The Problem With Mistletoe

by Kyle Baxter

  “I didn’t know you were here.” David joined him.

  He gave him a weak smile. “You’re at work. I didn’t want to bother you.”

  “You’re not a bother.”

  Looking around, Alex surveyed the room. “Where’s your friend?”

  “At the nurses’ station, I guess.” He opened up his plastic container. Fruit lay inside. “We aren’t really talking.” David popped a grape into his mouth and slid the container to the middle of the table to share it.

  Snagging a chunk of pineapple, Alex chomped on it, holding a hand over his mouth when he spoke. “You’re only eating fruit?”

  “Hey, I have to keep an eye on what I eat.” He patted his stomach.

  “Please, you have the same waistline you did in college.”

  The little white lie made David smile. “Flattery will get you everywhere. But I am trying to keep it manageable, so thank you.”

  “It gets harder every year.” Amusement slowly returned to Alex’s eyes.

  His face brightened when he smiled, and David loved to see it. He eyed the blue sweater that stretched across his friend’s chest.

  “You’ve filled out nicely. You were so thin in high school.”

  Alex ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “You’re kind. I was scrawny.”

  Nibbling on a piece of cantaloupe, he wagged an eyebrow. “I liked it.”

  They ate in silence and their hands touched when they both reached for fruit. David didn’t pull back. He made the contact on purpose and hoped Alex did as well.

  Zooey walked in and joined them at the table. “There you are.” She turned her back full on to Alex and lay a familiar hand on David’s forearm.

  “And there she is.” Alex leaned back as far away from them as he could manage.

  As if noticing him for the first time, she put on a brittle face. “Hello, Mr. Capili.”

  Pulling David’s plastic container to him, Alex continued to eat the fruit. Zooey eyes darted to it. She smiled and batted her eyes.

  “Your aunt’s oncologist was in to see her today. Did you have a chance to talk to him?”

  Alex’s face froze. “Oncologist?”

  “Damn it, Zooey,” David hissed.

  A confused look took over her face. “What’s wrong?” She flinched as Alex jumped to his feet. David quickly came around the table and pulled him aside.

  Alex clung to David’s lunch box. “What does she mean? Why does my aunt have an oncologist?”

  Running a hand over the back of his neck, David groaned. “Your aunt has cancer. That’s why she fainted. It’s the chemo. It makes her weak.”

  Alex staggered and David reached out to support him.

  “I am so sorry. I thought you knew.” Zooey stood slowly, keeping some distance from them.

  “Go,” David commanded, and she fled the room. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t her place to say that.” He felt like he should protest her innocence, but given how things stood lately, he wasn’t sure.

  “This is what they were going to tell me. That’s why she’s retiring.” All the pieces fell together for Alex. David saw it in his eyes.

  “She can’t work,” David agreed. “It’s getting to be too much.”

  “That’s why they’re evasive about her health, the fall. And that’s why she’s been in here so long for observation.” Alex’s forehead creased with worry.

  Reaching up, David cupped the side of Alex’s head. “They don’t want to be a hindrance.”

  “They’re the nearest thing I have to parents—” He cut off a sob, wiping tears away with a sleeve.

  David tried to pull him into a hug but got pushed away. Giving him a baleful glare, Alex shoved the plastic lunch box at him. David held it close as his friend stormed away.

  At the doorway of the cafeteria, he turned. “You should’ve told me.”

  David watched him go, but halfway down the hallway, Alex stopped and his shoulders slumped. He strode back swiftly and pulled David into his arms.

  “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair. I know—”

  Rubbing his friend’s back, David whispered, “It’s okay.”

  “But . . .”

  “It’s okay.” He remembered sharply how bereft Alex was when his mother died of cancer. Now his aunt was ill with the same disease. Small wonder he was upset and angry. If he acted out, David was willing to take the brunt of that.

  Pulling back, Alex looked up into his eyes. “When did you know she was sick?”

  “Only when she checked in and I read her chart. I wish I told you, but . . .”

