Nanny Dearest (3 page)

"Some other guy answered the phone."

"Probably his roommate, Joel Chevron. He does live in a college dorm."

"Oh, yeah, that's right." For some reason Adam knew a lot about Terry. "I forgot." He paused. "Call Amy and tell her I'm on my way."

"Will do," Adam said and then he hung up before Hunter could ask him about his relationship with Terry.

Terry arrived about a half-hour later.

"Sorry again about the short notice but one of my clients specifically requested me to do her makeup for a photo shoot."

"Do you normally do special requests?" Terry asked, coming in and putting his bag on the floor next to the sofa.

"Sometimes," Hunter answered. "But not often. Just for an important event like the Academy Awards or the Grammys."

"You must do very well," Terry said looking around.

Hunter shrugged. "It's a living."

"Where's Chase?"

Hunter pointed to the den. "He's in the playpen with his toys." Terry followed him to the other room. The room looked like something out of a disaster movie. Toys lay everywhere tossed from the playpen by Chase.

"Someone has been a very naughty boy," Terry stated, looking lovingly down at Chase.

Chase's eyes widened when he recognized the sitter. A smile graced his face and his arms extended out to Terry. "Ma-ma"

Terry chuckled and lifted him into his arms. "No, Terry."

Chase rested his head against Terry's chest.

"I think my son is in love with you," Hunter said with a weak smile. "He's usually not this receptive to anyone."

"Has he eaten yet?" Terry asked, gently rocking Chase.

"No, I was just about to feed him when the phone rang about the job."

"I'll do it," Terry replied. "Just show me what he likes."

Hunter led him into the kitchen where he opened a cabinet over the sink and pointed to the jars of baby food. "I think I should warn you he doesn't like spinach." He reached for a jar of beef and noodles. "But he does like meat."

"The sign of a true man," Terry said. "Is he a finicky eater?"

"He can be sometimes. He's also been known to vomit, toss and spit this stuff without warning."

Terry chuckled and placed Chase in the highchair. "Maybe he just doesn't like the stuff. He's getting a bit older, have you ever thought about advancing him up to real food?"

"The pediatrician mentioned that but Chase doesn't have many teeth."

"His food needs to be pureed."

"What?"

"Ground down to a texture he can handle. Do you mind if I prepared him something?"

Hunter shook his head. "No, be my guest. I have to finish dressing."

"Have you eaten yet?" Terry asked, looking through the refrigerator.

"No, I thought I'd grab something quick on my way back in."

"Don't," Terry replied. "Fast food is bad for the complexion and health. I'll fix something for you."

"You can cook?"

"Yes. Part of my survival skills. I've taken culinary classes since junior high school. Most of the time I was the only guy in class but I was bound and determined to learn how to cook so I could take care of myself."

"Don't go to too much trouble. There's meat in the freezer."

"Go get ready," Terry told him. "I have a little man to feed."

Chase giggled from the high-chair like he understood.

Hunter left the kitchen, heading upstairs to get dressed and pack his supplies. When he came back down, he found Terry and Chase still in the kitchen. Terry was feeding Chase mashed potatoes, gravy and what appeared to be peas. Chase smacked his lips after each spoonful passed his lips.

Terry chuckled. "He has a very good appetite and he likes peas."

Hunter looked Terry over. "Why aren't you covered in potatoes, or at least wearing some gravy?"

Terry shrugged. "Maybe Chase is just being nice for company."

"Maybe," Hunter said, not believing Chase was being so well behaved.

"It's also smart not to leave the bowl where he can reach it."

"I'll remember," Hunter watched Chase reach into his mouth and grab some potatoes. "Quick, duck," he warned Terry.

Chase tossed the food at him instead of Terry. Luckily he missed. "Demon seed," Hunter told the child.

Chase giggled with delight.

Terry smirked before he got up, found a towel to clean Chase's hands and face, and then cleaned the mess off the floor. "He's really getting a kick out of making daddy jump. Chase is going to be quite a handful when he gets older."

Hunter groaned. "Don't remind me. I need to start childproofing this place this weekend."

