That's something.
Mary makes tea.Enya gets Warren settled with juice and biscuits at the kitchen table.I hang back.Give them space.Let Warren have his mam to himself.
But he keeps glancing at me, like he's trying to figure me out.
After a while, he says, "Are you Mam's boyfriend?"
Enya goes still.Mary looks up sharply.Both women waiting to see how I answer.
"I'm someone who cares about your mam very much," I say carefully."And I'm someone who wants to be around.If that's okay with you."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you want to be around?"
"Because your mam's important.And you're important.And I want to make sure you're both safe and happy."
He thinks about this."My da used to say he wanted to keep us safe.But he didn't.He made Mam cry."
The words hit like a fist.Direct.Innocent.Devastating.
Enya's face goes pale.Mary reaches for her hand.
I stay very still.Very calm."I'm not your da.And I won't make your mam cry.I promise."
"How do you know?"
"Because I care about her.Really care.And when you care about someone, you protect them.You don't hurt them."
Warren stares at me.Weighing.Deciding.
Then he says, "Okay.Can we see the bike now?"
Just like that.Crisis averted.Trust offered.Tentative and fragile but there.
Enya looks at me.Grateful.Relieved.Terrified.
I nod."Yeah.Let's go see the bike."
Outside, Warren's fascination with the bike is immediate and absolute.He runs his small hand over the chrome and asks a hundred questions.What does this do?How fast does it go?Is it loud?
I answer each one.Patient.Careful.Aware that Enya's watching from a few feet away.
"Can I sit on it?"Warren asks.
"If your mam says it's okay."
He looks at Enya."Can I?"
She hesitates, then nods."Just for a minute.And Devin has to hold you."
I lift him carefully, settle him on the seat, and stand close.One hand on his back to make sure he doesn't slip.
He grips the handlebars, face lit up with pure joy."I'm on a motorbike!"
"You are."
