Tear Down These Walls (47 page)

“Eggen Band-Aids!” Kya yells excitedly.

Suddenly, the door downstairs slams and they hear, “Where are my two
favorite girls?”

“DAH-DAH!” Kya screams, getting up to leave the room.

Shaking her head, Teagan starts to clean up the mess on the floor.

A few seconds later, Kellen calls out, “Teagan?”

“Be right down!” She shouts. After she is done cleaning, Teagan makes her
way downstairs.

When she gets there, Kellen turns around. His eyes bulge out, and he
bursts out laughing. “What in the hell happened to you!?”

“The good doctor here thought I got into it with a wood chipper,” Teagan
smirks.

“Do I have any Band-Aids left?” Kellen chuckles.

“N-O-P-E,” Teagan enunciates. “I will pick you up some more.”

Smiling, Kellen states, “Wow, she played you today.”

“Figured as much,” Teagan sighs. “We had a good day.”

“Dah-dah, chocowat cake!” Kya exclaims, grabbing his hand. “Come.”

She starts to drag him to the kitchen. When he sees the cake, he laughs,
“She obviously frosted it?”

Teagan smiles, “Uh yeah, of course.”

“You did a wonderful job,” Kellen states enthusiastically to Kya. Kya
gives him a big grin. Letting out a breath, Kellen looks up at Teagan. “I have
some bad news.”

“What’s that?” Teagan asks, hesitantly.

“Kya’s mom bailed tonight. She’s staying here,” Kellen exhales.

“Oh, no worries,” Teagan scoffs. She leans down and asks Kya, “What
should we make for dinner?” Kya shrugs her shoulders. “We can make anything you
want.”

Kya looks up and thinks about it. “Acos!” she finally exclaims.

“Sounds good,” Teagan replies.

“We will go out to eat,” Kellen interjects. “You deserve a break.”

“Silliness,” Teagan replies. “I love to cook.”

Kellen shakes his head, “No, we’ll go out. She loves these kid burritos
from the restaurant on Pennsylvania.”

“Okay,” Teagan says. “I really can cook.”

“What did you say? Silliness?” Kellen nudges her with his elbow. Teagan
smiles and leans forward to kiss him. He gives her a deep kiss back.

“Kya kiss!” Kya yells from next to them.

Squatting down, Kellen says, “Of course.”

“No, Dah-dah!” Kya exclaims. “Eggen kiss!”

“Oh,” Teagan exclaims, a bit surprised. She looks at Kellen. “Is that
appropriate?”

“Sure,” Kellen laughs.

Teagan bends over. “How about a kiss on the cheek?”

Kya jumps and down. “Kiss!” Teagan leans in and kisses her. Kya turns and
gives her a huge, wet kiss on her cheek. “Kiss!”

“I think she likes you,” Kellen chuckles, standing back up.

“Ora!” Kya exclaims.

“Okay, go upstairs. I will turn it on,” Kellen states. Kya turns around
and runs out of the kitchen. “Come on,” Kellen whispers, sticking out his hand.
Teagan takes it, and he leads her out of the room. When they get upstairs,
Kellen says, “One disc and then we are going out to dinner.”

“K, Dah-dah,” Kya chimes, sitting down in her chair.

Kellen starts the Dora DVD and then nudges his head to Teagan. “Let’s get
all that off of you.”

Teagan laughs, “Yeah, I think it’s going to suck a little bit.”

He shakes his head, and they walk out of the room. When they get into his
room, Teagan sits down on the bed. She takes off the Band-Aid on her neck.
“Here, let me help you,” Kellen suggests softly.

“Just rip them off,” Teagan replies, grimacing.

“All right,” he chuckles. He takes one on her arm and rips it off. Teagan
gasps. “Ow, that took hair,” Kellen states. He bends over and kisses the spot.
“Is that better?”        

“Should I lie and say yes?” Teagan asks with a grimace.

Shaking his head, Kellen laughs, “No.”

“I don’t mind you kissing me, though,” Teagan whispers.

“Okay,” Kellen says. He rips off another one and immediately kisses her
skin.

She eyes him and declares, “You’re a good father.”

“I try,” Kellen sighs as he looks up at her. “That’s the most anyone can do.
I do my damnedest to give her the best life possible.”

“I can see that.”

They are quiet, except for Teagan’s gasps, as Kellen rips off the rest of
the bandages.  Finally, he says, “All done.”

“I’m glad that Kya had fun,” Teagan snickers, rubbing her arms. “I have
no hair left.”

Kellen sits down on the bed next to her. He brushes her hair out of the
way, and whispers, “Thank you for taking care of her.”

