TS fic: Maternal Instinct, part 2
Part 1.
Maternal Instinct - Part 2
The next morning, Grace yawned then groaned as she leaned over to hit the off switch on her alarm clock. She winced at the stiffness in her shoulder. "Boy, am I getting old," she grumbled as she threw off her covers. "And what's wrong with my knee?" She examined the bruise on it. Hearing voices below, she paused to listen more closely.
"See LG? That old coyote never learns. The roadrunner's just too fast and too smart for him."
She gasped. The toddler, the festival. Throwing on her bathrobe she grabbed her slippers then quickly made her way downstairs.
"Good morning, dear," said Mrs. Woodley, wearing her usual starched apron. "Did you sleep well?"
Grace slumped into a chair and ran her hand through her hair. "You know I'd just about forgotten how much work a toddler can be."
The housekeeper slid a plate with a halved grapefruit and a piece of toast at her. "That one seems to be even more spirited than Jimmy and Steven." She brought over the coffeepot and poured a cup.
Grace sipped the hot coffee gratefully. "Did the boys eat already?"
"Oh yes. Jimmy wanted bacon and scrambled eggs instead of cereal. I gave the little one some of my peach and yogurt shake. He seemed to like that. So what's on your schedule today?"
"Let me think. I have some dry cleaning to pick up. And Jimmy has swimming lessons at ten-thirty," Grace replied after checking the calendar on the wall. And until LG's parents called, she'd have to curtail her usual round of errands. Mrs. Woodley left at noon on Saturdays and wouldn't be around to catch the phone if they called. Plus Andy's mother had promised to drop Steven off at the house around four. Listening to the clink of dishes in the sink and the low murmur of cartoons in the den, she sat back with her coffee and savored the moment of calm and quiet.
"LG! No!" came the cry, right before the inevitable 'crash' then 'thud.'
"Oh, oh."
Mrs. Woodley and Grace turned to watch a little diapered blur dash out of the den and disappear down the hallway squealing gleefully.
"You come back here right now!" yelled Jimmy as he loped off in pursuit of the one-toddler wrecking crew.
With a rueful smile Grace got up to inspect the damage.
-||-
"Aww Mom, do I have to go?"
Grace cocked her head and stared at her son. "Since when do you skip swimming lessons?" Jimmy was always champing at the bit to be at the pool, especially now that school was over for the summer.
"I kinda thought I'd hang out with LG today."
"Don't worry, he's not grounded. He's coming with us." Grace had inspected the den only to find a small jumble of books on the floor, pulled down from a low bookcase. Nothing that she felt warranted any sort of scolding on her part. She remembered both Jimmy and Steven getting into assorted places: kitchen cabinets, storage bins, the laundry room and the attic. William seldom tolerated such hijinks, but Grace knew it was only a natural part of their curiosity. She was not about to punish LG for showing the same.
"Yeah? All right!" Jimmy turned around and grabbed his towel. He waited by the station wagon holding onto LG's hand as his mother rummaged in the garage for a child seat.
"Here we go." She wrestled the car seat into place then strapped LG inside. He looked up and pointed at something outside the window. Glancing over her shoulder she noticed a large black cat staring back at them as he sat nonchalantly by the driveway fence post. It was the Cumming's cat, Toby. While Mrs. Woodley wasn't particularly fond of the big tom, Grace and her oldest son had grown used to seeing the feline patrol the neighborhood.
"Go home, Toby," she said as she closed the door. "Go on now, shoo."
Jimmy was already seated in the front passenger side. He leaned his head out the window and watched the big cat slink silently down the driveway and disappear under a bush. "We'll be back in a while," he called out.
He often left the feline some tidbits. Grace suspected the cat had at least three feeding stops lined up on their block alone.
She backed the car down the driveway then drove off toward town. After picking up her dry cleaning, she headed for the community pool. Jimmy was soon in the water, yelling and splashing at his fellow swim mates while Grace sat in the bleachers with the other mothers.
LG's appearance was the highlight of the morning. Everyone came over to comment on his cheeriness, blue eyes, curly hair and colorful tee-shirt.
"He's absolutely adorable, Grace," said one of the mothers. "If you get tired, we'll trade you for him."
"I'm fine," she replied, encircling the tot protectively with her arm.
"So which side of the family did you say he's from?"
"He ah, belongs to one of William's cousins," Grace fibbed, not wanting to get into the details of LG's situation. "I'm just watching him for the day."
