He actually giggled, the kind of sound that echoed our childhood. I was like Danny’s spectrum of plants all needing sunlight to live and thrive, except Danny was my sunlight and his laughter was like a blast of pure radiance.
Getting everything loaded onto the truck was easy-peasy. Sean and I took charge of loading the heavy stuff, while Mrs. B. made sure the fragile things were stored properly. When I returned upstairs, I found Ronnie standing with Danny at the panoramic window in his bedroom. She was whispering reassurances to him and rubbing circles on his back as he sniffled.
“Everything is done,” I interjected.
Danny turned to regard me and wiped his eyes. He put a smile on his face, but it was half-sad. “I’m ready.”
Ronnie took his hand. “Don’t worry about anything. I’ll have this place spic and span by tomorrow, okay?”
The drive to Mokena where Mrs. B. lived, was tensely quiet. Danny watched the world go by through the passenger side window as we followed Mrs. B. driving the moving truck with Sean following behind. Biscuit was in Danny’s arms, purring comfortably. I wanted to reach over and take Danny’s hand, say something funny to make him laugh,anythingto make him feel better but I drew a blank.
“I haven’t seen your mom’s house yet,” I said to fill the void. “I mean, I’ve seen the pictures you’ve sent me over the years, but I haven’t personally been there since coming up here.”
He glanced at me and smiled faintly. “It’s actually a nice area with lots of nature. Quiet and comfortable. I used to love sitting on the front porch and studying. Her house is close to the main street and there are restaurants and specialty shops.” That brief moment of lightness evaporated. “But all the money she’s paid in rent these past ten years could have bought her a house.”
He talked a little more about the area, eventually dozing off, his head against the window as he held his cat tightly, his fingers plunged into orange fur. When I got to the house, Mrs. B. was already there with Sean. As soon as Danny was out of my car, he started barking orders.
“You’re going inside and resting,” I commanded. “You’re tired and don’t try to deny it. Besides, we don’t need any orders. Us meatheads are professionals and know what we’re doing. Mrs. B., you leave the heavy lifting to us.”
“Yeah,” Sean added. “Let us show off a bit, amirite?”
Danny looked like he wanted to argue, but sucked his lip between his teeth as I held Biscuit in one arm and took Danny’s hand with the other. I guided him into the house. His bedroom was upstairs, which wasn’t ideal, but he did okay climbing the staircase with my help. I set my cat-buddy down and Biscuit followed behind, his collar jingling as he ascended the stairs with ease. His room was smaller than I imagined, with a neatly made bed next to the window and a desk in the corner. Two overflowing bookcases flanked it while a small stack of deconstructed boxes had been laid against the accordion closet door. I set him on the mattress.
“It’s only been a few months since I last slept here,” Danny said, craning his head around the room. He touched a pillow on the bed, embroidered with a cat. “It hasn’t changed one bit.”
I squeezed his shoulder and massaged the area where his neck met his shoulder. “Everything is going to be okay.”
He shrugged and lay down on top of the blanket. Biscuit curled up in his arms, pushing his nose against Danny’s cheek in a kitty-kiss. I wasn’t sure why, but I felt left out of the huddle. The mattress groaned as I got behind him and pulled him close.Just until he falls asleep, I told myself and if it weren’t for the loaded truck in the driveway, I would have stayed here with him forever.
A smile twitched at his lips. “Don’t break my little bed.”
When I was sure he was asleep, I wiggled out of his arms and closed the door to his room. The living room was packed with boxes, bags, and small pieces of furniture. I found Mrs. B. sitting on the couch, riffling through a bag of fresh laundry.
“You started without me,” I said.
“You were taking care of Danny,” Sean said, placing a box atop another. “I got most of the smaller stuff out but could use a hand with the heavy items.”
“Let's get it done.”
It took about thirty minutes to unload Danny’s furniture and potted plants from the truck and stack it into a neat pile in the dining room, which was more an alcove of the living room, but it would do for the time being. I accepted Sean’s damp hand in a manly shake.
“I can’t stay. I’ve got some things to take care of. Oh, I shuffled the schedule around to give you tonight off, so don’t come in. See you tomorrow night.”
I felt there was more to say, but offered him a simple, universal fist bump and went inside.
Mrs. B. noticed me and smiled, then patted the couch next to her. “I was trying to organize some of his clothes.”
I plopped my butt on the couch. “Danny is asleep. I’ll move his stuff upstairs soon. What do you want me to do with the furniture?”
“Oh, there is room in the garage, but things need to be moved around a bit.” She stopped what she was doing and squeezed my arm, her hand tiny against my bicep. “Thank you, Jere. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what I would have done.”
I recognized this moment as one of those emotional things I wasn’t good at. They made me uncomfortable, even with Mrs. B. who I thought of as my own mom.
She offered me a half-smile. “I’m going to assume you’re planning to stay in Chicago permanently?”
“It’s not a question.”
She nodded and cast me one of those approving looks I hadn't seen since I was a teenager. “We need to talk about a few things, then. The garage needs to be cleaned out and organized, but there should be enough room to store your belongings. We could rent a room at a storage facility if it comes to it. Have you thought about how you’re going to get your stuff here?”
