"Now what?" Jackson demanded.

I flipped on a flashlight.

"What happened?" Jackson asked.

"The power went out."

"I know that!" he snapped.

"Probably means the tornado is bearing down and ripping up the wires," I said.

"Close to us?" he asked in a worried voice.

"Brace yourself. We're probably going to die."

"I don't hear anything."

"You never do when it's right on top of you."

"Is it that close? Jesus! You better get in the tub!"

"Oh, relax. I'm kidding," I said. "Power line probably fell down somewhere. Who knows? The power will be back on in a second. You're a big old sissy, aren't you?"

"We don't have tornadoes where I come from."

"You'll get used to them."

"I don't think so."

Noah signed, He's really scared! He's really scared!

I smiled.

"By the way, maybe you could do some babysitting for me once in a while," I suggested. "If I'm going to put out, I want something in return."

"Something in return," Jackson repeated.

"Something of value," I said. "It's only fair."

"I didn't hear you complaining."

"My mouth was full," I said.

Jackson laughed.

Noah looked up at him, smiled.

Jackson kissed his hair, patted him on the head.

"Don't pat him on the head," I said. "He's not a pony!"

"I'm sorry," Jackson said, chastened.

"I'm kidding. Can't you tell when I'm kidding?"

"You are so going to pay," he said.

"I certainly hope so," I replied sweetly.

"How long does this d.a.m.ned tornado thing go on?"

"Don't curse in front of the children, dear."

Distant thunder sounded in the background.

"You heard about Smithville?" I asked.

"No," he said.

"A few years ago a tornado went through here, took just about all of Smithville with it. Killed about thirty people. That's about forty-five minutes down the road, a little too close to home. Took out one hundred and forty-nine of their one hundred-fifty houses and businesses."

By the light of the flashlight, we listened to the NOAA Weather Radio announcer explaining that a tornado had touched down in the Plantersville area, just to our east. Quarter-size hail was reported. A tornado warning was in effect for Lee County and the surrounding counties. Tornado was moving in an easterly direction.

The lights suddenly came back on.

I sat on the edge of the tub, looking at Jackson.

"G.o.d, I want to kiss you," I whispered.

"Is there something stopping you?"

I leaned over and kissed him briefly and somewhat chastely on the lips. Then I kissed Noah on the cheek.

Noah giggled, wiping his cheek as if I'd given him cooties.

"His birthday is coming up soon," I said. "How do you feel about kids' birthday parties?"

"Love them," he said with a grin.

"And meeting the family....?"

"Bring it on!"

"You're a brave man. A bunch of rednecks in a truck might show up."

"Really?"

"Shotguns and everything."

"Really?"

"You're a gullible man, aren't you?"

About ten minutes later, the warning expired.

We emerged from the bathroom and went to my room.

Noah crawled into my bed.

"He won't sleep by himself after one of these," I explained. "He gets freaked out because he can't hear the warning. We're going to have to call it a night, although there's something I really need to finish."

"I'd like to stay," Jackson said simply. "I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep either."

He stripped down to his shorts and got into bed on the other side of Noah.

I frowned slightly.

Noah smiled.

I crawled into bed.

Noah lay between us, smiling. I held his hand and it took him about three minutes to fall back to sleep.

"I think you're a good influence on him," I whispered.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"I realize now that when you said you were a package deal, you weren't kidding."

I arched my eyebrows.

"I don't mean that in a bad way," he said. "But you're a father. You've got this little person to take care of."

"That's how it works."

"I think it's sweet."

"You could be the evil stepfather and plot to get rid of the son and heir," I said.

"Or I could be the nice stepfather and support you in your paternal duties."

"How do you feel about changing diapers?"

"I've seen worse."

"You've got to do an oil change once every five thousand miles. He hates that."

"I don't doubt it."

"I tell him it's only four quarts of oil, for Chrissakes. Drink it and stop whining!"

"You make me laugh," he said.

"You make me h.o.r.n.y," I replied.

"That's what I like about you, you're so honest. Weren't we in the middle of something?"

There was a smile in his eyes.

"You're a naughty boy," I said.

28) You're late .

DID YOU YOU have fun? have fun? Noah asked, a smile in his eyes, while I hurriedly fixed a cup of coffee on Monday morning and prepared to go to work. I nodded, grinned. Noah asked, a smile in his eyes, while I hurriedly fixed a cup of coffee on Monday morning and prepared to go to work. I nodded, grinned.

Is J. your boyfriend now?

I think so. Did you eat? I asked. I asked.

He nodded.

Do you know how amazing you are?

He grinned happily.

You've got your stuff ready to go to Mrs. H.?

He nodded.

I showered, dressed, and we were quickly out the door and walking down the street, hand in hand, to Mrs. Humphries' house.

I was twenty minutes late and Mr. Owen chewed me out like a dog chewing a bone, but nothing was going to ruin my day, not even that mangy b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

"You're late!" he moaned as I hurried to the check stands.

Mr. Owen was taller lying down than he was standing up. He was so fat he could hardly do more than waddle from one check stand to the next. There was no telling how many boxes of Velveeta cheese he'd eaten to get so big.

"Sorry, Mr. Owen," I said, punching in my sign-on numbers.

"Should I even ask why?"

"It was Noah... we had a problem."

"Yeah. That's what you said the last time. You were due here twenty minutes ago."