He was wrong; he did all the good stuff. I was just an avid participant in the festivities.

This was not a favorable turn of events that was conducive to peace of mind. Mitch being the best kisser in history on top of all the other fabulous things that were Mitch, his being my neighbor and his asserting he was “into me” all equated to the exact opposite of peace of mind.

“What are you still doin’ here?”

Mitch’s torso twisted, I looked around his body and we both saw Billy standing in his pajamas at the mouth of the hall. His face was slightly sleepy and slightly ticked.

Great. Caught in Mitch’s arms by Billy who apparently was playing possum five minutes ago.

I pulled from Mitch’s arms and walked toward my cousin, saying, “Billy –”

His angry eyes went from Mitch to me and he asked, “Who was that shoutin’?”

I stopped and did a knees-closed squat in front of him. “We’ll talk about it in the morning,” I said softly. “Now you need to do me a favor, go back to bed and get some sleep.”

“Why’s he still here?” Billy asked, ignoring my request and jerking his head to Mitch.

“He –”

Billy cut me off, “He’s around then he’s gone, then he’s around again and touchin’ you. Tomorrow will he be gone again?”

“He’s spending the day with you tomorrow, honey, you know that.”

“What about the next day?” Billy asked.

“I –”

Billy’s eyes tilted up to Mitch and he informed him, “We’re okay without you. I can watch Billie when Auntie Mara has to work. I did it all the time at home.”

I reached out, curved my hand around his jaw and brought his eyes to me. “All right, buddy,” I said gently. “First, you’re not okay to be on your own with Billy. You’re a smart kid and you take good care of your sister but your Dad leaving you alone was not the right thing to do.” Billy started glaring at me; I dropped my hand and went on, “Second, I told you now twice that Mitch is being cool, he’s helping out and he is. You don’t get into the faces of people who help you out.” I scooted closer to him and my voice got softer. “And that was my Mom and your Grandma at the door.” His glare got intense upon hearing this news and I continued, “We’ll talk about that later but your Dad and me, we’re not real close with them and now that they’re here for whatever reason they’re here, I’ve got to figure out what to do about that. But I need time to do it when I’m not exhausted from work and it isn’t nearly eleven at night. I’m lucky Mitch was here to take care of that and I’m grateful that he did.”

I felt Mitch’s eyes on my back as I felt the intensity of Billy’s on my face.

“She said she wanted her grandbabies,” Billy told me.

“Yes,” I confirmed.

“Is she gonna take us away?”

“No,” I said firmly.

“Is she gonna try?” he pushed.

“Maybe,” I replied honestly.

His eyes slid to Mitch then back to me. “Is he gonna help you keep us here?”

“Like I said, buddy, that’s what Mitch does. It’s who he is. He helps people,” I reminded him.

Billy’s eyes moved back to Mitch. “Are you gonna go away again?” he demanded to know.

Damn. Damn, damn, damn.

I twisted and looked up at Mitch.

“I never went away before, Bud,” Mitch replied. “I’m always across the breezeway.”

“You went away,” Billy accused but he was wrong. I sent Mitch away. And Billy felt it. Deep.

Damn! Damn, damn, damn!

“All right, then, no. I’m not gonna go away again,” Mitch stated.

Damn! Damn, damn, damn!

I was staring at Mitch with angry eyes because he was making promises I couldn’t keep.

“Billie likes you,” Billy told Mitch.

“I like her,” Mitch told Billy.

Billy studied Mitch and Mitch stood there letting him.

Then Billy made a decision. “I’m goin’ back to bed, Auntie Mara.”

Well thank goodness for that. I knew it was just a reprieve but at that moment I needed a reprieve.

I turned to him. “Okay, buddy. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Billy looked up at Mitch. “You’re back tomorrow?”

“I’m back tomorrow,” Mitch confirmed.

Billy nodded, looked at me, then turned and walked away.

I stayed in my squat watching until the door closed behind him then I shot up, marched to Mitch, grabbed his hand and tugged him to the front door. I opened it to pull him outside so I could give him what for in the breezeway where Billy couldn’t hear but Mitch moved. His hand went to the door, he closed it then he maneuvered me so my back was against it and he was against my front, pinning me in.

Then his hands were at my h*ps and sliding around to my back as he said, “Oh no, sweetheart.”

“I can’t believe you just did that,” I hissed quietly, my hands on his shoulders pressing and his face got so close to mine it was all I could see, so I stopped pressing.

“If you think for one f**kin’ second that you can kiss me like that. Then the Trailer Trash Twins darken your door. Then Billy comes out and gets in my face. And, I’ll repeat, you can kiss me like that. Then haul me out to the breezeway to give me my marching orders again, sweetheart, you need to have your head examined.”

“That isn’t your decision,” I whispered.

“Oh yeah it is. I f**ked up a week ago, got pissed and walked away. I’m not makin’ the same mistake twice. You’re drownin’, Mara, and I’m not gonna live across the breezeway and watch. Not when that means, you go under, I lose my chance to find out what else you can do with that mouth and I don’t mean you usin’ it to spew twisted, f**ked up shit.”

“Mitch!” I snapped, getting loud and one of his arms came from around me and lifted so his hand could cup my jaw.

“Baby,” he said gently, “take a second, breathe and think back to whatever you felt when you heard them shoutin’ at the door. And then think about Billy. And then think about that kiss. And after you do that, you tell me you don’t need me, want me gone and convince me you mean it, I’ll take my shift tomorrow and then I’ll be gone.”