Tear Down These Walls (46 page)

“Dah-dah, she make udderfly,” Kya giggles, showing Kellen.

“I see that. It’s very pretty,” Kellen replies with a nod.

Suddenly, Teagan’s phone starts ringing in her pocket. She takes it out.
“Oh, it’s Victoria. I will be right back.” Teagan gets up and goes into the
bedroom. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Ugh, where are you?” Victoria groans.

“I’m at Kellen’s, why?” Teagan retorts.

“My car took a crap; can you come and get me?” Victoria asks.

“Oh yeah, of course,” Teagan says. “Let me say good bye to Kellen. Where
are you?”

“The grocery store on 3
^rd
,” Victoria sighs.

“Okay, be there in, like, fifteen,” Teagan states. “I’ll make it fast.”

“Thanks,” Victoria mumbles.

“See you soon.”

“Yeah, bye,” Victoria murmurs.

Teagan ends the call and walks back into the bathroom. “Hey, Victoria’s
car broke down. I have to go give her a ride.”

“Does it need to be towed?” Kellen asks.

She shrugs. “I have no idea.”

“I know a guy who owes me a favor,” Kellen declares. “He owns his own
body shop on Jefferson. Let me know if you guys need help. I can have someone
meet up with you.”

“Like who?” Teagan laughs.

Kellen looks up. “Who’s on call? Oh, it’s Kyle. He can meet up with you
and look at it.  Kyle loves anything to do with cars.”

“Do you think he would mind?” Teagan chirps. “That would probably help.”

“No, not at all,” Kellen says. “Can you watch her for a second?”

“Of course,” Teagan says happily.

“Where is the car?”

“The grocery store on 3
^rd
and Walnut,” Teagan answers. Kellen
nods and leaves the room. Teagan turns back to Kya. “Hey, would you like to
hang out with me tomorrow?”

Kya narrows her eyes. “What we do?”

“What would you like to do?” Teagan asks. Kya shrugs. Teagan looks up and
says, “What about…..baking something?”

“Cake!” Kya yells. “Chocowat cake!”

“Okay,” Teagan laughs. “We will make a chocolate cake.”

“Cookies!”

Laughing more, Teagan says, “I thought you wanted cake.”

“Cookies and chocowat cake!” Kya exclaims, hopping up and down.

“Okay,” Teagan giggles. “We will make both. What kind of cookies?”

“Emems!”

“Got ya,” Teagan chirps. “We’ll have fun.”

Bouncing around, Kya starts chanting, “Cookies, cake, cookies, cake,
cookies, cake!”  Handing her another crayon, Kya demands, “Draw!”

“What do you say?”

Smiling, Kya giggles, “Pweeze.”

“Okay,” Teagan laughs, taking it from her.

A few minutes later, Kellen says, “He’ll be there in twenty.”

“I should go then,” Teagan sighs. “I will see you guys tomorrow. What
time do you want me to be here?”

“You are positive about this?” Kellen asks.

“Yes,” Teagan laughs. “Relax. What time should I be here?”

He runs his fingers through his hair, and she wants to replace his
fingers with hers because her hormones are in overdrive with him so close. She
quickly shakes her head.  “Umm, is eight too early?”

“No, not at all,” Teagan replies. “It’s a good thing I am going by the
grocery store. I have to pick up the supplies for tomorrow.”

“Supplies?” Kellen inquires.

“We are going to make……” Teagan starts, and then points to Kya.

“Chocowat cake and cookies!”

“Uh oh, sugar rush,” Kellen chuckles. “Be warned, she gets a bit crazy on
sugar.”

Teagan shrugs. “Oh well.”

“Okay, you had better go,” Kellen states. He steps up to her and leans
in. Suddenly, he stops and looks at Kya. “Can I kiss her?”

Kya scowls and then squeals, “Okay!”

Kellen smiles and kisses Teagan. She doesn’t want the kiss to end. When
they pull away, he whispers, “I’m going to miss you.”

“Can we do dinner again tomorrow night?” Teagan inquires.

“Yeah,” Kellen murmurs. “Kya will be back at her mom’s.” He gives her a
very suggestive look.  

Teagan flashes an alluring smile. “That sounds great.”

“See you tomorrow,” Kellen says softly.

“Bye,” Teagan replies. She turns to Kya. “See you tomorrow!”

“Bye Eggen!” Kya yells. “Tomowo!”

“Yup,” Teagan replies. “Bye, guys.”

Grabbing her hand, Kellen whispers, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Teagan laughs. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

With that, Teagan turns and leaves.

“So, why can’t you tell me what you are doing today?” Victoria asks.

