Luke
Five Years Later
“Hey,Blue.”Jessie’sraspyvoice comes through the Bluetooth car speaker, and I hear a slow smile spread across his face as he speaks. I know that smile. I love that smile. I love the fact that after all this time, I can count on him to smile like that when he says my name. “How’s your day been?”
“Pretty good, no major dramas. That little guy, Keenan, is doing so much better. His fever broke and it looks like he’ll be able to go home in a couple of days.”
“I’m glad, baby. I know you were worried about him.”
“Enough about work, how’s Adrian?”
I hear another smile. A different one. This one pulls one side of his mouth downwards and makes him expel a tiny breath. “He’s had a much better day today.”
“No more tummy troubles?”
“Nah, think it must have been one of those twenty-four hour things.”
“Thank goodness. D’you think that means he’ll have a better night tonight?”
Please, please God, let him sleep better tonight. I could hardly stay upright today.
“I hope to God it does. I’m exhausted.”
“I’m broken, so I can only imagine how tired you must be.”
“I’ll be okay.”
“You’re such a good dad, Jess. I knew you would be, but you’re even better than I thought you would be.”
“Right back at you. I love seeing you with him. It does something to me.”
“Well, hold that thought – I’m pulling into the garage. I’ll be home in a minute.”
I listen at the door for a second before I unlock it. I hear footsteps and a couple of squeaky little yelps. I swing the door open and hear Jessie’s voice crying, “Daddy’s home!” followed by frantic scraping of tiny claws moving at speed across floor tile. By the time I’m inside, Adrian is bounding down the hallway. He’s moving so fast it looks like there’s a chance his hind legs will overtake his forelegs.
I scoop him up in both hands and lift him to my face, sighing happily when the heady smell of clean puppy fur hits me. “Have you been a good boy today?”
He spins wildly in my hands, treading air, trying desperately to lick my face. His eyes are great big brown globes, partially hidden by wheaten fur and glinting with the type of thing that puts an end to a fur parent sleeping well any time soon. Simply put, they are the most mischievous eyes ever to find themselves on a good boy.
“Well,” says Jess, drawing out the word, “that depends on who you ask.”
“Oh, no. What’s he done now?”
“I mean, if you ask me, I’d say he’s been absolutely adorable but if you ask your leather boat shoes, they’d have a very different version of events.”
Adrian stills in my arms, nuzzling his little face into my neck, letting out a soft, contented little whimper.
Ah, well.
I have other shoes.
I put him down and take off my jacket.
“Holy shit!” exclaims Jessie. “That’swhat you’re wearing?”
I give him the same chuckle it gets from me every night. Can’t help it. It’s funny cause I’m wearing standard, hospital-issue scrubs. Today’s are pink, yesterday’s were blue. It doesn’t matter the color, his response is always the same.
He pushes me up against the wall and steps into my personal space. “Now tell me the truth, Blue, did all the other nurses spend all day flirting with you?”
