TIGERLILLY- THE BRAVO BOYS [book two]

Chapter ELEVEN

Frankie Xiao

.. ten days later ..

River paces anxiously at the front door, reluctantly pulling on a grey hoodie with the letters USMC printed across the chest, double checking the pockets of his fitted black jeans for his wallet and keys.. "You remember how to use the phone? All the numbers are in there.. And Nessa is rite' upstairs if anything goes wrong--"

Hoisting Lovey up on my hip where she gurgles, trying to stuff her little fingers in my mouth as she grabs at my face, I nod as confidently as I can.. "Yes. I know, Master River.. Everything is well."

Learning Lovey's daily routine has been easy, especially since I have been preparing for this for close to a decade..

Master Li Jun had been so sure it was my destiny to give him children..

There were days when I almost believed his manic prophecies and promises.. And others when I wished he would just drop dead rather than place upon me one more entrapment or expectation of servitude..

I consider my good fortune each day that it didn't happen.. Because Master Li Jun is a broken man, whose fruit rots from the inside.

River stares at me.. "Maybe I shouldn't go--"

I giggle at the way he switches back and forth between coming and going for what feels like the hundredth time now, unable to make up his mind.. "You go, I stay."

He has been like this all morning.. Stressed and serious, worried about leaving us alone to go and meet with his boss..

He is upset about returning to work and missing his daughter, which makes sense to me.. But more than that, I think he is concerned about what happens if he doesn't go back..

All week he kept saying he 'didn't want to, but he had to'.. I don't entirely understand why he has to, but I understand what obligation feels like.. AndI believe he was telling the truth..

He hesitates, trying to convince himself.. "O'kay--Yeah, yer' rite'.. Everythin' will be alrite'.. Won't it?"

I shift the baby to my other hip, resting my throbbing arm which is now getting tired from standing in the doorway for so long, holding Lovey's weight.. "Yes!"

"You promise me you won't unlock this door for anybody but me or Nessa?" He frets..

I nod dutifully.. "I won't. I Promise."

He reaches out, gently pinching at Lovey's tiny toes with a torn up expression and a rueful smile.. "And you'll call me if anythin' happens-- I mean anythin'.."

"Yes! Nǐ dānxīn tài duōle!" I smile as bright as I feel inside, assuring him that he is worrying for nothing.. When I take Lovey's little hand and help her wave goodbye to her father, he grins a concerned, crooked smile.. "We are happy! See?"

"Aye.. You're rite.. You're rite'." His shoulders relax and he steps closer, leaning down to kiss Lovey on top of her sweet strawberry wisps..

As he lifts his gaze back up to mine, I wish so profoundly that he would kiss me too.. Instead, he lets out a burdened sigh.. "I won't be more than a few hours."

For a second, he seems to forget about the unspoken boundary he had built up between us, ever since the day that I kissed him.

Reaching out he brushes my pink bangs back out of my face, tenderly tucking a tendril back behind my ear, before his fingers slide down the side of my neck.. An involuntary shiver shakes through me and his hand falls away as he draws up to full height.. "Rite'.. Lock this door behind me."