“Oh?” I ask instantly on alert. I keep him separate from my life, because he’d make an easy target.
“Grandkids in from Chicago.”
The tension bleeds from my body. “I bet he’s loving that.”
“I think so. They’ve been here since breakfast.”
“I’ll find them,” I say waving her to stay seated. I know how busy this place can be. She doesn’t need to expend extra energy on me when I know the drill. I lean down and sign my name in the visitor’s log.
I take the familiar route to the gardens scanning for the shock of salt and pepper hair that contrasts with Ray’s brown skin. I find him seated beneath a tree with a curvy woman with straight black hair and a man built like a linebacker. I can see the resemblance around their eyes and nose. I know Ray and his wife Agnes had one son, but he’d gotten heavy in to drugs and broke their hearts a million times over.
I always thought Ray moved away after Agnes passed of an aneurism to escape the toxic loop his son, Brian had placed him in.
“There’s my boy,” Ray says waving to me as he spots me.
“Hey Ray. I see you have some visitors today.”
“These are my grandkids here on vacation. This is Tinley and her older brother, Tyson. This here is my grandson from another family, Skull.”
The two exchange a look.
I smile. “Yep, Ray took me under his wing after my Grandfather passed some years ago. He helps me keep this hard head of mine on straight.”
Tyson stands and offers his hand. “It’s good to meet you. We appreciate you taking care of him. We’ve been looking at relocating soon.”
“I know he’ll be glad for the company,” I reply taking in the man’s firm grip and steady gaze. I’d be having him looked into as soon as I got back to the club. I owe Ray that much. I turn to the woman.
She seems almost skittish as she shifts from side to side on her coltish legs bared in her short black shorts.
Then again, I make most people nervous. I hold my hand out and take her hand. “Nice to meet you, Tinley.”
“You too,” she whispers softly.
“We’ve taken up enough of your time, Grandpa,” Tyson says. “I promised Tin I’d take her to a beach and Disneyland while we’re here. We’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Good, if you come at lunch you’ll be in time for Bingo,” Ray says.
“Then, lunch it’ll be,” Tinley says offering up a sweet smile.
I watch them as they slip away. “That’s a new development.”
“Recent. They started writing me this year, looking for a connection with someone not drug addled. They mentioned coming here to see me, but I never figured they’d really do it. I thought it was one of those things you say to someone old and past their prime.”
“Do they have the same last name as you?” I ask.
“You planning on looking into them, son?”
“Damn straight.”
He shakes his head. “Yes, they’re Hawkins.”
I nod and sit down next to him.
“How’ve you been?” he asks.
“Busy. Sorry I haven’t been by recently. We had a lock down situation.”
“I figured as much. You’re like clockwork with your visits.”