Galen.
Fuck.
He’s here—he’salive. And in the frozen stillness of Cosmic Avenue, I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.
Alive he might be, but Galen’s also a wreck. In the snow, I hold him close and he sags against me, burying his face in my neck. But it’s not long before Bhodi appears at my shoulder.
“
he needs to rest, Sab. Inside, where it’s warm.”
Nurse Bhodi’s not playing around. Neither’s my brother who shoots me a look that lets me knowBhodineeds to be inside too.
I nod, sliding my hands to Galen’s jaw as they troop inside, and coax him to look at me.
He gives me a hazy stare.
I stare right back. “Hey there. Are you okay? I missed you.”
Galen shivers. “I’m so fecking sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m shit at everything too. You want to come inside? Or I can drive you home, if you want.”
“Drive me?” A ghost of a smile lights Galen’s drawn face, a bruise blooming on his cheek. “Greenpeace’ll be after you, boy.”
“I’d fight them for you. But the truth is, I want you to stay here, with us—withme, so I can take care of you.”
Galen doesn’t answer. Just lets me take his hand and lead him inside, where Tam and Bhodi have already disappeared upstairs to the spare room. I hear them moving around. The shower turn on. My brother checking on Esme.
Je t’aime, grand frère.
I help Galen out of his shoes and coat, and put him on the couch. Sit next to him. He doesn’t say much for the longest time. Eventually he falls asleep with his head in my lap, gripping my hand, and that’s where he stays until morning.
It’s kind of awful.
Kind of perfect.
It’s early when Tam pads downstairs with Esme in his arms. She spots Galen still sleeping and her big eyes light up, but I can tell Tam’s already warned her to be quiet, and my heart melts as she taps a tiny finger to her lips and whispers in Tam’s ear.
Tam smiles and takes her to the fireplace where her stocking hangs. He’s the best uncle in the world. Esme’s second dad. He’s got this if I need him to.
But I’m Esme’s father before I’m anything to anyone else, even Galen, and I ease out from beneath him, swapping my lap for a cushion.
I sit with Esme on the carpet and open her little stocking with her. She’s not that quiet as she gets into it, but Galen doesn’t stir. Neither does Bhodi upstairs, Tam checks.
“Dead to the world,” he says. Then winces. “That hits different this morning, eh?”
I hum my agreement, letting Esme pour magic sand through my fingers. “Plein de choses sont différentes aujourd’hui.”
Lots of things feel different today.
“Even you?”
“Especially me.”
Tam opens his mouth. Shuts it again, subtly inclining his head to the couch.
To where Galen is no longer asleep.
