by Sean Michael
“I like your laugh,” Alex told him. “It makes me happy to hear it.”
“Thank you.” That was good. He used it a lot.
“You know, for how shitty I feel, I’m pretty happy. I think there might be a touch of magic in you. Thank you for not letting me go home.”
“I’m glad you’re here. I’m enjoying getting to know you.”
“If you still like me after seeing me like this, we have a chance.”
“I do. We’ll have soup for supper and then an early night.”
“It sounds like heaven. It really does.”
“So far, so good. I’ve been taste testing as I went.”
“How have you managed to avoid being sick? We should bottle your secret—we’ll make a fortune.”
“I’ll probably get it in a few days. I don’t have time to be sick right now.” He had a family to take care of.
“And just like that you’re not sick? That’s pretty impressive, really.”
“I’m a stud,” he teased.
“I think you are.” Alex clearly wasn’t teasing.
“Good.”
“Popsy! Popsy, I need a hug!”
Ryan scooped Rosie up. “No problem. Hugging you is my pleasure.”
Alex gave him another soft smile. “I have been monopolizing your time.”
“No. Not so.” He twirled Rosie. “What are your sisters doing?”
“Melly is playing on her tablet, and we’re watching Dory.”
“I could sack out on the couch again and watch with them,” Alex suggested. “We can get out of your hair while you do whatever you need to do.”
“I’ll bring my laptop in, answer some emails.”
“Oh God, I’ve got voice- and emails to answer. I didn’t even check to see what they were.” Alex didn’t look like he wanted to, either.
“They can wait a day, can’t they? I saw you brought your laptop. You want me to plug it in?”
“Yeah, sure, that’d be great. Then I can deal with stuff when I’m feeling better. It’s not too decadent? Just taking today to be a lump?”
Ryan snorted. “You work for yourself like me, right?”
“Technically, I guess. I work for the people who need my help.”
Wow, what Ryan did seemed so unimportant. “Well, they will understand you need a sick day.”
“I guess. I’m not really any good to anyone right now anyway. I’m going to take you up on the couch, okay? Sack out on it again until supper?”
“Sounds perfect. Go on. I’ll make you another cup of tea.”
“And juice?” Rosie asked.
“And juice. We are the house of liquids today.”
Alex laughed softly and took Rosie’s hand; the two of them left the kitchen together.
Ryan popped a few aspirin and some cold meds because he was holding his cold back with will and medication alone.
He was better off than usual, though, having Alex around. Even sick it was nice having another adult here.
Now, juice. Lots of juice and a couple of cups of tea. Alex might be here with him, but at the same time it was business as usual.
He liked that. How Alex seemed to fit.
It was almost like they were meant to be.
And wasn’t that a nice thought?
Chapter Twelve
IT TOOK two days, but Alex felt much better the third morning. And amazingly, Ryan hadn’t come down with the flu either.
Alex padded downstairs in a clean pair of borrowed sweats and put the coffee on. It was past time he checked out his email and his voicemail.
He had a dozen emails, maybe more. Lord. That coupled with the half-dozen voicemails told him something was up. He started with the emails.
Oh damn. There’d been another bad hurricane in Haiti, and the Red Cross wanted him to go down and head their efforts as he already knew the lay of the land. They wanted him on a plane ASAP.
He emailed his contact with the Red Cross, letting Sally know that he’d be in the air today. He just needed to go grab his go bag.
Thank goodness Ryan hadn’t gotten sick too. It meant Alex was free and clear to head off. He grabbed himself a cup of coffee and sent an email to Andreas Quillone to set up that flight.
He was going to make breakfast for Ryan and the girls and break the news to Ryan while they ate.
Oh, maybe not. Maybe he ought to go up and talk to Ryan without disturbing the girls. That made more sense. If Ryan could get out of bed without waking anyone.
He padded upstairs and found Ryan still lying in the bed, only Rosie curled up next to him this morning. He touched Ryan’s shoulder.
