Fire and Rain by Andrew Grey Read Free Book Online

you. Then you can get him dressed, and we’ll go.” Kip stood, looking at him eye to eye. Jos stood stock-still, wondering why he was doing this, and then his mind immediately snapped to the soft kindness in Kip’s eyes. Kip could be strong and harsh; he’d seen that in the alley and the way he’d dealt with Tyler. There had been nothing but power and force in his voice and body. But now there was none of that. Yes, Kip was still strong and his arms filled his shirtsleeves, but he was caring and his features were much gentler now. His lips curled up slightly and his broad shoulders were relaxed, the power Jos knew was there resting until it was needed.
    “Jos,” Isaac said, pulling him out of his thoughts. Jos hoped he hadn’t been too obviously checking Kip out.
    “Will you go to Kip? He’s going to play with you and the horsey. I’m going upstairs to clean up, and then we’ll get you dressed, okay?” Isaac nodded, and Jos handed him over to Kip, who began talking to him, asking him what the horsey’s name was. Jos wasn’t sure how long Isaac would be quiet, so he hurried upstairs and got the kit Donald had given him. He went into the bathroom and, damn, he hadn’t remembered how good it felt to brush his teeth, shave properly, and just feel clean and fresh once again. When he was done, he went back into the bedroom and pulled on some of the clothes Donald had brought for him. The jeans and T-shirt were a little big, but that was better than too small. He’d even included a belt for him so he could keep his pants from falling down.
    He went back downstairs and found the dishes cleared from the table and Kip playing with Isaac. There was a big smile on Isaac’s face as he chattered away about what his horsey was doing.
    “Do you have to go?” Jos asked Isaac, and Isaac slid off Kip’s lap, telling him all about the adventure they’d had. He took Jos’s hand, still holding the horsey in the other, and Jos led him up the stairs to the bathroom.
    While Isaac went, Jos got his clothes from the bedroom and then ran some water in the bathtub. Isaac liked taking a bath, and Jos put him in and let him play for a couple of minutes.
    “I want the horsey,” Isaac said, extending his arm and making a “gimme” hand.
    “Okay.” Jos handed him the horsey and a washcloth and let Isaac clean himself. “We don’t have a lot of time. Mr. Kip needs to get going.” Jos just hadn’t been able to pass up the chance for Isaac to get clean. When Isaac had washed, he stood, and Jos wrapped him and his horsey in a clean towel, dried him, and then helped him dress in new, clean clothes.
    “How long can we stay here?” Isaac asked. “I like it.” He smiled. “I’ll be good, I promise. Can we stay if I’m good?” Isaac reached for the Lego horse as Jos finally got the squirming youngster into his clothes. He could be a handful at times, and Jos gave him a hug.
    “I don’t know. Let’s go see Mr. Kip so we can get things done with the police.” Jos cleaned up the bathroom as best he could, hanging up towels and then rinsing out the tub. Then he opened the door, and Isaac raced to the stairs and started descending.
    “Mr. Kip, I have the horsey,” he called. Jos followed him, watching. Three steps from the bottom, Isaac slipped. Jos grabbed him to prevent a fall, but the horsey slipped from his hand, then shattered into pieces at the bottom of the stairs. Isaac stared at the individual pieces, then turned to look up at him, lower lip trembling.
    Kip hurried in. “It’s okay. They’re not broken. Now you can make a new horsey with them.”
    Jos lifted Isaac and waited for the meltdown he was afraid was coming, but Isaac nodded, eyes still watery, and Kip picked up the blocks. He put them in a small bag and handed it to Isaac.
    “We have horsey fun-ral like Mama fun-ral,” Isaac said.
    “How about we get you a different kind of horsey,” Kip said right away.
    Jos turned away, trying not to let Kip see the