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Chapter 12
Friday again. Only he wasn't off the next day. It was his weekend to work and he'd worked his days off. It felt like one long never ending cycle.
"Stay and watch the movie with us." The twins begged Randie not to leave that night. She had brought them a new movie and they couldn't wait for their father to tell them it was time to watch.
"I can't." Every time she answered, her eyes, full of sorrow, would fall on Matt. She'd been leaving as soon as he walked through the door most days and he thought she was going out of her way to avoid talking to him as much as possible.
"Stay." Matt was tired and didn't feel like hearing the twins whine when she walked out the door.
"Sit here." Cory moved over, making her have to sit next to his older brother. And of course Cameron wanted to be close to Randie too, so he climbed up on Matt's lap. Matt turned sideways, dropping the heavy twin on the sofa next to his babysitter. It seemed Randie managed to get every male under her spell, no matter what age and there he was with his arm draped over the sofa behind her, mindless playing with her hair which he didn't notice he was doing until Cameron jumped up and took the spot on the other side of his brother, both squirming until they had forced Randie to slide closer to Matt. Now she was settled perfectly against him, his arm still draped behind her, just like any couple would sit. And when the movie ended, they jumped up and said good night and ran off to their rooms.
Those little monsters had had a plan the entire time. He rolled his eyes as the others followed suit, including Jeff who mouthed "Do it." In reference to the plan he'd suggested the week before as he left the room.
"I should go." She pulled away from him since the sofa was less crowded.
"It's late. You might as well stay the night." He rubbed his face. He was sleepy and had a long day ahead of him. He'd had a dull headache that wouldn't go away and it didn't help that he had felt achy and tired all day.
"Okay." She agreed. "I just need to check on Olivia. Is it okay if I use the phone?"
"You know where it is."
She'd been leaving Olivia with her aunt since his father had caught the flu. She didn't want to expose such a young infant to the virus and he thought it was a good idea. The flu strain going around had been deadly that year. He worried about his father the entire week, but he seemed a lot better. And he had to admit that he was looking forward to having Olivia around again. He had given a sample to the clinic and he still hadn't gotten the results. But he had a soft spot for babies and Olivia was named after his mother.
"I'll get you some blankets."
"I'll get them." She insisted in that same shy way.
"Night." He didn't want to give her the impression that his invitation to stay was personal. He swore he would never touch Randie Parker again.
He headed to room and laid down on the bed, too tired to even take off his shoes or change his clothes, but when he woke in the morning his shoes were off and he had been covered with a thick blanket from the closet. He didn't want to move. He felt like shit. His head was pounding, his nose was running and his throat was itchy. But he knew he had to get to work so he pulled himself upright and felt his stomach tighten and cramp. He scolded his own body. Telling it to straighten up because he had no time to be sick. He didn't get two steps before he was on his knees, hurling into his waste basket.
Of all people to come to his room, why did it have to be Randie? He felt embarrassed on top of the horrible sickness. He expected her to ask something stupid like 'are you alright' but instead she dropped to her knees, placed a cold rag to his forehead and rubbed his back as he vomited.
"Ugh." He laid his head on her lap. "I have to get dressed." He crawled to his bed so he could use it as a crutch to get to his feet. He was overcome with dizziness and had to sit on the frameless thing instead. His stomach churned and Randie was right there with the trashcan.
"I'm going to be late." He complained.
"You're sick." She told him, probably knowing that he was trying to brainwash himself into thinking he wasn't.
"I'll be fine. I'll pick up some medicine on the way." He stood again and again saw the room spin.
"You can't even stand. Your dad just got over this. All the boys have it too." She said as if he shouldn't be surprised that it didn't pass him by.
"Maybe people in your world can afford to stay home when they feel bad, but poor people don't have that luxury." He spat at her then tried again to get up, but finally gave up when he realized there was no way he could drive his truck, much less do his job. "What did you do, poison us all so you can play the good nurse?"
"Yeah." She said sarcastically. "Because that's what us rich people do."
Her statement made him laugh. He hadn't heard her talk like that since they were kids.
"Give me the phone."
Thankfully he had plenty of sick days saved. Vacation as well. Days he never used and turned in for cash at the end of the year. It pissed him off that he was going to have to give up that extra money.
Randie spent the day tending to him and all five of his brothers, but he seemed to be the worse. When he wasn't passed out, he was throwing up. Randie came to him each time. That night she laid beside him, wiping his forehead, face and neck with a cool cloth. She appeared wore out to him, her hair wasn't neat at it usually was and she hadn't applied any makeup.
"You're too good for me." He mumbled. His thoughts didn't really connect. He felt delirious and she had been checking his temperature all day it seemed. "I wish I could keep you." He couldn't control what came out of his mouth. "But we're just playing house. Aren't we?"
"I think you need more medicine." She said wearily. Maybe she was a bit worried. Maybe it was his imagination playing out wishes he wouldn't let himself think about.
"I need you." He pulled her into his arms. "I just want you." Then he was out again.
He didn't feel any better the next day, or the day after. He seemed to be getting worse. By the third day he couldn't even complete his call in to work without heaving. Randie took the phone and spoke to his boss, then sighed.
"Matt, you need a doctor."
"I'll be fine." He insisted. "It's just a bug. I don't need more doctor bills."
