My Son (7 page)

Seeing as Marc had frowned thoughtfully

“Leave it with me” he
murmured softly

They sat there for another hour mostly in silence, comfortable in each others company enjoying the peacefulness of their surroundin
gs.  At 9.30 Marc had stood up. 

“I have an early meeting tomorrow, and I need to check out some papers first.  So my apologies I must say goodnight”

Kelly had followed him back in and watched as he ensured all the doors were secure.  He had told her that she was more than welcome to watch TV in the living room, but she had chosen to also return to her room.

“I have a book which my publisher wants me to read so that I
can create a front cover.  So I should make a start on that” she had smiled and with that they had both made their way up the stairs disappearing into different rooms as they had wished each other goodnight.

Kelly
had spent an hour reading the book, which was long enough for her to formulate in her mind how the cover would look, before spending some time sketching her idea. When she was finally pleased with the draft, she could feel herself yawning, and looking at her watch was surprised to see that it was already passed midnight turning out the light and once more slipping into the soft bed.

The next day Kelly and Max spent the morning exploring the grounds.  Marc, who had left
early, had ensured that she was equipped with the most wonderful buggy she could hope for, specifically designed to be durable in all terrain enabling Kelly to walk around the vast estate with ease.  Meeting Mario on the way he had taken time to show them some of the wonderful flowers growing on the estate which Kelly had found fascinating.  Max had enjoyed the walk and by the time she had returned to the villa at lunch time he had hungrily demolished his food, before playing contentedly with her for half an hour before crawling into her arms for a sleep.

Kelly and Max had a routine, and
laying him back in his buggy and ensuring that he was protected from the sun she had set up her canvas at a good spot away from the villa.  For the next hour, she had worked on it, sketching the building before her until she had managed to capture its essence.

As she fi
nished her sketch Mrs Green had appeared carrying a tray with a jug of what looked like lemonade and several cups along with some sandwiches.  Kelly had moved over to take the tray from the woman before placing it on a table nearby

“Hi Miss Brown” she
had said with a warm smile, seeing as Kelly had grimaced playfully

“Please call me Kelly” she
replied with a grin, seeing the approving smile from the other woman

“OK Kelly but only if you call me Beth, I thought you might like a drink”

Kelly had smiled her thanks

“That looks wonderful Beth… joining
me” she had beckoned for the other woman to sit with her.  A little surprised Beth had smiled back nodding and the two women had then sat on the seats beside the table

“I understand that little Max is one
tomorrow” Beth had said glancing affectionately over at the small boy who still slept soundly

“I wanted to make him a cake…what kind of things does he like”

“Wonderful” Kelly had exclaimed her eyes shining before her face had become more thoughtful “He loves animals …. and cars” she had said with a soft smile, seeing as the older woman had nodded her head

“
Doable” she laughed

“Imagine his birthday being so close to
his daddy”

Kelly
had looked over in surprise

“I..I didn’t know” she said “he never said”

Beth groaned

“That’s Marc for you
, Max on the Friday and his daddy the following month.  There’s going to be a big party.  He hasn’t told you about it?”

She had shaken her head “maybe
I’m not invited” she half joked seeing how Beth had grinned over at her

“pfft........like you are going to get out of it that easy” her eyes twinkling
mischievously

At
that point Max began to move, his dark eyes opening while his small hands had flailed as he had babbling excitedly seeing Kelly, who had lifted him into her arms allowing him to stand unsteadily on her knees.  Beth had laughed watching the antics of the small boy as he covered Kelly’s face with drooling kisses

“
He does love his mummy” she had chuckled

And
Kelly had felt a pang at those words her mind wondering for how long she would be allowed to play the part of mummy.

“Would it be
Ok if we used the pool” she had asked as Beth had looked at her in surprise

“
Of course you can….use anything you want honey, this is your home now” she had replied gently

“
Well best get back” she said before standing to retrieve the tray.  However, placing Max back in his buggy Kelly had insisted on carrying the tray while the older woman enjoyed pushing the buggy back to the house.  As they walked the two women had spoke pleasantly, enjoying the warm sunshine on their backs.  Kelly had discovered that Beth Green, as Kelly had already guessed did not originate from Spain, but from America.  She had originally worked for Marc’s mother before moving with her when she had married Marc’s father.  Talking about his mother her eyes had glazed over with fond memories.

