The Only One for Me(24)

Chris nodded. “Okay, we’ll include the kids next time.”

Corra bit her bottom lip to keep from gushing all over the place. Just what she wanted, a man who not only thought of her, but thought of her kids.

“That sounds great.”

He opened the front door. “Okay, don’t work too hard tomorrow. I’ll be in touch.”

Corra said goodbye, and then stood in the door until Chris pulled off. She could have told him Eric was coming by to see his kids, but why ruin a perfectly good night. It was apparent from his comment earlier that Chris still didn’t care for Eric. Besides, the visit had nothing to do with Chris.

* * *

Half past seven and Eric still hadn’t shown up. The kids had finished their homework and were about to take their baths. Corra had hoped Eric would show up before that time, but she wasn’t waiting for him.

After their baths she walked down to the front door to peek out the window one more time hoping Eric would be pulling up. When she pulled the curtain back a figure moved into view. She jumped back, thrown off for a second. Then she looked again. It was Eric pacing across the front porch.

Corra cautiously opened the front door. Eric turned around, took a deep breath, and then smiled. Once a handsome man, he now looked thinner and older than his thirty-two years.

“Hey, Corra. I was about to ring the bell.”

He cleared his throat and shoved his hands deep down into his pockets.

“Come on in.” She held the door open.

Eric walked past her and she was shocked at the dramatic decline in his appearance. He’d always been very particular about his clothes and shoes. But, he looked as if he’d slept in his clothes and his shoes had seen better days.

He turned around and clasped his hands together. “Thanks again for letting me visit the kids. I know I owe you an explanation, but can I see the kids first?”

“Sure. I didn’t tell them you were coming.”

“Why not?” he asked, as he followed her.

“And have you not show up! Do you know what that does to a child?”

“I’m so sorry for everything.” He looked up with tears in his eyes.

Corra didn’t give a shit about his tears. “I’ll go tell them you’re here. Have a seat.”

“Corra.”

She stopped when he called her, and turned around.

Eric tried to give her his sexy smile that used to make her giggle. “You look nice.”

His smile had no effect on her whatsoever. “Thank you.” She turned around and kept walking.

Upstairs Corra pulled Jamie and Katie into her room and explained that their father was back, and downstairs. Jamie almost tore the bedroom door off the hinges, he was so eager to get downstairs. Katie, however, was a little more reserved.

“Mommy, is Daddy back from work for good?”

Corra kissed her cheek. “I don’t know, honey, you’ll have to ask him. Aren’t you excited to see your daddy?”

Katie nodded. “Are you coming too?”

“I’m right behind you, sugar.”

As Corra followed Katie down the steps she could hear Eric and Jamie getting reacquainted. Jamie was in tears he was so happy. Corra found a spot on the couch and watched a hesitant Katie go to her daddy, who smothered her in kisses and hugs. Corra’s heart overflowed with joy for her kids. They held no grudges against their father who’d, unbeknownst to them, abandoned them for two years. Corra, on the other hand, was a different story.

Eric spent time with his kids, while Corra cleaned up the kitchen and did any other housework she could find to keep her busy. She wanted to give him time to get caught up on every ball game, play and field trip they proceeded to tell him about.

Bedtime came two hours later, to Jamie and Katie’s dismay. Eric promised to come back the next day, so they agreed to go to bed. Corra hoped he wasn’t lying to them.

Eric found her in the kitchen cleaning out the microwave.

“Well, they’re all tucked in. They said you already made them take a bath. Jamie was pretty adamant about that.” Eric pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down.

Corra looked at him and thought, did I ask you to have a seat? “Thank you for putting them to bed, and spending some time with them tonight.” She didn’t move from the microwave, nor put down the sponge. Maybe he would leave if she looked busy.

“Don’t thank me. You make me feel like a heel.”

She shrugged. “Well, if the shoe fits.”

“Corra, I know you’re mad at me, and you have every right to be mad. I had a problem. I was addicted. It took me a long time to admit that, but I can be a man about it now. I let gambling come between me and my family. It destroyed every good relationship I had.”