night. It had been a bit too erotic for her peace of mind. So instead of explaining the nightly routine, none of which she could remember just now anyway, Stevie turned and walked into the house.
Herbie burst through the doorway, wagging his tail and yearning up at Janus.
“I’ve got this,” Janus laughed. He knew the drill, especially since Herbie already had a ball in his mouth.
Stevie watched as Janus threw the ball all the way into one corner of the yard, Herbie sprinting after it in hot pursuit.
She turned and walked into the house, not ready to accept that this as her new normal. The twins were new and exciting to Janus. Just as she had been five years ago. But when she’d really needed him, he hadn’t been around. That would likely happen again once the newness of this situation burned itself out.
But his presence here today gave her a few extra minutes in her routine, which Stevie definitely appreciated. She noticed that the twins had put their book bags on the hooks by the door, but those bags hung precariously on each hook. She pushed the straps more securely in place on her way into the kitchen. She had a few extra minutes to make something special for dinner.
After examining the contents of the pantry and fridge, she pulled out a head of cauliflower and started chopping it up. After steaming the chunks, she put it all into the food processor and mashed it up, then started on the pasta.
“Hey you two! Homework time!”
At that moment, Janus stepped into the kitchen, an exhausted Herbie trailing along behind instead of racing ahead.
“Over here,” Janus commanded. Stevie looked over her shoulder and watched with astonishment as Herbie dutifully obeyed Janus, moving towards a corner of the family room instead of kerplunking down in the middle of the kitchen.
In fact, Halley and Harrison even stopped their fort building and stared, mouths hanging open in awe.
“How’d you do that?” Harrison asked.
Janus ruffled his hair. “It’s all in the tone, my little man.” He glanced at Halley too. “Didn’t your mother tell you two to start your homework?”
They stared for another moment, then both of them rushed over to their book bags and began pulling out papers.
Janus turned and looked at Stevie at that point. “You’re dripping water on the floor,” he commented.
Stevie jerked to attention and looked at the wooden spoon in her hand. Sure enough, water was dripping onto the hardwood floor and she spun around, setting the spoon on the countertop. For several long moments, she struggled to remember what she’d been doing.
“You okay?” Janus asked. He’d taken off his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. She could see the tanned skin on his forearms, as well as all of those muscles rippling underneath. She’d never really noticed a man’s forearms before, muscular or otherwise. But his kept popping into her line of vision. It took her several moments to realize that he was chopping carrots and celery for dinner. Stevie had put them out for that purpose, but she hadn’t expected Janus to do the cutting.
In fact, for the rest of the evening, he was just…there. He helped with everything. After being with them over the weekend, he seemed to understand their evening routines and just…helped! She took over bath time that night, but when she came downstairs, the dinner dishes were cleared away and the countertops were clean. Even more astonishing, the lunches were already made.
And yes, her heart beat a little harder when he tenderly kissed Halley and Harrison goodnight. Unfortunately, he also pulled her into his arms. His kiss on her forehead was just as sweet, but for some reason, it felt different.
Did she hope it was different?
No! Absolutely not! They were just new toys, she reminded herself as she got ready for bed that night. Stevie sighed, leaning her head against her pillow as she stared up at the ceiling, trying to make sense of this new world.
For the next five nights, Janus showed up and shared in their evening routines, helping without needing to be asked. He reviewed the twins’ math homework and played with Herbie to wear him out. He switched off bath time responsibility and dinner clean up.
And every damn night, after tucking the twins into bed, he took her into his arms and kissed her forehead. Every night, those moments lasted a little longer. Stevie wasn’t sure what to think of his tender embraces, but she steeled