The man at the front desk points me in the direction I should be heading.
I see him. He is sitting in a chair in the hallway by the nurse’s office swinging his feet. He’s not smiling. Not good. I make my way over to him and crouch next to him. “Hi Cody, remember me?”
Immediately his face lights up and he blesses me with the beauty of his gorgeous smile. That’s much better.
“You’re Laura, hi Laura.” He say’s with a little wave.
“Hi Cody, I’m going to take you home, is that alright?”
“Yeah, I wanna go home Laura. You can take me home, alright.”
I sign the appropriate papers, inwardly cringing because they are releasing this little boy to me, and they have no clue who I am. They didn’t even ask me to show them any identification. Oh, and then there is the little fact that I am not even his emergency contact, and the fact that I signed my own name, not Sue whatserfaces name.
I could be an axe murderer. Maybe I like to cook children and eat them while laughing and watching black and white documentaries.
I’m not any of these. But they don’t know this tidbit. I will have to talk to Logan about this. He’s a detective after all, he would know the dangers that are out there, and I don’t think he would be happy about the ease of me signing Cody out of school.
As we are about to leave the office I crouch down once again to get on Cody’s level. As he stares at me with his big blue eyes I am brought back to thinking about Ellie. I shake my head to rid myself of this thought. I place my hand of Cody’s forehead, he feels a little warm but it’s freaking hot, even inside.
“How do you feel Cody? Because I walked here, I could get us a ride back if you don’t feel like you can walk.”
“I can walk. I don’t feel good, but I can still walk. I LOVE to walk. I take walks all the time. Let’s walk Laura, I can show you all the things that are pwetty.” He is so adorable, I can’t help but give him a genuine smile back.
I reach out my hand and Cody grasps it.
His little hand in mine. Hold it together, hold it together! I manage to do just that, for Cody’s sake. I don’t want to freak him out. Geesh, I tell myself, he’s only six, and not feeling well. I’m an idiot.
We start to walk back to the ranch, thankfully at a much slower pace than my power walk to end all power walks to get here. Cody is a non -stop talker. This surprises me because when I found out that Cody did have Down syndrome I looked it up. I didn’t know what to expect, but from the few articles it said that there was a lack of vocabulary. But as it said, each child is different.
At times I was afraid he would pass out as he didn’t seem to stop to take a breath giving him much needed oxygen during some of his conversation. And he talked about everything. And I mean everything.
I found out it was just his Dad and him, but his Aunt Zoe lived with them. She’s old and not much fun according to Cody. This made me chuckle. Yes I chuckled. Still holding Cody’s hand.
I found out that Cody’s teacher, Mrs. Cruize thinks that his Dad is hot. (Yes his words.) But she is really nice to him and he thinks that she likes him the best in the class, so I will let that comment go.
Cody points out a few houses that we pass and tells me the names of the people who live in them. They were houses on large lots, but not a ranch like he lived on. His ranch is at the end of the long road that eventually leads to the school.
Cody likes trees with lots of leaves, didn’t really like the trees with the branches that hang low, and doesn’t like bees.
Cody loves horses and his Dad takes him riding every weekend. Unless it’s raining. This then turned into a conversation about the weather.
Cody didn’t think it was that hot out yet, I would have to disagree. I make him stop under a tree (with lots of leaves) to take a long cool drink of water. His forehead feels clammy, and he looks a little pale. I wish my truck was working. I make fast work of getting us walking again so we can make it to some air conditioning.
Then the questions turned to me. Cody asked if I had any kids. Without even waiting for a response he asked if I was married. I told him no (which seemed to appease him for both questions), but then I quickly changed the subject and told him about the cat that I found.
I could actually feel Cody’s excitement when I told him he could come back to my cottage and meet my cat. We’re almost back to the cottage I can see it from where we stand. Immediately Cody tenses up and stops talking mid sentence, leans over and throws up. He starts to cry which breaks my heart, thankfully with years of practice I am able to calm him down. I even made him laugh by thanking him for not getting it on me or his shoes, and made a silly face. But damn, I chastise myself for walking, I should have found a ride somehow. The cottage is getting closer but we’re not there yet. I distract Cody with my next conversation.