“I didn’t mind at all,” Teagan replies. “We bonded, which is good.”
Bending over, Kellen kisses her on the neck. Teagan hums and exposes her neck
more. Kellen kisses her again and then all the way up to her ear. Gently, he
bites her ear lobe. “Kellen,” Teagan breathes out. “Your daughter is two rooms
away.”

“Dora is on,” he murmurs against her skin. “She probably won’t move for
an hour.”  Teagan turns towards him, and Kellen looks up at her. “I have
been thinking about you all day.”

With a smirk, Teagan laughs, “I would say the same, but your daughter had
me preoccupied.”

“What about now?” Kellen asks. “Are you preoccupied now?” Teagan shakes
her head. “Good.” He pulls her towards him and kisses her intensely. Teagan
moans into his mouth and scoots closer to him to wrap her arms around his neck.
Kellen lifts Teagan up and pulls her onto his lap. They get lost in each other
as the minutes tick away. Finally, he pulls away. “I was looking forward to
spending the night with you in bed.”

“Presumptuous, aren’t you?” Teagan giggles.

“Oh,” Kellen backs away, confusion in his eyes. “Did you have different
plans?”

“No,” Teagan breathes out, rolling her eyes back at him. “I was only
teasing.”

“Are you at least staying the night?” Kellen inquires breathlessly.

 “Is that a good idea with Kya? Is she going to get confused?”

Pulling away from her, Kellen says, “I plan for you to play a very
important role in my life. She needs to get used to you being around.”

“But sleeping over? She just met me.”

He brushes his lips against hers. “Daddy has to enjoy himself, too.”

“There will be no sex,” Teagan asserts; her eyes narrow with
determination.

Kellen smirks, “Kya sleeps like a rock.”

“Oh no, no, no,” Teagan reiterates. “None of that.”

In a sarcastic tone, Kellen exhales, “Fine.”

“I will stay over. I don’t have class until twelve,” Teagan declares.

“I need to drop her off at her mom’s at nine,” Kellen sighs. “And then go
to work.”  Teagan playfully pouts. “But, because I had her all week, her
mom is taking her for the weekend.  So….we can lose ourselves in each
other for three days.”

“Mmmmm,” Teagan hums, pressing herself against him. “
Whatever
are
we going to do?”

He brushes his nose against hers. “I think we can come up with
something.” Teagan leans in and kisses him. They stay that way for a while.
Teagan’s stomach growls. Kellen pulls away, laughing, “Hungry?”

“Just a little,” Teagan replies.

“Then let’s go get something to eat,” Kellen says, patting her leg. “Kya
should eat soon anyway.”

“Okay,” Teagan whispers, kissing him again. “Let’s go.”

*            
*            
*            
*             *

An abrupt, “Dah-dah!” wakes Teagan up. She groans and opens her eyes.
Kellen stirs next to her.  Kya crawls onto the bed and starts jumping up
and down. “WAKE UP! WAKE UP!”

Kellen rolls over and looks at the clock. “6:30, awesome.”

“Bwakefest!” Kya squeals.

“Okay, okay,” Kellen groans, running his fingers through his hair. “I’m
up.” Teagan stretches and yawns. “Hey,” Kellen whispers. “Go back to sleep.”

She shakes her head, “It’s fine. I’m awake.”

“Well, now I feel bad,” Kellen mumbles.

Teagan sits up and stretches again. “It’s all good. I’ll make breakfast.”

“Pamcakes!” Kya yells.

“Okay,” Teagan laughs. “Are you going to help?”

“Yeah!”

Nudging her head, Teagan says, “Come on.”

Kya giggles and gets off the bed. Teagan yawns a lot as they prepare
breakfast.  Kellen pours her a big cup of coffee. “Hopefully, that helps,”
he murmurs, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“It will.” 

He smiles and goes to take a shower. The morning is great, and Teagan smiles
contently as Kellen puts Kya’s jacket on. “All set?” Kellen asks Kya.

“Yeah!” Kya exclaims.

“Okay, say good-bye to Teagan.”

Kya runs over and hugs Teagan’s legs. “Bye, Eggen!”

“Bye, Sweetie,” Teagan replies, bending down to hug her back. 

When she stands up, Kellen comes over and gives her a kiss. “Have a good
day. Do whatever you want here. The house is yours.”

“Oh yeah, I’m so taking a bath,” Teagan says. “I have wanted to since I
saw it.”

“I wish I could join you,” Kellen whispers. “But enjoy yourself.”

“I will,” Teagan replies. She pulls him close. “I’m going to miss you.”

Kellen kisses her again, “I will miss you, too.” He exhales and smiles.
“All right Kya, let’s take you to your mom’s.”

“K,” Kya giggles. “Bye Eggen!”

“Bye, guys; have a good day,” Teagan states. She walks them to the door.
“Don’t get into trouble.”

