Hat Trick

Paul took all three boys outside. He designated each of them an area. He then told them whoever got the most bubbles in their zone got to pick first from the swag he brought home. They all whooped and ran for the bubbles. The foam was quickly melting into piles of soupy bubbles and puddles of apple scented water. Apple scented? Paul waded back into the mess and started swiping the bubbles off the counter and appliances into the floor. He then took the broom and began battling weeping bubbles back into the kitchen area. He didn't think there would be any permanent damage. He still wasn't sure what had happened. He plucked a damp bedazzled iPhone from the counter.

Paul clicked on the air hockey table and laid the phone on the table as it blew air over the phone. He hoped it would dry it out quickly. He glanced at his watch. Micah had been gone about 20 minutes. He wondered if he should go check on her. He would give it another 10 minutes. The boys were still busy hauling bubbles out of the kitchen. He was glad they were staying busy. Idle hands and all that jazz. Deacon came and stood beside him. "Thanks for saving Mike" he said "We like her. She is funny."

"Deac, why didn't you tell me Mike was a girl?" asked Pauly

"Because she said she didn't want people to know it was just her and us. She said it's safer for her to be Mike." answered Deacon.

Miss Micah was smart and pretty. Well, he thought she was pretty. What he could remember from all the foam and confusion. Paul couldn't believe the Wests thought that slip of a girl could manage the triplets. He was sweeping more liquid out the back door. He might need to help her out tonight and fix dinner for all 4 of them at his place. Paul handed his broom to Deacon. "I'm gonna check on Miss Micah." he said "You guys keep going. I'll pick a winner when I get back. Which room is hers?"

"The room attached to ours." said Deacon.

Pauly went to the top of the stairs and passed the boys room. He knocked on the door to her room. "I'm coming" she called. Paul heard her sob. He turned the knob to the door. Micah was sitting in the floor next to the dresser. She was swiping at her face with the batman towel. "I'm coming. I'm sorry about leaving you with the boys."

"Not a problem. They’re cleaning up the bubbles." replied Paul approaching. She looked at him skeptically. "What?" he said sitting down next to her "They’re seeing who can make the biggest pile of bubbles. In order to get first pick of the Pens junk I brought home. It doesn't matter who wins, I have the same stuff for all of them."

"I'm really bad at this" she said picking at the batman towel.

"It's day one and you are outnumbered three to one. Nobody died. The kitchen got a scrubbing. I think it's all okay." said Pauly "But I think we need to let the appliances dry out before we use them. So I will cook dinner at my house for you and the boys."

"You don't have to do that. I was just ordering pizza for dinner. I have to grocery shop tomorrow." she explained "Then I need to learn to cook, clean, and how to take care of 7 year old hellions. I can learn that from Pinterest, right?"

Pauly started laughing. Micah burst out into tears. Oh hell! I didn't mean to make her cry. "Hey, hey, hey! It's not all that bad. I'm not leaving for Minni for a little while. I can help you get your bearings." She just sobbed harder.

"I can't do this" she said.

"Sure you can, the Wests obviously thought so" replied Paul. She started crying harder. Paul scooted closer to her. He wasn't sure what to do so he started talking. "The boys are really pretty awesome. They are a little hyper, but if you keep them busy it's not an issue."

"I lied" she cried "I told them I had experience. I don't. I've baby sat. I have a degree in Elementary Ed. But the longest I've ever kept a kid was 4 hours. I've taught in classrooms of 30 kids. I thought how hard can it be? Day 1 I've flooded the house, let the kids eat junk all day, and they hit an NHL star’s car with a wiffleball!"



"It's probably for the best it was my car. It's leased" he teased "No harm, no foul. They climb the hedges to my house all the time. Even when their parents are here. The flood isn't doing any permanent damage, and I can help you feed them until you learn the basics. The most important thing is they told me they like you. Usually, I hear them plotting how to get rid of the nanny. They think you’re cool. The last nanny they would have let drown in the bubbles."

