“I want you to come along, Jacko. Always. Let’s go pick up my kid.”
I let go of him and his arms drop back down to his sides. This time, when I hold out a hand, he doesn’t even hesitate for a second. The grin he gives me when I squeeze his fingers is pleased. Somehow, I’m able to convince my facial muscles into motion and smile back.
Everything is going to be fine, Victoria tells me, and damn if I don’t believe it.
Parker walksinto the administrator’s office white as a sheet. When he sees me standing at the counter, he relaxes slightly, but still regards me with a slightly fearful look in his eyes. I’ve never signed him out of school early before, and he’s a clever kid. I can practically see the cogs turning in his brain, adding my presence here and the “meeting” together; coming to the conclusion that this has something to do with fighting in court.
“Des?” he asks, stepping over to me, eyes bouncing between me and the secretary. She smiles at him, but he doesn’t return it.
“Thank you.” I nod to her, putting a hand on his shoulder and gently steering him toward the door. “Hey, little buddy. Early day today.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.” Outside, I point over to one of the benches in front of the school. He sits and I crouch down in front of him, wanting to be able to see his face. He looks terrified. “Seriously, nothing is wrong. I just wanted to talk to you for a second.”
“I don’t want to live with Grandma,” he says fearfully, eyes wide and intent on mine. My sister’s eyes. I put a hand on his knee, gripping gently.
“You don’t have to. That’s what I wanted to tell you. That’s what my meeting was about today—you’re going to stay with me.”
“You won the fight?” he asks, which almost gets a laugh from me.
“Yeah.”
His fingers, clenched tightly around the straps of hisbackpack, tighten and release. Looking away from me and back again, he bites his lip uncertainly. The fear is still there, but harder to see behind the shine of tears. He’s trying very hard not to cry.
“Ever, though?” he clarifies, blinking and looking away again. “Like…I don’t ever have to go?”
“Right. You’re going to stay with me forever.”
“What if?—”
“No ifs.” I cut him off gently, jostling his knee a bit to bring his eyes back to mine. The moisture is still lining his eyes, but no tears have fallen. “You’re going to stay with me, because that’s what your mum and dad wanted. Because it’s what I want.”
“Me too,” he agrees softly, sniffing and making a concerted effort to swallow the tears back. I stand up.
“I thought we might wag today. Get some ice cream, and go to the beach maybe.”
He perks up the way he always does when I drop slang into a sentence. Grinning, he stands up and bumps me with his shoulder.
“Yeah,” he agrees. “Let’s wag.”
Snorting, I sling an arm over his shoulders and smile when he doesn’t push me away. I’d parked illegally, assuming that if the car was approached, Jack could simply move it. They’re right where I left them, though, the engine still running and Jack sitting in the passenger seat. Parker gasps when he sees him in the car.
“Jack’s here!” he exclaims, my arm falling away as he walks faster toward the vehicle. I round the hood as he throws open the back door, Jack turning in his seat to look back at Parker.
“Hey,” he greets him.
“We won!” Parker shouts, putting a hand on Jack’s arm and shaking it. No trace of tears any longer.
“Yeah,” Jack agrees, chuckling at his exuberance. When he turns to face forward, he catches my eye and smiles. It’s easier to return it this time. “That’s awesome. Are you happy?”
“Hell yeah!”
“Parker.” Glancing back at him as I pull out of the car park, I catch the shit-eating grin on his face. “No swearing.”
Parker just laughs. Next to me, Jack’s mouth is pressed together as though he wants to laugh as well, but is holding back out of solidarity. I shake my head at the pair of them.
“Ice cream?” I ask the car.
