2020-05-15 Aftermath 2 - Hearts and Hearth - Patrick, Chris, Noelle, Avery

Patrick Peterson came home after his shift feeling a lot like he’d fallen off the side of the engine he worked on and been run over by it.  He felt numb and stunned, but was able, when he got home, to share what happened with his twin.  Not holding back, he told him everything, whether he was supposed to or not, as he didn’t know.  But this was his twin and it was about information not only about Jack Rose but about their old high school buddy Kira Delmonaco.  By eight in the morning, the tale was told and Patrick felt twice as drained, as if he’d just relived the entire night all over again.  He ended it with.  “Can you tell Avery?  I’m … I’m not in any condition to talk to her right now.”  and his voice betrayed his much that, in and of itself, hurt him.  He missed his little sister but today … was not the day to see her.  Not after all he’d seen.

Chris Peterson had looked both overwhelmed and oddly relieved about the part about Jack being gone. But the rest was just disturbing and he worried for his brother. Chris sighed and rubbed Patrick’s back “Yeah I can tell her….but man do you need me to stick around?” Chris knew what these jobs could take out of people better than anyone. “We can reschedule with Avery for tomorrow or something…” He looked truly worried.

Patrick blew out a breath.  “No.  I’m good, bro.”  he assures his twin.  “Oh, cancel the appointment with Darryl, because I am in no mood to deal with his gossipy ass today.”  he claps Chris on the shoulder.  “Listen .. give Avery my love.  Please.”  he sighs.  In many ways he feels like the weaker of the twins, but that is mostly his exhaustion talking.

Chris snorts “Because he told Sajani about you asking out Smith? Aww...Pat….she seemed to find it funny. And she still agreed to go out with you. I will give your love to Avery. You get your beauty sleep….and just do what you need to do? Seriously text me if you need me back.” He stands up and pats his brother’s back with his cast hand as he does. “Shit I dunno if Noelle has two helmets for that vespa...maybe I should grab one of our sports helmets….” He starts looking around.

Patrick snorts.  “Everybody found it funny.  The Fumbling Peterson.” he doesn’t move, but lays fully clothed sans of course his shoes, on the couch.  “They’re on the back porch.”  he tells his brother and drifts off into a light sleep.

Chris calls back “Oh thanks…” as he heads out to the porch. When he comes back in Pat is asleep. Chris sighs at his twin and then unfolds a blanket from the back of one of the couches and gently covers him. He quietly takes the helmet and slips into his shoes at the door and lets himself out. He crosses the street and goes to Noelle’s. Today he’s upgraded from sweats or sweatshorts to blue jeans and ablack t shirt with his usual trainers.

Noelle has fed and watered her son, but Daisy had walked him to school.  They traded depending on the other's schedule.  It seemed to help the kids to not cling too much to their mother.  Now she sat in her kitchen, drinking a little bit of mint tea while she waits for Chris.  She’d met all of the family but for Avery … and today … she was going to meet Avery.
  And she was still anxious.

Chris puts the strap of his sports helmet over one arm so he can unlock it with his left hand. He steps in and sees Noelle with a cup of tea and grins at her “I smell mint. Hello….” He slips off his shoes and walks to her to lean down and give her a sweet light kiss and then ask “How are you doing?” He knew the death of Jack Rose would impact her as well just as it was him, Pat, Avery, his whole family, Brayden and so so many. He was thinking he might end up being the one to have to tell her.

Noelle looks up and meets his kiss with her own.  “Yup .. want some tea?  I thought I could fill a thermos full for your sister.”  she offers.  “I’m even better now that you’re here.  Is Patrick alright?”  her eyes grow big.  “I’ve heard about the fire.  It was on the radio … I mean the Walrus and the Carpenter were talking about it as seven this morning.”  she bites her lip.

