Page 8 of Walker

I couldn’t even get to the third chant in my head before the boy – Griffon – spoke up.

“Is he okay?”

Walker leaned down to where my son was seated in the front of the cart. “Hey little man, you not feeling well?” His voice was smooth and full of concern. My son slowly shook his head left to right before he winced and then held his ear again.

“I think he has an ear infection, but the doctor’s office isn’t open until tomorrow morning.”

Griffon turned to Ariel. “Why didn’t you stay home with your sick little brother, so your mom could get in and out of the store quicker?”

Ariel’s eyes rounded out in surprise, and she quickly glanced my way, as if I could help her with that question. When she saw that I wasn’t going to answer him for her, Ariel finally responded. “She doesn’t trust me to do it.” The roll of her eyes was meant to emphasize how ridiculous that notion was.

“I can see why. Maybe you should fix that. Family is everything. One day, you’re going to wish they had been more important to you.” Griffon turned to me then. “You have everything you need?”

“Yes, the tissues were the last thing. I just need to check out.” As I said that, Josh leaned over and threw up in front of the cart, missing my shoes by a mere inch. I stared at the puke puddle and wished there was a portal that could swallow us up and take us home.

“Walker and I have little man.” Griffon offered as Walker picked my son up out of the cart and set him down at his feet. “You go do your thing and we’ll get him some ginger ale and keep him settled until you’re done.”

My eyes shot to Walker’s for confirmation. He nodded as he reached over to the shelf and grabbed a roll of paper towels. He popped it open right there in the aisle and started to clean my boy up first. “Go on, we got him. Soon as this is taken care of, we’ll meet you up front.”

Just as I walked away with the cart, and my daughter hot on my heels, I heard a store worker fuss at Walker. “You need to pay for those.”

“Seriously, lady? The sick kid is my priority.” I turned back to see what would happen as guilt ate at me for leaving them with my son and his mess. Walker made sure Griffon had hold of my son’s hand as he stood and dug his wallet out of the back pocket of the jeans that hugged his ass in the perfect way. “Here!” He snapped as he threw a twenty at the woman. Go ring it up, since you’re so worried about it.”

“You don’t have to be rude.”

“I’m gonna be more than rude if you don’t get the hell out of here.”

I snickered as Ariel’s eyes rounded in shock again. “Did he just threaten the worker?”

I shrugged. “Looked like she deserved it. She didn’t even call into her radio for someone to bring a mop to help clean up.”

I walked off with my daughter then, knowing deep in my heart that my boy was in good hands. “Let’s get this stuff paid for so we can get Josh home.”

“Yeah, I didn’t realize he was really that sick.” I could hear the guilt in her voice. “I thought he was just faking for attention.”

“Is that what you were doing? Faking attitude for attention?” I asked and didn’t bother to hide the sharp tone my question took.

“Sorry, Mom.”

“Uh-huh. We’ll discuss your behavior when we get home.”

I could tell by the way she moped along beside me that my girl was truly sorry for the way she behaved, but it wasn’t something I could let go this time. I’d given her too much slack since her father died and her attitude had only grown worse over time as a result. It was time to take off the kid gloves and remind my daughter that her grief wasn’t an excuse for bad behavior.

Once we were checked out, I headed toward the door where Griffon and Walker said they would meet me. There they were with my sleepy boy in Walker’s arms as he rocked his body in a gentle way that must have soothed Josh. My baby boy was no longer complaining loudly about his ear. As I got closer, I heard a few whimpers from him.

“I can take him from here.”

Walker shook his head. “We’ll walk you out to your car and give you a hand.”

My heart fluttered in my chest at the kind gesture. “You have both already done more than enough. Thank you so much for looking after him for a few minutes,” I reddened in embarrassment. “And for cleaning up after him.”

“Cleaned up plenty of puke in my day. Little bit from a sick kid ain’t nothin’.” His answer was a gruff statement as he continued to rub my son’s back while we made our way out to my car.

“Load this stuff in the back while I get your brother settled,” I instructed. My daughter nodded and didn’t bother getting mouthy with me. It was obvious she was intimidated by either Walker, Griffon, or both. If only I could keep them around for when her attitude ran away with her sense of self-preservation.

After I got Josh settled into his car seat, I turned around and came face-to-face with Walker who stood there with his phone in hand. “Add your number for me.”

“Okay.” I took his phone and entered my number. Once he took his phone back he sent me a message, but my phone was tucked inside my purse which was sitting on the front seat where I tossed it.

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