Something in Common (Dreamspinner Press Bundles)

by Talia Carmichael

  “Humph. It’s a good thing we come prepared.” Lawrence turned, yelling. “He doesn’t have any office furniture yet, so bring it on in!”

  Theron peeked past him and frowned when he saw the same truck they had used when they brought furniture for his house.

  “I’ll take this inside, then come help.” Lawrence lifted a big box.

  Theron stepped out of his way, then when he’d passed, went out to stand at the top of the porch steps. “Aristotle, we talked about this last time. You promised to not bring me any more furniture.”

  “I said no furniture for your bedroom,” Aristotle countered. “And I didn’t. This stuff is for your office and the other two bedrooms that aren’t furnished yet. I have my tools to fix your armoire leg.” Aristotle strode up two of the steps, stopping with a playful grin on his face. “Although I think it’s silly you’re putting the new stuff in the other rooms instead of at least putting it in your bedroom.” He frowned. “Unless you don’t like my furniture.”

  “I love your furniture,” Theron protested.

  “Good. Then it’s decided. I brought the perfect set for you for your bedroom. We’ll just move out your old one to one of the empty rooms.” Aristotle gestured with his hand. “Come on, Dante.”

  Aristotle kissed him briefly, then passed him.

  Theron turned to look at him, opening his mouth. A hand on his shoulder stopped him.

  “I’d just go along with it. He’s a gentle steamroller and gets his way.” Dante chuckled.

  “You call that gentle? The man is a freight train.”

  “That too, but if you go along, you’ll see it works in your favor.” Dante patted his shoulder.

  Theron looked up at him and again was taken with how much they looked alike, even down to their height and body shapes. “I’ve been meaning to ask something. What the hell was your mother feeding you in Rhode Island that you all grew so big?”

  “And you’re probably wondering how it missed Robert.” Dante laughed. “Did you see our daddy when we came that time for Robert?”

  “Yes.” Theron remembered he was as big as his sons.

  “Well, he’s like Robert in his family. The pipsqueak of his brothers.” Dante grinned.

  Theron didn’t believe him. The grin on his face made him suspicious.

  “You’re lying.”

  “Lying about what?” Aristotle asked.

  Theron focused on him and told him what Dante had said.

  “It’s true.” Aristotle nodded his head. “Are you coming, Dante, or do you want to flap your gums some more?” It was said in a deceptively mild voice.

  Dante rolled his eyes and went inside.

  “I don’t believe either of you,” said Theron. “I want to see pictures.”

  “They don’t like pictures, just as we don’t.” Aristotle returned to the house.

  Theron recalled he’d wanted a picture of them and went to get his camera to keep close. As the Berkuses and his brothers moved in the rest of the furniture Aristotle had brought, Theron went along with it. It didn’t take long, and Theron looked around his bedroom, indeed enjoying having Aristotle’s furniture there. They had swapped out his old set with the pieces they’d brought, and in addition, there was a headboard and another bookcase to go with the one they’d delivered two weeks ago. That was set up in one corner of the room near a sitting area—couch, chair, and loveseat—that would be great for relaxing in to read or before he wanted to get into bed. Theron loved that the big rooms in the house could accommodate the pieces and still leave it feeling spacious.

  “Come, show me this grill you’ve been trying to for weeks.” Aristotle spoke behind him.

  Theron shifted, standing sideways, looking between him and the bed. Aristotle chuckled and left the room. Already plotting how quickly he could feed his brothers and Aristotle’s and get them to leave, Theron went after him. Downstairs, he peeked into the office, noting the desk, various types of file cabinets, an entertainment center that was a smaller version of the one in the living room, bookcases, couch, chair and loveseat beside it—everything looked very nice. Lawrence was muttering as he set up the computer he’d built. Theron noted the many other boxes there and went in. He squatted and frowned.

  “Lawrence, it was only supposed to be a computer.”

