“Go ahead,” I challenged, turning my back on him.
“I need to get Teddy home,” she said. “I have no idea how I’m going to get him into my car, though.”
I smiled. “I’ll help you. Come on.”
“No,” she said. “Look, I appreciate you stepping in with those men, but I really think I should handle this myself.”
I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. “You look a little overwhelmed to me, sweetheart. I think you should let me help.”
“Oh my god, how is it possible you look bigger?” she squeaked, staring at my arms.
I got that I was imposing and the last thing I wanted was to scare her, so I smiled, sliding my hands beside me again. “I’m an optical illusion.”
Wyatt’s lips twitched and I could tell she was trying not to smile.
“Let me help you with Teddy. I promise I’ll make sure he’s safe.”
She looked at me unconvinced, but nodded then followed me over to the skee-ball lane Teddy was commandeering.
“More skee-ball!” Teddy begged.
“We really need to get back home, Teddy Bear,” Wyatt said.
“But I want more skee-ball.”
“I know, buddy, but we really need to get back. Remember when I told you that we had a long drive both ways, and we need to get back to Dr. Hilliard.”
“Doctor Hilliard’s my friend.”
“Yeah, he is, buddy, and he’ll want you to come back.”
“No.” He shook his head shaking his hands. “Skee-ball.”
“How about we play one more game of skee-ball, and then I’ll show you my bike?” I countered.
“Yeah! Bike!” Teddy yelled, and I grinned.
“Or, we could go look at my bike now.”
“Wait,” Wyatt said. “You need to go potty first.”
Teddy’s face dropped and he shook his head. “Bad men.”
“The bad men are gone, Teddy Bear.”
“No!” he snapped.
“I’ll take him,” I offered.
“We don’t know you,” Wyatt said.
“Areyougonna take him?”
She sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Well, no.”
“I’ll take care of him, sweetheart, I promise,” I said, and turned to Teddy. “You want me to go with you?”
He nodded. “My name’s Teddy.”
