Page 38 of Run Omega Run
"Bunny wants to watch too," she announced solemnly, positioning her stuffed companion next to us so it could have a clear view of the television screen.
"Well then," I said with mock seriousness, "we cannae disappoint Bunny, can we? This is his first racing experience. We need to make sure he gets the full treatment."
Loubie Lou giggled at my concern for her toy's entertainment, the sound bright and pure. I relaxed back, smiling inside with my growing affection for this fearless little girl, mixing with her shortbread cookie sweetness in ways that made something protective and tender unfurl in my chest.
I lifted the steering wheel controller, settling it on Loubie Lou's lap. The device was nearly as large as her torso, its professional-grade construction making it seem almost comically oversized for such tiny hands, but she gripped the wheel with determination that reminded me of Heather's stubborn independence.
"Now then, lass," I said, moving so that I was positioned directly behind her on the couch, my arms coming around her small frame to guide her hands to the proper position. "This is how ye hold a steering wheel. Both hands, thumbs on the outside, just like driving a real car."
My large hands completely engulfed her small fingers, but I could feel her concentration in the way she pressed her palms against the leather-wrapped wheel, trying to memorize the proper grip through touch. She was taking this seriously.
"What do all these buttons do?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder as she examined the array of controls built into the steering wheel's hub.
"Well," I said, leaning closer so I could point to each control without disturbing her grip, "this one makes ye go faster, this one makes ye go slower, and these..." I paused dramatically,building suspense. "These make the car do special tricks that we'll learn about later."
Her eyes went wide with anticipation, and I could see her imagination already racing ahead to envision what kind of special tricks a digital racing car might be capable of performing.
The television screen flickered to life as the game finished loading. The main menu displayed a selection of gleaming race cars arranged on a digital showroom floor, each vehicle rendered with such detail that I could see reflections in their paint and individual bolts in their wheels.
The children's collective gasp of amazement filled the room like a physical presence. "It's like a movie," Dylan breathed, his voice filled with awe as he stared at the impossibly realistic cars.
"Better than a movie," Susie corrected, though she was trying to hide her own fascination behind teenage sophistication.
"Movies ye just watch. This ye get to control."
I selected a bright red sports car from the menu, something fast enough to be exciting but stable enough that a three-year-old could manage the basic controls for. The vehicle appeared on a starting grid surrounded by other racers, their engines revving with sounds so realistic I could almost smell exhaust fumes.
"Ready, lass?" I asked, my hands still covering Loubie Lou's on the steering wheel.
She nodded with fierce determination, her knuckles already whitening as she gripped the wheel harder than necessary. The intensity of her concentration was adorable.
"Remember," I said softly, my Scottish accent gentling to something that wouldn't distract from her focus, "it's just for fun. If ye crash, we just start over. No harm done."
The race began with a countdown that had all the children holding their breath. When "GO" flashed on the screen, I helped Loubie Lou press the acceleration button and guided the steering wheel through the first gentle turn. The car respondedsmoothly, staying in the center of the track as we navigated the opening section of the course.
"That's it, lass!" I encouraged, feeling genuine pride as she managed to keep the vehicle pointed in roughly the right direction. "Ye're a natural driver! Look how smoothly ye're taking that corner!"
Her face broke into a grin so wide it seemed to encompass her entire being, joy radiating from her small body as she realized she was actually controlling the car on the screen.
Behind us, I could hear the other children getting caught up in the excitement, their voices joining in a chorus of encouragement and advice that filled the room with warmth.
"Turn left!" Manny called out, leaning forward from his position on the floor cushions.
"Watch out for that other car!" Denson added, his hearing aids whistling slightly with feedback as his excitement level rose.
Heather scooted up next to me, absorbed in the race Loubie Lou was in. Our shoulders pressed together as she made herself comfortable, and I felt that familiar jolt of electricity that seemed to accompany every point of contact between us. The blend of our scents grew stronger with proximity, creating an atmosphere that felt charged with possibility and promise.
I glanced at her profile, noting the way her green eyes reflected the screen's colors, the slight smile that played around her lips as she watched Loubie Lou navigate a challenging series of turns. This was what a family looked like. This was what I'd been missing without even realizing it.
The spell was broken by a digital explosion of sparks as Loubie Lou's car collided with a barrier, sending the vehicle spinning off the track in a shower of colorful special effects. For a moment, I worried she might be upset by the failure, but instead she threw her head back and giggled with pure delight.
"Again!" she demanded, bouncing slightly on the couch cushion. "Bunny wants to try again!"
I looked down at her upturned face, at the complete trust shining in her eyes, and felt something shift permanently in my chest. This child, this household, this woman beside me... they were mine to protect now, mine to provide for, mine to love in whatever way they'd allow.
And I was never letting any of them go.
