Chapter Eight

Delphi Mae

“W hat does the job consist of?”

I take a good look at the young woman sitting across from me at Café Mocha and the only thing I want to do is punch her in the face. She’s young, skinny, beautiful, and studying for early childhood development. She’s perfect for the position, and I hate her deeply for it.

“Mainly taking care of the baby,” I say, forcing myself to smile. “Her father works late hours and can sometimes be gone for several days at a time. The other duties would be to keep the house tidy throughout the day. No need to clean or cook dinner.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” she says.

“This would be a live-in position,” I tell her. “You would have one personal day a week off as well as afternoons. When the father isn’t home for several days at a time, your pay will increase for those days. Do you have any responsibilities that would get in the way of this schedule?”

“Oh no. I’m taking online college courses and can do everything from the safety of my laptop. As long as there’s internet.”

I nod, trying my best to ignore the voice in my head screaming that I’m not doing the right thing.

“Alright, Ms. Wood. I’m going to go over your application with the father, and I will reach out in a few days.”

“Thank you so much for this opportunity,” she smiles. “If I get the job, I won’t let you down.”

I nod my acknowledgment before walking away.

I’m giving myself a few more days to get things in order and then I’m leaving. However, my plans have changed slightly.

I won’t be taking Eli with me.

He’s thriving in this environment. He’s where he’s meant to be. I’ve saved up enough money to get him a small apartment with plenty left for groceries for at least a year. I know he’s still a teenager, but he has a good head on his shoulders. He’s smart and is capable of taking care of himself.

I’ll never be what he deserves. Hell, regardless of what my heart says, I’m not enough for Jacob and Jessica either.

So, I’m leaving my son behind. I’ll work odd jobs and send money to him for a few more years, but I just can’t bring him down with me.

I’m already ruined by the life I was dealt, and I won’t let the same thing happen to him.

My cell interrupts my pity party with its joyful tune as I make my way across the street to where Eli, Knox, and Jessica are waiting for me.

“Hey,” I answer. “I’m on my way over there now. Do you have a table?”

“Ma, somethings up.”

“What is it?” I ask, hearing the worry in my son’s voice.

“Taylor called Knox, and he was talking about all sorts of weird things. Now, Knox is freaking the heck out.”

No sooner does he finish talking than Jacob’s name pops on my screen.

“Jacob’s calling, Eli. I’m crossing the road now. See you in a second.”

Ending the call, I accept Jacob’s.

“Jacob, what is it? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, baby. I need you to get home as quickly as possible. We need to leave for a little while.”

Ignoring the baby comment, I press the crosswalk button repeatedly, urging it to change. “What’s wrong? Knox is with the kids at the restaurant, and Eli just called and said he’s freaking out about something.”

“I’ll tell you when you get here. Why aren’t you with them?”

“I saw a friend at a café across the street and wanted to say hi,” I lied. “I’m heading back to them now.”

“Just get them and get home as soon as you can. Don’t speed, Freckles.”

“Wait, I won’t be back for about an hour,” I admit. “We need to stop and get Jessica’s prescription. She’s almost out of the vitamins her doctor prescribed.”

“Fuck,” he mutters. “Don’t worry about her meds. I’ll have someone get them tomorrow. I really need you to get here as soon as possible.”

“Jacob, you’re starting to scare me.”

“I’m sorry, baby, but something has come up, and I need to make sure you and the kids are safe before I leave to take care of it.”

“You’re leaving? For how long?”

“Not sure, Freckles, but things are put into place to keep you three safe. I just need you to get here so I can get you there.”

“Okay. I’ll skip the pharmacyandbe there in half an hour. But when I get there, I want an explanation. And, Jacob, you have got to stop calling me baby.”

“Not happening, baby,” he chuckles. “I know you feel what’s happening between us just as much as I do. But we’ll discuss that once I get you all back home safe.”

“There’s nothing to discuss,” I say as the crosswalk light finally changes. “You’re my boss. I can’t date my boss.”

No matter how much I want to. But I decide to keep that part to myself.

“Then you’re fired,” he says with an even tone. “You’re no longer employed by Reynold’s Inc. Now, come home, baby, so I can finally kiss you.”

“Wait, you can’t fire me. I need this job. I need the money.”