“A won
derful woman” she had said “Marc’s father and her, they were so in love” she sighed sadly “His father never did get over it when she died.  It was so tragic” 

“What happened”
Kelly had asked softly

“She got
ill; Marc was so close to his mother.. It hit him really hard” Beth then laughed uncomfortably realising how much she was telling the younger woman she hardly knew, and had quickly changed the subject.

When Marc
had arrived home he had instantly gone looking for Max, meeting Beth on the way who had pointed him to the pool area.

“
You’re early” she said in surprise.

He had thrown her a mischievous smile

“Hey I’m the boss” he had chuckled before making his way outside.

They didn’t notice him initially when he reached the pool and sitting on one of the
many chairs dotted around he had watched as Max had sat in his water ring smacking his hands against the water splashing Kelly who stood protectively over him and also himself.  When the water had hit his face he would close his eyes a look of annoyance passing over him.  So comical were his antics that Marc had laughed out loud, causing Kelly to jump around in surprise.

“I didn’t see you there” she
had said trying hard to ignore the fluttering in her stomach.

“Sorry” he grinned pulling out his mobile phone and taking photos of the small child happily splashing in the water

“We were just coming out” she had said lifting Max

“He’s going all pruney”

Max had not liked being lifted from the cool water and had cried in frustration, his arms and legs kicking out.

Marc
had lifted a towel and taking his son from Kelly, wrapped him inside the fluffy folds. He had then tickled the small boy until he was once more giggling happily, before glancing over at her.

Looking at her through appreciative eyes
Marc was able to watch how the water droplets had slowly moved down her supple body.  She had a wonderful figure from her round ripe breasts to her flat stomach with hips which flared out; every part of her was perfect.  He watched as she had leant down to dry her long shapely legs causing her hair to fall across her face, like a golden shimmering shower. 

“I foun
d a petting farm nearby” he had finally said his voice a little more huskily than normal

“I thought that we could both head out there tomorrow, perhaps get
Beth to make us a picnic or something.”

“
That sounds wonderful” she responded with a smile

“I should however, tell you that
Beth is determined to have a party at night”

Kelly
grinned

“Beth said
– she’s going to make him a cake”

Marc
had raised an eyebrow in surprise at the casualness of her address.  Beth Green was not someone who easily opened up to strangers.

“You two been getting friendly” he asked quizzically
seeing as Kelly had smiled back, “She is a very nice lady” she had responded

With that they
all made their way back into the house where Max was again played with before being fed, bathed and put to bed.

Marc and Kelly had once again spent a pleasant hour in the kitchen eating yet another delicious meal.  During this they had talked about the following day.  Marc had listened intently as Kelly relayed stories of p
revious visits to petting farms, watching as her lovely eyes had sparkled as she told them.

After the meal Marc
had excused himself, saying that if he wanted to take a day off then he had better spend some time that night going through reports and organising work, and once more Kelly had joined him up the stairs intent on finishing her illustration for her publisher.

The next morning when Max had awoken and dressed, they had all met in the kitchen.  Beth had produced cards and presents from all of the other staff and they watched as he had opened the presents with much help from Kelly.  As he sat surrounded with new cuddly toys and chunky cars Kelly had given him her gift, a large cuddly lion, which when squeezed made a friendly roaring noise.  Max had giggled while manically squeezing the toy and passing it to everybody else to squeeze for him.  Finally Marc had asked them all to come outside, where they had found a large soft play ground for toddlers.  Contained within the brightly coloured border and mesh tent was an explorer’s dream, with soft shapes allowing the small boy to move over them in safety, while tunnels let him crawl through to the other side. Soft balls which when put into what resembled a tower would fly out making the child laugh with pleasure, his small hands moving with excitement as he had looked around at the crowd giggling.  For a while they watched as he had sped around it clambering over and under to his little hearts content.

F
inally they had all returned to the kitchen where they had enjoyed breakfast before heading off to the petting farm, Marc looking on in amazement as she had appeared at the car laden with buggy, changing bag and a variety of toys.

“
How many days are we going for” he had asked in surprised amusement as she smiled back “There is no such thing as travelling light with a child - think yourself lucky – I’m only taking the essentials”.

Marc
had laughed and then stowed everything in the boot with what looked like a very large hamper.

“
Personally I think it is a woman thing, you and Beth both want to see me with a broken back”

Giggling Kelly had
mimicked him waking with a stooped back

“Aw the
icle bag is crushing me” she had mocked as Marc had laughed loudly at her antics, before pretending to chase her into the car, which had her leaping in with a small squeal of delight.

