Food for the Soul

by Ceri Grenelle

  HARPER’S HAIR FELT soft yet wiry against Theo’s bare arm. He could feel her small breaths as she exhaled or spoke. They chatted for a while longer, picking at each other’s food. Harper in particular. Theo knew she had to be hungrier for more than she’d ordered, and he was concerned she wasn’t eating enough. Aside from the bruise on her face, she looked drawn and tired. She may have slept a lot in the hospital, but she wasn’t rested. He’d make sure she slept well in the comfort of his apartment that night.

  “Theo.”

  He looked up as Flynn spoke.

  “It’s your turn. We’ve each told a tale of woe. What’s yours?”

  “I don’t fit with this pack. I don’t have a tale of woe.”

  “Aside from your parents pressuring you to become a historian?”

  “Yes, aside from that horrific upbringing. No, jokes aside, they were good parents. They loved me and treated me right.”

  “Are they…”

  “They passed a few years ago. Died in a plane crash on their way to their second honeymoon.”

  “Oh, Theo. I’m sorry.” Harper nuzzled into his arm, and he lifted it to tug her in close. She rested her hand on his chest, and under the table, a foot came next to his and began to rub. It was too large to be Harper’s.

  “Would you tell us about them?” Flynn asked, his handsome face full of compassion.

  Theo had an urge to move over in the booth, allowing all three of them to cuddle together on one bench. He thought it might feel nice to have their heat surrounding him.

  Theo kissed Harper on her forehead and told them the story of how his parents met, how they raised him to work for everything he had. He was never privileged in the way people thought of it today. He was never given anything for nothing. There was always a test or a puzzle to solve in order to receive a reward.

  “They were harsh taskmasters. School and work, those were things they prized. We weren’t poor, but we sure as hell weren’t rich. When I finally worked my way through school and finished my degree, passed all the damn tests, I was able to give back. I bought them a house in a good area, got them out of this city. They were happy, and that’s all I needed.”

  “Any siblings?”

  “No, I’m an only child.”

  “All their hopes and dreams rested on you?” Flynn asked. “Sounds like a heavy burden to bear.”

  “It was a lot of work, but if they hadn’t pushed, I never would have become a doctor and then met both of you.” It was more than worth it, including the rough patches.

  “What about you? Any siblings?” Theo asked, his curiosity about Harper still unfed, no matter how much he learned.

  “I have siblings. My family moved away from here about ten years ago after I returned home.”

  “Do you talk?”

  “Sort of. It’s not exactly easy. They blame me for a lot of the problems in the family. There is tension between my maternal grandmother and parents.” She sighed and played with the tips of her fingers nervously. “It’s easier for them if I stay away.”

  “Is the argument about you?”

  “It’s about a lot of things, but yes, mostly about me.” She yawned, and Theo glanced at the large decorative clock on the wall over the main entrance. It was past eleven, and Harper looked about ready to pass out. It was hard to remember that she’d been injured recently, as, aside from the bruise on her face, her vivacious nature and outspoken manner was strong in its deception. She could fool anyone into thinking she was fine and could run a marathon. Had she always lived her life in such a way, running and racing with no thought for her well-being?

  “I think that’s our cue to go.”

  Flynn grinned at Theo, both their thoughts trained on the beautiful woman willing to put up with the both of them. Flynn paid the bill, saying this was their first date and he refused to be denied in the matter. Theo let him do what he want, especially when he stood to walk toward the cash register, his body moving with a strength that was too sensual for words.

  “Yeah…he’s got a great ass,” Harper mumbled.

  Theo thought he should have been embarrassed, but Harper was staring at Flynn’s ass as well. “Did you look at his ass before he rescued you?”

  “Yes, but I make it a habit not to date my volunteers. It was hard to avoid with him, though.”

  “How did you do it?”

  “Kept my distance. Kept him busy whenever he came in.”

  “Can I volunteer sometime?”

  “Sure. Won’t be anything to volunteer for soon, though. Better get your hours in while you can.”