  Taking his hand, Alex led him down the corridor. “You can’t say anything about a patient’s medical condition.”

  He pulled Alex’s hand to his chest and held it tightly. “Mama said they were going to sit down and talk with you. You know they love you.”

  “Yeah, I just wish . . .” Alex dropped his head.

  David stopped and held Alex by his shoulders. “They didn’t want to lie to you. They were just trying to spare your feelings, because . . .”

  “Because of my mom. I get it.” His head bowed and David pulled him into another embrace, holding on until Alex let go first.

  Reaching over, he pressed the button for the elevator. “Hey, I have to get back. Will you hang out until we can talk?”

  “Yeah, I mean I need to talk to Aunt Claire, anyway.” Alex held out his hand. David could not stop a smile from breaking over his face as he took it.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  I Know the Truth

  Leaving David at the nurses’ station, Alex continued down the corridor to Mama’s room. He paused outside the door. Leaning back against the wall, he took a few deep breaths to calm his shaking hands.

  “I’ll go in with you,” David said when he left him at the desk. Zooey was making obvious pains to be invisible, but he saw her darting into a room. Stay away, he thought.

  “No, I should talk to her alone.” Alex gave him a tight smile and walked away. “Thank you though.”

  Angry and sad, but mostly just sad, he was determined not to upset Mama. Walking in the room, he found her awake and alert. Sitting up in bed, she worked on her knitting. It took him aback. She looked better now than she had his entire visit home. Her eyes flashing, Mama took one look at him and dropped her needlework.

  “What’s wrong?” She moved to get out of her sickbed.

  He held up a hand. “Don’t get up, please. I heard your oncologist came to see you.” Sitting in the chair beside her bed, he looked up at her. “Is this what you and Papa are going to talk to me about?”

  “Did David tell you? You can’t blame him, Mijo.”

  Chuckling softly, he took her outstretched hand. “Tu ángel didn’t tell me. The other nurse accidentally let it slip.”

  “That Zooey person?” Mama made a face. “Ooh, she’s a piece of work.”

  “She is indeed, but I wish you’d told me.”

  “Bribón, I’m as stubborn as you are. I do what I want, in my own way and in my own time.”

  “Mamá,” he said. “You asked me to take over the restaurant. Shouldn’t I know why you’re retiring?”

  She exhaled in frustration. “If you stay, we want it to be because it’s what you want to do.”

  “How can I make an informed decision without all the facts?” He tilted his head. “How long have you known you were sick?”

  “Only a couple of years,” she said, dropping her head.

  “A couple of years?”

  She looked back at him. “At first it was just a spot on my lung. We kept an eye on it, but nothing changed. You were living in the city and happy, and I saw no point in worrying you. And because it’s lung cancer . . .”

  Alex’s eyes clouded. “Just like—”

  “You’ve been through so much. I started treatment, had a couple of operations.”

  He gasped at that but let her continue.

  “We hoped it would help, but this last year it became clear it wasn’t help
ing and it wouldn’t.” Her shoulders fell. “This last year, I finally accepted that.”

  “How far along?”

  “I have stage-three lung cancer,” she said matter-of-factly. “It’s terminal. Treatment will only put it off. I may have a couple of years . . . if I’m lucky.”

  “I’m so sorry.” He kissed her hand. “Can I do anything?”

  “Oh, for me, Alejandro? Nothing, just be happy.” Reaching over, she ran her hand through his hair like she did when he was a boy. “You couldn’t brush your hair this morning?”

  He wiped his eyes and choked out a laugh. “I had other things on my mind. Have they told you when you’re getting out of here?”

  “Day after tomorrow. Her doctor wants to keep her an extra day.” David came to the side of the bed and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  Affection sparkled in her eyes. “Te quiero, hijo mío.”

  “Sorry, I couldn’t stay away.”

  “You look good,” Alex said to Mama. “Better than you have in weeks.”

  “Getting off chemo will do that,” she said a glum look. “I’ve decided to stop that.”

