CHRISTMAS IN A NEW TOWN

chapter fifteen

Eddie pull his shirt over his head, Toni watch him do so, she was leaning against his van still, biting her lips,
Eddie lean on her, "What" he asked holding her at the waist "you didn't get enough? Save it for later" he whispered in her ear,
Toni body shivered
Eddie smile " I'll call you later"
Toni nod but she was still blocking his van door,
"How am I going to get in mam?" He asked
Toni move away she watch him back out the garage following as he was going out, he honk the horn blew her a kiss Toni wave he was going down the road when she went in side to find Angela almost at the end of dinner,
"Can you wash your hands and put the dishes on the table" Angela said
"What's wrong with my hands?" Toni asked
"You've been touching that thing I could hear you screaming from here"
Toni wonder if she was screaming that loud she did scream a little yes for that standing position work on her inner thigh a lot, she shook her head walk to the sink
"You're leaking something over here" Angela said Toni look around checking her butt
Angela laugh
Toni hissed she wash her hands and set the table she excuse herself to go freshen up she took a quick shower and went back down
Angela was already seated smile when she sat down,
"Talk to Michael?" Toni asked
"He called while I was cooking he said to tell you hi and the children send their love"
Toni smile,
"You haven't heard from Chris?" Angela asked
Toni shook her head"
"You should give him a call" Angela advice Toni
"I thought of doing so" Toni said
"Do it now"
Toni picked her phone up and dial Chris number, it's been almost two weeks his phone ring and it was showing Toni the same area as she here in Texas she brought Angela's attention to it,
"Could he be working here in Texas?" Angela wonder loudly
"I don't know" Toni said she let the phone rang another time, Emma turn her eyes at him when his phone rang they were with the family at the time of the call,
"I'll put it on silent" Chris said
"Better yet turn it off we're on vacation let's not get disturbed" Emma said
Chris turn the phone off and put it back side Emma smile at him he smile back
"It stop ringing" Toni said "you think he turned it off?"
"He must be busy" Angela said
"Maybe he's a workaholic" Toni said
"You can try again later"
"I'll leave him to get back to me" Toni said
"Ok for if his phone even went dead it's obviously he'll get the update"
Toni believe that too,
They finish dinner do the dishes then headed in to the living room, the night ended them on the couch Angela falls a sleep and tonight woke her for she was leaving early and didn't pack they did so together and then they spend the night in the room Angela stays in,
They were up early to go for Angela wanted to get home in time to rest she has clients to see comes Monday
"I love it here" Angela said looking around, so when you say you're leaving?"
"Shortly after the new year I don't know I'm not sure"
"If you're still here after the new year then Michael and I can come then"
Toni nod,
"You going to call him again?" Angela asked
She was standing with Toni at the airport preparing to say goodbye,
"Who Chris?"
Yes Chris your husband who else"
"I'm hoping he'll call"
"Yes but you call again"
Toni nod
They said goodbye and Angela went to board the airplane
Toni wonder why she's pushing her to call her husband so much thinking now how embarrassing it is wishing she haven't let her know about the little moments with Eddie it's not that she didn't love her husband but she fall in love with Eddie and it felt right she felt as if he's basically what she's been looking for her whole life, Toni sigh as she drove slowly thinking of life, she had promised Hariel an evening with her at home so she swing by the church as she would collect her there they were waiting for church was already over, pups bark on her arrival getting everyone's attention to her, Hariel ran to her with pups behind barking a happy bark,
Mildred was getting in a car just then when she pulled up but stop to talk she told someone who was with them "this is Toni, Elma Jones God daughter, she's the daughter of the Cameron's Jeana Cameron and Ricky " she said to a man and another couple who nod and smile
"That's so nice to have met you, I know Elma, good woman, and I've met your parents too very nice people" the man said the woman nod saying she had too, "he's so right very nice people and from your looks you're a nice person,"
Dorothy nod and smile
"You look like your mother you know" the woman said
"Oh yes she does" Mildred agreed,
Toni smile, this wasn't the first time hearing that she look like her mother
They have some story about her God mother before they left Toni smile and look at Eddie, he fluttered his eyes, he make her shiver in ways she didn't know he was so special to her she didn't know why he made her feel this way for him, like a child,
"We should go Hariel?" Toni said taking Hariel's cheeks between her palms,
"Do I get to take pups?"