  He brushed a strand of hair out of her face, the bruise on her skin beginning to turn a sickly greenish purple. “Are you okay coming home with me?”

  “Yes. My only concern is how I’m gonna keep my hands off you.”

  * * * *

  After dinner, Flynn said good night to Harper and Theo with a simple kiss on the lips. Theo leaned into it and chuckled afterward when Flynn told him to watch out for their girl. Harper didn’t know what to think about the ownership in that sentence, but as Theo placed his comforting arm around her, guiding her to his car, she decided to get angry about it some other time.

  The drive was short and mostly quiet. Theo listened to talk radio, and a repeat episode of This American Life was playing. They listened to an improbable story about the joy of love at first sight and the pain of losing the loved one as quickly. It was beautiful and sad and took Harper away from herself for the length of the journey.

  They pulled into a nice high rise with a doorman, and Theo had his own parking spot in the underground garage. They held hands as they made their way up to his tenth-floor, three-bedroom apartment, and she couldn’t help but feel slightly out of her element.

  His home was nice, well cared for. She lived in a tiny room above a soup kitchen. These feelings of separation were often what spurred her to anger as a teenager. The unwelcome thoughts didn’t make her want to run away anymore, but they didn’t put her at ease in what was already an awkward situation.

  “Don’t worry. I had my butler lock all my valuables up before you came because I know you thug types have a compulsive need to steal shit.” Theo was leaning against his kitchen island, black marble over wood so dark it nearly blended with his skin. The bastard actually seemed amused by her obvious discomfort.

  “We thugs have our ways of getting through locked doors,” she said, only half joking.

  “C’mon, tough girl.” He took her hand. “Let me give you a quick tour.”

  The layout was simple, the colors on the wall bland, but it was the rich furnishings and history that began to put her at ease, hints of who Theo was. Bookcases filled with history books that could only have belonged to his parents. They were old yet placed in their spots with such care, each item could have been a shrine to his lost mother and father.

  There were pictures of him and his parents traveling to Europe, pictures of Theo earning his degree and becoming a doctor. Pictures of simple horizons and nature shots so real she felt like she was there on the beach or in a meadow. But throughout the entire apartment, Harper didn’t see one picture of Theo with anyone other than his parents. No friends or cousins. Hell, the only companion in his graduation picture was a tall, willowy tree.

  If Theo’s parents were dead, who did he have in his life now?

  “This is where you’ll be sleeping.” Theo showed her to a furnished, plain guest room. The bed had one pillow. It was for show like he knew no one would ever need to sleep on the bed because he never had visitors.

  She walked into the stark room and sat on the bed. It had probably never been slept in.

  “What? No attempt to talk me into your bed?”

  “If I wanted you in my bed, there wouldn’t be any talking.”

  “You’d toss me over your shoulder and carry me to your room?”

  “No, I would kiss you, and then you’d come with me.”

  Harper couldn’t help it; she burst out laughing.
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br />   “Hey, I’d appreciate it if you took my seduction attempts seriously.”

  She flopped back onto the bed, her legs dangling over the edge, her laughter dwindling. “Can I have some towels for a shower?”

  “Sure, hot stuff.”

  She snorted as he left the room for a moment.

  Harper sat up, then tucked her legs under her butt. She smiled as Theo walked in, the towels he’d promised in hand.

  “Here you go.” He placed them on a small chair near the closet, then took a few steps back toward the door. All the playfulness from earlier evaporated. “Well…”

  Harper patted the bed, working past her initial discomfort with her surroundings. “Will you sit with me for a bit?”

  “I don’t think that is such a good idea.”

  “Why not?”

  Theo laughed, shaking his finger at her. “Don’t act all coy, sayin’ why not with your head tilted and your eyes all big like that. You know exactly why not.”

  “Would you feel guilty if we did something together and Flynn wasn’t here with us?”

  Theo looked stricken, as if he hadn’t known the reason he kept himself restrained around her.

