Page 70 of Waiting for Tuesday

“Yeah,” I sighed, though it couldn’t have been farther from the truth. “Everyone’s been really nice.”

His lips brushed my ear, and he hugged me tighter. “They better. I’m paying them enough.”

I laughed slightly and jabbed him in the ribs with my elbow.

“Easy.” But he pulled me closer, smiling against my cheek. “They love you, just like I said they would.”

My eyes closed at the words because hearing the words felt like a hot iron poker straight to my stomach. Tears welled behind my lids as I felt him bury his nose in my hair.

When I opened my eyes a moment later, little Shelly was coming toward us across the lawn. She’d been stuck to John’s side almost the whole afternoon, and now her little limbs picked up speed as she spotted him again. Two feet before the blanket, she flung her arms into the air, causing her tiny body to fly, crash into us, and knock us over.

“Dare you are!” she said, grabbing hold of his neck. “I’ve been wooking for you everywhere!”

John laughed, falling back against the blanket. “Did you find the treasure?” he asked her.

She scrunched up her nose and frowned as she squeezed in between us to take a seat on top of his chest.

“No.” She pulled a crumpled up piece of paper from her pocket, taking extra care to unfold it just so.

Various lines were drawn upon it: a few squiggles, something that looked like a bush, and a stick figure house drawn in the very center. She leaned down, examining the paper with intense concentration. “Are yousurethere’s treasure there?” Her chubby finger pointed to the X in the far corner.

John folded his hands behind his head and grinned. “Course I am.” Then he lifted his head and pointed to his ear. “See that hole there?”

Shelly came in closer, taking his lobe between her chubby fingers. “Yes, I see it.”

“That’s from back in my pirating days.” He nodded once.

Her eyes widened. “Did you get shot?”

He laughed then pinched her nose. “No, silly. It’s from my earring. All pirates wear earrings. It’s part of the uniform.”

Her eyes widened and she stretched her legs out in back of her. “Were you really a pirate, Uncle John?”

“Yep.”

She folded her hands on his chest and grinned. “Is that where the treasure came from? Is that why you had the map?”

“Sure is.” He nodded. “I buried it under one of those trees out back.”

She bunched up her shoulders and suppressed a giggle. “Will you tell me a story? About when you were a pirate?”

“Don’t you want to find the treasure?”

“Not yet. I want a story first.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “If I tell you a story, will you run along so I can spend some time with my lady?”

She looked over her shoulder, her eyes meeting mine for just a second before she turned back to John. “Are you going to kiss her again?” she whispered.

His brow lifted as he looked at her.“What doyouknow about kissing?” he whispered back.

She scrunched her shoulders and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Ahhh… Well, I might,” he said, leaning back on the blanket again.

“Yuck. I’mnevergoing to kiss a boy.”

He laughed. “That’s good. Boys are gross.” He took a deep breath then closed his eyes. “So you want a pirate story, do ya?”

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