"Oh pups, you want to take him ah, I thought that this night was for girls only" Toni said she smile and pinch Hariel's cheek, "but then I know you would never leave him behind"
Hariel smile
"Let's go, bye Dorothy see you later, I'll have her back in one piece" she told Eddie as she faces him,
Eddie nod, "come here girl" he said to his daughter she ran to him and he hug her kissing her face, "be on your best behavior" he said
"Yes dad" Hariel said
"That's impossible when girls have sleep over" Toni said Eddie lift his head from his daughter to look at her she smile and he felt his heart melt, he thought where have she been all this time why haven't he met her before this time,
"And look pups is joining us what room will be there for behavior" Toni grin Hariel smile at her dad and the puppy bark
Dorothy smile
Toni took Hariel by the hand they turn to get in the van,
"Let's go pups" Hariel said she put the puppy in the van then climb in soon as she was seated Toni straps her in, she was about to get in,
"Toni wait up" Eddie said coming back to her after helping his grandmother in,
"There's a fair on Tuesday in the square I don't know if you would like to go"
"You're inviting me out?" Toni asked
Hariel look at her then at her dad she then look at pups who bark loudly and tries to quiet him down,
"Up for it?" Eddie asked
"Did you say Tuesday, what type of fair is that?"
"It's an annual fair they keep this time of year"
"It sounds interesting what time?"
"Can I pick you up by eight?"
"Eight am or eight pm?"
"Eight pm" Eddie said having the feeling she knew he meant that time,
"Ok" she said climbing in the van
"Call me" Eddie said
"When?"
"Later"
"When I put your daughter to bed will that time be ok?"
"What time will that be?" Eddie asked
"Midnight, on going" Toni whispered
Eddie laugh "call me then" he said, if it wasn't for the fact that they were standing in this open area and his grandmother and daughter weren't both here he would kiss her a long deep kiss, he let her get in the van then got into his just as she drove out he did the same,
Dorothy look at Eddie when he sat in the van he didn't turn her way,
"So Toni friend is gone, I thought they would leave together" Dorothy said
"Yes she's gone, I don't know nana I guess she's not ready"
"Are you the reason?" Dorothy ask
"For what?"
"Why she's not ready, I'm old enough to know what's going on"
"Toni is just going through a phrase now grandma she need someone to talk to"
"Talk to?" Dorothy asked
Eddie nod
So what kind of phrase is Toni going through?" Dorothy ask
"Toni can't get pregnant and her husband wants children and he's kind of distance"
"Is it that you're taking advantage of that?"
"No grandma shame on me if I do that I just like her that's all there Is to it"
"Does she like you for if it is that she and her husband fix the problem they're having you'll left behind and it doesn't seems you see Peggy anymore"
Eddie haven't seen Peggy since that day she came to buy coffee he want to think it was Christmas Eve he haven't ran into her and they didn't call each other, he didn't have her on his mind either way, "You didn't like it when I see her" he said
"That maybe true but at least she's not married" Dorothy said
Eddie look at her,
"Ah child" she said patted his shoulder turned out the window and started humming"
Eddie pulled to the drive way he parked the van and help his grandma out they enter the house together and went separate ways Dorothy went up the stairs and Eddie went out to the barn he was there a while before coming back to the house his grandmother had fix dinner and they have it together,
Angela landed in California by midday but she was sure to settle in and make sure to spend time around her husband and children, she thought she would text Toni to let her know she at the house,
"Watch I'm doing it by myself" Hariel screams
Making pups bark loudly
Toni cheer her clapping she kept moving around for her to follow and she had done well
"I can swim!" She screams!"
