Page 16 of Infected By Virus

“Well, I’ve never been confused with food before?—”

“I didn’t—” He held up his hand, halting her nervous word vomit.

“I know what you meant. Sorry to disappoint you, but I do have food, if you can call,” he held the back of the package up and read from it. “Four types of sugar and red dye forty food. I also come bearing an apology.” He held out the bag.

In spite of everything, Rae smiled. Watermelon Sour Patch, her favorite.

“Virus, uh, Darrin sent these, along with his deepest apologies. He’d like to meet with you, when he’s sobered of course. Wherever and whenever you’re comfortable. Your terms.”

She wanted to be snarky, but she just didn’t have it in her.

“Candy and words aren’t going to repair what’s between us,” she said, defeated. “But it will go a long way to coming to an agreement on what’s best for Adam. One we can both live with.”

The fact Darrin remembered her favorite candy dampened so much of the pain that was just there under the surface, lurking, waiting to strike. He’d never forgotten that minor detail after all the years and distance. Plus, all of the bullshit and pain, and he still held on to that minute detail. The candy wasn’t just candy; it was hope that they could exist in each other’s orbit for Adam’s sake and not rip each other to shreds … maybe.

“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to meet Adam, maybe take some video for, uh …”

“You can call him Virus. I promise not to make any more digs about his nickname.” Rae motioned for him to follow her.

“Road name,” he corrected.

“I promise not to take anymore digs at his road name. However, I won’t promise not to think them, and I reserve the right to whisper disparaging thoughts about him outside of Adam’s range of hearing whenever the mood strikes.”

“Deal,” Outlaw agreed.

“Wine?”

“No thanks.”

“Your loss.” She grabbed both glasses and headed out back. “We’re playing outside with Adam before I put him to bed. We have girl time planned.”

She turned to him conspiratorially. “We’re calling it girl time, but it’s really an excuse to eat like teenagers, drink cheap wine and bash Darrin with enthusiasm to get it out of my system.”

Maybe she was making a mistake speaking all that aloud to his lawyer, but honestly, she didn’t even know if he was a real lawyer. Plus, Darrin’s display earlier was bad too, so hers was simply balance.

Outlaw slid the door open for her since her hands were full and motioned for her to precede him.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that. Seeing as how you’re his lawyer and may use it against me.”

“Not at all, feel free to speak your mind. I’m not here in any legal capacity. Just as his brother.”

“Noted.” Adam’s laughter drifted through the air as they stepped outside.

“Besides, I read the folder, and Virus filled in a few blanks, so I’d say he has a little bashing coming.” He closed the door behind him. “I’m sorry, by the way. For everything.”

“Yeah, so am I.” No matter what transpired, she didn’t want Darrin’s support systems thinking bad about him.

“For the record, he’s not a cheater. We were broken up when he … well, you know.” Rae felt it was important that Darrin’s indiscretion be viewed in the proper context. Cheater, even though it felt that way, wasn’t a brand he deserved to wear unjustly.

Rae led him to the picnic table. They sat and watched Harmon pushing Adam on the swing. After a swig of wine, she spoke.

“I shouldn’t have ambushed him like that. I’ve been in town for a while working on what the best approach would be for something like that, but I rejected every plan I came up with. You know, they don’t make a Hallmark for hey, you knocked up the sister of your ex-girlfriend years ago, congratulations, it’s a boy and he’s already in kindergarten.”

They shared a metered laugh at her attempt to lighten the mood.

“Then earlier I was at the diner. Santa and some of the other guys came in and when I realized they were Bastards, I panicked. I mean, look at him.” She waved her hand toward Adam. She’d finished her wine and started on Harmon’s glass.

Outlaw leaned around her to get a better view. “I see what you mean. Put a cut on him and no one would know the difference.” For some reason she laughed hysterically at that.

---