Page 64 of Waiting for Redemption

“I missed you a lot,” he whispers, making it hard for me to catch my breath.

“I really missed you too, bud.” He lets out a big gasp as he looks over at Maverick.

“Is thatyourdog?” He looks back over at me with wide eyes.

“Yep. That’s Maverick, wanna go say hi?”

“Just a sec. I’ll be right back!” he yells, taking off down the hallway. I can’t help but laugh as I stand back up and start walking towards Ruby, who still hasn’t moved from the entryway.

“You alright, Honey?” I place my hands on the back of her arms, rubbing gently up and down as she begins to relax.

“I just… I had no idea what to expect. I’m honestly shocked and so relieved by how well this is going.” She laughs.

“Tank, Mom, come here!” Hendrix calls us over as he sits on the couch with Maverick at his feet. He leans down to let Mav sniff his hand before petting him gently on the head. Ruby and I take our seats, and with one of us on each side of him, he hands me a piece of paper barely containing his excitement as I unfold it. Warmth spreads through my chest when I look down to see a picture of the three of us playing soccer.

“Wow, little man. This is a really good picture.” I smile at him but his features drop and he clams up a little bit.

“Thanks,” he mutters under his breath.

“What’s the matter, sweetie?” Ruby asks, pulling him closer, as his eyes trail up slowly to mine.

“I played soccer this year,” he says sadly. “I wish you could have seen me.”

“I saw,” I tell him, nodding my head.

“Youdid?” He looks at me curiously, and I see Ruby mimic his reaction.

“Your very first game you were the only one on the team that even got close to scoring a goal. The next few games you were theonlyone to score. The night one of your teammates showed up in a cast you played goalie for the first time and stopped all but one ball from getting through. I was so proud of you because even when you got upset you took a deep breath and kept playing your best. And at your last game—youscored the winning goal.” I poke his chest as his eyes grow wide. His expression is ecstatic as he hears me recapping his plays.

“You werethere?” Ruby chokes out.

“For every game.”

“But I never saw you.” Hendrix frowns. I take a deep breath, trying to find the best way to explain myself. And with Hendrix, that’s always with the truth.

“I know, buddy, and I’m sorry about that. I was trying to make sure I was all better before seeing you and your mom again. I had to make sure I was keeping you both safe.”

“So you were watching, but you couldn’t come to talk to us because you had to protect us?” he asks, picking up one of his toys off the couch. I avoid looking at Ruby at first, unsure how she may feel about me borderline stalking them, but when I finally do, she’s staring back at me with misty eyes. And though I’m answering Hendrix’s question, I’m making a promise to her as well.

“Yeah, bud. I’llalwaysprotect you.” She blinks a few times as she looks away, readjusting her position on the couch. She uses my statement as a segway into why I’m here in the first place and taps Hendrix’s to get his focus back on her.

“Hey, I actually have something to tell you. It’sreallyimportant. Are you ready?” Hendrix nods again and Ruby glances at me before she starts.

“How would you feel if I told you Tank and I were getting married?” I can hear the encouragement in her voice, projecting that this is a good thing, but I can also see the nervousness in her eyes as she awaits his response.

“Like Uncle Max and Aunt Shane?”

“Yes, exactly.” She smiles sweetly at him as he grows excited, then his face twists.

“Do I have to wear a suit again? That thing gave me wedgies.” I can’t help but laugh remembering how mad he was in that suit at the wedding. Then he lights up again.

“Does this mean I’ll get a baby sister now? I like baby Cece, she looks like a baby doll but she’s squishy.” He makes little pinching motions with his fingers, making me chuckle.

“No. No suits, No babies.” She cuts him off quickly.

Oh, I’d definitely put a baby in her.

“Oh. Okay. Then why are you getting married?” he asks. When I look at Ruby I can tell she’s drawing a complete blank. I’m sure of all the questions she thought he might ask,thatwasn’t one of them. Because therealreason we’re getting married isn’t a reason she’s ready to give him. So I take her hand in mine and fill in the blanks.

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