When the Nathan heard the door knock he expected to open the door and see Claudia. Instead, he was greeted by Joyce’s smiling face. She walked right by him straight to the living room rather boldly he thought. She was attractive he had to admit. But there was something about her manner that he found unnerving.
“So where’s Shae?” Joyce asked giving away the hint that it was a question she knew the answer to.
“With Claudia. She’s off for more testing before school starts.”
”Wonderful!” Joyce’s entire body language changed to reflect her intent. She sidled up to him without any hesitation. Nathan squirmed. Wasn’t there something in the rule book about the guy making the moves. Clearly she hadn’t read that chapter. Glancing around for an escape route he tried to distract her.
“Where’s Joey?”
“At Pam’s place playing with Sam. I just thought I’d drop on by and see how you were making out without Claudia.” This was clearly a woman who got what she wanted and didn’t hear no for an answer.
”Pretty well. I’m learning how to cook and am actually enjoying it, especially when the recipes come with pictures. It’s the loneliness and isolation that gets me down.” The moment the words left his mouth Nathan realized he had set himself up.
Joyce didn’t miss a beat as she, in a sultry kind of way, replied,“I know what you mean...” She moved even closer to Nathan. Torn between flight and freeze, freeze won.
”I know exactly what you mean.”
Nathan was becoming incredibly uncomfortable. “Joyce...I.. I ... don’t think...”
There was no point in finishing the sentence. With the speed of a martial artist she tossed him on the couch and jumped him, unbuttoning his shirt seemingly all in a single motion. “Joyce ... please ... I don’t think...” He was interrupted by the door opening as Claudia walked in with Shae. Uncanny timing. If it hadn’t been so embarrassing and incriminating it would have been funny.
Joyce jumped off the couch, looked at Claudia as if the whole show were put on for her benefit. Methodically she rearranged her dishevelled self and in a fairly satisfied manner she swooshed out the door leaving Nathan to explain the situation. Nathan stood, speechless for another rare moment in his life, stumbling for words as Joyce tossed back, “Bye Nathan ... See you at the playground.”
Claudia stood dumbfounded. “Nathan...what the ?????”
”It’s not what you think. Well it’s what you think but it’s not what it looks like...it’s not my fault. Honestly.”
Now she was disgusted. “Nathan...it never is your fault.” Grabbing Shae’s hand she turned to leave but, repeating her performance the night Claudia left, Shae broke her grip and ran to her Dad who gratefully picked her up looking at Claudia with a measure of vindication though why he couldn’t begin to explain.
Claudia spun on her heels and strode out the door, yelling back, “Out by next Saturday, do you hear me?”
Nathan’s reply hit Claudia in the back as she headed down the sidewalk, “No way. Not until we have an access agreement! Forget it!” Ignoring him, Claudia got in the van and drove off leaving a flurry of dust in her wake. Nathan slumped back onto the sofa. Shae curled up beside him and held his hand, looking at him with the most compassionate gaze he had ever seen, like some kind of angel. He didn’t deserve it.
Stay Tuned for Chapter 10 next week! Your comments are appreciated. Please Twitter EPDawna.
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