Page 32 of Pumpkin
Yup. She needed to change religions because Hell was definitely where she belonged.
Taking a long sip of water to try to cool herself down, Dosia fanned herself with her other hand. Gods above, was she ever going to get that image out of her head? Both the reality of man and baby sitting next to herandher fantasy about riding him.
Thank the gods for Frankie’s little joke, because Dosia needed the humor to help break her embarrassment for openly staring. And very likely drooling.
She wasn’t entirely over feeling flustered, but laughing was better than crying.
To keep the joke going, she lifted her right hand to the side of her face to block Pumpkin from her periphery. “There, now I can eat in peace.”
Frankie chuckled. “He’s pouting now.”
Dosia shrugged like she didn’t care, but it didn’t keep her from peeking around her palm to see that Pumpkin was indeed pouting. Like a little boy who’d just lost a board game. Snickering, Dosiamoved her hand back into place. “Good. So, you were telling me about how you are the club’s nanny, not just SJ’s?”
“Well, yes and no,” Frankie hedged. Her eyes kept glancing back to Pumpkin and she couldn’t keep the smile entirely off her face. “I was hired as the club’s nanny, but after SJ came into the picture and I saw how helpless Pumpkin was with him?—”
“Hey!” came from Dosia’s right, but she refused to look again. Thankfully, she was better at eating with her left hand than Pumpkin had been.
Frankie gave her a knowing look and kept going. “I wanted to help him out more. He was single, and trust me when I say, he hadnoidea what he was doing.”
Dosia hadn’t either. “Babies are adorable, but a lot of work.” Where was SJ’s mom? It sounded like Pumpkin had been a single father from the start.
“When…” Frankie looked to Pumpkin and then back at Dosia. “When Pumpkin had his accident, he was in no condition to do anything. It was awful,” her voice cracked. “I was with SJ at the time, and I just… I felt responsible for him. So I went to Steel and said?—”
“Who’s Steel?” Dosia asked, interrupting.
“The club’s President,” Pumpkin answered as Frankie said, “He’s like the big, bad boss of the club. Total silver fox. Remember your reaction to Pumpkin and SJ? Just wait until you see Steel and his grandson. Your ovaries will never recover.”
Dosia laughed as Pumpkin let out a groan.
Frankie continued, “Anyway, Steel said I could take on SJ full-time until Pumpkin was recovered and hired on two others to help with the other club kids’ childcare.”
Until Pumpkin was recovered…Dosia recalled how unsteady on his feet Pumpkin had been, even though he’d still placed himself between Bartleyand her. Frankie was still here, still SJ’s nanny. She lowered her hand back down to the table and turned to look at Pumpkin, keeping her eyes on his face as understanding dawned. “You’re not fully healed. Your accident, I mean. You’re still hurt, not just hurting.”
Pumpkin stared back at her. There was something in his eyes,something so close to shame that it broke Dosia’s heart, as he answered, “Yes.”
It was like he was admitting to a crime he was at a fault for.
Dosia pushed her plate away from her. She’d been done eating a while ago, but now couldn’t stand the sight of the food. What was the saying? ‘Don’t judge a person before you walk a mile in their shoes’? She’d judged. She’d judged him so harshly.
“I’m sorry,” she said, for more than he knew.
“I’m getting better, stronger, each day,” he assured her. His eyes bore into hers, like he was pleading with her to understand.
She realized then where she’d seen Frankie and Pumpkin the other day in town. Their vehicle had been parked outside the medical center. He’d been coming out of rehab or a checkup, she was sure of it now. Her eyes glanced to his cane, still hooked over the back of his chair. Likely he’d been using the stroller for balance.
“What happened?” she asked, her voice full of concern. “I know your bike was hit, but what happened toyou?”
Pumpkin continued to stare at her for a long moment.
It was Frankie who answered. “He almost died. Technically, he did on the way to the hospital but they were able to bring him back. It’s a miracle he’s doing as well as he is. Broke both legs and arms, half his teeth, ribs, burst lung, burst bladder, ruptured spleen?—”
Pumpkin turned to Frankie and said gently, “That’s enough.” Frankie clamped her mouth closed. Sighing, Pumpkin faced Dosia again. “I’m doing better,” he repeated, like he was trying to reassure himself along with her.
Dosia couldn’t help but reach out to touch his left arm. He had massive, tree-trunk arms years ago. She realized now that in addition to the beard and natural age-lines, he did seem smaller. Like he’d lost muscle tone. Which would make sense with the injuries Frankie had just listed.
“My aunt,” Dosia said without thinking. “She makes healing potions. I’ll see what she can make for you.”
Pumpkin looked surprised but not offended or disgusted by the word ‘potion’. “Thank you. My club brother’s woman is anacupuncturist. She’s done wonders, but I’d never turn down a healing potion too.”
