Serial - Suddenly Daddy Part 14

Even as you are packing your overnight bag you are wondering why you'd said that.  You were heading right back into the place you'd been so desperate to leave just this morning.  Back to the madhouse.  And you couldn't wait to get there.

You wonder what the twins had told Claire.  She didn't seem to know any specifics when you spoke to her, but with how strange her view on life was maybe she just didn't think it worth mentioning.  The kids adored you she had said.  Adored.  You honestly weren't sure if you had ever been adored before.

You zip up the small duffel bag.  Your work stuff was already in your truck so you didn't have to worry about that.  You were making an assumption by bringing this, but you felt it was a pretty safe assumption after last night.  You brush your teeth and splash on just a touch of cologne.  You were dressed far more casually than last night, jeans and a grey v neck sweater, but still presentable.

With a spring to your step you grab the bag and head out the door.

As you pull up you could see the living room lights were on.  You were lucky to get a spot on the street nearby, pulling right in behind someone who had just left.  Getting out you smooth out your clothes and hair with your hands.  You leave the bag behind for now, you didn't want to see too presumptuous.  You notice that your decade old domestic truck stands out among the shiny new Mercedes and Beemer's and Land Rovers parked along this street.  You start humming “Movin On Up” from The Jeffersons as you strut toward Claire's front step.  You bound up the stairs two at a time, you reach forward and ring the bell.

You can just hear Claire's voice call out from the other side.  “Come in!  It's open.”

With one deep breath you open the door and head inside.  You are greeted by the amazing aroma of fresh bread and garlicky homemade tomato sauce.  The house was warm, brightly lit, you could hear activity both in the kitchen as well as upstairs.  A jazzy blues number played on the stereo.  You are struck for a moment.  You think about coming home to your own apartment that afternoon.  So quiet.  So cold.  So empty.  Nothing moved since you'd been there last.  This place was alive and warm and welcoming, this place felt like a home.

Claire walks out through the swinging door to the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel.  She wore a long blue apron that had smudges of flour here and there, the snug tied waist of it accentuating her womanly curves.  Her beautiful full red lips smile as she see's you.

“Hey baby.  It's so good to see you.”  The look on her face left no doubt to the truth in those words.

“Good to see you too!  How was work?”  You ask as you put your shoes and coat in the closet.

“Not bad actually, pretty sedate for a change.”  She responds.  “I actually got home on time, that's rare for me.”

The pair of you meet in the center of the living room.  You embrace her and give her a firm kiss to those luscious lips.  Your arms easily find their place around each others hips.  Looking into her deep blue eyes...could stay like this forever.

Leaning down you rest your forehead on hers.  You say in a low voice.  “It feels good to hold you again.”

She sighs and you feel her shoulders relax a bit.  For a few precious seconds you just hold each other and enjoy the moment.

She finally says.  “When we found out you were coming over Jeremy and I decided to make some Pizza.  Poppy's got a date tonight, but she said she wished she could stay.”  She turns, sliding from your arms, obviously needing to get back into the kitchen for something.  “I've got beer or wine or something harder if you want.”

“Beer sounds nice.”  You smile.

She smiles back over her shoulder.  “I figured you'd say that.  Make yourself at home baby.  We'll just be a bit.”  She disappears through the swinging door, back into the kitchen.

You sit down on the couch, the last time you'd been in this exact spot you had a naughty little blonde bent over your knee.  You shake your head.

After a minute or so Jeremy comes through the kitchen door, beer in hand.  This being Claire's place you weren't surprised to see it was some craft beer you'd never heard of.  His smile was bright and wide and utterly genuine.  He simply could not hide how happy he was to see you again.  He still had on the dress from last time you saw him and wore a yellow frilly apron that nearly matched his hair.  A few red specks of tomato sauce spattered over it.  He places your beer on a coaster in front of you and sits on the very edge of the couch beside you, ready to get up again in a moment.

“Hi Dad.”  He says in his soft voice.  “Thank you for coming over.”

You reach up and place a hand on his slender bare shoulder.  “Hey Jeremy.  I told you I'd be back.”  You say reassuringly.  A brief moment of affection passes between you, with more than a little awkwardness as well.  A little blush colors his cheeks.

Poppy, her timing impeccable, comes prancing down the stairs.  “You two queers at it again?”

Jeremy rolls his eyes as you grimace, it was now your turn to blush.  Poppy looked to be dressed for a night of clubbing or partying.  Tight short red dress, hair done up, and plenty of make up.  She looked good, in a slutty sort of way.  Poppy rushes round the couch to sit pressed up against you.  Leaning up she kisses your cheek, her fingers reach up and ruffle your beard playfully.  “Welcome back Daddy!”  Her cloyingly sweet perfume fills your nostrils.  “We missed you.”

You give her a sideways look.  “Have you been good?”

She laughs.  “Ohhh hell no!  A little girl can't be good without her Daddy around.”  She leans in and kisses your cheek once more before getting back up.  “Sorry I can't stick around but I'm off on a date with my boyfriend.  My big strong black boyfriend, don't wait up.”  She grins.  “He can go ALL night long.”

“Pffft.”  Sputters Jeremy.  “Boyfriend, she just met him the other day.”  He says under his breath.

Poppy crosses her arms and cocks an eyebrow, seeming to take that as a challenge.

Jeremy's big blue eyes widen as he looks to his sister nervously.  “No wait.  Sorry Poppy...I didn't mean anything...I'm sorry...”

“Oh, so you want to talk about boyfriends Jeremy?”  Poppy crows with a cocky smirk.  She looks back to you, full of good humor.

“No don't...” Jeremy begs.

Poppy, unsurprisingly, ignores him.  “Guess who dumped his boyfriend today.”  She begins laughing again.  “Dumped his ass over the phone.  Cold as ice this brother of mine.”

You look at Jeremy who was red faced and cringing, his eyes dart away from you.  “I didn't know you had a boyfriend Jeremy.”  You say in a friendly tone.  Your kind sounding words covering your concern at the timing of it.

He shakes his head as he stands up, he shoots his sister the dirtiest look.  He had obviously not wanted you to hear that.  “It wasn't anything.  We'd been finished for a long time now.  It was overdue.”  His fists were clenched by his side, his chin trembled a little.  Once more Poppy had embarrassed him in front of you, once more he didn't know how to retaliate.  He didn't know what to say.  Blinking a few angry tears away he spins on his heel and retreats back into the kitchen.

You sigh.  “Poppy, please.  Please stop doing that.  Can't you see how much that upsets him?”  God, you were starting to sound like a father now.  She wasn't listening though as she was already headed for the door.

“Sorry Daddy, I've got a real man waiting for me.  No time to talk.”  She gets her jacket and slips on her shoes.  She pauses just before leaving, looking back at you she says in a moment of seriousness.  “I'm glad you're back Daddy.  Really.  Oh...and Mom doesn't know a thing.”  She shoots you a little wink and heads out the door.