“You don’t, Freckles. I want the pleasure of taking care of your every need. Now, get your ass home. I need to hold my family before I leave. Don’t speed, baby.”

With that, he hangs up the phone.

“Get out of the damn road, lady,” someone yells, honking their horn. It’s only then do I realize that I’ve stopped in the middle of the crosswalk.

“Sorry,” I wave, rushing across the street.

“Del, we have to go,” Knox says, rushing from the restaurant with my kids. I mean, my teenager and Jacob’s baby.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, accepting the baby. “You’re as white as snow.”

“Just anxiety,” he admits. “Remember how I told you how being out and about is hard without Taylor at my side?”

I nod. I remember that conversation from last week.

“Well, I was doing fine until he called me for a last-minute club meeting. Now, I need you to get me back home before I faint.”

Nodding, we follow Eli as he leads us back to my car.

“Jacob fired me,” I say. Eli turns, his eyes wide, and Knox just sighs.

“What the hell for, Ma?”

“Something about him wanting to kiss me and me saying no because I can’t date my boss,” I admit. “Or something along those lines.”

“Oh, about time,” he says, turning and continuing his trek to my car.

“Tell me about it,” Knox says, his voice more breathy than usual. “He wanted to whisk you away the very second he saw you.”

“Wait, he did?” I ask. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he says. “I promise. Just need my Papa.”

I nod and Elijah looks back with concern. Knox explained to both me and Eli the type of relationship he has with his husband. It was new to me but apparently not very new to my son. He asked Knox a dozen questions before doing the same to Taylor.

My boy is a caretaker by nature. I should know. I can’t get him to stop parenting me.

If he decides to partake in that particular lifestyle I’ll support him completely.

“Can I hug you?” Eli asks Knox.

Surprised, it takes a few seconds before Knox nods. The second Eli, who is massive in comparison to Knox, wraps him in his arms, Knox sighs and digs in further.

“Everything is going to be alright, Knoxy,” Eli says, using Jacob’s nickname for his friend. “I know your brain doesn’t want to cooperate right now, but trust me to keep you, Butterfly, and Ma safe until we get back home.”

Turning his head to look at me, Knox says, “You’ve got yourself a good kid here. And yes, the second Reynolds saw you, he knew you were meant to be together. He freaked out, and that’s why he slammed the door in your face.”

I remember that. I was so surprised and a little hurt. I was seconds away from walking away when he opened the door, apologized, and told me that he would be right back.

But surely it wasn’t because he was interested.

“Come on, ladies,” Eli says, releasing Knox from his arm cage. “Let’s get home. Butterfly will want food soon. She eats like her favorite brother.”

“You’re her only brother,” Knox laughs, looking much more relaxed.

Wait? Brother?

“You can’t call yourself her brother, honey,” I tell my son. “Jacob and I aren’t a thing. Therefore, she’s just your friend. Not your sister.”

“She’s in denial,” Knox says, getting into the front seat of my car.

“Very much so,” Eli agrees, grabbing the baby from my hands and putting her in her car seat. “But, I’ve been watching Jacob with her these past weeks, and he’s tired of holding back. It’s only a matter of time.”

“You talk as if you’re okay with this,” I say, still not getting in the car. “And don’t you think I should have a say on who I start a relationship with?”

“He’s a good man, Ma,” he says, closing Jessica’s door. “I would never leave you alone with him, let alone date him, if I had even the remote feeling he was bad news. I just wouldn’t allow that to happen.”

“Allow?”

“Get in the car, Ma,” he laughs. “Your daughter is going to get hangry real soon.”

“Sometimes, I think you forget who the parent is in this relationship,” I tell my brat of a son.

“Nah, I love that you’re my Ma. I want the whole world to know it. I’m proud of you. I just want you safe and happy and after witnessing the love the Obsidian men have for their partners and getting to know Jacob as a man, safe and happy is exactly what he’ll make you. We’ll be a family full of love, Ma. Not just the four of us, but the entire Obsidian family.”

“Get in the damn car,” I say, choking around the ball stuck in my throat.

“He’s not wrong, you know,” Knox says as I get behind the wheel.

“Shut up,” I manage to croak out. “Both of you are forbidden to talk for the rest of the trip.”

They laugh as I fight the emotional battle raging between my brain and my heart.

What the heck am I going to do now?