Part 7
At eight o’clock the next evening, Kathryn opened the door, drying her hands on a red and white checked dish towel. Dinner, she sighed as she flung the towel over her shoulder. With a little luck she could eat before- “Nick?”
“Here’s your dinner,” he said with a smile.
“Nick, what are you doing here?” Kathryn squeaked. He was here. Nick was here. What if-? No, he was asleep. He should sleep a while longer, but what if-? No, he was asleep.
“I heard you were sick, so I convinced that sweet neighbor of yours to let me bring this up to you.”
“Mrs. Garrison? But how did you know?”
“I eavesdropped,” he replied, grinning shamelessly.
“Nick you shouldn’t have-”
“Nah, I didn’t mind. I was looking for you, and Andi was really busy. I heard her talking to Mrs. Garrison and I sort of figured it all out.”
“You did?” Kathryn stood dumbly in the doorway wondering just how much he had heard and exactly what he had figured out.
“Umm … Katy? This is really hot, can I come in?”
“Nick, that’s really not a good idea.” Kathryn reached for the takeout container, but Nick paid no attention as he pushed past her, looking for the kitchen.
“Katy, don’t worry. I’m healthy, okay? I won’t catch whatever you’ve got.”
“That’s not-” she began, but it was useless. He was already in her kitchen, opening cabinet doors and looking for dishes.
“Katy, stop it. I’m not going to get sick, I promise.” He spooned the beef stew into a bowl, looked for a napkin, and then carried it to her small oak dining table. “Our shooting was called off again and I came by to see you and grab a bite to eat. That’s when I heard you were sick, and I offered to bring this up.”
“Mrs. Garrison-”
“Was very helpful,” he replied with a wink. “She thought that it was very sweet of me to offer, especially since we’re such old friends and all.”
“I’ll bet,” Kathryn agreed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “And I appreciate it Nick. Tell you what, drop by the shop tomorrow and we’ll have dinner. On the house.” She had to get rid of him.
“Katy, maybe you should stay home one more day. You look kinda pale.”
“I’ll be fine, really.” Trying her best to sound convincing, she politely ushered him to the door. He was almost out when a small voice put an abrupt end to his exit.
“Mommy?”
Time seemed to stand still, and Kathryn’s heart stopped as well, before dropping down to her feet with a silent thud.
Nick locked his eyes on Kathryn, then slowly panned down to the tiny boy with the greenish pallor. Kathryn felt a tug on her pants leg and also looked down.
“Mommy, I throwed up again,” he whispered. “And I think I’m gonna-”
Before he could lose his ginger ale all over Nick’s designer sneakers, she scooped him up and raced for the bathroom. Jonathan retched pitifully, until there was nothing left in his tiny tummy. Kathryn cleaned him up and carried him back to his bedroom, where she ran smack into Nick, on his way out.
“If you’ll tell me where the clean ones are, I’ll fix his bed. Oh, and where should I put these?” he asked, wrinkling his nose at the armload of upchucked-upon sheets.
“Nick, you don’t have to do this,” she protested.
“Katy, I got it covered. You just take care of-” He stopped, suddenly realizing that he had no idea what the little boy’s name was.
“Jonathan,” she supplied quietly. “My son.”
Nick’s eyes registered surprise, but he kept his cool, smiling at the boy. “Hey Jonathan, I’m Nick. I’m sorry that you’re sick.”
“That rhymed,” Jonathan giggled weakly.
“So it did,” Nick laughed. “Sheets, Katy?” he asked again.
“Middle shelf of the hall closet. And Nick?”
“Yeah?” he asked, looking back over his shoulder.
“Thanks. I mean that.”
Nick smiled gently. “Sure thing. Look, I’ll just dump these in the tub and come find you.”
Kathryn was counting down for the questions to begin, and it didn’t take long.
“Mommy?”
“What, baby?” She tugged off Jonathan’s sweaty, stinky pajamas, praying for a simple question.
“Who’s Nick?”
“Someone I knew a very long time ago.”
Jonathan thought this over. “I like him,” he decided.
“You don’t even know him.”
“So? He has happy eyes. I like him.”
Nick paused in the doorway as his heart melted. Clearing his throat of the sudden emotion that welled up, he walked to the bed. “Here ya go, sport. Come here to me and let your mom fix the sheets for ya.” He held out his arms, and to Kathryn’s chagrin, Jonathan went right to Nick. “You feel pretty warm. Katy, what’s he taking for this?”
“Children’s Motrin. He could have another dose, with some ginger ale. But not too much,” she cautioned.
“No problem,” he chuckled. “Where is it?”
“Oh. In the kitchen, by the toaster.” She turned back from making the bed in time to see Jonathan tuck his blonde head against his-- against Nick’s neck. She knew they had begun a roller coaster ride that was far from being over, and how or when it would end was anyone’s guess.