Bev Dockerty lifted her sunglasses and peered at her skeptically. "William? You can't be serious." She glanced over at LG watching Jimmy practice the breaststroke. "I didn't think there was an ounce of fun on that side of the gene pool."
"Come on, Bev. He's not that bad."
"With the hours he puts in? And all those business trips? Could've fooled me."
Grace sighed to herself. It was true that her husband's dedication to his work was a point of friction in their marriage. She worried about his lack of attention to the boys. It all fell upon her shoulders to make sure they did their homework, attend parent-teacher conferences, take them to their after-school activities and watch them play sports. They were getting short-changed. And so was she.
I just don't know how much longer I can keep this up. Plus the headaches, dizziness, and bouts of nausea seemed to be happening more frequently. But no amount of testing or visits to doctors' offices had brought her any permanent relief or answers. A few even thought it was all in her head.
"Perhaps you should see a psychologist," said one specialist in a condescending tone that suggested she was wasting his time.
William was inclined to agree. "You seem healthy enough, Grace. I don't understand what the problem is."
She felt isolated, and desperately alone at times. Plus lately, the restlessness she'd been feeling inside had been intensifying. As though she needed to seek her answers elsewhere. Away from Cascade.
As LG shifted on her lap, she sniffed his hair, so soft and shiny, as it stirred in the slight breeze. Underneath the shampoo she'd used on him, she could smell slight traces of cinnamon and ginger, along with the child's natural scent. It was a soothing balm to her senses and her head felt clearer than it had in weeks.
You're better than all the doctors I've seen combined, she thought, squeezing the toddler gently. Together they watched Jimmy and the other children swim laps.
"Did I tell you we finally got those photos back? The ones of the softball game?" said Bev.
Grace recalled the surge of pride and excitement she felt when Jimmy hit the winning home run in the last inning. He'd crossed home plate with a big grin, as the whole team surrounded him, whooping and hollering at their victory. Her only regret was that William had not been there to witness his son's winning run. Fortunately Bev had managed to capture those moments with her camera. She rummaged in her bag and pulled out the packet.
"Here, take a look for yourself," she said handing over the envelope to Grace. The two mothers were soon engrossed in the pictures.
-||-
Suddenly restless, LG climbed off Grace's lap and went off in search of Smokey. He'd left him sitting by a stack of kick boards. He walked over then stooped down to grab the little bear. As he straightened, he frowned and continued walking toward the far end of the pool.
He wandered past the diving boards at the deep end of the pool and over to the large storage shed that housed assorted pool equipment. He put a finger in his mouth and looked around, uncertain. Then he heard it, a tiny yip. He peered around the rear of the large, wooden structure. Next to a haphazard pile of floats and ropes, was a small puppy. A little blue-eyed husky. It was thin, and its fur was dirty and matted. A nylon rope was tied around its neck and fastened to the chain link fence behind it.
"Doggy," said LG and toddled over to the trembling animal.
It immediately sprang up, its little tail thumping hard against the metal fence. The puppy licked his arms and face as LG giggled and patted its head.
"Whaddya think you're doing, squirt?"
LG looked up. Three larger adolescents loomed over him ominously. LG backed up, the puppy behind him. He watched the older boys warily.
"Looks like he found our little experiment, huh, Gary?" said one of the boys.
"Yeah. Mutt finds mutt." The three boys snickered. "Well, we're ready to have some fun with it now."
"You bet. We're gonna see how fast it can run, with this tied to it." Gary produced some firecrackers out of his pocket. "Got 'em early for the Fourth of July."
One of the boys made a grab for the puppy. It whimpered and tried to back away, but choked as the noose tied around its neck tightened. LG put his arms around the pup's body.
"No!" he said loudly. "Go 'way!"
"Jeez, what a nuisance," sneered Gary. He stepped closer and leaned over. "Listen snot-face, if you don't give me the puppy, my pals and I are going to drop you off the deep end."
"No! Bad!" yelled LG defiantly. He held on tightly as the pup's whimpering grew louder.
"Okay, have it your way." Gary lunged and grabbed hold of the child's arm, gripping it hard. Then yelped in surprise as LG bit down on his hand.
"Goddammit!" Gary stepped back and shook his hand painfully as his two cohorts snickered. "Shut up!" he screamed. Then he turned, glaring, and drew a leg back.
