Uncle Frank and Harrison taking care of things in the kitchen, the other four. Jess, Conor, Abe, and Jack. They’ll be home any minute too.
They spent the day with Megan’s mom and dad at the zoo.
Once I can see and feel Megan’s been pampered, I can’t help but ask her again.
“Why would Molly want a scratch ticket though…?”
She looks up at me lovingly. Knowingly.
Her hand strokes my cheek.
“It’s different for everyone, right?” she asks. And I pump a nod.
“You’re a cop. I’m a mom… And whatever these amazing babies grow into, they’ll be that,” she reasons.
I must look as dumb and confused as I feel.
Megan’s hands around my neck pull me down onto her and I kiss her. Almost forgetting everything when she kisses me back.
Making that little sound that still drives me wild.
“It’s not all about bad guys and monsters, Harry….,” she finally says. “And I don’t think it’s as strong with us as it is… or was with you.”
“We did good, you and me. Didn’t we?” I ask her. Not ever needing an answer to that question.
That ‘gift’ I passed on. I’d give it away a million times just to look into their eyes.
All of them are the most precious things in the whole world to me.
“I love you, Megan,” I tell her for the eighth time today.
“I love you too, Harry.” She smiles. Pulling me by the neck so I can finish what I’ve started.
Murmuring something about some office work that needs attending to, and soon.
And I know full well that when Megan needs her Private Dick, she gets him.
All of him, for as long as she needs.
“Uncle Frank! Uncle Frank!” Molly squeals, thumping back down the hall, waving her silver scratch ticket.
“We should go see,” Megan says, motioning for me to help her up. And checking Josh is asleep, I move into the kitchen with her.
Frank looks like he’s seen a ghost, and Molly’s looking a little more than pleased with herself.
“My dolly said to get the ticket and give it to uncle Frank… She said it’s gonna help him catch some more bad guys,” she announces, matter of fact.
Frank squats down on his hams in front of Molly. “And how could a scratch ticket do that?” he asks in his best good cop voice.
“You have to give it to someone, silly!” Molly groans, giving Frank a hug around his neck. “A stranger you meet,” she educates the best detective still on the force.
“How- How will I know who to give it to?” he asks her. Already convinced and not just playing along.
“Oh, you’ll know,” Molly promises him before she scurries off, humming a tune to herself.
“Harry?” Frank asks, deadpan. Wincing as he heaves himself up from a crouch.
I can only shrug.
“Maybe it’s time to go do a good deed. Help someone out?” I muse aloud, “And I think you’d better do what Molly says,” I add.
Feeling Megan nodding in time with Harrison.
But Frank only shakes his head. “Here we go again…”
The End.