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He shot her a delighted grin. “Awesome.”
She grinned back. “It really is.”
“Your hair is really short in the picture.”
“It’s braided and pinned up under my helmet. I wear it up when I’m working or skating. I should put it up now, in fact.” She began braiding it. “Keeps people from yanking it.”
Because that was a trigger she avoided at all costs.
“Have you ever hip-checked someone into the boards?”
“We don’t have boards like in hockey, but yeah, I have hip-checked many a player.”
“What’s your roller derby name? I know that you all have special names.”
“I’m Val-Killer-Rie.”
“Like Valkyrie?”
“Exactly.”
“So you were a Marine, you’re super tall, you’ve got a gun, and you play roller derby.” He drew a breath, his chest expanding. “I feel better now.”
She couldn’t hold back her smile as she pinned her long braid to her head. “I’m glad to hear that. I’ve got bona fides, after all.”
Roller derby had also been key to saving her sanity long before she’d ever heard of Sixth Day. Back then, she’d needed an outlet for her anxiety and aggression, and the ladies had embraced her with open arms. “Maybe, when it’s safe, you can come to a game.”
His eyes grew wide behind his glasses. “Yes, please!” Then he picked up the one photo she didn’t want to have to explain. Don’t ask. Please don’t ask.
She held her breath, waiting, then exhaled when he set the photo down and moved to her collection of books. She was off the hook for now. She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or not. After all, the photo involved him, in a way.
A sound on her right had her turning in time to see Burke and Cardozo step into the open doorway. “Everything settled?” she asked them.
Elijah turned from the books. “She plays roller derby, Dad!”
Cardozo’s smile appeared forced. Poor man was still terrified. She couldn’t blame him. Bad people had put their hands on his son. Any good parent would be terrified.
“I heard,” Cardozo said. “Hey, buddy, will you go with Burke? He’s got a snack in his office. You should eat something, especially after that cupcake.”
And that was another thing Val needed to research. How to provide necessary nourishment to a child with diabetes. If Elijah was seeing a doctor regularly enough that he couldn’t leave the city, his condition had to be severe.
Elijah’s cheeks pinked up, his mouth turning down. He glanced at Val before glaring at his father. “I know, Dad. I already ate something.”
Val wanted to hug the kid. And Cardozo. As hard as dealing with his diabetes must have been for Elijah, it was also a heavy load for his father to carry.
And, while she was in their lives, a load for Val to carry as well.
“I think your father wants to talk to me alone, Elijah,” she said.
“Oh.” Elijah shrugged. “You should have just said so.”
Cardozo gave her an appreciative look. “Yes, I should have.”
Elijah shouldered his backpack and headed out with Burke. “See ya, Val-Killer-Rie.”
“Ask Burke all the questions,” she called after the boy. “He loves to answer questions!”
Burke snorted as he followed Elijah, because of course he didn’t like questions at all.
