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Chapter 33
"Well you know what people call me?"
"What?" She smiled as he bit into her roll.
"B-Rok."
"Bee Rock? Why?"
"Because they say I rock the basketball court. So they spell it B-ROK." I looked at her mother, not sure if she could spell in her head and her mother smiled and nodded.
"Could you keep and eye on her? I want to pack."
I nodded. "Sure."
"You wanna know what my favorite toy is?"
"Sure."
The little girl jumped down from her chair and ran into her room. In seconds she was back clutching a little yellow, stuffed duck.
"He's Mr. Duck. I take him everywhere."
I took the duck as she handed it to me. "You know what my mom calls me?"
"What?" She looked as if I was sharing some special secret and leaned closer over the table. On instinct I put my hand out to keep her from falling off the chair.
"Her Baby Duck."
The little girl giggled. "I like that. Can I call you Ducky?"
I bit my tounge. I wanted to laugh so hard, but was afraid to hurt her feelings. "Sure."
"Yay!"
"What are you yaying about?" Maranda's mom came back with two suitcases and a Salor Moon backpack.
"Momma why do you have my pack?" The little girl jumped down and sat on the floor by her bag. She unzipped it and would have gone digging through it if Mrs. Hunter didn't take it away.
"We're going on a trip with Brian."
The girl gasped then jumped up running for me. She rounded the table and jumped into my lap. "Ducky!" She hugged my neck and I saw Maranda's mom smile at us.
A worried face came over her. "Brian I don't think I want Honey in that place."
"She can come back to the hotel with me and the guys."
"Guys?" Honey backed away and looked scared.
"Don't worry sweetie, they're not going to hurt you. They're my best friends. Infact one's even my cousin."
She had a look that said 'I don't know.'
"I tell you what, I introduce you but if you don't want to talk to them you don't have to."
The girl nodded, still worried.
I turned my attention to Maranda's mom who was busy writing a note to Mr. Hunter.
"I'll call Jive. They'll get us out in an hour or so." I stood up carring Honey with me.
The
little girl giggled and reached for the phone she held the phone and I told
her the numbers to push. She giggled again and placed the phone to my ear.
AJ
It was erie. Here I was, sitting in a police station and nothing was going on. That was strange enough. Then, then it got weird. Not errie…but weird.
"Why are we here again?" I whispered to Nick.
"Because Brian said he was coming back to see Maranda and that he had a surprise." Nick shook his head, frowing all whe while. "Though I don't know what kind of surprise you could get in a jail cell."
I shrugged. "You know Rok. Maybe he thought up something…romantic." I said and there was no mistaking the sarcasim.
Romance in a cell? I've come to love Maranda, but I'm sorry, there's no romance in a cell. No matter how hard you try there's still the cement wall and the iron bars.
"Hey guys."
We looked up to see Brian holding a kid about 7 on his hip and had an older woman linked to his arm.
"H..hey Brian." I stamered.
"Brian…when you said you had a surprise…you've got a kid?" Nick smiled, not believing, but the kid seemed so comfotrable with him it made you wonder.
"I'd like you to meet Mrs. Hunter and Honey."
Honey covered her face with her hand and burying her self in his neck.
Mrs. Hunter hit Brian's arm, in good humor. "Brian, no need to be so formal." She smiled and held out her hand to shake each of ours. "My name is Maggie."
"I'm Aj."
"Kevin."
"Maggie, that's my cousin, Kevin."
She nodded to Kevin. "Nice to meet you." Kevin nodded.
"I'm Nick."
"And I'm Howie."
"You're all here for my daughter?" Maggie seemed to be in disbelief.
"Yeah, she's apart of our family now. We here for her and for Brian. She means so much to him." Howie provied and we all nodded in agreement.
"Ducky I wanna go home." We looked over at Brian who had the little girl in a craddle positon against his chest.
"As soon as your mom goes inside, then we'll go back to the hotel."
"Why can't I go with momma?"
"Because she's going to see your sister and she's not doing too good."
"She's not?"
We all watched in awe at how Brian talked to the little girl. Fatherhood would suit him, I thought. He started to rock the little girl in his arms.
Then something clicked…sister? Maranda had a baby sister? She never said anyhting…but then the girl is only seven. So Maranda doesn't know. Wow, this just get's weirder and weirder.
"No, and we want you to see you sister when she's-"
"What's wrong with her?"
Brian paused and I noiced that even Maranda's mom was waiting to see how he explained this. Brian's back was to us, but at least I, could still see he was having problems talking to Honey about Maranda.
"Have you ever been in trouble for being somewhere when something bad happened? You didn't really do anything, but you were there?"
"Yeah, is that's what happened? Manda was somewhere she shouldn't be?"
"Yeah, so now we're gonna wait until they say she wasn't bad."
"How long will that take?"
"We don't know. Soon I hope."
"Me too."
Maggie broght a hand to her lips and she looked as if she'd cry over the moment. I couldn't say I blamed her, so much was happening at once.
I forced my feet to move and walked over to her. She looked at me and tears shimmered in her eyes. I put my arms around her shoulders and she leaned agianst me. She didn't seem to cry, but I could tell she was greatful for the embrace.
"It'll be OK." I tried to sooth. I was never one to handle tears so I hoped I was helping at least a little. I looked over at Kevin who seemed proud. I sighed; this could be a long day.
Maranda
"What do you mean I have a visitor? If it's a reporter I've got no comment." I stood and walked over to the bars.
She cuffed my feet and hands and then opened the gate. "No, it's your mother."
I'm sure I went a pale white as I my throat went dry. "My…my mom?"
"Yeah. Move it." She shoved me down the hall and I nearly lost my footing.
My mom was here? Why? How? Brian, my brain screamed! When he left he said he was going to find some way to make it better. This was not better! My mom was about to see me in a bright orange jumper and I knew I lost a great amount of weight.
I swallowed as I entered the last door to the confrence room.
Brian
"Ducky? Why does she keep calling you that?" Nick laughed.
"Because she feels the need. I don't know, she likes it." I shrugged as I lifted the lid on the room scervice food tray. "Hon, come get your sandwhich."
"Aww, Ducky I don't want a sandwhich." The little girl came over to the door whining. Only then did she notice Nick and then hid behind my leg.
"He won't hurt you." But it was obvious the little girl's shyness hurt him. "Don't worry man, she doesn't normally trust men as a general rule." I handed her the plate and a small bag of Doritoes. "Why don't you finish watching the movie." The little girl, wanting to get away, took the plate and bag and scurried over to the TV.
"Why doesn't she like me?"
"Like I said she doesn't really like men. I think I'm only the second one she's ever talk to. After Maranda's disappearance her dad taught Honey not -"
"What, Ducky?" Honey turned her head at the sound of her name.
"Nothing sweetie. Here's you drink." I walked over and handed her the small can and gave a helpful smile to the guys who sat warily, afriad to scare her away.
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