“I know.” I sighed.
She sighed too. Just watched me try to compose myself. Emma Blessing. Strongest, smartest woman I knew. It was an honour and an actual blessing to have her by my side. Even when I wanted to shout in her face.
“He’s here for the weekend. I’ll file all the paperwork, and I can guarantee he’ll be escorted at all times and not cause any concern.”
“He already has.”
“I’ll speak to Jones.”
“And I will fill in the logs, as long as you do as you’re told.” She looked like she meant it as well. Now that was concerning.
“And what am I told?” I wanted to stomp my feet. I wanted to shout. I wanted Bailey Butcher back in his room, and I wanted to be back in bed with Noah. That’s what I wanted.
And what I wanted? I could never have.
“You have two options here. You get him moved, or you embrace him.”
“No, Emma. The only option here is working with him to settle in.”
“And destroy his faith in mankind? Again?”
“What are you on about, Emma?”
“I’m telling you. Make that call. Ask about Butcher’s failed adoption. That’s the first step.”
“You can ask me.”
Oh fuck. Here he was, on the doorstep, having once again crept in without us noticing.
“Butcher,” Emma whined.
“They hated me. I hated them. You can’t just plonk a kid in a house and expect him to call the people who live there Mum and Dad. It doesn’t work like that.”
“I understand,” I said. Well, I didn’t, but his words made perfect sense.
“I’m sorry,” Emma said. “We’re trying to figure out why you come sleep on the floor here. It’s too cold, Butcher, and not safe.”
“Safe from what? It’s not like I’m going to be eaten by wild bears or something. It’s inside, and it’s quiet. I’ve slept in worse places.”
“We need to work this out,” I said, trying to gather myself up here. “Sleeping on the floor is not an option, Butcher.”
“Nothing to figure out,” he said, and then he crossed his arms as well. The three of us standing there in some kind of verbal standoff. “I’m going to choose my family from now on. If I have to stay here, then I choose.”
“And what do you choose?” Emma. Always kind. Always asking the impossible. Fuck.
“I want to live over here, with him. He’s not got kids. And I’m right here.”
“I’m your headmaster,” I started, but he just laughed in my face.
“So?”
“Bailey,” I whined. I was starting to sound like Emma.
“What happened toButcher?”
Okay. I’d admit it. He was impossible.
“We talked about rules last night. We’re going to make some more.”
