Page 9 of Waggs

“Oh, you have no idea. For small people they can take over an entire house.”

“I believe it. How was Willow?”

Mitch frowned. “She called out for you a few times, but when I went in, she was asleep but fitful.”

“It was probably Aaron she called for.” Waggs hated to think of her so poorly, but at least she was getting the care she needed here.

“Yeah, I heard Aaron, but I also heard Aiden, too. It sounds like this is way more complex than it first seems, am I right?” Mitch clapped him on the shoulder.

Waggs frowned, hating that he was pleased she’d called out for him. “It shouldn’t be.”

“A life worth living is always complex, man.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Waggs shook off the thought. “You staying for coffee?”

“Nah, Autumn has some jobs for me in the garden, but if you want to bring AJ out later, we can kick a ball about with him.”

“Yeah, sounds good. Let me get him fed, and we’ll see you in a bit.”

He saw Mitch out and turned to see AJ had already ripped open the packaging of the costume and was wearing it while he did some colouring. He was a good kid, and Waggs regretted not getting to know his nephew sooner. It was something he was going to correct now he had the chance.

“Want some lunch?”

AJ didn’t look up but nodded.

“What would you like?”

AJ stopped what he was doing and cocked his head as if deep in thought, rolling his bottom lip between his teeth like he used to do as a boy. “Do you have apple and cucumber and cheese?”

“I sure do.”

“Okay, I want that and some cheese crackers, please.”

“Coming right up.”

Waggs made the food and sorted a sandwich for himself and delivered it to AJ. They ate in comfortable silence with AJ watching him closely. He supposed it was usual for someone new to pique a child’s interest. “Everything okay, AJ?”

“Is Mommy going to die, like Daddy did?”

Waggs reached over for his nephew’s hand. “No, AJ, that’s not going to happen. I’ll make sure you and your mom are safe. You don’t have to worry about any of that, you hear?”

“What about you, who keeps you safe?”

Waggs relaxed slightly from the anxiety that hit him when AJ had uttered his fears out loud. “Well, you met my friend Mitch, and I have other friends who work with me that will watch my back. We all watch each other’s because we’re a family of sorts.”

“What about Mommy and me? Aren’t we family? Don’t you love us?”

Waggs got up and walked around to AJ, ducking to his level. “AJ, I love you and your mom very much, and yes, we’re family. I guess after your daddy died, I got sad. I forgot what was important but having you here made me remember, and I won’t disappear again, AJ. I promise.”

“Okay.”

Waggs laughed. He’d just given a heartfelt, if short, speech and all he got back was a simple, okay. “How about you do some colouring, and I check on your mom, and then we can go and play football with Mitch and his daughter Maggie for a bit?”

“Yes, please.”

Waggs ruffled the boy’s hair and went back to his bedroom to find Willow asleep still. He touched her forehead, and found she was cool and sleeping soundly, spread-eagled with one shapely leg sticking out of the covers and tempting his sanity.

He placed the bags of clothes on the chair and cracked a window so he could hear her from outside if she needed him. Then he took AJ out to play soccer as he knew it.