Ryan’s eyes popped open. “What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “Everyone’s okay. I was hoping we could talk.”
“Sure. Sure, I’ll be right down.”
“Thanks.” He dropped a kiss on Ryan’s lips, lingering for a second.
It was surprisingly hard to walk downstairs and pack up all his things to go.
Ryan came down dressed in a pair of sweats and nothing else, stopping when he saw Alex packing.
Alex straightened and rubbed his hands on his pants before making his way over to Ryan. “Hey.”
“Hey. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s fine. Well, I’m fine.” He took Ryan’s hands. “There was a hurricane in Haiti. The Red Cross wants me down there like yesterday. I thought, because everyone here is on the mend, it would be okay for me to go.”
“Oh. Oh, okay.” Ryan looked utterly shocked. “I… do you need anything from me?”
“I’m sorry it’s such short notice, but this is how things happen, you know? It’s my job.”
“Well, do you want a coffee to go?”
“No, I’ll drink it here. I thought I’d make breakfast, too.” He cupped Ryan’s face and frowned. Did Ryan feel warm? “You’re not coming down with the girls’ flu, are you?” He’d stay and take care of Ryan—it was the least he could do. He’d call Sally and delay by twenty-four or forty-eight hours.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry. What would you like to eat? Eggs? Do you need your clothes from upstairs?”
“I’m gonna wear your sweatpants home if that’s okay. And I wanted to make you guys breakfast.” He gave Ryan a soft kiss. “I am sorry about the short notice.”
“You have to do what you have to do. I understand.”
“Yeah? Thanks. I know it sucks. Come on, I’ll make you and the girls breakfast. You want scrambled eggs? I think it’s that or Cheerios—you need to do groceries.”
“I’ll have Mom come over today and watch them for me.”
“I could delay by a day, do the groceries with you, make sure you’re not coming down with it too.”
“What does it matter if I do, Alex? I’m one guy. You have a whole island that needs you.” Ryan moved to the coffee maker. “What kind of asshole would ask you to stay?”
“Popsy! You cussed!” Daffy stood there, staring. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, sweetie. Nothing at all. Good morning, huh?” Ryan smiled at her, hugged her.
“You didn’t ask me to stay, I offered. And you took care of me when I was sick. Why wouldn’t I want to return the favor? I don’t want to leave you here on your own if you’re sick.”
“Are you sick, Popsy?”
“I’m fine, baby girl.” Ryan sighed softly. “I don’t want you to leave mad, Alex.”
“Where are you going, Alex?”
“I’m going to Haiti to help people whose homes were destroyed by a hurricane, honey. And I’m not mad.”
“Oh. That’s sad. Are we going to have a hurricane?”
“Nope. We don’t live in a place where there are hurricanes.” He tousled Daffy’s hair and went to the fridge to pull out the eggs, mushrooms, and onions.
“Where’s Hatty?” Daffy asked.
Ryan answered her with, “We’ll all look it up later, okay?”
“You’re not mad at me for going, are you?” Alex asked softly
as he began cutting up the mushrooms and onions.
“Of course not. It’s what you have to do.”
“I do. Things were bad before this latest storm hit.” He had to admit, though, this was the first time he wasn’t enthusiastic about going.
“You should be careful, huh? Do you know how long you’ll be gone?”
“The Red Cross are a good outfit to work with. I’ll be fine. And I don’t know. It could be two weeks, or it could be a few months. It’ll depend on how much needs doing and how many resources they have.” There was always more work to do than money to be had. “I’ll try to keep you updated by email or FaceTime—it’ll depend on whether we’ve got satellite access or not.”
“Okay. Well, you know how to get hold of me.” Ryan sounded a little shocked.
Alex had all the ingredients together, so he started cooking the veggies, then added beaten eggs and milk to it to make scrambled eggs. He didn’t know what else to say, but he felt like he should say something. He felt guilty, really—like he was ducking out, running away.
