The Widow and the Orphan

by J. Thomas-Like

  Pepper’s heart was on fire with love for all the people in the room. The boost that finding out he was Gavin’s father had given Gabe more energy than he’d had in weeks. They spent the day shopping and spoiling Gavin with everything he asked for, not telling him no a single time. Pepper knew that might come back to bite them in the ass later, but it was worth it to see the joy and pleasure every time Gavin received something he’d never had.

  Looking at her husband now, Pepper was thrilled with how healthy and vital he looked. If this was the medicine he needed, then she would be step-mother, Auntie, friend, slave, or whatever she needed to be to keep the good vibes flowing. Peeking up at the ceiling, she couldn’t help herself. If you’re up there, thank you God.

  Chapter 41

  Pepper sipped her coffee, studying the calendar on the fridge in the kitchen. How can it already be February?

  She and Gabe had been married a week and two days, but it already felt like a year with all the craziness going on. She wouldn’t have traded a minute of it though. The weekend had started off with a bang when the phone call with the paternity test came in. They partied with the family, they shopped till they dropped, and then on Sunday, Gabe had insisted that they go to Universal Studios. Gavin had been in kid heaven.

  It was a perfect weekend, she mused, draining her cup and then refilling it. She picked up the cats’ empty food dishes and put them in the sink, then headed out to the patio to relax while she waited for Gavin and Gabe to wake up. She didn’t want to be mean, but the peace and quiet was kind of nice after having been on the go for the last three days.

  It was only a little after seven in the morning, but the sunshine was already warm on her skin. The birds were singing and the sounds of traffic in the distance weren’t as loud as usual. It was the perfect start to the day.

  “Good morning.”

  Startled, Pepper almost spilled the liquid down the front of her. Gabe sat down beside her on the wicker loveseat and leaned in for a kiss.

  “Good morning! What are you doing up so early?”

  “I’m not sure, to tell you the truth. I woke up to find you missing.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  Gabe didn’t answer right away and usually that sent alarm bells screaming in her head, but this time it didn’t. He’d been so full of energy and vigor the last few days, so much like his old self.

  “I feel all right,” Gabe said after a while. “I’m quite tired, but I don’t feel bad.”

  “Good to hear. Would you like some coffee? Tea?”

  “No, thank you. I believe I will sit here and enjoy the peace and quiet with you, if that’s all right.” Gabe put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

  “Fine by me.”

  Pepper was prepared to hunker down and think her own thoughts with her loving husband by her side. Enjoy the sounds of birds and the breeze. No voices, no hustle and bustle. A cup of coffee from start to finish without having to microwave it.

  And then Gavin got up.

  * * * * *

  “All right, breakfast is over, kitchen’s cleaned up, what’s on the agenda for today?” Pepper stood at the island, overlooking the faces of Gavin and Gabe as they sat expectantly, awaiting the order of the day.

  “Can we go back to Universal?” Gavin asked, his knees bouncing up and down. The grin on his face made Pepper want to say yes, but at some point they were going to have reign in their desire to spoil the kid.

  “Uh, no.” Pepper raised an eyebrow at him. “That isn’t something that happens every day. This was a special weekend, but now we need to get down to real life.”

  “Aww,” Gavin whined, but there was no real disappointment there.

  This little shit is going to try to play me at every turn. Pepper wanted to laugh, but restrained it with great effort. “I think we need to talk about school.”

  “Yuck!”

  “She’s right, son.” Gabe nodded and hooked the boy around the neck with his arm. “You’ve been footloose and fancy free for far too long.”

  Pepper folded her arms across her chest and leaned on the counter. “Yes, all of us have. Your dad has a job, I have a job.” She ignored Gabe’s raised eyebrows. If he was doing so much better, there was no reason why she couldn’t go back to the Foundation. “So we need to figure out what to do. Do you want to go to an actual school? Or would you rather keep on being homeschooled?”

