Page 72 of Havoc's Fox

“I disrupted Analise’s life before. I don’t want to do that again.”

“Good for you. She’s also a grown ass woman, now. She doesn’t like it, she can adapt.”

“Let’s hope she does.”

“When you planning on moving in?”

“I’ve already got the little bit of clothes and shit we brought with us in there. I’ll see what happens in the next few weeks then I’ll decide how to proceed. Thinking about putting up a fence, though. Is that a problem?”

Brandt laughed. “You think we got a homeowners association or something?”

“Just making sure. Been out of the fold for a while.”

“Well, now you’re home. You know how it works.”

“Yes, I do,” Havoc said.

“Glad you’re back, man.”

“Me, too.”

~~~

It was late in the afternoon by the time Emmalyn pulled herself up off the sofa and headed into the kitchen for something to eat. Settling for popcorn, waited patiently until the microwave finished doing its thing, then quickly melted some butter and drizzled it over the freshly popped corn.

Analise’s bedroom door opened and she wandered up the hallway and into the kitchen. “Ooo, popcorn.”

“With melted butter. And candy-coated chocolates mixed in.”

“Did you make enough for me?”

Emmalyn looked protectively at her giant mixing bowl of buttered popcorn and candies. “Fine, I’ll share. You get us some root beer?”

“On, it,” Analise said, going in the kitchen to get them both a bottle of Barqs. You got napkins?” she called.

“I got a whole role of paper towels.”

Analise hurried into the living room. She shooed Emmalyn up and into a sitting position on the sofa.

“Hey!” Emmalyn complained.

“I want to sit by the popcorn, too!” Analise said, handing Emmalyn one of the bottles of rootbeer, then sitting right next to her and yanking part of the blanket over to cover her own legs while they watched television.

“You’re lucky I like you,” Emmalyn grumbled as Analise reached into her bowl and stole a handful of popcorn and candy.

“You know nobody but me likes you, so you have to like me,” Analise said, munching away.

About halfway through the show they were watching, a very quiet knock interrupted them. Emmalyn leaned over toward her left, away from Analise to see through the window by the front door. She started giggling and sat back up. “You have a visitor.”

“No! Absolutely not. I said I needed time. Less than twenty-four hours doesn’t qualify.”

“It’s not him.”

“Huh?” Analise asked.

“I’ll get it,” Emmalyn said, handing the bowl to Analise.

Emmalyn went to the door and unlocked it, then pulled it open. “Well, hello there, child.”