Page 92 of The Saint

Just like the ones that kid had out in the hall.

24

JAEL

“I’m not ‘posed to talk about it.” The kid eyed the chocolate bar Lev had taken from Rolly’s kitchen counter, his eyes wide as he licked the corner of his lips.

“Sure. Okay. I get that.” Lev fingered the wrapper, gently prying it open, exposing the smooth chocolate underneath. “I mean, it’s good to keep secrets if someone’s in trouble.”

“Ain’t no one in trouble,” the kid said, arms tightening around the last few envelopes he held as he inched closer to where Lev knelt in the hallway with the chocolate.

“No trouble?” His fingers paused on the wrapper, the corner falling shut.

The kid shook his head. “I’s just told not to let them know who was giving it to them. He said people who didn’t live around here could get jealous if they found out.”

“What’s in the envelopes?” I asked, and Lev’s gaze whipped to mine. His brows rose, and he gave me a look that told me I needed to shut the hell up.

When I’d admitted my lack of knowledge of children, Lev told me he’d handle this.

The kid dropped his head, then peeked up over his glasses. “Not ‘posed to say.”

“Is it candy?” Lev asked, a small smile tugging at one side of his mouth, his voice smooth and light. “I wouldn’t want people knowing if I had candy. They’d come around begging me for it, then I wouldn’t have any for myself.”

The kid smiled, gaze jumping between Lev and the chocolate bar. “That’s silly.”

“No?” Lev lifted the bar in the air between them, and the kid’s gaze followed. I stood there, marveling at the way he handled this kid. If it were me, I probably would have scared the boy away before we got out a single question. “Is it money?”

His eyes widened, then jumped to me, to the chocolate, then back to Lev. Like he thought he was in trouble.

Gently, Lev asked, “There one in there for you, too?” and the kid nodded, then shook his head.

“I give it all to my momma.”

“Good. That’s real nice of you. Does that help your momma out?”

He nodded earnestly. “Sometimes she buys the really good mac ‘n’ cheese. And my baby sister doesn’t cry so much ’cause she gets to eat more.”

My chest clenched, and I looked away. It was just like Rolly to give money away like this, to help them without them knowing, so they could do more than just survive.

He got that from his mother. The desire to do good. To put others' needs above his own. I wasn’t built that way. For me, I had to be confronted with the injustice and then make a conscious effort to continue providing help.

Lev tapped the chocolate bar against his palm, then held it up once more. “You have an envelope for everyone in the building?”

“Not everyone,” the kid said, eyes back on the candy. “He said some don’t need it so much here. But there’s more in my building next door. He said thems need it more, so almost everyone gets an envelope. But I don’t give it to those ones on the ground floor.” The boy leaned forward and lowered his voice. “He said they’re special, so he takes care of them himself.”

Special. That much was obvious, from the pictures hung all over his apartment. Rolly had a connection to this family I didn’t understand.

Lev glanced up at me, then looked back at the kid. “An old lady live there?”

“Yeah. Mrs. T. She’s Tyler’s granny. She’s a lot of fun, but she don’t remember much anymore. Tyrone said she’s got diminishing, and I said that sounds like a wizard’s spell.”

“Tyrone, huh?” Lev’s lips turned up into a crooked grin, and I had to stifle a laugh even though my chest ached.

The kid nodded. “Yeah. He knows a lot, ’cause he gon’ go to college, but he doesn’t know any wizard spells.”

“Maybe he’ll learn some there.”

“That’d be awesome! And then he can teach me some.”