Page 51 of Night By Night
Hank chuckled. “Yeah, I love you, Uncle Dox.”
Maddox’s focus returned to him, but now Hank was staring at his plate as he finished his breakfast.
They were in the car fifteen minutes later and heading toward Hank’s work. He could ride with the crew today, and Maddox would pick him up from the office at the end of the day. Once Hank was safely delivered and they were heading toward JJ’s school, she spoke up.
“Are you going to walk me to class, Uncle Dox?”
He glanced in the rearview mirror at her. “Do I need to? Because I will.”
“Daddy doesn’t, but you’ve never met my teacher. I want her to meet you.”
“Oh. Well, okay.” He parked when they arrived and headed into the school with her tugging on his hand. It was an older school, one-story, and with open courtyards and breezeways. Each classroom opened out onto a covered hallway, and he was relieved to see he wasn’t the only adult accompanying a student to their room, although none seemed to be walking with the older students.
The teacher stood outside the door, smiling and greeting her students as they arrived. Maddox felt a flash of jealousy wash through him as he sized her up and noticed she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.
Hank hadn’t mentioned much about her, just that she was nice and JJ loved her.
Well, there were only a couple of weeks left in the school year, if that. He really needed to get that info, too.
The teacher’s smile slipped only a little when he walked up, but he could immediately see she was wondering who he was.
JJ handled that for her. “Miss Grant, this is my Uncle Dox. He’s not really my uncle, he’s Daddy’s best friend and my step-dad.”
He had to hand it to the woman, she had a damned good poker face. “Oh, nice to finally meet you, Uncle Dox. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
He held out a hand. “Thanks. Maddox Orosco.” He knew he could’ve left it at that, but it might make Hank wonder later why he didn’t correct the story. He hugged JJ good-bye and then straightened. “I’ll see you this afternoon, sweetie.”
Once JJ was safely inside the classroom and out of earshot, he clarified things. “That wasn’t exactly right, though. I’m not actually her step-dad.” He gave the teacher the quick summary and her expression shifted again, this time to concern.
“Oh, wow! I heard on the news this morning about a sinkhole taking a house. That was theirs?”
“Yeah. And I’ve known Hank literally since we were kids. I couldn’tnottake them in. Hank’s listed me as her emergency contact, and I have permission to pick her up from school, if there’s a problem. But please call us if she seems to have any issues that crop up after the fact.”
“Absolutely.” She smiled. “Your wife’s a lucky woman.”
He knew a fishing trip when he spotted one, and decided to toss a little chaff into the air to deflect her and maybe “accidentally” misdirect her away from Hank.
“Well, there isn’t one, and it’d be husband if there was, but thanks.” He smiled. “I think my biggest battle will be convincing Hank he doesn’t need to feel guilty about them living with me. After everything he’s been through over the past couple of years, it’s time for him to be able to lean on someone else and be taken care of.”
She slowly nodded in that knowing way, and he suspected her mind had just zipped off in the direction he’d wanted it to. “So your number is in her file?”
“It should be. For now, if there’s any emergency, please call me first instead of Hank. I’ll be the one bringing her to school or coming to get her if there’s an issue. He doesn’t have a vehicle yet. Might be a couple of weeks, depending on how fast they get his utility deposits refunded.”
“Well, while you’re here…” She glanced around and lowered her voice. “She’s been acting really tired in the afternoons the past couple of weeks. They get a short naptime after lunch, but sometimes it’s difficult to wake her up.”
Hank hadn’t mentioned anything about that. “I know the martial arts lessons sort of wear her out. She seems okay on the weekends, and I’m usually around all during the day, but I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Oh, that’s right. I bet that’s it.”
Maddox chatted with her for another moment and finally left, feeling smugly satisfied that he’d likely redirected any potential competition in another direction. Once in the car again, he texted Hank before getting on the road.
One princess safely at school. You didn’t tell me her teacher’s cute.
He sent it, knowing it was a calculated risk.
Hank responded a moment later.
Thank you! I owe you.
