"Does Abby remember her?" Ben handed Clint one end of a tape measure and then walked to the other side of the room. "I mean, I don't have kids, but I would imagine young minds forget quickly. My brother's son can't even seem to remember to go to the bathroom."Clint chuckled as he marked off the spot on the wall for the next electrical outlet. He stood, once he was finished, and slipped his pencil back into his tool belt as he released the tape measure. "She says she does, although she doesn't remember any of the specifics. Just that Bonnie was gone and now she's back." He shrugged as he pulled his utility knife from his belt and started cutting into the drywall. "I guess that's a good thing in a way. At least, there aren't horrible memories for her to remember." By the time Bonnie arrived back at his place to drop Abby off, things seemed to have settled down between her and Abby. Or, at least, Abby was giggling when she was dropped off, pumped up on sugar and other kids at the park.
Meet me at the back of The Harbor Apartments. There's a cul-de-sac at the end. Clint read the text one more time as he pulled into the main entrance of The Harbor Apartments, just as confused as the first time he read it. Why is Aimee having me meet her here? It makes no sense. They didn't know anyone who lived in these apartments. They never even pass by the place. How she knew about it, he had no idea. Just like he had no idea why she wanted him to meet her here.The streetlights popped on as dusk swallowed the day, the daytime humidity turning to nighttime stickiness. Traffic dwindled as businessmen returned home from work, but the traffic was still thick on the streets, forcing Clint to weave in and out of slower cars, giving him too much time to wonder what Aimee was planning. Of course, it wouldn't have mattered how much time he had to think about it; he was no closer to understanding what Aimee was thinking than when he first read the text.Or what she needed.It was just odd fo
"You're kidding me?" Karla just stared at her and Aimee felt the blush creep up her neck. "Outside? Between two cars?" Then Karla laughed as she nodded her head. "Color me impressed.""Oh my god, it was such a rush," Aimee said as she pounded the table top with her palms. "I don't know which was more exhilarating, sex on the beach in the middle of the day or doing it in that cul-de-sac.""On the beach? When the hell did you do it on the beach?""Oh right, I haven't seen you in a couple of days." Aimee quickly gave her sister the scene on the beach dunes after they left her Saturday, even sharing how they were almost busted. She grinned like the cat who ate the canary the whole time, once again feeling the rush of the adrenaline from the risk she took.Karla just shook her head. "And lover boy was good with all of this? He didn't try to stop you? Say you were being too risky and out of control?"Aimee settled back in her chair, her hands clasped in front of her. "Well, yeah, at first."
Clint turned to Bonnie, still confused as to what was happening. "Bonnie. What are you doing here?"She gave a weak shrug, almost as if she was embarrassed. "I figured your mom was watching Abby while you worked, and I realized I hadn't seen your parents in a while. I'm going to be around, so I thought it best to, you know, kind of make friends." At least, she had decided to change clothes before arriving at his parents, going for the safe homemaker-look instead of how she appeared at his job site."She just showed up out of the blue," Clint's mother said. "You'd think a phone call would be a nice warning when not invited."Marvin Asher just shook his head. "Phone call? It's not like she interrupted anything. The only thing we were doing was watching old Matlock reruns. Bonnie is always welcome here."Clint's mother shot her husband a look, but Clint chose to ignore them. He wasn't sure what to make of everything. First his worksite and now his parents' house, Bonnie seemed to be pushi
Karla's words bounced in Aimee's head over the next two days, making her grumpy at work and home. She struggled to balance the contradiction in Karla's words. First, Aimee's told to stop being herself, and then that's precisely who Karla tells her to be to please Clint. Aimee's mood became surly enough that Karla packed an overnight bag and said she'd see Aimee on Friday. That was fine with Aimee. She had wanted the condo to herself from the beginning. Yet, her mood didn't just get on Karla's nerves. Ginny even sent Aimee home early, tired of seeing her so distracted and unproductive. Aimee didn't argue, just shoved some things in her briefcase, which she had no intention of looking at, and headed out the door into the Florida sunshine. However, not even the gorgeous day and the free time to enjoy it brightened her stormy mood.As she weaved through the busy afternoon streets, she was tempted to head over to Clint's and surprise him at work. He always possessed the uncanny ability to m
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Aimee couldn't believe Bonnie was about to take Abby for an entire night. "Have you been to her house, you know, to make sure it's actually a house and not some rickety shack or worse, a broken-down boat? This is Florida, you know. People live in all kinds of places, like cars, abandoned buses. Tents, even. Just yesterday, I saw someone parked on the side of the causeway in a white van with a flat screen TV mounted to the side."Clint laughed as he unpacked his lunch box. Abby ran straight to her bedroom once they walked through the door, eager to get to her dolls. "I can't see Bonnie living in any of those places. I'm sure it'll be fine, but thanks for worrying, though.""How can you be so calm about this? Abby hasn't been out of your sight for over a year, and now she's going to be gone all night with the woman who ran out on her. Doesn't that make you even the littlest bit nervous? What if Bonnie does it again and you're not there to protect Abb
