Page 13 of The Grizzly Situation

“First rule?” Chaim demanded, once more giving me his full unfettered attention. “Tell me again.”

“Don’t lift alone,” I said, my voice wobbly. “I’m sorry, it’s just…”

Chaim’s features softened. He stepped away from Benjy and came to where I was sitting, reaching out and putting a hand on my shoulder. “Is he still giving you problems?”

I nodded. “He asked me when I was going to kill myself, and said if I waited too long, he’d have to do it himself.”

A growl rent the air. “Okay, that’s it.” Chaim stood, his face beet red, hands clenched tight, his eyes narrowed. “I’ll be back. Benjy, keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn’t do anything else so reckless again.”

“Of course, Chaim.”

He stormed out of the room, leaving me and Benjy staring after him. When we heard the door slam, Benjy turned to me.

“He’s disappointed in you.”

I knew that, and it hurt my heart. “I’m sorry.”

“He’ll forgive you. Right now he’s angry, but it isn’t all at you. Give him some time to cool off. You know he thinks of you like his little brother, right?”

I shook my head.

“Well, he does. It’s why he’s so protective of you. Any of the other cubs would be jealous of the fact that Chaim Flynn was paying attention to someone other than them.”

“I know. I’ll do better, I?—“

“Mr. Lockhart? We’ve landed, sir. Did you want me to call your chauffeur?”

“What?” My head was still buzzing. I hadn’t thought about that day in forever. Chaim saved my life, literally. Even if I didn’t want to admit it, my muscles—such as they were at the time—were screaming. I was so close to dropping that barbell, and it would have been right across my chest or throat. “No… I…. No, it’s fine. I sent him a text when we boarded, so he was likely watching arrival times. I’m sure he’ll be waiting at the gate.”

“Very good, sir. I hope you enjoyed your flight.”

“I fell asleep, so it must have been smooth.”

She laughed. “I’ll be sure to tell Jake you appreciated his even hand.”

I stumbled when I stood. Exhaustion on top of a caffeine overdose mixed with the sugar from Uly’s cake wasn’t a good thing. At least I’d gotten a nap in. A few hours from now, I’d be in the audience, watching a bunch of kids mangle Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and loving the hell out of every off key note.

As soon as I made my way through the private area reserved for VIPs, a sweet, high pitched twin squeal reached my ears.

“Daddy!”

Two identical five-year-old boys, blessed with their mother’s dark hair, and my gray eyes bolted toward me, and when they were within a few feet, launched themselves, because they knew I’d catch them. I would always catch them.

“You came home!”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I swore. “But shouldn’t you be practicing your lines?”

“I wanted to see you,” Jack said, hand on my face, stroking my beard, gazing at me as if he hadn’t seen me in months. Maybe to a kid that was how it seemed. “We didn’t think you’d be here.”

“Hey, I made you a promise, didn’t I? I would never break that, especially to my two favorite kids.”

“Daddy, we’re your only kids,” Eddie reminded me with an exaggerated huff, him missing the joke that never got old.

“I know, and I’m glad, because I got the best.”

I nuzzled them, inhaling their scent. After a long day at work, nothing spoke to me of being home like my sons. They might be little devils at times, but I loved them with every fiber of my being.

“Were you good boys for Sandy?”