Page 72 of Rules of Engagement

Chapter Sixteen

"Someone go and get Lexi some lasagna," called my mother. Flatware and a napkin were thrust into my hand and the plate disappeared then reappeared again. Anastasia added garlic bread, and a pair of tongs dropped some salad onto my full plate before I was pushed into one of the hard, plastic chairs that was backed against Solomon's room. I inhaled the rich tomato sauce and garlic and my stomach gave a little rumble.

"Hi, Aunt Lexi," said my nephew, Sam. He stood in front of me, twirling something in his hands.

"Hi, Sam."

"Is Uncle Solomon going to be okay?" he asked.

"I don't know."

"I hope he is because you're sad and I don't want you to be sad."

"Me neither."

Sam held out his hand and dangled a plush dinosaur towards me. It had a long neck and a fat body and comically cute eyes. "I brought my favorite dinosaur teddy to look after him."

"That's really nice of you."

"Can I put it in his room? There's a table next to his bed."

"Yes, sure you can. You can put it on the table. He's got some machines around him to help him breathe but don't worry about them."

"Cool. Mom said I couldn't go in there in case I switched something off."

I thought about that. "Ask someone to go in there with you," I decided.

"Do you want me to booby trap the room in case the bad guys come back?" he asked.

"No, that's okay."

"I suppose it's better that Uncle Antonio just shoots them with the gun he's hiding under his hoody," said Sam. He waved to his mom, gave her a thumbs up, then disappeared into the room. Traci sprinted after him. "He's going to booby trap the room," she hissed as she whipped past me.

I turned and watched through the glass pane as Sam placed the dinosaur on the table and turned it to face Solomon. He patted Solomon's arm, then took a long look around the room. I wondered what he was planning but figured his mom had that covered since she guided him quickly out of the room. "Sam really wanted to see Solomon," Traci said as she gave Sam a little push in the direction of the food. "I promise he did not touch any machines and I won't let him in there again."

"It's really sweet of him to leave the dinosaur," I said.

"He was bound and determined to bring it. He saved up his pocket money and bought it all by himself and he really treasures it. A little too much actually. Do you think he's too old for teddies and the like?"

"No, everyone needs a teddy," I said.

"Even Solomon," said Traci. She squeezed my arm and moved over to help my mom who had begun serving the nurses.

"How much food did Mom bring?" I asked Jord when he sat next to me, a sleeping Poppy snuggled against his chest. She wore a pink dress with white leggings and pink socks. I couldn’t resist reaching over to carefully stroke her head.

"Enough to feed all of us and all the hospital staff on this floor. She mentioned something about putting leftovers in the doctors’ lounge. One of the doctors just asked if she catered professionally and now she's so excited, she's talking about taking a business class at the Adult Education Center."

I concentrated on chewing while I contemplated that. It didn't sound crazy. "I like that idea. Mom loves feeding people. People like eating. She's bored."

"She doesn't stick with any classes."

"True, but she only has to find one that she really likes."

"Like children," said Jord.

I brightened. "That must be why she stopped having children when she got me!"

"Maybe she just gave up," teased Jord. Poppy snuffled, wriggled and settled again.

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