She didn't agree, still upset that he kept Bonnie's visits from her. She wasn't ready to give in just yet, choosing to hold onto her anger. Her anger protected her."C'mon. Go get dressed for a night on the town. We'll live it up and then come back here for a night of wild abandon. Or soft cuddles on the couch. Whatever you want.""I'm not leaving until Bonnie is gone. I don't want her telling you all over again how much she wants you."He smiled as he nodded. "That's fine with me. You can be with me every time Bonnie has to be around if that makes you feel better.""And talk to your parents. I don't want her doing pop-bys there to ambush you. And keep her off the job site.""You got it." He pulled her close and kissed her forehead, his lips warm enough to stir the heat between her legs and thaw out her anger. "I'll do whatever I can to make this as easy as possible for you, for us.""I'm hungry, Daddy." They both turned to see Abby standing at the entrance to the hallway, a doll dangl
The evening held a slight breeze that tugged at Aimee's blond hair, making her consistently snatch at it to tuck it behind her ears. The battle was equally as frustrating with the skirt she chose to wear, as the wind kept flapping the fabric around her thighs and jerking the skirt up in the air, exposing her ass if she wasn't careful. The carnival was crowded with families being dragged around on the inky parking lot by little hands toward chances to win a giant stuffed animal and couples embraced arm in arm wandering from ride to ride. Colored lights beckoned as hawkers called out as they passed, enticing them to take a chance at a game, urging Clint to win his beautiful lady a prize. The night air was thick with the aroma of popcorn and deep fryers as people lined up for greasy hot dogs and strawberry lathered funnel cakes. Music blared from the rides, mostly outdated eighties songs as people were spun, tilted, and twirled in dangerous looking contraptions of amusement. The place wa
They were the last ones to arrive at the park, the others already choosing a spot and Marvin Asher firing up the grill. Karla wore a skirt that actually covered everything it should and had her breasts tucked conservatively out of sight. Aimee was shocked but glad. Clint's parents would get to know all about her sister soon enough. Aimee didn't need the first meeting to be a shocker for them.Abby ran to the Ashers first, giving them each a hug and squealing when her grandfather picked her up and threatened to throw her in the air. Then, to Aimee's surprise and delight, the little girl ran to Aimee's mother and hugged her as well. She offered the others a quick hello and then darted for the playground, Clint's mother following just to keep a nervous eye on her. Paul and Mitch stood beside the picnic table, Karla clinging to Mitch's side, as Aimee's mother sat in front of them, all talking and laughing. Aimee stood still a moment, soaking in this perfect scene. They were one big happy f
Aimee stretched, her arms extending out to her side only to come up short as her hand hit another body. Rolling over, she gently ran a hand over Clint's face, a smile dancing across her own. The Saturday morning light peeked through his curtains, calling them to rise and shine, but Aimee ignored it, as she had tried to do every morning since Monday night. Every night she fell asleep beside him, and every morning she woke up wrapped around him, her arms exploring his naked chest. No matter how tired they were when they went to bed, the two of them decided, for Abby's sake, they'd make sure they wore pajamas before falling asleep. A young girl still had moments of nightmares, after all, and needed her Daddy in the middle of the night. Monday night everything changed. Bonnie was no longer his wife. Oh, he still had to stand before the judge next week and make it official, but for all intents and purposes, it was a done deal. Nothing stood in the way of their happiness now.She ran a fing
When the kiss broke, he grinned down at her. "Just tell me we can do some more photo shoots."She laughed again, harder, freer. "Clint Asher, I'll do whatever you want. All you have to do is name it." She kissed him again, this time softer, with less urgency, but just as much passion.When the kiss was over, she slid back into her seat, scooping up her wine glass as she did. "So tell me about today."He did, sharing with her how Bonnie wasn't planning on signing the papers in the beginning. First, he told her Bonnie's revelation of a need for family and why she returned. Then, he explained how he convinced her how signing the papers was the only way for the two of them to get on with their lives, that she could be the best mother to Abby she could be, but she would never again be his wife. He told Bonnie that she needed to respect Aimee and make the transition as smooth as possible. They were Abby's parents, but they would never be friends.When he finished, Aimee told him about Bonnie
