by A. C. Katt
The cakes were laid out on the counter. “We’re going to have leftovers for the men.”
“Not me, my leftovers go to Mrs. Mills and Aubrey’s family.” Johnny popped a scone into his mouth.
“What is wrong with Aubrey’s grandson?” Brian asked as he sliced the banana bread.
“Henry has cystic fibrous. I’m afraid Henry doesn’t have very long. Aubrey and Ellen will be devastated.” Johnny shivered just thinking about it.
“Why don’t you bring him over to St. Mary’s?” Greg told him. “The autoimmune disease lab is doing groundbreaking work. A wing dedicated to research and development and treatment of autoimmune diseases would be welcome. We have many patients with diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and other rarer autoimmune diseases. A new research and development lab is planned for when we get the funding. But we already have the best doctors available in this area even if we don’t have state-of-the-art labs yet.” Greg extolled Cisco’s vision. “Gary and Bear are also working on an orthopedic and sports medicine wing.”
“I’ll call Cisco about donating for an autoimmune center,” Johnny said thoughtfully.
“Change of subject,” said Jim. “What are we going to do about Caden and the Valentine’s Day dance?” Jim took a sip of tea, lavender and black tea this time compliments of Jamie.
“I already told him that I’m going stag.” Johnny smiled remembering Caden stomping down off the porch.
“He’s coming around. Don’t close off your options.” Brian ate another scone.
§ § §
Caden shouted at Bull, “No, I’ve never had a relationship, only fuck buddies. You remember DADT? Afterwards I was too busy ducking bullets to find someone. Johnny is the first person besides Danny that I’ve ever loved.”
“Take it easy, Bull was only trying to help. You do need to apologize. Ask him out on a date. If you don’t have his phone number, get if from your buddies who installed the security. They must have it. The rub is we can’t give it to you.” Bear took a sip of his coffee.
Caden jumped up. “Where are you going?” Reed asked.
“I’m going up to my office to call Ron and then hopefully, Johnny.”
§ § §
“Nguyen Residence, this is Mrs. Mills.”
“Is Johnny in?” Caden asked, afraid she’d want his name.
“I’ll get him.” He didn’t know whether to kiss her for putting him through or scold her for not screening the call.
“Hello, this is Johnny. If this is you, Harvey, stop bullying me. I’m not coming back to work, period.”
“Eh…this is Caden.” He held a tight grip on the phone.
“I don’t know what’s worse, Harvey or you. What do you want?”
“About Friday, the dance…” Caden was stuttering, he never stuttered.
“I already told you I was going stag.”
“I wanted to talk to you before the dance…” Caden rubbed his eyes.
“What about? You’re talking to me now,” Johnny said stiffly. “How did you get this number? Did the club give it to you because if they did there’s going to be trouble.”
“No, calm down. I got it from the security company.” Caden was glad he didn’t get his friends in trouble.
“So…” Johnny said.
“Will you meet me for coffee? Any place you choose would be fine.” Caden’s palms began to sweat.
“What can you say over coffee that you can’t say right now?” Johnny remained recalcitrant.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to say it in person. I tried to say it with the candy and the flowers. I don’t know what else to do. Please agree to see me again.” Caden held his breath.
“You hurt me. I can’t do that again.”
“I promise I won’t hurt you, please.” Caden wasn’t above begging at this point.
“You can’t promise me that, no one can.”
“I can sure as hell try, just give me one more chance, I beg you. I promise I’ll treat you right. I’ve never broken a promise.” Caden’s eyes were tearing up.
“You broke one to me. You told me you loved me, then you left without trying to work it out. Why should I believe you now?”
“I swear on my brother’s life I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you.” Caden couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“I’ll think about it. I’ll let you know. But don’t count on it. I’m still… well I’m still angry.”
“You have every right to be angry. I did a terrible thing. Please consider my apology. I have something to give you.” Caden thought of the gold dog tags waiting on his dresser.
“Not more candy or flowers…”
“No, something else. But you’ll have to wait until you see me.” Caden thought curiosity might get him what begging couldn’t.