“
By the way” he had said his tone still full of laughter “Do you like the car”

What wasn’t to like she thought to
herself?  A new top of the range saloon she even liked the colour – black.

“
It’s lovely” she had responded, her eyes opening wide in shock and gasping loudly as he had looked over at her

“It’s also yours” he said smiling

“You can’t give me a car” she had exclaimed a frown knitting her brows, seeing as he had looked back at her patiently

“I’m not giving you a car” he said, hearing the proud note in her voice “
I’m providing you with transport, so that you can take Max places”

“It’s just a loaner then” she
had said thoughtfully

“For as long as you need it” he
had confirmed

“Well…..I suppose
that is alright” she had said, her eyes now taking in every detail of the vehicle while questioning him about what different buttons and knobs did like an excited school girl.  The journey to the petting farm had taken only half an hour and during the trip Max had sat chewing on his toy happily gurgling away to himself.

When they arrived, Kelly was surprised at how large it was.  Her local petting farm
had contained a small area of farm animals, some playground facilities and a small eatery.  This however, had a train, which was being pulled along by a small tractor, what looked like a fair ground, water jets and many different areas for children of all sizes to play.  There were also comfortable benches and even high chairs provided in picnic areas.  Marc had called it a petting farm; however, given the large amount of different animals with opportunities for interaction she would have thought it closer to a zoo.

The three of them walked around leisurely allowing Max to play in the many differe
nt areas, and he had enjoyed being allowed to walk with each of them holding a hand to keep him on his feet.  When he was tired, Marc had swung him onto his shoulders causing Max to giggle with delight, as they meandered between other guests Marc holding Max’s legs with one arm, his other placed protective on her back causing pleasurable sensations to run up and down Kelly’s spine.

She
had peered over at him taking in the black t-shirt he wore which accentuated his hard torso in a way that was unconscious on his part.  He carried himself with a natural confidence and sexuality which had many women in the area looking back in admiration.  His jeans showed off the slimness of his hips and Kelly had to stop herself from wondering what it would be like to feel that body hard up against her own. With a little flush she had averted her eyes, ashamed of the thoughts that kept flashing through her mind scowling at the realisation that she had not felt this way since…… biting her lip at the memory.

Max had enjoyed a wonderful day.  He had been on the train and boats and both Kelly and Marc had snapped hundreds of pictures of him, he with his top of the range mobile and she with her digital camera.  At one point when he had crawled away from them to play amongst the water fountains it had been Marc who had
been tasked with the job of rescuing him getting soaked in the process.  Kelly had laughed so much she was unable to help, and he in turn had come out shaking his hair to spray water all over her. 

By the time lunch came around Kelly had been sent to scout out a good
picnic table with a high chair, while he had retrieved the hamper, and tired but happy the three of them had tucked into the delicious spread Beth had prepared.

Max had eaten his chopped up pieces of
fruit with great delight while they had created a significant dent in the mound of sandwiches, cakes and other nibbles provided by Beth.  She had even provided soft drinks contained within thermos cooling flasks, which were refreshing in the heat.

Kelly
had grinned over at him “this sure beats the stuff he normally gets when I take him to the petting farm”

Making Marc grin
back at her

“Did
you go often?” he had asked, seeing as she had nodded

“Yes, he loves the animals”

Marc had laughed tickling Max’s toes, much to his delight “so I noticed, I don’t know if that rabbit will be the same again though”

Kelly had
looked at Max sympathetically “You just wanted to take the rabbit home didn’t you sweetie”

Marc smiled looking around “they didn’t have places like this when I was a kid – or at least I never ever saw them”
he had said softly as Kelly had sat looking around her

“Danny used to always take me to places like this” she
said stopping as she had realised what she had said

Surprised,
Marc had looked at her beneath shadowed eyes

“Where did you two
meet?” he had finally asked, his voice gentle

“College
.  I was studying media and he was doing CAD” She was now looking unseeing at a large tree, a soft reflective look in her eyes

“
He never finished….it wasn’t what he wanted to do.  He really wanted to join the fire brigade – so that’s what he did”

“What happened” Marc prodded softly as she
had fallen silent

After a while she
had spoke again an anguished sadness in her tone

“There was a fire in a tenement building.  A mother had managed to get herself and 2 of her children out of the flat, but one was still trapped in a bedroom.  Danny went in and got her.  The only way out was through the window, and fortunately the ladder was already up there.” She paused for a second before slowly continuing “He was able to pass her to his friend John, and was trying to get out himself when…” her voice had broken and instinctively Marc had reached out to cover her hand with his.  This touch seeming to give her the strength to continue

“
….when the floor gave way.  Danny was killed instantly”

“
I’m so sorry” he said “You two looked so in love”

Kelly had given
him a sad smile “We had just bought the flat and were planning to get married in the summer before….”

