Butch

Matthew chuckled. Cheryl placed the daisies into a large glass then placed them on the table.

“Don’t you have a vase?” Butch asked, entering the kitchen.

“Erm, I’ve never been given flowers, and so I’ve never seen the need to buy one.” She shrugged. “It’s no problem. These are beautiful.”

“Are you spending the whole day baking?” he asked.

“No. I’ve got this cake to make, why?”

“We’re going out. I want to take you and Matthew out. Treat you both.”

“We can’t fit on the bike. Matthew needs a car seat.”

He touched her cheek pressing his lips to hers.

“Stop worrying. You don’t need to worry. I wouldn’t take a kid on my bike. I’ve got a car, and I’m taking you both out. We’re going to get out of here and have some fun.” He dropped another kiss to her temple. “Finish baking. I’ll keep Matthew company.”

“Do you want a soda?” she asked.

“Yeah. I’ll have a soda.” He kissed her head a final time before entering the living room. Closing her eyes, Cheryl tried to get her heart to normal. She’d never felt like this in her life, not even with him. Matthew’s father had inspired lust but never love. Butch was breaking down her walls making her love him. He was sweet, honest, and open with her.

Get him a soda and get baking.

She took a soda into the living room in time to see him playing with Matthew. The moment he touched her, Cheryl became aware of the heat from his touch alone.

Going back to the kitchen she set to work baking the cake, partly wishing she hadn’t started it.

Once the cake was in the oven she did the dishes, washing down every surface in the kitchen. By the time the cake was done, she spent twenty minutes playing with her boys then finished up the frosting.

Drying the last of the dishes, Butch entered the kitchen carrying Matthew on his hip. He looked every inch the devoted father, and it tore her up inside. This was what Matthew was missing. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

She threw her apron into the washing machine, following him outside. There was a small, modest car, and she spotted the car seat in the back.

“I take care of what’s mine. I’ve had this car for years. It was my first one, and it’s in the best condition,” Butch said.

Placing Matthew in the car seat, she made sure the child lock was on then took a seat in the front. Within ten minutes he was asleep.

“Do you want me to wake him up?” Cheryl asked.

“Nah, he can sleep for now. Where we’re going he’s going to be tired by tonight anyway.”

Sitting back, she tapped her fingers on her leg.

“Thank you for understanding,” Butch said.

“When?”

“Last night. I don’t talk to anyone about my past.”

“You shouldn’t be afraid to talk. I don’t mind you talking. I’m more than happy to listen.” She loved to hear his voice.

“That’s good to know. So, are you going to tell me how to get on your mother’s good side?” Butch asked.

Cheryl growled. “I’ve no idea. She’s always so protective. I can pretend to be pissed, but to be honest, I know why she is.”

“Because of Matthew’s father?” Butch asked, looking in the rearview mirror.

“Yeah. I’ve never been the kind of person to make rash decisions. It was the first time I did, and look what happened.” She ran fingers through her hair, opening the window to let the wind on her face. “Not that I can regret anything that happened.”

“Tell me about him,” Butch said.

She didn’t see the point in keeping the details to herself. “I was at church one night helping out, and he came in. I’d never seen him before, and there was nothing significant in the way he was dressed. He looked like every other businessman, only he looked desperate. He was praying when I placed the Bibles back in his place. I don’t know what was happening. He looked scared, and I started talking to him. For several days he came into church, and we talked.” Cheryl looked at him. “We didn’t talk about anything. He asked about me and my dreams, and he talked about his niece who was in trouble. Something bad was happening in his life, and he was scared. One thing led to another, and we were at a hotel room and I didn’t leave until Monday morning. I never saw him again. A couple of months passed, and I discovered I was pregnant. I was hurting, but I knew I’d never get rid of it. My mom asked me to. I couldn’t. I loved my son.”

Cheryl turned to check on Matthew. “He’s the best thing to happen to me.”

“Did you love this man?”

Staring at Butch, she thought about his question. “I thought I did. I mean, if you sleep with someone you have to love them, right?”

“Not necessarily.”

“It’s what I thought. Anyway, I stopped thinking about him. Moved on with my life and I’m here now with a son. I never loved him. He was just there at a time in my life when I needed him. I’m happy. I’m not in love with a stranger I once shared a couple of nights with.”

“What will you do if he ever turns up?” Butch asked.

She’d not thought of him turning up. “I don’t know. I guess I’d let him know who Matthew is. There’s nothing else I can do. If he wants to be part of Matthew’s life then it’s something I’m going to have to consider.”

Butch took her hand, kissing her knuckles. “Let’s forget about them and the past. It’s time for us to think about our future. We’ll deal with Matthew’s father turning up when it happens.”

He held her hand on the drive. She loved the feel of his large fingers surrounding hers. Butch always made her feel safe and happy.

Try not to fall too hard.

Cheryl didn’t know if it was possible to stop feeling something for Butch. He was already in her heart, and it would only be a matter of time that she couldn’t hide those feelings from him. She didn’t want to scare him away with her feelings.

****

Parking outside of the mall, Butch turned off the ignition and climbed out. He eased Cheryl aside and picked Matthew up. He curled around him, snuggling in deep to sleep again. Something didn’t bode well for Butch at her description of Matthew’s father. Three years ago with a niece, something didn’t add up for him, but he didn’t know what. No one knew who Cheryl was with. It was like the guy just appeared and disappeared within a weekend. The more Butch thought about it, there was no way he could know anything about the man. Butch, himself, had only stumbled into Cheryl’s life by going to the church.