"Yes hooray!" Toni said hugging her they have practice some more before getting out the water, they went inside to get out the wet clothing, Toni find that she got message and check to see it was Angela letting her know she's home with the family,
Toni text back to let her know she has Hariel so she'll call later,
"Be sure to call at anytime" Angela said
"I'll do that" Toni said
They fixed dinner together Hariel and Toni, Toni made some fried rice with pasta and curry shrimp with cherry juice, she feed pups some leftovers, chicken stew that was in the refrigerator they rest before doing the dishes then move on to more fun things pups in the middle of it all, they play all they could,until they both were too tired to go another game, the last thing they did was to play hide go seek when Toni found Hariel in the pantry she's been looking for a while before finding her she didn't think of that spot, she laughed when she found her, "come on tin turkey let's go, I'm going to have you for supper" she said pulling her out, they later have a night snack and play some card games, Hariel grew tired so they called it a night Toni tucked her in because there was no story books she find a story from her head putting in some parts that didn't add up Hariel laugh, "What so funny, it's not like that, tell me how it is then"
"I don't know" Hariel laugh,
"So if you don't know the story how can you say it's not so?"
"Because it's funny"
"Silly the story is to be funny how else will you get to laugh" Toni tickle her
Hariel burst into laughter
Toni giggle, "come on little girl go to sleep" she kiss her forehead, "
Goodnight patter cake"
"Goodnight Toni, I love you"
"I love you too suga"
"Toni" Hariel called "can I asked you a question?"
"Ho yeah go a head
"It's about dad" Hariel said
"What about your dad?"
Hariel cover her face shying away
"What about your dad?"
"I think my dad likes you" she said
"Oh is that so who told you that?"
"He acts strange around you"
Toni laughed she lean in to kiss her"
She didn't respond but thought about how strange she feels around him she really has a deep feeling for him, Hariel didn't ask again as she was hoping she would say yes she like her dad, Toni just sat with her and let thoughts ran deep as she waits for Hariel to go to bed,
Hariel appears to be sleeping as she lay still with her eyes close, Toni watch her with great affection she smile to herself remembering what she had said about her dad acting strangely around her, she sigh and rub her cheeks "Oh Hariel there's something really special about your dad I actually think that he's the reason why I'm still here, it maybe wrong knowing I have a husband but I think I'm in love with your dad, something wrong never felt this right, one day you'll understand sweetheart" she kiss her forehead, "goodnight pups" she said the little dog whine as Toni left the room leaving Hariel there with the dog, she close the door behind her going into her bedroom,
Hariel sat up in bed a smile spread across her face, she's hoping that Toni will like her dad for they both like her, she could be her mom now that she doesn't see her mom anymore Toni is nice to her and she wants a mother like that,
Toni had received a text from Angela but because she was caught up with Hariel she replied with a text message that she would call Angela had said anytime so Toni called, she answered quickly as she was waiting,
"So you only just put your daughter to bed?" Angela tease,
"Better believe I just did, so what's up, I was hoping you weren't sleeping"
"I was waiting for your call so what's up?"
I'm setting up to go off to be myself" Toni said
"So you talk to your husband?" Angela asked
"No his phone doesn't ring now"
"Do you think he's over in Texas?"
"That code is definitely close by" Toni said
"You know Toni I wonder what he up to, he's working on the holidays all a long he doesn't call or does he take calls, have you asked Nicky if she seen him around?"
"I don't want to start calling anyone to inquire of my husband, I know it's Nicky but still"
"Toni since he's acting this way it's a must he might want to leave you" Angela said
"You think?" Toni asked
"He's going crazy for children and he doesn't want to adopt and he's desperate to father a child"
"Angela you don't think my husband will leave me to have a child with another woman?"
