Page 44 of The Inquirer

The kid’s eyes went wide. “Really? I didn’t know that.”

As Bradyn continued to talk to his nephew, I let my attention wander. This wasn’t a date or even a family function. I was here to be whatever Bradyn needed me to be. Someone to talk to. Someone to stand or sit with. If talking with Les made Bradyn feel better, then I’d sit back and let them talk.

Mr. Traylor kept throwing me dirty looks, but I didn’t respond. If he thought he was the most intimidating person I’d ever met, he was dead wrong. He wasn’t even on my top five. Maybe not on my top ten if I really stopped and thought about it. I wasn’t going to do anything about it, though. Sometimes it was a good thing to be aggressive when it came to bullies, but sometimes it was better to just ignore them.

I wasn’t sure how much time passed, only that the Lesters and the Traylors had paced and sat and then paced again. Finally, a short man in scrubs came over to where we were waiting.

“Clancy Traylor’s family?”

“Yes, I’m his mother.”

Warren followed Ashley over, and the rest of us came behind them. Bradyn reached for my hand again, and Les grabbed the other one.

“The surgery went well,” the doctor said. “We were able to get to the infection before it spread too far. He’s on antibiotics and will need to stay here for at least several days so we can monitor him.”

It was like everyone sighed at once. As much as I didn’t like their attitudes or how they treated Bradyn, they loved the kid.

“We’ve moved him into recovery,” the doctor continued. “I can take you back to him.” He looked from Ashley and Warren to the rest of us. “Only the parents. The rest of you can come back tomorrow during regular visiting hours.”

Mr. Traylor stepped forward, knocking his son-in-law out of the way. “I want to see my grandson.”

The doctor looked from Ashley to Mr. Traylor and then back again. “I can take two people into recovery, Mrs. Lester.”

Without even looking at her husband, Ashley took her father’s arm “Daddy and I will go. Warren, why don’t you take the kids and Mom to the house and then bring me back a bag of things so I can stay the night.”

I waited for Warren to speak up and tell his father-in-law to stay put, that he was going to see his son and the grandparents could take the kids home.

Warren’s shoulders slumped. “Yes, dear.”

Ashley and Mr. Traylor followed the doctor through the double doors, and Warren turned back to his kids. Mrs. Traylor went over to Betsy and shook the girl’s shoulder.

“Wake up, darlin’. Time to go home.”

“Warren, is there anything we can do to help?” Bradyn asked.

Warren looked at me and then at Bradyn, but it was Mrs. Traylor who spoke. “This is a family matter, Bradyn. We don’t need to be airin’ our laundry in front of a stranger.”

The expectant look on Warren’s and Mrs. Traylor’s faces made me think they were waiting for the same thing. For Bradyn to tell them who I was and why I’d come with him. I was kinda curious myself about what he’d say, but I wouldn’t press him to give an answer. It wasn’t like I’d be able to answer it any better. And honestly, I didn’t know what I would’ve wanted him to say. It was all still so new.

It seemed like everything between Bradyn and me just kept getting crazier. It should’ve made me wonder if anything was worth all of this, but for once, all those voices in my head kept quiet.

Nineteen

Bradyn

“I. Said. I. Want. Ice cream.”

Betsy had her dad’s teal eyes, but when they were narrowed and annoyed like they were right now, she looked exactly like her mother. People rarely took into account how much attitude came into play when it came to resemblances between family members.

“And I said that you have to eat your lunch first.” I kept my tone calm but firm.

I was still a little confused as to how I’d gotten here, but kids were like horses. They could smell fear. I had to pretend that everything was as normal as possible. Les was a good, compliant kid. It was Betsy I had to watch out for.

She crossed her arms and gave me a pout that was all Ashley.

I understood why she thought she could test me. I’d never babysat for them before. Even before the shit hit the fan with my parents, I’d avoided family time as much as possible. I loved my sister and parents, but I didn’t like them very much. Ashley and I had been butting heads since I was old enough to talk.

That was one of the main reasons I was completely baffled by the fact that I was at Warren and Ashley’s house, watching Les and Betsy while their parents were at the hospital with Clancy. I assumed my parents were there too. I couldn’t think of another reason why I’d be with the kids. It made sense. Me watching the kids kept the adults from having to deal with bored kids and also kept me from showing up at the hospital uninvited.

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