  “Stop? Why?”

  “The chemo makes me sick, ruins my quality of life. I want to enjoy what time I have left, maybe take a trip with your uncle.”

  “You should.” He nodded. They talked for years about a cruise.

  “I agree.” David crossed his arms over his broad chest.

  Gesturing at him, Alex screwed up his face. “Don’t you have a son to pick up?”

  He didn’t move. “I’m leaving soon, but I want to make sure you’re okay.”

  “Mama, I’ll be right back, okay?” He let go of her hands and walked around the bed. She went back to her knitting while Alex took David out into the hall.

  “What’s up?” David leaned against the wall. His posture was unconsciously jaunty and very sexy. It was distracting.

  He took a quick look at his phone. It was later than he thought. “I need a favor. I have deliveries coming to the house, but I want to stay here with Mama. Would you mind going over there? I scheduled several, but they should all be in by 7:00 p.m.”

  A smile broke over David’s face. “Not a problem. I’ll pick up the nugget and head over there.” Standing, he pulled out his cellphone and checked something on it, making notes of some sort.

  Fishing in his slacks, Alex pulled out his keys and his wallet. “Here’s my spare house key.” His voice trailed off as he said it. They each had a copy of the other’s house key now. That was something. No, it means nothing, you schmuck.

  David took the key. “What’s with the wallet?”

  “I’m going to give you some money so you can order food.”

  David playfully pushed at him. “Pinoy, I can manage dinner on my own.”

  “Thank you.” He gave David a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

  “Stay with your aunt as long as you want, okay?”

  “One other thing?” Alex grimaced. “Can we get someone other than Zooey to look in on my aunt from here on out?” He didn’t care if it caused problems. Zooey disliked him and his aunt didn’t need that negativity from a caregiver.

  Leaning in closer, David murmured, “I’ll do that.”

  Alex was sure he was going to kiss him, but they both remembered where they were and stepped back.

  “Later.” David gave him a small wave.

  He watched him leave, appreciating that view. Returning to his aunt’s room, he sank down in the chair next to the bed.

  The warmth and love he felt growing with every encounter with David warred with his sadness and anxiety over Mama. While he was frustrated and hurt and terrified of losing someone he loved again, he was thrilled with the prospect of being in love—and with David no less.

  When his mother died, Alex was lost and alone. His father was too bitter, too angry, and too drunk to care for and about him. Aunt Claire and Uncle Felix watched out for him. David too. He groaned.

  Aunt Claire got out of bed. Closing her bathrobe tight, she walked over to him and pulled him into a hug.

  It surprised him. “You should be resting.” He jumped up and tried to guide her back to the bed.

  “I’ve been in bed for days. I think I can handle one moment for my sweet boy,” she protested but let him lead her back. She gave him a knowing smile. “You know your David is in here all the time checking on me.”

  “He is a nurse, Aunt Claire. And you’re on his ward.”

  She put her hand up over her mouth and coughed. “Well, I requested that.”

  He handed her a glass of water. “You did?”

  After taking a long drink, Mama said, “Tandi’s a good friend. She pulled some strings. Who better to look after me? He’s so handsome and such a good single father too.” She gave him a meaningful eye.

  “Mama, stop.” He shook his head. “Who is this for?” He pointed to her knitting. The yarn was a bright purple.

  “It’s a scarf for Eric.” Reaching over, she unfolded the piece and spread it out on the bed. “David told me this is his favorite color.”

  “He will love it.” Leaning over, he picked up a small blue box from her nightstand and opened it. A set of pearl earrings lay inside. “And this?”

  She frowned. “That’s from your uncle. He keeps buying me things, little surprises.”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing, but it’s unnecessary. He’s just spending money. It won’t stop me . . .” Mama choked out. “It won’t stop me from dying.”

  Alex pulled her close, and they sat there, rocking back and forth, the silence only broken by her sobs. Finally, she pushed him away.

  “I’m okay.” She dried her eyes with a tissue. “I have a question for you, Mijo.”

