Page 20 of Waiting for Redemption

“Hey, buddy!” Ruby rounds the bar to sweep him up into her arms and I can’t help but smile. Ruby in mom mode is when she’s happiest and that’s a sight that surprisingly makes my childhood wounds hurtless. I couldn’t get her off my mind last night to the point that the fruit in my fridge made me start tomissher. Not sure how one night of drinking and talking about wrestling and the color purple could lead me to that, but I’m convinced that’s when it started. Her smile, her laugh, the random ass mermaid stripper on her arm, the fucking color purple—it’s engrained into my mind now and I can’t seem to think about anything else.

Am I pathetic? Cause I feel a little pathetic.

“Hey, I’ll be right back, do you mind keeping an eye on him for a second?”

“Uh, sure thing,” I agree, walking a little closer to where Hendrix is sitting.

“Hey, little man.” I smile at him but the angry look on his face makes me freeze in place. “You excited about going to the park?” His face softens slightly as he nods. “Whatcha gonna do there?” No response.

Making conversation with kids is harder than I thought.

“Hendrix. My man. Give me some,” Max says walking through the bar towards his office. Hendrix’s face immediately lights up and he gives Max a high five. “Yeah. Where’s your mom?”

“She’s getting me some Jackie fries,” Hendrix says excitedly.

“Right on. I’ll catch you later. Be good for Ms. Betty, you hear?” Max smiles, clapping me on the shoulder as he moves past me.

“Yes Uncle Max,” he calls out, I watch as the door closes to Max’s office before turning back to Hendrix who has already put his poker face back on.

God, he looks just like her.

So he’s not ashykid, he just doesn’t likeme.But why?

Then I remember the first time I met him. I literally clobbered his mom on the sidewalk right in front of him.

Shit, I wouldn’t like me either.

So, I do the one thing I know to do. I ask him an honest question, knowing I’ll get an honest answer. Cause if there’s one thing Idoknow about kids, it’s that they’re brutally honest creatures.

“You don’t like me that much, do you, Hendrix?” I ask, folding my arms over my chest. He shakes his headnowhile giving me an emotionless stare.

“Is it because you thought I hurt your mom that day at the park?” He nodsyes.“I get it. I wouldn’t like me either.” His face twists in confusion and he finally speaks.

“You wouldn’t?” he says quietly.

“Of course not. You thought I hurt someone important to you–”

“Themostimportant to me,” he corrects, making me stifle a laugh.

“Right. You thought I hurt the most important person in the world to you. I would have reacted the same way.”

“You would?” his eyes grow wide as saucers and I nod.

“I would. And you know what, I would do it for your mom too.” I watch as he absorbs the information, then he looks up at me.

“Is my mommy an important person to you too?” He finally concludes.

“Can I tell you a secret?” I ask, leaning my elbows on the counter.

“Mommy says we don’t keep secrets.”

“Right. No secrets.” I take a moment to think. “Not a secret then. I’ll tell you something true, how’s that?” He nods, accepting my offer.

“I think your mommy is becoming one of my most important people too.”

“So you won’t hurt her. You’ll protect her?” Hendrix asks, giving me a very serious look.

“I will,” I admit, feeling a depth to the statement that I wasn’t expecting.

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