She & Him

Part 43: Guarded

Huh...

I'm at a loss.

I try to be sweet and caring and she pushes me away.

I try to stand up and fight for what I think is right and she pushes me away.

I don't think I'll ever get it right.

I had no choice but to bring Leo with me to Bea's. What was I supposed to do?

Opening the door, I walk in- Leo at my side with a bag of toys. His eyes quickly look around the whole room: curious as to what this place has to offer him.

"Okay, Pal- this is my client's home. So best behavior, Buddy." Nodding his understanding, we make our way down the hallway to the kitchen dining area and Bea and Anita immediately focus on Leo. "Good morning Ladies."

"What the Hell is that?" Bea obnoxiously growls as she turns her head to get a better view.

"Bea, this is Leo." I state. Anita comes over to us and crouches down. "He's a young boy I'm looking after."

"Oh my goodness- you are absolutely adorable."

"Little monster." Bea seethes as she sips her tea. "We'll come here, Boy. Let me look at you."

Leo doesn't budge from my side, that is until I start towards Bea.

"Don't be scared. She's just grumpy in the morning."

"Why I never!" She shrills loudly and Anita and I laugh. Leo gets to her side and she picks him up the best she can and examines the child from head to toe. "Scrawny little creature- aren't you. Have you been feeding him?"

"Yes, Bea- I have."

"Not anything good it looks like. Anita- fetch the boy some food will you?" Following orders- Anita heads into the kitchen and prepares Leo a big plate- despite him already having cereal at home. "Well, how old are?"

"Three." He quietly says.

"Three. Hmm....well..." That's all she seems to say on the matter. Her old face grows long and more wrinkled as she looks him over. It's not hard to tell that the boy was undernourished and in a terrible place before all this.

"Here you go, Master Leo. Eggs, toast, bacon, and a blueberry muffin with milk." Setting the plate down across the table, Anita smiles, until Bea opens her mouth.

"What are you doing stupid girl- over here." Jabbing her pointer finger into the table just next to her plate- Bea pretends to be flustered with the whole Leo thing, but Anita and I know she is anything but. She never had children of her own because she was a busy, hard working secretary for a big corporation. She and Tom had wanted a family a but both very unable to pull from their work to start one. By the time they realized this- they were far too old and had to make due spoiling nieces and nephews. "Is that good?"

Leo gingerly bites into the muffin like a tiny little mouse. Bea wipes his mouth every so often and doesn't even complain about the crumbs that fall to her pink trousers.