Jamie Hill Triple Threat (18 page)

“And go where?” Jack asked softly.

The boy shrugged, and hugged
Devon
.

Jack inhaled. “I’m going to be straight with you guys, and you’re going to have to grow up a little bit for me today. You don’t have anyplace else to go right now. I guess you heard us saying that your father is dead. It was a rotten way for you to find out, but honestly, Crystal and I didn’t know how to tell you. We knew you’d be really sad.”

“You should have told us.” Mark looked at Jack defiantly. 

He nodded. “You’re right. We were trying to protect you, but we should have just told you. I think you’ve figured out by now that Crystal and I aren’t perfect.”

“
You don’t want us
!”
Devon
sobbed, and Jack’s heart clutched.

“
Devon
—” He made solid eye contact with the boy. “I never said that. I was angry at
Crystal
for something that had nothing to do with you, and when I said I wasn’t your father, well, I think I was trying to get back at her. See, she’s under my skin, and that’s not a place any man wants to find a woman.”

Jack saw
Crystal
look at him with surprise, but he didn’t face her. He ignored her. He was still very irritated.

She said, “
Devon
and Mark, I was in a crabby mood because of the situation we’re in, and said some things I really didn’t mean.”

Mark ignored
Crystal
and looked at Jack. “What situation are we in? Why are we here? Why aren’t we going to school? Why was our apartment so messed up?”

Jack looked at him and continued to scratch Zeus behind the ears. “Okay, guys, here’s the deal. A week ago—the same day that homeless guy Manny died in front of your apartment building—your dad disappeared.
Crystal
tried to find him, and after a couple days she called me to help look for him. Before I could find out anything, someone broke into your apartment and tore it up, like they were looking for something. We have no idea what, but they keep coming back every night and looking. When they broke into
Crystal
’s place, I knew it wasn’t safe to stay there so I brought you all here. In the meantime, a couple days ago, I got a call from another police department not too far from here. They'd found your dad. He’s dead. I’m really sorry about that.”

He looked at them, and they faced him back bravely. Jack went on, “I did some checking, and your parents didn’t have any other family that I can find. That’s why Crystal and I have been sitting on this information, waiting until we could figure out what was going to happen. Frankly, it’s been a big mess, with someone trashing the apartments the way they did. We’ve been trying to decide the best thing to do for you both.”

Mark was still trying to be brave but his lip quivered.
Devon
didn’t even try to hold back his tears. “We don’t have anywhere to go,” Mark said softly.

Jack reached over and scooped both boys into his arms. “You have me, and you have
Crystal
. We’re not going anywhere until we get this whole thing figured out.”

“
Crystal
said she never asked for us.” Mark looked at her bitterly, and then back at Jack.

Jack smiled. “Well it’s true, she didn’t. And I’m afraid you got the best of her today when you started fighting. You guys are used to going to school, and she’s used to going to work, so when you’re all together in the evenings it’s pretty nice. But when you’re together every day and night, all the time, sometimes people get cranky.” He glanced at
Crystal
and made a little face at her. He whispered loudly to the boys, “
Crystal
got really cranky. But I think she’s over it now. Got anything to say, Crys?”

She made a face back at him and knelt down in front of them. “I’m so sorry, Mark,
Devon
. I didn’t mean anything I said. I was taking my bad mood out on you guys and—”

“And me,” Jack added.

She made another face at him. “And Jack. I apologize to all of you.”

The boys didn’t look at her; they shrank into Jack and let him hold them tightly.

“We’ll just sit here for a bit, okay?” He leaned back against the closet door. He held one boy in each arm, and rocked them gently back and forth.

Crystal
sat and watched for almost thirty minutes.
Devon
’s eyes eventually closed and his breathing grew regular. She whispered to Jack, “I’ll lay him down.”

He nodded in reply, but when she reached for
Devon
the boy cried and clung tightly to Jack’s neck. “Okay, okay,” Jack whispered. “We’ll stay right here. It’s okay.”

Crystal
stood up and stomped out of the room. Jack heard the back door open, and pictured her standing out there, puffing furiously on a cigarette. He smiled to himself. He couldn’t stay mad at her. He completely understood her frustrations. It was unfortunate that the boys found out about their father that way, but they were going to be okay.

He stretched and tried to work a kink out of his back. Dev had a death grip on him. It was going to be a long night if Jack had to sleep in this position.

Crystal
appeared in the doorway with an armload of pillows from his bed. She dropped them beside Jack and pulled the boys’ pillows and blankets off their bed. She arranged the pillows so Jack could lie back, with one arm around
Devon
. Mark curled up between his brother and Zeus.
Crystal
covered them with blankets.

Jack smiled at her. “Looks like I have one free arm.”

She scooted up next to him. “You’re not going to punch me with it, are you?”

He pulled her against his chest. “Not tonight.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I know.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry, too. We’ll have to brush up on our arguing skills.”

“Not for a while.”

He sighed. “Definitely not tonight. I’m beat.”

She slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him. “Did you mean what you said about me being under your skin?”

“You know I did. You’re in there so deep it hurts.”

She hugged him again. “I feel the same way,” she whispered.

He pulled her up to him with his free arm and they kissed tenderly and then again more passionately. “Stay here next to me tonight.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered and they kissed again.

The boys awoke early in the morning to use the bathroom. Returning to their room, they looked at Jack and Crystal suspiciously. “You slept in here with us?” Mark asked.

