Princess in Lingerie (Lingerie 12)

“How was the orphanage?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t like it. Food was bad, and the kids were mean.”

My hand paused in his hair, my heart aching. “I’m sorry…what about school?”

“That was okay too.” He looked around the bedroom. “Is this my room?”

“Yes. Do you like it?”

He nodded.

“I’m right next door, so you know where to find me.”

He rested his hands on the edge of the bed and kicked his legs forward and back. He used to be more talkative before I was taken from him. He was probably nervous, unsure what to say to me because it’d been so long. He was too young to understand what was happening. “This house is bigger than the place I stayed at before…”

“The orphanage?” I asked.

“Yeah. You live here by yourself?”

“No, not by myself. I live here with…” I didn’t know how to explain this to Luca. I didn’t want him to think Carter would be his stepfather, but I didn’t want him to assume he was a stranger either. “This is where I work. The man who owns the house is my boss.”

“You work here?” he asked.

“Yes. I’m the maid. I cook for him, clean for him, and keep up the house.”

“So he’s really rich?”

“Yeah, I guess. But don’t say that to him. It’s not polite.”

“Okay,” he said quietly.

“He’s a very nice man. He’s a good friend of mine. You’ll love him, Luca.”

“This place is really cool. I can’t believe he has it all to himself.”

The only reason Carter bought it was so all three of us could be comfortable living together. He was hard on himself for not saving me sooner, but he more than made up for it with his generosity.

“Is there a pool?”

“Yes.”

It was the first time he showed me that boyish grin. “Really? Can I play in it?”

“Of course. But only when I’m there, alright? No swimming alone.”

“Okay, Mom.” He spoke with resignation, just the way he did when I told him what to do when he was young.

I’d missed that so much. “There’s toys in the chest over there. I’ll cook all your meals for you. I enrolled you in the school down the street. I’ll pick you up and drop you off every morning.”

“A new school?” he asked.

“Yes. It’s a very nice school. You’ll like it.”

“I don’t want to make new friends…”

“Starting over is hard. But remember, when you make new friends, you can have a swim party over here.”

His eyes widened. “I can?” His voice hit a new pitch of excitement. “Really?”

“Of course, Little Bear.” I ran my hand through his hair. “So make lots of friends, alright?”

“Okay, I’ll try.”

Carter tapped his knuckles on the doorframe. “May I come in?”

Carter had been standing there when Luca arrived, but no introductions were made. I was focused on my son exclusively, disregarding both Carter and the man who brought him to me. Just last night, Carter was the number one man in my life. But now he had been forgotten. “Yes.”

Carter stepped into Luca’s bedroom and walked toward us, his eyes on my son. He gave him a friendly smile before he squatted on the ground so they could be at eye level. “Hey, Luca. I’m so happy you’re here. Your mother talks about you all the time.”

Luca was immediately tense again, shy and uncomfortable around this man he didn’t know. He’d been that way as a child, and now that he’d been on his own for the past three years, he was even shier. “She does?”

“Absolutely,” Carter said, still smiling. “She loves you very much. Tells me every day.”

Luca looked at the ground, as if he was embarrassed by that.

Carter kept talking. “I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Carter.” He extended his hand to shake Luca’s.

Luca extended his left hand and then awkwardly tried to correct it.

Carter kept smiling. “I’ll show you a trick. Always use your right hand.” He grabbed Luca’s right wrist then directed it toward his palm. “Grip tightly here. Touch my wrist. Up and down once.” He completed the handshake then pulled away. “Perfect. You got it.”

“Carter?” Luca asked, repeating his name.

“Yes, that’s my name. You’ll see me around the house a lot. My bedroom and office are on the third floor.”

“And the third floor is off-limits to you, Luca,” I said, knowing I had to be firm so Luca would understand. “The second floor is where you and I live. We have everything we need, including our own living room and dining room. So when you’re home, hang out up here.”

“Okay, Mom,” Luca said. “Um, Carter?”

“Yes, little man?” Carter asked.

“Can I use your swimming pool?”

Carter grinned wider, amused by the request. “Anytime. As long as your mother is watching. Do you know how to swim?”

Luca shook his head. “No…”

“We’ll need to work on that first. How about we give it a try now?”