Count On Me

Part Forty Three

"I've given you a lot more than my word, Miss Breen, on several occasions just last night." That made her blush and he mouthed, "touché," at her.

Nate was fortunately oblivious.

"We need to clean your teeth before school," she placed a hand on his shoulder, but her eyes never left Oscar's. How could they cope with this every day? How could they function? She'd never lived in such emotional and hormonal chaos. It was exhausting and seemed to absorb all her time and thought. Life was still going on, the world was still turning, yet she was swamped in the depths of lust with her co parent and house mate.

Operation Clean Up Janis was in its final stage; Lizzie had emptied the last of the cupboards and had bagged her remaining clothes. Rather than take them to a charity shop, she called the local women's hostel. They were ecstatic when she explained the volume of clothing and the thirty pairs of shoes that she'd picked out as being in the best condition.

As she folded the clothes lovingly, she tried not to feel incredulous at the sheer volume of items. Janis had always been broke, always begged, stolen or borrowed from her 'wealthy' sister. Not that Lizzie had wealth, she was left with nothing. She didn't want to think ill of her sister, she was dead, Lizzie was having days, weeks and months with her sister's son, but she still couldn't completely get past the reality of all that she'd given to Janis, physically, emotionally and financially...every day. She had a happy care free life...and now she, herself, was left with debt, and nothing but sorrow.

Then she thought of Nate, and his father. They both brought her joy, happiness, and in Nate's case, unending love. She was truly the gifted one. Swiping at her tears, the one that were only ever a step away, she turned back to the task in hand, ending her sister's place on the earth. A tragic task and one that she was feeling anger over doing. What sort of a person was she?

It wasn't quite lunchtime when her phone beeped. She knew it would be Oscar, he rarely phoned during the working day.

"How's your day sexy?"

She felt heat sweep her cheeks at that greeting, he wasn't usually so flirtatious, and it was warming. But instead of gushing, she gave him a measured response...but one that she knew would make him smile.

"Who is this, please?"

She could almost hear him smiling at that. And it wasn't long before her phone flashed with a response.

"You knew EXACTLY who I was last night, young lady."

Again she blushed, biting her lip as she tried to think up a witty response. Beep. Another message appeared.

"See I was right, you ARE sexy, especially when you bite your lip like that."

That made her giggle; releasing her bottom lip as she thought to modify her response...then she re read it. He could see her? Looking up her eyes met those of Oscar, stood in the hallway watching her intently, his phone still in his hand.

"What are you doing here?"

She watched as he sighed, tucking the phone into his pocket, before he spoke, "you are too tempting to resist. I couldn't concentrate."

Lizzie pulled herself to her feet, and brushed her dusty hands along her thighs, "if I believed that I'd believe anything."

His face fell a little, "it's partly VERY true, but you're right, I've got to go to New York for at least three days, tomorrow."