The other two little girls were up and chattering away, and Ryan was pouring milk and juice, and it was sweet. A lovely family. He wished he’d had more time to get to know them.
He’d be back, of course, but who knew how long he’d be away.
This was going to be one of the hardest breakfasts he’d had in a long time.
Chapter Thirteen
“SO, HE’S gone, huh?”
Ryan nodded to Mel, trying to ignore the pounding in his head. “He had to go to Haiti.”
“How long’s he going to be gone?”
“No idea.”
“I don’t think that’s cool, Daddy.”
The temptation to snap at her and tell her she’d chosen Alex was huge, but it was his headache and his worry and his anger that was driving that, so he didn’t.
“It’s his job, baby girl. That’s all.”
Just because he didn’t know if he could do this… emergency leaving thing, that wasn’t on Alex. He wasn’t important to anyone but his girls, but he was important to them.
Speaking of his girls, they were all well enough that they were beginning to go a little stir-crazy. He wasn’t sure he was up to taking them to the park or anything that involved using energy. At the moment his was in short supply.
Hell, he was considering ordering in food to avoid going to the grocery store.
“Should we have a pajama party day, Mel?”
“You feel that bad, huh?”
“Does it show?”
She regarded him, then shook her head. “The girls won’t notice. But that makes it even more not cool that Alex left—you took care of him while he was sick!”
“He’s taking care of a ton of people that need him.”
“So… that’s more important than taking care of you?” Mel asked. “I mean, for real. What’s right? Taking care of your family or a bunch of strangers?”
“Baby, we’re not his family. I’m a guy he met a few days ago who was being kind.” And Alex had only been sick because he’d come to help take care of Ryan’s family.
“Well, I’m sorry I got Gran to set you up on a blind date. Boys suck.”
“Except for me, right?” He grabbed her and gave her a hug. “I love you, baby.”
“You’re not a boy—you’re Daddy.” She hugged him back. “You want some leftover soup? I could warm it up for you and make peanut butter and jam sandwiches for everyone else.”
“That sounds great. I’m going to make myself a cup of tea.”
“Don’t worry, Daddy, I’m going to take care of you.” She gave him another hug.
His phone rang, his mother’s ringtone sounding.
“Lord have mercy. Pray for me, Mel.”
“Dear Lord, let Gran be cool. Amen.”
Thanks to her, he was smiling as he answered. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, honey. I haven’t had an update from you yet today. Is everyone okay?”
“The girls are feeling better, yeah.”
“Well that sounds ominous—I take it you’re not feeling so good?” Trust his mom to read between the lines.
“I’m okay, Mom.”
“Liar. I’m coming with soup. How’s Alex?”
“Gone.”
“What?” Mom sounded shocked. “What do you mean he’s gone?” Now shocked was sliding into angry.
“There was a hurricane in Haiti. He needed to go right away.” And he was trying to be uberadult about it, dammit.
“Oh.” She was quiet for a moment, obviously mulling that over. “Still, it would have been nice if he’d waited until you weren’t sick anymore. I mean, you did take care of him while he was suffering, didn’t you?”
“Needs of the many, right?”
“Well, it’s very good of you to say so. I guess he didn’t have to come help you look after the kids in the first place,” she admitted. She chuckled. “I just want him to be nice and for you to like each other. You need adult company sometimes, you know. We all do.”
Okay, he so didn’t want to be thinking of his mother out dating and having… adult company.
Gross. Genuinely nasty.
“Mom….”
“Oh, please, don’t be squeamish.”
“I’m sick, remember? Be nice.”
She chuckled. “I’m coming with chicken soup from the deli and whiskey.”
“You promise?”
“I wouldn’t tease you while you’re sick, honey. You need anything else?”
“More orange juice and something for the kids?”
“You mean supper for them? I can pick up something to heat up from the Whole Foods. Sound good?”
God, she was a lifesaver.
“I owe you.”
