Solitary Man

"And I...I feel some kind of connection with these boys."

Rattled, Brandi replied over their cries, "Yes. It's the feeling that your eardrums are being perforated."

Mike laughed then told her that wasn't it at all before speaking to their mother again.

"Listen. I know we just really met, and I know you're still legally married, and you know I'm...a bit older than you, but..."

"How...much...older are we talking?" Brandi asked, as her eyes moved as fast as her heart was beating.

"Well, I'll be 38 in a few months, and you're 23, so..."

"That's...that's not old," she said, too quietly to be heard.

But Mike didn't need to hear. He read her lips and saw it in her eyes.

"So...can I at least stay and help you change the boys?" he asked as their eyes locked.

"Okay," she whispered, unable to speak any louder.

"And is it okay if I..."

He lowered his head to kiss her, and as he did, her eyes closed and she moved her hands up and rested them on his chest as their lips met for the first time.

The kiss was soft and short, but it made Brandi's heart race even faster, and it caused what was becoming a recurring reaction in the tall, handsome police officer who quickly turned away.

"Okay. Who's first, boys?" he said over the 'cacophony'.

Brandi laughed a happy laugh a minute later when she saw the cockeyed diaper on Liam.

"Here. Like this," she said as she tore the tape off, repositioned the diaper, then re-taped it.

"Ah, okay. Got it!" he told her with a smile.

He picked the sick child up and held him and as before, the little boy stopped crying as his mother finished changing his brothers.

"Okay. Now it's time to feed them, and you most definitely don't have to stay for that," she told Mike just before realizing she might mean breast feeding them.

Brandi understood, smiled happily, then told him she'd run out of milk a month ago, and that they all drank formula now along with babyfood.

"But you still don't need to stay," she told him again.

"Even if I want to?" he asked, that smile convincing her meant it.

Brandi's heart had slowed down, and she began thinking about a possible setup. Not an intentional one, of course, as Mike didn't seem like that kind of guy. But she realized she could quickly fall for this attractive, older man, and, just like David, he could suddenly realize three crying boys wasn't something he wanted to deal with in his life.

"That's up to you, I suppose," Brandi told him, the smile gone. It wasn't curt or terse. It just wasn't as nice as the other things she'd said to him.

"Then I'd like to stay."

"You're sure?"

"Never more sure of anything," he replied, and the way he looked at her eased her doubts. For the moment anyway.

By the time they went to get some baby food, Tom and Lisa were still 'snuggling' on the couch.

"I swear!" Brandi said, causing her father to sit up straight.

"I thought Mike left," he said. "Not that I'm complaining."

"No, he's helping me with the boys. But you were too busy canoodling with Mom to notice," his daughter teased.

"What can I say? I'm in love with your mother."

As Brandi warmed up some food she knew the boys wouldn't eat cold, she said almost absentmindedly, "That's what I want."

"What? Strained peas?" Mike replied, knowing what she was heating up.

"No. Not strained peas," Brandi said, his humor making her feel little better. "What my mom and dad have. After all these years, they're still like teenagers in love."

"I'd have been happy just to be appreciated for anything I did for my wife rather than constantly be told there's never enough money."

"It's none of my business, but what did she expect? Diamonds and fur coats? A mansion?"

"Um...all of the above—and more," Mike told her.

"That's so sad. Don't get me wrong. I want to provide well for my sons, but I can't imagine saying something like that to my husband. Well, okay. I actually could say that about my future ex-husband because just buying the boys some baby formula caused him to gripe and complain about how expensive they were."

"Now that's sad," Mike said, using her words. "I'd work a second job if I needed to to provide for my family. But 'providing' evidently means very different things to different people."

"I know firsthand that life without any money pretty much sucks. But how much do you really need if you can pay the bills and you have a roof over your head and food on the table?"

Brandi wasn't ready for Mike's reply, and although she tried not to laugh, she couldn't help it.

"Oh, let's see. Enough to buy a Range Rover. And a country club membership. Let's see. Oh, yeah. Several new outfits a week—every week—with new shoes and jewelry. Um...shall I go on?"

After she laughed Brandi apologized.

"That isn't funny. Sorry."

"No, it actually is kind of funny. Looking back on it anyway. It wasn't a lot of fun living it, but now? Yeah, I can look back and laugh."