“I really really need your help.” This got him to smile again and look up at me, throwing up on the side of the road completely forgotten for a moment. Plus I wanted to get us home so I could take care of him.
“Really? I like to help. I help all the time, I help make dinner, help make my bed, help Dad feed horses, I help lots, and lots.”
“Well, I told you about the cat that now decided to live with me. It was scratching on my back door until I opened it, and guess what? She doesn’t want to leave!” I mock gasp which makes Cody laugh at me.
“What you need help with Laura?” Cody asks excited, yet I notice he is a little paler then before, damn I really should have found out if there was a cab, but the cottage is just up ahead.
“I need help naming her. I can’t seem to think of a name for my new cat. Can you help me name her?”
“Really?” Cody asks with wonder in his eyes.
“Yeah, really.”
“Whatever I want to name her, you name her?”
“Yup, totally, whatever you want to name her.”
Cody starts to jump, I gently hold him closer to me so he stops, not wanting him to get sick again, “Yippee, yippee, yeay. Maybe fuzzy, or Meowey, there wots’a names Laura, you know soooo many names!”
“I know Cody, and now it’s your job to think of the perfect name for her.”
Chapter Nine
Tough Cookie
Logan
Fuck!
I see there are a few missed calls all from Cody’s school. What could be wrong? After listening to the messages I hear that Cody is sick and needs to be picked up. Shit. The message stated that they were going to call Sue Crowley, the woman who rented the cottage from me last year. She was the emergency contact for Cody if I wasn’t around.
Sue got married and moved to California a few months ago and I never even thought to change the contact information at the school.
Everything is overwhelming so damn often. To raise a child, even though Cody can function like most children, there are still the extra difficulties that come with having a child with Down syndrome.
The ranch takes most of my time, plus making sure Zoe is comfortable. I cut back my hours at the station, and only work on special cases, but some day’s there doesn’t seem to be enough hours. Sometimes it seems like I am being pulled so thin I just may break. But I can’t break, I have to think of Cody.
I pull up to the school and it’s almost time for dismissal. I rush into the office where I am greeted by an unfamiliar face telling me that Cody wasn’t there. He was already picked up.
“By who?” I growl at the now terrified woman behind the counter.
My hearts pounding with fear and anger. The woman flips through her notes and then explains that they called the emergency contact information and the woman, Sue came and signed Cody out.
“Show me the papers, damn it.” I snap at the woman in front of me. She paled, but I don’t feel bad at all. I need to know who has my son. I’m pretty sure I know, but want to be certain.
The woman hands me the paper with shaking hands and starts to apologize when she notices the name isn’t Sue, but a Laura Gennin
gs.
Laura.
I assure the woman who is just filling in that I’m positive Cody is fine, but make a mental note to talk to the school principal when he returns from sick leave.
And today is only Monday, great way to start the week.
I grab my cell phone to call Laura when I realize I don’t have her number. Then I remember that she doesn’t have her heap of a vehicle. Thank goodness, I don’t want Cody anywhere near that rust trap. I hop into my truck and speed off home.
I pull up to the cottage and shut off the truck. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself before I scare Laura and Cody with my anger.
I’m not angry at them, but at myself for not making other plans for Cody if he was to get sick. What if he got hurt? I was out of cell range today for work at the station. Thankfully I finished up that job today and can focus on Cody and the ranch. But because of my job, I know anything can happen. And Cody has been alone, with a stranger. And I don’t even know if that stranger likes him. Last time he touched her she pulled away like she was burned.
I get out and walk up to the cottage. I quietly walk up to the window and look in. There sitting at the table is Cody and Laura. There is a fat cat sitting on Cody’s lap and he is smiling his perfect smile looking up at Laura.
