"You should come home with us then you can hug Barney and Brownie too," DJ said to Sam and peered at him, his eyes big and still worried.
Sam was now laughing through tears and breathing easier as he assured all of them, "I'm OK. Much better. Thank you, guys."
"We made him better," Riley said.
"What scared you, Sam?" DJ asked.
Sam looked at Wyatt like there was something he didn't want to say in front of the boys. He then looked at DJ. "I just sometimes get scared inside," Sam said and touched his chest. DJ looked like he almost understood that.
"Let's get up off the ground," Sam told the kids.
They all stood up and Sam gave Wyatt a heartbreakingly grateful look.
"Hey, are you guys ready for lunch?" Wyatt asked the boys.
"It's packed in there," Sam said and then they heard the back door open.
It was Rico. He poked his head out and said hi to everyone before eyeing Sam with concern. "I came to check on you. You feeling OK?"
"I'm OK," Sam told him. "Could you do me a favor and take the kids inside and help them order lunch to go?" Rico nodded and Sam turned to the boys. "I'm just going to stay out here and talk to Wyatt for a minute. Order your uncle something good."
The boys looked like they didn't want to leave Sam just yet, but he smiled at them and they went to Rico.
"Thanks," Sam said to him.
Wyatt thanked Rico too as he took the boys inside. After they were gone and the door had closed behind them, Wyatt watched Sam slump against the wall. He was still shaken and pale, and Wyatt went to him and took his hand.
"I was so afraid this would happen and I would scare the boys," Sam said.
Now Wyatt took both his hands and assured him, "They're fine. But what set you off?"
"I... I thought I saw Brian," Sam said and he squeezed Wyatt's hands in a tight, desperate grip.
"You don't seem sure," Wyatt noted.
"I didn't see him properly. I saw a man from the back that might have been him. I don't know. I probably flipped out for nothing." Sam was doubting himself now.
"But you don't know," Wyatt said. He wasn't ready to assume Sam was wrong and let his guard down.
"I thought I saw him before, and it turned out not to be him. My eyes can't be trusted," Sam said and he let out a shuddering breath. "New people in town always made me nervous, and now there are more of them all the time for the festival."
"Still it's better to be cautious. Do you have any pictures of him?" Wyatt asked.
Sam shook his head. "I hardly ever took pictures of anyone except my great-grandmother."
"We might be able to find pictures of him online," Wyatt said.
Sam looked, but didn't come up with anything. "Brian wasn't much for social media."
"Let's have a description then," Wyatt said though he could tell Sam hated to think or talk about his ex.
"Same height as me but bulkier. The last time I saw him, he had a buzz cut. Light brown hair. Blue eyes. Mean but good-looking. He has a dagger tattoo on his hip, but I don't think that's something you can recognize him by," Sam said and rolled his eyes.
"Right. You should come home with us," Wyatt told him. He didn't want to let Sam out of his sight.
"To hug the dogs?" Sam asked with a half smile on his lips.
"Sure, and me too," Wyatt said and put his arms around him. "I want you where you'll be safe."
