Right Next Door

Chapter 6

Maggie

They were rushing out their door on Saturday morning to get to Aaron's first T-Ball practice. Aaron had begged for months to be able to play and she thought it would be a great opportunity to make new friends. Not a lot happened at this first meet but the kids did get to run around on the field and hit the ball a few times each. The coaches passed out their team t-shirts and all of the parents were given the season's schedule. Maggie was signed up to bring snacks and drinks at next Saturday's game and several of the moms swapped phone numbers with the promise of getting together for coffee soon.

Each of the kids were given a snow cone at the end of the practice and by the time Aaron was finished with his, his face was blue and red from the syrup.

On the entire trip home Aaron raved at how awesome T-Ball was and he couldn't wait until they could play again. Maggie realized he really didn't have a clue what T-Ball actually entailed, but she was certain he'd have fun nonetheless. As Maggie and Aaron made it back home, she saw that Robert's truck was in the driveway. Aaron was immediately excited to see him and Maggie barely had the car in park before he jumped out of his car seat and pried the door open. He ran across the yard and lunged into Robert's waiting embrace.

"Mr. Robert! I went to T-ball!" Aaron squealed in delight when Robert's fingers tickled over the boy's ribcage.

"You did? That's awesome, buddy. Did you have fun?"

"Yep! Have you come to play with me?"

Robert glanced at Maggie as she made her way up the stone path that cut across the yard. "Hey Maggie," they waved at each other, "Buddy, I came to play with both you and your mom." He winked and offered her a salacious grin, which made her blush.

Aaron wasn't deterred, "Will you come to my game next Saturday?"

"I wouldn't miss it! Thanks inviting me. Do you guys have dinner plans?"

Maggie cut in before Aaron went off on about all the junk food he wished he could consume for supper. "Uh, we don't but this kid needs a bath and a nap. Do you mind hanging out for a little while?"

"Sounds great," Robert said on an exhale. Maggie let everyone into the house, but as he crossed the threshold into the living room, Robert said, "Pretty flowers by the way."

Maggie glanced to the large, lovely pot of greenery at their feet. Had she missed them on their way out this morning? Who left them for her?

Brandon.

The thought made her warm throughout but she quickly dashed those feelings aside. Paul was the last man to ever buy her flowers.

"They are new...thanks." She glanced at her neighbor's house as she walked through the door.

Aaron took his time in the bath. As she brought Robert a beer, she said she needed to get some laundry started and left him to his own devices.

Once she convinced Aaron to lie down for a nap, he complied only with the promise that Robert would still be there when he awoke.

She pulled his door closed, made a detour to the laundry room to start a load, and grabbed herself a beer before plopping down on the sofa next to Robert who had turned on a Mariners game in her absence.

"That kid wears me out," Maggie sighed.

"I can only imagine. Anything in particular you'd like to watch?"

"Baseball is fine. I might pass out if I sit long enough."

She draped an afghan blanket over her body and propped her head against the back of the couch. Robert decided to lay her feet across his lap and she was too exhausted to protest. Moments later she felt herself being gently lulled to sleep. The last thing she remembered was Robert's fingers massaging her feet and it felt too good to ask him to stop.