Stupid Cupid: What If..., #1

By J. Haney and S.I. Hayes

Life comes at you when you least expect it… Katie Belle Wilson is a single mom. At twenty-six, she's busting her hump to get her master's in Early Childhood Education. Her pet project, Cupid Is Calling was supposed to help her study people and how letter writing could connect them. Little did she know she was to become a participant and perhaps find the one thing she's always craved but never gained... Love. What if a driven single mom lets a sweet and caring widower into her world? Rest assured it's nothing short of Bee-u-tiful.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deviant Darlings Publications
• Release date: Oct 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223046561

Book preview

Katie Belle - 1

I’m late, I’m late, dear Lord, someone save me. I’m really late for my own event. UGH! I got dressed once, but then Emric's formula didn’t sit well on her tummy, so I had to do a quick wipe down and change. Dad was ready, so he changed Emric and made sure to pack extra everything into her diaper bag. This is what the mother of an almost five-month-old life looks like. This mother is also working toward her Masters for teaching. I work with second graders throughout the week, and I work in the post office for Dad on the weekends. Which comes in handy. For my masters, I also have to do a project. My decision was to bring letter-writing back again and maybe make a friend along the way.

Katie Belle, we need to get going, Dad shouts up the stairs.

Yeah, I’m coming. Just need to get these heels on.

I’m dressed in a burgundy off the shoulder high low dress and black four-inch heels that make me look like I have long luscious legs when I don’t. I’m coming down the stairs, putting them on with one hand while juggling my phone and tablet in the other. Praying my klutzy ass doesn’t just fall and break my neck. Of course, that would solve my fear of public speaking. Dad has Emric in her carrier, and they are out the door. Locking up, I watch him get her into the truck, as I pull a shawl over my shoulders.

It takes us fifteen minutes just to get to the high school where tonight's event is taking place. I park, leaving dad to grab Emric, and I running into the school head for the gym. I’m sure I look real classy. I skid to a stop when I see some of my kids. A brisk walk not running. This is what I tell my second graders every day.

I grab the mic waiting for me, so I can introduce myself and explain how everything will be working.

Hey, everyone. I swallow. " I hope you all had a very merry Christmas. I know I’ve got you out the day after Christmas, but what else did you have planned besides eating leftovers and bingeing a new show? Anyhow, my name is Katie Wilson, I teach second grade at Great Elk Valley Elementary, and I handle the post office on the weekends. I know this is something new for everyone here as well as those from Mitchem’s, Pleasant Valley and Chesapeake. Today I say it’s time to bring back the art of writing, which is exactly why everyone is here. Cupid Is Calling will bring different things for everyone. Some of you may meet your best friend, some of you may even already know the person you are writing and not know it. I do understand some of you are just here because your kids wanted to join. I know we made it a fun thing for my second-grade class. It’s going to help them with their writing as well as spelling and reading. What is better than that, right? I promise you will be matched with someone in your age bracket. That means someone that is in their thirties won’t get a child. Everyone has a number, but only three of us know who you really are. The three of us that know really don’t know anything, or do we? Tomorrow half of everyone here will get an email letting them know their writing partner's pen name, and that’s it. That is the only name that should be used. I’m sure that’s enough for now, I know everyone is restless, and the kids are begging for food. Eat, enjoy, and have a little fun."

I let out a breath and put the mic down and go in search of my dad. I find him with Missus Hamden. Her husband passed away about a year or so ago. She runs the local diner. Her children talked her into signing up. The way she and dad are hitting it off, maybe I should pair them together. I pull out my tablet and link their names to one another with a question mark beside it.

You pairing um off already? I hear a female voice followed by a baby giggle. Turning, I see Tia Williams, or rather Ritchards as of about six months ago. I used to babysit her, now, she’s got babies of her own.

Well, yeah. I’ve got to send out an email either tonight or first thing in the morning. Anyone, you notice that should be paired yet? I say, tickling Hunter.

I was thinkin’ Norm the butcher and Addy the baker because it would be funny. They’ve been playing at it for like four years, but he’s too shy to ask her out.