Chris nods “I was talking with Pat. Yes to tea please. Avery loves mint so she’ll like that.” He looks at her with caution and then with love “Did they name everyone...on the radio? I didn’t listen. It was the Rose house. They all died...Jack Rose died….Pat thinks Carla Rose killed her husband and sin.” He’s not sure how much she knows. He sits down next to her, pulling the chair a little closer to hers.

Noelle nods.  “They said … jack was .. was killed … his whole family .. but that’s about it .. they think Kira Delmonaco did it but … it's all so soon.  How could they know, really?”  she bites her lip. 

Chris puts his arm around her with his cast hand reading lighting on her shoulder. With his other hand he pours himself a half cup to tea. “It’s fucked up...I know.” He frowns “Kira Delmonaco? I don’t think she’d have it in her. She has a hard enough time keeping her own shit together…” He kisses the side of her head and then leans back the other way to sip and swallows before saying “I dunno how my sister’s going to react to all this...I mean happy yeah...but still like this….”

Noelle blows out a breath.  “Yes …  that does seem to be true.”  she sighs.  Kira is one of those ‘but for the grace of’ type people for Noelle.  “And one for you, too.”  she sighs and stands.  “Let me fill the thermos and we can go … or is it better .. given the news if you go alone?”

Chris agrees with her “Oh believe me...I wish his mother had lived…because it sounds like she would have been the only person we could have asked.….it’s sad….we had so many calls about that house. It makes me wonder if there had been early intervention..” He trails off and then says. “Could the police and social services have prevented the creation of a monster like Jack years ago?” Then he frowns at Noelle “Noelle….I know it’s a weird time to meet Avery but you’re a part of me now. As far as I’m concerned we’re a package deal. And my mom will never forgive me if she doesn’t get to meet you in person this week. If it’s intense with Avery she’s offered to take a walk with you….lots of space out there. Does that make it more comfortable?” He’s a bit concerned too. But sadly Noelle and Avery have some common ground too….

Noelle fills her large thermos with the mint tea as Chris talks to her.  “Social Services misses lots of things.”  she tells him.  “And has their hands tied the rest of the time.”  She closes the thermos and turns when he starts talking about the trip and his mother offering to walk with her.  “She did?  Really?”  she smiles.  “Yes .. well .. no ..  you know me.  I’m afraid it might effect you or your job or your family’s reputation.  Silly I know.”  she bites her lip and heads for the door and her keys, including her scooter keys.

Chris follows her after putting their cups in the sink and then catches her at the door and pulls her into his arms “My job and my family’s reputation will only be improved by you loving me Noelle. I love you...and unless you toss me out that door, we’re doing this…” He looks at her intensely and then kisses her deeply.

Noelle melts into the kiss and, after a minute, breaks it.  “I love you, too.”  she takes a fortifying breath.  “Alright … let's do this.”  She closes and locks the door behind them.  “I’m drivin.”

Chris laughs as he walks behind her and holds up his cast “I fuckin hope so….” He waits for her to instruct him about what to do to be her passenger. “I’ve never had a hot girl drive me somewhere on a  vespa before..” he flirts.

Noells laughs and gets on the scooter.  “Just like in those motorcycle movies.  Climb on and hold me tight.”  she flirts back.

Chris doesn’t need to be told twice. He fastens his helmet and steps over the vespa, settling in behind her and wrapping his arms around her. “I could get used to travelling like this…”

Noelle giggles and takes off.  She isn’t a hot shot driver.  Her passengers are usually precious.  Blaze, of course, but also people's food.  A pizza with all the toppings on one side can cost her as well as the restaurant and even Spare The Dishes.  So she drives the limit and, within half an hour, they are pulling up to The Farm.  She uses the even more secondary path to drive back to the old trailer where Avery lives.  She turns off the engine and looks back at Chris.  “Thank you for riding Snow.”  she inks at him and prepares to get off … and meet the family.

Chris clears his throat and winks back at her but can’t quip back as his mother walks up to them immediately. He steps off and hugs her tightly “Hi Mom.”

