Love War (Battlefield of Love Book 1) Read online

  “A cast would be cool, especially a red one.”

  “Your arm isn’t broken, baby girl.”

  “But it could be. Maybe I’m just super tough and can’t feel the pain,” she says while the wheels turn in her head. “You know, like Super Girl.”

  Oh Lord!

  “Well, it’s a good thing your daddy suggested going to the doctor then,” I reply, making sure she knows it was her daddy’s idea.

  One of the hardest things about divorce is keeping your cool. There are so many times I’ve wanted to say, “You know what, ask your daddy” or “Your dad is being an asshole and doesn’t trust me so that is why you are going to the doctor” or “We can’t go to the movies tonight because your daddy didn’t send the child support check.” That is in no way of importance to your child.

  The only thing that matters to them is that both parents show the child they are loved and are able to co-parent. Sometimes it’s easier than others and other times you just have to fake your way through it for the sake of your child. This moment is one of the latter.

  Choosing to push back the ill feelings of Doug, I crank the radio and we sing at the top of our lungs until we pull into the parking lot.

  “Mommy, will they give me a shot?” Reece grabs hold of my hand as we walk in.

  “No baby, they will just feel around on your arm.” I squeeze her hand, reassuring her.

  “OK.”

  “Well look who’s here!” Sabrina, the receptionist, stands up, clasping her hands together. “I haven’t seen you since your kindergarten physical.” She rounds the corner and kneels down. “Has someone been taking their vitamins?”

  “Mommy! I told you, you can tell.” She tugs on my hand. “Can you tell that I’m taller too? I’m pretty sure I’m taller.” Reece stands on her tip-toes showing Sabrina how much she has grown.

  “I thought so. Let me guess...was it the Flintstones?” She taps her lip repeatedly, thinking.

  “Noooope!” Reece looks up at me and whispers, “She will never guess, Mommy.”

  “Let’s see, these special vitamins...they’ve kept you from getting sick, made you grow taller...” She looks up to me for assistance.

  “Frozen,” I mouth, giving her the clue.

  “There is only one vitamin that could make you grow as fast as you have.”

  Reece giggles.

  “Frozen gummies.” Sabrina hops to her feet.

  “HOW DID YOU KNOW?” Reece is shocked.

  “We at the doctor’s office know everything.” She heads back around the counter. “Now, why are you here to see us today?”

  “I may have a broken arm and need a cast,” Reece informs her.

  “Oh my! When did this happen?” Sabrina is concerned.

  “Last night. I fell off the monkey bars.” Reece speaks up before I can explain.

  “Any time there is an emergency like that you need to go to the ER to have it checked before any further damage can be done.”

  “Actually, she just had a scrape and was more startled than anything, but her daddy, who is out of town, thought we should have it checked out.” I try to explain so she doesn’t think I’m the worst mother of the year.

  “Ohhhhh! I see. More of a precautionary visit.” She signs us in. “Take a seat and we will get you right back.”

  “Thanks.” I guide Reece over to the seats and away from the play area. It’s a doctor’s office, where sick kids are seen, and those toys are breeding grounds for germs.

  Sabrina opens the door and hollers for us, “Reece, come on back.” She escorts us through the doors, making sure we stop to get her weight and height. “Last door on your right.”

  “Oh my! Mommy, we got the Transformer room. Do you think she knows about the magical Transformer Band-Aid?” She climbs up on the bed.

  “Only very special people know about the Band-Aid’s magical powers and since I’m a nurse...”

  “You’re a nurse?” Reece’s eyes go wide.

  “Yep, I thought with all the work I have put in through the years, it was about time I did something with it.” Sabrina grabs the blood pressure glove to fit her tiny arm. “Which arm are we checking today?”

  “This one!” Reece holds her arm out to the side, causing Sabrina to chuckle.

  “Well, let’s make sure we use your other arm to check your pressure.”

  “Can you hear my heart through my arm?” Reece talks while Nurse Sabrina is trying to take her pressure.

  “Something like that. Now let’s check out that arm.” She gently handles it, moving it around.