“Never,” Kellen quips mischievously.

They say good-bye, and Teagan shuts the door. She giggles and runs up to
the bedroom. Teagan makes the bed nicely and picks up everything in Kya’s
bathroom. After a while, she runs the water and fills the tub. When she climbs
in, Teagan moans, “Oh my gosh, this is amazing.”

She soaks in the hot water until her fingertips start to prune. She sighs
and reluctantly gets out. While she is towel drying off, she hears the front
door slam. Happily, Teagan wraps the towel around her. She runs out and down
the steps. “Did you change your mind and decide to stay home?” When Teagan gets
to the last step, she stops dead in her tracks. Standing in front of her is a
blonde woman. She looks to be in her later twenties and very pretty. “Oh,”
Teagan gasps. “Umm, hi.”

“Hi,” the woman draws out, staring at her.

Teagan nervously pulls the towel tighter. “I’m sorry; I thought you were
Kellen.”

“No, I’m Celine Grayson,” the woman declares seriously, crossing her
arms.

Smiling, Teagan asks, “Kellen’s sister?”

Celine gives her an evil smirk. “No, his
wife
.”

Silence fills the room as Celine stares down Teagan, obviously judging
her. Teagan doesn’t quite understand what she heard. Confusion, and then pain
at the realization of the words Celine spoke, cross her face. She whispers,
“What did you say?”

“I’m Kellen’s wife, Celine,” the woman states again. “And you must be the
adulterous mistress.”

“What?” Teagan gasps, her pulse pounding in her ears.

Celine looks at her skeptically, pointing a red, well-manicured nail at
Teagan, running it up and down in mid-air. She reminds Teagan of Cruella
DeVille sizing up the puppies in the dalmation movie. “How old are you? It
looks like he stole you from the nearest high school.” Her voice is a
half-sneer. It sends shivers through Teagan.

“I am twenty-two,” Teagan snaps. “I go to the University.”

“Fantastic,” Celine drawls out. “Now, what are you doing here?”

“Ummmm,” Teagan mumbles. “I don’t know. Did you say his
wife
?”

Celine laughs menacingly. “Yes, I’m Mrs. Grayson. I have been for over
five years.”

“You’re Kya’s mom,” Teagan stammers.

“Yes,” Celine responds. “Much to my surprise, my daughter came home going
on and on about her dad’s girlfriend. You spent the night last night?”

Nodding her head, Teagan mumbles, “Yeah, Kellen never told me….”

“That he was married?” Celine scoffs. “Obviously, he left that out.”

After a few moments, Teagan stands up taller. “He did tell me you broke
up two years ago.”

Celine sneers again, throwing her hands up. “Of course he said that. Ah,
Kellen, what am I going to do with you? Well…I’m sorry…what’s your
name?”         

“Teagan,” she barely whispers.

“Teagan…I see….well, my husband and I have been trying to work things out
for a while now, but obviously he is trying to work….other things out….as
well,” Celine sighs, glaring at Teagan. “How long have you been screwing him?”
Her eyes accuse her as sharply as her voice.

Taking a step back, Teagan’s eyes widen. “Um, excuse me, but we have
never slept together.”

One of Celine’s perfect eyebrows rises. “You’re lying.”

“No,” Teagan stutters. “We have never had sex.”

“Well, you’re missing out,” Celine laughs  “My husband’s a wonderful
lover.”

“Kellen told me that he hasn’t had sex in two years.”

Celine chuckles lightly; the noise barely audible but for the vibrations
in her throat. “Well, that’s funny. He was in my bed Tuesday night.”

“Tuesday…..night,” Teagan barely exhales.

“Yes. He spent the night at my house,” Celine articulates.

Teagan can feel her heart shatter inside of her chest from the hammered
blow of the words. Words escape her, and her head swirls. “We….he….oh my gosh.”

“I’m going to guess he was with you this weekend and not on a business
trip,” Celine says. “He lied…again. He is good at that.” Celine looks down at
her fingernails, ignoring Teagan’s reaction.

Teagan slowly shakes her head, “Yeah….he was with me. He…never told me.”

“Do you think you are the first girl he has seen on the side?” Celine
points back at Teagan. “Surely you don’t think you are that special? That’s the
way he has been his entire life. I don’t know why I thought he would change
once we got married.”

“I….I have to go,” Teagan stammers.

“Yes, why don’t you get dressed and get going,” Celine suggests with a
smirk. “I’d rather not hang out with the other woman.”

“Of course,” Teagan whispers. “Excuse me.” She turns around and runs
upstairs.  Faster than she ever has before, Teagan gets dressed  She
quickly grabs all her stuff and heads back down the steps. Celine stands in the
foyer, filing her nails. “I am…sorry,” Teagan mumbles. “I had no idea.”