Lauren hugs her boy with a little rock side to side “Christopher!” She exclaimed looking at him with an aching smile. She looks down to his cast “How’s your hand? And where’s your brother?” She looks apologetically at Noelle “Sorry, hello Noelle…” She lets go of her son and steps to Noelle admiring the vespa “Well that’s a fun thing to drive…..so nice to meet you properly..” Lauren reaches out to Noelle like she’s going to hug her and will if it’s not refused. She’s in a pair of loose cotton pants with an old button up shirt, rubber boots and her straw hat on again like she plans to be outdoors all day.

Chris laughs as he’s ditched for Noelle “Pat wasn’t up for it. You haven’t listened to the news today have you?”

Noelle does accept the hug, but with a bit of surprise, smiling a little anxiously.  “Nice to meet you, too.  I brought tea.  It’s mint.  I have a little garden.  I grow a couple of different kinds of mint in pots.”

Lauren hugs Noelle and then lets go and looks happy about the tea and the gardening “Oh lovely dear…” She turns back to Chris “No I’ve been keeping the news off since it sets off Avery’s anxiety….she’s still in the trailer asleep. What happened?” She looks between Chris and Noelle and then with alarm back to Chris “What happened to Patrick?”

Chris holds up a hand “He’s not injured Mom…..but there was a fire. Dad’s still staying with Chief Greene so I’m sure he’s going to hear about it.” He backtracks...there was a murder...several murders...and then a fire...at the Rose house. Jack Rose is dead. They all are Mom….” He exhales.

Lauren literally reels and then leans forwards hanging onto her knees. Chris steadies her and she holds up a hand and then stands, taking off her hat and rubbing at her hairline.

Noelle says nothing, but when Lauren reels she gets out the tea and pours into the cup lid, offering it to her.  It isn’t scalding but it is hot.

Lauren takes the cup but her hand is shaking a little “Thank you. Is our house still standing?” She asks with a little joke and then sighs and closes her eyes “Who murdered who? Did Jack kill his parents?” She’s assuming the violence is his. She sips slowly.

Chris nods “As far as I know. Might be some water damage….” He explains to Noelle “the Rose’s are...were out neighbours...I don’t know if I told you.” Then he looks back to his mom “Jack didn't do it. Carla did. Well Pat thinks she did. This is probably confidential...like everything else I’ve shared and not confirmed. Pat thinks Carla killed them both and then herself, wrote on the wall in her blood and theirs. It sounded like a fucking horror movie. Pat saw it all….”

Now Lauren looks like she’s in absolute agony “She killed her own son…..I can’t even imagine…..and Patrick saw all this…” She chokes up “Is he ok? Should I call him?” Lauren looks distraught but then adds “Don’t get me wrong I’m glad that bastard is dead...and the father….monsters...both of them...from what we heard through those walls….but not like this.”

Noelle nods along with Lauren. “The Walrus and the Carpenter think that Kira Delmonaco did it. You know .. that vagrant girl?  I mean …  she’s never seemed violent before….”  but now she looks at Chris .. the cop .. with a ‘has she’ question in her eyes.


Chris shakes his head “Pat needed some serious sleep after all that. He was crashed when I left. Let him rest Mom.” Chris looks at Noelle “We won’t really know the truth until the investigation is completed. I’m inclined to believe my brother….”

Lauren nods “I am too, even though you’re the police officer…..And I’ve seen a vagrant girl around….sorry did you say Kira Delmonaco? Didn’t you go to school with her Christopher?” She looks towards the trailer “Let’s not overwhelm Avery with all these details and theories though. It’s going to be enough to just know Jack Rose is dead. “ She sighs “Ok...I’m going to try and wake her…...come sit at our picnic table you two…” She’s still carrying the lid with the tea in it as she walks.


