Forgive for Joy's Sake (Part 10)

How did he find out where I live? I thought, looking at Mr. Hazel-Amber eyes standing on my front porch. Knowing he wasn’t going to stop at one press of my bell, I rushed into my office and picked up my noise cancelling headphones. I scurried over to Joi and gingerly placed them over her ears. Her head was so small that if she turned at all, they would probably fall off.   I had no idea if they would work without any music playing, but I didn’t want to open the door and I didn’t want her waking up and crying and alerting him that she was here. I held them gently but firmly in place while he laid in on my bell off and on for five minutes straight. It ended with what sounded like a kick to my front door.  I waited a few more minutes before I took the headphones off Joi and went to look through my peephole to make sure he had left. 

While Joi slept soundly, I texted my mother to let her know what had happened. She texted me back that they were finishing up and would come get her. To say I was antsy would be an understatement. Joi woke up about thirty minutes before my bell rang again. I practically tipped toed to the door. This time it was Wes who stood on the other side.  I opened the door, grabbed his arm, and yanked him in. I quickly shut and locked it before turning to face him.

“Well, that wasn’t the welcome I expected.” He looked dapper in his dark grey suit which he was adjusting from having been yanked into my house.

“Did Ma tell you what happened?” I asked, leading him into the living room where Joi sat on the floor watching some weird cartoon that was on her very detailed schedule. When she saw Wes, she jumped up and rushed over to him with her arms extended up. He snatched her up and spun her around before hugging her close.

“Yes, she did. That’s why I told her I’d come to pick her up. I didn’t want her running into him either. Who is this guy?” he asked, sitting down on my couch with Joi on his lap. I gathered her things and started to pack them into her bag.

“That’s a question for Mel, because I don’t know.” I paused, debating whether to mention the eyes. Nope, I decided.

“What?” Wes asked me as he bounced a giggling Joi on his knee.

“Nothing,” I said, folding her blanket and placing it inside the bag. “Just talk to Mel.”

“I tried before I dropped her off at your mom’s but she got agitated and clammed up.  She even shut Mrs. D down. Which we both know is hard to do.” He took the bag I handed him but didn’t stand to leave.

“Yeah, tell me about it,” I said, continuing to stand as a hint that it was time for him to make his exit.

He ignored me and continued, “We were thinking maybe you could get her to talk. Your mom wants you to come over tonight for dinner and try to get Mel to open up. Before you balk and get to neck rolling, do this for Joi. We need to find out if this man is a danger to her or not.”

I was offended by his first comment. “First of all, you have never in your life seen me do a neck roll. If by chance you ever get me to the point where I’m rolling my neck, I suggest you duck and run for cover because that means I have completely lost it. Now as for doing this to make sure Joi isn’t in any danger, I agree with you there. Which is the only reason I’m going to agree to come over and try to talk to Mel. Tell my mom I’ll be there at six and not only do I want dinner I want some dessert too. Now I’ll see you and this little cutie a little later this evening. She has worn me out and I need to take a nap.”

“We’ll go but I’ll be back at 5:30 to pick you up. Until we know who this guy is, you probably shouldn’t come in at night without an escort.”

I instinctively started to protest, but the guy did give me bad vibes. “Fine with me, just call me when you are outside and I’ll come out.” Mr. Creepy wasn’t the only guy that I had to be careful around even if it was for entirely different reasons.

Wes shook his head and smiled. “Will do.”  He walked to the front door with me following behind. He stepped aside so I could open the door. On impulse I leaned in and kissed Joi on the cheek. “See you later, cutie pie,” I told her as she smiled back at me. 

“No kiss for me?” Wes said, grinning down at me.

     “Last I checked, we weren’t kissing buddies,” I said, unlocking the door and opening it. I did not anticipate him leaning in and planting his lips on mines for a brief kiss.

“Well check again. Oh and for the record that was a rated G version because we are in front of a kid,” he said, stepping out the door, then down the porch steps. “See you later my kissing buddy. Make sure you lock the door.” Joi put up a pudgy little hand and waved at me, I waved back then closed and locked the door.

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