AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He hadn't expected this, and the most he could manage was a shaky nod.
There was a silence, and then the boy spoke. "What was his name?"
Gabe drew a long, unsteady breath. "Jamie."
"Was he strong?"
"He was five, just like you, so he wasn't as strong as a grown-up."
"Was he stronger than me?"
"I don't know. He was a little bit bigger, so he might have been, but that's not important."
"Did you like him?"
"I loved him very much."
He took a cautious step forward. "Was you sad when Jamie died?"
His name! Gabe worked to find his voice. "Yes. I was very sad when Jamie died. I still am."
"Did you get mad at him like you get mad at me?"
Not ever in the same way, he thought. "Sometimes. When he did things wrong."
"Did he like you?"
Speech deserted him. He nodded.
Edward's arm moved. He glanced around, then his arm fell back to his side. The rabbit.
"Was he scared of you?"
"No." Gabe cleared his throat again. "No, he wasn't scared of me like you are. He knew I'd never hurt him. I won't hurt you, either."
He could see the boy framing another question, but the ones he'd already asked were slicing him open. "Chip, I wish you hadn't overheard us talking, but since you did, you know that I want to marry your mom. She doesn't think it's a good idea, and I don't want you to give her a hard time about it. I'm going to try to change her mind, but she has to do what she thinks is right, and if she decides she won't marry me, it's not because of anything you've done. Do you understand what I'm trying to say? You haven't done anything wrong."
He should have saved his breath.
"She won't marry you because of me."
"Some of it has to do with you," he said slowly, "but not because it's your fault. Because of me. Your mother doesn't like the way I got off to a bad start with you. Because I wasn't nice. It's kept you and me from getting along too well. That's my fault, Chip, not yours. There's nothing wrong with you."
"I'm not strong like Jamie." Keeping his distance, he picked at a small scab on the back of his hand. "I wish Jamie could come play with me."
Out of nowhere, Gabe's eyes brimmed with tears. "I'm sure he'd have liked to do that."
"He could prob'ly beat me up." He sat down on the ground as if his legs could no longer support him.
"Jamie didn't fight too much. He liked to build things, just like you do." For the first time, Gabe thought of the similarities between the two boys, instead of the differences. They liked books, puzzles, and drawing. Both of them could entertain themselves for long periods of time.
"My daddy died in a plane crash."
"I know."
"He's in heaven right now taking care of Jamie."
The idea of G. Dwayne Snopes watching out for Jamie was too much for Gabe, but he didn't say anything.