  She patted the bed again. “Please sit.”

  He came with ease this time, the shock having washed away the awkwardness. They both leaned back against the headboard, and then Theo opened his arm and invited Harper to lie against his chest. She came willingly and with a smile.

  “How weirded out by all of this are you?” she asked.

  “I’m weirded out that I’m not more weirded out.”

  She sat up quickly, excited by his answer. “I know! It all feels natural, being with the two of you together.”

  He gave her a crooked smile. “Well, we haven’t been together yet. Yes, I said yet because I’m not going to lie to myself and pretend I’m not attracted to both of you. I can’t tell you what I’ll feel when we are together physically, but I’m not gonna stop until I know.” He squeezed her closer, the gesture full of affection. “I need to know.”

  She sighed into his skin, relishing the sensation of having a hard and safe body surrounding her. For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t alone in a bed in a cold and drafty building. She was warm. It felt as though she was coming off the streets for the first time all over again.

  “What’s wrong?” Theo asked after a moment.

  “I just… I’m happy.”

  “Me too.” He kissed her forehead. “What do you think?”

  “About what?”

  “Do you think Flynn will be annoyed if we fool around a bit?”

  “I think I want to wait until we’re together for the first time. Then I don’t think it will matter much. But we kissed each other for the first time when we were together. I want it to be like that during the sex.”

  “The sex. You make it sound so clinical.”

  “Sorry. I meant that part where Flynn fucks me senseless while you stand over me and shove your hard cock into his mouth and he sucks you with those sweet lips of his. We fuck each other all night, ending at sunrise with both your cocks inside me, coming in me.” She leaned up and whispered into his ear. “Making me scream your names.”

  Theo pushed her off and gently moved away from the bed. His pants were tented. “And with that, good night.”

  “Didn’t you want to hear the rest of my clinical description of our future sex?”

  The last thing she heard before his door closed was a loud and anguished groan.

  Chapter Five

  “You spoil him,” Flynn said as he came down the stairs and into the living room. Marcie had tucked Ben in while he was out, but not before feeding him pizza, ice cream, and chocolate cake.

  “What are cool aunts for if not to spoil their nephews, then, to make them horrors for their brothers to handle?” She smiled unrepentantly, her cloudlike blonde hair floating about her face. Marcie sat sprawled on the large couch, the remote control in her hand as she used it to mindlessly flick through the various late-night television shows. After a few moments, she turned it off and flung the remote onto the coffee table.

  “Will you be careful?” Flynn asked in annoyance, calculating how much it would cost to get any scratches out of the beautiful mahogany wood. “You’re gonna pay for that—”

  “Stop bitching. I’ll make you a new one.” She tucked her legs underneath her butt and turned toward Flynn in a way he’d come to learn meant she was about to get nosy. “How’d your date go?”

  Flynn crossed his arms, challenging her. “Why do you think I was on a date?”

  “Because the only reasons you ever needed me to come over and watch Ben after work is when there is some security crisis with a client or you’re working out.” She gestured to his whole person. “You’re not all sweaty, and instead of coming home and complaining about work issues, you’re as content as Ben was after he had his first lick of ice cream.” She closed her eyes and placed her hands together, as if to pray. “Please, God, please tell me my brother has found someone who isn’t a shithead or a ninny.”

  Flynn laughed. He couldn’t help it. Ever since Marcie had come back into his life, she’d been providing much-needed entertainment in the form of pure comic relief. It had been wonderful to have Ben, but some other facets of his family life had been weighing him down to the point of near depression. Staying in touch with her through phone calls and letters had never been enough. Now it felt like they were brother and sister.

  “They are neither shitheads nor ninnies”

  “They?” She turned to him slowly, a scandalized expression on her face.

  “You knew I was bi.”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t know you was a playa.” She lifted her hand for a high five, stretching out the word playa like it was a chant.

  “Stop, you idiot.” He gave her the high five, though. “They know about each other. I’m not like that.”