"Why do people change, Mike? Why can't they just be themselves rather than put on a false front then let their real selves come out after they reel you in?"

"I hope that's a rhetorical question, because I don't have a good answer. The only thing I can offer is that, to some degree, we all wear social masks. You know, the way we all put our best foot forward with strangers hoping to make a good impression? I suppose once some people have done that, they start letting their guard down a little, and in some cases, it was all nothing but a mask. That's only a gut feeling, mind you, and as a cop, I prefer to rely on facts and evidence."

"No, that makes a lot of sense," Brandi said. "I've just never met anyone who did such a Jekyll and Hyde kind of thing like my husband did, you know?"

She saw the look Mike gave then laughed.

"Oh, right. You do know, huh?"

"Oh, trust me. I know," he told her as the microwave beeped.

As they fed the boys, Mike sat there wondering how one person could ever keep up with three children of any age, but especially when they were incapable of doing anything for themselves at all. And yet as he watched her cheerfully move from boy to boy, Mike found himself admiring this attractive, young mom even more, and wondering...what if?

Once the three of them were all back in bed, Mike told Brandi he really did need to excuse himself.

"Oh. Okay," she said, surprising him by the way she said it.

"I just don't want to, you know, get in the way or anything."

"You're not in the way, Mike. But I can understand how you feel. After all, this is my parents' home, so it only makes things that much harder."

"Things?" he asked with a smile. "Does that mean there's 'things' going on here? Between you and me?"

"I don't know," Brandi told him. "Are there?"

She smiled at him in a way that made his mouth feel dry as he said, "I'd like there to be."

"Even after seeing this?" she asked, nodding toward the triplets who were already falling asleep.

"Even more so after seeing this," he told her as he reached out for her hands.

"Well, if this didn't scare you off, then...maybe 'things' can happen. Between us," she said quietly, the smile still there.

"I'm not easily scared," he told her as he moved a little closer.

Brandi didn't flinch, but she did move back slightly.

"Mike? I...I think you're a really great guy, but..."

"But?"

"I...I have three boys to look out for, and I have to look out for myself, too. I have to admit I find you very attractive, and not just physically."

"But?" he said again.

"But I can't risk getting involved with someone again if there's any chance I'm going to end up getting my heart broken. It isn't that I don't like you or trust you, it's just that..."

"If one man you trusted could hurt you so badly then another one could, too."

Brandi wasn't smiling anymore. In the smile's place was a deep-seated concern, one that was making its way to Mike in a very strong way.

"It'll take time to learn to trust me," Mike began. "So I guess the question is, 'Are you willing to give me the time to show you I'm not like him'?"

She stood there looking up into his eyes for several seconds then quietly said, "Yes. I am. And...I'd like that."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. Definitely," she told him.

"So can I maybe see you again soon?"

"You may," Brandi replied very sweetly.

"I'm working tomorrow, but I could stop by after work."

The smile faded again as something else occurred to Brandi.

"You do understand that every time will be a lot like tonight, right? I'm not ever going to be available to go out for fancy dinners or dancing or even ball games all by myself. Ever."

"May I tell you something?" Mike asked.

"Of course," Brandi replied hopefully.

"I felt this...connection or something...with you and those boys from the moment I saw you. All four of you. So I'm well aware of what I'm getting myself into, Brandi. And again, I don't scare easily."

For the first time in quite awhile, Brandi felt hopeful.

She smiled at him then very sweetly said, "Then I'd love to see you tomorrow...Sergeant."

Her smile was back, and Mike asked, "May I kiss you again?"

"You may, but from now on, you don't have to ask me," Brandi replied just as sweetly as before.

When their lips met, Mike had this inexplicable feeling he was falling in love with her, but it went away almost as quickly as it came. And yet, when the kiss ended, and he looked into her eyes again, that feeling came back just as strongly.

On the way out, he stopped to say goodnight to Brandi's parents and thanked them for their hospitality.

"It was our pleasure!" Lisa assured him.

Tom stood up to shake him hands and thank him for all he'd done.

"Please come back, Mike," he said sincerely as they shook.

Brandi came out with him, and once the two men released their grip said, "He'll be back tomorrow, Daddy. If that's okay."

Her father raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh. Is that right?"