I think they’d be perfect. Did you all ever talk Noah into signing up? I don’t remember seeing his name?

Eh, he’s a stick in the mud. Would rather just work and go hunting on the weekend. Says he doesn’t have the time. I think it’s been so long since he’s used a pen and paper he can't sign his own name! Tia chuckles.

What’s the chirping over here? Lucas, Tia’s new hubby, and father to their twins asks holding their daughter Hayden.

We’re just talking about a few pairings and why your dad didn’t sign up. I know Jeremy and Mark were hoping he would.

I think he was afraid he’d get paired with some old biddy and be forced to clean gutters for the season out of guilt. Missus Cleary got him last fall on a cookie technicality. She baked, he accepted and boom! He’s plowing her driveway this season. Lucas pretends to drive the truck.

Now you know she has nobody else. Seems like it's a fair trade-off to me. Cookies for plowing?

Lucas and Tia look at me like I’ve grown a second head. Um... Tia giggles, reminding me that she is only seventeen.

Don’t act all shy now, you’ve got those two. If you’re old enough to have babies, you’re old enough to hear everything else.

What else? Jeremy, one of Lucas’ younger brothers, bounces into the conversation. He also happens to be one of my second graders and has a twin brother Mark.

Now, how is that any of your business? Besides, are you supposed to interrupt when adults are talking? Same rules from the classroom apply here.

Sorry, Miss Wilson. He sing songs. Dad wanted to go get dinner at Ray-Ray’s Rib Shack. You guys coming or what? He looks at his brother and Tia.

It’s hardly even started, and there’s food here. Tia pouts, Lucas, I don’t want to go.

He’s our ride. Remember we carpooled because of the ice over they were predicting?

Poo. Tia looks at me. I guess we gotta go.

Well- I mean, if I take Hunter and Hayden, do you think you could bring Tia home, Miss Wilson?

That’s stupid. Miss Wilson lives the other way. Jeremy snorts. Miss Wilson, go tell dad we hafta stay, so you can pair us up! He demands.

I can’t tell your dad what to do, Jeremy. I understand if you have to go. I’ll just see if I can leave Emric with dad while I walk around. Tonight is going to be a pain in my neck.

Baby on hip Tia half-smiles, I’ll see you in the morning, and you can give me all the tasty tidbits.

Yeah, probably not. Dad will be there. We won’t be talking pairings at all. Now get out of here so I can get this going and get home. With a wave from Tai, Lucas, and Jeremy, they're gone, and I’m left to pair everyone off. I hate that I don’t have help, but hey, that’s life, right? I can’t expect someone else to help with the project.

It’s fifteen till eleven when I’ve finally got everyone paired off, I think. I need to double-check it tomorrow. There are very few people left besides myself and my dad. All the kids have long gone home with their families. I finally collect dad and Emric, so we can head home. Apparently, they didn’t have a very good night. It seems I’m taking Emric to the doctor tomorrow instead of working. Thankfully I can do what I need to do mobile.

Noah - 2

The kids are chattering in the booth, as I figure out where I know Katie Wilson from. Her father has got to be Ric Wilson, the postman. If that’s the case, I’ve known that girl, er-um woman since she was born. I remember when Mister Wilson started showing her around, I was just about eight at the time. Katie and I didn’t exactly cross paths, much, but I remember her teen years vividly. Cruising around Main Street in her dad’s sixty-seven ragtop, her lipstick the same shade of cherry apple red. Like tonight. It stirred something in me that hasn’t stirred in well, a while. It’s why I needed to get out of there, no matter how bad Mark and Jeremy wanted me to meet her. Hell, even Lucas and Tia gave me shit for bailing. Can't a man want something to eat more substantial than cookies and potluck? I defend as the rack of barbeque baby back ribs is set before me.

It was just-we were supposed to help, Mark whines, the pitch getting my grandbabies going. Heh, grandbabies. This is what happens when you’re a baby having babies. Chloe and I got pregnant senior year and were subsequently married that summer. We were happy, mostly. I mean we fought but what young couple doesn’t? When Lucas was ten, we got pregnant again. When we found out it was twins, we were over the moon. Boys, even better, but then-

DAD! Lucas’ hollering has me out of my head and my melancholy thoughts.

