Chapter 81: Chapter 81

“Okay, go.”

“Will you…”

“I’ll be right here.” I rested my hands on his shoulders. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He leaned against me for a minute before he dashed into the bathroom, the bear clutched in his arms.

I straightened and studied the bed. It looked like a battlefield. I smoothed the sheets and comforter and folded them back, waiting for my kid to finish in the bathroom.

When he returned, he laid Gunther, the bear, down on the bed. Once he was feeling more comfortable, I’d ask him about the bear’s name.

“Okay, get in bed. Anything else?”

“No.” He got under the covers. “Well…Ma used to tell me stories sometimes.” His expression was wistful, and all I could think to do was pat his shoulder. My old lady had usually been too bombed to string together a coherent sentence.

I could do this. “Are you comfortable?”

“Yes, thank you.” He pulled the bear against him.

“Okay. I’m going to tell you a story.”

“You are?”