LG crouched next to the puppy and hung on, never taking his eyes off the larger boy.
Gary's leg swung forward. "You asked for it, you little hippie piece of shit..."
Wham! Gary was sent flying as he was tackled from behind. He sprawled flat on the ground and screeched, "Help! Get him off of me!" as he tried to wriggle away from the wet and furious body on top of him.
"Touch LG and you'll be sorry," growled the angry boy kneeling over him. He cocked his fist in readiness as the two other boys stared uncertainly at each other.
"Don't just stand there, do something!" shrieked Gary. He tried to push off his opponent, but the boy merely leaned his weight forward and held him down on the ground.
"Not so easy when it's someone your own size, is it?" he said tauntingly, his pale blue eyes blazing.
"Uh," began one of the boys as he backed away. No one cared to take on Jimmy Ellison. Especially when he was mad. He turned and was about to flee, when he was grabbed by the collar and jerked around. His other friend also found himself grasped firmly from behind.
"Hey boys," said Grace, hanging on easily to the squirming boys. "What's the big rush?" She tightened her grip. "I think we need to have a little chat, first. Don't you?"
-||-
"Those little monsters," Grace muttered as she turned her car onto her street. She was still appalled by what the three boys had intended to do to the half-starved puppy they'd tied up behind the pool shed. If hadn't been for Jimmy, LG could have been seriously hurt as well. Somehow her son had managed to keep track of him despite being in the middle of a noisy pool full of other youngsters.
She glanced in the rearview mirror. A subdued LG was strapped in his car seat, quietly holding on to Smokey. Jimmy sat next to him, wrapped in his towel. He was still scowling, not that she blamed him. Three boys trying to intimidate a small toddler. The image made her blood boil. And there I was, asleep at the switch, she thought guiltily. What kind of mother am I? She'd gotten so absorbed in the details of one of the photos from the softball game, she'd fallen into a kind of stupor. It wasn't until Bev had nudged her that she'd realized she'd lost track of time and LG.
But it didn't take her long to find him or Jimmy and the little husky pup. Furious, she dragged the boys out and reported their actions to the pool manager. Afterward, one of the swimming instructors came forward and offered to give the puppy a home.
She sighed as they pulled into the driveway. Jimmy popped the door lock and scooted out of the station wagon while she wrestled with LG's car seat. "Jimmy?" she said as she set the child on the ground. "Look at me, sweetheart."
"Yeah, Mom?" he gazed back with a frown.
"Are you still angry?"
Jimmy nodded his head. "Yeah, I'm still mad at those guys. Gary was going to hurt LG and the puppy. I heard him."
"Well, thanks to you, they're both okay. But you need to calm down. LG thinks you're mad at him."
"I'm not." He looked down at the ground and gripped the towel around him tighter. "Are you mad at me?"
"Me? Why on earth would I be mad at you?"
"Because I didn't notice what was happening sooner."
"Oh Jimmy." Grace immediately opened her arms. "Come here." Her son shuffled forward and was immediately embraced, damp towel and all. "You did good," she whispered. "I'm very proud of you. I'm just sorry I didn't see it sooner."
Jimmy whispered back. "You were busy with Mrs. Dockerty."
"I know, but that was no excuse. I should have been keeping closer tabs on LG myself. If anything it was my fault."
"But if LG hadn't wandered off, he never would've found the puppy..."
They both turned to look at the toddler. He stood hugging Smokey to his chest, peering at them with his wide blue eyes. "Jim-my?" he said tentatively.
"Hey! You said my name!" Jimmy went over and took hold of LG's hand. "You were brave, too, you know," he said. "You weren't going to let them hurt the puppy, were you?" He leaned in closer. "But that was really dangerous. You could've been hurt. Next time stay back. You hear me?" He wagged his finger in LG's face.
The little boy solemnly shook his head. "No," he said, sticking out his lower lip.
Grace laughed to herself as her son continued to lecture the tot. She could lecture Jimmy herself for taking on three boys, but she wasn't about to put a damper on his courageous spirit or LG's. After all, she'd once come to the defense of her youngest sister who was being tormented by another classmate. Grace had sent the larger boy home with a bloody nose. Neither her mother's horrified expression or lengthy tirade made her feel the least bit contrite. She was sent to her room without supper and told to write an apology note. Later, her father poked his head in her room and gave her a knowing wink as he left her a small bowl of her favorite dessert -- strawberry ice cream.