“Maybe I’ll see you at the dance. But I’m not going with you. I’ll be with the sub club, fortunately a Master isn’t required for their friendship, and my money doesn’t bother them.”
Caden took the dig with good grace because he deserved it. Johnny gave him a chance, that was all he needed.
“I’ll be there, alone, waiting for you,” Caden told him, heart in his hand.
“We’ll see.”
§ § §
Tuesday Morning
The phone rang at nine. Johnny answered it bleary eyed.
“Johnny, Jim. You’ve got him frothing at the mouth.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night. He called yesterday and apologized, begged me for another chance. I told him I’d let him know. I don’t know how I feel. I should guard my heart and move on and find someone else, but whenever I make up my mind to do that, I start to cry. I’ve never been the weepy sort. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Johnny put the phone on his shoulder and slipped on a pair of sweats. “Hold on a minute.” He put his sweatshirt on. “I’m back.” He walked downstairs to the kitchen.
“What’s wrong with you is you love him and he’s hurt you and made you afraid. At least he didn’t leave you for someone else. That’s what Reed did to me.”
“And you’re still with him?” Johnny put on a pot of water and took out the small teapot he bought for himself.
“He apologized and meant it. He started to see Greg. He went to Greg five days a week for a long time to get his head screwed on straight. Caden is seeing Greg now.”
“Caden’s been seeing Greg?” Johnny didn’t believe he’d go that far without even looking for an angle by telling him.
“Yeah, two times a week. Greg’s going to have more money than Cisco if we keep up with the level of drama we’ve had here.”
“I know what happened to Jamie and even to Danny and Greg. How could they forgive them?” Johnny warmed his pot and then spooned in the tea. His hands were shaking with emotion.
“They had to forgive them, just like I had to forgive Reed. We love them.”
Johnny poured the water into the pot. The aroma soothed him. Mrs. Mills had made banana bread; maybe he’d have some, he hadn’t eaten much lately and his clothes were getting loose.
“I have to think. I need to do what’s best not only for me, but for Mrs. Mills, Aubrey and the company plus all the people who work there. Harvey’s bugging me to move the customer service operation overseas. I won’t do it. But the other board members are pressuring me. There’s a lot going on.” Johnny sighed.
“See, you need him. He could tame that crowd.”
Johnny faltered. “I’ll think about it tonight and have an answer for you tomorrow. That’s the best I can do.”
“That’s all he can ask. Remember no matter what happens, we love you. You’re one of us now. We all help each other. Brian is still looking for a cat for you.”
Johnny laughed. “I can see it now, Brian dragging poor Junior to every shelter in three counties to find the right cat. Don’t let him get me a dog.” Johnny poured the tea into his cup.
“Don’t worry. Mrs. Mills looks to
be a nice lady. She doesn’t need a Pest-o. Although he is progressing now that Bear’s taken over.”
“What, no more shitting in shoes?” Johnny giggled and took a small sip of the hot tea.
“No, he even comes when he’s called. Still chewing shoes though, no matter how many chew toys he gets, he keeps going after Bear’s Lobb shoes. Bear had to order four pair.”
“Why does Bear need four pair of Lobb shoes?” Johnny cut himself a piece of banana bread.
“You know how Bear is, to dress in his usual sartorial splendor he feels the need for brown, grey, cordovan and black shoes to go with his suits. Pest-o hasn’t gotten to the navy or the beige yet. Bear might have to wear store bought until Lobb can finish the others.” Jim giggled. “But the week is still young.”
“You’re bad, Jim.” Johnny took a bite of bread.
“I know, but that’s me, take it or leave it.”
“You’re my friend. You’re funny, loyal and smart. I’ll take all of you. Thank you for being there for me.”
“I’ve got to get back to work.” Jim sighed. “I’ve got problems with a waiter and I think I’m going to have to let him go.”