  “I don’t think it’s broken, but the doctor may want to have it x-rayed just in case.”

  “That’s fine. Actually, I think that is what her dad was hoping for. A little peace of mind while out of town.”

  “That’s understandable.” She walks back over to Reece, holding her scrub pocket open.

  “STICKERS!”

  “Just one, baby girl,” I say, reminding her of her manners.

  “Can I have two? Pretty please, I have a new best friend and since she gave me the magical Band-Aid, I need to make sure she gets one too. Matching ones. Can we have matching stickers, Nurse Sabrina?” Reece wears me out just listening to her.

  “Why sure.”

  Another hour later, we leave the doctor’s office with two stickers, four suckers and a picture of her x-ray so she can show her new friend.

  Handing my phone to Reece I remind her to call her dad. “Make sure you hold it up to your ear. You don’t have to use speaker.”

  “But I like speaker. Mommy! Can I do the video talk?” Reece holds up the phone, pointing at the button.

  “I guess so.”

  Reece plasters a smile on her face, waiting for Doug to pick up.

  “Hey, kid. How was your appointment?”

  “I don’t have a broken arm thanks to my new bestie and her daddy.”

  “Did they do x-rays?”

  “Sure did.” Reece reaches down and grabs the envelope showing him. “Do you want to see?”

  “How about you bring it over Wednesday night?”

  “OK, Daddy! Oh hey, looky what I got.” She fans out her stickers, throws them down and then holds her suckers out showing him the flavor of each on.

  “WOW! That’s a lot of treasures for one little girl. That must have meant you were extra good.”

  “Oh Daddy! These aren’t all for me. They are for my new friend.”

  “So tell me about your new friend.”

  “Daddy she is awesome and guess what? When we went for ice cream the waitress said we look like sister twins! Can you believe that, daddy? SISTER! TWINS!”

  “Really?” he busts out laughing from her excitement.

  “Yes, Daddy, really! I can’t wait for you to meet her. Can she come over and play sometime?”

  “Well, kid, I work a lot of hours and when I have time off I like to spend extra quality time with you.”

  “I do like that too, Daddy. Maybe when you don’t work so much you can come have ice cream with all of us? You would like her daddy, he’s really nice and funny, isn’t he Mommy?”

  In the famous words of Homer Simpson, “D’oh!”

  “Yes, both very nice and friendly,” I say loudly so Reece doesn’t make me repeat myself.

  “See Daddy! Mommy thinks so too.”

  “Listen, kid, my work phone is going crazy. I’ve got to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “OK, Daddy! I love you so, so much!” She blows him a kiss.

  This is where he pretends to catch it and eat it and on cue, Reece is vibrating with laughter.

  “Daddy you are so silly.”

  “Love you! Talk to you tomorrow.” He presses end before she can say goodbye but she doesn’t notice.

  “Bye, Daddy.” She reaches up as far as her seat will allow. “Here’s your phone.”

  Stretching my hand out, I take the phone and glance to see if I had a missed message from Drew. Nothing.

  Disappoi
ntment.

  Drew

  SINCE SARAH’S FLIGHT WAS delayed, she was late to pick up Andie from her parents’ and since I got off work a little early I figured I would surprise her with a little impromptu date night.

  Just me and my little munchkin at our favorite restaurant, West Wing, located on the west side of Jonesboro. We literally can spend hours here. Especially tonight since they have all you can eat wings.

  “Daddy, what sauce are you going to start off with?” She looks over the menu, paying close attention to the pictures and hot factor.

  “I think I’m going to go with the mild with extra sauce.”

  “Hmmm, that sounds good, but maybe I’ll get that white kind that you usually get that makes your breath stink.” She pinches her nose. “What’s it called again?”

  Reaching over the table I knock her hand away, causing her laugh. “Real funny, munch. It’s called garlic parmesan.”

  “Yeah, I want that with lots and lots and lots of ranch.”

  “Would that be lots and lots?”

  “No Daddy, lots and lots and lots!”