"Let's go in and have some lunch," Grace said, shooing them both along. She tilted her head down at LG as she unlocked the back door and held it open. "I think this occasion calls for a special treat all around. What do you say?"
"Ice cream!" laughed a delighted LG as he scooted inside. Jimmy grinned at his mother and followed.
Streaks of chocolate soon decorated the tot's face and shirt. "More!" he called out, banging his bowl against the tray on his high chair. "Please?"
"Time out," said Grace. She tugged the stained shirt off and set it in the sink to soak. She came back with a damp towel and gently wiped LG clean. Then she put Jimmy's old sweatshirt back on him and went to the back porch sink to wring out the tiny tee-shirt and hung it up to dry.
"Hey Mom," said Jimmy sliding into his seat at the kitchen table, "some lady on the phone wants to speak to you." His hair was damp from the shower he'd just taken. He pulled his bowl of chocolate ice cream closer and carved out a piece with his spoon. "I'll watch LG."
Wiping her hands dry, Grace went into the hallway and picked up the receiver lying on top of the phone stand. It's probably the mother of one of those hoodlums. Can't wait to give her a piece of my mind. "Hello?" she said brusquely.
"Hi, um, is this Mrs. Ellison?" The voice was young, female and no one she recognized.
"Yes, speaking."
"Curtis, the festival coordinator, gave me your number. He said that Blair was with you."
"Blair?" Oh my god. His name is Blair. Grace's heart began to beat faster and she looked over her shoulder to eye the pair still sitting at the kitchen table. Jimmy had stopped eating and was peering out into the hallway at her. Grace turned her back and lowered her voice. "Yes, that's correct. Are you his mother?"
"Uh huh. I'm Naomi."
"Could you describe him to me?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Would you describe your little boy to me, please?"
"Oh. He's two years old, has brown curly hair, blue eyes, and he's wearing a turquoise blue tee-shirt."
It is her, Blair's mother. Grace found herself torn between a sense of relief and sadness. "That's correct. I--just wanted to make sure."
"It's cool, I understand. Listen, I appreciate what you did. I hope he wasn't too much trouble."
"No, no, he wasn't any trouble at all. I guess you want to pick him up. Do you have pen and paper handy? I'll give you my address. We're on 228..."
"Wait, wait." Grace heard some muffled whispering in the background. A man's voice, along with the sound of passing traffic.
"Is there a problem, Naomi?" she asked. It sounded like she was calling from a pay phone.
"Well, our van broke down the other day. That's why I wasn't able to call sooner. It's still acting up, so I was wondering if you'd mind dropping Blair off here? I know it's asking a lot, but if you're busy, I guess I could always take the bus."
Grace eyed her watch. The bus? "No, I'll drop him off. Give me your address then." She opened a drawer, pulled out a pad and pencil and scribbled hurriedly. "All right, let me see if I've got this right." She repeated the directions and frowned. It was not a familiar location to her. "Give me about forty-five minutes. Is that okay? Fine. I'll see you then." She hung up.
As she walked back into the kitchen, she noticed Jimmy's half-eaten bowl of melted ice cream sitting on the table. Both he and LG were gone. Looking around she saw that the back door was still partially ajar. Stepping into the back yard, she followed the sound of LG's voice toward the old swing set behind the oak tree.
Jimmy sat on the swing as it rocked a little. LG was close by, peering under a large fern where Toby lay, twitching his long tail. "Kitty, kitty," he said.
Grace took a seat on the swing next to her son. "Jimmy?" His shoulders sagged as he slumped, both hands gripping the chains on either side of the swing. "Can't LG stay here with us? Just a little longer?"
She heard the note of yearning in his voice.
"No, I'm afraid not."
Jimmy sat and watched LG wave at the large black cat. "It's just that I kinda liked having him around."
"Yes, me too." Grace felt her chest tighten at the thought of taking him back to his parents. She'd become frighteningly attached to the small boy in the space of only a day. She put a hand on her son's shoulder. "This is for the best though. He really should be with his own family."
Jimmy scuffed the ground with his sneaker. "I know. Are you taking him now?"
"Yes. I promised his mother I'd meet up with her within the hour."
"Can I come, too?" He looked at her with his clear, blue eyes. "Please?"
