We’d grown up living with our grandparents. They gave him an ultimatum; he had to get a job, get into a community college, or get out. I don’t blame them, they’d been through a lot with him, with both of us. Anyway, he started working at the local movie theatre. And it was good at first. But after work they’d all go out, and eventually, he started showing up late and missing shifts altogether. He got fired and was kicked out of our home. He moved to the city to stay with me, but it wasn’t long before he would go missing for weeks and then months on end. He’d come back now and then, usually with that he was going to get well, then disappear again. I’ve tried everything. But nothing’s worked. So now, I just hope. Hope that I never get a call to tell me he’s gone for good.”
I don’t look at Kaine the entire time I tell him about Gabriel. I don’t want to see the judgement on his face, to see him think less of me for letting this happen to my own family member. I stare out the car window, where he led me so we could talk and pick at my nails. But I know, the entire time, he’s watching me.
“So, how did you find him?” Kaine asks when he realizes I’ve come to the end of my story.
“He called me this morning, said he needed help. Gave me the address and then, I guess, just passed out.”
“You say you lived with your grandparents?”
“Yeah, we were raised by our mother until Gabriel was about 4. She died from complications with her hysterectomy when she was 29 years old. We don’t know anything about our father. Her parents took us in after that. They were great, are great. This isn’t their fault. They did the best they could, knew how to do.”
“And now?”
I shrug. “The truth is, I’ve been here before, too many times. He tries, I know he does but nothing has ever really stuck. We can’t afford much. Sometimes I wonder if a proper rehab stint would help, but it’s out of our capabilities.”
He doesn’t say anything. He must be trying to think of a way to extract himself from this mess. As if me invading his privacy last night wasn’t enough. Now he’s seen me and Gabriel like this, it’s the last he’s every going to want to do with me. I don’t even know what he’s doing here or how or why. But having a moment to talk to someone just now, it’s given me the strength to get through the next few days with Gabriel, and it seems, again, I owe him.
“So, thanks for the chat, but I guess you better go now.” I push on the car door, but he reaches across me and pulls it shut again.
“Just… just stay here. Just, don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” I call after him, but he’s already out of the car and running back towards the building.
I start to push on the door again but this time his driver speaks up. “Ma’am. I suggest you do what he says. Please.”
It surprises me so much that I obey.
I lean forward staring in the direction he went in, not knowing what to expect.
It’s not even a minute later when I see Kaine emerge from the building, and he’s not alone. In his arms, he’s carrying my brother. Gabriel’s body is limp, his eyes are closed, but he’s there. In Kaine’s arms, where I’ve been before.
The driver quickly jumps out of the car and opens the back door for his boss.
Kaine ducks under the door frame and lays Gabriel on the seat next to me, making sure his limbs are tucked in before closing the door and climbing into the front seat.
“Take us home, please, Henry.”
“Right away, sir.”
HIM
She’s quiet the entire ride back to my apartment. The only sounds from the back of the car are Gabriel’s occasional moans, and her softly comforting him, patting his arm and pulling my jacket up over his shivering body. Her face is as pale as it was this morning outside her office; her eyes are dark now, filled with worry. I don’t know what she thought was going to happen, but if there’s even the slightest thing I can do to relieve her burdens, I’m going to do it.
That revelation isn’t as surprising to me as I thought it would be.
“Drive around the back, Henry,” I whisper to my driver when we’re a block away, and his head nods.
I’ve called in advance to let the apartment building manager know that I’m going to need a private elevator waiting for me when we get there. Everything is ready just as I have requested, including my doctor, waiting in the apartment’s living room when we arrive upstairs.
“Henry, can you please take Mr. Sinclair into the guest bedroom? We’ll be there in just a second.”
I gesture for the doctor to follow Henry and Gabriel, and I gently press against Jade’s arm, keeping her back.
“Let the doctor examine him. Then you can be with him as much as you like,” I say gently. She nods and wanders over to the couch, clutching her bag against her chest.
I pour a glass of water and bring it over to her, sitting down on the couch beside her. She takes a sip of the water before I take it from her, placing it gently on the coffee table.
She looks at me for a moment and then lets out something that sounds half like a sigh, half chuckle. It’s a strange reaction to what’s going on.
“What is it?” I ask her.
“I was …” she starts, then swallows. “I was just about to open my mouth to say thank you. Then I thought, the way things have been going with us, maybe I should just get a recording of it so you can replay it to save me the trouble of constantly repeating myself.”
I lean forward and take her trembling hand in mind. “You don’t have to thank me. You can forgive me, but you don’t have to thank me.”
“What the hell do I have to forgive you for?”
“Last night. The shower.”
“Kaine. I told you, that was all my fault. Maybe you should be the one forgiving me.”
I shake my head. She can’t let me off this easily. “I’m sorry I yelled.”
“I’m sorry I made you uncomfortable.”