  “Well then, slide that little machine over here when you are done with your game and I’ll place our order.” I motion for the kiosk that doubles as our electronic server.

  After placing our order, we play a few games of electronic pinball until our food arrives.

  “Daddy, do you think Reeses and her mommy would like electronic pinball? Cause I like it, but not as good as the real one that has those buttons you push that keep the ball from going in the hole.”

  I knew she would eventually bring Aubrey and her daughter back up. Since we ran into them at the park yesterday, Reece is the only thing she talks about.

  “I’m willing to bet if they tried it, they would like it, don’t you think?”

  “I do Daddy, I really do,” she says, taking another bite.

  “Speaking of Reece and her mom, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about what happened at the Dream Cream.” I take a deep breath, approaching the subject with caution.

  Setting her wing down, she takes a sip and cleans off her hands before she speaks. “You mean, when I caught you K-I-S-S-I-N-G Reece’s mommy?” she whispers.

  “Actually yes, I just want you know that—”

  “DADDY! I think it’s great. You and Mommy aren’t married anymore and Reece, she is great and if you marry her mommy that would make us SISTERS! SISTERS, Daddy. Real sisters. Can you believe it? We really would be sister-twins.” She bounces with excitement, almost coming out of her seat.

  “Whoa there munchkin, I’m not marrying Aubrey.”

  What has gotten into this kid? Marriage?

  “Aw, why not? She is sooo nice and would make a good mommy for me. I would have two mommies.”

  OH SHIT!

  “Andie, I love you munch, but we need to talk.” I reach across the table, taking her miniature hands in mind. “Honey, you will only have one mommy and one daddy and we love you both so, so much, but maybe, and I say that as in a long, long time from now, maybe your mom and I may get married again to different people.”

  “I got it. Not to each other. Mommy has told me this story before so get to your point.” She tugs one hand free to take a sip of her tea.

  “Well, your mom is right.” I can’t believe I just admitted that. “The thing is, no matter who we marry and how much you like them you only have one of us.”

  “So they can be like Mommy and Daddy Number Two because I want to have the same mommy and daddy as Reeses and she wants the same mommy and daddy as me, I just know it Daddy!” She’s serious and wide-eyed, waiting for my reply.

  “Munchkin.”

  “Daddy, it’s really easy. Do you like Reeses’ mommy?” She folds her hands together, ready to interrogate me.

  “Well, yes, I do,” I admit.

  “I think she likes you because she let you kiss her.”

  “Yeah, I think she does, munch.”

  “Well, what are you waiting for? You can’t get married unless you date someone for a long, long time. Isn’t that what you said Daddy? You can’t get married until you are 30 so you have a long time before that, right?”

  “I’m 35.”

  Her eyes go wide once again. “Daddy, you know what this means? It means you can marry her mommy whenever you ask her,” she pauses, taking in a deep breath, “like tomorrow.”

  “How about I just ask her out on a date, get to know her first?”

  “OK that works too, but don’t mess it up Daddy because Reeses and I have big plans. Huge plans.”

  “Andie?”

  “Yes, Daddy?”

  “Are you sure you are OK with this? Because if you aren’t, I won’t date her. Or anyone else for that matter. Not until you are ready.”

  “Daddy, sometimes as an adult you have to do things for yourself.” She sounds more like Sarah than a 6-year-old kid.

  “Honey, yes, that’s true, but you are my child and I care about what you think or how you feel. So if you ever get upset or if me dating bothers you, just let me know.”

  “Deal! But for the record, I’m perfectly OK with you dating Reeses’ mom, but not anyone else’s mom, but that would just be weird, but Reeses’ mom is good to go.”

  “Alright then. You ready for the next round?”

  “Yeppers. This time I want that B-B-Q kind. Not the spicy one and not the yellow one but the one that tastes like SUGAR!” she shouts, pointing her finger in the air.

  Maybe the sweet tea was a bad idea.

  Aubrey

  IT’S BEEN THREE DAYS since I’ve seen Drew, since we shared the tiniest of kisses, but in that brief moment, I felt more than I have felt in years. I touch my lips, remembering.

