the same way.  You finally say.  “Uh...he broke up with his boyfriend yesterday.  You hadn't heard?”

The consternation in Claire's reaction tells you she hadn't.  “Really?  No I hadn't.”  She lets out a weak laugh.  “Here you are telling me about my own kids.  You're really becoming part of the household.”  Her tepid laughter soon fades, she had a look of concern.  “Wow.  I guess he did mention things weren't perfect...but...huh...  Seems sudden.”  She is lost in thought.  Her face had worry etched across it now.

As if on cue the boy sticks his out from the swinging door into the kitchen.  He says in a soft quiet voice.  “Mom, Dad.  Dinner's ready.”

You and Claire look at him in surprise.  You hadn't expected him to cook, you hadn't even heard him working in there.  The kid sure was sneaky when he wanted to be.  “Well...thank you my dear.  That is so nice!”  Claire says.  “What's for supper?”

He shrugs.  “Just Fettuccine Alfredo.  Quick and easy.”

She spins in her seat and gets up.  “I love your Alfredo!  Thank you Jeremy, you're just the best.  I'll go get Poppy.”  She sets down her empty wine glass and heads upstairs as Jeremy disappears back into the kitchen.

With some hesitancy you get up.  You collect the glass and your empty bottle and head into the kitchen.  You see the table already set and three settings served.  Steaming plates of creamy pasta interspersed with what looked like scallops, fresh cheese and pepper sprinkled was on top.  There was also steamed broccoli, water, white wine, and a basket of bread.  You notice there was nothing set in Poppy's place, not even silverware.  Jeremy stood across the kitchen from you looking at you with the most peculiar expression.  He wasn't upset anymore.  If anything he had a look of determination.

He comes up and takes the bottle and glass from you.  He puts the bottle in recycling and the glass in the dishwasher.  He waves you to sit.  “Sit down Daddy.  Your plate is there.”  He points to the head of the table where Claire generally sat.  You could see your portion was twice the size of the others.  “Mom won't mind.  Go ahead, please sit down.  You must be hungry after a hard day's work.  Let your boy look after you.”

He'd gone through a lot of trouble so you sit.  He comes to join you, sitting to your right.  You reach out and take his slender hand.

“Hey, you feeling better?”  You ask.

He nods and giggles.  “I was being so silly.  I apologize.  I shouldn't have acted like that.”

You smile.  “That's my boy.”  He blushes.  You can't help but be taken by his beauty, he was just as pretty as his sister in his own way.  “Like I was saying upstairs.  With Poppy and I, it was just some fun.  Okay?  Just like we had at lunch.  I thought you'd be okay with it.  What with your family's attitude about this stuff.”

He shakes his head.  “It was my fault you went to Poppy.  I wasn't good enough for you.  I'll be a better boy for you Daddy, you'll see.  You won't even want Poppy I'll be so good.  I'll make you proud Daddy.”

Your smile fades.  “Jeremy?”  His sky blue eyes stare into yours lovingly, his rosy blush deepens.

Just then the women of the house enter the room.