  She and Gabe had talked about it the night before and they figured they’d give Gavin the choice. If he wanted to stay out of a public school setting, they would hire a tutor to come in for a few hours every day. Frankly, Pepper wanted to go that route just so that the boys could spend as much time together as possible. They had a lot of years to make up for. Gabe, on the other hand, thought he should spend more time with children his own age, make some friends. It really was a catch 22. Both options had their plusses and minuses.

  “I dunno.” Gavin drummed his fingers on the counter and shuffled his butt on the stool.

  Pepper didn’t really want to pressure the kid, but they were the adults and there were some questions that needed to be asked. “Tell us a little bit about how your mom did things. How did she teach you?”

  Gavin looked around the room and shrugged his shoulders. When Crank appeared at his feet, he reached down to pet him. “I dunno.”

  Pepper’s bullshit detector began to beep in her head. “Well, we know you can read and write. And you sure as heck understand a lot more than most ten year olds. Was there any structure? I mean, did you guys sit down at a table every day?”

  “Not really.”

  She exchanged a perturbed glance with Gabe. “Okay. I think your Dad and I need to talk about this a little more. Why don’t you go play upstairs for a while?”

  “Okay!” Gavin hopped off the stool, lifted Crank into his arms and took off. When he was gone, Pepper rolled her eyes.

  “This is not good.”

  “No, I agree.” Gabe shook his head sadly. “He’s obviously a very bright little boy.”

  “Yep. He is. But I think we’re going to have to have him tested to figure out just where he is. And then we’ll go from there.”

  “I’ll have Aiden make some calls for us.” Gabe got up and went to his office, while Pepper went upstairs.

  Gavin was tossing a crumpled up paper ball for Crank, who fetched it and brought it to the kid every time. Cat whisperer, she thought as she entered the room to sit on the bed.

  “Okay, kiddo, school is tabled for another day or two. We’re going to need to find out what grade you’d be in before we can do anything else.”

  Gavin didn’t respond, just kept tossing the toy when Crank would drop it near his hand. Pepper was about to get up and leave – she had laundry to do – when the little boy’s voice stopped her.

  “My mom taught me to read when I was three.”

  “Really?” Impressive.

  “Yep. She said I would learn more from reading than anywhere else.”

  “I can’t disagree.” Well, that’s a lie. I do disagree. I hate to read.

  “She also said that the people who ran schools were fascists.”

  Pepper’s eyes widened and she blinked a couple of times. “Do you know what that word means?”

  Gavin looked at her like she was the stupidest person on the planet. “Duh. She explained it to me. She said schools crush potential and pigeonhole kids.”

  This is going to be interesting. “Well, I don’t know what to say about that. I don’t think school did that to me. Or my friend Miss Vivienne. But I also know that things like that can happen. If this means you don’t want to go to a school, that’s fine. We can just get a tutor to come in.”

  Gavin shrugged. Crank had tired of the game and was chewing on the untied lace of his shoe. “I don’t care.” But it was obvious that he was struggling by the confused look on his face and the uncertainty in those bright green eyes of his. Pepper was overwhelmed by her desire to hug him and tell him everythi
ng would be just fine, to stop worrying so much. But she didn’t do it. She was finding her way with Gavin and wasn’t sure how he would feel about her if she made any specific motherly moves.

  “Look, kid, we’re not trying to make your life miserable. But you need to keep using that brain of yours. Can’t just sit around watching cartoons or playing video games. Can’t just play with the cats all day. You gotta exercise that muscle up there.” She tapped a finger on his temple and to her relief, he grinned. “We’re not going to send you off to some boarding school and we sure as hell– er, heck aren’t going to make you sit at the table for twelve hours a day pouring over the books. We’ll find the balance, okay?”

  Gavin stared at her for a full three seconds and then nodded.

  Pepper stood up and stretched. “All right. Hang out for a bit while Dad and I sort it all out.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Going back downstairs, Pepper found Gabe in his office, hands behind his head as he reclined in his chair. “Well?”

