Page 52 of Baby Blue
“Yeah, well, that’s sure the truth,” she replied with a laugh.
“But there’s something you have to do.” Blue waited until both kids were looking at him. “There’s something going on that you don’t know about. Somebody called social services and they might try to take Indigo away from me.”
“No! We won’t let that happen! I’ll get my cape and sword and kill them all!” Toady yelled, bouncing up and down on the sofa.
“No. That wouldn’t be helpful. But whatwouldbe helpful would be to keep the news about me and your mom quiet for a while, at least until we make them go away,” Blue explained.
“Yeah. We can talk about it at home, but not with anyone else anywhere,” Anne added.
“Okay. So it’s a secret until those people go away,” Toady said.
Blue nodded. “Yes. Exactly.”
Polly seemed much older than her years when she nodded. “We can do that. We won’t tell a soul. But you have to promise to tell us when it’s all over.”
Anne patted her hand in reassurance. “We’ll do that.” She started to say something else, but Blue’s phone started to ring.
“I don’t recognize this number.”
“Then you’d better take it,” Anne told him.
Blue stepped out onto her front steps and answered the call. “Hello?”
“Brent Wallace?”
“Speaking.”
“This AlexWynn. From Tidal Wave? I wanted to talk to you about the song and the rest of your repertoire. Could we meet somewhere tomorrow?”
“Sure, I suppose. I’d have to bring my daughter with me. What time and where?”
“Murphy’s Coffee and Cake on Fountain Avenue at three?”
Blue knew exactly where that was. “Sounds good. See you there.”
“Thanks. Oh, and if you’ve got more songs, please bring them.”
“Sure thing.” Blue ended the call and stood there. What the hell? Apparently the guy was serious.
He stepped back into the house to a frantic Anne running in ten different directions. “There’s leftover lasagna in the refrigerator. I put a load of clothes in to wash. Please put them in the dryer when they’re finished. And do your homework,” she barked at the kids. “And you,” she said, stepping in front of Blue, “you behave yourself.” Reaching for her bag, she said, “Oh, and who was that on the phone?”
“Long story. Tell you later. Go to work.” He kissed her forehead. “Be careful. I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered into his collarbone as he hugged her to him.
“I love you too,” Toady mimicked, then opened his mouth and wagged his tongue around. “Glak, glak, glak,” he yelled, trying to make an open-mouthed kissing sound but sounding more like he was retching. “Gross!”
“Shut up, Toady. They’re in love,” Polly said, her eyes all dreamy.
“Man, I think we screwed up by saying anything to these two,” Anne said, chuckling against Blue’s lips.
He slapped her ass and grinned. “Go to work. Talk to you later.”
As her car pulled away, he looked at the two kids. “Homework. I’ll take care of the laundry.”
“There’s enough lasagna here for you too, Mr.Blue,” Polly said, pulling the container out. Then she put it back and turned to look at him. “Do we have to keep calling you Mr.Blue?”
“For now, I think you should stay in the habit, but as soon as the coast is clear, I don’t care what you call me as long as you call me for supper,” Blue said with a laugh.
