It had been two days since Danny had regained consciousness at the hospital. He was recovering slowly but surely. Ollie and I had been driving out to Hart County General each day to visit him, usually with Grayden coming along.
Yesterday, Ashford had brought Maisie to the hospital to meet us. For the first time, she’d met her Uncle Grayden. She’d been hesitant as he went down to one knee, holding out his hand for her to shake.
I swear, that moment would be etched into my mind forever. How beautiful it was. Howbig.
All of us adults had been fighting back tears, while Maisie and Ollie immediately said they were bored and asked to check out the gift shop.
After we got home from the hospital, Grayden and Ollie had skateboarded in the driveway for the rest of the afternoon. Orrather, Grayden sat and clapped loudly whenever Ollie attempted a trick.
They’d watched online videos of skateboarders to get ideas.Yikes.
But I’d also witnessed serious safety discussions, and Grayden made sure Ollie wore his helmet. Grayden started calling him Big Air after Ollie made an especially impressive jump off the curb.
I loved seeing them together.
In fact, I couldn’t remember when I’d ever been this happy.
Ollie took another bite of pancake and asked his question. “Are you going to move in with us?”
I nearly choked on my sip of coffee and started coughing.
Grayden smirked at me and reached for my hand under the kitchen table. “That’s probably a question your mom needs to answer.”
“Grayden has his own place,” I said, once I’d stopped coughing.
“Then why does he keep sleeping on our couch?”
“Well…he…”
“I’ve been stressed the last few days,” Grayden said. “Makes me feel better to be near you guys. You’re pretty much my favorite people. And I have several contenders on my list, so that’s saying a lot.”
And there went my heart, melting like syrup into pancakes.
Ollie nodded. “Mom and I have been stressed too.”
“Do you mind me hanging around?” Grayden asked.
“Nah, it’s alright. If you moved in, we could practice skateboarding tricks way more. Can we do that today? It would begreatfor my stress levels.”
Grayden and I exchanged an amused glance. This kid. “Sorry, bud. You’re going back to school today. Skateboarding will have to wait until after.”
Ollie rolled his eyes. “Stupid school.”
After breakfast, we did our usual comedy of errors trying to get out the door. But finally, we madeit into the car.
Grayden came with us, sitting in the front seat. We’d swung by his place a couple days ago so he could grab some clothes and toiletries, but his truck was still parked under the carport there.
When I pulled to the front of the drop-off line, Ollie jumped out with his backpack. He trotted into the school and waved.
“I’m worried the other kids will be talking about Danny,” I said. “And about you.”
“He’s ready for it. He’s strong, like his mom.”
I’d been answering plenty of difficult questions from my kid. He knew Danny had been stabbed and that we didn’t know the identity of the assailant.
He also knew the police had questioned Grayden, but that Grayden had only helped Danny.
Mom, why do people do things like that?Ollie had asked.Why do they hurt each other? Not like in a movie but for real.
