Page 4 of Loving Her

“I’m sorry, Mommy. I was just excited. Uncle Cooper and Aunt Iva are going to take me into town for dinner. We’re going to have McDonald’s! Isn’t that cool? I’m going to get chicken nuggets,” she explains, barely pausing to breathe as she explains.

“Why are you going into town?” I hear the woman ask.

“We’re going to pick up the man Carson is sending to help you. Then we are all going to have dinner.”

“If you don’t mind, bring me back some food. I’m not choosey, but please, no nuggets.”

I hear the man laugh. I find myself jealous because he can see and talk to her, while I can’t.

“You got it, Indy.”

Indy.Her name finally registers, and I can feel my lips twitch as I try to smile.

“There’s money on the table by the door, Coop.”

“That means it’ll still be there after I’m gone,” the man responds. I wonder why it upsets me he’s buying her dinner. I can’t explain it, but it does.

“Dang it, Coop,” she huffs.

“Don’t fight me, Indy. I’m old and mean,” he says, but I can hear the unspoken laughter in his voice.

“If I don’t like this man you’re bringing me then he’s not staying, Coop.”

“Indy—”

“Tinny must like him too,” she warns. I’m trying to understand the conversation. Is he fixing her up with a man? Just the thought upsets me.

“Tinny likes everyone. You’ll like Jeff too. He’s a good guy. He just needs a place to heal.”

“I’m not a shelter for people with wounded souls, Coop. I have problems on my own.”

“Yeah, that’s why there’s a stranger in your guest room, when most people around here would have just let him die.”

In her guest room? Why would people leave me to die?What the fuck is going on here?

“You and Iva wouldn’t.”

“And that’s why we’re family. You’re just like us.”

There’s a moment of silence before I hear the little girl once more. “Come on, Uncle Coop, I want a happy meal!”

“We’re going sweet girl. I was just saying goodbye to your momma,” the man responds.

“What’s wrong with the pretty man, Mommy?” she asks as I feel her hand touch mine. Her touch feels sweet and soft—much like her mother’s.

“Pretty?” the man they call Coop laughs.Asshole.I hope he’s the woman’s brother. Either way, I think I’d like to hit the bastard—and I don’t even know why.

“Yeah. He’s got a really bad boo-boo. Mommy had to help him feel better. Mom? You kissed it and made it better with a Band-Aid, right?”

Her question makes me want to tease her mother. I really need to find a way to drag myself out of this darkness. Maybe then her mother would kiss me and make me feel better.

“Kind of,” she laughs. “But it was a really bad boo-boo. So, he still has to get better.”

I feel lips press against my hand. “There,” the little girl says. “I helped, too. He’ll be better now, Mom.”

“Yes, sweet girl, but remember, he’s a stranger, so I want you to stay away from him until me or Uncle Cooper talks to him to make sure it’s okay for you to be around him. Okay?”

“He’s not a bad man, Mommy. I can tell.”