Page 71 of The Rabbit's Foot
Now it was time to come clean. “Pretty bad. So many of them will bear the scars of what Hyde did to them. Because they’re so young, their healing wasn’t much better than a human, so it’s probable they’ll always carry the marks of the tortures they underwent. So, yes, the children are scared, but less so after getting food in their stomachs and receiving hugs every day.”
“And who hugs them?”
Alp puffed up a bit. “I do. Every kid, every day. Eventually at some point, I’d like to have the rooms wired for sound so I can read to the kids every night.”
“I am so proud of you,” Mal said. “Thank you for showing them you care. And for thinking about story time.”
“Don’t thank me. They see my hand and know that I understand. Some of the older ones ask what happened, and I give them a variation of the truth. Maybe when they’re older, but now? They don’t need my trauma as part of their own.” Alp bit back a sigh. “The electricians are wiring the complex, giving it a more natural lighting scheme instead of the harsh bulbs that Hyde and his people used. There will be dimmer switches to control each room, so if anyone has problems sleeping and would like the lights to stay on, we can do that. I’ve spoken with Cece’s friend, and she has eight counselors who will be available to talk to the people who need help. I plan on insisting that everyone—myself included—speaks with them at least twelve times and we’ll schedule other talks based on what the doctors say.”
“Look at you,” Mal marveled. “You’ve got this down cold.”
The praise melted Alp’s insides. “I’d like to take credit for it, but a lot of what I’m doing came from things my mom did for our family.”
Nura Dawkins, Alp realized, had been the perfect mother who had a son that couldn’t see it. She cooked delicious meals for the family every night and ensured everyone was at the table to eat together. She sat and helped the kids with homework, even though she couldn’t get the hang of the weird math they were doing, and she always, without fail, was there to talk if you needed it. And while seventy-two kids was a lot more than fourteen, Alp wanted to be the kind of parent she had always been.
“Your mother is kind of amazing,” Damon told Alp. “I met her when she went shopping with Cece. Even though she was with us only a few minutes before they left on their trip, Micah really blossomed under your mother’s attention. He chatted animatedly with her, telling her about his latest work, then asked if she wanted to see it. Heneverdoes that. She told him she’d love to, and he took her hand and rushed back to his studio. That’s what he calls his bedroom. Your mom was moved to tears by the picture of a young wolf, laying under a tree, as rain poured down on him. She said she could feel his sadness, and that pleased Micah because someone got it without needing to explain.”
“Yeah, she’s kind of remarkable.”
“I find I cannot disagree. And it appears as though her son shares the same qualities.”
Alp stood. “Can you excuse me for a few minutes? I need to take care of something.”
“Of course,” Mal said, not looking up from his paperwork. “Tell her I said hi, and I look forward to seeing her soon.”
“Alp?”
He turned to find Damon grinning. He tossed him a phone. “She’s in my contacts as Nura.”
Of course they’d know where Alp was going. It only made sense.
He stepped out of the makeshift conference room and pulled the door closed behind him. After a quick trip to the table that held the coffee and pastries for the workers, where Alp grabbed himself some juice, and he was ready. He held up Damon’s phone, and his heartbeat sped up a bit. He found his mom’s number and steeled his resolve with a deep breath, then pushed the button. It rang a moment later. When the call was connected, Alp could hear the chaos in the background as voices shouted over one another, asking for more cereal, to pass the soy milk, that the toast was almost gone. Alp remembered those days with a new fondness.
“Good morning, Damon. How’s Cece?”
“Hey, Mom.”
It was quiet a moment. “Alpin?” she gasped.
“Yeah, Damon loaned me his phone so I could call you.”
“Oh, my dear. It’s so lovely to hear your voice. How are you?”
“I’m… okay. Got a lot to catch you up on, though, if you have time.”
“Absolutely. Give me a moment.”
The voices in the background slowly vanished, and then with a firm click that Alp was certain had been a door, his mother came back.
“Are you okay? Is Mal?”
He sighed. She worried so, and that had Alp’s eyes filling with tears.
“Mom, I’m sorry.”
“For what, sweetheart?”
“Being a shitty son. I always thought I wanted to get away from everyone, but I guess what I really wanted was for someone to see me. Now I realize, you did. You always saw me.”