"I'll come over and give you a hand if you need some help," Terry volunteered.

"Yes, that would be nice. We can take turns working and keeping an eye on Chase. I need to get the house childproofed before…" He paused.

"Before what?" Terry asked.

"Before Chase's grandparents arrive. They're trying to sue me for custody."

"Why?" Terry asked. "This seems like a great home. He's clean, healthy and obviously adores you."

"Well two out of three is fine, but I won't say he adores me. He was quite the little terror. I've raised him on my own since Chase's mother walked out on us."

Terry stroked Chase's chin with his finger. "I can't believe anyone would not want to be a mother to this child or any child."

"Ma-ma," Chase replied and raised his arms to Terry to pick him up.

Terry lifted him out of the high chair. "Terry," he corrected Chase.

"Ma-ma," Chase replied.

"See, I told you," Hunter replied. "He has a mind of his own."

Chase reached up and grabbed the elastic band from Terry's hair. The raven tresses cascaded down into his face and around his shoulders.

Terry wrestled the elastic from him. "This is dangerous," he told Chase.

Chase wound his fingers into Terry's hair and pulled.

"Here, let me help you," Hunter said rushing over to help Terry free his hair from Chase's grasp.

Chase continued to pull.

Hunter had to pry the hair out of Chase's hands. "I see why he's fascinated," Hunter replied. "Your hair is so soft." He took his son so Terry could get control over his mane, securing the silky black tresses with the elastic again and then taking Chase back.

"You better get going," Terry said looking a bit flushed. "It's getting late."

Hunter noticed a rosy blush on the young man's cheeks. "Are you embarrassed because I complimented you on your hair?"

Terry nodded.

"Don't be. You're a nice looking young man and you're going to be fighting lovers off of you for many years." He grabbed his cosmetic case and walked out of the kitchen.

* * * *

Terry gave Chase a bath and then put him down for a nap. Chase went to sleep as soon as his head touched the mattress. Terry stroked the child's head tenderly then raised and locked the side of the crib. "You're a pretty lucky fellow to have a dad who cares so much for you." He turned on the baby monitor and crept out of the room and went down to the kitchen to begin preparing dinner for Hunter.

He wondered what had happened to spur a child custody case. He might be an outsider but he could tell it had nothing to do with neglect. From what he could tell Chase wanted for nothing, including attention. He was an affectionate, loving child and he had a hard working father… something he wished he could have had. He never knew his parents and had been shuffled from one foster family to another until he graduated from high school. He had made himself a promise that when the day came that he was a father, he would do his best to be there and do whatever he could to take care of the child. That was the main reason he had chosen child psychology as a major. There were a lot of abandoned and orphaned kids in need of someone to talk to who understood what they were going through.

Terry took a couple of steaks out of the freezer and put them in the microwave to thaw while he prepared the mashed potatoes and chives. Then he whipped up a small cake while the steaks were grilling on the George Foreman electric grill. He cleaned up the kitchen and set the table once the food finished. Afterward Terry turned his attention on the den, picking up the scattered toys. Periodically he crept up the stairs to check on Chase who snoozed with a smile on his face.

Hunter returned a little after nine looking tired. "How's Chase?" he asked.

"He's fine and sound asleep."

Hunter put his case down on the table.

"How was the appointment?"

"Actresses are very demanding," he replied. "They expect miracles." He sniffed the air. "Something smells good."

"Dinner."

Hunter grabbed Terry's hand and pulled him into the kitchen. "You fixed steaks? How did you know steak is my favorite?"

Terry shrugged. "Just a lucky guess."

"How did you prepare all this? Did you have to pull out of the big grill?"

Terry shook his head. "No. You had a small electric one under the cabinet."

Hunter looked a bit dumbfounded.

"The grill was under the cabinet near the sink."

"Now that you mention it I kind of remember buying one when I moved in."

Terry turned to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"Home," Terry answered.

"Ah, come on. Stay and eat with me. There's plenty."

Something deep inside of him told him to refuse but the guy was looking at him with big lonely eyes. "Okay, if you insist. Go wash up and check on Chase and I'll dish up the food."