“If there’s anything I can do…”
“No, it’s all part of the job.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Johnny woke up in the library chair. It was a bit chilly so he decided to build a fire. He trudged outside and picked up a number of split logs and some tinder and brought it into the house. He used some old newspaper and started a fire.
It must have been below zero outside. The old place was very drafty. He was going to have to get a contractor to come in this spring no matter who he had to beg to help keep him from getting ripped off. Johnny knew nothing about construction. If it wasn’t for Harvey, the new offices would have cost triple the price they paid. He went upstairs and got another sweater and some socks. He went over to the thermostat and pushed it up a notch. He took out his slippers from the shoe rack and put them on over the socks.
He came back downstairs and sat down with a book on the brown leather chair, putting his feet on the ottoman he’d dragged over from the other side of the room. No matter how many times he asked, Mrs. Mills kept putting things back where his mother and father kept them, and Johnny had to go and get the ottoman every time he wanted to put his feet up.
The fire was burning high in the grate and warming the room. He sat back down in his chair and promptly fell asleep. He woke up to the smell of smoke and the new alarm blaring. He started to cough; he couldn’t see so he dropped to the floor and crawled. He wanted to get to the kitchen so he could go out the door and warn Aubrey and Mrs. Mills.
He had to make sure they were safe and then make it out of the house so that he could tell Caden he loved him. He didn’t make it past the kitchen.
§ § §
Caden’s phone rang at three in the morning. Who could be calling me at this time of night? If it’s one of those assholes from my old unit playing a practical joke there will be hell to pay in the morning.
Caden got out of bed and by the time he got to the phone it stopped ringing. Then his cell phone started to ring. He ran for it. He remembered leaving it on the kitchen counter. He picked it up, “Hello, this is Caden Donovan.”
“Mr. Donovan, this is Officer Richards from the Jackson Police. The alarm company listed you as the emergency contact for M. John Nguyen.”
Caden panicked. “What’s wrong with Johnny?”
“There was a fire early this morning. It started in the chimney. We got him out of the house, but we had to take him to St. Mary’s.”
“I’m on my way.” He opened both the inside and the outside doors to the garage and remote started the car. Caden went looking for his wallet. He threw a pair of sweats over his sleep pants and a sweatshirt over his Henley. He locked up the house and turned on the alarm.
On the way to the hospital he called Gary. “Gary, Caden. There was a fire at Johnny’s. He’s on his way to St. Mary’s. I’m in the car heading to the hospital.”
“I’ll call the others. We’ll be there as soon as we can.” Gary hung up.
Caden didn’t slow down on the icy roads. He spun out twice but thanks to his army training he was able to quickly regain control of the car. He made it to St. Mary’s in less than twenty minutes.
When he arrived the scene was chaotic. Mrs. Mills was crying, along with Aubrey and a woman he hadn’t met who was holding an adolescent boy.
Cisco ran by him. He grabbed Cisco, “How is Johnny? What happened?”
Bear and Brian came in the door. Brian came over to him immediately. “It was a fire in the chimney. I told him to get the chimney cleaned. He must have forgotten with all the drama.”
“How do you know?” Caden asked, as if Brian could have prevented the fire.
Bear snapped. “Brian has a bit of pre cog. He told Johnny to get the chimneys cleaned. He must have forgotten.”
Caden turned to Cisco. “How is he?”
“Second degree burns on the neck and torso, suffering from smoke inhalation. They got him out in time. They’re treating him now.”
“Can I see him?” Caden was jumping out of his skin. He had to beg people for what should have been his right if he hadn’t thrown it away.
“He’s resting, but I’ll tell Doctor McKenzie he should allow you in to see Johnny. He’s on oxygen and his neck took the worst of it. Talk to the doctor. There he is now.”
Caden cornered Doctor McKenzie, “I’m Caden Donovan, Johnny’s boyfriend. How bad is it?”
“As Cisco told you, he had second degree burns on his neck and torso bordering on third. I don’t think we need skin grafts but his wounds need to be dressed and cleaned twice a day. This will be very painful and he will resist you. Do not burst the blisters. That would leave him open to infection. We may have to keep him here a week because he was burned in particularly delicate areas. I want to get a plastic surgeon in to look at his neck. Why kind of insurance does he have?”
