“I love you, Jack.” Morgan brushed his cold nose against Jack’s. “And I always will.”
That sounded pretty perfect to Jack.
epilogue - jack
Two weeks later, Jack held Mister Rocket in his arms and watched Young Tommy’s SUV trundle out of the parking lot of the feed and grain and into the cold, sunshine-filled morning.
In the cushy front seat was his passenger, Mabel, who was off to the hospital in Billings for some tests, which would require an overnight stay. Hence, Jack had volunteered to take care of Mister Rocket until the following morning.
At Jack’s feet was a round, fluffy rose-colored dog bed. Next to it was a large black-and-white checkered tote bag that contained a plastic tub of dog food, a dog food bowl, a metal water bowl, a packet of dog snacks, a soft dog brush, a worn towel to be used to wipe Mister Rocket’s feet after he’d been outside in the snow, no less than two collars, a regular one and a harness, along with a short leash, and a retractable leash.
“Is he moving in?” Morgan asked. He stood in the landing, fingers flexing around his cane, and was just about glaring at the dog.
“It’s the least we can do,” Jack said, soothing Mister Rocket with scritches to his neck.
“It’s themostwe can do,” Morgan said in response.
“We talked about this and you agreed,” Jack said, feeling stubborn. “Besides, it’ll be fun to have him here, and it’s only overnight. Right?”
“He shouldn't be allowed in the store,” Morgan said, gesturing with his cane.
“He’s not going topeeon anything,” Jack said, affronted.
“It’s not that,” Morgan said, then he hesitated. “There are sharp things he might get into that he shouldn't.”
“You’re right,” Jack said. “I’ll shut the door to the store, and we can keep an eye on him better that way.”
“Youcan keep an eye on him,” Morgan said. “I’ve got work to do.”
As Morgan turned to go back into the office, Jack wanted to go to him. To cup Morgan’s face in his hands and kiss him and let him know that he was loved.
Part of the problem was that Morgan had been consistent in his exercise and had finally weaned himself off the Oxy, but was still feeling the final effects of the withdrawal.
In addition, the barometric pressure was falling, which meant that another storm was barreling in on them. Morgan’s knee felt it most keenly, and he’d woken up aching. Which made him grumpy. The charge of watching after Mabel’s beloved dog was added to that, so all in all it’d been a difficult morning.
But, sticking to his promises, Morgan had, each morning for the past two weeks, taken a shower, gotten dressed, and walked around, going up and down the passage in the apartment, and then up and down the stairs, slowly, to get the blood flowing and to loosen his muscles. He’d taken Tylenol with his breakfast, and asked where the heating pad was for his knee.
He’d not shirked any of these self-care tasks, and Jack knew it was because he wanted to stay off the Oxy and to encourage his body to heal. Which meant moving around. Eating regular meals. Showering every day.
He’d also taken over doing the dishes and the laundry, as well as writing grocery lists and paying the bills. Which left Jack with the cooking and the shopping. And the floors, which, in spite of them both being careful to wipe their feet after coming in from the outdoors, were perpetually dirty.
With all his activity, Morgan looked better. Jack had always thought Morgan a handsome man, but now he moved around more instead of just sitting slumped in a chair. His hair was glossy, and his eyes were a vivid blue. And when he looked at Jack, his expression was bright, as though he were imagining taking Jack in his arms and kissing him all over.
Which made Morgan’s difficult, pain-filled moments worth it. They could get through this phase of Morgan’s health if they just kept going.
The fact that Jack had offered to look after Mister Rocket without checking in with Morgan first had been a bump in the road.
They’d quarreled the day before, a short, heated conversation right after Jack had gotten off the phone with Mabel after offering to babysit her beloved furbaby. Morgan had objected, and just as Jack had been about to say something about how the apartment above the feed and grain was his home, too, Morgan had taken a breath and gone quite still.
“You can go anywhere and do anything you please,” Morgan said, starting slowly as if gathering his thoughts. “You can invite anyone over anytime you like. But couples talk about things.” He gestured in the space between them, as though to connect them. “We’re a couple.”
“Yes, we are,” Jack said.
“I don’t understand your affinity for this dog, and I do not care for dogs.” Morgan sighed and thumped his cane. “But this is Mabel’s dog, and we want to be good neighbors. I just wish you’d asked me first.”
“‘m sorry,” Jack said, and he meant it. He was new to being part of a couple, so a lot of how to live with a man he was in love with was new to him. “I will next time.”
That they’d spent the better part of the last two weeks sometimes in bed, but mostly on the futon with the fire blazing merrily away in the cast-iron stove, had been the icing on a very delicious cake. Which made moments like this one a jagged counterpart.