Hunter put his hand on Terry's head and ruffled through his hair, loosening it from the elastic. "I just couldn't resist," he said, hurrying out of the kitchen.

Terry sighed and fixed his hair. If he had a nickel for every time someone did that to him since reaching puberty, he'd be rich.

Hunter returned shortly in a comfortable pair of athletic pants and a t-shirt. "I peeked in on Chase and he's still sleeping soundly."

"He's a really good boy," Terry said as he sat down at the gold and brown dinette table.

Hunter sat down next to him and said grace.

Terry said a blessing of his own and cut into his steak. The juice ran down his throat as he chewed.

"This is so tender and delicious," Hunter replied after a mouthful of steak. "And these potatoes just melt on my tongue. You ever thought about becoming a chef? You have talent."

Terry didn't know what to say. He cooked for his roommate, Joel when they had access to a kitchen. "Yes," he answered. "You know, in case I have to fall back on something if the psychology thing doesn't work out."

"When do you graduate?"

"June," he replied. "The Saturday before Father's Day."

"That's just a few weeks away. Are you nervous and excited?"

Terry shook his head. "Yes. It's been a long four years."

"How are your grades? Are they good enough to get into a graduate school?"

"Yes, but I don't know if I'll be able to afford to go. I can get a partial scholarship but everything else I'd have to pay for myself. I doubt I can afford a master's degree on a babysitting salary."

"How about on a model's salary?"

Terry stopped chewing his food. "I don't know. How much does a model earn?"

Hunter quoted him a rough estimate.

"Wow, that much? I had no idea."

"Are you interested?"

"Interested in what?" Terry asked.

"Becoming a model."

"No," Terry answered quickly.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not model material."

Hunter raised an eyebrow. "Have you ever looked at yourself in a mirror? You're tall, slender, have perfect skin and you're gorgeous."

Terry went back to eating. His head swam with decisions and with indecisiveness. Why was Hunter saying these things and why was he so adamant he could become a model?

"Just think about it. We're always looking for fresh new faces to advertise our latest cosmetics."

"I wouldn't have to put on any makeup, would I?" People were already mistaking him for a female, even Chase. Makeup would definitely be too much.

"Yes," Hunter replied after he swallowed. "Makeup is what you'd be advertising. You'd have to wear some."

"But makeup is for girls."

Hunter chuckled. "More than half my clients and customers are male and this hasn't made them one iota less manly if that's what you're thinking."

"I was thinking that," Terry admitted.

They finished dinner and Terry produced the cake and topped it with whipped cream. They were about to dig in to the dessert when they heard Chase cry.

"Let me get him," Terry replied. He left the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a wide awake cooing infant. Terry sat down with Chase.

Chase's eyes landed on the cake and he reached for it.

"You're too young for sweets," Hunter told his son as he cut into the cake.

Terry scooped a little of the whipped cream from the side of the cake and fed it to the child. Chase moved the cake around in his mouth, swallowed and giggled. "It's sugar and fat free," Terry assured Hunter.

"I had something healthy in my refrigerator?" Hunter asked.

Terry nodded. "Who does your grocery shopping?"

"I do, but I don't read labels."

Terry fed the baby a little more cream and then Chase did the most amazing thing. He wrapped his arms around Terry's neck and planted a big wet kiss against his cheek.

* * * *

Hunter didn't know whether to be jealous or not.

Terry looked absolutely floored by the kiss and even more when the child referred to him as mama again. "A prime example why I can't be a model or wear makeup."

"But Chase is just a baby. He doesn't know the difference."

"Are you sure?" Terry handed the baby and the spoon over to him. "You feed him."

Hunter scooped a little of the cream from the cake and fed it to Chase.

Chase let the cream drool to the sides of his mouth while simultaneously making spit bubbles. All of this he shared with the front of Hunter's shirt.

Terry got up and got a towel to clean the mess. Chase reached out for him as Terry leaned close but Hunter held him back, admiring the top of the young man's head. His hair was black to the roots.