CHAPTER 15

  “No… but he does have two days home to recover from his injuries and some time to reflect. I hate to do this, but…. He shouldn’t drive his bike. I’ll have it picked up. Can you take him home and stay with him this afternoon until I can finish some things? I think he needs someone to watch him. School agreed.”

  “I…” I start to protest indignantly, but Bryan’s warm harm comes to rest and cups my shoulder, and his pleading eyes root me to the spot and silence. His sweet and friendly paternal energy oozing over me.

  “Please. I know he’s a lot and you two…. but he took a lot of knocks to the head, and school won’t let him stay today. I would feel a hundred times better knowing you were home with him. I trust you.”

He knows how to harpoon me in the heart and cull me with one stroke. Even though our live-in housekeeper is home, Monique works hard, and being a babysitter is not her job.