* * * * *
I should have closed the door.
When I opened it and saw a stunning, young, redhead smiling back at me, I should have closed the door. Her eyes conveyed innocence on the surface but I saw the hint of devilishness that laid behind them.
Her name was Elliana and she was, by all accounts, exceptionally beautiful. She had vibrant, fiery hair that curled and spiraled like laving flowing from her scalp down to her waist. The bright sea of orange and the sparkle of green in her eyes contrasted with the creamy, whiteness of her porcelain skin.
I was enamored with her smile from the moment I saw her soft, pink lips stretch across her pale face and form dimples in her freckled cheeks.
She was just twenty years old; a local college student. I had been advertising for a babysitting job to anyone looking for a little weekly injection of cash on the side. My wife, Maria and I had yet to agree on any potential candidates, though she was very uninterested in the process from the start.
After all, hiring a babysitter was my idea. A weekly date night was my last ditch attempt to reignite a spark in our failing marriage but Maria’s lack of enthusiasm seemed to indicate that she thought it was a fruitless endeavor. If anything, she seemed entirely happy to let our relationship fall on its last legs.
Truth be told, at times, I considered as such myself. But the hope that the woman I fell in love was still there combined with the possibility of less custody of my children caused me to fight tooth and nail against the notion of giving up.
Which is why I should have shut that damn door.
I tapped my fingers on the kitchen counter, making a conscious effort to keep my gaze focused on the stairs and not take another glance at my watch.
I could hear the sound of my kids playing outside, their screams of joy and laughter was music to my ears. I knew it was only a matter of time before they’d be old enough to recognize the growing tension in the household, if they didn’t already. I didn’t want that for them, to grow up in a place of anger and resentment.
I reasoned with myself that maybe a divorce would have spared them that pain, but I equally didn’t want them to go through that either. Being tugged in opposite directions by their parents, spending most of their time with their mother and then select holidays and every other weekend with me.
I had to make this work, I had to.
“Those guys are too cute.”
I directed my stare to the side to find Elliana fetching a bottle of water from the refrigerator.
“Jake had no idea that his shadow gave away his hiding spot behind the tree. It was the funniest thing.”
“My little man’s a master of disguise.” I chuckled. “He hid behind the glass door when we played. I kept walking past whilst scratching my chin and asking where he could have gone as he stared up at me with the biggest grin the whole time.”
We both laughed then Elliana took a gulp of water. My eyes couldn’t help but wander down and steal a glance at her tight body. The soft, white fabric of her tee shirt climbed just enough to tantalize me with flashes of her midriff.
My eyes fell further and trailed past the little, shorts she wore to explore the views of her slender legs. I was inundated with visions of them straddling me, by both the face and waist, and similarly happy with either scenario.
“Don’t you guys have reservations soon?”
I snapped out of my trance and glanced at my watch.
“In… seventeen minutes.”
We exchanged a knowing look which said more than our mouths needed to.
“I’m sure we’ll be leaving in just a moment.” I cooed weakly.
“Okay but if you’re still here after the next round of hide and seek then you’re it.”
I watched Ellie make her way towards the back yard, my eyes once again falling below her waist to watch the firm, curves of her denim-clad butt sway with each step. I breathed in the scent of cherry blossom perfume that trailed off with her when at long last, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
“Finally.” I huffed. “I was getting scared you weren’t coming.”
“Now there’s an idea.” Maria said.
I put on my suit jacket and took one long, last look out into the backyard before we set off.
* * * * *
Weekly date night seemed great in concept, less so in execution. It was as if my wife and I had run out of things to talk about, which if you’ve ever heard her and her friends gossip, you’d know is impossible.
I knew she wasn’t thrilled with the idea from the start but I had hoped that actually experiencing it would have changed her mind. If anything, it had only changed mine. I was becoming less convinced it’d help salvage things with each date. After her comment about not going, I could feel the end of date night, fast approaching. And I was certain that would be the beginning of the end of everything else for us.
So I made plans to make the next date night the most special, romantic date of our lives. I’m talking flowers in the morning, reservations at her favorite place in the evening and then, later that night, a walk down to the park where I proposed, where I’d drop to one knee and offer her a new ring and the opportunity to renew our vows.