“I just can’t,” Teagan laughs. “It’s Kellen’s business.”

“All right…..so are you going to….you know….tonight?”

Teagan blushes. “I think so.”

“Did you buy something lacy?” Victoria giggles.

“I didn’t have time,” Teagan groans. “We had to deal with your car last
night, and nothing is open this early.”

“Damn, that sucks,” Victoria grumbles. “Oh well, you wouldn’t be wearing
it long anyway.”

Snickering, Teagan says, “Probably not.”

“Teagan is finally going to get some!”

“Don’t make it sound so crass,” Teagan snaps. “We really care about each
other.”

“Do you think are falling in love with him, now that you have admitted
you actually have feelings?” Victoria inquires.

Teagan is completely caught off guard by the question. She stammers, “I
don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it.”

“It’s not something that you think about. It’s something that you feel…in
your soul.”

“I do feel something,” Teagan whispers. “Isn’t it too soon for love?”

“Sometimes love comes and knocks you down at first sight,” Victoria
states. “You have known each other long enough and have been around each other
long enough.”

Shrugging, Teagan says, “I guess. Love scares me. The thought of truly
letting my heart go terrifies the crap out of me.”

“Ummm, what are you planning to do now that you have a boyfriend? Smack
him away every time he expresses his feelings?”

“I don’t know,” Teagan exhales.

“Well, don’t dwell on all that, look forward to tonight!” Victoria
exclaims.

Teagan smiles, “I know.”

“I know I am looking forward to tonight,” Victoria giggles.

“I swear to God, it’s not my ass on the line when Kellen finds out you
are going out on a date with Kyle!” Teagan yells. “He’s going to be pissed.”

“We can’t help ourselves,” Victoria sighs  “We just hit it off. Are
you sure you can’t break the news to your boyfriend?”

“No, Kyle needs to man up and deal with this on his own,” Teagan laughs.

“Yeah,” Victoria starts, “But it involves your best friend.”

Glaring, Teagan says, “That’s not fair.”

“I would do it if roles were reversed!”

With a heavy exhale, Teagan replies, “Fine, I’ll tell him this
morning  Just realize, he may put the kibosh on your date.”

“He can’t really do that,” Victoria groans.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Teagan snorts. “He’s Kyle’s boss and awfully scary.”

“Come on! Go to bat for us!” Victoria whines.

“I just became his girlfriend. I’m supposed to make demands about his
employees already?”

“I’m not a client!” Victoria declares. “He shouldn’t have any say so.”

Teagan nods, “True.”

“See!”

“All right, I’m at his house,” Teagan laughs. “I will text you, whatever
the outcome is.”

“Thank you!” Victoria cheers.

“Bye, Victoria,” Teagan sighs.

“Bye!”

She shakes her head and gets out of the car. Teagan grabs the grocery
bags. When she gets to the door, she rings the doorbell. A minute later, the
door opens. Kellen raises an eyebrow. “You don’t need to ring the doorbell. You
can just come in.”

“I don’t live here,” Teagan laughs, stepping inside. “I will ring the
doorbell.”

“Whatever,” Kellen moans. “I will just give you a key then.”

A little shocked, Teagan says, “Um, okay.”

“Eggen!” Kya yells, coming down the steps. “Chocowat cake!”

“Yup,” Teagan replies, holding up the bags. “And cookies!”

Kya jumps up and down clapping her hands. “Yeah!”

“That is all that she has been talking about since you left yesterday,”
Kellen chuckles.  “She is
super
excited.”

“That’s a good thing,” Teagan states. “Come on, Kya. We have to put this
stuff away.”

“K!” Kya yells, hopping down the hallway.

“You are positive about this, right?” Kellen asks.

Turning around, Teagan emphasizes, “Yes, relax.”

“Sorry,” he exhales. “Just nervous.”

“You think I’m going to hurt her or something?” Teagan gasps.

“No,” Kellen scoffs. “Really, Teagan? No, I’m afraid she is going to
be…..too much.”

“Nonsense,” Teagan retorts. She sets everything down on the counter. She
takes out the butter. “Put this in the fridge, Kya.”

“K,” Kya says, taking it from her.

Teagan goes on her toes and kisses Kellen. “Just relax, we will be
great.”

“Okay,” he says softly.

“Want your mind on something else?” Teagan quips, putting some other
stuff in the fridge.

“Teagan!” Kellen playfully scolds.

She glares at him and mouths, Jacuzzi later? He grins. “Now, I have
something I’m supposed to talk to you about because two people we know are
complete chicken shits.”

“Naughty!” Kya yells.

“She knows swear words because of her mother,” Kellen sighs. “I taught
her to say that to bug her mom.”