  “You can’t use one of my custom-built systems with that shit you call a printer.” Lawrence picked up the speakers. “And these speakers are crap.” He threw them across the room, then gestured. “From the cable box I see there, you plan to have a TV in this room, and the entertainment center deserves a good one. And if you’re like me, if you’re not watching TV when working in your office, you’re enjoying music, so you need a stereo system. Oh, there is a gift card too, so you can get some new tunes.” Lawrence went back to work.

  “I already have that stuff. I can’t just take all this.” He rose, including the items Lawrence had brought, as well as the furnishings.

  “Put your old stuff in one of your other rooms. We all bought the electronics. Why are you still here bothering me?” Lawrence scowled.

  “Oh oh. The super computer-geek persona is kicking in.” Dante spoke behind him. “Step back slowly, Theron. Don’t look him directly in the eye.” Dante held his shoulders, moving him back.

  Theron stared at Lawrence. Having dealt with Leslie—who was very abrupt when working on cars—he recognized a similar look on Lawrence’s face. He focused on Dante.

  “Fine. Since you seem to have more sense than your brothers, how much do I owe you for all this?”

  “The electronics… hmmm….” Dante got an innocent look on his face. “How about this? I give you a number and a solution for wanting to pay us?”

  “Good.” Theron got his checkbook out of one of the boxes, then went back to him. “Tell me.”

  “Two thousand.”

  Theron looked at him, knowing from the size of the TV that it wasn’t even close. He opened his mouth.

  “That’s the amount. Take it or leave it.” Dante’s tone was silky.

  “Damn men.” Theron muttered as he went to write.

  “Make it out to cash.”

  Theron did as he stated, then tore it off, giving it to him. Dante held up his hands, not taking it.

  “Now you cash it and use it to buy groceries, so when we come over, you can feed us. It’s our contribution to the food budget.” Dante smiled. “See? Problem all solved.”

  “That’s a load of shit. I would feed you all anyway.” Theron glared. “Take the check.”

  “I heard you have this kickass grill.” Dante left the room.

  “Yeah, Aristotle mentioned it.” Lawrence passed him too.

  Theron followed, determined to give them the check. They went through the living room, then out to the hall. Aristotle looked up from where he was sitting beside Philip, then back at him curiously.

  “They’re going to see the grill.” Theron shrugged.

  His brothers rose and headed behind them. Aristotle stood, and they met at the end of the couch. Theron held out the check. Aristotle wrinkled his nose, ignoring him, then followed the others. Sighing, Theron went behind him. Aristotle stepped out the open glass door, then went to the left, disappearing from view. Theron stepped onto the porch and saw they were all crowded around the grill. He went to join them, but before he got there, they all went over the railing, going to the commercial grill. Theron followed, jumping over the rail and walking toward them. Silently he watched as they checked it over and commented on it. Aristotle came to stand beside him. Theron held out the check.

  “Use that toward the food budget. Knowing my brothers, they’ll be coming by here a lot. “

  “Dante, you think you’re funny telling him to say that?”

  “What are you talking about?” Dante looked at him confused.

  Theron realized he hadn’t. He made a “never mind” gesture with his hand, and Dante went back to checking out the grill with the others.

  “You all are re
ally too generous, Aristotle.” Theron slid his hand around his waist.

  “Weren’t you part of it when you all helped Bernie out? You didn’t know him all that well, but you made sure he was comfortable with his living arrangements and whatever he needed.”

  Theron frowned, knowing he’d probably heard about that from Robert. “Yes, but—”

  “When Robert moved in with Miguel, didn’t you help him do that? Bernie, when he moved in with Tomas, gave Gerald housewarming gifts when he and Bur started to live together. Del and Harper, too, and Alex and Leslie. That’s what people do.” Aristotle met his gaze.

  “People like you and your brothers, those I hang with, and some families.” Theron nodded. “But there are some evil people in this world.”

  “You keep good company.” Aristotle kissed the side of his face. “Rough week, huh?”

