Nikki pulled into the driveway and took Tyler out of his car seat, "why are you still awake little man? You usually fall asleep on the way home from grandmas."
"Mamamamamam," Tyler babbled.
"Yes mama that's me," Nikki smiled, kissing the top of his head.
She pushed open the gate and waited for the motion lights to come on. She could have gone through the house like she often did especially with Tyler and leaving her stroller in the garage but she knew Teddy was on the porch when she said good night to Brett. Nikki didn't want to deal with the third degree from both of her sisters, Meghan would be enough. Nikki was still smiling; he had kissed her Brett had given her the sweetest, gentlest good night kiss. The kiss was affectionate and simple. She had liked it, it was caring and loving so different then the demanding way Jeff had kissed her. Nikki was glad it had been dark so Brett didn't see the way her cheeks had flushed to match her hair.
A while later Meghan and Faroke came down the stairs. Meghan smiled seeing a clearly happy Nikki on the couch with Tyler.
"Faroke go get ready for bed," Nikki directed.
Meghan sat on the couch beside Nikki.
"Is Faroke going straight to bed," Nikki asked.
"I told him he could watch one episode of that show," Meghan said.
"Blanket then," Nikki said, holding out her hand.
Meghan passed her the baby blanket on the far side of the couch.
"I thought I'd have him in bed before you got home," Nikki said.
"We beat you home," Meghan said, "guess what Teddy told me."
"So," Nikki said.
"So," Meghan asked, "you've spent too much time with Owen."
"So," Nikki replied.
"Brett," Meghan said, "what's happening?"
"I don't know," Nikki said, "he kissed me."
"Teddy saw," Meghan replied, "how was it?"
"Good," Nikki replied blushing.
"Your blushing," Meghan teased, "you're as red as your hair."
"It was sweet," Nikki said, "just a little peck. But soft and gentle. I've never had a kiss like that. It was sweet and loving. No one has ever been that sweet and gentle with me."
"I think he really likes you," Meghan said, "he put up with Owen for you. He was comfortable with Tyler."
"He likes my son," Nikki said, "he cares about Ty."
"He's really good with Ty," Meghan said, "but I've seen Brett here supposedly studying and to go for walks with you and Tyler."
"Meghan," Nikki whispered.
"Yes squirt," Meghan asked.
"I really like Brett," Nikki admitted, "a lot. But I'm scared."
"You don't want to get hurt again," Meghan replied.
"I can't," Nikki admitted, "I like Brett but the way I feel is scaring me. That kiss felt good. No one has made me feel this way. Jeff never made me feel that loved in 5 years. Brett made me feel loved for just being me with a 2 second kiss. It was perfect."
"Then what's next," Meghan asked, "you can like when a man kisses you."
"He invited Ty and I for dinner at his place tomorrow," Nikki said, "we're going. Brett knows how I feel about babysitters at night and on weekends. Ty is with you or mom so much when I'm at work I need to be with him."
"I know," Meghan said, "you're good at juggling work, your course work and Ty. He's a well loved little boy. Nikki you're only 25, you can let your self love and be loved. You had a child, you didn't join a convent. When I've seen him Brett seems like a good man."
"He's a great guy. I like him," Nikki said, staring down at Tyler, "Meghan I'm scared."
"Let him in squirt," Meghan said, "does he know about Jeff?"
"He met Jeff," Nikki said, "he knew setting up the summer before you came home that Jeff and I had broken up. I didn't tell anyone at school about Ty until the end of November though."
"November," Meghan said.
"I was starting to get a bump I had to," Nikki said.
"Bump appeared when," Meghan asked.
"Around 19 or 20 weeks," Nikki said, "you came home 16 days after Ty was born."
"Ty was just a tiny little nugget when I came home. What are you doing about Brett," Meghan asked.
"I like him. I feel safe and I want him to kiss me again," Nikki said, "but I can't go beyond that. It's too much of a risk. Tonight I sat on the floor beside the couch with Ty to stop myself from trying to lean on him."
"You feel that safe," Meghan asked.
"I do," Nikki said, "I want to cuddle and watch a movie and just let him hold me. I miss the little day to day affection. Not that Jeff was the most affectionate. But I miss cuddling to watch a movie or an arm around me. Feeling safe and protected. At lunch the other day Brett brushed a strand of my hair back. It was just little but I don't know I felt cared for."
"Tell him," Meghan said, "the way he looks at you and plays with Ty. I think he's in love with you. This is how a good man should make you feel. That's the type of man you should be with. Nathan still makes me feel that way."
"I want to see what could happen but there's Tyler," Nikki said, "I can't ask Brett to take on another man's child. Any guy that gets involved with me will have to understand that my son comes first. What guy is seriously going to be okay with another man's child?"
"Nathan," Meghan said, "I worry about it two. Our boys will come first. They have to. But that doesn't mean we can't be as happy as possible and find love and be loved. Nikki, you deserve to be happy and loved. I don't think you have to worry about it with Brett. He knows Ty is your world. But there's space for Brett two."
"What's going on with Nathan," Nikki asked.
