Page 38 of Brendan (The Doherty Mafia)
“I think I have a stalker. I think I have a creepy scary stalker, and I’m so scared Davey is going to end up getting hurt,” she cried.
I pulled her into my arms again so she had something to hold on to while she sobbed.
I let her cry for a while, but after that, I wanted answers.
I could hear sounds of the TV from inside the house.
“Is Davey in there?” I asked softly.
We were still standing at the door, embracing tightly. Rosalie looked up at me with her beautiful tear-stained cheeks.
“Yeah, he’s watching TV. I made him his favorite dinner. We’re way past bedtime but I don’t want to force him to go to sleep. He was pretty shaken up,” she said. She spoke in whispers, evidently trying to hide from Davey that she was still worried.
I cradled her face in both my hands, fighting the urge to kiss her.
“What did he do? The stalker.”
“He followed me here. To our block. Then he started making random threats. I don’t know what he was talking about. Some guy.”
It was confusing. I couldn’t make sense of what she was saying. I figured she just needed some time to calm down and put her thoughts together.
“He was staring at Davey with this weird slimy smile. I don’t know what he wants. I don’t even know if he’ll actually hurt me. But he saw me at the bar the other night, then found my apartment building. It’s so creepy,” she whispered hoarsely.
I rubbed my thumbs on her lips and she breathed in a deep sigh.
“I…I couldn’t go to work tonight. I’m pretty sure I’m going to end up losing my job. I’m already on the last straw with Rocky. And the diner, they’ve cut down my hours, so that’s out…” She was speaking to herself. I had to strain my ears to hear the things she was saying.
I threw an arm around her and pulled her to me again.
“How about you don’t worry about anything tonight? I’m here now. Nobody is going to hurt you or Davey,” I said.
She stopped mumbling and stared straight at me.
I hated seeing her this worried. I wanted to keep her safe. But I knew there were chances she would banish me from her apartment again. Rosalie was unpredictable.
“I didn’t expect you to show up here tonight, but I’m glad you did,” she said.
I took her hand in mine and held it up to my lips.
Davey appeared behind his mother right then.
“Brendan?” he said in a small weak voice.
Even just from the way he spoke, I could sense he was shaken up too.
I let go of Rosalie and scooped the kid up in my arms. He held on to me tightly. It was a strange feeling having a three-year old in my arms. He was so fragile, like a little bird.
I walked into the apartment with him and Rosalie shut the door behind us.
“I’m hungry, any dinner left?” I asked Davey. His eyes lit up and he smiled.
“Mommy made mac and cheese. You can have my leftovers,” he declared.
He seemed in a sudden better mood now and I was glad for it.
I realized I would have done anything to make the kid happy. I just felt like he needed me.
We sat on the floor around the TV and ate the remainder of the mac and cheese. Davey seemed to slowly come out of the shell he’d surrounded himself with. Rosalie still looked worried for him.
Spending time with Davey that night brought back memories of what had happened in the past. An experience in my own childhood that had left me feeling too emotionally crippled to handle a child around me.
But somehow, I was able to forget all about that with him. Davey and I fell into a natural rhythm. We were able to make each other laugh. Even Rosalie wasn’t invited or included in our little circle.
After dinner was over, I suggested that maybe it was time to go to bed. It was nearly midnight and he had been yawning for a while—fighting sleep.
Davey looked at his mother and then at me.
“I want you to read me stories and tuck me in,” he said, pointing at me.
Rosalie looked relieved—probably just happy that he was even agreeing to go to sleep.
This was the first time in many many years—since I was a kid myself, that I sat down by the bedside of a child and read a storybook. Then a second and third one. Davey was still fighting sleep but eventually he gave up and nodded off.
Rosalie appeared at the door a few minutes later when she noticed I’d stopped reading the books. I sat there next to Davey for a little while longer while she came around and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
There was something so peaceful about watching him sleep. He looked so safe and comfortable. Like he was absolutely sure that no harm would come to him. That the adults in the house would keep him safe.