Noelle blinks as she realizes that, yes, the twins were in the same class with Kira, but she lets it go when Lauren suggests it and goes to see if Avery is awake.  She follows Lauren tot he picnic table and sits hopefully with Chris.  The moment of truth ….


Chris had nodded about Kira but now they were on the move. He sits down beside Noelle and holds her hand. He looked to the door where his mother was poised to knock.

Lauren shifts the tea to her other hand and knocks “Avery honey...your brother is here.”

A voice comes from inside that sounds sleepy “Mom...I have two brothers. Which one?”

Lauren looks back and laughs towards the picnic table “It’s Christopher. And he brought his girlfriend Noelle. I told you about her…”

“Noelle the Vegan?” The voice inquires as it gets closer to the door.

Now Chris laughs “Yes Noelle the Vegan.” He looks at Noelle and whispers “This is a  good sign..she’s being a  goof.”

There’s some shuffling and rustling around for a while but Avery is not emerging.


Noelle leans into Chris, smiling hopefully at being named ‘the Vegan’.  She is tempted to speak, but holds herself back not wanting to spook Avery, then feeling guilty at having that uncharitable thought.

Avery pops the door of the trailer open and peeks out warily. She’s wearing a too big hoodie and baggy cargo pants with rubber boots like her mothers. She carries a grocery bag full of something to the picnic table and drops it in front of Chris and Noelle “Vegetables.” She greets with. Her hood is up but she has messy brown hair under it. She walks away from the table now and picks up a shovel from resting against a nearby tree and leans on it awkwardly.

Chris swallows “Hey Avery...I came to tell you about something…” He hesitates.

Lauren walks to stand closer to Avery “Sweetie there was a fire last night…”

Avery jumps and looks horrified “Patrick’s hurt?”

Chris quickly explains “No...no no. Patrick’s fine. He was there of course. Avery it was the Rose house. Jack Rose and his parents are dead.”

Avery freezes where she is and just stares at the shovel.

Lauren reaches to touch her daughter's shoulder and Avery pulls away from her, walks off in the distance and starts digging a  hole. Lauren calls after her “Sweetie? What are you doing?”

Avery just digs.

Chris takes a deep breath and gets up, going to grab another shovel. He steps in by his sister, close but not too close “Want some help?”


Noelle looks at the bag and smiles at Avery.  “Thank you so much.”  but then the news is broken and she watches Lauren and Chris breaking the news.  She says nothing, just watching, but part of her still feels Jack Rose’s hands on her body and she swallows, almost audibly.


Avery nods at Chris “Making a fire pit.”

Chris starts digging on the other side. He really shouldn’t be because of his hand but he’s trying to connect “Avery….you know we’re here for you right? Jack also tried to attack Noelle….others…”

Avery shoves her shovel into the ground and rounds on Chris screaming “I don’t want to talk about it!” at the top of her voice.

Chris backs down and steps back from her “I’m sorry….”

Avery starts to cry and crumples into herself “I’m sorry Chris. I’m sorry Noelle…..”

Chris tries to reach out to take his sister’s hand with his cast arm

Avery looks at the cast and then up at Chris “You tried to kill him didn't you? I’m glad he’s dead...and I’m glad it wasn’t you….” Unexpectedly she steps up to her brother and hugs him but the second Chris puts his arms around her to hug back she pushes him away and runs back into the trailer, the door slamming behind her.

Chris holds the space in the air where his sister just was and  chokes up looking at the slammed door as his mom sighs and goes after Avery, slipping in quietly after her.

Noelle watches and listens … and then Avery gets upset and runs away, just as Noelle was standing ready to talk.  Now she walks over to Chris and puts her arms around him.  “It’s just not easy…”  she tells him, trying to hug him.  “He didn’t even … get … that far with me .. and … I’ve had dreams ….”

Chris wraps his arms around Noelle “I know...I mean I don’t but...ah fuck..” He leans his head into her shoulder and just quietly sobs into it. Avery had reached out though...just for a moment. She was in there.


