Page 38 of Salvation

One person’s tinkling laugh catches my attention and I turn to look at her. Hope is holding a small dark-haired boy on her lap and she’s laughing as he makes faces at her. She makes some back and he giggles and squeals in delight. The florescent lights glint off her loose ponytail and her cheeks are rosy from laughter. Her eyes are sparkling as she plays with the child, allowing his mother to eat her meal.

She must see me out of the corner of her eye, because her head turns, and she smiles at me. Standing, she balances the child on her hip and walks over. As she reaches me, she smiles again. “Hey, Detective.”

I smile back. “Hey. Who’s this?” I ask as I look at the small dark haired little boy. A pang hits me in the gut as I realize that this could be Gabrial’s child. He’s dark like him, but absolutely beautiful. This is what Hope and Gabrial’s child might look like.

He reaches out for me, and I instinctively reach for him. He comes right to me and puts his chunky little hands on my cheeks. He stares at me, and his dark eyes seem to look into my soul. Then he smiles, and his little gummy smile melts my heart.

Hope leans over and tickles him. “Hey Leon, this is my friend Luke. Can you say ‘hi’ to him?”

He grins again and says, “Hi, Loop.”

I laugh. “Hey, Leon. What you doing, champ? Did you eat some dinner?”

Leon nods enthusiastically and claps. “Yum. Yum. I a big boy.”

Hope smiles at him again and says, “Yes, you are a big boy. A big boy who ate all of his dinner, so… you know what that means…”

He claps again and squeals as he bounces in my arms. I laugh and tighten my hold so as not to drop him as he yells, “I gets ice queem.”

Hope grins and reaches for him to take him from me as she says, “You do get ice cream.” Turning away from her, he snuggles into my arms before looking at her over his shoulder. He grins.

Shaking her head, she slaps her hands on her hips. “Oh, you don’t want to come with me? You have a new favorite friend, you little stinker?”

He nods and hugs me, and my heart just melts a little more. “Loop get ice queem.”

Hope laughs at me and points to the kitchen. “Well, Detective, you have a new fan, and he says you need to get him his ice cream.” She walks to the table and sits, leaving me standing there with the little boy. I immediately panic.

I have to go get ice cream with him by myself?

I sputter, “Ummmm.”

Hope laughs again and I see all the women at the table giggling at my expression. She smirks at me. “You know where the kitchen is and I’m pretty sure you know how to scoop ice cream. You can do it…

“Be strong.”

I mutter something under my breath, not realizing Leon can hear me. He repeats it. “Smartass woman.” My face flames with mortification.

Hope smirks, saying, “Tisk. Tisk. Tisk. Kids hear everything. Language, Detective.” But she’s trying not to laugh as she says it.

Turning on my heel, I leave the women at the table and whisper to Leon as we enter the kitchen, “We are manly men, buddy. We can do this.” Tucking him against me like a football, I open the freezer and take inventory, then ask, “Okay, champ. What will it be? Vanilla? Chocolate? Or strawberry ice cream?”

Leon points to the pink container and I grab it. After setting it on the counter, I manage to grab a bowl, and then, the scoop and a spoon. Once I’m set, I set him on the counter between my legs to hold him and scoop out a healthy serving. He claps when he sees how much I gave him.

Oops.

Leaving his treat on the counter, I pick him back up and rinse the scoop before laying it out to dry, pop the ice cream back in the freezer, and then grab his large serving and walk back out to the tables while whistling.

Leon is in one arm and his ice cream is in the other. I’m feeling pretty damn proud of myself.

The women all watch me as I cross the room before sitting down and placing Leon on my lap with his ice cream in front of him.

Hope’s eyes are shining as she asks, “You survive?”

I nod and rub Leon’s head. “Piece of cake. We got this, huh, buddy!?”

Leon grins at everyone around the ice cream all over his face. “Loop give me lots of ice queem.”

Everyone giggles and I join them.

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