“So sweet of you.” Teagan laughs. “So, last night when Kyle came to
help…….”

Kellen interrupts, “What did he do?”

“He didn’t do anything in particular,” Teagan mumbles, avoiding his
intimidating stare. “But he and Victoria really hit it off, and they…..”

“Oh, please tell me he went home last night,” Kellen groans.

“Yes!” Teagan exclaims. “Oh my gosh! Yes! What do you really think of
Victoria!?”

Kellen quickly puts up his hands. “Sorry!”

“They are going on a date tonight,” Teagan says slowly, watching his gaze
as she says the words that have been sitting in her chest. “They were scared
about you finding out.”

With a humph, Kellen looks down. “See, that complicates things. He’s an
employee, and she’s the best friend of my girlfriend. If things go south, it
could make things really awkward.”

“Victoria hasn’t been this interested in someone for a while,” Teagan
explains.  “They aren’t getting married. They are going on a date.”

“I will talk to him,” Kellen sighs. “He needs to treat her respectfully
and take things slow.”

“I think Victoria would appreciate that,” Teagan says.

“All right,” Kellen exhales. “I have to get going. I’m going to be on the
job all day, but if it’s an emergency, call me.”

Teagan nods. “Okay. We should be fine.”

“Bye Dah-dah!” Kya yells, running over to him. He picks her up and gives
her a kiss.  “Wuv you, Dah-dah.”

“Love you more, baby girl,” Kellen whispers, hugging her close. Teagan’s
chest swells as she looks at them adoringly. “Okay, you be good for Teagan
today.”

“Chocowat cake!” Kya giggles.

“Yes,” Kellen laughs. “Chocolate cake, are you going to save me some?”

“Yeah!”

“Sounds good,” Kellen replies. He walks over and kisses Teagan. “I will
see you around four.”

She smiles at him. “Sounds good.”

Kellen walks past Kya and ruffles her hair. “Bye, Dah-dah!” When the
front door closes, Kya turns to Teagan with big eyes. “Cake!”

“Right away?” Teagan chuckles.

“CAKE!” Kya yells.

“Okay, let’s get everything ready.” Teagan gestures to the kitchen. For
three hours, Teagan takes her time and bakes with Kya. There is some level of
difficulty, but Teagan thinks she handles it like a pro. Finally, it’s
lunchtime. Teagan puts her hands on her hips.  “What would you like to
eat?”

“Omen oodle,” Kya squeals.

Teagan stares at her blankly. “Say that again.”

“Omen oodle!” Kya says again, with as much glee.

“Okay, I am not understanding you, Honey,” Teagan says kindly.

Kya stomps her foot. “Omen oodle!”

“Can you show me?” Teagan suggests.

“Dah-dah make omen oodle!” Kya yells.

“Kya, listen to me sweetie,” Teagan says, getting down on her knees. “I’m
not understanding you.”

Tears start to build up in Kya’s eyes. “Omen oodle! Omen oodle!”

Sighing, Teagan whispers, “Kya, calm down. I know you are frustrated. Can
you show me?”

“Omen oodle,” she cries.

“Can we make something else?” Teagan suggests. “Grilled cheese?”

Shaking her head, Kya enunciates, “OMEN OODLE.”

Exhaling, Teagan says, “I don’t understand you.” That sends Kya into
hysterics. “Oh boy, on that cue.” Teagan reaches up and grabs her cell phone.
She quickly dials Kellen’s number.

He answers right away. “Is everything okay?”

“No,” Teagan sighs. Kya starts crying even harder. “Do you know what omen
oodle is? I asked her what she wanted for lunch, and I have no idea what she’s
talking about.”

“Can you put me on speaker?” Kellen laughs.

“Sure,” Teagan mumbles. “I don’t think this is funny, though.” She puts
the call on speaker. “Kya, your dad is on the phone.”

“Dah-dah!” she yells.

“Kya, take deep breaths,” Kellen instructs.

“Omen oodle!” Kya cries.

Kellen laughs heartily. “Are you supposed to have those?”

“Yeah….” She sniffles.

“No….” Kellen chuckles back.

“What is she asking for?” Teagan asks with a sigh.

Still laughing, Kellen says, “My dear, sweet daughter is trying to con
you into giving her ramen noodles.”

“
Oh
!” Teagan exclaims. “Duh!  Gosh, I’m a college student. I
should have known that.”

“I let her have those once in a blue moon,” Kellen declares. “She is
totally trying to pull one over on you.”

“I see,” Teagan sighs.

“Do you need me to come home?” Kellen asks. “Is it too much?”

“Can I just give her ramen noodles?”