Grace chewed her lower lip and thought for a moment. "I'm sorry," she said gently. "But Steven's going to be home pretty soon. I need you to stay here to let him in and watch him until Mrs. Woodley gets back."
She saw the disappointment in his face as he looked down. Brushing his hair with her fingers, she said, "Why don't you say good-bye to LG here?"
She watched from the swing as Jimmy stood up, walked over and knelt down beside LG. The little boy tilted his head and listened intently, as though he understood everything he was being told.
"...it's been really fun having you around. I-I like being with you. Looking after you." Jimmy paused, then rose and took LG by the hand. "C'mon, it's time to go now. You can keep old Smokey if you want. Your mom and dad are waiting. I'll bet they've been worried sick about you..."
-||-
Grace glanced down again at the instructions on the note pad. She'd been driving steadily for half an hour and would soon hit the beach. "Where on earth do your folks live?" she asked the toddler. To her knowledge there were no residential homes along the stretch of coastal highway she was heading for.
LG sat strapped in the car seat watching the scenery pass by. "Jim-my?" he asked.
"Sorry LG, I mean Blair. Jimmy couldn't come with us. He has to stay home and wait for his brother."
The little boy pouted and began chanting, "Jim-my," even louder as banged his hand on the bear next to him.
Sighing, Grace looked back out the windshield. She was approaching the entrance to a parking lot. Turning onto the asphalt surface, she noticed a red and white Volkswagen microbus and a few other cars parked close together near the picnic area. A small group of people stood around the fire pits. As she pulled her car up and parked, she could hear the strains of guitar music.
I'm dropping him off here, on the beach? She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel as she watched the waves lapping at the sandy edge. The sun was beginning to set behind some clouds, casting an orange glow over the water's surface. It all seemed quite peaceful and tranquil.
But where's he's going to sleep tonight? Surely not out on there. What about clean clothes and diapers? What's he going to have for breakfast? Grace tightened her grip on the wheel. Forcing herself to relax, she unfastened her seat belt and swung around to look at LG. He was staring at the microbus with interest.
He's so little, just starting out in life. She hesitated, torn between returning him to his rightful parents and keeping him safely tucked in her arms. Suddenly there was a tap at the window, and the doubts piling up in her mind came to sudden halt as LG sat up and said, "Mama!"
Grace rolled down her window and stared face-to-face at a pretty young woman with long, reddish hair that fell below her shoulders. With her features, she could be a model for a Pre-Raphaelite painting, thought Grace.
"Hi, I'm Naomi." The redhead smiled as she peered into the back seat. "Thanks for bringing Blair. Hi sweetie." She waved at the toddler who bounced in his chair excitedly.
Getting out of the station wagon, Grace opened the back door, unhooked Blair and swung him into her arms. Naomi seemed unperturbed that her child had spent the last twenty-four hours with strangers and Grace did not approve of such casual unconcern.
"Is that your husband?" she asked, nodding at the bearded young man with the guitar, standing by the VW. He waved at them.
"Oh that's Kenny. We're good friends," replied Naomi waving back. "I'm not married."
Not married? Grace studied the young woman before her. Naomi wore a crocheted vest over her peasant blouse, and a long, blue gauze skirt. A thin velvet choker was tied around her neck and a pair of large silver hoops hung from her ears. She's not much more than a child herself, Grace thought. "Where's Blair's father?"
Naomi shrugged nonchantly. "I don't really know. Haven't seen him around in two years."
Two years? A child without a father? What kind of upbringing was that to inflict on this boy, Grace wondered. "Where are you staying then?"
"I'm staying with Kenny for now. That's his VW over there. Isn't it cool?"
Oh god, she's living out of that van. Grace tightened her grip on Blair. He squirmed uncomfortably, but held on. "Isn't that a bit rough, especially on your son?"
"I admit it gets a bit crowded at times, but it's been a real blast. We're going to be heading south for California next. Kenny's a musician you see. He has a gig lined up in San Francisco." Naomi gestured excitedly as she talked. "We'll probably get an apartment there, or else move in with some of his friends."
"How can you live like that?" blurted Grace finally. "Don't you think your child deserves some stability in his life? A proper home, decent clothes and food on the table?"
Naomi stiffened then swung around. "Listen, you can just drop the self-righteous act right now," she bristled. "Just because we don't live according to your set of rules doesn't mean I'm a bad mother." She folded her arms and stared hard at Grace. "I love my son and I'll see that he gets everything he needs."
