Bedroom Diplomacy(16)

She closed the toilet lid and sat down with Dylan in her lap. Tricia handed Colin the first-aid kit.

Colin rummaged through it, setting everything he needed on the edge of the sink, then told Dylan, “I have to clean this, and it might sting a little, but if you hold very still, you won’t have to go to the hospital.”

Eyes wide and full of relief, Dylan sat absolutely still as Colin rinsed the cut thoroughly, and as he applied the antiseptic, the child barely even flinched.

“You’re being so brave,” Rowena said, giving her son a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek.

“Okay, now you have to hold very, very still,” he told Dylan, grabbing the tweezers and dipping them in antiseptic. He very gently used them to separate a few strands of hair from each side of the wound. Though it took several tries, he managed to tie the strands together in a firm knot, essentially using the hair as a stitch.

Tricia laughed and said, “That’s genius!”

“But it only works on hair that’s long enough.” If Dylan’s hair were a quarter of an inch shorter, Rowena would probably be taking him to the E.R.

It only required two knots to seal the wound, and then Colin dabbed the area with liquid bandage to hold everything in place and keep any dirt or moisture out.

“Good as new,” he told Dylan, gently ruffling the back of his hair. “Did it hurt?”

Dylan held his thumb and finger a centimeter or so apart to indicate that it had only hurt a little. Then he looked at Rowena and said excitedly, “No hobspital?”

She smiled and said, “No, baby, no hospital.”

“You’ll want to keep that dry for a few days, give it a chance to close.”

“He had a bath this morning, so he should be fine for now. Or maybe he’ll just have a stinky head,” she teased, tickling Dylan under the ribs. He giggled and squirmed in her lap.

“Tinky head, tinky head,” he chanted, as if that were the funniest thing he’d ever heard. And being that he was so young, it just might have been. But at least he was happy now.

“Can you tell Colin thank you?” Rowena said.

“Hubs!” Dylan held out his arms, and as Rowena handed him over, Colin realized that he wanted hugs. Dylan wrapped his arms around Colin’s neck, and for such a small, fragile-looking kid, he had one hell of a grip. Though Dylan obviously had a speech impediment, when he said “thank you” the words were perfectly clear, and when he planted a big wet kiss on Colin’s cheek, his heart melted. He sure was a sweet kid, and seemed exceptionally smart for such a little guy.

Colin handed Dylan back to Rowena and she said, “After all that excitement, I think someone could use a nap.”

Dylan turned to Colin, flashing a thousand-watt smile, and said, “Cowin tuck me in?”





Five


It would seem as though Colin had earned himself a new friend. Rowena shot him a questioning look.

Odds were good someone would see him walking them into the house, but weren’t these extenuating circumstances? What sort of man would he be if he told the boy no?

“I’ll tuck you in,” Colin said.

“Are you sure?” Rowena asked.

“Of course.”

“Okay, then.” She turned to Tricia. “I’ll probably be out for the rest of the day. Can you manage without me?”

“We have four kids out with the flu. We should be fine.”

“Go grab your backpack,” Rowena said, setting Dylan down. As Colin watched him make his way across the room, he realized why running on the playground—or anywhere else—was so frowned upon. Rather than walk like a typical toddler, Dylan hobbled along unsteadily, balancing on the sides of his feet, looking as though any second he could topple over. Colin could relate. He’d spent the first eight weeks after his surgery hobbling around on crutches. But as the doctor had said, he was lucky to have a leg to walk on.

Dylan hobbled back over, but when Rowena leaned down to pick him up he said, “No. Cowin take me.”

Rowena looked over at him, mouthing the word “sorry,” but he honestly didn’t mind. Dylan held out his arms and Colin lifted him up. He was heavier and sturdier than he looked. By the time they made it all the way up the path to the mansion and up to Rowena’s suite, his arms were getting tired.

The greater part of the senator’s mansion was about as warm and welcoming as a museum, and far too gaudy for Colin’s taste. Too much gold and beige and useless excess. In contrast, Rowena and Dylan’s suite was an explosion of color. It was casually furnished with an eclectic mix of antique and modern, all in bold prints and colorful patterns, yet the kitchen was ultramodern, with polished marble counters and stainless steel appliances. Nothing seemed to match, yet it all fit in perfectly together, and though it was very clean, it had a comfortable, lived-in look.