  Theron sighed and nodded. They’d gotten more residents, and the first floor and half the second were filled. Thankfully they’d also been able to find good homes for a few of the residents. They were already fielding threats from irate people who should never have been parents. Those were handled through their contacts in the agencies that had taken the minors from their homes, and they liaisoned with the law firm for the center, but Theron was made aware to ensure the resident in question knew and to make arrangements for security reasons. So far, a few had been changed to do the cyberschooling they had set up. The parents involved treated the kids like they were their property, and demanded “it” be returned to them. More than one said exactly that—“it” instead of using names.

  “Even though I used to work with kids, it still makes me wonder how supposed parents could be such monsters.” Theron didn’t get into specifics about any center residents in his conversations with Aristotle.

  “I know. What happened to Jordan was atrocious.” Aristotle’s fists were clenched. “Makes you want to beat his parents so they could know how it feels.”

  Theron looked at him, shocked he knew. “Jordan told you?”

  “Yeah.” Aristotle shrugged. “He’s a good kid. Likes to hang around after the workshop to talk and work on his project. I don’t want to rush him.”

  “So that’s why on the days of your workshop, I’m waiting on you outside.”

  “Yep. It’s why I told you to bring a book.” Aristotle shook his head. “For all that has happened to him, Jordan is a well-adjusted kid. He reminds me of Bernie.”

  Theron nodded. Jordan reminded him of Bernie too, in the aspect of his seemingly positive attitude despite what had been done to him. Theron made a mental note to ask Bernie to come in and talk with Jordan.

  “What are you talking about?” Link asked.

  Theron and Aristotle had been conversing in a low tone.

  “Nothing.” Theron shook his head. “So, are you ready to grill, watch one movie, and then get the hell out?”

  “That’s just rude,” Dante said to Philip.

  “I concur.” Philip grinned at Theron. “Just for that, I feel like it will be an all-night movie marathon. What do you say, guys?”

  All the men except Aristotle and Theron agreed with him. They strolled toward the steps leading into the house.

  “I call dibs to grill,” Dante said.

  “No one is using my grill but me.” Theron released Aristotle and followed behind the men.

  They protested, but he ignored them and sent them each on a task to help with the meal.

  Lawrence protested helping. “I’m going to be working on your electronics. I’ll have cleanup. Link and me. He can come help me.”

  “No,” Theron and his brothers all said together.

  Lawrence blinked, surprised, then asked, “Do you know what that is about?” He was speaking to Dante and Aristotle.

  “Seems as if he’s death on electronics or something.” Aristotle didn’t sound as if he believed them.

  “Oh, that reminds me.” Dante left, going into the house.

  He was back in moments, holding a bag, which he opened. He handed out a box to each of Theron’s brothers. He gave Theron’s box to him last. At the sight of the picture, Theron grinned.

  “A Kindle.” He removed the paper from the back that was held on by a rubber band. “And a gift card for it.” He looked at Dante, then Lawrence, and finally Aristotle. “You guys are too much.”

  “You said you like to read. We do too,” Aristotle said.

  “You did mention your mom was a literature professor.” Theron held the box.

  “Yep. That’s the reason behind my name and my brothers’.” Aristotle rolled his eyes.

  “Our mom teaches high school English.” Theron held up the box. “She’s the reason we love reading.”

  “Yep. Most nights, before we watched any TV, she used to sit us all down and read to us. Those who were old enough to read got a turn.” Philip smiled fondly.

  “She was sneaky. We got so into the books that by the time some of us would be up for our turn, it would be bedtime. Then the next day, we’d want to read the rest of the book before we watched TV.” Ollie crossed his arms over his chest.

  “We still do that sometimes when we get together.” Gerry chuckled. “One of the many family traditions we hold onto.”

  Theron rubbed along the picture on the box, remembering those times. He wondered if the kids at the center would enjoy doing something like that. Theron decided he would put the question to them. Suddenly he lifted his head and snatched the Kindle box out of Link’s hand.

