The Ex's Daddy

Episode12

Levy

This girl is going to be the death of me yet. The way her ass moves, the way I want to slide my arms around her small waist and pull her against my chest and to feel my erection growing in my pants. But I can’t, she has to be off limits to me, and I am doing everything I can do prevent myself from doing something totally stupid. Only, it isn’t easy I can tell you that much.

Jeez, what would my friends think if they knew I had a boner and the hots for a girl eighteen years younger than me not to mention, Dylan’s ex-girlfriend? Oh, and his best friend. I shake my head as she opens the front door to her house across the street.

I notice that the woodwork needs painting, the window frames could do with sanding, revarnishing or maybe a lick of paint too. I make mental notes about the exterior, it’s clear that her mother doesn’t have the kind of money needed to bring this house back to life again. It won’t take me much to repair what needs doing or do some painting. It could be fresh and lovely looking in no time, Dylan could help me. Some window boxes with flowers would set it off a picture. This makes me wonder what Harper’s favorite flowers are. Sunflowers or Daisies, I have forgotten what she told me already.

“Come inside, it’s a bit of a mess I’m afraid. Taylor and I try to stay on top of it but with looking after mom, my college work and her schoolwork and activities, we’re falling behind.”

“No problem, I’m not here to inspect the house, Sunflower I am here to help you with your mom.”

“’Kay, thanks, Levy.” Her drawl is soft and gets right to my heart, her eyes look sad as she takes a look at her mother passed out on the sofa. f**k, she has her arm splayed out half hanging to the floor, a damn torniquet is still tied around her upper arm. f**k, f**k, f**k. I rake my hands through my head. No kid should ever have to see their mother looking like this.

I take in the crap that lays on the low level, wood coffee table and see all the associated paraphernalia associated with her mother’s habit, along with an empty bottle of cheap Vodka.

“Harper why don’t you go get a bowl of fresh water and a cloth and some soap. I’ll sort your mother out and remove the torniquet from her arm. We can wash her face and then I’ll carry her up to bed whilst we wait for an ambulance to come for her.”

I move towards her mother who is passed out cold. Whilst Harper nods then turns to make her way into what I assume is a downstairs bathroom, I lay my two fingers on her mother’s neck to check for a pulse. Thank f**k for that, there is one albeit weak but at least she hasn’t gone and overdosed herself. s**t, this is worse than I thought.

How on earth have Harper and her kid sister, Taylor been coping with this? It saddens me to witness what her mother has turned into. Once she was pretty with long, golden hair always held in a ponytail or with one of those wide headbands on her head, you know like a kind of hippie look going on.

This woman is as thin as a rake, there’s no way we can even get food inside her right now. She is stone passed out. I take my mobile from my back jean pocket just as Harper comes in with a blue bowl filled with water. “No, don’t call for an ambulance, she’ll hate us for it.” Her voice is low, just a whisper. Harper places the bowl on the floor by her mother on the sofa.

“Harper, this is serious. Your mother needs help, now, today, this minute.”

“It’s not the first time, Levy. I’m embarrassed you have to see her like this, and it won’t be the last. Taylor and I have tried everything and when she goes into hospital, she just checks herself out again. She will always use no matter what we try to do.” Her voice cracks, and tears roll down from her beautiful cornflower blue eyes, f**k Man it’s gripping my heart watching her like this. I need to take her away from it all. I want to take her away from it all.

I want to shower her with so much love and petals of happiness. It angers me that a poor kid like Harper and her kid sister have to go through this much pain at such a tender age. They should be out partying and enjoying themselves not watching and caring for their mother. Who clearly needs help to get back on her feet to a normal life. Anger bubbles inside me, I feel like punch a damn wall only they look so damn thin, that I’d probably bring the whole wall down.

Wallpaper looks outdated and hangs down. “Dylan and I will come over and sort the house out for you. We’ll strip this paper and fix the walls, then paint it a fresh cream color. He can help me fix the window frames and the front door; I’ll take a look at the back shortly.”

