The River With a Crimson Current-The Mentalist

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Grace Van Pelt

I pull the duvet off of me and swing my feet out of bed. I honestly don't know how Wayne stays awake at work. Ben woke up a few times last night and he still managed to take an early call in.

I'm still off because of my arm but not for much longer. It's practically healed and my grazes on my face have cleared up, so... It's back to work for me.

"Okay, I'm coming," I call through to Ben who's whimpers are becoming louder and louder.

I rush down the small hallway and push his bedroom door open. It's dark except for the little pool of light coming from under his curtains.

"It's okay," I soothe as I pick him up, my good hand supporting most of him. He's not heavy but even the smallest of weights can sometimes be painful.

"Race," he mumbles. Wayne and I have tried to get him to pronounce the 'G' but he doesn't. So I'm known as Race. "Where Daddy?"

"He had to go to work sweetie." I smile at him and he continues to suck on his fingers. "He'll be back later though."

He rubs his eyes with the back of his hands and I can feel him slowly relax as his head nuzzles into my neck. I stroke my cheek against the back of it, his caramel coloured hair sticking up in little tufts. I raise my left arm and use my fingertipes to gently smooth it down. Then I leave his room and go into the lounge area of Wayne's fairly open plan apartment. I sit down on the couch and lean back into the padded cushions, then I softly move his little body onto my lap and his head rests on my chest. After a few minutes I peep down at him and he's drifted back off, so I take my chance and try to fall asleep too.

I suddenly awake as a little fist presses into my chest, he's trying to get off my lap and onto the floor. I hook my good arm around his small, warm tummy and tickle his waist.

"Are you trying to escape you little monkey?!"

He giggles as I continue to tickle him. He's soon in hysterics and wriggling around trying to get away from my hands that have strayed to his feet. He's so ticklish which makes him even cuter.

"Do you want some breakfast now?" I ask whilst helping him to sit up from where he was lying across my legs. He nods his head and climbs down then toddles over to the kitchen. He reaches for a cupboard handle and rummages around. I decide that now is the time to go over otherwise we might end up with plastic baby bowls everywhere. When he sees me behind him he looks up to check who it is and his top teeth are clamped down on his bottom lip and his dark eyes are big like a puppy's.

"You choose which bowl you want then," I run my hand over his soft, smooth hair then start making us drinks to go with our breakfast.

When I turn around from the fridge he's shutting the cupboard door and picks up the bowls again.

"This one for you." He hands me a green bowl with a lion on the bottom. "I have the leliphant." He hugs the blue bowl with an elephant, instead of a lion, to his chest.

"Okay then. Are elephants your favourite animal?" I ask.

He nods and I gesture for him to give me the bowl, which he does, so I can put cereal in it.