Grace snorted as she set Blair down. She held onto his hand as he gazed steadily at Naomi. "Just how do you intend to do that? With him?" She jerked a thumb at Kenny who was playing to the small group gathered around the fire pits. "What about a steady job? How can you going to afford to buy food and clothes if you're always on the move?"
Naomi stared back, not giving in an inch. "Not that it's any of your business, but that's why I was working at the summer festival. I've held jobs since I was sixteen. I waitress, I temp in offices, I can do a lot of things. What about you? Do you work?"
Her question made Grace pause. "No, I don't," she admitted slowly. After college, she'd worked part-time in a lawyer's office, and then only for a year. She had married William a few months later.
"And for your information, Kenny is the most decent and caring soul I've ever met," continued Naomi. "He cares for Blair as though he were his own. He takes him to the park, reads to him at night, and makes special meals for him. He changes his diapers, gives him baths and sings him to sleep. Tell me Mrs. Ellison, does your husband do any of those things?"
Grace felt her cheeks redden. William had never changed a diaper in his life. He was rarely home long enough to do more than sign report cards let alone participate in any of their school projects or activities. She let out a long breath. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things."
Naomi slowly unfolded her arms. "You shouldn't be so quick to judge me. Not without knowing who I am first. I can't believe how uptight your generation can be."
"Maybe it's because we want to see our children grow up safe and happy."
"Just because we do it differently doesn't mean it isn't also right."
Grace felt Blair stir restlessly at her side. She looked down and squeezed his hand reassuringly. He smiled back, his blue eyes clear and bright. Maybe Naomi had a point.
"Believe or not, I didn't come here to fight. I just wanted to make sure Blair was going to be all right. Safe. And loved." She looked back at Naomi. "I guess he is."
Blair squeezed her fingers. Pleased, Grace pressed his hand again. "I um, brought along some extra diapers and a few things. They're in the bag back there."
"Oh, you didn't have to do that," began Naomi.
"Please, I have no use for them at home."
"Let me at least reimburse you for everything."
"No, that's not necessary."
Blair laughed then pressed his face against Grace's leg. "Mama," he said softly.
"No, that's your mama," corrected Grace. Blair pulled away, then looked at Naomi then back up at Grace.
"Mama," he repeated in a louder tone.
Naomi suddenly laughed. "Well, I can see you've made a big impression on him. I guess that's his way of saying we're both his moms."
"You don't mind?" asked Grace. "I think I would, if our situations were reversed."
"Oh no," said Naomi, shaking her head. "I want him to be open to new things, new places and especially people." She glanced at Grace. "If you ask me, he did okay with you." She knelt and held her arms out. Grace felt a pang as Blair let go of her hand and walked forward. Naomi hugged him then stood up holding Blair snuggled against her neck.
"That was just plain luck. I could've been anyone. What if someone bad had gotten a hold of your son?"
"But it didn't happen, now did it?" Naomi stroked Blair's head gently. "Can't go around expecting the worst all the time. If you think good thoughts, you'll get positive results. You get back the kind of vibes you put out. Know what I mean?"
"Not exactly." Grace wasn't sure what to make of Naomi's beliefs.
"I've been told Blair's an old soul, but a trusting and loving one. And I think the universe looks after children like him. Think about it. Of all the people at the festival, you're the one he chose to approach."
Grace thought that was utter nonsense. "He shouldn't have wandered off in the first place."
"I know, but he's a restless spirit, and I hate to see him confined. Still, you have a point. I'll keep a closer eye on him next time." Naomi smiled. "Who knows? Maybe he was supposed to look after you."
Grace's eyes widened. It was sheer coincidence Blair had run up to her at the very moment she was about to lose control at the festival...and then again on the street...with the red Frisbee. Right? Or was it?
Naomi picked up the shopping bag in her other hand. "Thanks again for bringing him here. And for all this stuff, too. Are you sure you don't want to hang out some more and talk?"
Grace shook her head. "No, I should get home to my boys. They're waiting for me."
Naomi nudged the toddler on her shoulder. "Hey there sleepyhead," she said softly. "Wave bye-bye to the nice lady."
Blair raised his head up sleepily. "Bye, bye," he chirped. Suddenly his eyes popped open and he waved a frantic arm at Grace. "'Mokey! 'Mokey!" he cried out.