“Sure,” Kellen chuckles. “There’s a package up in the top cupboard behind
the box of cereal. I hide them. Out of sight, out of mind.”

Teagan stands up and goes to the cupboard. “God, sure,
you
can
reach it. Hold on.”  She sets the phone down and climbs on the counter.

“Dah-dah! Eggen on counter!” Kya yells.

“Aren’t you a tattletale,” Teagan laughs. She reaches into the back of
the cupboard.  “Got them.” She pulls out the ramen noodles. “Is this what
you want?”

Squealing, Kya stops crying and starts jumping up and down. “Omen oodle!”

“Geesh, all this over ramen noodles,” Teagan huffs.

“I feel bad,” Kellen groans. “Why don’t I come home? Someone can relieve
me.”

“No,” Teagan scoffs. “We’re fine. We made a chocolate cake and three
dozen cookies.”

He coughs and asks, “How many cookies?”

“A lot,” Teagan laughs. “But I will take some for my friends.”

“Okay, are you
positive
you don’t want me to come home?” Kellen
reiterates.

“Yes,” Teagan replies exasperated. “We’ll be fine.”

“Are you going to be okay now, Kya?” Kellen asks.

Kya comes up to the phone and looks at it. “Omen oodle, Dah-dah.”

“You’re very lucky that I’m not home,” Kellen says sternly.

A mischievous look passes over Kya’s face, and Teagan starts laughing.
“You should
see
the look on your daughter’s face!”

“I know that look,” Kellen states. “Oh, do I know that look.”

“Well, we’re all right now. I will make these for her.”

“She likes them like soup. Break them up into tiny pieces.”

“Will do,” Teagan assures him, as she opens the door to get a pot.

“I have to go, but call me if you need anything,” Kellen instructs
seriously.

Laughing, Teagan repeats, “We’re fine!  I promise.”

“Fine. Bye.”

“Bye,” Teagan snorts, ending the call. She turns to Kya. “Ready for some
ramen noodles?”

“Cheese!” Kya exclaims.

“Uh oh,” Teagan starts. “On the ramen noodles?”

Kya makes a disgusted face, “No, cheese!” She goes over to the fridge and
opens it up.  “Cheese!” Teagan looks to where she is pointing.

“Oh, string cheese,” Teagan says.

“Swing cheese,” Kya says, looking at her mouth.

Teagan kneels down and enunciates, “S-t-r-i-n-g.”

“S-h-w-i-n-g,” Kya repeats back.

“Close enough,” Teagan laughs, bopping her on the nose.

Lunch goes off without another hitch. Later, they are up in her playroom.
“Doctor check you,” Kya giggles.

“Uh oh,” Teagan replies. “Am I sick?”

“Eggen have booboos,” Kya states seriously.

“That’s not good,” Teagan says just as dramatically.

Suddenly, Kya’s eyes widen. “Eggen wait ere.”

“Where are you going?” Teagan asks speculatively.

“Kya be back.” With that, Kya runs off. Shaking her head, Teagan gets up
to follow her. When Teagan gets into the hallway, she doesn’t hear Kya.

“’Uh oh,” Teagan breathes out. “Kya!?” There is no reply. “Kya! Where are
you!?”

“Eggen wait!” she hears from Kellen’s room.

“Are you supposed to be in your dad’s room?” Teagan asks, walking in
there. She doesn’t see her. “Where are you?”

“Eggen have booboos,” she hears called from the bathroom.

Teagan walks in there and goes, “Whoa!”

Strewn across the floor are the contents of a first-aid kit. “Eggen have
booboos, need and-aids!” Kya squeals.

“Oh, no, we shouldn’t play with those,” Teagan states, bending down to
pick stuff up.

Kya looks up at Teagan and says, “And-aids for Eggen.”

“We don’t need to use real Band-Aids,” Teagan replies. “We can play
pretend.”

Tears start to build in Kya’s eyes, and her lips starts quivering. “Eggen
have booboos.”

“Okay, okay, okay,” Teagan sighs, sitting down. “I will buy your dad a
new box of Band-Aids.”

Gleefully, Kya scoots over to Teagan. “Booboos.”

“And how many booboos do I have?” Teagan inquires humorously.

“Lot o booboos,” Kya replies. She unpeels one and sticks it on Teagan’s
forearm.  “Ouchies.”

“Oh no, are you a good doctor? Can you help me?” Teagan asks.

Kya giggles. “Eggen funny.” She unwraps another Band-Aid and puts it on
Teagan’s other arm. After a few minutes, Teagan is covered in Band-Aid’s, from
her neck to her fingers. “Am I all better?”