Free No Bra Required! by Nikki Ashton Page B

oh,
about three years now, I guess.  We lived with my parents for a while,
when I first came back from Manchester, but as much as I love them, I just
needed my own space.”
    “I know what you mean.  I love staying with Dad and
Richard, but I’m not sure I could do it for longer than six weeks.  We get
on, and I adore them, but there’s nothing like doing what you want to do when
you want to do it is there?”  Lucy picked up her drink and took a sip,
taking a peek at Ed over the top of the glass.
    “Hmm,” he said, now taking a drink from his beer bottle. 
“If you want to watch TV in the nude you can.”  Ed’s neck coloured as he
realised what he’d just said.
    Lucy also blushed as images of Ed watching TV in the nude
flitted through her mind.  “Exactly,” she said taking a larger sip.
    “So,” Ed coughed nervously.  “Well, I guess we need to
talk about your looking after Nate.  I know we’ve not done this formally
or anything, but I would like to pay you.  Plus there are a few things you
need to know about him and a few little guidelines, if you don’t mind.”
    “Of course not, I understand.  Children are very
precious.”  Lucy eyes involuntarily filled with tears, she dropped her
head so Ed couldn’t see.
    “Okay, but to be honest there’s not much.  Firstly, if
Nate needs disciplining over anything, then you’re the expert, so I’m happy for
you to do that.  Go for it, if it's use your manners, or eat your tea, but
obviously if it’s anything more serious let me know, and I’ll sort it.”
    Lucy nodded.  “Okay.”
    “Right, well I don’t expect you to cook for me, although I
do like to eat with Nate whenever possible.  If I know that I’ll be home
in time I’ll call you, and I can cook, and you’re welcome to join us anytime,
by the way.” 
    “Oh okay, that’s no problem.”  That wouldn’t be
happening often, Lucy thought.
    “The final thing is my ex-wife.”  Ed dropped his head
and ran a hand through his hair.  “I need to tell you all about her, and
why I don’t want her anywhere near Nate, not that she’s likely to come here.
 She has her own life in America.”  Ed went on to tell Lucy all about
Katie and Luke and how they’d broke his and Nate’s hearts.
    Lucy looked at Ed totally shocked by what he’d told
her.  “So, she didn’t even ask to have Nate with her?”  Lucy watched
Ed’s crumpled face and sad eyes and took a deep breath; she would do anything
to have her daughter with her.
    He shook his head. “No.  She said that it was best that
he stayed with me, thank God.  You know what’s ironic, it’s that she’s
ended up with a carbon copy of the life she hated, the life she couldn’t wait
to leave behind.”
    “Why, what was so bad it?” Lucy asked.
    “Well, when we met Katie was only twenty-three and a bit of
a party girl, but within a few months was pregnant, and I think she blamed Nate
for spoiling her fun.  You see I was always working shifts at the
hospital, so she had to cope with Nate on her own for most of the time.” 
Ed sighed deeply. 
    “That must hurt then that she now seems happy to live a
family life.”
    Ed laughed emptily. “Hah, just a bit, especially as Luke is
a carbon copy too; we’re twins you see.”
    Lucy stared at Ed wide eyed.  “Blimey, I thought going
off with your brother was bad, but that’s a double whammy.”
    “I suppose, but we’re nothing alike, he was obviously just
more exciting.”  Ed smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.  “Anyway, I
don’t care anymore, it’s Nate I care about.”
     “Does he ever ask after her?”  Lucy put a hand to
her mouth.  She couldn’t help but think of her own much loved, greatly
missed daughter now as tears pricked her eyes.
    “He did at first, but after a month away from her he was
used to Katie not being there.  While Nate was ill I either worked or sat
at his bedside, and if I wasn’t there then my mum was.  She was brilliant,
and