His mother swung around. "What's that sweetie? Who's 'Mokey?" By then Grace had reached into the station wagon and retrieved the teddy bear.
"Here," she said, holding him out to Blair. "I know he's a bit worn, but my son, Jimmy, wanted him to have old Smokey."
"Jim-my," said the tot as he grabbed the bear and squeezed it tightly.
"Good bye Blair," said Grace feeling her throat tighten. She stood watching as Naomi walked away to join her friends on the beach. Then she turned around and opened the door to her car. But before she slipped inside, she heard Blair's voice in the distance calling softly, "Bye, bye."
The drive home took less time than she expected as she mulled over Blair and his mother. An unusual young woman, barely in her twenties, who was willing to raise a child on her own and travel, all without the benefit of a steady income, a home, or a husband. Naomi was willing to brave life and all its uncertainties. Grace wondered if push came to shove, she'd ever have the courage to leave her comfortable life behind and start over. Pulling up into the driveway, she noticed the lights on in the kitchen. Mrs. Woodley had returned and was no doubt fixing dinner.
"Everything all right, dear?" asked the housekeeper as she peeled carrots in the sink. "Where's the little angel?"
"He's fine, now that's he back with his mother." Grace put her purse down on the table and looked around. "Where are the boys?"
Mrs. Woodley paused and looked over her shoulder. "Steven's upstairs, taking a bath. Jimmy went outside. I'm afraid I'm running a little late with dinner."
"Oh that'll be fine. Take your time." Grace went upstairs to see her youngest son.
After calling Jimmy to come in for supper, the housekeeper ladled out generous portions of her beef stew. As they ate, Steven talked eagerly about the new movie he and Andy had seen, "Escape From the Planet of the Apes." Even Mrs. Woodley joined in, and described her afternoon at the local flower show. Jimmy was quiet through it all. Later, as Grace cleared the table, Steven went into the den to watch television. By the time she'd helped Mrs. Woodley wash and dry the dishes, Jimmy was nowhere to be seen.
Grace put her towel down and opened the back door. He sat on the bottom steps, hands around his knees, looking up at the sky. She watched for a moment then joined him. They sat together in silence for several minutes listening to the loud chorus of chirping crickets then watched the sleek, dark silhouette of a common nighthawk swoop by overhead.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"I miss LG."
She put a hand on his knee. "I miss him, too. At least he's back where he belongs -- with his mother."
"It's kinda weird, but he felt like he was part of the family while he was here. Think I'll ever see him again?" Jimmy asked wistfully.
Grace put her arm around her son's shoulder and squeezed him tightly. "I don't know, sweetheart. But I certainly hope so." She turned and gazed up again. "Oh look, a shooting star!" She pointed at a thin flash of light streaking across the night. "Quick, make a wish."
Jimmy shut his eyes tightly.
"Make your wish?"
He nodded. "Oh yeah. Not supposed to tell though, right?"
She nodded back. "Right, or it might not come true." Dusting off her hands, she stood up. "It's getting late. We should go inside."
Jimmy rose, brushed off his pants and followed his mother.
Later, after tucking Steven in, she went to Jimmy's room and slipped inside. He was still brushing his teeth. She stood looked around the tidy bedroom, waiting for him to finish until she noticed one of his bureau drawers partially open. She walked over and put her hands on the brass handles. Just as she was about to slide it shut, she spotted a bit of bright blue cloth. Pushing aside Jimmy's neatly folded socks, she discovered Blair's tee-shirt tucked in the corner. She smoothed the tie-dyed garment with a gentle finger and closed the drawer.
Once in bed, Jimmy folded both arms behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. "I'm glad LG's okay. Think he misses us?"
"Yes, I think he does." Grace sat on the edge of the mattress and watched her son turn his head to look out the window. The silvery full moon shone brightly over the treetops. She wondered if Blair and Naomi were watching it as well from the beach.
"You know what, Mom?"
"What?"
"I don't know how and I don't know when, but I know I'll see him again some day."
Grace smiled at the certainty in his voice. She leaned down to kiss his forehead. Then she whispered, "I believe you will, sweetheart. I truly believe you will."
-||-
EPILOGUE:
Cascade, Washington - Present day
Simon Banks paused in front of the door marked 307. In all the years he'd been coming to this particular building, he had learned to expect a few things. Such as the door swinging open just before he knocked. "Right on cue," he said, lowering his hand.
