"I can't protect you without holding a sword. I can't embrace you while holding a sword."
― Tite Kubo, Bleach, Volume 05
Sinclaire stepped down from the porch steps. He grabbed the shovel that was up against the broken stair rail holding it as if it was a baseball bat resting on his shoulders, locking eyes with the thin looking African American man with a grocery cart half full of toys. He could smell the alcohol the closer he approached the man that was seeking his children.
"What's your name?"
"My name is Bob Stookey. I'm from the United States armed services. I was a doctor."
"What are you now?"
"I'm Santa. I've got some toys from around the way here, and I wanted to give it to the kids. They don't have much in the way of dolls."
"They and dolls? My boys wouldn't be interested in dolls unless you know something I don't."
"You funny man. I got trucks for the boys, some board games they can all enjoy. I have something for-"
Bob Stookey stopped himself based on the feeling he got from the look he received from the white man that favored all of the children.
Rick spied the brand new boxed Barbie in the man's hand while everything else in the cart appeared rusty, used, dirty. Sinclaire's tone was laced and heated and Bob could feel the sobering effects from each word that was enunciated succinctly.
"I want to focus on the doll, but I want to hear first what business you have with my kids?"
"Who are you?"
The words My kids weren't lost on Bob Stookey, but he too wanted to hear with his own two ears.
"What business you have with my kids?"
Bob glanced towards the house and back into the eyes that were turning darker than a thunderous blue sky, causing him to move the cart closer to himself to create or keep a safe distance.
"What business you have with my kids?"
"No business. I have no business. No business at all."
"If you ever come around here again asking for my Abigail I will kill you when no one is looking. It won't be a quick death by any means, but I will fucking kill-."
The piercing screams from inside of the house had Rick heading back taking two steps at a time. In the hall that led to the kitchen, he found Granny with his suitcase trying to hush Gladys and Knight who were begging to be picked back up by her.
"What's going on?"
The twins ran to their Daddy, and Rick lifted them both up high enough to carry and for them to bury their faces in his neck.
"The demon has taken over. Every time it happens the devil got her overwhelmed with thoughts. She packed up and leaving. I stumbled on this suitcase here in the hallway. When it happens, we try to hide it from her or put a bunch of the flower girl dresses in here real quick. If not she will be gone from here a long time. May not come back."
Rick couldn't understand what was happening until it stood right in front of him.
"Leave the suitcase right there, Granny."
Granny did as told. She stepped to take the twins from Rick, he shook his head the more the babies clung to him. He was able to manage, and Granny stepped back bracing for the Devil Wrath.
Rick was face to face with Onne.
"Good. You are here. You can take over or take them all from here. This is not a place for children."
"Boogeyman, Daddy."
Rick heard what Knight whispered, and it caused concern. A big concern.
"Why are they afraid of you?"
"Because I am the only one that reminds them that the Boogeyman is real. They need to believe me because I had no one to believe me."
Onne had her eyes on Granny standing next to the suitcase.
"I had a boogeyman that came in my room, and Granny over there didn't believe me. Thought I was messing up a good thing. Thought I was lying until she caught the boogeyman in my bed. Uncle Charlie shot him some time long ago, Pow. Dead. She wants to believe the devil than just blame the heart of Men. Really confused the old lady when I wasn't even safe in the church. Testimonial she gave blasted everybody. People got up started leaving. Shame the Devil, Granny?' Onne laughed heartily.
Unexpected presentation of pain, memories, unresolved hurts was hurled to Rick but received in the ear of Sinclaire while slicing Granny to bits and pieces.
"We are going to have to have a long talk about it. I don't like you scaring our kids. Home is where they are most safe. They got you, and they got me. Granny has been here when the load was more than you should have been doing all by yourself. Uncle Charlie has been doing what he could, and you can't tell me you don't know how much that old man in there cares about you. Do you understand what he means when he says you are his Girl Child? He's your Daddy. And I am the Daddy to all of them. Uncle Charlie protects you now because he couldn't protect you then. I'm here to protect my sons and daughters because that is what a Good Daddy does. You can't do it all by yourself."
