Chapter 27

“Come here Baylee I'm going to show you how to cook.” Kevin says. “Really I'm not to o little?” Baylee says. Nick walks in and goes over to Jerald leaning his head against him. “Uncle Nick I'm going to learn how to cook.” Baylee says from the kitchen. “I hope uncle Kevin's teaching you because your Daddy AJ can't boil water and the only thing your dad knows how to cook is Mac and Cheese.” Nick says. Everyone laughs. Nick pulls away from Jerald and heads up stairs. “Hey Bri come help me with something.” Nick says. Brian gets up an walks upstairs. As the two friends reach Nick's room Brian closes the door behind them. “What did she say?” Brian asks. “You're not going to like it but here it is. She wants you to let Leighanne take Bay with her back to the hotel.” “What?!” Brian yells.

“ I know I was thinking that too but she assured me that it would work out for the best. She's got the address and everything, she says make sure that Leighanne doesn't leave before night fall and to make sure there is a light on in Baylee's room but not Leighanne's. When Baylee's with Leighanne I'm to leave one light on in my bedroom as a signal.” Nick explains. “Are you sure she can be trusted?” Brian asks. “I'm not sure of anything Bri I just know that I don't want to lose my nephew. As the friends stare at each other they hear laughter downstairs and decide to go join the fun. When Brian and Nick reach the kitchen it looks like the fridge exploded.. “What happened to my clean kitchen?” Brian asked. “Baylee did it.” Kevin says standing up with egg dripping from his hair. “Uncle Kevin started it.” Baylee says from behind the cabinet. As he looks around the kitchen he saw his friends and family covered in food and in various places. “Alex, you didn't try to stop them?” Brian says shaking his head. “Babe you know Kevin doesn't listen to anybody and then Jerald threw flour at Bay and I had to defend my son.” AJ says. “ Yeah but his aim was off and he hit Rain causing Viggo to defend our son.” Howie says. “That's basically how this happened.” Rain says. Brian smiles and shakes his head. “Come here baby we need to talk, guys I need you to come listen too please.” Brian say picking Baylee up. Jerald hands Kevin a towel for his hair. They all go into the dining room .and sit at the table. “What we're about to tell you is going to be really hard to understand but it's for the best ok.” Brian says. “First of all Baylee I love you with every fiber of my being and I would do anything to keep you safe.” Brian says “Which makes what we're about to say so hard.” Nick says giving Brian support through this. “ Baylee tomorrow I'm going to take you to Leighanne.” Brian says as tears fall from his eyes. “WHAT! Brian don't do this we've got back up coming please don't do this.” Kevin says standing up. “Daddy I'll be good I promise. I”ll clean up the kitchen I will daddy just don't make me go.” Baylee says crying. Brian collapse into his chair crying feeling like the worst human being on earth. Nick walks over to Baylee and picks him up. “ Baylee look at me look at Uncle Nicky please. It's for one night and I promise you the next day you'll be back here with us.” Nick says “I don't want to go she's going to be mean to me I know she is.” Baylee says through his sobs. “I know you don't want to go buddy but I need you to be brave and just go with her for a little while. Then me and daddy will come get you in the morning bright and early.” Nick says hoping Baylee believes him. “What about the monsters they'll get me.” Baylee says. “Not this time, I'm going to give you a special bear to keep you safe from all monsters especially closet and under the bed monsters. And you can take your night light with you. You know what to do if you hear monsters right?” Nick says. Baylee shakes his head no. “If you hear monsters in the hotel you just turn on your night light and get under the covers and hold on to your teddy really tight and the monsters will go away and leave you alone.” Nick explains. “Really?” Baylee looks at his daddy. “Yeah everything uncle Nicky's said it true baby . Brian says looking at Baylee. “She'll never bother us again I promise.” Brian says. “So can you be brave for one night?” Nick asks. Baylee nodds

“Baylee, why don't you take Rain upstairs and show him your cars before you take a bath.” Aj says. Baylee grabs Rain by the hand and takes him upstairs.

“Now, do you two want to explain what the hell is going on?” Kevin demands. “Um, well I talked to some old friends of mine and they agreed to help us with the Leighanne situation.” Nick says. “It sounds illegal Nick and we can't do anything illegal or Brian will go to jail and then what happens to Baylee?” Kevin snaps. “You want to know what's going on Kevin its like this Nick has every reason to be afraid of the dark and so does everyone else who is. There are real gremlins I know because I met their queen.” Brian says. AJ moves over to comfort Brian. “No, don't treat me like I'm crazy because I'm not, Gremlins really were after Nick until we made a deal with them to trade Leighanne for Nick, that's why we need Baylee to go stay with her. Nobody's going to believe him when he tells them the monsters got her so the suspicion will automatically fall on me but I'll have all of you as witnesses that I never left home and they'll think she just disappeared probably went to score.” Brian says. Everyone just stairs at Brian and Nick. “Does that mean we're staying here for a while or what?” Viggo says. Everybody looks at Viggo. “What?! Why are you guys looking at me like I've gone around the bend.” Viggo asks. “Howie, dust off those acting skills bro.” AJ says. “Are we seriously going along with this idea that gremlins are going to kidnap Leighanne and we're all Brian's alibi?” Kevin asks. Jerald goes over to Nick and wraps his arms around him. “It's not just Brian we're protecting, think about it Boo who in this room wouldn't give life and limb for Baylee so in essence we're protecting each other cause we're all going to be investigated.” Jerald says. Kevin looks around the room and sees how serious everyone is about this plan. “Why does everything have to be a Frick and Frack thing why can't you guys ever tell anyone until after the fact or they force it out of you?” Kevin asks The room erupts into laughter. Kevin orders pizza while the rest of the guys clean the kitchen and Brian and Aj give Baylee a bath.