  Marcie shrugged. “Hate the sin, love the sinner, bro. How do they feel about you dating both of them?”

  “We’re dating each other, I think.” Flynn told her about how he knew and met Harper and Theo, possibly getting into too much detail on how he felt about both of them. But he couldn’t help it. He got carried away.

  “Theo is horrifically smart, and Harper has overcome a lifetime of adversity. She’s the bravest person I’ve ever met.”

  “Harper… Isn’t that the lady who runs the soup kitchen you volunteer at?”

  “Yeah, she’s the best part about that area of the city.”

  “What area?”

  Flynn and Marcie both turned to see their father walking from the direction of the kitchen. He wore his checkered bowling shirt and dark jeans—sure signs he’d been out with his conservative friends for the night. Flynn decided to cut his and Marcie’s discussion short, as his dad was never in a forgiving mood after listening to right-wing rhetoric all night.

  “Ah, you know, skid row, hell’s kitchen, the devil’s purse. Whatever the media is calling it these days.” Marcie, on the other hand, liked to provoke a fight whenever she was over.

  “Ah.” His dad’s low voice echoed across the large living room. “They should evict all those no-goods and bulldoze the area. It would be better served as a dump than what it is now.”

  “Mitchell.” Marcie refused to call him Dad. “Those are human beings you’re talking about.”

  “What have they ever done to help society?” He chuckled meanly. “Except to kill each other off in their gang wars.”

  Marcie stood, her cheeks tinged with red in response to their father’s callous attitude toward the poor. “That’s disgusting. Hey, I have an idea!” She lifted her finger as if a light bulb had appeared, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “How about we section off an area of the city, giving it to them, but we put up fences so they can’t touch our pretty and safe bubble. Then, as a precaution—in case one of them gets out—we can sew little symbols onto their clothes or give them tattoos separating the good from the bad.
Does that sound like a plan, Mitchell?”

  Dad remained silent during her tirade. He stood there with his arms crossed, staring Marcie down as if she were a stranger.

  “And better yet, if it gets to be too much or they breed too quickly, we can exterminate them. Do you like that plan, Flynn? I think Mitchell probably likes that plan. Don’t you, Mitchell?”

  Mitchell didn’t defend himself. He didn’t claim that he wasn’t a racist, that exterminating a large group of people because they were different or inconvenient was a deplorable idea. All he said was, “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

  Marcie shook her head in disgust, then turned to Flynn. “I don’t know how you can keep him here.” She kissed Flynn on his cheek and whispered, “Love you, bro. I want to hear more about your Harper and Theo,” before grabbing her stuff and running out the door without a second glance at their father.

  “Why do you have to provoke her?” Flynn asked Mitchell. “You know she’s gonna go on a rant.”

  “I don’t give a rat’s ass what she thinks.” The old man turned to leave.

  “You should,” Flynn called after him, as angry as Marcie had been. “She’s your daughter. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

  His father didn’t answer but continued walking away. He was an old, conservative Christian who had no tolerance for anyone who was different from him. Mitchell knew of Flynn’s proclivities, but they never spoke about it. If Flynn was ever going to have a fulfilling relationship with Harper and Theo, he would have to bring them over to meet Mitchell. How would they react to a racist bigot? What would Mitchell say to them? What’s more, how would Flynn react to hearing his father bad-mouth two people he had a feeling would become important in his life?

  In the end, it didn’t matter, because unless he wanted to throw his father out of the house, he couldn’t bring them to a house filled with that much hate and resentment.

  Chapter Six

  Compared to where she’d been emotionally a few days ago, Harper was now on cloud nine. Theo had been the perfect gentleman. His playful words were the last she’d heard from him until early the next day. It was five in the morning when he knocked on her door with a steaming cup of light and sweet coffee and an invitation to stay in his apartment and sleep the day away if she wished. The offer was tempting, but she wanted desperately to get back to the kitchen and open for the day. Her time helping the community might be limited, but she would do what she could before the banks posted that eviction notice on the door.