Micah sniffled. She was sure Pauly was ready to run for Minnesota. She was a hot mess, the house was a wet mess, and the boys were apparently always a mess. Paul got to his feet and held out his hand for Micah. She placed her smaller hand in his and let him pull her to her feet. She weighed a lot less than Pauly thought. He ended up pulling her up against him. They both almost fell until Paul anchored an arm around her waist to steady them. Her hand gripped both of his biceps. "Sorry" stuttered Pauly "I'm used to hockey goons. Not tiny redheads." Micah laughed. Neither one of them attempted to move. "They are being quiet. That's never a good thing." Her icy green eyes widened. She released her grip on his arms and stepped out of his hold. She turned and headed for the door. Paul stood stalk still watching her walk away. All of her red hair was piled up on her head. She changed into a tiny pair of red yoga shorts and a navy t-shirt. He read the back of her shirt. Paul started after her and grabbed her arm. "Are you really going to wear a Hartnell CBJ shirt after I rescued you?" he asked looking down at her.

They were standing on the landing of the stairs. She shrugged. She seemed to always fuck things up around Paul. "I grabbed the first dry shirt." She noticed three small faces peering up the stairs.

"We cleaned all the bubbles" announced Deacon.

"Are you wearing a Blue Jackets shirt?" quizzed Devon

"Turn around and show them" said Paul in her ear "It's going to be mutiny." Micah shivered. She was pretty sure that was due to Paul's proximity and not fear of the terrors below.

"I just grabbed a shirt" she said to the triplets. She came down the stairs and walked past the boys.

"It's a damn Hartnell shirt!" exclaimed Daylon "Make her take it off Pauly! He was a Flyer!!!"

"Daylon" called Paul coming down the stairs "We don't say damn, and I can't force her to change. Even if she does have horrible taste in hockey teams and players."

"But it's Hartnell! Hartnell!" said Daylon throwing his hands in the air "I can't be seen with someone who would cheer for Sideshow Bob."

Paul started laughing. Leave it to Daylon. "It's not that big of a deal" said Micah looking around the kitchen. It seemed to be no worse for the wear.

"Not that big of a deal?!" cried Daylon "They are a rival team, and Hartnell was a Flyer. A Flyer! I guess it's okay for me to wear a Wisconsin shirt." Paul started laughing again.

"Not if you expect me to feed you" said Micah.

"Pauly do something. She doesn't know any better" pled Deacon "What if she wears it to our hockey practice?"

"Leave Mike alone" said Paul coming to stand beside her "I'll do my best to change her mind. But there are some things we can't fix." Paul smiled at her "Come on hellions. I need to judge bubble piles."

"If I win can I give my Pens stuff to Mike?" asked Devon "Maybe she doesn't have any Pens stuff."

Micah shook her head as the 4 boys went outside. Why did she have a feeling she would be seeing those 4 blonde heads together a lot.

She turned on all the ceiling fans and went out the door to find the boys. She arrived in time to hear Paul declare a 3 way tie. The boys all groaned. She laughed. Paul was really great with the boys.

"Okay I'm going over to the house to get the swag. You 3 get your helmets, a ball, and a stick. I'll meet you in the drive way in 5 minutes." he instructed. He turned to Micah "I'll order pizza. Do we need anything else?"

"Not if you don't mind drinking milk or water" she replied.

"Gotcha" said Paul "Beer, wine, and Gatorade. We'll go to the grocery after they are school."

Micah watched him cross the yard. Did Paul Martin just offer to take her grocery shopping? Dear lord. The last thing she needed was to be crushing on a guy who obviously thought her special at best. Why the hell did she have a Hartnell shirt? She knew nothing about hockey. She was a football girl. Question was did she tell Paul it was a walk of shame shirt or did she let him think she was a fan of a rival hockey team? She was would have to ponder that later because she heard a loud ruckus coming from the back patio.

Notes