"If that's okay," Mike also said.

"Of course it's okay!" Lisa said, answering for her husband. "We'd love to have you, and you can come back anytime, Mike. Anytime at all!"

Brandi grabbed her coat and handed Mike's to him then walked him outside. As they stood there on the porch she began to shiver.

"Mike? You...you don't need to feel obligated or anything. I mean, I'd love to see you again, but please don't think you need to...I don't know. Save me or anything. Well, other than when you actually did save me, of course."

He put his hands on the puffy sleeves of the coat then told her, "I couldn't save you if I tried. But I could easily see myself spending a lot of time with you, and if you don't get tired of me...who knows?"

"Okay. I just wanted to be really sure you don't see me as some kind of charity case or something."

"No. Not at all. I see a beautiful woman with three beautiful boys, and so far, I really like what I see."

"You mean like sick kids and messy diapers?" she said with a smile.

Mike laughed quietly then told her that didn't bother him in the least.

"All right. I'll just take your word for it then."

Her reply was unconvincing, but that's because she wasn't yet fully convinced herself.

Mike gently touched her cold cheek then said, "You can take it to the bank, Brandi. My word, that is."

Then, without asking, he kissed her softly one more time.

"Now go back inside and get warm, okay?"

"Okay. Goodnight, Mike."

"Goodnight. And I'll see you around, say...seven tomorrow night?"

"I'll look forward to it," she said.

"Yeah. Me, too," Mike told her. "Now scoot!"

Brandi was so surprised by what had happened over the last few hours that she was struggling to accept it. She couldn't help but hope this was happening, but having been hurt so badly, she was going to be very careful before putting too much trust in another man; a man she really barely knew.

He was definitely very attractive to her, and so far, he was one of the kindest, most caring men she'd ever met. And if he could love her—and her boys—then, as he said, who knew?

As Mike drove home, that feeling of falling for this young mother lingered off and on all the way back to his apartment where he spent several hours recounting every moment of his time together with Brandi and the boys before he finally tried to go to sleep.

He was up very early and on the bike to nowhere the next morning as he again ran through everything he could recall from the moment of the accident to telling her to go back inside the house. Before he realized it, he'd been on it for close to an hour and was sweating like a stuck pig. Or...something.

Mike knew he was gonna have to hustle if he wanted to get to work on time. Being late was so unacceptable to him, he knew he'd have driven in half dressed rather to avoid that happening.

Sergeant Simms pulled in with five minutes to spare, and by the time he got his computer booted up, it was time for the morning briefing. For the first time he could ever remember he was having trouble focusing. He just thankful today wasn't his day to be conducting the briefing. If it had been, it would have been an unmitigated disaster and a huge hit to both his reputation and his ego.

The morning dragged on, and when lunch finally came, Mike walked across the street to his favorite place, and couldn't resist sending Brandi a text.

"Hi," the text began. "I hope you're having a good day, and I hope Liam is feeling better. I had an absolutely fantastic day yesterday (thanks to you), and I'm really looking forward to seeing you again tonight."

He sat there for quite awhile trying to decide whether or not to say anything else, and after concluding any more might be too much he hit 'send'.

His favorite waitress or...server...refilled his coffee cup and asked if he needed anything else. The way he smiled at her made her wonder what was going on when said everything was fine. Very fine.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you're cheating on me," she said, continuing an longstanding shtick between them.

"Nah. No way, Karen. You're the only girl for me. You know that, right?"

Karen was maybe 45, heavyset, and not what anyone would call attractive. But she was genuinely friendly, and Mike always looked forward to seeing her, and he unfailingly tipped her well.

"Uh-huh. Sure," she said, still smiling as she set the check next to him face down with a smiley face and a heart on the back.

"Hey. You didn't leave me your number?" Mike teased.

"Yeah, I know. But my woman's intuition tells me you've given your heart to someone else, so I guess all I can do now is dream."

Mike laughed, but he couldn't help but wonder if maybe she really did this intuition thing. Whether such a thing existed or not she'd pretty much nailed the assessment. His heart, along with his head, was definitely somewhere else, and it was divided up into four little parts that he hoped to see in a few more hours.