"Hi Simon. Thought I smelled food." Jim Ellison smiled as he stepped aside to allow his captain to enter.
"Here you go. Hot out of the oven." He handed over two large pizza boxes then shrugged out of his overcoat and left it folded over one of the armchairs in the living room.
"Hey Simon," called out Blair. He stood in the kitchen tossing some salad in a large glass bowl.
"Dad! You're here." Daryl Banks peered up over a stack of cardboard boxes. He got to his feet, brushed off his hands then went over to hug his father.
Simon looked around the loft. The normally tidy living room had half a dozen small piles scattered across the floor. One pile was composed of books and dog-eared paperbacks, another contained old clothes, and a third, assorted bric-a-brac. Simon bent down and picked up a tiny ceramic donkey standing next to a bright green cactus. Both wore yellow sombreros.
"Watch it Simon, that one's a salt and pepper shaker set," warned Blair. He set the salad on top of the counter alongside some bottles of dressing. "It belonged to Mrs. Wyzinski, on the first floor. It's a classic."
"I'll bet," Simon rumbled back. "Antiques Roadshow material, no doubt."
The Cascade PD was holding a large rummage sale over the weekend to help raise money for the family of an injured patrolman. Blair had been among the many volunteers recruited to round up donations. To Simon's surprise, his teenaged son had also agreed to help. Daryl had been at the loft since mid-morning, sorting and tagging the various items gathered from the tenants at 852 Prospect.
Simon watched his son start another pile, this one composed of old toys: small cars, squirt guns, board games, robots, dolls, and stuffed animals. Daryl sat with his back to Blair's bedroom. The French doors were open and Simon couldn't resist peeking inside.
As expected, the wall shelves and desk were covered with textbooks, papers and three-ring binders. Not too much different than the piles outside, he thought. The bed had been made and a stack of neatly folded laundry sat on the end. On the floor, next to the bed, sat a well-worn teddy bear that had seen better days. Simon stepped inside and picked up the stuffed animal. It was missing an eye. A loose, faded blue tee-shirt had been put on the bear, the sleeves carefully rolled up. A child's tee-shirt.
"Hey Sandburg," he called out as he stepped back into the living room.
"Yeah? What's up?" Blair paused as he opened a pizza box.
"You missed one." Simon held up the bear in one hand.
"Old Smokey? No, no, he stays. He's one of the few surviving artifacts of my childhood. I've had him since I was a toddler."
"Really?" Simon eyed the bear again. "It looks older than you are. Where'd he come from? Was it your mother's?" He noticed Jim and Blair exchanging looks.
"Naomi's? No."
"A relative's?"
"Ah, no, Simon. Not exactly. Actually it belonged to someone you know."
"Huh?" Simon turned and glared at Blair. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"This bear belonged to someone else before it was given to me. And it's someone you happen to know."
Simon frowned as he ran through a quick mental checklist of the people he knew inside and outside of Major Crimes. How could that be? Who would've known Blair when he was only a toddler? No names came to mind. Blair was just trying to mess with him, he decided.
"Sandburg, I did not come here to wrestle with one of your strange riddles," he grumbled. Then he noticed Jim smiling as he set some plates on the counter. Simon stared at him suspiciously for a second. "Wait a minute. You don't mean, Jim, do you? How is that even possible?"
Blair stood next to Jim and grinned broadly at the captain's expression. "Now Simon, you've got to keep an open mind about these things."
"So let me get this straight. Are you saying that the two of you knew each other when you were just kids?"
Jim shrugged as he draped an arm over Blair's shoulder. "Just think of it as another weird by-product of the Sandburg Zone."
The captain groaned. Loudly. "I should've known. All right, which one of you is going to explain this to me, slowly and in English?"
"I can, let me," piped up Daryl excitedly.
"You can?"
"Oh sure, it's a very cool story, Dad. Jim explained it all to me." Daryl took the bear from his father and set it carefully on the coffee table. He cleared his throat. "See it was like this. There was a big craft festival going on back in the summer of 1971. And Jim's mother, Mrs. Ellison, decided to stop and check it out with her friend, Mrs. Adams. You'll never guess what happened next..."
Simon eased himself down onto the couch. Might as well get comfortable. It was going to be a long and interesting tale, from the looks of it. He chuckled. If nothing else, he had definitely learned to expect the unexpected at 852 Prospect.
~The End~
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