What? I flinch as though he’s hit me.

The diaper bags? Did you grab them, or did you leave them in the car?

For fuck's sake, do I have to do everything for you? I toss my keys at him. Apparently, they are in the car. I shake my head, seeing a few others from tonight’s shindig coming into the shack. Guess they didn’t want potluck either. I snicker.

Hey, you know Katie worked really hard on all that, you should give her some credit. Tia scolds me, and I look at her, making her eyes drop. I am the adult here. Sorry, just saying.

Yeah, I don’t doubt she did it all by herself, what kind of school function leaves one teacher to do it all?

One that isn’t a school program, Lucas mumbles, walking away with my keys and the twins in their carriers.

Wait, what? I ask as Tia follows him to help.

Sorry, dad gotta go when they do. She smirks, waving at me as they head for the doors. Leaving me with the boys.

I look at them, as they work on their barbecue. What, or whose idea was this whole Cupid thing?

Miss Wilson’s, Mark replies, chomping on the bite he just put into his mouth.

"Boy, close the mouth, I don’t like to see food."

Yes, you do. You eat seafood all the time. He looks at me like I have two heads.

Dad, Miss Wilson, is still in school. She needed it for a project. We’re doing a project based on her project. Jeremy comes in.

Uh-huh, so we or rather you all are her guinea pigs? Glad I stayed out of this one. I mean, I’m all for your extracurriculars, but there has to be a line someplace.

She’s grading us on our letters. She made it part of our classwork each week. Jeremy has sloppy writing, but she says my grammar isn’t too good.

She only says that, so you’ll do better. You suck up to her every day. Teacher’s pet.

Hey, now, no mudslinging. Mark, you’d do well to improve your grammar and Jeremy, maybe if you were nicer to her. The other members of the elementary staff you’d see less time after class and far more time in recess. I know my sons, and although they may look alike, they are different as the day is long. Mark is sweet, reserved, and polite, were as Jeremy couldn’t keep his mouth shut if you paid him. His mom was like that, outspoken and free-spirited.

I doubt it. That woman hates me. I don’t even get to sit with the rest of the kids anymore. Then I get in trouble for talking to her. I can either talk to her or everyone else. Which would be better?

Neither you idiot. You aren’t there to socialize. You’re there to learn, duh!

At least I’m not kissing her butt or making googly eyes at her all day long.

Hey! C’mon, what did I just say about the mud? Mark, don’t call your brother an idiot, Jeremy don’t talk so damn much and butt-kissing? No butt kissing!

If I may?

I turn my head, seeing Miss Ashley, she was Mark and Jeremy’s first-grade teacher. Honestly, she had the most control of Jeremy I’ve ever seen. "Miss Ashley? I say, standing slightly.

Hello, Noah, boys. Now why pray tell are you driving your dear old dad up the wall?

Mark looks down at his food and completely ignores her, and Jeremy smiles. "Mark’s been kissing Miss Wilson’s butt. He’s in love with her. Says he’s going to marry her one day."

Awe, well, love is no laughing matter. It’s a serious business and shouldn’t be teased. How would you like being teased for something you enjoy or like? It wouldn’t feel good, would it, Jeremy?

I should probably butt in, but I’m at a loss with them. The older they get, the more rambunctious, and the more I think they need a female to balance out their male energies. It was why I allowed Tia into the house. Well, that and her parents kicked her out when they found out about the pregnancy.

I wouldn’t cry about it. He scoffs.

But you have. Or do you forget last year when Bobby Gordon teased you for liking Hawkeye over all the other Avengers? You came to me very upset that afternoon because Mark was home, sick, and you had no one else to talk to.

That’s when I was six. I’m seven now, and don’t cry.

I’ve tried to instill in them that it’s okay to show your feelings, that there’s no shame in tears, but they got other ideas in their little pea brains, Miss Ashley.

Oh, they’ll learn, give it a little more time, I’m sure that this one will catch up when it comes to the girls. She thumbs toward Jeremy. And that one well, best to just be there when the crush settles.

Thank you.

