Page 28 of Snow Blind

"I have a lock on my door, but Mr. Milton sleeps downstairs," Oscar said. "The next kid...you know, it only takes a second to catch you off guard. Then he's in my room. I want to feel safe. Hey, you got any kids?"

Mustang was listening to what the boy was saying and possibly asking for, but he wasn't sure. "You offering?"

"I want a dad, but I want to feel safe," Oscar said. "I want to go to bed with my door open if I want to, come home from school and there are no more kids in the house that may want to harm me. I want to go canoeing on the weekend, fishing, and go to my dad’s job while he brags about me to the folks he works with. I don't want much, just a chance. I want a dad. You want a son?"

"How do you know I'm a good person or if I will make a suitable Dad?"

"Aunt Helen," he said. "Shedon'tstand for no bullshit. You can't be her man and be on some bullshit. You have to be right to be with that lady. Think about it; let me know."

"Think about what?"

"Me being your kid," Oscar said. "You can teach me stuff and help me with homework, and I can be your partner in life."

Mustang found himself smiling, intrigued, and again, fully engaged with the boy. He asked, "My partner in life?"

"Aunt Helen is not going to watch sporting games with you, go fishing, or help you clean the canoe," Oscar said. "Partner. You keep me safe; I keep you safe."

"You're going to keep me safe?"

"There are times in this life when a man doesn't need to walk alone. I'll walk with you, have your back, keep you safe," Oscar explained.

"You can't do that for Mr. Milton?" Mustang inquired.

"He's broken," Oscar said. "His heart is in the right place, but he doesn't know how to give love. Aunt Helen keeps looking over at you with this look in her eye. She loves you, and you must know how to give love back, because she's not with the bullshit. You know how to love. I want some of that. Like I said, let me know. I'm a good kid. Won't be no trouble."

"You repeat yourself a lot," Mustang said.

"People don't hear me the first time, so I have to make sure what I'm saying is being communicated," Oscar said. "We have the weekend to try it out. Then we can go from there."

"And if my answer is no?"

"I’ll try again on another day," he said, looking Mustang in the eye. "I will also give you my Christmas wish list before you go, in case, you know, you feel like getting me a present."

"Hmm," was all Mustang had to say as the evening came to a close.

The downstairs guest room had been completed as well as the en suite bath, giving them privacy from the family. The bed was too small and Mustang's feet hung over the edge. Helen snuggled up next to him.

"You canceled the hotel room?"

"Yes."

He remained quiet, lying in the dark, holding her close. "They all love you. Even that Ricky guy, who I may have to fight before the weekend is over. He keeps eyeballing you in a way that makes me want to punch him in the face," Mustang whispered. "I think he's in love with you."

"He's also in love with Apple."

"Didn't see that coming."

"Why do you think they all love me, Jay?"

"Easy," he said, giving her a squeeze. "Because I love you too."

"I love you as well," she said, leaning into him.

"Oscar asked me to be his dad," Mustang said.

"Hmmm," she mumbled, saying no more.

"Nothing to say?"

---