Chapter 9

At precisely 9 AM, James knocked on her door. She took a deep breath, opened the door and let him in, "Are you sure about this James?"

He nodded, "I told you, anything for Inspector Lewis. He needs this, you need this and I suspect your son does too."

Unable to argue with him she motioned for him to follow her into the sitting room. An older version of the little boy he'd seen in the photo the prior year was curled on the sofa watching television.

"Matty, we have company."

He looked up from his program, "Is it someone I know mummy?"

"No, but you did ask if you could meet him last night when you got up for water."

"Your friend from work?"

Stepping to the side so James could fully enter the room, "Yes, his name is James and he asked if he could go to the park with you today."

Matty stood and walked to James. Openly staring at him, he walked all around him as if trying to figure out what species he was. Once back in front of James he looked up at him, "You're very tall."

James suppressed a smile, apparently the little boy had inherited his mother's directness, "Yes, I am."

"My mum isn't very tall. She says I will outgrow her before too long."

"Most likely but she's probably safe for a few years."

"What do you do, James?"

"I'm a police officer. I work with your mother."

His eyes widened, "Have you caught lots of bad guys?"

"A fair few."

"Did they go to jail?"

James looked at Laura, unsure how much he should tell the little boy. She simply smiled so he answered as benignly as he could, "Yes, they did."

"Did my mummy help you?"

James smiled, "Yes, often she does. She's quite the super hero, your mummy."

Matty rolled his eyes, another trait he'd clearly learned from his mother, "She's not a super hero, she doesn't have a cape."

James laughed, a light clear sound. Laura was taken aback, she'd never heard James laugh. "Who's hungry?"

Matty started jumping around, "Me, me, me. James this is your lucky day. Mummy always makes pancakes on Saturday. Mummy makes the best pancakes ever." He took James' hand and led him to the small dining room, "Nanny tries to make them but hers are really bad."

James looked down at the small hand in his and was stunned. The little boy was quite spectacular. "I love pancakes. Does your mummy make them into shapes?"

He turned back to James, "How did you know?"

Smiling at Laura, he laughed again, "The best mum's do."


They'd eaten breakfast and Matty had been sent off to brush his teeth and dress. Laura was finishing cleaning the kitchen, James was drying the dishes. "He's magnificent Laura."

"Thank you, James."

"How have you done it by yourself?"

She shrugged, "Life happens, James. You adapt. I'm fortunate, I can afford help. My brother lives relatively close so he helps when I need it."

"I could help if you need it."

"James, you don't have to…"

Folding the towel, he met her eye, "I know, I want to. I don't have any family left. You, Inspector Lewis and if you'll let me, Matty, are all I have."

Touched by his sentiment, she gently touched his arm, "Let's see how things go with Robbie before you commit to that."

Covering her hand with his, "No matter how it goes."

She smiled at him, surprised by his emotion. She'd always thought him a bit of an odd duck. It was nice realizing he had a caring side. Matty came thundering down the stairs, "Time for the park. Let's go."

He tackled Laura around the legs. Her smile brightened as she bent to wrap him in her arms, "Matty, how do you feel about James taking you to the park?"

"With you?"

"If you want, but mummy has an errand she needs to run. If you went to the park with James I could do it and then we have all afternoon free."

He thought for a moment. He leaned over to whisper in her ear, "Do you think he knows what to do at the park?"

Laura hid her smile as she mock whispered back to him, "I guess we could ask him." She turned and they both looked up at James, "James, do you know what to do at the park?"

James pretended to think about the question, "Well it has been a long time since I've been to a park but I seem to remember something about swings and slides. Personally, I always liked climbing up the slides more than sliding down them."

Matty's eyes lit up, "I do too but mummy never lets me. She's not tall enough to watch me all the way to the top."

James knelt beside him and whispered in his ear, loud enough for Laura to hear and object if she wanted to. "I am quite tall, perhaps I could help you. But I might need some instruction. Do you think you could help me?"

"Do you follow directions well?"

"I'm a police officer, I always follow directions."

Matty turned to Laura, "He'll do."

Uncertainty clouded her face, "Are you sure?"

Matty wrapped his arms around her neck, sensing her unease, "I'm sure, mummy. But maybe tomorrow you could take me to the park, just in case he doesn't do it right?"

Closing her eyes, she inhaled his scent, tears filling her eyes. "You've got a deal. I love you Matty."

"I love you, mummy, to infinity and beyond."

James stood, turning away from the family moment. He wouldn't have believed the tough as nails Laura Hobson would be quite so maternal. He heard her sending Matty to get his jacket on and turned back to her.

She walked into the kitchen and opened a drawer. Withdrawing a key ring she turned to James, "This is the key for the kitchen door. We usually stay at the park for about an hour. Then we walk back and play in the garden some more. I should be back before his lunch but if not, he's happy with a sandwich and some carrot slices. Typically he takes a nap after lunch." She waved her hands, "I will be back long before then…"

"Laura, we'll be fine. Go."

She nodded and walked to the door where Matty was bouncing up and down, "I'll be back in a little while Matty. You be nice to James."

"I'm always nice mummy. Don't worry about us." She kissed his head, waved to James and walked out of her house.