I’ve been raising my twin nephews on my own since they were two years old and my sister died. She got pregnant by some deadbeat who signed his rights away, so I was helping her and there for them from the beginning. She was still pretty young when she had them, and having babies didn’t slow her down. She would drop them at my place and take off for the weekend without so much as a backward glance. I loved her, but she wasn’t the best mom and she lived a reckless life. She was driving home drunk and on god knows what when she drove her car off the road. The doctors said she died instantly, and I guess I have that to be thankful for. But as awful as it sounds, I’m just glad she didn’t hurt anyone else. She’d already done enough damage to the people around her, but I hate she never took the chance to turn her life around.
It’s been years and I’ve learned to let go of what ifs and appreciate the life I’ve had. I got the best of her in those boys and hearing them call me “Dad” never gets old.
“Only thirty-four more days,” Elijah says, and Owen nods and smiles.
“I don’t know why you’re so excited to turn eighteen,” I say as we pull up in the parking lot and I get out of the truck. “It’s not like you’re going anywhere.”
“Ha ha, Dad.” Owen rolls his eyes as he grabs the other tool box and we get out.
I brought them with me tonight because I don’t like to leave them home alone, and it’s good for them to learn how to handle stuff like this. Although to be fair the boys have been on my job sites since they could walk and probably know better than me how to fix something.
“Legally we’ll be able to do whatever we want.” Elijah is the mischievous one and he knows I’ve got my eyes on him.
“Boy, you better think again if you’re betting the law is on your side.” I hear Owen laugh behind me. “Dad law is the only thing you need to worry about.”
“Elijah thinks if he’s eighteen Corinne Marks will suck his dick.” Owen ducks out of the way as Elijah swings the tool box at him.
“What?” I ask as I stop walking and turn around to face the two of them.
“She likes college guys.” Elijah shrugs and I sigh.
I’m going to have to have another talk with them again tonight. I swear to god I never realized how horny boys are, but it’s been so long since I was one that maybe I’ve just forgotten. It’s not like my dick gets any attention these days, so maybe it’s just quit working. Between my long days and nights and trying to raise the two of them, I have no time for my own damn hand, let alone a woman.
I’ll be forty-one next month just after the twins’ birthday and I’m sad they’re growing up so fast. Some days I feel like it’s all going by so fast and I wish I could have had them as babies longer. I even wonder what it would have been like to have a girl, but that part of my life is over now and I need to think about what I’m going to do with all my time when they go to college.
“Let’s get this job done and then we can talk about exactly what you can’t do to a girl younger than you when you’re eighteen,” I say as I check my phone for the apartment number and walk up the flight of stairs.
“I told you he’d say that,” Owen whispers to Elijah loud enough for me to hear.
I love those boys, but if they don’t get their dicks under control I’m going to put them in a monastery until they can calm down.
“Time to work,” I say when we get to the door and I turn back to stare at both of them.
“Yes, sir,” they say at the same time and straighten up. I give them a hard time but they really are good kids.
I turn back around, knock on the door, and sling my toolbelt over my shoulder. All I know about the call is there’s a sink leaking but I don’t know why this couldn’t wait until the morning. Just when I raise my fist to knock again the door comes flying open and a young woman is standing there soaking wet.
Her dark green eyes are looking at me and pleading for help. From the moment I see her, all I want to do is make whatever the problem is go away. The only other time I’ve felt this protective was with my boys and it could be because she’s probably their age.