She, the Kingdom (She #1)(67)

“Oh.”

“Oh, what?”

“I can’t help wondering what you’re doing to make that kind of money.”

I felt my cheeks flush with anger. “Nick, stop.”

He walked back over to the stool and sat. “I’m just—”

“Worried about me, I know. Max is a good man. He gave me the day off today to spend with the kids.”

“His divorce… that doesn’t have to do with you, does it?”

“Nick!”

“Sorry!” he said, holding up his hands.

“Stop fighting!” Josh called from his bedroom.

I leaned back against the counter, feeling sheepish.

“You don’t have to trust Max, but I do expect you to trust me.”

Nick thought about my words, and nodded. “Fine. But, just so you know, there are about fifty rumors going around this town about you and that guy. Everything from an affair to black mail. My high school buddies are texting me about it to see if I know anything.”

“Doesn’t surprise me. If people in this town don’t know everyone’s business, they make shit up.”

Hannah scampered in, already in different clothes. She threw her arms around me, burying her face in my stomach. She’d grown an inch, Josh had grown two, and I’d missed it. I held her tight.

Nick was watching her snuggle with me, a smile on his face. He loved our kids, and for that, I couldn’t hate him, even after his affair, the many fights after, and making me feel worthless—which was probably why he’d questioned how I’d landed such a great paying job—he believed that I was. That was why Max was such a breath of fresh air. He was, by anyone’s standards, amazing, and he worshipped me. Even if I didn’t understand it, I didn’t have to. If Max didn’t care about me, he could’ve just kept paying me without going to the trouble of faking feelings. Just paying me was certainly less expensive than the twelve-hour remodel he’d just paid for.

“What do you think about doing a little shopping today?” I asked.

A high-pitched whine began outside, and Hannah ran to the window, pushing aside the new curtains. “Mommy!” she cried.

I hurried over, followed by Nick. Two men were outside. One was holding the edge of plastic tarp, adorned with primary colors, the other was holding a hose attached to a small fan-like contraption. It was blowing up the tarp.

“It’s a bounce house! In our yard!” Hannah said, covering her mouth. She scrambled for the door, and ran outside. Nick and I joined her on the porch, and Josh came out, his eyes squinting from the sun.

“What the heck is that?” he asked.

“A bouncy house!” Hannah yelled.

Josh formed something similar to a smile, and I hugged him to my side.

“Did you do this?” Nick asked.

“It was probably Max,” I said without thinking. Nick made a face, and I touched his arm. “He’s a nice guy. He’s harmless. He’s just very, very thoughtful,” I said.

The bounce house began to take form, rising into a castle shape. Josh and Hannah walked out into the nearly-dead grass, waiting for the men to finish anchoring it to the ground and for the go ahead to enter. A few of the neighborhood kids ran into our yard from their houses, jumping up and down, asking Josh and Hannah, and then Nick and me, if they could play.

“Sure,” I said, watching my kids and the others climb in.

The men waved goodbye, one of them yelling they’d be back after dinner and to enjoy. I waved back, and Nick turned to me, concern in his eyes.

“This Max guy… is he in love with you?”

I smiled at the kids, waving to Hannah, scolding Nick through my smile. “Don’t ruin this. Look how happy they are.”

“And when it all comes crashing down around you? What happens when you stop working for him? Will he take it all back? Do you owe him?”

“No, and no. Please stop assuming the worst.”

“I’m just—”

“Worried about me. I know. I really get it, Nick. If this all blows up in my face, you can say I told you so.”

He took a step toward me. “I don’t want to say I told you so. I want you and the kids to be all right.”

“Look at them, Nick. Do they look upset to you?”

Hannah was doing cheer jumps, giggling with the neighborhood kids, and Josh was bouncing her twice as high, smiling wider than he had in months.

“No,” he sighed. “I just hope this guy is everything you think he is.”

“Kids!” Nick yelled. “I’m going!”

Josh and Hannah ducked out of the castle, and ran toward Nick, giving him a big hug. Nick kissed both of them on top of the head, and then released them, pulling his keys out of his pocket. “Have them call me in a couple of days.”

“I will,” I said, watching him walk to his old Ford. It was older than my Taurus. After he backed out of the drive, I fetched a dining room chair and sat it on the porch, sipping my coffee while watching the kids play. Laughter filled the air, and the castle trembled as if it were laughing, too. In that moment, life was perfect. The kids were home and happy, we had everything we needed, and I was in love.

Max would come over that night, and we would resume as usual, trying to carry on our relationship in secret. Nick hearing about the rumors meant it was more widespread than I’d thought, and that meant some damage control would have to happen before the kids returned to school.