As much as he loved his job, the rest of the day dragged on almost mercilessly. The good news was there hadn't been a shooting or any violent crime reported so far, and for a city the size of Indianapolis, any break was a welcome relief. It wasn't exactly New York or LA, but it did have its share of violent crime. Just not that day.

By 6:30, Mike was dressed and ready to leave. He'd stopped by a flower shop on the way home and picked up two roses. One was red and the other yellow. The red, of course, was for Brandi. The yellow was for Lisa.

Mike was pretty sure Tom wasn't actually jealous, but he'd been on one too many domestic violence calls in places he never dreamed that would happen to rule anything out. So he was a little hesitant to offer it, but he was determined to do so and hope for the best.

Lisa was absolutely thrilled with the flower, but Tom definitely ribbed the younger man about flirting with his wife.

"I can't blame you, though. She is a hottie," he said.

Brandi was deeply touched by the thoughtful gesture, but the way Mike treated her mother was even more moving. So as she stood beside him when this little exchange played out, she felt whatever barrier she'd put up begin to slowly disappear. It was still there, but it was somehow...thinner than it had been just 24 hours earlier.

Lisa asked if there was anything she could get him, and after thanking her, Mike assured her he was fine.

"Okay. You kids...sorry. You two—have fun," she told them.

"We will, Mom. Liam has diarrhea now, and I think Elijah's getting sick, too."

Not sure what else to say, Lisa excused herself and went back to the kitchen to finish cleaning up the aftermath of dinner with three little boys. Brandi had already cleaned up their highchairs and plates and put the bibs in the laundry, but there was still plenty more to do.

When she and Mike finished in the kitchen and got back to the bedroom where the triplets stayed, the noise level was already high.

"Mike, I'm sorry about all this," she began saying.

He put his arms on her shoulders and said, "Why? These little guys are great. And by the way, I'm dying to kiss you again."

Brandi smiled then said, "I wasn't sure you'd even want to stay let alone kiss me."

"And yet I am and I do," he told her with a smile.

"Then maybe you should kiss me before the next crisis unfolds," she replied over the noise.

Undeterred by the volume, Mike kissed her softly and told her he'd thought about her all day.

The look she gave him was enough to make him ask what was wrong.

"Oh, I don't know," she said, only adding to his concerns.

"Brandi. Please talk to me."

She turned to look at him then finally said, "Good things don't happen to me. Ever. So when someone as nice...and as handsome...as you comes into my life, there has to be a catch."

Mike took her hands and as he looked into her eyes said, "There's no catch here, Brandi. What you see is what you get. I have no hidden agenda and nothing to hide. I really am very attracted to you, and I see your boys as a huge plus, not some kind of...annoyance to be tolerated in order to be with you."

He waited for a second then said, "Okay?"

"Okay, but..."

Mike smiled at the 'but' and waited for her to explain.

"My dad always says, 'If it's too good to be true, it isn't.' Don't you believe that?" she asked, thinking she'd made her point quite well.

"Sometimes. But there's another saying to keep in mind if we're going to use them to make decisions."

"And what might that be?" she asked, her eyes hopeful yet not quite trusting.

"There are exceptions to every rule."

He saw her brain thinking it through and when it finally registered she smiled.

"Okay. I...I can't really argue with that."

"Do you want to keep arguing?" he asked, trying not to smile.

"No. And honestly? I'd rather have you kiss me again instead," she told him as she struggled to again put her fears behind her.

"My pleasure," he said before kissing her a second time.

The kiss was interrupted by a blood-curdling scream from Liam followed by a gawd-awful smell.

"Uh-oh," Brandi said, knowing full well what had happened.

"I'll take of it," Mike told her after Brandi pulled off one side of the taped-up diaper, her other handing holding her nose.

"No. You can't do that," she told him as she took a quick breath to talk before pinching off the horrific smell again.

"Why? Because I'm a man?"

"No. It's just...disgusting."

"Oh, I see. So...it's not disgusting if you do it though, right?" Mike teased, the horrific odor not seeming to even bother him.

He gently moved in and pushed away and told her, "I got this."

"Thank you," Brandi said, almost too quietly to be heard as Mike went to work on the aftermath of the explosion.

Brandi couldn't believe that Mike, or any man, for that matter, was willing to tackle that kind of human disaster. But he cleaned, wiped, powdered, and re-diapered her baby without so much as a complaint.