His stomach felt better than it had in days when he returned to his bed, but his throat hurt so bad he could barely swallow.
"No one else threw up this long. You need to …"
"Get off my back." He snapped with a hoarse voice. "You're not my wife." She pulled away from him and stayed so quiet he thought she had left the room.
"I wish I could marry someone like you." She finally whispered. Her words stunned him. He opened his eyes and stared. It was all he could do was stare. He even laughed a little bit on the inside. Sure, she would like to marry him. She wasn't even eighteen yet. She was probably planning to go to college in the fall. He knew some schools had daycare. Having a baby wouldn't ruin her future. Her aunt would probably take the kid and raise it so Randie could continue to be young. She had a lot of options.
Hell, maybe she just wanted to play house with someone over the summer. Maybe this was all any of it had ever been. He thought about what Jeff had said. Fine. Screw it. If she wanted to keep playing, he'd call her bluff. Hell, he could use some fun in his life. He'd go along with it as long as she wanted. Hell, the boys wanted her to stay around. At least they wouldn't blame him when she finally walked out.
He reached into the drawer of the nightstand beside him and felt around until he found what he was looking for. He gazed at his mother's small diamond ring. It was an antique passed down for a few generations and for some stupid reason he thought it was a good idea to slip it on the finger of a girl who probably wouldn't stay with him, but he didn't think about that until it was already in place.
"It's not much, but it was my mom's and my grandmothers and I think my great grandmother's." he rubbed his finger over her finger. He never thought he would see that ring on anyone's finger and it fit Randie's perfectly.
"It's beautiful." She kissed his cheek, laid her head on his chest and he thought she let out a soft contented sigh.
He thought he'd dreamed it all when he awoke again, until he realized that she was still curled up in the bed with him. He touched her hand that bore his mother's ring. She couldn't possibly love him. He had nothing to offer her. She had been helping his family for a month. She had gotten a taste of what he life was like. How could she possibly want that to be her life?
He leaned over her and watched her sleep. She was so pretty. Even when her hair was a mess. Even when her face was free of makeup. He swept that rogue strand of hair away, the one that seemed trained to stay there. He brushed his finger over the scar that curved at the corner of her right eye. It was about an inch long and he wondered how it had gotten there, but even that blemish couldn't steal away her beauty.
Oh, how he wished he wasn't worthless. He wished he could give her the things she was used to having, but he was born poor and only grew poorer as time passed. As he thought of all the things in life that was out of his reach, he felt the bitterness creeping back in to his heart.
The woman was cruel to dangle herself in front of him. Offering something he knew he could never keep. The rich played games and he knew from experience that she could play them well and he was about to see how good he could play them. He needed help at least until that damn social worker was off his back and as soon as that happened he would dump her.
Part of him wanted her to feel the sting of rejection. Part of him wanted to put her through hell for the way she had treated him in school and in public. She opened her eyes and stared up into his. He closed his mouth upon hers. If she wanted to play house, he was going to insure that she participated in every sense of the word. In his home and in his bed, but first, he needed a shower. He'd been weak from sickness too long and he felt nasty.
He said nothing as he got up from the bed and headed toward the one bathroom his shared with his family. He'd put a ring on her finger. That was enough to get his point across.
He still felt weak. He'd only taken a few sips of the soup she'd brought him – and fed him the night before. He had thrown up everything that hit his stomach before that. He was probably dehydrated. He stumbled a bit and doubted he'd be able to stand long enough to shower, so he filled the tub instead with water as hot as he could stand it, then slipped his body into the claw foot tub and leaned back against it, absorbing the shock of the cold ceramic before he was finally comfortable. Then, the burst of energy he'd felt was gone and he dozed off, coming to minutes later to the knock on the door. Or he'd thought it had been minutes, but the water was much colder.
Randie peeked inside.
"You've been in here a long time." She said meekly.
"Have I?" He sat up and turned the water on again, hoping he could warm the water again. "I'll be out in a minute." But instead of leaving, she came inside. "I'm not wearing anything." He stated weakly."
"I've seen you naked before, Matt."
"Not this naked." He laughed.
She knelt by the tub and picked up a cup that sat nearby and began to pour water over his hair that he knew was matted and greasy from days of neglect. He leaned back and enjoyed her washing his hair. He enjoyed the gently massage of the cloth against his skin. Then sat forward and let her wash his back, then he took the cloth and her hand. He stared at her. The things she did for him seemed too good to be true. It had to be a dream. Woman in true relationships didn't give so much.
"Why are you being so good to me?" He asked. It wasn't as easy to use her as he wanted it to be.
"I promised you." She whispered, eyes cast down.
"Promised?"
"That I'd always be your wife."
His eyes had never been so wide.
"We were kids." He finally laughed. "And you've been with so many others."
"No." she shook her head, tears coming to her eyes. "I couldn't…."
"Oh please." He spat. "What about Logan? You can't expect me to believe that you've spent all these years devoted to me because of something we said when we were children?"
"I meant it." She sighed, then stood. "I'll get you some clothes."
Oh, she was good. But he refused to be drawn in. He would stick to the plan, get what he needed and cast her away. Just as he knew she intended to do to him and he prayed that this time he got the chance to do it first.