The night dragged on, and Aimee could not shake her nervousness. Clint had asked her over to join them for dinner but still had not said anything about what he felt they needed to discuss. He hadn't even mentioned his meeting with Bonnie that afternoon, which made Aimee keep quiet about how the woman visited her. No need to bring up the subject if he was going to end it with her.Abby was a bundle of energy, bouncing on the couch and wanting to dominate the attention. After growing bored with that, she dragged Aimee to her room and played tea, while her father cooked dinner and music played from the front room. As Aimee played dolls with Abby, she wondered if the girl knew the extent of everything that was happening in the lives of the adults around her or if she was blissfully oblivious. For the little girl's sake, she hoped it was the latter."Dinner's ready," Clint called from the front room. Aimee had to admit he sounded happy since she arrived, not as if he was ready to send her o
A knock came at the door. Aimee glanced over her shoulder but didn't move to answer it. If it was Clint, she wanted to postpone the inevitable for as long as possible.Whoever it was knocked again. Karla stepped out of the hallway, glanced at Aimee, and then moved to answer the door. "You worry too much," Karla said over her shoulder.Aimee turned back to the ocean, the curling waves matching the churning in her stomach. She knew she was being dramatic, but she couldn't stop herself. She hated defeat."What the hell are you doing here?" Karla's voice snapped Aimee's attention around. Expecting to see Clint standing there, she was stunned when she noticed Bonnie, the woman ramrod straight, her neck stiff, and one white-knuckled hand gripping her purse strap close to her shoulder. Aimee could feel the confusion furrowing her brow, her eyes squinting, as if trying to make sure she saw what she actually saw. "Bonnie?""Again I ask, what are you doing here?" Karla stood in front of the oth
Something went wrong. While Aimee had no idea what that something was, she knew it had to be about Clint's divorce. Why else would he text her saying they needed to talk right after meeting with Bonnie? The waves barreled onto the shore, breaking upon the sand and rearranging the Atlantic Coast, just as Clint's text rearranged her security, sending her spinning in the riptide of the unknown. She stared at the white foam as the ocean sucked it back out into the deeper waters, reclaiming it as its own. Had Bonnie succeeded in the same thing with Clint? Had she won the fight and taken her husband back? Once again regaining her happy little family?She closed her eyes against the onslaught of scenarios that pummeled her mind, her head screaming against the intrusion. With everything she could muster, she tried to fight the battle within her, giving Clint the assurance he wanted that she believed him when he told her he would be here forever. Yet, it wasn't her experience. Men said whatev
Clint pulled into the local Starbucks, deciding it was the safest place to meet Bonnie to get her to sign the divorce papers. Hopefully, the opportunity for her to respond negatively would be greatly reduced by the public meeting. He had no doubt that meeting her in private would lead to her doing something detrimental to the proceeding. He just wanted to get her to sign the divorce papers and get the whole thing over with, so he could get on with the rest of his life, get on with his relationship with Aimee.He sighed. Hopefully, get Aimee to calm down and return to normal. It wasn't that all the adventures she came up with weren't hot as hell. They were, and he wouldn't mind doing them, but not if she only did them to compete with Bonnie. He wanted Aimee to be Aimee, the woman he fell in love with, the woman who sat on the couch with him and Abby and watched Disney movies, the woman who jumped into a flour fight in the kitchen, giggling and tossing the white powder everywhere. He did
Aimee stretched, her body screaming its protest at her, hating the fact that morning was already here, and she needed to rise and shine. Only one part of that would be possible until after coffee. She rolled over, her gaze drifting to the sliding glass doors at the east of her bedroom. The morning sun coaxed her, urging her to call into work and take the day off, to make a day of it at the beach, the sun's rays kissing her flesh. She grinned, scrunching down into her covers, her mind drifting to Clint's lips on hers, the passion in each one of his kisses, warming her insides like the sun would warm her outside. If she was going to call out of work, she wanted to spend the day in bed with Clint.Once they left his workshop, he went to pick up Abby and then met her at Charlie's for dinner. Abby was a chatty little girl, while she drew on her kid's menu, excited about being out with them. It was even pleasant to sit at a table, Clint's arm stretched across as he held her hand, Abby bounci
They spent the next hour moving things around in his workshop, setting up a photo shoot of the furniture he intended on selling, and making each piece look enticing. Aimee threw herself into the task at hand, examining the shadows cast by the lighting inside the workshop and making a small studio spot off to the side with nothing in the background, using some of his dark dropcloths as background drops. Clint helped her move things around, happy to be the manual labor to her vision for his photos.Outside, night started to fall, casting darker shadows on the ground as lamp posts popped on, offering only a slimmer of light to illuminate the world. Aimee finished taking her pictures: rocking chairs, tables, even a dresser Clint had crafted himself. They teased, laughing at each other when Aimee wasn't so focused on what she was doing. This was her passion, taking pictures, and she could get lost in the process for hours, inspecting angles and lighting, zooming in and out, carefully select