Finding Nymphaea's Haven

Chapter Two: Sparks Pt.2

POV

Nymphaea(Delilah)

"Can I get a whiskey?" A deep voice asks me. I stuck my phone in my pocket. I looked up at the man who spoke.

This man took my breath away for a second there. He had to be three inches over six feet. His muscular arms popped out of the black button-up he was wearing. His short, shaggy brown hair had a beautiful, healthy look to it. I almost wanted to reach out and feel just how soft it was from the way it looked. I couldn't see the back of him, but I knew it was just as marvelous as the front in those black pants. Then I noticed his eyes. How dark and piercing they were. The blue color in his eyes looked almost black with a shimmering look. They were absolutely beautiful.

"Yes, sir, coming right up." I finally said shly, smiling at him. I knew I was staring a little too long at him. Making me feel embarrassed for a moment.

I set a glass with ice in front of him and then poured the whiskey in the glass. He picked up the glass and nodded at me before taking a drink. I began to help other customers as they came in. Getting drinks made and served. Finding the baseball game on the TV for some customers. Watching Daisy flirt with a guy at the end of the bar underneath the TV. Amazed on how quickly she had him eating out of the palm of her hand already.

I looked down at the other end where the whiskey guy was sitting. Still there with his glass. Staring at me. I looked away quickly. Feeling nervous under his stare. I knew he was still staring. I tried my best not to look his way again. After a few minutes, I looked again, finding him still staring. I haven't been watched like this in a while. Sure, some guys that come through here stare, but something always gets their attention. His attention was fully set on me still. And I couldn't help that little eager feeling just by him watching me.

I decided to go up to him again after I helped another customer. "Can I get you a refill?" I politely ask him.

"I feel like I know you." His words take me by surprise. His face was straight. Like he was reading mine before showing any expression. This made him look even hotter than before.

I let out a soft laugh. "I'm sorry, I don't think you do. I'm not from here. I just moved here." I said as I filled his glass back up. He nodded his head and left it at that.

"Hey Delilah, the boss needs you for a minute." One of the girls said to me. I gave her a polite nod and then looked back at the man.

"Sorry, duty calls. If you need anything else, Daisy over there can help you." I said to him, pointing to where Daisy was.

"I never would have pictured your name being Delilah.You look more like a water flower." He said with a smirk on his face.

I looked at him for a second before responding. Something about that response has me intrigued in this man. And I'm not usually quick to be intrigued by a man; been this way for too many years.

"Well, my friends always say I'm full of surprises." I smiled at him, making him actually smile this time. Man, that smile made my knees buckle just a bit. Making it harder to look away from him or leave.

"Maybe someday I can find out more of your surprises." He said before taking a drink. Staring me down. I knew then he was flirting with me. Making me blush before I could hide it from him.

"I'm sorry, I really must go. It was nice talking with you, sir."

"Call me Atticus." He said before I left.

Once I got to the office door in the back of the bar, I knocked on it. "Come in!" An older grumbling man said on the other side. I opened the door to find Mr. Anderson is sitting behind his desk. Writing on some papers with his glasses at the bridge of his nose.

Since I've been working here, I've grown quite fond of Mr. Anderson. He was about my height. Decent weight for a man in his fifties. He had a gray shirt and jeans on. His brownish gray hair slicked to the side with gel. He looked up at me from his work and smiled.

"Mrs. Wells, please have a seat." He gestures to the chair on the other side of the desk. I sat down and smiled at him.

"You wanted to see me, boss. Is everything alright?" I asked him. He usually doesn't ask anyone to the office unless it's really important.

"Yes dear, everything is great! I just wanted to ask you a favor." He said as he took his glasses off. Putting them on the desk in front of him. "I know you haven't been here for long, but you have proved yourself with the work you've done. And I have no one else I would want to give this to that I trust. I wanted to promote you as the manager of the bar." He said, smiling at me.

"Manager? But why me? I've been here less than some of the people that are wanting that position." I said to him. I felt confused but also grateful I was considered for the position.

"You've been a help to me more than anyone. You've come up with great ideas for the bar that has actually brought more customers. You even work on weekdays when I'm short staffed. When I know you have a weekday job and twins to care for. You deserve this, Delilah." He said to me.

"It's a better pay, and you would only have to work two weekdays along with the weekends. I want to be able to step away more from the bar, but I couldn't cause I didn't have someone who would be loyal and trustworthy. Now I do. What do you say, Delilah?" He said, holding out his hand. Waiting for my response.

"I would love the position, Mr. Anderson. Thank you for taking a chance on me." I said to him, then shook his hand.

We talked a little more about what kind of training he would start having me do after the Fourth of July was over. Before I left his office, he gave me a sheet with the class I would be taking by next month. When I got back to the bar, I noticed Atticus was gone. I started helping customers again once I got behind the bar.