  “Aiden to the rescue, once again.” Gabe smiled. “There are all kinds of tutoring services in the city, what with all the child actors in the business. We’ll have a line of them at our door for interviews in no time.”

  Pepper came around to sit on his lap. She needed a snuggle to beat back the anxiety threatening to overwhelm her. “Parenthood. When the hell did that get on my agenda?”

  Gabe chuckled and held her close. “Probably the same time someone penciled in cancer for me.”

  Pepper snorted into his chest. “We are so bad.”

  “The worst.”

  Chapter 42

  Life took on a kind of normalcy that hadn’t existed for months. Aiden arranged for Gavin’s independent testing through the tutoring service they chose, lined up tutors for interviewing, and got them organized, like he always did when Pepper didn’t know what the hell she was doing. Gabe’s health stayed stable. Gavin seemed happy and willing to accept the structure his new life was providing. Pepper made plans to go back to work while the tutor came to the house every day from nine to one. Gabe wanted to start going back to the office, too. Together, they created a calendar outlining the schedule so everyone would be on the same page at the same time then taped it to the refrigerator. Pepper couldn’t have been happier.

  * * * * *

  “Wow! You look pretty!” Gavin’s eyes were huge as he took in her work attire.

  Pepper had clicked into the kitchen in her leopard pumps and a royal purple wrap dress. “Thanks, kid.” She ruffled his hair as she sidled past him toward the coffee maker.

  The doorbell rang and Gavin hopped off the stool, racing to answer the door. “Hi Natalie!”

  Natalie Sanders was Gavin’s tutor and she was perfect. A petite little thing, barely over five feet, she could have been mistaken for one of her students, had it not been for the tattoos covering her arms and neck, her multicolored messy hair, and multiple piercings. Gabe hadn’t been all that thrilled with her appearance, but when Pepper fought hard for her, he had given in. Pepper knew that looks were deceiving. How many times had she been thought of as just another dumb blonde? Natalie was wicked smart, open-minded but firm, and Gavin had liked her right away. That was enough for Pepper.

  “Hey, Natalie.” Pepper pointed to the cup in her hand. “Coffee?”

  “Nope, already had a pot today.” Natalie winked. “Come on, Gav. We’ve got a lot of work to do today. Where do you want to sit? Outside? Inside?”

  “Let’s sit on the outside couch.”

  Gavin darted toward the living room, but Pepper halted him with one word.

  “Stop!”

  “What?” he called over his shoulder, not turning around.

  “Are you forgetting something?”

  Gavin pivoted then and Pepper turned her attention to his dirty breakfast dishes still on the island.

  “Sorry!” The boy trudged back over and removed the bowl and glass to the kitchen sink. “Come on, Natalie!” He was out the door before anyone could say anything else.

  “How’s he doing?” Pepper asked Natalie before she slipped out the door after him.

  “Amazingly well. It’s only been a week and I have him pegged for the fourth or fifth grade. He’s already reading at a high school level, but his math and science are still a little behind.” Natalie ticked off the subjects on her fingers. “He’ll be ready for regular school in the fall, no problem.”

  “That’s what I like to hear.” The relief Pepper felt was swift and comforting. She knew Gavin’s education was very important to Gabe and she was glad to be able to give him a good report.

  “You guys will be back by one?” Natalie shifted her back pack from one shoulder to the other. “I have another client at three.”

  “I will for sure. You never know with Gabe.” Pepper glanced at her watch and frowned. “And he sure won’t get home on time if he doesn’t get a move on. I’ll go see what’s taking him so long.” She set her cup in the sink and then clickety-clacked her way back to the stairs and went up, expertly hopping from stair to stair on her toes.

  “Honey?” she called, hurrying into the bedroom. “We need to get going.”

  Gabe wasn’t there, so she headed for the bathroom. “You’re slower than molasses in Jan–”

  Gabe’s inert body was crumpled on the bathroom floor surrounded by a pool of blood. The white boxer shorts she had seen him wearing were now a dark crimson. For a split second, Pepper froze, but then her voice found its way out of her throat.

