Cat' and I were cleaning the table off, giving the men a chance to look after the children. She giggled and swatted at me with her rag, and I playful nudged her around with my hips. "Your as bad as the kids."
"Yes, and your as high handed as the Professor." she teased.
I smiled, "That must be why he keeps me around, I always knew there was something to it." She laughed and we moved to put the rags up. She flicked on the dish washer and we stopped to just breathe. Every day had been filled with something.
Victor had taught the kids how to make slingshots, which Amy had excelled at much to Skeet's disappointment. Cat' had took to playing chase through the back yard with the four toddlers. She'd also taken over putting the babies to sleep at night. Victor cooked on the grill for lunch and dinner, and if it weren't for Cat' and her fondness for breakfast, he'd probably been using it mornings too. Hank had stayed away from me for the most part, participating here and there with the kids, but standing to the side. I just assumed it was because of Victor, but I never asked.
"So bath time?" she questioned.
I started to answer, but a familiar smooth baritone beat me to it. "I thought, perhaps, I'd take Robyn out to give her a break." Cat' and I both looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "I meant if you and Victor wouldn't mind, I'd like to take Robyn on a walk. She hasn't had time to herself in days and I thought it might do her some good."
Cat' winked at me, "Go on, then. Vic', looks like we're giving baths tonight." Victor looked into the kitchen, he held a very asleep Samson.
"C'mon then, ain't got all night." he growled, but his eyes twinkled as he watched Cat' sashay into the living room. I smiled at their obvious display, then turned to Hank.
"Lead on, boss."
He gave me a funny look, but headed for the front door. I glance back towards the room the kids were in one last time, I mean I know they were fine with the Creeds, but I should've been the one to bathe them.
"Don't worry, I'm positive they'll be okay until we get back." he assured, placing his hand against my back and pushing me through the door. I walked leisurely down the sidewalk, waiting for him to pick the direction. Glancing at him, his eyes were to the ground and he wore a bemused expression. Okay, I guess I'd pick the direction. I turned, him instantly following and walked toward the back yard.
"You really love those kids." he finally spoke, and I grinned.
"Yeah, I do." There was no reason to elaborate, those were great kids, anyone could see that.
"You think a lot of Catherina too." I nodded, and his stare went back to his feet. "Exactly how were you brought up, Robyn?"
Something about the question didn't sit right with me, "Baptist. Your mother said you were Episcopillian, I don't know much about it, but when I went to Church it was Baptist."
"Did your parents go to Church often?" Now he was just being invasive.
"I don't know, my dad ran off before I was born, and my mom followed not long after." There you high and mighty ass, judge away. I don't know if it was his tone or the way he couldn't look at me, either way I was growing more and more uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know. Who raised you then?" Yeah, I could feel the sincerity of that one Hank.
"My grandparents, my grandfather died while I was in high school. My grandmother just after." I had loved them and they had lived their lives, but it still hurt to think about.
"Did they raise you not to judge others? I mean mutation wise of course." Of course! I stopped dead in my tracks, glaring at him.
"They taught me never lie, cheat, or steal. They taught me to never judge a book by its cover, and they taught me to play nice with others. I love your mother, but she might have forgotten a lesson." I felt like growling myself. How dare he question that? I wasn't the least bit prejudiced, there were far too many injustices in the world to worry about that!
"I didn't mean anything by it, it's just how you act with the children, with Catherina." he quickly jumped in trying to use reason to justify his question. I turned away to stomp back toward the house.
He grabbed my arm, pulling me back to him. "Look Robyn, it's just I see the way you act with Skeeter and the others, and I can't help, but wonder why you don't act normal." I rared back and slapped him before it ever occured to me I'd actually done it. He stood staring at me with wide blue eyes as well. I pulled away, running back to the house. I felt sick, I wanted to hide under a pillow. Normal? That bastard! I had never been so hurt! People had called me many things for being a bastard, for not having parents, for being so standoffish, but him sitting there implying I was prejudiced, that I wasn't normal! I was hurt.