It was two years after she died, she had been five years older than him, but still barely past forty. Cancer had made Hank a widower and a single parent. Mary had left him with two young girls, a set of beautiful six-year-old twins, Nina and Tina. Each day they reminded him of Mary, and he loved them for it. Never since their mothers death had Hank thought of dating again, despite the offerings he had gotten.
Hank was by thirty-seven already a multi-millionaire, heading the company that sold sold his inventions. Not great inventions, just the crap you can only order over the telephone. More than that, he was handsome, standing tall with an athletes defined muscles. He had whole drawers filled with phone numbers, hastily written on a napkin, business cards and a few nude photos. Actually, it was Mary who had started this collection. It made her feel good about herself to know what a catch she had made. After her death, the numbers simply exploded in numbers.
Hank never read the numbers, but he took them home to Mary's collection anyway. He had enough in his love for his girls, being with them constantly, despite having a nanny for them. Hank had long since given up on long hours in the office, and now after the girls had started in school, he restricted himself to school hours and business dinners after the twins bedtime.
It was a Saturday morning in the beginning of summer when the house next door changed residents. Out had moved an elderly couple and in moved a family, with children and teenagers. Six people in all. It wasn't a big house for six people. Most of the houses in this neighbourhood were affordable. Making Hanks mansion seem quite out of place.
*
"Who lives in the palace there, dad?" Anna asked as she stood at her new home for the first time.
Bill turned his head to their new neighbour. "I don't really know. I think the estate agent mentioned him having to do with TV."
"No Honey," his wife, Sara, corrected, "he owns a company, selling kitchen-supplies."
"It must pay very good, that house is ten times bigger than ours."
"Just be glad we can finally afford a house at all, your mum and me have worked hard to get us out of that apartment."
"I know. I would have liked my own room though, I am eighteen now, you know."
"At least you only have to share with Beth now." Sara said, dragging a box into the house.
It was true, it really was a lot better than that concrete box, Anna thought. And Beth was fourteen, old enough to talk to. Unlike ten-year-old Carla and Debbie who was only seven.
Hank saw the newcomers as he pulled into his driveway. He parked his car and went to meet them.
"Welcome to the neighbourhood," he said reaching out for Bill's Hand, "I'm Hank."
"Thanks, I'm Bill." Anna's dad was a bit surprised over the openness of the guy with the mansion. "And this is my wife, Sara."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both. And your children?" Hank enquired as he warmly shook Sara's hand.
Anna stood in the background, gazing upon the man from next door. *Oh my God! What a man.* She just stood there, falling in love, as Hank befriended her parents.
"We've got four here: Anna, Beth, Carla and Debbie." Sara said, pointing to the girls.
"I've got two myself, Nina and Tina, around Debbie's age"
Anna felt a little disappointed, believing him to be married. *Divorced!* The hopeful thought struck her mind. "So you've got twins, you and your wife must be proud!" Anna said forcing herself into the adult conversation.
Hank's voice saddened. "Yes, they are twins. And we were proud of them, but my wife passed away two years ago."
"I'm so sorry!" It came instinctively from Anna's mother.
The revelation put a bit of damper on the conversation, but Hank did invite the family to dinner that night.
*
The dinner invitation was very welcome, since Anna's family had no functioning kitchen that first day. It really was a nice dinner, Hank's abilities in the kitchen were good and friendships started between both the oldest and the youngest. Anna had taken a seat next to Hank and tried to fit in with the adults. With her parents there, she had to be a little more careful with her questions than she would have liked, but it became clear that Hank was very available. Anna couldn't stop herself from imagining herself with Hank, she had never been with a man before, but she sat there thinking of how to get into his bed.
Hank saw Anna more like a girl than a young woman. Sure, he felt her ignoring her parents over him. He admired her beauty and took in her lovely smell, but never allowed himself to think of her in a sexual way. "So, Anna, have you got anything planned for the summer?"
"No, not really. I might look for a job though."
"Well, if you are interested, my nanny has asked for a vacation and..."
"Yes! I'll do it." It shot out of Anna.
"Wow, easy now. It is only for a week at the end of July. It might interfere with any other jobs you take."
"No matter. I wasn't planning on working that much anyway. And I adore those little girls."
"Great then, I don't suppose you were going on holiday, having just moved?" Hank said, talking mostly to Anna's parents.
"No no, both Sara and me have work all summer, so if Anna and Beth can manage to look after two more children, they are yours." Bill said, dragging Beth into the deal. Anna felt like strangling her father.