She is looking back at him and smiling just as bright. That’s when it happens. I realize I totally misjudged her. She gets up to lean forward, to place her lips to his forehead. She then gently pushes his hair back from his face, puts her hand under his chin tilting his head back talking gently to him.
I know I should let them know I’m here, but I can’t pull myself away from this scene. My son who so deserves the tenderness of a woman, is actually receiving it from this angel walking on earth. Fuck.
I watch Laura walk to the sink and wet a washcloth, fold it a few times and bring it back to Cody gently wiping his face.
Cody’s sick, and I am standing out here like a damn voyeur. I quickly pull myself from my stupor and knock on the door.
I hear footsteps and a minute later the door is pulled open to a beautiful woman, but I quickly notice the scowl on her face and narrow eyes pointed in my direction.
Shit, she’s pissed she had to take care of my son. But damn, it would be nice to receive one of those smiles that she was just giving Cody. I tell myself that I don’t mind because she took care of my boy when no one else was available, and for that I’m grateful.
“Hey, I see they let you take Cody home, how’s he doing?” I try to be calm, but it’s hard for multiple reasons. One Laura does something to me. She makes my blood rush like no other woman ever has. And two, I’m still on an adrenaline high from not knowing where Cody was for a few minutes.
Laura is still scowling at me.
Damn she’s cute.
I quickly realize that she’s not pissed that Cody’s here, but mad for Cody’s sake. This makes me fall a little further for this woman.
**********
“They let me sign him out, no questions asked! I could be a crazy woman!” I hiss quietly so Cody won’t hear. Now that I think of it, I bet Logan thinks I am a crazy woman. It doesn’t register that he’s looking at me with blatant desire, no I don’t see that, I just continue on my rant. Although in a mere whisper, I know Logan gets that I’m pissed.
“I could have a side hobby of eating little children and keeping their teeth on a string above my bedpost! What if I have a strange desire to re-enact Hansel and Gretel. They don’t know me. You know why? Because they don’t know me (and I lean in for extra emphasis) at all! No, they just let me take his little hand and walk right out of the school.” She looks back at Cody and continues her rant when she see’s he is content petting the fat cat on his lap. “You know I even tested them. Yup I did. Guess what, they failed. I signed MY name, not Sue whatserface’s name!”
Logan smiles at me, his eyes are now a liquid blue. Between the smile and the eyes I am mesmerized. Then he has the nerve to look me up and down and say, “Darlin’.”
Therefore, I stop my rant, and am immediately encased in a Logan daze. That smile on that gorgeous face. A face that looks like God decided to take a break from world disasters, famine, and other travesties and decided to create perfection in a male species, whom is named Logan. His looks are so perfect that he can shock a woman into submission. Add that with his low voice calling me darlin’, in that Texas drawl. My knees quake. And I pray I don’t drool.
“You are certainly an enigma.”
I try to pull myself out of the daze by looking anywhere but at his face. I look over at his shoulder to break myself from the daze. It’s then I notice (again) how broad his shoulders are. My eyes (on their own volition) decide to travel down to his narrow hips which now has a gun holster attached. This makes him into a tough-looking-hot-alpha-detective-cowboy. Nice.
He is obviously concerned about his son which in turn knocks his hot factor up a few notches (if that’s possible).
“I am not an enigma. And by the way Cody threw up.” I blurt out. “He threw up while we were walking home.”
“You both walked home, with him sick?” Logan asks annoyed again.
“I didn’t have a choice. Remember car broken. (I give Logan a duhh look) He was pretty excited about walking home so I thought it would be all right, filled me in on his life, your life, his aunts life, and some other interesting facts.” I couldn’t help but smile.
Logan is staring at my mouth. “You should do that more often.” Logan say’s while looking at me.
“What?” I ask still smiling looking up at Logan.
“Smile.” He answers.
That immediately wipes the smile right off my face. I can’t believe I am standing here smiling. What’s wrong with me?
“And there it goes.” Logan say’s so low I know he’s talking to himself. Whatever.
