“Yes, baby girl.”
Epilogue
James
“Don’t putanything on the top shelves of the pantry or the fridge, guys,” I told Joshua and Brandon as they began unloading the groceries. “I don’t want Andrew to have to stretch much.”
“Okay,” Brandon acknowledged.
I left Joshua and Brandon to put the groceries away, and I went to sit by Andrew for a bit. He’d only been settled back in Joshua’s vacant house for close to a week and needed some fresh food. Sam and I had forbidden him from calling a cab or a ride to get to the grocery store, though he would have done it if we hadn’t specifically told him not to.
Andrew had too much pride to tell his father what had happened exactly. He had told him that things weren’t working out with Elise, and he had finally left. Though I told Andrew often that this wasn’t his fault, in his eyes it was easier to say it was a faulty relationship plagued by complications. Deep down, Andrew knew, though.
“The attorney called today and would like to meet this week,” he announced as he rolled his head on the couch cushion to face me.
“That’s good, Andrew. Let me know when your appointment is, and I will make myself available to go with you,” I told him.
“I can get a ride.”
“I know, but I prefer driving you and going in with you. Even if you’d like me to wait in the lobby, I’d still like to accompany you.”
He nodded and thanked me. Sam had been stopping by twice a day to check on Andrew’s wounds to see how he was coming along. So far, everything was healing up nicely. I looked in the direction of the front door when the doorbell rang. Brandon ran out of the kitchen, smiling as he went.
“Pizza,” he said with a shrug.
Aside from bringing over the groceries, tonight was Joshua, Brandon, and Andrew’s pizza and baseball night. I was glad to see their Friday night ritual had continued despite Andrew’s recent situation. I had some business to attend to at Oxygen and would leave them to their dinner and game watching.
* * *
I arrivedat Oxygen ahead of my meeting time with Walter and walked into the main room. I spotted him across the room talking with a couple. He made eye contact with me, and I pointed to the bar to let him know where to find me when he was ready. I smiled when I saw Tabitha sitting alone at the corner seat.
“Good evening, Tabitha,” I greeted as I sat beside her.
“Hello, James. How are you this evening?” she asked.
“Very well, thank you.”
“Where’s Brandon?”
“He’s eating pizza and watching a baseball game with Joshua and Andrew. It’s their thing on Friday nights, which worked out fine for this evening, as I have an appointment with Walter.”
As I suspected, Tabitha’s body language changed when I mentioned Andrew.
“How is Andrew?” she asked. Her body turned slightly in her seat, waiting for the information.
“He’s healing up physically, and I forced his hand to take some time off from work. That boy would have gone into work this week.”
“He needs to take time,” she agreed.
“Precisely.”
“Andrew likes to be up and moving around. Sitting still is a challenge for him. You should stop by and visit him,” I prompted, hoping she would bite at the suggestion as I knew she wanted to.
She laughed and sipped from her glass.
“Mmm, tsk, tsk. James, you know Andrew isn’t quite ready for the sort of company that I’ve been aching to give to him.”
She smiled and gave me a seductive look. I smiled back at her and reached for the glass of ice water that was placed in front of me. Ever since Andrew had been under my care, Tabitha had watched him.
