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Juniper followed him down the stairs trying to hold it together.
“Welp?” Patrick set down his phone.
“I’m about to leave, do you mind if I call you at night to check in with Juniper when I am gone?”
“No, if I had thought about it, could a gotten both you burner phones, But I don’t mind.” He stood up. “You off then?”
“Yeah, I gotta get going.”
He walked over to June and Wolfie, “Be safe then, I’ll take care of June.”
“Thank you Pat, I appreciate you coming up to be with her. I know my mom appreciates everything you’ve done.” Pat hugged him.
Wolfie turned to her, engulfing her with his arms, “I love you. I will be back.”
“I love you too.” She resisted letting go until he kissed her.
“Bye.” He turned out the screen door and threw a leg over the motorcycle. She watched as he started it with a rumble, he backed the bike up with his feet and the engine grew louder as he accelerated down the dirt road. Juniper stood, chin trembling.
,“Come on kid.” Pat wrapped his arm around her. “Let's get some of that homemade chili.”
She wiped her face, keeping her arms folded. “I know I look ridiculous and he’s only going to be gone for a few days.”
“I get it,” he excused her, “I raised two girls, seen them express every emotion. You don’t gotta explain yourself to me.” He lifted the pot of the chili that he started when he arrived an hour ago and scooped two bowls. “Come sit.” he directed her to the table, and placed them across from each other.
June sat at the table, embarrassed with wet eye lashes, “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t gotta be sorry either.” He closed the fridge and set a can of beer in front of her as well as himself. “This’ll help.”
“Thank you.” She collected herself with a few breaths and then took a bite of chili. “It’s good, thank you.”
“Family recipe, you want a copy since you practically are?”
“Sure?”
“I’ll have Syl bring you a copy when she comes up on Thursday.”
June had a few questions to ask Pat and now that they were alone, she took her opportunity, “Why didn’t you turn us in?”
He swallowed his sip of beer, “The government doesn’t care about justice, they don’t care what he did to you and in their eyes, it was just murder. You should know the system isn’t great for the poor or women. They don’t see a rapist on his side and they don’t see the woman we know on this side.”
“I truly appreciate it, thank you.”
“Eh,” He gruffed, “I also don’t want to deal with all that paperwork and the cops. That’s a big ol’ headache.”
“I’m sure I’m speaking for both of us when I say, we’re going to miss you Uncle Pat.” June smiled at him seeing his eyes twinkle just right. Wolfgang had warned her about stardust and she was seeing it for herself now.
“You kids are quite al’ right.” He looked down into his bowl. “You down for a game of scrabble after dinner?”
July Twenty First
Juniper
Juniper Jumped up for the fourth time that morning listening for motorcycle engines on the side porch. Sylvia had cut her off of coffee three cups ago. She looked towards the road. “It’s him!” She squealed darting around the railing with Zeppelin barked following her. She stood next to his parking spot waiting for him to cut the engine. He slowly grinned at the sight of her and turned the engine off.
“Hey gorgeous.” He leaned over keeping his bike balanced to kiss her.
“Welcome back.” She stepped away letting him adjust his kickstand and Zeppelin jumped up on his leg to receive his hello.
