Page 67 of A Game of Secrets

"Babe, I'm sure if he could be with you he would be." Kat starts but my attention is suddenly diverted as I hear Teddy shout "Uncle Max!" across the park.

"Uh Kat I'm sorry, I've got to go," I say and without waiting for a response I end the call as I make my way towards Max who already has Teddy on his shoulders.

"Look Mommy, look who I found," Teddy squeals excitedly as Max pretends to drop him, catching him just before he hits the floor.

"Yes, I can see," I say, narrowing my eyes at my brother who pretends not to notice.

He crouches down and looks Teddy in the face, "Hey buddy, go show me how far you can get across the monkey bars and I'll join you in a minute. I need to talk to your Mom first," he says, tapping him gently on the back.

Teddy looks up to me and I smile, "Go on baby, we'll be there in a minute," I say, nodding towards the monkey bars.

"Okay but I will beat you," he taunts Max as he runs away.

Max chuckles to himself, "Feisty kid isn't he," he says then turns to me and holds up his hands in a mock surrender. "I'm sorry OK, I really am but I can't go on like this. You're my sister and I would be lying if I said I hadn't missed you and Teddy over the last week," he says, glancing back over to where Teddy is swinging himself from bar to bar and I can see by the look in his eyes that he means what he's said.

I sigh, "Yeah, well I've missed you like a hole in the head," I whine and he laughs gently pushing my shoulder

"Piss off, we've never gone this long without talking before. I know you've missed your annoying big brother," he laughs and I roll my eyes at his blatant big-headedness, though he isn't wrong. I have missed him and I know Teddy has missed him too.

"You've been so good to us Max, I just think you sometimes forget that I am an adult now and I can make my own decisions about who I see and what I do." Max opens his mouth to say something but I hold my hand up to stop him. "They've been nothing but nice to me Max. They treat Teddy so kindly and he even asks to see them again. You may know them one way, but I know them another. And they've been there for me when you haven't." I sigh and notice Max frown as he registers what I've said.

"What do you mean? What's happened?" he asks.

"Vinny tried to get Teddy from kindergarten on Friday."

Max sucks his teeth loudly and fists his hands at his sides. "What the fuck Luce, why didn't you call me?" I shake my head, unsure of the real answer as to why my brother, the one who has looked out for Teddy since he was born, wasn't my first choice of contact when I found out his father, my abusive ex-husband had tried to take him. I stay quiet, unsure of what to say and just as I think he will shout at me for being so stupid when Max pulls me into his arms and squeezes me tightly.

"It'll be okay, I'm here now," he whispers, and I melt, forgetting our recent arguments and letting the familiar feelings of love and safety and family all cocoon me until I'm no longer holding onto any hatred or anger towards him.

"How did you know where we were anyway?" I ask as he finally releases me.

"I have my ways," he winks and I can't help but roll my eyes, he chuckles to himself slightly before saying, "I actually went to your apartment first and the guy parked outside in the SUV recognised me and let me know you were at the park with Teddy," he pauses slightly and runs his hand up through his hair. "Come to think of it, I probably should have fucking shot him for doing a shitty job on surveillance considering you're not even in the house right now."

I roll my eyes at his sudden outburst but shake it off. "You fucking mafia men are all the same," I laugh.

Max steps back and puts his hand over his heart like I've just stabbed him, "Woah now, I take great offense," he jokes and pretends to start choking.

"Well I'm not taking it back so suck it up buttercup," I smile and give him a playful shove.

"Hey, let me watch Teddy for the rest of the day for you, he can stay overnight too if you want. Give you a bit of a break." Max says and I have to bite back my knee-jerk reaction to say no. He must see me dwelling over it as he taps me on the shoulder. "Oh come on Luce. It's not like he's never stayed over with me before."

"I know, I know, but I just don't want him out of my sight at the moment," I admit shrugging my shoulders.

"And he would be no better protected than with me. You know that. I love him more than anything," he sighs, holding me by both shoulders now so I'm looking straight into his eyes. I chew my lip contemplating whether or not it's a good idea and decide to ask him himself.

"We'll ask Teddy, see what he wants to do," I say and Max grins widely at me.

"You know that's going to be a yes straight away," he laughs, and yes I do know that. There'll be no talking him out of it either.

We make our way to the monkey bars and it's like nothing has ever happened, no arguments, no hatred, no fallouts. It's the wholest I've felt in a very long time. "Hey bud, how are you getting on?" Max asks as Teddy drops from the bars.

"I can almost get across," he says, climbing up to the beginning again and jumping up to catch the bar.

"You can do it baby!" I cheer as he swings himself across.

"Come on Tedster," Max calls from the other side, holding his hands out to catch him in case he falls. Teddy makes his way to the last but two bars and kicks out his legs.

"I can't do it," he wails and Max holds him up around the waist.

---