Neighbors

Chapter 2

It was a bright and sunny day. Henry and I were in the front yard planting flowers around the perimeter of the house.

"Mammy flower funny." Henry giggled.

His speech was improving more that I thought it would. He could pronounce the words very well for a toddler. His grammar was still off though. It was okay since he would learn it during school. I was proud of my little boy and I know his father was too.

"Yeah? Why is flower funny?" I asked him.

"Me don't know. It just funny." He giggled some more.

"Well okay then. Can you hand me the funny flower?" I put my hand out to take it.

Henry handed it to me. "Bye-bye flower." He waved.

I smiled planting it in the soil. "Can you hand me the bag of dirt?"

"Dirt dirty." He picked the bag up and carried it over to me. He spilled some. "Oopsie."

"It's okay, Henry. You did good. It's only a little bit." I assured him.

He smiled and nodded. "Mammy where papa?" He looked around.

"Henry, you know what happened. Papa isn't coming back sweetie. He never will."

"Papa go boom!" He showed an explosion with his hands. "Me miss papa." 

"Me miss him too." I chuckled. "Oh baby you're making me speak like you." I tickled him.

Henry laughed uncontrollably. "Mammy! Mammy!"

I continued tickling him when I heard a door open.

"Hello Love." Killian walked over to us.

"Hi Killian." I smiled.

"New papa tell mammy no tickle me." Henry told Killian.

"Let the poor lad go, Love. You'll make him vomit."

I stopped. "You have a point. Henry, don't call him your new papa. He's not your papa."

"Me sorry mammy."

"It's okay, Love. Let the lad call me what he likes."

I nodded. "Well in that case..." I smiled.

"Swan, can I ask you something?" Killian asked.

"You just did."

"Can I ask you something else?"

"You did again... Uh yes, go ahead."

"Swan, will you go out to dinner with me?"

"A date?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, Swan. A date. Tonight."

I could tell he was sincere about this. I liked him so I didn't see why not. "Yes. I would like to." I nodded.

Killian smiled. "Great. I'll pick you up at 8."

"8 it is." I smiled back.

"Mammy me hungry." Henry pulled on my pant.

"Sorry. Duty calls. I'll see you tonight Killian." I picked Henry up.

"See you tonight Swan." Killian left.

I took Henry inside and gave him some apple slices to eat.

The doorbell rang. I went to answer. It was Neal.

"Hi Emma." He smiled.

"Hi Neal."

"I want to ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"Um well, while you are at work and all, if you don't mind, I'd like to watch Henry."

"Neal that would be fantastic! Thanks so much."

"Anytime. This is my number, by the way." He handed me a piece of paper with his cell phone number.

"Thanks." I took it. 

Neal waved us good bye and went back to his house. Henry finished eating his apples. We both sat in the living room and watched Pokémon. Henry loved that show so much.

Henry sang along with the theme song. I laughed.

"Having fun kid?"

"Very so much!" He exclaimed.

I kissed his cheek and checked the clock.

7:30pm. Almost time for my dinner date with Killian.

I was eagerly waiting. I want this to work. I really do.