“He owns Goddamn Adroit Systems, he’s good for it,” Caden shouted. Cisco immediately came over to Caden. “They’re asking me about his insurance…”
“I’ll take care of it. You go in to see him, he’s awake.”
Caden walked down the hall and tapped lightly on the door of the room. “Johnny?”
“Caden…I fucked up again. I forgot to get the chimneys cleaned after Brian told me to get it done and it was so cold I lit the fireplace. The house burned to the ground.” Tears dripped inelegantly down his cheeks and his nose was running. “My neck hurts really bad. Are Mrs. Mills and Aubrey and his family okay?”
“They’re fine. Don’t worry about the house. I’ll find out from Aubrey who insured you and as soon as you can leave the hospital, we’ll start building. Mrs. Mills house and Aubrey’s houses are fine. Maybe, if you want…” Caden was at a loss for words. He pushed them out. “You can stay with me until the house is livable again.”
“Can I stay with you? Mrs. Mills can’t take care of me. The stairs are too much for her now with her arthritis.”
He doesn’t understand what they told him about the house. There are no stairs left to climb. Everything is gone.“Baby, they’ve given you pain medication. You’re not making too much sense. Don’t you worry about anything. I’ll take care of everything that needs to be done. I love you. Please believe that.”
“I love you too. Can I have my dog tags back? The St. Jude necklace is in the pocket of my pants. I always had it with me. I was angry, but I didn’t give up on us.”
“I didn’t either, baby. I didn’t either.”
Johnny’s golden skin stood out in stark contrast to the crisp white sheets. There was a bandage as large as his two fists on Johnny’s neck and Caden lifted the sheets to see two more on his torso. The one on his neck worried Caden the most. It was located in the crease and he knew from experience it would be painful.
Cisco stood at the door. “Could you call in a burn specialist and a plasti
c surgeon, the best ones you know, to take care of him?”
“Already done.”
“How long will he be out of it?” Caden asked.
“They’re going to be giving him pain meds and antibiotics to prevent infection. They have to clean and change the dressing twice a day. He’ll be here at least a week, not counting any procedures the burn specialist and the plastic surgeon may require.” Cisco stepped into the room.“What are you going to do about the house?” Cisco checked the monitors and the charts and the IV lines.
“Find the original plans and get people to rebuild it. He loved that house. I’ll ask if he wants any changes but I don’t think he will.” Caden looked over to the bed.
“I wasn’t sleeping, I just closed my eyes. Caden, am I really yours now? If I am this might have been worth it.” Johnny said in a sleepy voice.
“You’re mine now and there’s no going back. Go to sleep, baby. I’ve put the buzzer in your hand for the nurse if you’re in pain.” Caden looked out the glass partition and saw Jim, Reed, Bull, Jamie, Gary and Danny. Brian and Bear were standing near Cisco and Greg in the doorway.
“We won’t leave him alone. One of us will always be here. You need to go and see about Mrs. Mills and Aubrey’s family.”
Caden left the room and went out to the waiting room. He saw Mrs. Mills. “He’s still awake if you want to spend some time with him. The guys and I will make sure he’s never alone. He’ll want to know, were your houses affected?”
“A little bit of a smoke smell. They were far enough away from the main house so nothing burned.” Mrs. Mills sniffed at him.
“Please, I love him and I won’t hurt him again. I will do my best to help all of you. You have to let me. Don’t try to clean anything. We’ll get in some fire and smoke cleaners, let them do their job. I’ll meet with Aubrey in the morning, he’s sure to know the insurance provider. It’s probably the same one that insures the cars. Go in and see him and I’ll send Jim home with you. You know Jim.”
Mrs. Mills mumbled, “Scones.”
“Yes, that’s Jim. You’re tired and upset. Go see him now so that Jim can take you home and assess the damage.” The woman who guarded Johnny’s door seemed to be befuddled.