Noelle holds him as he cries.  She isn't upset.  Doesn’t think less of him for crying.  “You feel for her, even if you’ve never felt what she went through physically or psychologically.”  She tries to help.  “And that’s more than most would do, I think.”  she strokes his hair.  “It will take time, I think.  A lot of time.  Just be there for her and be patient with her.  That works for me, and it’ll work for her.”  and it had worked on her.  It hasn’t been long since her attack, but she knows herself well enough to know that if it weren’t for Chris, she’d be a wreck … or worse.


Chris kissed at her cheek though his tears and nods. He sniffs and tries to steer Noelle a bit away from the trailer, walking them back towards the vespa “She can hear every word over there….thank you. I’m sorry it’s like this...for you and for her right now. I’m hoping now that that fucker is dead it’ll get better.” He had been vulnerable with Noelle like he had with no one but his family.


Noelle goes willingly, a bit worried that she may have been overheard.  Standing near the vespa she caresses his cheek.  “If it's like me, then it will.”  she assures him.  “When I found out he was dead … I can’t describe it … but … but he can’t get me now.”  she pauses.  “Not that he could with you in my life.”


Chris kisses her hand that;s caressing his cheek and then takes  it “I’d do it the same way again. And I’m glad you feel relief.. I suppose they can’t charge me for attempted murder if the guy’s already dead by other means..” He ponders and then his phone buzzes in his pocket and he fishes it out and reads “Hmm it’s Mom. She says we’ll try again another day...but Avery sends love…” He smiles at the last and the phone buzzes again “And don’t forget the veggies for Noelle the Vegan.” He laughs “That’s totally Avery.”


Noelle nods.  “And I don’t have to testify.  And neither does Avery.”  she adds.  He reads her the messages and smiles, jogging to the table and getting the veggie bag.  Coming back, she drops it in her basket.  “Come on, handsome.  Let's go home.  I’ll make something for us with these.  Me, you and Blaze?”  she offers and turns to the trailer smiling and waving just in case.

Chris had waved too, just in case. And then enjoyed the breeze on his face as he held Noelle tight while she drove them home. His sister was reaching out again. Jack Rose couldn’t hurt anyone anymore and he felt a bit of the weight of the heavy things lift. Another lift for him was Blaze, his little buddy. The kid had become a real light in his life and he was growing very attached.

Within no time Blaze was in Noelle’s living room with Blaze home playing as they often did on the livingroom floor with little cars. Blaze had the whole carpet mapped out like a little city and the cars had purpose, stories even. Chris loved it. It reminded him of he and his brother playing with trains for hours. He also noticed Blaze included a police car in every game lately and he was more than a little flattered.

Blaze made a siren sound and the police car started chasing the car Chris was holding “Weee ooo weee ooo wee ooo!”

Chris raced his car away “Uh oh the bad guys are going to hide in here buddy…” He snuck his car under a couch cushion and then held his hands up helplessly to Blaze “Where are those guys?”

Blaze looked delighted by the game and drove his police car through the whole pattern on the rug like it was roads. Chris got to his feet “Hey you find them...I’m going to get us a drink…” His phone fell from his pocket as he stood and  he just set it down on the couch as he walked away to Noelle in the kitchen.

Noelle had come home to find Blaze waiting downstairs with his half-sister.  Once they were upstairs and Chris started playing with Blaze, she had started their dinner with the vegetables provided by Avery.  She started by taking a picture of the bag on the table and then in stages as the dinner quickly progressed.  In the living room she heard and caught glimpses of her son playing with Chris and more than once had to wipe away happy tears.

The meal was almost done when Chris came into the kitchen for drinks.  She stopped stirring for a second to turn to him, touch his elbow and smile at him.  For her this was like a dream she never wanted to wake from.  Of course, her insecurities were ever present, but she was smart enough to realize that.  “You could .. spend the … night you know …”  she offered.  Chris had in the past, but not when Blaze was also in the house.  “I don’t think Blaze is going ot let you go tonight ….”