I even arranged for Ellie to come over earlier to help ensure things went smoothly. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it anywhere near that.
Maria’s reaction the flowers was not as I expected. She seemed, almost… disgusted? Maybe offended? Whatever it was, it was unusual but I decided to just leave it alone. I couldn’t let anything spoil the day.
But that went out the window when she nonchalantly announced that she ‘didn’t feel up to date night tonight’.
She told me that we could continue next week but I knew that some excuse or other would come up then. And I had made arrangements for tonight. Tonight would be the night, I just had to convince her to come with me. But she wouldn’t. She straight up refused. And suddenly I could feel my whole life crumbling around me.
I fought, I begged and pleaded but in her stubborn ways, Maria just wouldn’t give in. So things got heated. I said things I didn’t mean, she said things I hoped she didn’t mean and soon enough saying things turned into shouting them.
And then they quietened down. And there was crying, until there was nothing but utter silence.
And that’s when she told me that she’s taking the kids up to her parent’s for the weekend so she can figure out what to do next.
And I knew exactly what that meant.
So she left and I, devastated, deflated and utterly defeated, did what any self-respecting adult in my shoes would do.
I went to the supermarket and bought enough chocolate, to turn an anorexia patient into a type two diabetic. Plus a few cases of beer, some chips and their largest, pepperoni pizza, for good measure.
I sheepishly joked to the cashier that it wasn’t all for me.
It was.
Anyway, I got home, put my pizza in the oven, cracked open a beer and right when I was moments away from stuffing my face until I couldn’t breathe anymore, there was a knock at the door.
“Hi Mr T!” Elliana beamed at me. “Uh, I mean Mr Thomas. Unless you prefer to pity a fool.”
She giggled and it was so infectious I almost cracked a smile myself.
“I forgot to let you know tonight’s canceled. I’m sorry, Ellie.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “Let me get my wallet. I won’t have you travel for nothing.”
She waved me off. “It’s no biggie.”
But I insisted. After all, it would have probably been the last time I’d pay her anyways. I didn’t tell her this right away, but I guess she sensed it.
“You and Mrs Thompson not doing so good?” She asked softly.
“You picked up on that, huh?”
“Well I could feel some tension between you guys like, uh… well all the time.”
I sighed. I guess things were more noticeable to outsiders than I had realized. Maybe this day was inevitable. Maybe the whole time I had been trying to fix things, Maria had been planning her way out. My mind was racing with thoughts. It felt like my brain was beating my head with a mallet.
“Wanna talk about it?”
“No, no… well yeah. But I don’t want to burden you with my troubles.”
Ellie smiled, so sweetly. She took a seat on the couch beside where I had been and made herself comfortable.
“I mean, if you’re willing to share some of this food then I think it’s a fair trade.”
* * * * *
We spoke for hours. And not just about my marriage but about everything. School, work, family, food. Ellie almost gouged my eyes out when I told her I had considered picking up the pineapple pizza instead of the pepperoni one. Though luckily, we both agreed that dark chocolate is underrated and the green Pringles are the best ones.
I did have a small moment of rambling about my possible divorce but I soon drifted off into other things and it felt good to take my mind off it. Turns out Ellie’s a real good listener. Not that it mattered. I could have stared into those eyes all night whilst neither of us said anything at all.
Unfortunately, as the hours counted down and the darkness took over the outside, I knew Ellie would soon be leaving and reality began to set back in.
I rested my hands in my lap and let out a deflated sigh. It seemed so hard to stay positive. But I had to try. Maybe single life wouldn’t be so bad? Or — better yet, maybe there was still hope for my marriage after all? Doubtful.
Ellie must have seen the glum look wash over my face as she reached out and gently placed her hand on mine.
“You’re going to be okay.” She reassured me.
Her skin was softer than I imagined. Suddenly the fragrance of her perfume swept over me and ensnared me in its fruity sweetness.
I glanced down and watched as her delicate fingers danced circles on the back of my hands. My eyes wandered up her forearm and I imagined placing kisses up it. My gaze reached her shoulder where the strap of her vest top had drooped over, exposing the hot-pink, fabric of her bra.
My eyes lingered on the little bit of exposed underwear pressing against Ellie’s creamy skin and I had flashes of kissing up to it and pulling it down with my teeth.