Chapter Ten
Hunter
Standing outside Bailey’s school, I keep my eyes on the doors, waiting for the bell to ring and for Bailey to come out. I’ve been looking forward to this since Lucy said okay to letting me watch Bailey for her this afternoon. With preparing for the gallery opening, I haven’t had much time to show Bailey how to use the camera I got her. I’m excited to get the chance today.
The bell rings and kids come flooding out the doors. Through the crowd I spot Bailey looking for her mom. I wave at her and her face lights up with surprise and excitement, and damn, if that doesn’t warm my heart.
“Hunter, what are you doing here?” she says, running up to me and giving me a big hug.
“Your mom had an emergency at work and Aunt Lucky had to work, so I thought you’d like to come hangout with me at the gallery.”
“Cool, I like hanging out at your place.” Bailey takes my hand and we start our walk down the street to my car.
“You do?” I ask.
“Yeah, you let me roller skate inside. Mom never lets me do that at our house.” She looks up at me with a goofy grin. I smile to myself at the fact that Bailey is comfortable with me and likes being at my place. Getting Lucy to see how perfect we are together is important, if I don’t get along with Bailey, there is no chance for me and Lucy. Making Bailey happy is doubly important.
“Well then roller skating it is.”
“Yes.” Bailey cheers.
****
An hour into inventory and I am ready to call it a day. Bailey should be done with her homework by now. I toss my notebook on the table and head upstairs. Bailey is sprawled out on the couch with her nose in a book. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, that is one of my favorites,” I say, slumping down on the couch next to her.
Bailey slowly brings her book down. “You read Harry Potter?” Her mouth drops in shock.
“I’m an original Potter Head,” I say confidently. I was seventeen when the first book came out. I bought a copy, fully intending to give it to Brooke, but I ended up keeping it for myself after I read the first couple chapters. I felt a connection to those books, and Harry, having lost a parent of my own. I stood in line outside bookstores at midnight to get the books on release day. I read them to Brooke every night, even when she was a teenager. These books are a huge part of my life. “I even have first editions of all the books.”
“That is so cool. Can I see them?” she asks with the biggest grin on her face.
“Of course, come on.” Bailey follows me over to the bookshelves. I reach up to one of the top shelves and pull down each book one by one handing them to Bailey. She studies each book, running her fingers over the font on each cover.
“These are amazing.” She hands the last book back to me. “What is your house?”
“I’m a Hufflepuff guy,” I reply and set the books back on the shelf.
“Hufflepuff.” She giggles. “Are you being serious?”
“I’m just kidding. I’m Gryffindor all the way,” I say proudly.
“Me too. Hermione is my favorite character. She’s always saving Harry and Ron.”
“She’s smart and strong just like you. Harry Potter is my favorite. He reminds me a little of me when I was younger. I lost my mom too.”
“My mom told me that you and Aunt Brooke lost your mom. I don’t remember my dad. My mom tells me stories about him. I didn’t get to know him, but I still miss him sometimes. Do you miss your mom?”
“I miss her all the time. There are days when I want to call her and tell her about the good things that are happening in my life, like meeting you and your mom and moving here. I think in some way she still knows, and there are days when I feel like she is here with me. Your dad might be gone, but I think he is still watching over you and your mom. Making sure you both are happy.”
“I think so too. Maybe he sent you to my mom to make her happy,” she says.
“And why do you think that?” I ask, extremely curious about her answer.
“Because she has been happier than I have ever seen her.” Lucy isn’t the only one who has been feeling happier the past few weeks. Every morning I have woken up with a smile on my face, and I count down the minutes until I get to see Lucy again. There might be a little awkwardness from the night in the coffee shop, but I won’t let that get in the way of making Lucy mine.
“I think she likes you, like a lot,” she admits. Now I’m even more happy that I volunteered to watch Bailey today.
“I hope so, because I really like your mom too.”
“Yeah, I could tell. You look at her like my dad did in all the pictures of them together. Can I tell you a secret?” She has another secret to share. I thought her blowing her mom’s cover was a big enough secret.
“Of course. I promise I won’t say anything,” I say, crossing my heart.
“I hope you and my mom keep liking each other, because I want to keep hanging out with you, cause I like you, too.”
I don’t cry very often, but Bailey saying she likes me is bringing tears to my eyes. I drop down to my knees and pull Bailey into a hug. “I like you too, Bailey, and I promise you I will continue to make you and your mom happy.”