Chris had reached into the fridge for some apple juice she’d seen Noelle give Blaze many times figuring it was a good option when Noelle touched his elbow and spoke. He grinned down at her and then let his eyes drift to Blaze whole was having a long police chase still on the carpet. He hadn’t found the bad guys and Chris suspected he was waiting for him. But the little guy was distracted so he stopped to kiss Noelle eagerly at the thought of spending the night together. After the kiss he pulled back and whispered “Maybe I can help get him to sleep and then we can have some grown up time….we can be quiet….” He gave her a look that suggested he was very much thinking of intimate things.

Blaze looked over and saw Cis and Mommy kissing and put his little car down. He was bored of his game now without Chris. But then he noticed Chris’s phone. He like phones. They must be special since the grown ups looked at them all the time. He took Chris’s phone. The home screen photo was a selfie of Cis and Mommy. “Cis! Mommy!” Blaze squealed happily.

Chris got distracted from his desire and heard Blaze thinking he was calling to them “Hey Buddy!”

Noelle bit her lip and nodded.  “He’d love that.”  she told him, and it was true.  “And so would I.”  she giggles a little bit then hears her son and looks.  “Oh he’s got your phone.”  she sees.  “That’s OK isn’t it?  I mean, he loves my phone and looking at all the pictures.”  which reminded her of her dinner, which she went back to, snapped a picture and started thinking it was almost done.

Chris chuckles “Yeah he can look at my pics. There’s no crime scenes in there or anything because those are work phones. But he won’t get far without my pass code. “Heey Blaze hang on man…” He quickly pours them two glasses of juice and then puts the juice away. He noticed Noelle taking photos of food and smiled as he walked past her and back to Blaze, setting the juice glasses on the coffee table and reaching over Blaze’s hands to put in his pass code. He didn't grab the phone away from the kid, just helped direct him to photos.”There’s Mommy again…...and again…..” Chris looked over at Noelle and winked. He had many many photos of her now.

Blaze saw the swiping motion of Chris’s finger and copied it. He was an old pro already from his mom’s phone too. “At At!!”

Chris was impressed that this little tike could tell he and his brother apart already but Pat was in his FireFighter uniform in the picture Blaze had up “Yes that’s At….” He laughed and then let Blaze flips through some more. Being a toddler Blaze went zinging through months worth in 10 seconds and then landed on some family photos from Christmas of that year. Chris felt a pain in his heart as Blaze landed on a  picture of Avery looking happy and holding out a tin of their famous Scottish shortbread. It was the last happy photo he had of her before everything went to shit for her. After a deep breath he said “That’s my sister...Avery….”

“Sister...Livy…” Blaze connected back.

Chris nodded “Yep, that’s right. Oliva is your sister. My sister is Avery.” Blaze flipped to the next one. It was Chris’s mom in the kitchen with a Santa hat on and a Christmas apron “And that’s MY Mommy…” He explained. And then the next picture was Chris’s dad decorating their Christmas tree wearing a tacky holiday sweater. Chris had to laugh “And my Daddy…” He said without thinking.

Blaze put his finger on Stuart “What’s Daddy?”

Chris froze for a second. Shit. He had messed up. He looked apologetically at Noelle knowing she could hear them. “Hey man, how about some apple juice?” He redirected and handed Blaze his little cup. Blaze thankfully took the distraction and sipped. Chris pocketed his phone again.


