Page 4 of Pooh

He looks up at me with a frown and states, “Not sure it was all mud. But thanks, Pooh. Is this my room now, Pippa?”

“Yes, it is. Pooh just connected your TV and Xbox and assembled your bed. You think maybe instead of swearing and making fun of his name, you could give him some thanks?”

“An Xbox too? Holy shit! Thanks, Pooh!” Craig shouts as he rushes to, and upon, his new bed. The excitement in his eyes is definitely thanks enough for me.

I turn to see Pippa watching Craig with soft eyes. She obviously adores the little guy. I’m guessing Axel was a lot like this kid when he was that age. Lord, save the world, if that is how Craig’s going to be when he’s grown.

“What kinds of games do you like, Craig?” I ask him.

“Anything that goes fast!” he shouts at me, while happily jumping on his bed.

“If Pippa says it’s okay, I’ll stop by tomorrow with some games for your Xbox. I have a few that you might like.”

“That would be great, Pooh. Again, thank you. You just made his day,” Pippa tells me.

Fuck, I’ll give the kid one of my kidneys if Pippa keeps looking at me like that. Yeah, I have to look away or I’m going to start making wood. I don’t need her thinking I’m some kind of pervert.

“No problem. I don’t…”

I get interrupted by shouting and angry voices. A female voice shouting “leave now” and an angry male voice shouting “let go of me”. Before I can make a move, Craig dives off his bed and grabs onto my leg. Pippa bolts out of the room and disappears. I look down at Craig and see him peeking out from behind my legs while gripping my jeans in both hands. The kid is terrified.

I pick Craig up, having to pry his hands loose, and hold him close. I can still hear the angry voices, now with Pippa’s voice too, and need to get out there to see what’s happening. I relax a bit when I hear Horse Nuts’ voice and know that Pippa isn’t alone out there. But I can’t just walk off and leave a scared kid, so I take an extra second to calm him first.

I walk to the bed and sit Craig on it while bending down to his eye level. I feel him shaking and wait until his eyes meet mine.

“No way am I going to let anyone hurt you, Craig. Not happening. But I have to go out there and check on Pippa and make sure she’s okay. Here’s the deal. I need you to be brave for me and shut the door and lock it when I leave. Do not open it until I knock on it and tell you it’s me, okay? I’ll come back here after I know that Pippa is safe. Deal?”

He hesitates for a moment and then nods his head. I hold out my fist to him. He looks at it and then fist bumps mine and slides off the bed. When I step out of the door, he closes it and I hear it lock.

I follow the voices and find myself in a living room. I see Pippa, standing in front of another woman, obviously blocking her from the angry male in the room. The male is being restrained from behind by Horse Nuts with Toes standing nearby. He’s not going anywhere soon, so my eyes sweep back to Pippa’s angry ones.

“You’re not supposed to be here and you know it! Maisy has a restraining order against you and you are now in violation of the order,” states Pippa. “I’ve called 911 and the police will be here soon.”

“You fucking bitch! You need to mind your own fucking business and keep out of my marriage!” the male shouts at Pippa, struggling to get free of Horse Nuts’ grip.

I move quickly to stand directly in front of this jackass. Leaning down into his face, I quietly warn him, “Don’t ever call her that again. Watch your words unless you want your tongue removed. Got me?”

“Just leave, John! I don’t want you here,” the woman I’m assuming is Maisy, speaks for the first time.

“We can’t fix our marriage if you’re here and not at home where you belong!” the male continues arguing, leaning to the side to see around me.

“You punching me in the face isn’t the way to fix our marriage either!” Maisy shouts back.

“You punched your own wife? In the face? What the fuck is wrong with you? Don’t ever show your face here again. Haul his worthless hide outside, Horse. Don’t let him go. The cops will want him. And do it before I mete out the justice he really deserves!” I bellow, fighting the urge to lay into him with my fists.

“Fuck you, biker trash! What are you even doing here near my wife?” the male shouts out as Horse drags him out the door.

“Did he touch either of you?” I ask Pippa and Maisy.

“He grabbed my arm and was trying to drag me out of the door when your friend intervened,” says Maisy. “He didn’t hurt me though. But I do have a restraining order and he’s not supposed to be anywhere near me.”

“He didn’t touch me at all. Your friend already had a hold of him when I got here,” responds Pippa.

“Does this happen often? Men showing up here, looking for their wives?” I ask.

“It happens. Not often, but sometimes the men will follow their wife from her job or court and find this place. That’s what happened today,” answers Pippa.

“I’m so sorry, Pippa. I didn’t know he was following me here. I have nowhere else to hide and now he knows where I am. He’s not going to stop harassing me,” Maisy says in a dejected voice.

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