Nick was shivering by the time I got him in the car. I had him type in his address so he wouldn’t have to talk. His cheeks bloomed with red from the fever. He indicated where I should park in his driveway. The house was modest, too big for one person but not outrageously so. He took my hand as I turned off the car.
I turned and met his sad puppy dog eyes. “Thank you, Annie,”he mouthed. “I don’t want you to get sick.”
I ran a hand over his hair and softened my voice. “I’m not worried about that, bub. You helped me move, and you know you didn’t have to. This is the least I can do. Let’s go get you in bed.”
The dog I’d only met in pictures before appeared when we got in the front door. Nick reached down to scratch him behind the ears. Then Greg turned to me with his black marble eyes. I knelt down, unable to resist that darling Chihuahua face.
“Hi, little buddy,” I cooed. Slowly, he sidled over, the silver in his fawn-colored face showing his age. “How old is he?”
Nick watched us with a grin, holding up nine fingers.
“You’re nine? When did Mr. Ober get you, huh?”
“Last year,” came Nick’s whisper. “They were going to put him down.”
Greg put his paws up on my thigh, begging for more affection in the most gentle, old man kind of way.
“Who could say no to this face? You need to go outside, pup?”
Nick pointed to the leash by the door, then gestured that he was heading for his room.
“I’ll figure out where everything is,” I assured him. “We’ll be back soon, won’t we, Greg?”
When I stood, Nick brought me into a tight hug.
“Sorry about this,” he whispered.
“No apologies. Go get in some sweats and get in bed. I’ll check on you when I get back.”
After a harder squeeze, he let me go.
Greg led me around a seemingly pre-determined route in their neighborhood. The street was on a hill, giving everyone a good view of the ocean. I knew a lot of Princes lived in Manhattan Beach to be close to their practice facility, Guy and Mikey aside. The houses were modest with price tags that could make you choke on your own spit. The October sun lowered toward the water, one of the best benefits of the West Coast: always good sunsets.
When we got back, I poured myself a glass of water and gotan extra for Nick.
“Show me where your dad is,” I said to Greg, and like he understood with his tiny peanut brain, he walked toward a bedroom. It was very neat, with nice built-in bookshelves stocked with plenty of books. Greg walked up a little ramp next to the bed and settled into a sleeping Nick’s arms. Nick stirred, looking at me with tired eyes. I put the glass of water on the nightstand, brushing his hair off his forehead. He was still fire hot.
“You want to try drinking some tea?” I offered.
Nick nodded, then pointed to the bathroom. “Masks.”
I shrugged. “The damage is probably already done. But I’ll put one on. Do you know what his kids had?”
Nick shook his head.
“I’ll text Kitty to try and find out.” I stepped into the bathroom to find he’d laid out masks, medicine, and a thermometer. It was pretty cute that he was letting me be his sick nurse, but he’d set everything up for me.
“Did you take the meds?”
“Trying to hold off,” he croaked. “Fever can do its job.”
I nodded and left the room. I texted Kitty while I prepared the tea, admiring the gorgeous ocean view from his kitchen window.
Hey, I’m helping Obi out while he’s sick.
Can you find out what Sorrento’s kids had?
He thinks that’s what he’s got
