35)

Morning came and despite the distraction of waffles with real butter, which Sara either didn’t know was supposedly unhealthy or for once didn’t care, and three kinds of syrup, maple, blueberry, and pecan, it still wasn’t enough to stop all of Ami’s questions. Since someone, looking at you least favorite granddaughter, filled her in on my little joke.

“No, I’m not cheating on the sheriff, we aren't even dating. No, that would be tom catting, which I’m not doing either because that wasn’t a date, just dinner. No, the werewolf lady next door has a kid and is living with someone. I haven’t actually met any other werewolf women, well I saw some with everyone that came with the sheriff last night, but we weren't introduced. Have another waffle.”

I was saved from the interrogation by what I hoped was the oddly early arrival of my Amazon deliveries, but when I checked the phone. However, instead of a big, brown, blocky UPS vehicle, I instead saw my eldest nephew sitting in a old beat up SUV idling in the driveway.

Huh…

Charles was sitting patiently, alternating from looking at the intercom camera and trying to peer through the gate and down the driveway.

The elder two were looking at me while looking a little excited. I shook my head at them. “Nope, not one of yours, and I’m guessing your dad would call ahead, not just show up.”

Not crushed, but they both look disappointed, while Aran was just now picking up that something was happening.”

“One of you two make Aran get washed up since he’s all sticky, and the other one start cleaning up.”

I could hear Ami shout not it, but wasn’t clear on which job she was trying to get out of as I opened the patio door and stepped out to, well I’m not sure why. It wasn’t like my hearing was still bad enough that I needed to get away from the kids talking to hear someone else on the phone anymore. And it’s not like this was going to be a private conversation. Maybe just out of habit?

I hit the button on my phone for the intercom. “What’s up Chuck?”

Charles head snapped to the camera and he leaned in towards it. “I made some arrangement to have my assistant pick up your order right from the distribution center and then switched cars with him inside a private garage. I figured that should more then enough to shake loose anyone trailing me, hopefully.”

“Sounds like it, I’ll buzz you in.”

Lawyer, and delivery guy. If he’s billing me, I hope it’s at the delivery guy rates.

I headed back in to see Ami look up at me from the dishwasher, the waffle iron in her hand, looking unsure of what to do with it.

“If it’s got a power cord it doesn't go in the dishwasher. I would just wipe it down with a soapy sponge and then hand dry it, but that’s just because I'm too lazy to look it up on google.”

She set it up on the counter an immediately dug out her phone.

“Your cousin Charles is here with the new TV and everything else I ordered...” which is all I got out before she gave me a surprised look, looked down at the pajamas she was still wearing and ran off.

Huh? It’s just Chuck, I was more worried about the kitchen being a mess from having a eleven year old “help” make waffles for the first time and the sticky mess on the breakfast bar from a seven years old eating syrup laden waffles.

Don’t want the nephew telling everyone the old guy living alone is dwelling in squalor and needs an intervention. My sister wanted to do that with our uncle, but the rest of remembered that it had nothing to do with his age, he had always just been sloppy.

I did a quick wipe down of the counter while I listened for Charles to pull up by the garage, then realized he must have driven pass the turn off and headed for the front door. I got out to the front just in time to see him wiggling around a big cardboard box the right size for a TV in the open back of the SUV. Not so much as trying to pull it out, but just to get a idea of what would be involved in trying to move it.

I walked up behind him and he jumped a little when I greeted him “Hey kiddo” Guess he didn’t hear me walk up.

He turned with a careful smile then looked surprised. “Uncle John, you look good. Like really good.”

“Yeah I...” Sara interrupted me as she came out the front door at a run with a leap, skipping the steps entirely to land on her feet and jog up. “It that the TV?”

I nodded. “Sara, this is you cousin Charles. Say hi.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “Hi cousin Charles, is that the TV?” She headed around us to begin pulling at the box.”

I stepped up to hip check it back into the car. “Yes it is, and your arms are too short to pick it up without breaking it. There’s a bunch of bags up front you can carry inside with one trip if you want to show off.” She gave me a cold look and stomped off to open a side door.’

Charles kept her eyes on her the whole time. “So…”

I thought about whispering or drawing him off...but I was still trying for honesty. “I’m convinced she’s ours, for reasons we can go into later, but even if she isn’t,“ I could see Sara go still for a moment. “Then she’s a young lady with two little kids who need some help, and were sent to me. Looking after them for a few days while we get everything sorted out isn’t a problem for me, and,” I spoke up to make sure Sara knew I wanted her to hear me. “As far as I am concerned she is my grandchild by blood until proven otherwise and that is not for discussion.”

Then in a loud whisper, which Sara was easily close enough to hear. “But don’t worry, I’m still not going to sign anything. Just because she related to me doesn't mean she won’t try to take me for everything I’m worth. You know kids these days.”

She stared at me from over the back seat of the car long enough for me to notice and look back at her, then stuck her tongue out at me.

There was a shout of “Hi” as Ami, now in clean cloths, her hair freshly brushed and face still a little flushed from being washed, waved at us from the front door. Aran hesitating at the sight of a stranger and was lurking halfway behind her.

I waved her over. “This is Charles, the younger son of my oldest brother. He brought the new TV and the other stuff over.”

It occurred to me that he must have left Detroit around six to get here this early. “Did you eat yet, we got most of the making for waffles still out?”

He shook his head as he headed over to cut off Sara who was carrying a stack of boxes in her arms to the point they were stacked up high enough to block her eyes off from were she was going. “No, I had a yogurt smoothie earlier. Let me get some of those or you’ll trip on the stairs.”

Sara looked like she was going to argue, but he snatched the top three boxes before she could and headed inside, the other two stepping out of his way before all three trailed along behind him.

Leaving me with the TV.

The weight itself wasn’t a issue, and my arms were long enough to get a good grip on it as I slid it out of the car, but I would either have to carry it high enough up that it would be up over my face, or low enough my legs would be bumping into to it with each step.

All the vaulted power of a super strong, shape changing, supernatural being, and I stilled needed help just to move a TV.

I guess it best to know I still have limitations, might save me some trouble later on if I stay at least a little humble.