"I want you to know this if he comes asking for a divorce you are to be prepared that he won't walk away from it and leave you with nothing he can say you didn't give him children and the judge can look at it like that, but after six years Toni no one wants to walk away with out nothing"
Toni didn't care about money now she just wondered if he'll leave because she's unable to give him children,
"I love you Toni I only wants the best for you" Angela echo in her ears,
"I know thanks for caring so much, you're my tower of strength"
"My wind beneath my wings" Angela said
Toni laugh
"I don't mean for it to be funny"
Toni laugh a little harder,
Eventually Angela started laughing too,
Hariel finally falls a sleep for she was thinking of a family with Toni and she smile on each thoughts
Eddie wonder what was keeping Toni she said midnight on going but it was way after one he isn't expecting her to call so he went to bed,
Toni said goodnight to Angela and then dial Eddie it was late one thirty but she didn't let the hour stop her,
The phone rang and Eddie feel under the pillow next to the one he lays on he found it and answer he was between sleep at the moment,
"Hey" he said
"You didn't wait up for me?" Toni asked
"I tried but you seems to take forever"
"Sorry I didn't realize you were impatient"
"Anxious is more like it"
"Ok then sorry to have you waiting"
"Not that I couldn't wait on you" Eddie said
Toni smile,
"I don't want to think that my daughter was up this late"
She went to bed earlier but Angela sent me a message so I called and we spoke for a while"
"Oh I see, how was girls night?"
"Wow it as wonderful pups can tell you about it"
Eddie laugh"
"You don't talk dog language do you?"
"The same way I can't speak to plants" Eddie said
Toni giggle, "I have to I work with those guys" she said
Eddie laugh
"Yes it's true"
"Thank goodness you speak to plants nature people are always easier to get a long with"
"I think I'm easy to get a long and I would be even if I'm not able t talk to plants"
Eddie chuckle, "so you're saying your ability to talk to plants have nothing to do with your charming personality?"
"So I have a charming personality?" Toni asked
"What you learned that for the first time?"
Toni laugh
"I like so much thing about you" Eddie said
"Ok I could name few things about you" Toni said from the other end of the line but it make Eddie shiver,
"Tuesday is New Year's Eve, so we'll spend it together?"
"That a question?" Eddie asked
"You're asking me out then isn't that so?"
"Oh ok yeah new Year's Eve is Tuesday I forgot"
"No problem we all do that sometimes"
"Yep we do, so you're leaving after the new year?"
"I can't tell as yet I might hang out so Angela and her husband get to come visit"
"Oh ok"
"You're getting your daughter tomorrow,?
"I can do that" Eddie said
"Ok mister go get some rest see you later"
"Ok have a goodnight" Eddie told her with that they hang up Toni lay in bed with a grin thinking of the way she felt for Eddie's thinking of the way he makes her feel it's some rather unfamiliar feeling that make her weak but she like it so much,
Toni and Hariel did some gardening comes Monday morning there was some leaves and Toni rake them away with Hariel's help they bag them up and put in the garbage bin a little freshen up done on the porch in to the living room she then fix breakfast, they spend time by the pool Toni watching Hariel swimming around when she fell her legs getting tired she climb out,
After lunch they walk around the neighborhood Toni ran in to the people she had met before and talk with them they went back to the house while Hariel took a shower Toni wash and dry her belongings when her father got there she was fed pack and ready,
Mildred walked in to the lounge calling from the door to Dorothy who met her at a table where they sit no one was in at the time so they get time to talk,
"So the young lady stop by the other day and look at the place right away she paid for it"
Dorothy didn't get it, she look at Mildred in wonders
"Toni the young lady with your grandson
"Oh Toni" Dorothy nods, "she bought the motel?"
"She did I heard them planning a business"
"Them?" Dorothy ask
"Another your woman was with her"
Dorothy can't believe she actually buy the motel she wondered what business she's going into "must be pretty glad to get it sell"
"I am I didn't want to go home knowing I was going to just leave it that way"
Dorothy nod she was glad for her, she planned to get rid of this place one day soon for she's at an age she can't manage anymore and she don't want her last days to be overworked and too tired and she knows her grandson won't take it to himself and she can't pay for someone to run it not not for her grand son doesn't have a proper job and this place really helps them out it's the family support system and she doesn't want to loose it just yet for the sake of her grandson and great granddaughter,
"I'll call you Hariel" Toni said when Hariel climb in the van,
"Love you bye" Hariel said
"Love you sweetie" Toni said she blew her a kiss
Hariel rest her hand on her forehead after pretending to have catch Toni smile,
"Call you later" Toni said
Eddie nod, he left with his daughter and her dog that barks after pushing his head out the window barking happily"