“Eternally, my love. Go sit. Mom will be there shortly.”
“Yes, Mommy.” He closed the call and grinned, feeling a ton better knowing relief was on the way.
“Everything cool, Daddy?”
“Fine, baby girl. Gran’s coming.”
“Oh, good deal. We’re not going to make her sick, are we?”
“We will do our best not to. We’ll keep her away from me—I’m the most contagious.”
“Okay, Daddy. Come lie down, huh? Rest your head?”
He looked at his grown-up girl. “I love you, baby.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a baby anymore.”
No, more was the pity. Sure he knew his job was to grow her up, but he missed his little girl. It seemed like yesterday he was changing her diaper.
“No, you’re not. You’re amazing and will always be my baby.”
“Da-a-ad. Come and lie down.”
He had to laugh, which made him cough, which made her stomp her foot and point at the couch.
He saluted happily, then let himself slump down on the sofa and relax, not thinking a bit about Alex and being lonely again.
Chapter Fourteen
IT WAS a week before Alex could do more than work and sleep, then repeat. Once they were out of super emergency mode, he got the laptop set up and facetimed with Sally, giving her his situation report and finding out how much in supplies and volunteers they had coming down.
It looked like they were going to run out of funding fairly soon. He promised to put out feelers and see if he could find additional grants or donors.
Once he’d finished with the business call, he dialed Ryan’s number, hoping that Ryan still wanted to talk to him. He’d left in an awful rush, and after Ryan had been so good taking care of him while he’d been feeling like crap.
The little icon spun, and he waited.
He didn’t get a picture, but he got a voice. “Hello?”
He raised his voice, hoping Ryan could hear him. “Ryan? Is that you? It’s Alex.”
There was a pause, and then, “Yeah? Hey, how’s it going?”
Oh jeez. It didn’t sound like Ryan wanted him to call. He bit back his sigh. “Busy, but we’re doing good work, getting things cleaned up
and people fed. How about you? Your brood back in good health?”
“Took a little while, but we’re all back on our feet. How are you? Taking care of yourself?”
He chuckled, suddenly glad the video wasn’t working. He was tired and filthy—he hadn’t had a shower since he’d gotten here.
“I’m good.”
“Good deal. I’m glad to hear your voice.”
He smiled, relaxing some. “Yeah, yours too. Today was the first day I had a chance to set up the satellite so we can make calls.”
“Good deal. What time is it there?”
“Same time as it is where you are—nearly 6:00 p.m.” It was always nice when you didn’t have to convert times in your head before you called people. “Oh damn, am I interrupting your dinner?”
“The girls are eating. It’s spaghetti night.”
“Am I keeping you from eating with them?” He hoped not. It was nice to hear a friendly voice.
“Nah. It’s cool. Seriously.”
“Oh good.” He sighed. “Have you ever been to Haiti? It’s this incredible combination of desolation and beauty.”
A soft chuckle sounded. “No. No, I’ve never gone farther than an hour outside the city.”
“No?” Alex relaxed back and put the laptop on his legs. “Would you like to travel? Any places on your bucket list?”
“Not really. I’m saving up for college now. My last girl will be out of college in… eighteen years? I have lots of time to wish.”
“You should wish for the whole world. I haven’t been anywhere that hasn’t been really neat in its own way.”
Ryan’s next words were clearly not aimed at him. “No. You have to eat two more bites. Sorry. What’s your favorite?”
“I’m not sure. Probably Haiti—it’s always the last place I’ve been, you know? The people here are warm and friendly. I always feel at home.”
“I’m so glad. I worried you’d be lonely. That’s great.”
Oh, that was sweet. “Yeah, I’m too busy to feel lonely. I miss you, though.”
“Yeah, yeah. I bet you’re busy enough that I’m a passing thought.”
“Maybe, but you pass through my thoughts a lot. Especially at night when I go to bed.” He lowered his voice. “I like to remember how you smell.”