  “Hey!” Link pouted.

  “I’ll set it up for you. You know you really don’t have any luck when it comes to setting up electronics. Somehow, some way, you’ll kill it.”

  “Okay. But I want it done before you try to kick us out.” Link grinned. “Notice the ‘try’ in that statement.”

  “If I set this up for you, you have to leave without protest.” Theron showed him the box.

  Link started to shake his head.

  “If you don’t agree, then you have to take your chances with getting someone else in the family to do it.” Theron added the clincher: “And you know that would mean you’ll have to put up with the teasing you’ll get about your electronics issue.”

  “You have a point,” Link said grudgingly. “But you all tease me anyway.”

  “Yep. But some of our siblings will send you lots of e-mail jokes about it, or leave pictures in your mailbox of past electronic disasters from when you tried to do it yourself.”

  “Fine. You set it up.” Link went to get the charcoal.

  “Any other takers?” Theron asked.

  The others didn’t have the same issue as Link, but Theron figured they would want to get theirs working, and if some of them took one home, they would get too busy and forget about it. He accepted the boxes from the other four.

  Theron smirked at Aristotle, then urged him, “You figure out how to get your brothers to leave when we ask.”

  He went in and opened the packages, plugging them all in to charge. Theron grabbed the meat and chicken he’d already been preparing to grill for his own brothers. He hoped it would be enough for everyone. Hands full, he went outside. Aristotle took some of it, going to the grill.

  “Link, grab some hot dogs and hamburgers from the deep freeze.” Theron went to join Aristotle at the portable grill.

  He paused briefly to view the eight-seat patio set he’d gotten. He’d picked something with brown-and-gold cushions in keeping with the colors of his living room set. At the grill, he placed the items he held on the table he’d bought just for that use. It could also double as a table for more seating if he needed it on the porch. He had also bought some folding chairs for it, which were in the shed.

  “Ollie, we’re going to need more chairs.”

  “Where is the key for the shed?”

  “On the hook just inside the door. The one with the blue key chain.” Theron started separating what he would cook first.

  “So, are you going to let me use your grill?” Aristot
le’s smile could only be described as wicked.

  “You can help me with it,” Theron said.

  They went to work preparing food. As they did, their brothers moved about inside and outside, working on the rest of the food and setting up. Theron bantered with Aristotle while they manned the grill. The interjections from their brothers into their conversation led to some debates.

  “Shut up about good movies already, Dante. You haven’t actually said shit, and you’ve been talking way too long.” Link threw a fork at him.

  Dante caught it and put it by a plate on the table. They all laughed, going about their tasks. Theron paused what they were doing and called Lawrence so he could get a picture. Surprisingly, despite their statements and the stories he’d heard of them not taking pictures, the Berkuses posed with him and his brothers for a few shots. Then they went back to what they were doing. Hours later, Theron watched the movie as he set up the last Kindle, which was his own. He’d already had his brothers do their part of the set-up and given those back to them. He’d ignored them about it not being fair that it was easier than they expected and that he should not hold them to their agreement. Putting his reader down, Theron snuggled against Aristotle’s side. Aristotle’s arm on the back of the couch came to rest over his shoulder. As the last scene of the movie Taken played out, Theron anticipated them leaving.

  “What’s next?” Dante asked as the credits rolled.

  “Cleanup, and then you are all leaving,” Aristotle replied.

  Surprisingly, Dante and Lawrence rose without a protest, leaving the room. His brothers also left. Soon, Theron heard them in the kitchen, although he couldn’t fully make out their conversation.

  “What did you offer them?” Theron asked, referring to Aristotle’s brothers.

  “Lawrence has been after me to update my computer systems. I’m letting him have his way and build me a few computer systems for my furniture business—and my home. Dalton will be beside himself with glee.”

  “Who’s Dalton?”

  “My pain-in-the-ass assistant.” Aristotle pursed his lips.