As Sweet As Can Be

Part Two.

Kevin's POV

Elizabeth Katherine King. I met this woman by chance, and so far it is the best chance I have taken in a long time. After we ate breakfast, I learned a lot about her, for instance, she just turned 28 last week, she is a single mother, her favourite colour is purple, she had her son Benjamin at the age of 20, she is a physical education teacher at the highschool she went to as a kid, and she hates alcohol and drugs.

I do not know what it is about this woman that makes me so intrigued, but as I walk down the hallway to the bathroom, I could not help but glance at the picture of her in a baseball uniform. Her smile was determined and her eyes had that blue sparkle with a tint of green.

I left the picture with a smile and entered the bathroom. It was not small, but it also was not huge either. A big mirror hung above the sink on the left side of the wall, and in the left corner the toilet seat was placed next to a trash can. On the right side corner was the bathtub, and along the wall there was cabinets filled with towels and toiletries. The walls were a pastel blue and the floors had white and grey tiles. Personally, I thought her bathroom is neat.

I quickly showered and shaved my face, cleaning up after myself before leaving the bathroom. I feel so much better now that I am not covered in filth. Elizabeth had lent me a pair of her brothers sweats and a t-shirt to wear until my clothing is out of the wash. The t-shirt feels tight, and I contemplated on leaving it off, but I don't think she would appreciate me walking around shirtless in her house.

As soon as I entered the kitchen, Elizabeth began to laugh, and Benjamin looked at her, most likely wondering what was so funny. But I think I know what she is laughing at, me.

"What's so funny?" I asked her, she began to calm down but still had a grin on her face.

"I'm sorry, but that shirt just looks ridiculous on you. It's so small."

I looked down at the shirt, it hugged my skin tightly, you could see the muscle beneath it. Even I had to laugh at myself.

"If it looks that ridiculous, imagine how it feels." I spoke, chuckling a bit at the end. I really do look ridiculous.

She shook her her head with a grin, dismissing the topic. Benjamin looked back and forth between us, a confused expression across his face. He has his mother's eyes and hair, but his face must have came from the father. He turned his back to me as soon as he realized I was staring.

"Elizabeth, who is he?" He asked his mom.

I furrowed my eyebrows together in confusion. Why didn't her call her mom? Is she even his mom?

"Benji, this is Kevin, a friend of mine." She spoke softly, ignoring the fact that he called her by her name and not mom. It would break my heart if my kids called me by my name.

"Hi Kevin." Benjamin said to me, his voice unsure.

"Hey little buddy, what's up?" I replied. I often called Dennis 'little buddy' until he told me that I should stop calling him that because he's 'too old' now. I smiled at the memory of my son.

"Nothing." And with that, Benjamin got up and left the room.

"Is he a shy kid or what?" I asked Elizabeth, who happened to be watching me carefully. I've noticed that as a habit of hers.

"Yeah, he's always been a bit shy."

"He didn't call you mom." She dropped her gaze from me and looked down at her fingers.

"I know." She stood up from her spot, taking her empty cup with her to the sink. She had her back faced to me and she remained quiet.

I wanted to ask her more about it but I also didnt want to push my luck, she was nice enough to take me in for the day.

Elizabeth left the room after a couple of minutes of silence, leaving me to myself. All that was heard was the ticking of the grandfather clock standing beside a shelf and my own breathing. I don't know if I should stay put or go check on my laundry, I got up anyways.

I left the kitchen and took the stairs toward the laundry room. I can hear Elizabeth talking quietly to who I assume is Benjamin, her voice is mumbled but I can still hear her clearly.

"How do you spell language?"

"L-A-N-G-A-G-E?"

"I know you know this Benji, try again."

"L-A-N-G-U-A-G-E?" His answer sounded more like a question, but with the way Elizabeth exclaimed 'Correct!", I knew he was right.

I frowned at the fact that I cannot hear my own kids voices, it kills me inside and out. I wonder if I were to call, would they pick up? I don't know, but I shall give it a shot anyways. That is if Elizabeth allows me to use her phone.

When I got to the laundry room, the scent of soap greeted me with open arms. I pulled my clothing out from the washer and put them into the dryer, adding some fabric softener and then starting it up.

I left the laundry room as soon as I finished my business and headed back downstairs. When I got to the last step I heard soft humming coming from the living room. The closer I got to the sound the louder it was getting. I stood with my back flat against the wall and let the sound flow throughout the air.

"I'm coming out of my cage, and I've been doing just fine. Gotta gotta be down, because I want it all."

Her voice is pure, it sent chills down my spine and made me forget where I am. I took a deep breath and walked into the room.

"It started out as a kiss, how did it end up like this, it was only a kiss, it was only a kiss."

There she stood, her hand on her chest and the other on the window sill as she stared outside. She had stopped singing but she was still. I wonder if she heard me walk in? Probably not. Both her hands dropped to her sides and she turned to me. Her eyes widened in surprise and her jaw dropped the slightest bit.

"How long were you standing there?" She asked me, her face tinted with a shade of red.

"Long enough." I replied. She pulled her eyebrows together in a look of confusion. "You got a talent, you know that right?"

She turned back to the window so she was no longer facing me. The room fell into dead silence and I suddenly felt her mood change.

"Do you need anything?" She asked, dismissing the topic immediately.

"Uh, actually I do. Do you have a phone that I can use?"

"It's right beside you." She spoke, her back still facing me.

I looked to the left and sure enough there was a cordless house phone sitting on a end table next to a lamp. I muttered a quick 'thank you', picked up the phone and walked back into the hallway.

I quickly dialed Nora's number, as much as I hated the fact that I have to speak to her, I need to hear my kids voices. The phone rung about four times before she picked up.

"Hello?" Her voice once sounded so sweet to me, but now it was laced with venom. I took a deep breath before speaking.

"Hey."