  “NATALIE!” she screamed. “CALL 911!”

  Pepper ran out of her shoes and to Gabe’s side. Feeling for a pulse, she found it barely there. “Oh my god, oh my god,” she wheezed. “Gabe!” She slapped at his face, but he was unconscious.

  Natalie’s footsteps pounded up the stairs. She stopped short at the bathroom door and gasped. “Oh shit!”

  “Did you call?” Pepper snapped.

  “Yes!”

  “Go get Gavin. Get him out of here! Call Vivienne! Leave the door open.”

  Natalie turned and ran back out. From far away, she could hear Natalie coaxing Gavin into his shoes and out the door against all of his protests and questions.

  “Oh, baby, please, hold on,” Pepper whispered, kissing Gabe’s face and lips. “Please, don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me!”

  * * * * *

  Gabe was stoic as he listened to Dr. Agnone list all of the organs that were currently being attacked by the cancer. Stomach, intestines, liver. Not that it really mattered. Hadn’t he known from the start that the diagnosis was a death sentence? Never once had Gabe ever let anyone know that he hadn’t expected to beat the cancer. He learned all the best tricks from Pepper, especially how to put on a game face.

  “Do you have any questions?” Dr. Agnone sat at the foot of the hospital bed. Gabe deeply appreciated the sad but calm face the man wore.

  “No.”

  Pepper stood beside the bed, gripping his hand so tightly, he felt certain his fingers would be crushed. He knew it was the only thing keeping her from screaming and running out of the room, so he tolerated the pain. It was nothing in comparison to the emotional torture she was enduring.

  “What do we do now?” Pepper whispered. “Are there other drugs?”

  Dr. Agnone paused before answering. “There are always more drugs, Pepper.”

  “No.”

  “Gabe–”

  Gabe waved his hand and cut off her desperate plea. There would be no more chemotherapy. He refused to put himself or Pepper through that. And what of Gavin? Gabe did not want to see his son to see that. “Doctor, how soon can I be released?”

  Clasping his hands on his lap, Dr. Agnone shrugged. “The bleed was contained and the transfusion seems to have helped. Give it another day or two so we can watch you.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.” Gabe nodded his head and Dr. Agnone rose to leave.

  “Try to get some rest and I’ll see you in
the morning.”

  Pepper pulled her hands out of Gabe’s and walked the physician to the door. They stepped outside to converse and he sighed.

  There really wasn’t anything to talk about, was there?

  Chapter 43

  “We have to tell him.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?”

  Pepper flinched. She had never heard Gabe sound so despondent. “I feel so bad for him,” she whispered, fighting tears, as she lay in his arms.

  “It’s awful. The poor boy has been through hell already. It almost makes me wish he’d never found me.”

  Pepper’s eyes overflowed, wetting his bare chest. She sniffed and tried to wipe them away. “The thought of him in foster care or staying with that horrible grandmother would have been worse.”

  “How do I tell him, Pepper?” Gabe pushed her away so he could look into her face. “How do I tell my son that I’m dying?”

  Pepper’s bottom lip trembled, but she blinked fast to keep more tears from escaping. “I don’t know, babe. I just don’t know.”

  Gabe let out a soft moan. “I know I’m allowed to ask ‘why me’ but I honestly don’t give a whit about myself anymore. All I keep thinking is, why you? And why Gavin? Neither of you has done anything to deserve this kind of monstrous situation.”

  Pepper sniffed again. “All of it’s a bitch. For all of us.”

  “I’m so angry, darling.” Gabe’s voice wavered and she could tell he was close to breaking. “And I’m so tired.”

  Pepper didn’t know what to say. What words could she possibly offer to a man who’d just received a death sentence? What did she know about this kind of struggle? All she could do was squeeze him tighter and try to give him the health and vitality she enjoyed, through no fault of her own. If she could have transferred her own pancreas into him and taken on his tumors, she would have.