Bob sat down with his coffee and looked across the kitchen table to Anita. Anita was talking but she seemed distracted. The warm sparkle in her eye wasn’t there today. Oh, she was pleasant enough but there was something wrong and Bob wanted her to open up and tell him what the problem was but as much as she was troubled, He knew she would never see him as anything as Bob the ex-soldier, the veteran disabled son of one of her tenant farmers. She didn’t realise how she had saved him. Not just with a job but a purpose too. He loved those twins as if they were his own. The boys were wonderful boys all three with unique characters.
But here she was going through the motions of their weekly meeting.
Books first, then anything arising from them before going over special projects until the weekly van delivery dropped off the laundry and shopping.
The meeting went well and even the baby was content to wheel himself around in his stroller while banging a plastic spoon into spilt water on the tray in front of him. So, it wasn’t Seven that was distracting her, and it wasn’t Bob’s lame jokes as she barely gave a smile. No, Anita was distracted, and it spoilt the time Bob looked forward to each week.
Bob was so in love with Anita but could never let her know. She was married to Christopher and had seven children. This woman was everything Bob wanted in a partner and knew he could never have. His artificial leg was not something women looked for in a man. Ever since the incendiary device blew up underneath the vehicle he was driving and Bob was medically discharged from the Army, he felt he was a failure in the eyes of women. The fact the twinkle in his eye and wicked smile was still there of no use when meeting new females as Bob only twinkled and smiled at Anita, hoping one day she would fall into his arms and say,
“Take me!”
The project in the barn took up most of the meeting time as costs had to be agreed and funds were low. So, the meeting looked at ways of securing the barn and protecting it from the elements as it was going to be where Two and his friends practiced and rehearsed their music. Two was in a talented band and being on a farm meant they could play loudly. The band was having to be moved from one of the cottages as Anita needed to spruce it up and rent it out to raise more money.
But Two needed a place to store all his equipment and so it was agreed the barn would be made ready for him. Anita also hoped it would reduce the number of love bites on Two’s neck. The cottages were proving to be a bit of a liability as Two used it to further his other favourite interest – girls!
Bob could see Two was going to be a handful as he reminded him of himself as a teenager. Anita was a wonderful mother but how to manage a teenage boy who could have any girl he wanted, well Anita wasn’t equipped to deal with male, teenage hormones. Bob felt he could deal with Two if Anita let him but today was not the day to suggest it as Anita was distracted and Bob didn’t know why.
Bob remained in his chair as Anita got up to continue the morning chores. Her mind drifted back to Christopher. This problem was as much his problem as hers. Christopher was distant again and Anita had no energy to play whatever games he was playing. It was bad enough that the immaculate Dr Sandy was staying for a while. Anita could see why Christopher’s friends were always asking after her. She certainly was beautiful and as for that faultless body of hers it just made Anita feel tired and unwanted. turned to the Weiss family business in the USA during the crisis with the twins. Now, she was at Anita’s home, focusing on Anita’s husband. Anita bit her lip deep in thought, then was disturbed by Bob scraping the chair across the stone floor as he stood up to go, “Anita said, “I’m miles away.”
Bob moved slowly towards Anita. His eyes firmly fixed on hers.
“What’s wrong …you’ve not been yourself today, No tales about the twins. No moaning about Two’s neck. Tina hasn’t got confused by anything – So what’s wrong?”
Anita gave half a smile.
“It’s that obvious, is it?” She replied, then shook her head.
“I’m sorry I’m just so tired. And having a guest in the house and two in the cottage is taking its toll, but don’t worry I’ll get through this. I always do.”
Anita looked directly at Bob.
“I really do appreciate all the extra help you give and if more money was forthcoming, I’d make sure we paid you more”.
Bob raised his hand gesturing to stop Anita talking.
“I really enjoyed helping you out and it has nothing to do with money. It’s seeing the smile on the kids faces and yours of course. ” He paused then continued. “
I don’t need the money I have my Army pension. I give your money to my parents to help subsidise the farm shop as mum is also struggling these days. “
“Oh, Bob I’m sorry to hear that.”
Anita reached out and touched Bob’s arm in a reassuring manner.
It was just a gentle touch, but Bob felt it was like a pulse of energy coursing through his veins. He wanted to get close to Anita. He wanted to take in her essence. He so wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her with the passion that was desperate to erupt from deep inside him. But instead, he gave a smile then looked away to hide his disappointment in the mornings meeting.
It was at this time that Seven in his stroller managed to collide with Bob’s artificial leg. Seven liked the sound so pushed into the leg again.
Anita looked horrified.
“Oh Bob, I’m so sorry…Seven, no!”
Seven gurgled with happiness as he pushed against the leg again.
Bob looked down at the happy baby and laughed,
“Well. someone likes my leg. I just wish the ladies would like to play with it.”
Anita was unsure what to say. She had always been wary of talking about his leg and what happened in Afghanistan but now seemed an appropriate time to pursue some questions she had been unsure of asking.
“Bob, do you mind me asking …”
She paused and tried to phrase the question appropriately.
“… but has your injury hampered your social life? It’s just that you never mention any girlfriend, or boyfriend” she quickly added. I know it’s none of my business, but I just wondered if it hampered you love life” Anita blushed.
Seven, in the meantime had given up driving himself into Bob. Instead, he started to grizzle as he tried to push himself up out it the walker. He failed as his legs lacked the strength, so Anita went to bend down and collect him up in her arms, but Bob beat her to it. Anita and Bob clashed heads in doing so.
“Sorry” Bob said, ” I should leave him to you unless you ask.”
Anita slapped his arm.
“Bob, I consider you part of the family. You’ve always been here for me and my children. In fact, you’ve been here more than Christopher and I’m sure the twins thought you were their father for a while.”
Bob continued to collect the grizzling baby. He held him in front of his face and spoke gently to Seven.
“I would love a family like yours. You’re a very lucky boy and I will always enjoy helping and playing with you and your brothers and sister.”
Seven stopped grizzling. He smiled as if he understood what was being said.
Bob was a natural with the baby. Anita had to add.
“Bob, you’re going to make a fantastic father when the time comes. Any woman would adore your fatherly skills.
So, is there any lady that might make a suitable mother to your children?”
Bob’s sparkle dulled as the conversation returned to his lack of partner. Luckily, the delivery van pulled up at the back door and it was time to sort that out.
Bob passed Seven over to Anita.
“I’ll deal with it if you want as I think Seven needs changing. “
He grinned as he walked off muttering.
“Maybe I’m not so good at some parental duties. I think women manage that much better than men.”
He walked out to greet the delivery man and got into a deep conversation about a forthcoming Rugby game.
Anita took Seven off to the bedroom to change him as she had forgotten the baby bag. She kept trying to imagine Bob’s leg without clothes. It wasn’t a sexual interest just wondering how it all fitted together. Bob was a lovely man and he deserved happiness but somehow it seemed to elude him. Anita knew that at some point she would lose Bob’s help and would have to rely on Christopher but he lacked the practical skills and knew his answer to any problem would be to throw money at it. But money was getting harder and harder to manage. So Anita was dreading the day Bob would find a woman and start a family of his own. He had been brilliant the times Christopher had been at the Weiss institute in the US. Without Bob’s help Anita felt the twins would have defeated her. Bob really stepped up to help. Bob really was a great support for her . Her thoughts of Bob were rudely interrupted as Seven started to wriggle off the end of the bed. Anita grabbed him before he fell off the end.
“Where d’you think you’re going young man?“
Suddenly Anita was back in the here and now.
