“You have sad eyes and Mom says that eyes don’t lie. What’s the matter? Jana will be okay. The doctor said her vitals are strong. Hers and the baby’s.”
I blinked at his words, stunned by them. “You’re pretty smart, eh?”
“I have a good memory,” he announced with confidence but not the arrogance that often accompanied smarts. “Want me to read to you?”
“What are you reading?”
“It’s about the cosmos and blackholes. You’ll like it,” he assured me as though it were already settled. But the truth was how did anyone say no to a kid so cute and so damn grownup?
“Sure, kid. That sounds nice.”
“Cool,” he said, scooting a bit closer so I could see the pictures. And then he settled down to read. Beau didn’t play games or squirm or use his finger as a guide.
“You’re a damn good reader, Beau.”
“Well, duh, mister,” he said with a proud grin. “I’m eight, you know.
“Eight, huh? And the name is Cross.”
“I know, Mr. Cross. I’m small for my age. You don’t have to tell me.”
A shadow settled over us and the scent of jasmine and patchouli told me who the intruder was. Moon and she wore a floral print dress that showed off lean arms and sensual curves. Even now, all I could see was her in that bloody bra but looking sexy as hell. “Hey Beau, you’re not bothering Cross are you?”
“No, he said I could read to him. Plus it’s helping so he isn’t sad anymore. About Jana,” he clarified in his effort to keep me out of trouble, I assumed.
“I know, honey,” she gave him a kind smile and ruffled his hair. “How are you, Cross?”
“Fine,” I grunted out because I couldn’t think of anything else. What was it about this woman, my polar opposite, who got me so tangled up that I said the wrong shit and usually ended up looking like a dick?
“Oooookay,” she replied, giving me a cockeyed look. Then she stepped back and reached for her son. “Come on Beau, let’s let Cross get back to his business. I gave Jana a hug for you and guess what?”
“What?”
“She squeezed back.”
Beau went quiet and then he jumped out of his seat with a loud cheer. “Yes! That means she’ll be awake soon.”
I didn’t know how in the hell the kid knew that, but I believed him. Watching Moon and Beau walk away filled me with a sadness and apprehension I couldn’t understand. They were so happy, smiling while they talked about who knew what, completely oblivious to the world around them.
It looked nice.
It wasn’t for me, but it was nice anyway.
***
“Hey man, pretty sure they have to be awake when you touch them like that.”
Max looked up as I entered the room but his hand stayed wrapped around Jana’s. “Cross. Hey.”
“Hungry?”
“Not for cafeteria food,” he grumbled and settled another worried gaze on his wife.
“Good thing. I don’t fuck around with cafeteria food. Subs from Nitzki’s Deli.” I held up the bag filled with sandwiches, chips, and a heap of pickles.
“Thanks.” He took the bag and dug in, reluctantly at first but then he let Jana’s hand go and inhaled his lunch. “Damn, I needed that.”
“Well I didn’t need to see that shit. It was like watching a dinosaur eat.” But a healthy appetite was a good sign, even for friends and family. “So how is she?”