"We get married in August, finally. Only one more week living apart then he stays in my room until we're in our house. He wants to take me out and back to his place Saturday night for a night alone," Meghan said, "I'm excited. Can you babysit?"
"I'll be here with both boys," Nikki said, "Julie is coming over with Kendra and Bryn but it's cool. Faroke is easy."
Brett stood in his apartment and called his mom.
"Hey mom," Brett greeted.
"Brett," Joan Wilson replied, "it's late, everything is okay."
"Sorry I forgot about the time difference," Brett admitted, "I kinda need your help with something for tomorrow."
"What's tomorrow," Joan asked.
"I'm having Nikki and Tyler for dinner. It has to be perfect," Brett said.
"What's going on with Nikki," Joan asked.
"I spent today with her family," Brett said, "mom you've never seen so many redheads in one place."
"Redheads," Joan asked.
"I'll send you a picture I took of Nikki and Ty today when her mom got us all to walk to a park," Brett said, "Nikki has flame red hair her son's hair is reddish."
"Tell me about this girl," Joan said, "you sound interested."
"I met Nikki doing our teacher training. She's worked with me for three years now she's the other sixth grade math teacher," Brett said, "she was with another guy when we met but I liked her instantly. They broke up last summer. He left her after they found out she was pregnant. She went through last school year alone and had her son in April. Tyler is the cutest little dude. Nikki is different mom. She's absolutely brilliant and great with the kids. She makes me laugh."
"She has a child there has to be another guy around," Joan said.
"She's seen Jeff once in 16 months. Tyler is 7 months old. He's only seen his father for half an hour," Brett said, "I kept trying to invite Nikki for dinner or coffee last year but she wasn't ready. We've had dinner a few times now. We study and work on our masters together. I'll go with her and Ty on walks. I'll spend weekend afternoons at her place working on school stuff while Ty naps."
"She trusts you with her son," Joan said.
"She does," Brett agreed.
"And you spent today with her and her mom," Joan said.
"Not just her mom," Brett said, "Nikki is the youngest of three by a lot. Her brother is 17 years older and her sister is 14 years older. Her brother Owen was there with his wife and their three kids so was her sister Meghan with her fiancé and son. So seven adults and five kids. Lots of redheads Nikki and her siblings all have red hair; both her nieces have it and we think Tyler will."
"How was her dad," Joan asked.
"She doesn't remember him," Brett said, "I think he passed when she was a baby."
"How did it go with her siblings," Joan asked.
"Her older brother is protective so was the brother in law. Owen and Nathan. Nathan was in Kenya with us we were teaching and Nathan was with doctors without borders. I watched the game with them and explained what was happening to the little guys. We took the three older kids out and taught them to throw the ball. Nikki sat on the porch steps with her mom and sisters and the two babies and watched. She's close to her siblings and their spouses."
"How old is Nikki," Joan asked.
"25," Brett said, "I seriously thought she was older until a year ago. Mom you'd like her."
"It sounds like you do," Joan said, "Brett it's time you let yourself love again. Does she know about Candice?"
"She knows what happened," Brett said, "there's nothing we can't talk about. She knows about Candice and that she cheated. Her ex cheated on her and she understands."
"If you want to get involved with her you know it's not just her," Joan said, "she will always put her son first. She's a mom she has to."
"I know," Brett said, "he's a cute little dude. I've gotten funny looks holding him at the park before."
"Black guy holding a white baby, people will wonder," Joan said, "and if she's a redhead they're really white."
"Her last name Is McRae their Scottish. A kid did a smilie last year Ms McRae is as white as paper," Brett said, "she found it funny."
"What does this girl look like," Joan asked.
"About 5'4", waist length straight hair, slim, the bluest eyes you've ever seen, freckles, always smiling," Brett said, "she laughs a lot."
"Anything physical," Joan asked.
"She wants really slow," Brett said, "I've been seeing her since September away from school. Sometimes on our own if she can get a babysitter, often with little dude. She hugged me tonight the first time she's initiated . I kissed her tonight after walking her to her car."
"She was okay with it," Joan asked, "if she's been hurt like you were you need to be careful."
"She was smiling, she looked happy," Brett said, "her and Tyler are coming over for the first time tomorrow. I know my place has to be spotless and nothing little on the floor. Tyler scoots around a bit and commando crawls. I don't know what to make her for dinner. We did the big turkey and all the trimmings today."
"Steaks," Joan suggested.
"She's almost vegetarian," Brett said.
"Salmon," Joan said, "I'll send you some recipes tomorrow morning. You like this girl."
"Mom I love her," Brett said, "I want you and dad to meet her when you come visit in a couple months."
"If she wants to," Joan said, "I'm going to go to bed. Talk to you tomorrow."
"Good night mom," Brett said.
Brett scrolled through the pictures he had taken that day at the park and found the one he liked best to send his mom. It was one of Nikki pushing Tyler in a baby swing both of them beaming. He also sent his mom the one of Nikki on the porch steps with her mom and sisters with Tyler in her lap and Daniel in Teddy's.
"She's beautiful," Joan texted back, "her son is adorable."
"She was really happy today," Brett said.