  “Okay . . .”

  Clasping her hands in front of her on her lap, she said, “When you got to New York, I know you had a tough time of it. Why didn’t you ask us for help? I know why you didn’t talk to your father, but why not us?”

  He blew a puff of air through his lips. “I was ashamed.”

  “Why?”

  “I heard all my life how you all never asked anyone for help, how you made it on your own. If I asked for help, I’d be a failure. I mean, then my father would be right about me. I couldn’t let that be true.”

  She released him and straightened his shirt. “We never asked anyone for help because we had each other.”

  “Mama, would you do me a favor?”

  “Of course.”

  He held her gaze. “Let Papa buy you whatever he wants.” He thought about their conversation for a long time. They had each other. Who did he have? He felt a smile creep over his face. Maybe David.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Tainted Love

  Pulling into line at Stuyvesant Prep with the other cars, David looked up in surprise. His son sat at his usual bench, but a young girl sat next to him. Good. Eric needed friends.

  Eric stood and waved to her. “Bye, Brandi.”

  “Bye, Eric!” The girl pulled her pink backpack on as her own ride pulled up. She waved as she climbed in her father’s Mercedes.

  “Is that Brandi Wu?” David asked as he helped the boy get settled in.

  “Yeah.”

  He knew of the Pierce-Wu family—peripherally. Good people, if a little privileged. The same can be said of us. Brandi was a bit of a princess, what little he saw of her, but they seemed to be friends now. This change was interesting.

  With all seatbelts fastened, David pulled out of the parking lot and drove through the Quarter.

  Glancing out the window, Eric asked, “Where are we going?”

  David took the right turn before Rosner park. “We’re going to Alex’s house.”

  “We’re going to see Alex?”

  He couldn’t help but smile at his son’s delight. “Maybe later, but right now, he’s at the hospital visiting Mama Capili.” Should he tell his son she wasn’t going to get better?r />
  The boy picked at his armrest. “How is she? Alex really loves her.” Eric leaned away from him, clinging to the door. He knew something was up. Well, the cat was out of the bag, and David no longer saw a reason to hide it.

  “Mama is very sick.”

  Eric’s brow furrowed. “Is she going to get better?”

  “Maybe for a little bit.” She was better now that she was cycling off chemo, but it felt like a lie.

  “She’s dying.” The boy looked out the window. “It’s like everyone you love leaves you. I hate it.”

  Luckily, they were almost to Alex’s. The conversation was heavier than he planned, and he wanted to follow it where it led, without driving distracted.

  “No, they don’t. Not always. Hey, buddy, I love you. Grandma loves you, Rachel loves you, and Alex loves you.”

  “Yeah, but he’s leaving.” He frowned and kept picking at the armrest.

  As he guided the car down the block, David said, “Hey, just because people have to leave doesn’t mean they don’t love you.”

  “I guess.” Eric’s shoulders slumped.

  David pulled into the driveway. He pulled his son into the front seat and into a hug. “Buddy. I need you to believe what I said. Just because people leave doesn’t mean they don’t love you. And it’s okay to miss them.”

  Eric wiped his face. “I don’t want them to leave.”

  “Neither do I, but we can’t control it, and sometimes neither can they. It’s not their fault. And it’s not ours, okay?” He kissed the boy’s forehead and set him in the passenger seat.

  Eric shrugged.

  “Hey, what happened to your school pants?” David pointed at a hole in the knee of his son’s school uniform.

  “I fell again.”

  “Okay, I’ll sew it up later.” David left it alone and opened his car door. He didn’t want to step on this moment by chastising the boy.

  Two hours later and after walking the dog, David stood in Alex’s living room, adjusting the way the brand-new TV hung on the wall mount. Once the deliveries started coming in, he took it upon himself to set up the living room. With the fireplace on one wall, there was only one place to hang the television.

  He eyeballed the tiny level included in the packaging and pushed down on the left side to even out the lean. Then he pushed the right side a hair.