Reaching
into the large canvas bag she carried she had pulled out her purse, and opening it shown him a picture of a small girl of about 4 beside the picture of Max

“Every year on her birthday her parents always send me a thank-you card and a picture of Mary, the little girl he saved …. Danny would have liked that”

Marc had smiled “You must be very proud of him”

Seeing as
Kelly had nodded her eyes brimming with tears.

“Did you never meet anybody after him?”
he had prodded seeing as Kelly had looked at him a strange expression in her eyes

“He was a very hard act to follow”
she had replied softly, then in a more forced voice declared “But I have a very special man in my life now” and with that she had lifted Max from the high chair, twirling with him in the grass.  Marc had watched her with a strange look on his face, which Kelly was unable to fathom.

After lunch Max had lain in his buggy and
had instantly fallen asleep, leaving Marc and Kelly to stroll contentedly for an hour around some of the gardens in the petting farm.  They had joked and laughed comfortably with each others’ and Kelly had found herself enjoying her day very much.

When he had once more woken
, the new re-energised Max had played with the many animals they passed on the way.  His speed crawling kept the two of them on their toes as he continuously made a dash for it every time they let him down, something which he cried for continuously, stiffening up his little body until he got his own way.  Marc had looked on in exasperation,

“Where does he get that stubborn streak
from?”

Kelly
had looked at him in disbelief “You’re kidding me” she had gasped her eyes wide in astonishment

Marc
had laughed, Kelly was so natural with him he had once more thought, no other woman would ever have talked to him the way she did, and yet he found that he liked this about her very much.

“Has Beth told you anything about the party next
month” he asked suddenly, seeing as Kelly had shrugged “she mentioned something about it”

Adding with a twinkle in her eye “Something about a birthday”

Marc had grimaced “another year…however, it is expected” before adding

“Are you OK to come”

Kelly had frowned “It’s a black tie affair isn’t it”, seeing as he had nodded

“I don’t think so” I’ll stay upstairs and watch Max
she had said with finality

M
arc however, had shaken his head “I don’t think so, every body is dying to meet you”

With a small groan she had sighed
“Marc it’s not really my thing… and besides I don’t have anything to wear”

“Is that the only reason” he
had asked quickly, and when she had nodded with an unconvincing “Yes” added

“Fine, I know just the person who can sort you out with something”

Kelly had spluttered that he couldn’t do that, that she couldn’t accept him buying her clothes, when he had held up a hand

“God Kelly what is it with you and presents.  Anybody tries to give you something
you’d think they had insulted your whole family”

Kelly
had sighed in surrender, but she realised that he was not far from the truth where he was concerned.  Having read Trudy’s journals she had gotten a good picture of Marc’s MO where women were concerned.  He would pursue them with expensive gifts and when the affair was over make sure that they were well paid for services rendered.  She had bitten her lip, not wanting to ruin the lovely day.

Soon it was nearly 6
and they once again had packed up the car all tired but happy, and started the journey home

“A successful birthday I would say” said Kelly with a grin
, seeing as Marc had flashed her another of his killer smiles which always made her knees feel so weak

“I would rate it a 10” he
had smiled

“T
old you…a petting farm” she had said smugly, while inwardly thinking that his company had far more to do with how enjoyable she had found it.  She had frowned slightly, was she stupid, this was Marc De Santo, not some average Joe dad.  He had enjoyed the novelty of it that was all, had wanted to show what a good dad he was. However, she had to admit, he was a good father, suddenly feeling bad about the way she had thought of him for all those months.

When they
once more reached the villa and trooped noisily into the cavernous hallway Beth had come out to greet them ushering them all into the kitchen.  To their delight the place was filled with balloons with 1 imprinted on them.  The table was full of finger food and pride of place was reserved for a large birthday cake in the shape of a lion similar to the one Kelly had given him for a present earlier.  Mario, Maria and Sophia were also there and after allowing Max some time to grab the balloons excitedly they had lit the cake and sang to him.  It was a wonderful night.