I mentally shake myself out of my stupor, “Cody has a fever. I took his temperature and its 100.4, which isn’t too bad, seems there is a stomach bug going around his school. And I mean going around in that almost everyone of importance along with a ton of kids are sick. Hence me being able to take Cody out of the school. Like I said he threw up on the way home and then once again here.”
I hesitated before rambling on. “I didn’t give him any Tylenol. I have children’s Tylenol, but didn’t know if he’s allergic to it. He had an ice pop, OK, he convinced me to give him two ice pops. But he doesn’t feel well, so I did. Plus I gave him some ginger ale. I made him toast about an hour ago and so far, so good.” We’re still standing in the doorway. I know I should move so he can enter, but I am stuck in place.
I could see Logan watching me carefully. I noticed his eyes became more alert when I said I had children’s Tylenol. I bet he’s wondering why a single grown woman would have children’s Tylenol. Well my friends, that is none of his business.
Why do I still have it you wonder? Because when I left I just packed up all of the things that was in the bathroom, that was one of the things there. So I packed it with me. It was hard, no, near impossible to throw away anything at all that had to do with Ellie. I left her sheets on her bed, her comforter still in place. Jenny promised she would take care of that. I did a quick walk through of her room and took the items I couldn’t ever part with. Like the stuffed bunny that sits on my bed that I hold close when I sleep. Jenny promised to donate Ellie’s clothes and bedding to children who need it.
Cody pulls his attention from Mrs. Chubbywubby Meowy Pants. Yes, after careful consideration that’s what he decided to name her. When I gave him an ‘are you sure’ look, he reminded me that I promised. So, there you go.
“DADDY!” Cody yells and runs to Logan full force, and I can tell he is not going to put the brakes on, like at all. He throws himself at Logan and like a pro Logan grabs his son and picks him up.
“How you feeling buddy?” Logan asks his son gently. Running his hand through his son’s hair and then placing the back of his hand on his forehead.
Wow, I
’d like to be on the other side of that gentle voice. Just hearing it makes my panties wet, and he’s not even talking (or looking) at me.
“Yucky Daddy-o. I threw up, twice! (He states this holding up two fingers like it’s a good thing, but I am noticing Cody is just all around happy even sick). Laura let me have two ice pops. Blue ones! I ate toast. And guess what Daddy, guess what!!!”
Logan turns and looks at me with a soft expression, I look away. Turning his attention back to his son. “What buddy?”
Cody puts his little hands on each of Logan’s cheeks and yells in his face “I NAMEDED LAURA’S CAT! All by myself.”
“That’s fantastic. So what did you name it?”
“Mrs. Chubbywubby Meowy Pants.” Cody tells Logan dropping his hands and looking at his Dad with a serious expression.
“That’s a big name Cody.” Logan softly tells his son, he glances at me obviously to see if I mind the horrible name, but I am giving him my best nonchalant look. Handling the situation with care, which again shoots Logan’s hotness meter up yet another notch, he says to his son, “Maybe a name like fluffy, or Tiger would be easier for the cat to remember?”
“Nope, she loves her name. She purred when I pickeded it. So it’s definitely Mrs. Chubbywubby Meowy Pants. Laura said she thinks it’s a fitting name.”
I smile at Cody while placing my hand on his back and reassure him, “It definitely is a very fitting name.”
The cat seems to know we are talking about her, and jumps down from the chair that Cody vacated. I’m surprised the house doesn’t vibrate, pictures don’t topple from the cats landing, that’s how fat she is.
Logan looks at the cat and smiles at Cody. “Well, the Chubby part definitely fits.” Cody laughs. Then lay’s his head on his Dad’s shoulder.
Instinctually I put my hand on his back and rub it soothingly. Logan is looking at me weird again, so I pull my hand away thinking I’m overstepping my boundaries. For all I know he’s pissed I took his son out of the school today. I take a step back and busy myself by putting Cody’s glass in the sink.
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