He could see that his words were heard based on the slightest shift in demeanor and then it was just the person dressed as a mechanic.
"You are going to have to find their mother. She got some news that has disturbed her, and I am not in the business of playing house. I've got a job to do. I have cars waiting for me to repair. Now I will get my suitcase and head out. I have a grocery cart that will have me out of the way of this zoo and down the road until I can hitch a ride to town.
"That's my suitcase."
"You expect me to carry a woman's suitcase?"
"I expect you to stay here."
"I am not who you think I am man."
"Do you know who I am?"
"Do you really think I am crazy or deaf? You say you are the father of all these Goddamn kids. Now go on and be the Daddy. I'm out."
Onne grabbed the suitcase. Sinclaire wanted to put the twins down to stop his woman from leaving, but Rick wouldn't let him. He held on to the twins who clung to him for safety. He watched Onne run down the distance to the retreating grocery cart and jump in on top of the things, her legs dangling upward and out while holding on to the suitcase. Bob pushed her towards town.
"Got to let her go." Uncle Charlie came into the hall. He handed Granny a paper towel to wipe her tears and one for Rick to wipe the faces of the twins.
"What happened?" Rick was genuinely bewildered
"It is what happens when you come back, or she comes across a bad memory. Could be anything."
Uncle Charlie resisted telling the Daddy that he was going to be a Daddy again with Granny standing there. The news would have to be given to Granny in private.
"My Girl Child's guard is up. No devil got anything to do with all that she is feeling. She's going to wait for you to get overwhelmed which will prove her right when she finally does decide to come back from where ever she has run off to. This is all that I think is in her mind. Onne works on engines, so he says, but I think that means there are more things he's trying to bury down deep to keep from coming up from under the hood. I like to think that Onne is helping Michonne to prepare for the day today. Another part of me thinks what ever it is must be terrifying if the Mechanic is walking around."
"I wish that mind would rest some. Stirring up the past."
"I'm glad you stayed quiet, Granny. You see how that worked out? You respond to it makes it worse when all she wants you to do is listen."
"I'm putting you two down," Rick spoke to the twins that finally removed their faces from the crook of his neck.
"No." The two protested.
"Yes."
"Nooooo."
"Yes. Let me wipe your faces."
They did as told. They were staring in awe of him, their Daddy who was down on his knees talking to them. They really didn't have any idea what he was saying to them but they listened.
"Daddy is going to have a long day today. I have to figure out where my keys are and phone. I need to have someone come and pick up my car, and I need to buy a car. Well, maybe a van. Never thought there would be a day I would be in a market for buying one and then again with all of you probably needing car seats-probably a school bus."
Rick was feeling overwhelmed but not deterred.
Granny laughed after wiping her tears, "You do that. We need to get up and out more often. Would love to go to that cookout that the kids say we are all invited to. God knows all we need is a change of circumstances to change the atmosphere. Peace be Still, I says."
"Yes, indeed." Uncle Charlie agreed waiting for the twins to take his hand and follow him into the kitchen with Rick a couple of beats behind them. Rick was confused and puzzled about what was said about the cookout.
Granny made way to the kitchen to find the kids making a mess of the jelly and most everything else.
"Now looka here!"
A/N: You guys have no idea how this makes me very happy that this is a story that catches your imagination and pulls at your desires to continue the journey.
P.S.
Working on so many fics at once that I have lost track and find myself having to re-read them to know-what the heck? I have to step back to re-evaluate. Peace Through Chaos has taken a leap and I want to make sure it fits by stepping back for a day or two longer. Same with Devil is a Liar. Devil is a liar will cause heads to scratch but I think it is going to be quite funny. I may be the only one tickled but never the less. I will close out The Corners We Turn with two more chapters. Proofreading it now.