"Congratulations, miss boss lady! I knew he would make the right decision!" Daisy squealed as she ran at me for a hug. I hugged her back, giggling.

I should have known she knew. After all, Mr. Anderson is her uncle. They both took me and the twins in like family. They even invited us to celebrate Easter with them when we moved here. They had a huge Easter egg hunt for all the kids and other activities for them. The twins just adore Mr. Anderson and he adores them. They have started calling him Papa A, and he loves it.

"Oh! Before I forget, Mr. Mystery Man wanted me to give you this." She said as she handed me a napkin. Folded in half. When I opened it, it was a phone number written down and something else underneath it.

'In case you want to surprise me.' -A

I chuckled lightly. Folding the napkin back up and sticking it in my pocket. As much as I enjoyed him giving me the time of day, I have the twins to take care of. Besides, I'm not the type of woman that just has one night stands and moves to the next. That kind of thing is just messy and complicated. Raising kids is already a handful. Let alone trying to date.

When it was a little after eight, I clocked out for the night. I gathered my things and chatted with Daisy before I left for the night. She told me about a bonfire party that was going on tomorrow night. She's trying to convince me to go.

"Oh, come on! It will be fun. Papa A has even agreed to watch the kids overnight." She said as her grin grew with confidence.

I looked at her with shock. "You did not have to ask your uncle. That's too much to ask of him. He does not have to watch them." I said, crossing my arms. I felt a bit insecure that she did something like this. But I have every right to be.

"Oh, you hush!" A grumble sound came from behind us. Turning to find Mr. Anderson is walking up to us.

"I may be an old man, but I did raise a few kids myself too. Go to that party and celebrate." He said and stuck his hand on my shoulder.

I gave him a light smile and squeezed his hand gently. "If they give you trouble, call me, and I will come home."

"They're going to have a great time with Papa A! It's been long overdue for a sleepover." He grinned widely at us. He was like a big kid himself when he got to spend time with the twins.

Once I left, I headed back home. Listening to my album of soundtracks by Memphis May Fire, Bad Omen, My Chemical Romance, Paramore, and a few other ones of that genre. I've always had a thing for alternative rock and classic rock music. I grew up listening to them, and so did my friends. My family was well known where I grew up, and there was a time I was shunned by them. This music helped me through those rough times growing up. If they even knew the truth, things could have been different.

When I pulled up to the house and parked, I headed inside to see the twins. I walked in to find them at the kitchen table coloring. They were so focused that they didn't even hear me come in. Nia was sitting on the couch with a book in her hand when she looked up at me. Greeting me with a warm smile on her face.

Even with just comfy clothes and no makeup, Nia was a natural beauty. Her olive skin made her look radiant. She had her long, dirty blonde hair tied in a bun. Her green eyes focused on me for a minute. They looked brighter than usual. She must have been in deep thought about something.

I walked up to the table, standing to where I could see what they were drawing. Myles drew a dragon flying over a castle. Myla drew a princess rising a unicorn in the clouds with a rainbow behind them. For five year olds, they drew pictures better than the average kid.

"Hello, my little loves." I said as I squeezed between their chairs. Their faces lighted up when they looked up at me.

"Hi, momma!" Myles said as he reached in for a hug. Myla held her picture up at me. Smiling proudly at her work. "Look, I drew you, mommy!" She squealed with excitement.

I took it from her and gave her a kiss. "I absolutely love it! Thank you, my sweet girl."

She started doing a little victory dance while sitting in the chair still. It made me laugh softly. My kids are definitely out of this world. I can't imagine where I'd be without them.

Once the twins brushed their teeth and stuck their pajamas on, I tucked them in. Reading a book to each of them. Telling them goodnight and how much I loved them. Once they were tucked in with their night lights on in their rooms, I headed back to the living room. Finding Nia still on the couch with the same book. This time, though, she had a bottle of wine and two wine glasses sitting on the coffee table.

"Kids are asleep already?" Nia asked me. She looks around for the kids.

I chuckled at her. "Yes, they are. That's what happens when you're stuck in a book." She laughed at that. "Yeah, you have a point. Those little turkeys, they didn't tell Auntie Nini goodnight."

She shut the book and got up quickly. "I'm gonna get those little stinkers. Go ahead and pour us a glass." She said as she scurried away quickly to mess with the twins. As I poured our glasses, I could hear them squealing and giggling. It was Myles first, then she went to Myla next. I heard them tell her goodnight, and they loved her.

She came back with a grin on her face. She knew her mission was complete. She sat down next to me and took a glass from me.

"Thank you! That'll teach them not to forget again." She said and then took a drink of the wine.

"I'm surprised they didn't pee theirselves." I giggled.

"Now, tell me what happened today?" She looked at me wriggling her eyebrows at me. I rolled my eyes at her. I snorted before answering her. "You already know as much as Daisy told you."