“No, Levy please don’t. Everything is, well it’s a dump.” Her voice is broken, tears still run down her cheeks. I move towards her and lift her chin with my thumb and my forefinger.

“Hey, Sunflower don’t cry, okay. Baby, please don’t cry. I will fix this, I promise you, I will and can fix this.” She leans into the palm of my hand, her skin warm and soft. I cup her face and place my other hand to the back of her head and bring her into my wide chest.

Harper rests her head on my shoulder, I stroke her hair and try to offer some kind of comfort and support. My heart melts as I hold her tiny body and hear her muffled sobs. Her tears dampen my T-shirt. We stay like that for a couple of minutes until we hear the front door creak.

Harper pulls away as if she has been scorched and steps back. I place my hands on my hips as Taylor comes bowling through then stops. Her jaw drops to the ground. “What the f**k happened? What’s up with mommy, is she still breathing?” She ditches her school bag on the floor and runs straight to the sofa taking her mothers hand and kisses it.

“Mommy, Mommy, wake up. Please wake up, Mommy.” She’s crying and if my heart wasn’t already broken for these two, it f*****g is now. I have to fix this for them and the only way I know how, is to get her mother into a damn hospital then into a rehab center for a few months. It’s going to cost a heft amount to have her checked into a private rehab clinic, but hell, I have the cash.

Harper means too much to me, for me to watch her suffer anymore. I want to help her; I want the very best for her. I dial the emergency service line.

“Hello, 911 how may I direct your call?”

“I need an ambulance please,” I give her the address and explain what the situation is. She tells me that one will be with us in a few minutes time.

Taylor doesn’t leave her mother’s side. “Will mommy be alright?” Her timid voice asks. I nod.

“Yes, she will be okay. We’re going to get her into a hospital where she can have proper treatment and care. I’ll book her into a rehab clinic so you can go visit her when they say you can. She won’t be coming home for a few months.”

Harper goes to say something then shuts her mouth. Taylor looks between the two of us. “So, what’s going on with you two? How come, Dylan’s daddy is here?” She asks her elder sister.

“He cooked some dinner for us all and had left over and wanted to bring it and check in on momma.”

Taylor raises her eyebrows, I bet the kid can sense there is something in the air between Harper and I. Hell you’d have to be blind not to see it. That or I am just feeling super guilty for having feels for Harper.

“I hope that is all it is, only you’re looking at him all weird like, right now, Harp.” Oh, s**t, how perceptive is that kid? For a fifteen-year-old she has got some smarts about her. No doubt having to deal with her alcoholic mother and the rest of it, she has wisened up well beyond her young years.

“Don’t be dumb, Taylor, there’s nothing going on. He’s just trying to look out for us. Lord knows we need the help.”

Taylor narrows her eyes, Harper blushes. Dead giveaway if you ask me. And why do I feel like I’ve been caught with my hand between her legs? Because I feel as guilty as sin, that’s why.

“I’ll wait with you both until the ambulance comes. I can drive you both to the hospital if you like.”

“Sure thanks, Levy, that would be nice of you.” Harper manages to give me a wane smile as her sister still glares at me. I know she’s got something to say but for now she is focusing on her mother who remains passed out on the sofa.

I give Harper a nod so I can have a word in private. We go towards the kitchen. “Listen, I don’t know how to say this but, erm…” I scuff my foot on the linoleum, yeah that needs pulling up and replacing with some fresh tiles.

“Tell me what you were going to say, Levy.” Harper moves slightly closer to me.

“Er, about before, I didn’t mean to put my hands on you.” There I said it.

“I might have liked you comforting me.” Her voice is almost teasing as she c***s her head.

“Well, anyway it won’t happen again.”

“That’s a shame, because I may have liked it.”

I say nothing then turn as we hear the sound of the ambulance. All thoughts of holding Harper out of my mind as the paramedics make their way through the open doorway to see to her mother.

God, I hope and pray for the girls’ sake that their mother will be alright.