Page 18 of Peach Tree Family

Chapter 5

It was no surprise that having Seth there made things more complicated, but Theo didn't expect the man would stir him up the way he did. Theo should have shrugged off his dark blue eyes and athletic physique and only considered him an inconvenient, temporary guest.

But even the next morning Theo was still wrapped up in the low sound of his voice in the dark, the way he listened and worried all the time, the way the night had turned his eyes midnight blue.

Sitting with him, talking in hushed voices turned into Theo lying against his closed door. It was strange and Theo felt like they were inches apart. He wasn't sure he could sleep then he closed his eyes for what felt like only one minute before the alarm on his phone sounded.

And now it was early and still dark and Seth was taking a shower with that flickering flashlight on the sink to give him light. Theo pictured him soaping up and washing himself in the weird light, the contours of his body shadowy as rivulets slid down over his hard muscles.

Theo couldn't help guessing what his body might look like. He was built, that much Theo could tell even with his clothes on. That's why he couldn't help mentally stripping Seth when he should have been thinking about more important stuff, like planning in case the job at the inn fell through, and making sure Ace was ready for school.

"Do I really have to go?" Ace was asking every two minutes even with his mouth full of food, and now with his mouth full of toothpaste as he brushed his teeth in the kitchen.

Theo only managed to say yes for the hundredth time before he had to answer a call. He stepped away from Ace's toothpaste splattering chatter.

Theo was off the phone just as Seth came out of the bathroom. Doing his best not to stare, Theo couldn't help noticing his wet hair and his reddish skin. Was he like that all over?

"That water is good and cold, but a cold shower is better than no shower," Seth was saying. "It sure wakes you up."

That was something that Theo didn't add to his fantasy as a naked Seth was streaming up his imagination – Seth shivering under a stream of ice-cold water.

"We'll have power soon, and I'll be able to afford the electric bill. I'm hired," Theo said then he yelled it louder so Ace could hear. He grinned big when Ace ran into the living room and jumped around, celebrating.

"That's great news," Seth said as Ace came over to hug Theo.

When he was done hugging him, Ace took his hand and shook it really hard, so Theo felt like he had been thoroughly congratulated.

Seth looked relieved. "Now I don't have to feel bad about taking the cafe job."

"I was thinking of going to the café today to thank the owner. Now I won't be able to," Theo said.

"Yesterday she came in later. You might be able to catch her after you finish work," Seth said.

"I'll see. I don't want to put it off for too long. She did us a big favor," Theo said while he put his hand on top of Ace's head and left it there for Ace to shake off.

They had a little time, and since Ace was not happy about his first day of school, Theo wanted to do something to remind him that this would be their home. Three framed photos were carefully wrapped and packed so they could bring them along. Theo got them out of the rucksack and then for a while he just stared at them.

One photo was their parents on their wedding day, sitting on a swing decorated with flowers. Then there was a picture of all four of them together. Theo was in Dad's lap, Ace in Mom's, everyone smiling.

There weren't as many pictures of their dad with Ace, but this one was Theo's favorite. Dad was holding Ace high up. Both of them were smiling as Ace was squeezing their dad's face with his tiny hands.

"We might not have furniture, but we have these shelves. I think we can put these up. You want to do the honors?" Theo asked Ace.

"Now mom and dad are here with us," Ace said as he looked at the photos.

"They're always with us wherever we are. And we'll have more pictures when some of our stuff gets sent here," Theo told him.

Seth came into the room and Ace called him over. "Come and look at our mom and dad."

"Those are some good pictures. So your mom was white," Seth said, and Theo looked over at him.

"I look like our mom and our dad," Ace told him. "And Theo looks like me. He's always copying me."

"You're asking to get tickled," Theo warned him.

Ace hunched over protecting his middle then looked up. "I think I see something," Ace said peering underneath one of the shelves. "I found a treasure."

Seth was looking at the same shelf from the top. "There's a folded piece of paper stuck behind the shelf." He tried to free it then stopped. "It's wedged in there. I don't want to rip it."

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