Page 8 of Waggs

“I’m ready!”

Waggs looked down at his nephew, with his hair all askew despite the comb he’d run through it. He crouched down and looked the little boy in the eye. “Okay, bud, let me go talk to Mitch and then we can go. Why don’t you watch cartoons for a minute?”

AJ shrugged. “Okay.”

Waggs smiled at the easy capitulation and wondered if he was always that easy going. He and Aaron certainly hadn’t been. They weren’t terrors, but they could undoubtedly raise hell when they wanted too.

Mitch was watching from the kitchen as he drank a cup of coffee, he’d helped himself to. His home, much like the other guys’ homes, was familiar to the team but with Mitch as his landlord and neighbour, he was even more of a regular.

“Willow has a fever still, but I gave her some medicine, and she’s sleeping. Call if you need anything and thanks again, Mitch.”

“You were there when I needed help with Autumn’s problem, and I’m here now.” Mitch shrugged. “We’re friends. It’s what we do.”

“Regardless, I appreciate it and thanks for not giving me the third degree about Willow and AJ.”

Mitch chuckled. “Figured that was Deck’s department.”

Waggs lifted his eyebrows and smiled. “Yeah, I guess. Now I better get going. I have absolutely no idea what a kid his age needs, I’m winging it.”

“Autumn is happy to go with you if you need help.”

“Nah, we’ll manage but thanks.”

He walked back into the living area and watched AJ for a second, it was spooky how much he looked like Aaron. “Ready to go, buddy?”

AJ jumped to his feet and ran to him, slipping his hand in his. “Yep.”

They walked into town, as it was quicker than taking the car and finding a parking space. Making their way to the new area, he stopped and looked around before looking down at AJ. Clothes first then some toys.

“Let’s get some clothes sorted for you, buddy.” The first shop was a bust, only having older children’s clothing, but the next worked. He held the clothes against AJ and frowned. It had his age on the label, but it looked too small. Waggs had no clue if he was an average size for his age or not, so he’d have to try them on. After the first four items of clothing, AJ began to look bored, so Waggs quit while he was ahead and bought a few pairs of trousers, shirts, and t-shirts in several colours as well as pants and socks.

Looking down, he realised he only had the shoes he was wearing so they headed for the shoe shop next, where a nice lady measured AJ’s feet and picked trainers with lights on and toys in the sole, for Christ’s sake.

“We need to get your mom some stuff, but after that, we can go to the toy shop as you’ve been so good.”

AJ pumped the air with his little fist. “Yes.”

Walking into a woman’s clothing shop was somewhat of a new experience for him, and he instantly felt out of his comfort zone. It must have been evident because a woman in her fifties approached and asked if he needed help.

“Yes, please. I need a basic wardrobe for a woman my age in size….” He looked around to find something that would indicate Willow’s size and saw a mannequin around her size. “About that size.”

The woman followed his gaze and smiled kindly. “Does your wife have a favourite colour?”

“Oh, she isn’t my wife, she’s my…” Sister-in-law wasn’t strictly true because she and Aaron had never married, and friend felt wrong too, but it was what she was he guessed. He and Willow had always been friends before, and he’d forgotten that the last few years.

“Friend. She’s my friend.”

“He’s my Uncle Aiden.” AJ nodded his head proudly, and Waggs grinned.

“Well, let me see what we can do. What does she need?”

“Everything. Underwear, clothes for day to day, shoes, the lot.”

Thirty minutes later, Waggs and AJ walked out with more bags than he’d anticipated, and they still had the toy store to go. Luckily, that was on the way back to the house. He ended up buying AJ a football, a nerf gun, some Lego bricks, as well as a superhero costume, and some colouring books and pens.

When they walked through the door of his apartment, Mitch’s eyes bugged as he stepped forward to take some of the bags from him. “Did you buy the store out?”

“I know, right? Who knew a kid needed so much.”