Page 25 of Fresh Start
“Oh, that’s great, sweetie. Come on, now. We need to get you back to your dad,” he said, completely ignoring my wave.
“But—but... he’s Detective Strong,” she said.
“Yes, he is. And we’re late. And your dad is going to get mad at me if we’re any later,” he said and cast a glance that could have cut through glass.
Summer looked from Leo to me and back to Leo and squinted her cute little eyes before turning back to me. And then her eyes shot open just like they had when she recognized me.
“Can we play?” Summer asked.
Of all the things I’d expected her to say, that was the last.
“Erm, I’d love to, Lil’ one, but I’m afraid your uncle needs to take you back, and I wouldn’t want to get your Leo, I mean uncle, your uncle in trouble.”
“Please, Uncle Leo. Can we call Dad and ask him if I can stay a little longer?” Summer said.
Leo looked ready to succumb to the little one’s charms, but then he glanced at me and told her no.
Despite the abrupt response, Summer wasn’t defeated.
“Can we play tomorrow?” she asked me, and Leo answered for me.
“We’ll see.”
“I’d love to,” I said also.
Leo glowered at me.
“Will you bring me here again tomorrow so we can play with Strong?” Summer said.
Leo rubbed the back of his neck and hissed.
“I don’t know, sweetie. We gotta full day, and I’m sure Dawson, erm, Detective Strong, is busy—”
“I’m not busy,” I said.
Another mean look from Leo.
“Great. You can come with us at the butterfly tour,” Summer said, and it seemed she had already decided that’s what we were doing and there was no question about it.
Leo nodded his head gently, accepting his niece’s victory and took her hand.
“Come on. Let’s go home, troublemaker,” he said.
“Good night, Detective,” Summer said.
“Good night, lil’ butterfly,” I said and used my Strong voice again. “Good night, Uncle Leo.”
Leo rolled his eyes at me and didn’t say anything. Summer ran off to the guesthouse, but Leo kept the same pace.
“Can I talk to you later, when you’re back?” I asked him.
“We’ve got nothing to say,” Leo said and picked up the pace.
All I wanted was to say I’m sorry.
But like everything, it’d have to wait for another day.
Six