  Honestly, I thought he would have stopped by on Monday, just to check in, or at least called and given me an update on when the materials would get here. Instead his secretary called yesterday, letting me know he and his crew would be here Wednesday bright and early.

  Did I misread him? Was the kiss nothing? Oh my God, what if I sucked? It’s been almost a year since I’ve even touched a man. Is that it? Is it me?

  I can’t do this. This is why it’s too soon to date. I simply can’t handle the logistics and drama of it all.

  So, if this is true, if this is how I really feel, then why did I get Niki to watch Reece and why am I standing here trying to pull off my best “I woke up like this” look?

  Screw it!

  Flying through the house, I scramble to pick up all the trash that Putter drug out while I was getting ready. I should have kept the kid and had her take the dog. What was I thinking?

  “Hello?” I hear a guy call out from outside the screen door.

  “Oh hey, I’m sorry. I hope you weren’t out here long?” I prop the door open with my foot.

  “Just got here.” He points over his shoulder. “Where do you want these supplies?” The delivery guy scans the area.

  “Umm, I’m not sure.”

  “Can I speak to the man of the house or is your contractor here?” He peeks in the door.

  “No man of the house and my contractor should be here any minute. Do you have time to wait on him? Maybe come inside to have a cup of coffee?”

  “Well, as much as I would love to come inside...” He looks me up and down. Not in an asshole kind of way, but an appreciative one. I needed that. “We actually have another delivery. So, regretfully, I’m going to have to pass.”

  “Oh. Well, I guess—”

  “I left delivery instructions when I placed the order. This...” Drew stalks up waving his hand in my direction. “Shouldn’t have even been an issue.”

  “Sorry man.” The delivery guy flips through his papers. “Nothing here, but if you let me know where you want me to unload, I’ll get right on it.”

  “Right out back. I’ll have a talk with the manager. It is issues like this that wastes not only your time, but mine.” Drew moves to stand beside me.

  What’s he doing?

&nb
sp; The delivery guy raises his hand, singling for the guys to move out back. “Miss...” he looks down at his papers. “Ms. Harris, I’m sorry for the misunderstanding and thank you for the invitation.”

  “You may call me Aubrey and you’re welcome...?”

  “Justin.” He smiles.

  “Well, Justin, if you or your guys change your mind, I have to-go cups. I’ll be glad do fix you each a cup for the road.”

  Now moving in front of me Drew grabs the door from my hands and sends Justin on his way. “Aubrey, they have another delivery. They don’t have time to stand here talking about whether or not they want coffee.” Drew drawls out my name, being a dick.

  “That’s my cue to go. Again, thank you, Aubrey.” Justin turns to leave but not before he looks over his shoulder flashing me a smile.

  “What the fuck was that? Seriously Aubrey, you can’t just invite strange men into your house. These lumber yards don’t do background checks on their delivery guys. You are a divorced, single parent. Prime target for perverts out there.” Drew picks up his bag and squeezes past me, causing the door to slam shut.

  “First off, I’m not an idiot. I may be divorced, but I’m fully capable of taking care of myself and my daughter and you...” I lean against the table, crossing my arms. “Had no right to talk to Justin like that or me for that matter. How dare you?”

  “Listen, when I pulled up all I saw was you standing there looking vulnerable and him leaning in like he was ready to attack you.” His voice softens. “I didn’t like it.”

  “So you were protecting me? From what, his lips?” I can’t help being a smartass.

  “I don’t know. I just know I didn’t like it and he had a job to do. A job that I needed him to do so I can do mine.” He unfolds the plans on the counter, not even bothering to look at me.

  “Fine.” I surrender, letting it be. What it boils down to is Drew Williams was jealous and if he was jealous then that means our kiss wasn’t nothing. It meant something to him.

  “Fine,” he agrees.

  Drew

  I DIDN’T HAVE TO come today. Kyle, my lead foreman, was set to do the job. Until this morning when I texted him with the change. He didn’t argue or ask, just sent back a message saying that I owed him the story over beer and pizza. That I can do, when I figure out what the story even is.