They were waiting at the elevator when Robby asked to join them. Both of the kids had taken his hand when they’d left the room, but Mike took Robby’s hand as they entered the elevator. Going out of the hospital was refreshing. The air inside smelled of things he didn’t care to think about.
“Do you have any kids we can play with? Mom is so busy all the time we don’t get to play with the kids at school. Not that we like them. They’re very snobby.” Mike agreed with Toby, saying they had chips on their shoulders. “Not chips, you dummy. A chip on their shoulder. Will you pay attention when you hear someone using those things?”
“For a long time I thought it was chips too. I was forever looking for the chips. But as I grew older, I realized it was only a chip, and I never cared for that saying.” Mike asked Robby why. “Well, it labels people. I try hard not to do that when I meet someone. I mean, just because they’re dressed nice or have a big smile on their faces, it doesn’t mean they’re rich or happy. Take this man here, for example. What is it you think Quin does for a living? Unless he’s told you.”
“He smells good. And he’s a nice man. I feel good when I’m around him. Not like I did when Mr. Crabtree came around.” Toby poked his brother. “Oh. I forgot.”
“It’s all right if you talk about the man. And the things he did when your mom wasn’t around. Now there is another example of a person that didn’t look like what he was.” Mike said he was a pervert. “Yes, he was. A mean one on top of that. But when a person would see him out on the street, they’d think to themselves, ‘There goes Mr. Crabtree. He rents houses to people.’ But what they should have been thinking was, ‘There goes that mean man who takes advantage of young boys trying to protect their mother.’ Like you two.”
Mike nodded, but Toby looked up at him. “You look like you don’t work much. I know you do. You have on a nice shirt and pants, and your shoes look new.” Quin told him they were indeed new, as he’d stepped in horse manure the other morning, and his wife wouldn’t allow him to wear them in the house anymore. “Were you looking to step in horse poop?”
“No. I’m a vet. I take care of Mr. Quarter’s horses for him when they need it. Also, I check out their newborns when they come along and go with him when there is a horse race that his ponies are in.” They both looked at Robby like he was a god then. “You should ask your mom if you could go to a couple of races with your new grandda. They’re fun. My niece goes too. You’ll like all the other kids in the family. My oldest brother has twin little girls. They’re beautiful.”
“But you don’t have any kids.” Quin told Mike he didn’t yet. “Yet. Okay. Who is your wife, and why isn’t she here? Everybody else is, it seems.”
“They’re not. Trust me, I have a large family. I have five brothers, now three sisters-in-law, my mom, and my grandma. I also am happy to say I have a wonderful set of in-laws that I love. My mom will be so happy to be hanging around with you guys. You’ll have all the fresh baked cookies you can eat. Then there are the kids.” Smiling, he named off all the children in the family. “My mom owns this barn. I know that sounds like nothing, but it’s huge. It has room in it to have large parties and weddings. But the best part is when I was leaving to come out here, there was playground equipment being put in. Swings, slides. I think there was some kind of climbing equipment. I didn’t get to see it all, but I was told that kids from everywhere would want to use it. And you guys will be able to whenever your mom lets you because your grandma owns it all.”
“Wow.”
They both asked if they could have chocolate milk with their dinner, and while he figured it would be all right, he asked his brother. Without a connection to Sarah yet, he had to rely on him doing the asking for him.
She said they can have one chocolate or two white. Up to them. They’re not allergic to anything either. He said that was going to be his next question before they ordered. Sarah said to tell them that ketchup is not a veggie, nor are French fries. They have to offset their meal with something green.
He told the boys what their mother had said. The look of disappointment on their faces made him laugh. Quin told Cass.
Sarah said they don’t get out much, so be gentle with them when they don’t have any idea what to order. Where are you? He told him. After a few minutes, Cass was laughing. Sarah wants to know if she orders two milks. Can you bring her back a pizza too? She wants a meat one with all the trimmings. I’m not sure what that means, but you might be able to guess. We’re doing better now that we’re alone.
Good. I’m having a blast myself.
When he ordered the pizzas, he also put in an order for one to go. The waiter told them he’d not put in the order until they were about finished. As soon as their meal was put in front of them, the boys looked at each other then back at their meal. “Is there something wrong with it? You said you’d like to try
