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“I know. If I die before you, make sure that’s on my tombstone.”
“I can’t with you.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Besides, we already know you’re indestructible.”
It’s what he said after being hit in a crosswalk by a drunk driver. He shattered his leg, broke his pelvis and his wrist. He’d been relieved that Harper had gone home early that night to watch a movie with Tom and wasn’t there to witness him go airborne.
She’d rushed to the hospital as soon as she’d found out. He hated to see the tears and fear in her eyes. He had needed to assure her he was okay. It was when the indestructible Milo was born into existence. It made her smile, and a smile he could handle. Tears, he couldn’t.
He lifted his arm and flexed.
“Go away.”
With a laugh, he tapped the Jeep and headed to his car. He spun back to Harper, finger in air. “Don’t forget to save me a jelly donut.”
“I won’t,” she said.
He gave a salute and hopped in his car. He had twenty minutes to get Ms. Wheeler to the senior center. He put his sunglasses on and headed out.
It made more sense to pick up Tom before Ms. Wheeler, and if Tom was already in the car, Ms. Wheeler couldn’t complain about the time.
He pulled up to the Flynn residence, and before he could get out to knock, Tom hurried out of the house, hands in the air and an enormous smile on his face.
“Milo!” He had on his green McConnell Market button-down shirt with his WWE t-shirt poking out the top. His brown hair was combed over to the side, and his smile was as pure and joyous as usual. Tom had down syndrome and the kindest heart of any person Milo had ever known.
“Hey buddy.” Milo pointed to the t-shirt and gave a thumbs up. “Nice t-shirt.”
“I bought it with my first paycheck!”
“Look at you. A working man now.” Tom nodded enthusiastically, and Milo hitched a hand over his shoulder. “Hop in.” If he didn’t get a move on, Ms. Wheeler would not be happy.
Tom got in the passenger seat, and Milo waited for him to click his seatbelt into place before pulling away from the curb. “How’d your game go last night? Beat that level you were stuck on?”
“Yup, I killed the zombie and got in the next room.”
“My man.” Milo held his hand out palm up, and Tom slapped it with a smile. “I just have to pick up Ms. Wheeler and drop her off, and we’ll get you to work with plenty of time to spare. Sound good?”
Tom nodded, already on his cell phone, playing another game.
“You’re not playing when you’re on the job, right?” Milo asked.
“No. It’s against the rules.”
“That’s right.” Milo held his hand out to Tom again, and Tom gave it a good smack.
A couple minutes later they pulled up to Ms. Wheeler’s house. She was already outside, sitting on her porch chair, a big handbag on her lap, scowl on her face. Above blue eyes, her white hair was styled into a bob
Milo got out of the car and jogged over to help her, but she was already halfway down the lawn. Milo held his arm out to her, and she linked her own with his. She moved as fast as an eighty-three-year-old woman could move, which was surprisingly fast.
“I’m going to be late,” she announced.
“You have thirty minutes before the class starts. You’ll have plenty of time.”
“Nora is always fifteen minutes early. If she beats me there, she’ll take all the best supplies.”
“I’m pretty sure all the supplies are the same.”
“That’s what they want you to think, but I know.” There’d be no winning this argument, so Milo didn’t argue. He opened the back door and helped her in.
“You have the honor to be sharing a ride with none other than Tom Flynn.”