"Girl, please! You know she never tells me the full deets. Besides, I know you better than she does. And for a man to give his number to you isn't a small deal."

I sighed and shook my head at her. "Nia, I have two kids I need to focus on. I don't need a man to waste my time. As much as I thought he was attractive, I'm just not ready for it. Neither are Myles and Myla." I took a drink, staring down at the ground.

"Myles is still asking about his dad, huh?" She said softly. She knew this was a touchy subject. I couldn't tell the kids that cause they don't need to know that or burden theirselves with that.

"I can't figure out what else to tell him. I've kept it small with details about him. I owe them that. I just can't bring myself to tell him more."

"I love that you're a single mom and sticking up for you and the kids the way you did. But Nym," She paused, waiting for me to look at her. She has always called me Nym since we were kids. It was honestly refreshing to have someone who knew exactly who I was and lived close to us.

I looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "You and those kids need a man in your lives. You all three deserve that. You need a partner, and they need a dad."

"It's not that simple, Nia. You honestly believe Myles would be okay with some man coming into his life? When he is clearly hung up on his dad. I think he believes his dad is going to show up one day. You know how protective he is over Myla and I." That wasn't a lie. That little boy would slay a dragon for me or Myla. I can't imagine how he would react if I started dating someone who isn't his father.

"Well, I would sit them down and talk to them. Those kids are smart. Actually too smart for their own good. And you made them that way. You should be proud of yourself. Trust me, Nym, they will listen and I'm sure you all can come to some agreement."

She was right. I do need to sit them down and just talk to them. Whatever I do, I do it for them, and I will always do that. I know they're smart enough to understand. I will always want their advice and how they feel about anything.

We sat there talking about the party tomorrow. What we were going to wear. Who's place we were all crashing at. We settled on Nia's apartment. She was planning on getting lucky tomorrow. A guy she's been talking to and casually dating is going. We went through my closet before she left. We're looking to see what I would wear. She helped me pick out my bell bottom jeans and my tye dye crop shirt. Telling me to show some kind once in a while. I'm very modest about showing my body. It's why I normally wear jeans and shirts that don't show much. I have a c shaped scar on the right side of my belly button. I also have another scar on my left side. Plus, I'm not the skinniest woman that man go for. With a little bit of meat on my stomach and my thick thighs. Nia and Daisy call me a b.b.w. when I wear dresses out in public. I don't like my curves I haven't in a long time. But I decided to push that insecure thought down and went with what she picked for me.

When Nia left, I took a shower and got ready for bed. Once I was dried and dressed in my baggy shirt and underwear, I crawled in bed. Laying there watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

I realized I was getting tired. I got frustrated that I couldn't fall asleep. Out of the corner of my eye, the piece of paper Atticus left for me. As it sits on my nightstand. Taunting me to pick it up. I finally gave in. Unfolding it and looking at what he wrote again for a long time. I'm still debating on if I should even reach out.

I don't know anything about this man but how he looks. And it was a little unsettling that he was for sure that he knew me. Making me feel cautious about how he believes that. But even with the little voices that were whispering in my mind, I still felt drawn to him. Like I wanted to know more.

I let out a frustrated groan. Running my hands through my hair and down my face. "Oh my God! Just message him, you big sissy!" I said out loud to myself. I picked up my phone and started putting his number in my contacts. Now step one down now to complete step two: actually message Atticus.

Sitting there for a minute, I thought about what I was going to send. I didn't want to come on too strong or come off clingy. No man likes that. Or at least no man I knew likes that. I needed to do this so I could get it off my brain and get some sleep. After a few minutes went by, I finally thought of what to say and typed it.

'I guess I'm surprising myself this time.'

After I typed it, I pressed send. Feeling the weight of overthinking fall off my shoulders. I did it. I actually reached out to a man. I haven't done something like this in over sixteen years.

A few minutes went by, and my phone didn't go off once. Finally getting tired, I laid my head down, starting to feel the sleep take over my body. Then, the chirping noise from my phone pulled me immediately out of it.

I picked up my phone to see I had a message. I already knew it was Atticus when I opened my message tab. What he said wasn't what I expected. I was expecting an overly cocky ego male response. But he went complete opposite way with it.

'It's okay to not be ready to surprise yourself. That's part of healing.'

I smiled for a minute to myself and then decided to respond.

'Now that I have reached out and surprised myself doing that, maybe you can surprise myself next time. Goodnight Atticus.'

I stuck my phone on the charger. Settling back down into the bed. I'm feeling more at ease that tonight I can sleep without any nightmares to keep me up. All because I messaged a man that actually has taken me by surprise. Changing my thoughts just a little bit about men being all the same. Maybe these surprises will keep giving me this spark feeling. I've gotta say, I've never experienced this before, and I don't want it to stop.