Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
And A.J. rewarded her.
Standing suddenly, he rushed to his room. We all heard the commotion as he threw things around, and when he finally found what he was looking for, he returned. Ana took the outstretched brown bear he held, and as she looked at it, he told her, “Sometimes, when I get sad, I hug my bear.” He looked her in the eye in the unabashed way only a child could. “He feels nice. He’s soft and smells like cookies.”
Ana put her nose to the center of the teddy bear’s stomach then smiled. “He does.” She handed him back his bear. “But I can’t take him from you. He’s yours.”
He puffed out his chest, as he stated, “I’m a big boy. I don’t need him anymore.”
“Sure you do,” she said kindly, holding out his bear, insisting he take it from her.
When he said what he did, pride warmed me. “I think you need him more.”
He was a good boy and he genuinely wanted to help. As I plated up breakfast, I quietly told her, “Stubborn as a mule, he is. He won’t take no for an answer.” My eyes widened comically. “Trust me on that.”
At my son’s persistence, she looked down at the bear, gently touching its nose before hugging it to her, her long black hair falling over her face. Her voice was soft. “Thank you.”
He returned her smile. “You’re pretty, Ana.” Then he turned to me. “Can I watch TV now?”
Oh my God, this child. “Sure.”
Julius’s shoulders shook in silent laughter as he sat at the table, taking his plate with him. “I better watch my back, Lex. I think your boy’s tryin’a steal my girl.”
As I sat with them, I uttered, “I don’t know what’s gotten into him this morning. I’m so sorry.”
But it was Ana who responded. “It’s okay. I love A.J.”
I looked at my son in the next room and my face softened. “He loves you too.”
And he did. He proved it time and time again, spending time with Ana when he thought she was lonely, talking to her, sharing his snacks with the little woman, bringing her his most cherished things to borrow or keep. And when time came to say goodbye, A.J. was devastated.
He asked a soggy, “Are you ever coming back?” as he wiped at his nose with his sleeve.
Ana knelt down and smiled gently. “Of course, baby. We’re not moving far.” She took his hand and held it tight. “You can come visit whenever you like.”
“Now?” he asked, sniffling, and she laughed softly at how ridiculous he was being.
I had a strong feeling that A.J. had helped her heal some, and there was no better compliment as a parent. It spoke volumes about his character.
It hurt to see him lose his friend, but it was nice to see Ana and Julius taking steps forward in life. For a long while, they were stuck. Not moving forward or backward.
Just... stuck.
With a gentle hand, she wiped away his tears and spoke quietly. “I promise as soon as we have furniture and I have a bed for you, you can come have a sleepover with us, okay?”
At that, he smiled through his tears. “Okay.” He hugged her as tightly as he could, and when they parted, Julius held his arms open.
A.J. went to him slowly, dragging his feet, and when he reached him, he dipped his chin, looking miserable. Julius picked him up, and when A.J. rested his head on Uncle Julius’s shoulder, my insides melted into a pile of goop.
“You’re the man of the house,” Julius told him, and A.J. nodded at his shoulder. “That means you’ve gotta look after your mom.”
I smiled sadly when A.J. looked to me and muttered, “I will. I promise.”
“That’s my boy,” Julius said, holding his godson close and swaying gently from side to side. “You good?”
A.J. shook his head dismally and Julius hugged him tighter, snuffling out a soft laugh through his nose. “Aw, c’mon. You’re killin’ me here.”
When I saw A.J. smirk, I knew he was milking it, clearly loving the attention, and later that night, when Julius and Ana had finally left us, the house felt dreadfully still, quiet in a way it hadn’t been in months, and to be honest, I didn’t like it. Not one bit.
Weeks passed, and the house remained still. Julius called, and he sounded uneasy when he said, “I think I might be overstepping here, Lex.”
What an odd sentiment.
We were so far past overstepping. After all we had been through, I didn’t think we could have lived any other way than what we were. Boundaries never got crossed because there were no boundaries between us.
“No such thing,” I told him. “What’s up?”
“I got a call from someone I know. Actually, the daughter of someone I know. She’s looking for work.”