He lowered her enough so her feet touched the ground and she could stand on her own, even though her legs felt like rubber.
He gripped her hips and brushed his lips over hers briefly. Then he stepped back, removed the condom and knotted it. She’d need to bury it deep within the trash so the girls wouldn’t spot it.
Undeniable evidence of what their mother did behind the shed with a man she’d only known a few days.
He yanked up his underwear and jeans, tucking in his T-shirt and cinching up his belt. He bent over and picked up her leggings and panties, holding them out in front of her.
Her fingers curled around her clothes but he didn’t let go. Not at first. With a gentle tug from her, he finally released them and she balled them against her chest. She jerked her head toward the bucket she used for weeding that sat on the ground next to the shed. “Just throw the condom in that bucket and I’ll get rid of it.” When there was no chance of the girls seeing her do so.
He gave a little nod and dropped it in the bucket, then turned to face her. He opened his mouth and she waited to see what words would escape but after a few seconds, the only thing that came out was, “Gotta go.”
Even as the disappointment swept through her, she knew it was for the best.
“See you Tuesday at six,” she said weakly, unsure if she should thank him for the orgasms.
Would that be weird?
That would be weird.
After another hesitation, but without a confirmation of him showing up Tuesday, he slipped silently into the dark.
The dampness between her thighs and the sound of her wooden gate latching closed a sudden wake-up call of what just happened.
Chapter Ten
Chelle stepped out into the warm sun, squinting at the brightness. She paused to dig her sunglasses out of the small backpack that doubled as her purse when she worked.
It wouldn’t be long before the winter swept into northern Pennsylvania, so she wanted to take advantage of the nice weather by walking over to the high school and eating her lunch on the bleachers at the football field. She had today’s true-life murder mystery podcast cued up on her phone and her earbuds dangling around her neck.
After slipping her sunglasses on, she heard the double doors open behind her and a little girl chatting away at a quick clip.
With a glance over her shoulder, she noticed Cassie from Tioga Pet Crematorium with her daughter Daisy.
It was the middle of the school day, maybe Daisy was going home sick.
As soon as Cassie spotted Chelle, she smiled and gave a wave. “Hey, Mrs. Goodson!”
Daisy bolted from Cassie’s side and ran up to come toe to toe with her and flopped her head back. “Hi, Mrs. Goodson! I’m ready for a new book!” Some of the children hadn’t learned about personal space yet. Daisy was one of them.
Chelle took a step back and leaned over to get face to face with her instead. “You are? That’s great. It looks like you’re leaving right now, so come visit me when you get back. I’ll pick one out for you.” She straightened, squeezed Daisy’s shoulder and turned toward Cassie. “Everything all right?”
Cassie waved a dismissing hand. “Yes, she’s scheduled for a regular check-up. She won’t be back today but she can get a book from you tomorrow.”
“I want one now!” Daisy insisted.
One of Cassie’s blonde eyebrows lifted in warning at her daughter’s demand.
Daisy pouted and huffed in answer. Chelle waited for the accompanying foot stomp, but it didn’t happen. Someone must be working with her on that.
The sass in that girl just oozed from her pores. She was grateful Maddie and Josie never acted like that. It would’ve made parenting on her own even more difficult.
“I’ll find you a book this afternoon and put it aside for you for tomorrow. Is that a deal?”
Daisy smiled and gave her an exaggerated nod. “Deal!”
“All right, let’s go, young lady,” Cassie urged. “We don’t want to be late for your appointment.”
“Momma, am I gonna get shot?”
Shot?
Chelle rolled her lips under. A shot.
Cassie grimaced. “I don’t know.”
Cassie knew.
Chelle did her best to keep her expression blank.
“I don’t want a shot.”
“None of us do, Daisy, but sometimes they’re necessary,” Chelle said as the three of them walked toward the wide concrete sidewalk that ran in front of the elementary school. She noticed Cassie’s SUV was parked at the curb.
That wasn’t the only thing she noticed.
She caught herself before she stumbled.
Daisy broke away in a sloppy lope with her arms flailing and her cartoon-themed backpack swinging wildly, leaving a high-pitched squeal in her wake.
Cassie sighed loudly beside Chelle and quickened her pace. “She’s going to be the death of me. And Judge wants another. I don’t know if my sanity can take it.”