AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Really, no apologies are needed from you, Lynn.” Jillian sent silent gratitude to Zane. “But like Zane said, I do need to protect my private home life from my work.”
“As a career politician’s wife, I assure you I completely understand.”
The trio entered the kitchen, and Casey looked up from his coloring.
Jillian carried a plate heaped with warm, fragrant cookies from the counter to the table. “Would you like coffee, Lynn?”
“Yes, please.” The woman sat across from the little boy. “Hello, Casey, what are you drawing there?”
“Flowers. Aunt Jelly likes flowers.” The child looked down at his picture. “So did my mommy.”
“I remember,” Lynn said gently. “But you know what? I think there are a lot of flowers in Heaven.”
“Casey,” Jillian asked. “Do you want juice or milk with your cookie?”
Casey set his orange crayon on the table. “I don’t want anything, Aunt Jelly.”
“What?” Jillian frowned. “What have you done with Casey, you droid?”
The child didn’t crack a smile. “I kinda got a headache.”
She went to him and knelt to his level, felt his forehead. “No fever. Is it the pinchy sort of headache or the stuffy sort?”
“Both sorts.”
“Okay, baby, it’s probably your allergies flaring up.” She glanced hopefully at Zane. “Lynn and I really have a ton to do. Could you take him upstairs and give him a teaspoon of his medicine? It’s in my upper bathroom cabinet, the measuring cup is on the cap. And maybe … then … just read to him or something for a short while? He’ll conk out fairly quickly.”
“All right.” After all, Jillian would be within immediate hailing range if Zane derailed.
Upstairs, he dispensed the purple liquid and tucked the listless child into bed. “Do you want me to read you a story?”
“Yes, please.”
“Which one?”
“I don’t care. You pick.”
Zane perused numerous titles lined up on the pint-sized bookcase. “Ferdinand the Bull.Sounds interesting.” He settled on the edge of Casey’s mattress and opened the book.
“Zane?” Solemn brown eyes caught, held his. “You’re a secret agent and everything. Does that mean you pertect good people from bad people?”
“Yes, I protect people and lock up the bad guys.”
“So …” Small teeth worried at the boy’s lower lip. “If someone wanted to hurt Aunt Jelly, or Poppy, or Miss Loucinda, you’d pertect them, right?”
His gut tightened. The kid was sharp. He must’ve seen or overheard more at the center than they’d thought and surmised more than they realized. “A hundred percent.” He rubbed Casey’s arm reassuringly. “If anyone tried to hurt any of you, I’ddefinitelyprotect you all.”
“You got a big gun.” Casey gulped. “If somebody tried to hurt us, you’d shoot ‘em?”
Whoa.Zane considered the innocent child staring at him with complete faith. Finally, he nodded. “I don’t like to shoot bad guys. But, yes, if I had to in order to stop them, I would.”
“What about … what about when you aren’t here anymore?”
The solar plexus punch knocked the wind out of him. “Casey, I promise, I will do everything in my power to make sure you’re safe—whether I’m around or not. Why are you worried about this? Did you see or hear something that upset you?”
Casey’s lids fluttered down. “I think I just want my story now.” His low voice was drowsy. “Ferdinand doesn’t like to fight. He only likes to smell the flowers.”
By the time Zane finished the book, Casey was out like the proverbial light.
