Flash #6

Word count as of this minute: 11,143!

Dionne moves the baby uncertainly into the crook of her arm and tickles his cheek just as Ellen suggested. The baby turns eagerly and begins feeding again, looking strongly up into her eyes.
“He knows his mommy,” Ellen says. “Tell me his name Dionne.”
“Elijah,” Dionne says.
“That’s a good strong name. You’re gonna have a strong man on your hands there.”
“I just want him to be good,” Dionne says quietly, her eyes still locked with his.
“That too,” Ellen adds. “He wants to be good for you. He came that way.”
There’s a light knock and Ellen and Dionne both look up. Mac is standing in the doorway, smiling broadly, his shoulder leaning up against the doorframe like he’s been there a while. Dionne stiffens a little and the baby pulls away from the bottle.
“Dionne this is Mr. MacNamara, he runs the Teen Center,” Ellen offers.
“Call me Mac,” he says, nodding. “Quite a little guy you’ve got there,” he adds.
Dionne doesn’t say anything, she turns back to the baby and tries to get him to take the nipple again, but the baby is transfixed in Mac’s direction, stunned by the sound of his low voice. Ellen gently cups the girl’s hand, guides it to stroke Elijah’s cheek. It only takes a moment for the baby to start feeding again.
Ellen looks over at Mac to ask what he wants, but she feels a funny sensation when she sees his expression. It is something more than warm, something more than she is used to from him. And for a second, she thinks that Mac senses it too, because he shifts his eyes to the floor before moving from her doorway.
“Nice to meet you Dionne,” he says, “You’re in good hands. The best.”