Page 23 of Bear Strength

“Then, it will be so.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

I try to make my departure casual, so I just lift my hand a little awkwardly in a wave. As I turn, I stumble over a big rock,and almost fall down, but he jumps to my aid, wrapping his arm around my waist and keeping me upright.

“You alright?” he asks, and I can feel the warmth of his breath caressing my cheek.

“Yes, I just…” I quickly regain balance, and remove his hand from my waist.

Him being so close is dangerous. Too dangerous, and I’m not in the mood to be playing with fire. I had enough of that. I’m too clever to recognize when someone is not good for me, and there are signs screaming at me from all sides to just back down.

“Thanks,” I say again, pointing with my index finger at the ground, at the rock, then at myself.

“Sure thing,” he chuckles.

I quickly turn away and rush over to my car. I don’t need to look in his direction to know that he’s still following me with those piercing blue eyes, and he will continue to do so until I disappear from sight. It doesn’t matter. I won’t be returning here again. Dominick will hopefully be finished in a week, and I’ll be able to put all this behind me.

CHAPTER 12

When I check the time, I see that it’s way past 7 pm. I already made dinner, but if it’s going to be like the previous day, Dominick will have eaten by the time he comes home. I try not to be nervous, but I can’t help it. I’m just one step away from grabbing my car keys and heading over there, to pick him up myself. But, I remind myself that he’s probably on his way. I also remind myself that Adrian will be driving him. He understands where I’m coming from. I could hear it in his voice. Unlike Mason. Everything seems to be just amusement to him. I doubt he takes anything seriously in life.

At that moment, I hear the front door open, and I rush over there. Dominick is already inside, and he’s taking off his helmet. He offers it to Adrian.

“You keep it,” Adrian shakes his head.

It only hits me now that he has no hair. For a moment, I wonder if he’s bald or if he shaves it all off. His beard is longer than Mason’s. Still dark and bushy. So is his moustache. He is holding a pair of dark sunglasses in his hand, which rests by his thighs.

“Hey, mom!” Dominick waves at me cheerfully.

I see he’s totally messy. His clothes are splashed with paint, and he even managed to get some in his hair.

“I see someone needs a thorough bath tonight,” I smile.

“Moooom…” Dominick whines, and I know when it’s my time to zip it. “Thanks, Adrian.”

The two bump fists in some weird, elaborate way, which I don’t even try to follow in order to remember. Hopefully, next week will be the last time Adrian will be taking him for a ride.The thought fills me with hope and serenity. Life will go back to what it was.

“Did you guys have dinner?” I ask.

“No, it was only Adrian and me,” Dominick explains. “Mason was there for a little, but he had to go, with the rest of the gang.”

“So, you must be hungry,” I smile, referring only to my son.

But, words tend to be taken out of context, especially when you least want them to be.

“Oh, we are,” Dominick nods at me. “Hey, Adrian, why don’t you stay for dinner?”

I open my mouth to thank Adrian and wish him a good night, but my son’s words make me swallow my own before I even say them. I look at Adrian. I’m confused, expecting him to graciously refuse.

“I haven’t had dinner yet,” he replies. “It makes sense.”

And, with those words he enters our house, making sure to take off his shoes. Dominick rushes after him excitedly, and I hear them talking in the kitchen. I’m still standing by the open door, wondering how the Hell this just happened.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. It’s just a dinner guest. No one special. And, besides, better him than Mason. I assure myself that it’ll be all over quickly. Adrian is practical, led by logic. He’ll probably leave the moment he’s eaten enough. I smile at the weirdness of the whole situation, because, what else is there to do?

When I enter the kitchen, I see Dominick is sitting next to Adrian. He’s busy explaining something about one of his previous school projects, the one about the mill. And, surprisingly, I hear Adrian reply with suggestions on what he can improve next time. The smile on my son’s face is priceless. Suddenly, it hits me. He doesn’t see these men as I do. To him,they aren’t criminals. He isn’t afraid of them. Fear is probably the last thing on his mind when he sees them.

I set up plates for all of us, and Adrian’s barely audible thank you doesn’t escape me. Dominick keeps on talking, and the sight fills me with joy. I take out the chicken and peas, and toast some bread. I put some food on everyone’s plates, starting with Dominick’s and ending with mine.

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