Redemption(50)

I took my first bite and my eyes widened. “Shi—” I almost said it, but I held my tongue. “This is delicious.” I smiled timidly, but Tyler wasn’t amused.

“Mommy, Dean has a potty mouth.”

Tyler nodded in agreement. “He certainly does, doesn’t he?”

Jeremy smiled and I rolled my eyes. “Oh, come on. I never said it.”

“No, but you were going to.” Tyler tried to look annoyed, but it wasn’t working.

“You have to sit on the naughty step now. Whenever I say a bad word or do something naughty, I have to sit on the naughty step.” Jeremy looked at Tyler, who smiled.

“You’re right, Jeremy. It’s only fair that Dean sits on the naughty step. Do you want to take him?”

He nodded and I sat there in disbelief. “You’re not serious, are you?”

Tyler smiled. “Oh, yes. You’ve been a naughty boy, Dean. Naughty boys have to sit on naughty steps.”

I raised my eyebrows. “And how long do I have to sit there?”

Tyler looked at Jeremy. “What do you think, Jeremy? Would five minutes do it?”

He giggled and nodded. “Yep. Five minutes. I will count them, Mommy.”

Tyler smiled. “Okay, you count them and let Dean down when you think he’s learned his lesson.”

I couldn’t believe this.

Jeremy got up, held his hand out to me and I took it with a smile. I shook my head at Tyler, who just shrugged. “We don’t tolerate potty mouths in this house.” She winked and that one little gesture nearly brought me to my knees. Didn’t she realize what she did to me?

“My god, you’re beautiful,” I said, as I was lead outside into the hall. I had just enough time to see her stunned face before Jeremy placed me in front of the stairs.

“You have to sit here now until I tell you to leave. Got it?”

I smiled, sat down and nodded. “I got it, but I think it’s very unfair. I never actually said the word.” I gave him a mischievous grin and Jeremy giggled again. I loved his giggles. I winked at him and leaned forward. “Remember what I said?”

Jeremy nodded with a grin and skipped off towards the dining room. After a couple of minutes, I looked at my watch and sighed. “You know, this is highly unfair. I’m starving here. Are you going to leave me here hungry?”

I heard Jeremy giggle again, then Tyler shouted, “Maybe next time you’ll remember not to use such naughty words. You have another three minutes to go.”

I sat there and my heart started beating wildly in my chest. Is there really going to be a next time? I surely fucking hoped so.

After the next three minutes passed, Jeremy skipped through the door with a big smile. “Are you sorry for saying a naughty word?”

I nodded and dipped my head. “I’m truly sorry, Jeremy. Will you forgive me?”

“He says he’s sorry, Mommy!” Jeremy stood there, swaying to the back of his heels, hands held tightly behind his back.

“Okay then. He can come back to the table now!”

Jeremy held out his hand and I took it. I loved that he seemed so comfortable around me, but I didn’t know if he felt the same connection there that I did. If so, he wouldn’t understand it yet, but I hoped he would one day. I wanted Jeremy to know he had a father now.

Once I got back to the table, I was able to devour the bolognaise within about five minutes. Tyler had a go at me for eating too quickly, and I found that fucking sexy. It certainly didn’t take much but, for some reason, her behaving how you think a mother would had my dick twitching. I knew I had to calm it down, though. Jeremy was here and no matter how much I wanted to reach out to Tyler, I had to remember my child was in the room. I didn’t want to upset him. He needed time to adjust. I just hoped Tyler was going to give me that time. I would take anything she could give me at this point.

After dinner, I helped with the dishes, then we sat down and played cards for a while. I was trying to teach Jeremy how to play Twos and Eights. Remembering how Tyler and I used to play it, I looked up at her and she gave me a heart-stopping smile. The more she warmed to me, the more my heart soared and my hopes elevated.

When it got to be around nine o’clock, Tyler instructed Jeremy to get ready for bed. He pouted, then he turned to me. “Will you read me a story?”

Tyler’s eyes widened. I didn’t quite understand the meaning behind that, but I was determined to find out later.

I looked down with a smile and offered him my hand. “Sure thing, grown-up.”

Jeremy giggled again and led the way upstairs. Tyler was still looking a little out of sorts, and I hoped it wasn’t because she was angry about something or, worse still, at me.