Page 124 of Lethal Weakness

“I don’t want to go either, princess. But I’ll be back in two days.”

“What if Mommy gets hurt?”

“She’s not going to get hurt. You guys are safe here with Aunt Kay.”

“But, but, I miss you.”

“I’ll miss him too, Avery, but he has a job to do. Okay? We’re going to play and spend time with Ms. Kay, and Jack will be back before we know it.”

“Otay.” She wipes at her face again and slumps into my arms this time. “Wait!” She takes off down the hallway towards the sailboat room with newfound enthusiasm.

“Well, that fucking sucked.” Jack rubs his forehead. “How do parents get anything done when their kid is so damn cute?”

“It is a severe form of torture. Welcome to the club.” I wink, and softness envelops him for a moment.

Strapped to the teeth with weapons, and his face glows with the realization that he gets to step up as the father figure that Avery has always deserved.

“Here, Mr. Jack!” Avery scrambles back down the hall holding a beaded bracelet in her hand. “So, you not sad.”

He slides the stretchy bracelet onto his wrist and smiles at it. “Thank you, I love it.”

She gives him another big squeezy hug, and he looks at me over her blonde head. “Luckiest guy in the world.”

“Luckiest girls.”

* * *

“What do you think?” Kay asks after we leave the community center. She knew I’d be stir crazy sitting around with Jack gone today, and she insisted that Avery and I join her downtown.

Despite my early hesitation to be out in public so soon after our nightmare the other night, it turned out to be the best day.

Avery spent hours playing with other kids her age. If they weren’t crafting or running around, they were taking turns showing each other pictures from the books in the little library corner.

I helped Kay serve food during lunch, and she introduced me to no less than one hundred people.

It’s the first time I’ve felt any sense of community since college. I even spent an hour reading aloud to some of the kids.

Part of my chest is tight because I’m worried about Jack… But my heart is also full after a day like today.

It’s been perfect.

“I’d love to come back. I’m really glad we came with you today.”

“I’m glad, too. Summer is busy because the kids need somewhere to gather, but once school is in session again, we’ll need tutors. And the littles loved story time with you. You can make a corner for yourself here, Linden. We’d be lucky to have you.”

“Thank you for saying that. I appreciate you taking us under your wing.”

“Aunt Kay doesn’t have wings,” Avery giggles as she skips down the sidewalk. The community center is only a few blocks away, and it’s a nice evening getting to walk under all the old oak trees lining the street.

“You’re right, no wings. She has been very nice though, huh?”

“Yes. Thank you, Aunt Kay.”

“You are so welcome, sweet girl. What should we make you for dinner tonight? I’ve got some of my special chicken and noodles that I could make.”

I almost speak up to politely decline for Avery’s sake, but she beats me to it.

“Yes, pwease!”