"So why did you just pee in Aunt Lucy's plant?"
"I told you. It was thirsty."
Auntie intervention in order. Grabbing the watering can from the counter, I headed over to where Holly towered over LJ. "You're right; it was thirsty. But I know for a fact my little fern is allergic to little-boy pee"-I elbowed Holly before she elbowed me right back-"so next time it's thirsty, you can use this to give it some water." I handed the can to LJ. "This will be your job here. To keep the plant happy and healthy. Think you can handle that?"
LJ inspected the can, turning it over a few times before nodding. "Yeah. I'll take care of the plant, Aunt Luce," he said, sounding as solemn as an almost four-year-old boy could. Then his eyes shifted to the TV in front of the sofa and they lit up. "Mom? Can I watch Yo Gabba Gabba?"
Holly checked the clock on the kitchen wall. "Go for it."
After carefully placing the watering can beside the plant, LJ skipped over to the TV and grabbed the remote.
"Does he need help with that?" I asked.
"Are you kidding? He's known what time and what channel Yo Gabba Gabba! is on since he was two," she said, looking from the plant to me. "Sorry about that. Like I said, a little caveman."
"Don't worry," I said, "and if it makes you feel any better, I'm pretty sure that wasn't the first time it was peed on. I'm almost certain Jude had that honor after we burned through a couple bottles of champagne New Year's Eve and the bathroom was just too far to go when he had to go."
"Men," Holly said, curling her nose at the plant. "They look for any excuse they can to whip that thing out. Age isn't a factor. Obviously." Her eyes landed on LJ, who was enraptured by a show that looked like it was conceived during an acid trip.
"Come on. Let's get your stuff moved into the bedroom so you guys can get some sleep," I said, grabbing another suitcase of theirs. "I'm sure you're beat."
"Like a punching bag," she said, grabbing another suitcase and following me. "Aunt Lucy and I are going to finish unpacking. Let me know if you need anything, LJ."
"Are the brownies done yet?" LJ asked, his eyes glued to the TV.
Holly glanced at the timer on the microwave. "Another twenty minutes."
"Okay," he said, sounding like twenty minutes was an eternity. "I love you, Mom."
All the stress lines on Holly's face ironed out. "I love you, Jude."
"It's LJ," he said, looking away just long enough to meet Holly's gaze.
"Sorry, I forgot," she said. "I love you, LJ."
Damn. The kid could pee on any and every surface in the apartment if he kept saying stuff like that. The apartment felt full again. I felt full again.
Mostly.
I knew no matter how many bodies I packed into the place, it would never be enough to fill the void Jude had left behind. No one could fill that empty place except for him.
Heaving the suitcase on top of the bed, I unzipped it and got to work. I'd already put on fresh sheets and emptied out the closet and drawers to make room for Holly and LJ.
"Lucy, I still don't feel right taking your room," Holly said, tossing her bag onto the bed as well. "I mean, it's your place. You should get the bedroom."
"Would you stop already?" I said, opening the top dresser drawer before layering LJ's pants into it. "It's done. My decision's final. End of subject."
"I love it when you talk bitch to me," Holly said, snagging a few hangers from the closet. "It gets me all excited."
I laughed and tossed her LJ's coat to hang up. "How's the job search going? Any luck so far?"
I loved that I was friends with a woman who believed in creating her own destiny.
"I start tomorrow night," she said proudly, sliding a teeny-weeny dress onto a hanger.
"Amazing. You can find a job in this town from across the country in a weekend's time. It took me weeks, and even then, I had to have a friend's older brother throw me a job bone."
Holly shrugged. "I had to have a friend's help, too." She smiled at me before situating a few hangers back into the closet.
"What salon did you get on with?"
"Les Cheveux Chic," she said. "And it's only, like, a half mile away, so I can walk to work."
"Wow. That's one of the best salons in town, Holly," I said, impressed. "Way to go."
"Yeah, well, I guess they were desperate for someone, with all the new business they've been getting, so when the owner heard I'd been clipping and dyeing my share of heads for five years, she pretty much hired me right then over the phone." Holly scooped an armload of bras and panties from her suitcase. I think every color of the rainbow was represented, as well as every pattern and fabric. Not a bad collection for a girl who claimed to go sans underwear half the time. "However, my schedule sucks balls. I'm working nights and weekends and have a grand total of one day off." Sliding open a dresser drawer in the closet that had been Jude's, she dropped her racy unmentionables inside.