"Not sure I helped as much as I hoped to, but if you ever need anything, I am in the book." Miss Ashley smiles before taking her to take out and leaving us.

Just as she pops through the door, in comes, Lucas. He sits alone, no wife, no kids. Hey, was that Miss Ashley? Damn, she’s looking fine as hell. Dad, you gotta deal with that.

Huh?

She couldn't have been throwing it at you any harder.

You’re insane. She was helping me deal with these two bozos.

Yeah? I bet.

Where’s Tia?

Oh, she’s in the car. We may have had a fight.

"Again? What was it this time?"

Apparently, I don’t swaddle Hunter right, so I’m an asshole.

I shake my head. These kids are gonna be the death of me, and I’m only thirty-five.

Katie Belle - 3

Doctors, sick kid, letters coming and going in the first week of Cupid is Calling. Thankfully school hasn’t started back yet because I don’t think I could handle that on top of Emric, and now dad is sick. Usually, I’d bring her to the post office with me, but I couldn’t today. I have a monitor so that I can watch and hear Emric at all times, and dad can rest. When she hollers, I run over and take care of what she needs. She’s yet to keep her formula down. The doctor told she me she has the flu and some kind of stomach bug. How she picked up either is beyond me. Nobody touches her.

Today’s New Year’s Eve, Tia, and Lucas have their twins here, and they’re helping me add addresses to letters and sorting them. They’ve been amazing this week with Emric not feeling well. Outside I decide that instead of walking down the steps and around the house, to hop the porch banister. Only this time landing on my ass.

Dear Lord, can I just get a break?I cry.

I hear a slight chuckle. I think that’s what you’re fixing for if you keep that up. Somebody ought to put in another set of steps for ya, or at least get you a step ladder for what it’s worth. I look up to the voice and see a tall blonde haired man with the bluest eyes. From his crooked smile, I know instantly who he is, I get that smile doubly daily at school.

Noah Ritchards, I say, getting up and dusting my ass off. I’ve been hopping that banister nearly my entire life. No sense in stopping now.

Much like the rest of us, you aren’t as young as you used to be. You okay? You want a towel or something? Pretty sure I got a few in the truck.

I’m okay, thanks for asking. As for my age and not being young. My limbs are still workin’, and until they aren’t- well when that day comes, we’ll just have to see. I catch myself yawning. Sorry, was there something you needed help with?

No, just waiting on-

Hi, Miss Wilson! Mark calls out my name from the front of the post office, Jeremy, right behind him. We just dropped off our letters!

Hi, boys! Oh really? Were they neat and the spelling correct?

I looked them over, they really do need to work on their penmanship, maybe they need more homework? He yells so they can hear.

Moans and mock laughter billow toward us. We’re starting cursive writing once we go back. They’ve gotten off lucky so far. I say to Noah then turn my attention back to the boys. How’s your winter reading coming?

They look at each other than the ground.

The answer isn’t down there, boys. Noah scolds. You told me you didn’t have anything over the break.

Did you take your books home? Your reading group had The Chronicles of Narnia, right?

Jeremy nods, Mark shrugs.

Those aren’t answers. Noah looks at me. I’m sorry, I’ll be sure to get to the bottom of this when we get home. They’ll have the rest of the week to get through it since they just lost their midnight privileges.

The twins whimper, but Noah silences them.

You should have done your work, you know my motto, work hard play harder. You boys have been slacking, so no fun. Tonight it’s the books for you.

Yes, dad. They answer begrudgingly, getting into the car. Mark pops his head out.

Miss Wilson? Are you coming to the party tonight? Everybody is gonna be there.

No, Mark, I won’t be. My dad and baby are really sick. I’ve got to stay here and take care of them so that way they can be better by the time we go back to school.

He drops his shoulders in disappointment. Okay...

Well, your presence will surely be missed, and your father too, of course. His limericks are always a hoot.

"Thanks for the invitation. I know dad really wanted to go, but he’s not been out of bed in two days. Let me grab the books for the boys. Thankfully I bought extras. I’ve got workbooks for handwriting if you want that too. I know they both need to work on it. Mark thinks he’s doing okay,