Noelle added the last of the vegetables to the mix while eavesdropping on Blaze and Chris in the living room.  Blaze had apparently found a treasure trove of family photos and Chris was explaining the relationship.  At ‘Daddy’, her head nearly whiplashed looking in the direction of the living room and her son.  Blaze was nearly in Chris’s lap looking at the pictures and the scene was so …. father/son …. That Noelle could only bite her lip and stare at them.  Then she smiles at Chris as if to tell him it was alright.  After all … it was Chris's father.  But Blaze didn’t have much frame of reference as to what a father was.  Not at home, anyway.  She clears her throat and pulls out dishes.  “Boys!  Dinner!”  she calls, as she begins dishing out the vegetable stew.  She stops to place and stir an ice cube into Blaze's boxl to knock the temperature down to a safe level for a little mouth.


Chris loved the stew and happily ate with Noelle, feeling a little guilty for her doing all the cooking again. His hand was getting better by the day so soon they could cook together and he wouldn’t feel like such a 1950s throwback. He knew she loved to cook, but he didn’t want her to feel like she had to do it all. The evening moved to the couch where Blaze got to pick on little kid’s show before storytime. Tonight Blaze looked at Chris and wanted him to pick. Chris was at a loss. What could he pick that Blaze would like? He was out of touch with kids TV shows. He scrolled through Netflix in the kids section and then he got really excited “Blaze, do you like trains?”

Blaze looked thoughtful and then nodded. Chris put on an old childhood favourite of his and Pat’s; Thomas the Tank Engine. Blaze was immediately glued to it. So was Chris. Their heads tilted and turned the same way watching the little cheeky engine on his adventures.


Nolle washed dishes a bit

 After dinner.  She would be glad when Chris’s hand was better and he could help.  Much as she loved it, it was a tad … domestic.  Then again, as she listened to the males in the living room, that wasn’t always a bad thing.  While they looked for something to watch, Noelle smiled as Chris lucked out on Thomas the Tank Engine.  Blaze was new to Netflix, as there was no such thing during the Fog.  But the library had old videotapes and computer movie files that Zeno would show the little kids.  It was a lifesaver, and as she came back and watched Chris with Blaze ..  she had to admit.  Domestic or not .. it was a beautiful sight to her eyes.  She sat on the couch a bit with them to watch and enjoy this feeling of family.



Chris had to promise Blaze they’d watch more Thomas as he was a little cranky about show time being over. He looked at Noelle for guidance. Maybe this was normal? Maybe the kid was just tired? It was bedtime after all. Chris promised to read to Blaze and was instantly a hero again. He carried Blaze on his shoulders to the bathroom where He handed him off to Noelle for toothbrushing and pajamas and then reconnected with the little guy in his room where Blaze brought him an enormous pile of little board books. “We’re gonna read all these?” Chris asked laughing.

“All of em.” Blaze said with determination and he crawled under his covers beside Chris.

Chris was half sitting half lying, propped up on his elbow. “Ok but you have to turn the pages for me….” His cast still made some things a temporary challenge. Blaze agreed and they began. Chris’s voice got softer and softer as he went and finally there were long pauses between words and then just silence. Chris and Blaze were both fast asleep in the toddler bed of Blaze’s with Chris sort of curled around the little guy while Blaze was fully snuggled into Chris’s chest. A board book dangled from Chris’s good hand, still open and unfinished.


Noelle thought Chris quite clever for negotiating with her son.  Then they brushed teeth and got ready for bed.  She saw the pile of board books and winked at Chris while Blaze’s back had been turned.  He would tuck Blaze in .. and then come to bed himself.  She moved to her bedroom and got out of her clothes and into her new nightgown; a tshirt that was long on Chris that she swam in.  Then she got into bed and read a little bit on her own.  But after a bit, she realized that Chris had not come to bed.  The apartment, as a matter of fact, was silent.

Getting out of bed, Noelle walked quietly to her son's room, where she saw that both of them were asleep.  Fighting tears, she went back to get  her charging phone.  No wway was she not getting a picture of this for posterity.  Picture snapped, she went to gently wake Chris and extricate him from Blaze.  Then more domestic bliss as Chris came to bed and, like veteran parents, they just slept .. too worn out from the day for any hanky panky.