Because he needed to take it soon before his head exploded, and it smelled like the chicken soup was actually edible.
It was totally not canned, either.Chunks of carrots, celery, chicken swam in it.In fact, it looked amazing.
Ian got him his pills and unpacked him while he took them and a bite of soup.Oh damn, this wasdefinitelynot canned soup, and it tasted as good as it looked.He managed to finish three quarters of the bowl, two crackers and about a third of the ginger ale before the last twenty-four hours came crashing down on him.He let his spoon fall back into the bowl and rested his head against the back of the cranked-up bed.
Ian rolled the bedside table off to one side.“Do you need the bathroom, or are you okay?”
Ian eased off his shoes, so careful.
“I don’t think I can move,” he admitted.“And I should be good.Went when I got off the plane.”
“All right.”Ian covered him up.“You rest.I’ll bring your supper later.The remote is on the table.”Ian headed out of the room, and then turned to look at him.“Welcome home.”
“Merci, Chou,” he murmured as his eyes drifted closed.
ChapterTwo
“Daddy, is that the hockey-man?”
“Daddy, is he here?”
“Daddy, can we watch TV?”
“Daddy, we need cookies.”
“Daddy, can we see the man?”
“Daddy.”
“Daddy.”
“Daddy.”
Ian closed his eyes and fought the urge to cry.
Everyone who loved him — from his brother to his best friend to his neighbors — thought he was an idiot for letting JP come home, but…
Well, it was JP’s house.
And no matter what else he or anyone thought of JP, the man had put three quarters of his salary into Ian’s account for the last three years, unasked.He’d just done it.
“Daddy!”
“Guys, I need you to use inside voices.JP’s sick.”
“JP?”Victoria’s eyes narrowed.“The hockey-man?”
“Yes.The hockey-man.”Their father.He didn’t know what else to call him.
He was a little surprised the kids hadn’t woken him already, although the lines of pain and exhaustion on JP’s face had attested to his need for sleep.He guessed once the pain pills had kicked in, JP was down for the count.
“We’re going to have macaroni and cheese for supper tonight.Doesn’t that sound yummy?”
He’d bet JP was surprised by how good the soup had tasted.His best friend, Alison, was a chef, and she’d spent the last few years teaching him to cook.
His babies deserved to eat well.
“Yay!Macamamonies!”They shouted the words together, jumping up and down.
