Page 108 of Peach Tree Family

Chapter 28

By Sunday everything was ready for the egg hunt. The one at Theo's included lunch, but Theo and Ace were also going to Mrs. Del Rio's for her Easter party with the real colored eggs for the kids to find. Seth had to work the dinner shift, but he was happy to be with Theo and Ace for the chocolate egg hunt.

Seth got to cook a whole bunch, but it was all about those chocolate eggs. Like Theo insisted, every hidden egg was marked on his map. Theo and Seth hid them without Ace that way he could search for them just like the other kids. They also had a piñata egg and hung some eggs from tree branches around it.

Ace was as excited as a kid could be and Seth and Theo both gave him plenty to do so he'd stay busy. It was just what Ace needed to keep him from thinking about his no good aunt and her boyfriend.

Once all the kids arrived, they were running wild through the trees, screaming every time they found an egg. Whoever found the most eggs would get to have the first whack at the piñata.

Watching the kids, Seth was really thinking about how he got to kiss Theo among the trees when they were hiding those eggs. It was sweet, and Theo felt so right in his arms.

"You know they might find some real eggs out there," Theo said from right next to him and startled him.

"I guess some birds might have started laying them," Seth said.

"You were out of it just now. What's up?"

"I was just thinking about what we got up to out there, and what we didn't," Seth said and shot him a quick grin.

"It's not the time to remind me of that when we have all these kids running around," Theo told him sounding cross, but Seth just kept smiling at him.

Their bosses were there with Lucy, and Leo was taking pictures of the baby's first egg hunt. Theo and Seth went inside with Andy to show him around and Rico tagged along. Ace got the idea to take pictures too, so he came in to get an old phone. He heard Theo saying to Andy, "The house is small but..."

That's when Ace jumped in to defend their home. "It's not small. It has everything a house is supposed to have." He opened the bathroom door. "This is our bathroom, and it's clean."

"He's my kind of tour guide," Rico said.

Seth was thinking how he didn't want to see Theo and Ace lose their home. It wasn't right.

Going outside, Seth took some pictures of Ace before he ran off to hunt for eggs and take pictures of his own. He was so happy, but Seth couldn't shake what almost happened, how that man grabbed Ace and scared him.

Since that time of the break-in at his grandfather's, Seth hadn't let himself fight anyone. But when that Jerry grabbed Ace, Seth was ready to break every bone in his body.

Now all he wanted to do was to stand guard over Theo and Ace, not let them leave his sight. But just being there wasn't enough. He had to do more.

"You have that look again."

Seth jumped at the words. It was Leo. He didn't have the baby with him. It looked like Mitch had taken over holding her as he and some of the other adults went to see what the kids were up to.

"I noticed you looking the same way these last few days when you've been preoccupied at work," Leo said.

"I'm real sorry, I..."

At his apology, Leo raised his hand to stop him. "Your work hasn't suffered, but something is weighing on you. Something serious judging by that grim expression you had on."

Leo seemed like a guy who knew how to deal with trouble. Bet he would know what to do about that Jerry, but could Seth talk to him?

"Do you want to tell me what's on your mind?" Leo asked.

So far Seth couldn't figure it out on his own, and he couldn't ask Theo. He decided to go for it. "Someone is causing trouble for Theo and his little brother. Me and this guy nearly came to blows. I held my hand, but I wonder if it might not have been better to let him pummel me, not fight back. Then he might land in jail and..."

"Let me stop you right there," Leo said. "You want to get yourself beat up to help Theo and Ace?"

"It's the only thing I can think of. I'd much rather beat on him, but that wouldn't do Theo and Ace one bit of good."

"Do you think Theo would want you to get beat up to help him?" Leo asked.

Seth didn't need to think about it. "I know he wouldn't."

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