“Okay, let’s pick up Mikey and head back to the house. We’ll figure out the next steps later.” Finn steered her toward the SUV and opened the passenger door for her, then the back hatch for Abernathy.
Traffic was always a challenge, especially getting from Jackson Heights over to Forest Hills. Eva could feel her nerves fraying with every stoplight and every bumper-to-bumper slowdown. Logically she knew the two men in black had been after her and Cocoa, not Mikey, but she wouldn’t rest easy until she had the little boy safe at home.
The preschool wasn’t far, and when Finn pulled up beside it, she told him she’d be right back, shoved open her door and jumped out. Quickly, she went inside, then paused, waiting for her eyes to adjust from the bright sunlight to the dim interior of the building.
“Auntie Eva!” She heard Mikey before she saw him running toward her.
“Mikey!” She swept the little boy into her arms, cuddling him close. His blond hair was so much like hers that people often assumed she was the boy’s mother. “I’m here to take you home.”
“You’re early.” Peggy Harris, Mikey’s preschool teacher, came over to stand beside her. “We were in the middle of a Father’s Day art project.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Eva didn’t want to go into the events of her morning, so she simply offered a wan smile. “Tomorrow he’ll be here for the full day.”
“That’s fine.” Peggy reached out to smooth Mikey’s hair. “You can finish your art project tomorrow, Mikey. Be a good boy today for your aunt Eva, okay?”
“’Kay,” Mikey said agreeably.
Eva held her nephew in her arms as she turned to head back to the doorway, assuming Finn was waiting outside in the SUV. It occurred to her that she didn’t have Mikey’s car seat, and the thought of walking back to Pete’s house, the way she normally did, wasn’t very appealing. Being outside made her feel vulnerable, and she refused to risk anything happening to Mikey.
She turned around and went back to find Peggy. “Do you have a car seat I can use temporarily?”
“Sure, you can borrow this one.” She pulled a bulky car seat from the supply closet. “We have a few extras, but try to remember to bring it back as soon as you can.”
“I will. Thanks, Peggy.” Eva carried the car seat with one hand while holding Mikey’s hand with the other.
Finn and Abernathy were coming into the building as she and Mikey came out. “Next time, wait for me,” Finn chided without heat. “Parking is a nightmare around here.”
“Doggy!” Mikey tugged on her hand, reaching out toward Abernathy. “I wanna pet the doggy!”
Finn laughed, a hearty sound that sent shivers of awareness down her spine. She had no idea why on earth she had this strong reaction to the sound of his laugher, but she found herself smiling as she released her nephew.
Finn crouched next to Mikey, placing his hand on Mikey’s shoulder. “Friend, Abernathy,” Finn said.
“Good doggy,” Mikey said, stroking Abernathy’s silky fur. “Nice doggy.”
“His name is Abernathy,” Finn explained, then cocked his head to the side. “That seems like a mouthful for such a little guy like you. Maybe you can call him Abe.”
“Abe,” Mikey repeated.
“And I’m Officer Finn,” he added.
Abernathy attempted to lick Mikey’s face, which sent the little boy into gales of laughter. Finn chuckled, and for a moment she could easily imagine the K-9 cop with a child of his own.
It was enough to snap her out of her reverie. Having a child—a family of her own—wasn’t part of her future.
Losing her eyesight would make it difficult enough to take care for herself, much less a child.
The sooner she accepted that reality, the better.
* * *
Finn loved watching Mikey and Abernathy together. Boys and dogs went together like peanut butter and jelly. But it was time to get going, so he called Abernathy over.
“Come,” he commanded.
Abernathy instantly wheeled around and came to sit beside Finn, looking up at him expectantly. “Time to go.” He led the way down the street to the parking spot he’d managed to find. When they reached the vehicle, he opened the back. Abernathy jumped inside with lithe grace.