Free My Son by Marie Kelly

rendered.  She had bitten her lip, not wanting to ruin the lovely day.
    Soon it was nearly 6 and they once again had packed up the car all tired but happy, and started the journey home
    “A successful birthday I would say” said Kelly with a grin , seeing as Marc had flashed her another of his killer smiles which always made her knees feel so weak
    “I would rate it a 10” he had smiled
    “T old you…a petting farm” she had said smugly, while inwardly thinking that his company had far more to do with how enjoyable she had found it.  She had frowned slightly, was she stupid, this was Marc De Santo, not some average Joe dad.  He had enjoyed the novelty of it that was all, had wanted to show what a good dad he was. However, she had to admit, he was a good father, suddenly feeling bad about the way she had thought of him for all those months.
    When they once more reached the villa and trooped noisily into the cavernous hallway Beth had come out to greet them ushering them all into the kitchen.  To their delight the place was filled with balloons with 1 imprinted on them.  The table was full of finger food and pride of place was reserved for a large birthday cake in the shape of a lion similar to the one Kelly had given him for a present earlier.  Mario, Maria and Sophia were also there and after allowing Max some time to grab the balloons excitedly they had lit the cake and sang to him.  It was a wonderful night.
    By 8 Max had become tired and cranky, and as everybody had drifted away, with wishes of happy birthday, Kelly had gently lifted Max into her arms
    “ Someone’s had a big day” she had cooed softly to him
    “Bath and bed for you young man”
    To her surprise Marc had accompanied her up the stairs and ran Max’s bath while she undressed the small boy who was by now scratching his eyes with exhaustion.  He was given a quick bath before being dressed and then put into his cot, with Marc staying and helping the whole time, and as his son had lain down, he had smiled seeing how he had turned his head and instantly fallen asleep, with a small chuckle he had laughed gently
    “Now that’s tired”
    Kelly had nodded in agreement a loving smile on her lips
    “Yep, we finally tired him out ” She had stifled a small yawn herself, before adding
    “I hope you don’t mind Marc, but I think I’ll go for a bath and then an early night, I’m really tired too”
    Marc had nodded “sounds like a plan”
    “I 've got some work to do anyway so I had better get on with it”
    Kelly had looked warmly up at him
    “Thanks Marc we both had a great time”
    Moving forward with a smile Marc had leant in, giving her a small kiss on the cheek
    “I had a great time too” he replied before leaving by the main door into the corridor.
    Kelly had stood there for a second.  The touch of his lips had been unexpected, but not as unexpected as the way her whole body had tingled at it, in an excitement she had never experienced, not even with Danny she had admitted.  Shaking herself, she had forced herself to remember that Marc was out of bounds.  He was Max’s father and was someone who had a new woman for every event.  Did she really want to get into that?  With a small laugh she had then countered that she probably wasn’t even his type anyway, that the kiss was more sisterly admonishing herself for her feelings.
    However, as she lay soaking in the lar ge luxurious bath which she filled with bubble bath, she couldn’t get his face or that sensual smile out of her mind.  When she had finally slipped into bed she had fallen asleep with memories of that day floating in her mind and she had smiled.
    Kelly wasn’t sure how long she slept, but the sound of Max’s cries coming from the baby monitor woke her with a start, causing her to jump out of bed and gently to open the door between their rooms to see to him.
    The small whimpering sounds from the baby monitor also made their way to Marc on his monitor.  He had