“I –”
Billy’s eyes tilted up to Mitch and he informed him, “We’re okay without you. I can watch Billie when Auntie Mara has to work. I did it all the time at home.”
I reached out, curved my hand around his jaw and brought his eyes to me. “All right, buddy,” I said gently. “First, you’re not okay to be on your own with Billy. You’re a smart kid and you take good care of your sister but your Dad leaving you alone was not the right thing to do.” Billy started glaring at me; I dropped my hand and went on, “Second, I told you now twice that Mitch is being cool, he’s helping out and he is. You don’t get into the faces of people who help you out.” I scooted closer to him and my voice got softer. “And that was my Mom and your Grandma at the door.” His glare got intense upon hearing this news and I continued, “We’ll talk about that later but your Dad and me, we’re not real close with them and now that they’re here for whatever reason they’re here, I’ve got to figure out what to do about that. But I need time to do it when I’m not exhausted from work and it isn’t nearly eleven at night. I’m lucky Mitch was here to take care of that and I’m grateful that he did.”
I felt Mitch’s eyes on my back as I felt the intensity of Billy’s on my face.
“She said she wanted her grandbabies,” Billy told me.
“Yes,” I confirmed.
“Is she gonna take us away?”
“No,” I said firmly.
“Is she gonna try?” he pushed.
“Maybe,” I replied honestly.
His eyes slid to Mitch then back to me. “Is he gonna help you keep us here?”
“Like I said, buddy, that’s what Mitch does. It’s who he is. He helps people,” I reminded him.
Billy’s eyes moved back to Mitch. “Are you gonna go away again?” he demanded to know.
Damn. Damn, damn, damn.
I twisted and looked up at Mitch.
“I never went away before, Bud,” Mitch replied. “I’m always across the breezeway.”
“You went away,” Billy accused but he was wrong. I sent Mitch away. And Billy felt it. Deep.
Damn! Damn, damn, damn!
“All right, then, no. I’m not gonna go away again,” Mitch stated.
Damn! Damn, damn, damn!
I was staring at Mitch with angry eyes because he was making promises I couldn’t keep.
“Billie likes you,” Billy told Mitch.
“I like her,” Mitch told Billy.
Billy studied Mitch and Mitch stood there letting him.
Then Billy made a decision. “I’m goin’ back to bed, Auntie Mara.”
Well thank goodness for that. I knew it was just a reprieve but at that moment I needed a reprieve.
I turned to him. “Okay, buddy. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Billy looked up at Mitch. “You’re back tomorrow?”
“I’m back tomorrow,” Mitch confirmed.
Billy nodded, looked at me, then turned and walked away.