“Of course we did.” Jack sat up and yawned. “I told you I wouldn’t leave you. And
Crystal
was worried sick about you.” He watched her rise and go to the bathroom. He told the boys, “You have to realize that this is a big change for her, being responsible for two children when she’s only ever had to be responsible for herself. She’s doing the best she can, guys, and I think she’s doing a pretty good job. She cares so much about you two. She could have called the police and dumped you off, you know. She
never once
thought about doing that. She really, really cares about you, and wants to do the best thing for you.” He stopped talking as she returned and looked at them from the doorway.

“Are we getting up, or going back to bed?” She yawned.

Devon
slipped over to her and reached up for a hug. Mark was a little slower to come around but he hugged her as well.

Crystal
hugged them both tightly and whispered, “Thank you for forgiving me. I promise to try harder and do better.”

“We think you’re doing just fine,” Jack stood up next to her and smiled. “And I vote for going back to bed for a little bit. It’s Saturday, and it’s still early. Why don’t you two climb up here and see if you can’t get back to sleep?” He put their pillows and covers back on the bed, and tucked them in. “I’ll let Zeus outside for a minute, and then send him back in. We’re going to go to our room for a couple hours or so. If you can’t get back to sleep, come get us, but not until…” He looked at the clock. “Let’s say nine-o’clock, all right?”

The boys agreed. Jack took care of Zeus and went to the bathroom. He found
Crystal
putting his bed back together. “A real bed.” She dropped into it.

“And we’re all alone.” He locked the door and peeled off his sweatshirt.

Crystal
smiled at him. “Why do I think we’re not going back to sleep?”

He grinned and stepped out of his pants. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

She gazed at his stiff erection and batted her eyes. “Oh, I don’t know. Something just popped out at me.”

He rolled on the bed and brought her on top of him. “If you’d really rather sleep…”

“Are you crazy?” she pulled her sweater off and kissed him hungrily.

There was time for both sex and sleep, since the boys didn’t wake up again until almost noon. Jack went to the door of his room and asked them to go watch TV. He’d rouse
Crystal
and they’d be out shortly to fix something to eat. He slipped into the shower and was toweling off his hair when she woke up.

“What are you doing?” she murmured and smiled at him.

He grinned at her and looked at himself in the mirror. He ran a hand over his chin and answered, “Big decision—to shave or not shave.”

“Ooh, not shave. You look so sexy with stubble.”

He looked at her suspiciously. “Are you being sarcastic?”

“Hell no!” She sat up in bed. “I just love the feel of your rough beard against my soft skin.” She ran a hand up her thigh.

“Solves that dilemma.” He dropped his razor back on the sink ledge. He slipped into his briefs and a pair of jeans. “Good morning.”

She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him gently. “Good morning.” She grinned. “Very good morning.”

“Oh, yeah.” His hand drifted down to her breast and massaged it. “And we’re going to make it a very good day. I decided that work can wait. I have one stop to make, then I’m going to take you wherever you want to go.”

“Anywhere?” She beamed at him.

“You bet.” He worked her nipple into a firm bud.

“You’re going to be taking me on a quick side trip if you don’t stop that.”

He grinned and released her breast. “That wouldn’t be all bad, except we’ve got little people waiting on us for food. I’m not sure if we call it breakfast or lunch.”

“Rich people call it brunch.” She lay back on the bed and stretched.

“Hate to break it to you, but that ain’t us.” He reached for a clean sweatshirt and pulled it over his head. “Got any ideas where you’d like to go today?”

“Yeah.” She smiled and ran a hand over her stomach lightly. “
Rio
. I hear they have these naked beaches, with the silkiest white sand…”

Jack chuckled. “I’m not as hip to this naked business as you are, I guess. The only place I want to see you naked is alone with me, in private. And as for the sand, haven’t you heard what happens when you make love on a sandy beach? Sand gets in places that sand should never be in.”

She gave him a disappointed look. “Say it isn’t so. Every woman wants to be made love to on a beautiful sandy beach.”

He leaned over on top of her, holding himself up with his arms. “When it warms up, I’ll haul your ass out to the lake and we’ll do it there. But you have to be on the bottom.”

“Deal.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “God, Jack, you’re such a romantic.”

He grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. “I try, sugar. Now get that beautiful naked body into the shower, and I’ll go make some coffee and scrounge up some food.”

* * * *

They ate, helped the boys get dressed, and left the house.
Crystal
didn’t care where they went, she was just glad to be out in the world again. It was a cold, crisp day and she felt alive, and happy.

The boys were in good moods. She figured getting out would help them as well. Last night had been rough, but they had cleared the air a little and it seemed like things were going to be okay.

“Where are we going?” She looked at Jack as he drove through familiar territory.

“I had an idea, and I want to run by the apartment and check it out.”

“Ooh, major buzz kill,” she pouted. “I don’t want to go up.”

He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Suck it up, kiddo. I’m not leaving you behind. It’ll only take a minute.”

She motioned toward the back seat. “But they shouldn’t—”

“They’ll be fine.” He squeezed her hand again. “The four of us are sticking together, like it or not.”

She looked out the window and smiled the tiniest smile. “I like it,” she said softly, and Jack grinned.

He parked in front of the building and they got out and looked around. Ralph was nowhere in sight. “Come on.” Jack took
Crystal
by the hand. “Let’s go, guys. This will be fast, I promise.” They climbed the stairs and found both apartment doors standing wide open. “What a frigging nightmare,” he muttered, and looked in Dave’s place cautiously before he motioned everyone else in.