“Take her right up to bed. We’ve got it all ready for her.”
“No, please. I’m okay. I’d really like to sit out on the deck. I need to hug both of you.”
“I’ll get pillows.” Seth rushed off.
“I made pink lemonade, remember?”
“With crushed ice.” She took Harry’s hand as Xander carried her. “When did you come? How did you get here so fast?”
“Private jet. We’ve got connections. My baby girl,” he murmured, kissed her hand. “Your people said we could come in, Mason. They’d cleared it. And you’d gotten a crew in to . . .”
“Yeah. It’s clean,” he said to Naomi.
By the time they got her to the deck, Seth was fussing with pillows, with a light throw. And had a little vase of flowers on the small table.
“There now, set her right down.” As Xander did, Seth went down on his knees, wrapped arms around her. “My sweetheart, my baby.”
“Don’t cry, don’t cry. I’m okay.”
“She needs a pill. I’m sorry,” Xander added, “but she really needs the pain pill.”
“I’ll get you some lemonade to wash it down. Do you want lemonade?” Harry asked Xander.
“I’d about kill for a beer.”
“I’m going to get you a beer. Mason?”
“I have to go. I’ll be back, but I have to go right now.”
“You be here for dinner. I’m going to make something spectacular.”
As Harry hurried inside, Seth pushed to his feet. Still weeping, he turned, enfolded Xander.
“Ah.” Xander looked into Naomi’s wet, smiling eyes. “Okay.”
“You are now and forevermore a hero to me.” Sniffling, Seth stepped back. “She is the light of my life. She and Mason are the lights of our lives.”
“She brightens up mine, too.”
“I’ve got to go.” Mason kissed Seth’s cheek. “Sit down. Take a breath.”
“Not yet. This boyhandsome,” he added with a wiggle of his eyebrows for Naomi. “He needs some ice for those knuckles. I hope you beat the crap out of that vicious little shit.”
“Broke his nose, knocked out three teeth,” Naomi said.
“Well done.”
Harry came out with a tall glass filled with crushed ice and frothy pink liquid and garnished with a twist of lemon. He handed it to Naomi, then handed a beerin a pilsnerto Xander. Then, as Seth had, he wrapped his arms around Xander.
“I’m Harry, and this is my best girl. It’s very nice to meet you, Xander.”
“Nice to meet you.” He pulled a pill bottle from his pocket, tapped one out. “Take this.”
“Actually, I want to hold off just until”
“Take it.”
She sighed, but swallowed the pill. “Oh, Harry, nobody makes pink lemonade like you.”
“Could you eat? Something soft and soothing. Cheesy eggs on toast?”
Tears just flooded up again. “My favorite sick-day meal, Harry.”
“I’m going to make you some eggs, both of you. And I’m going to fix this amazing dog something special. No kibble for you today, my brave boy.”
Tag sent him a look of adoration, laid a head on Harry’s leg. “Some beef. We’ll call it Beef à la Tag.”
When Harry went in, Tag limped after him. Before Xander could sample the beer, Seth bustled out with a zip-top bag of ice.
“Here now. Why don’t you sit on the glider? Naomi can put her legs in your lap. You’ll ice that hand, drink your beer. And look at this beautiful view. It’s the best day of our lives. How’s your pillow, honey?”
“It’s fine. I’m fine.”
“When you’re ready, Xander’s going to carry you upstairs so you can sleep awhile. We’ll all be right here. Just right here.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I’m going to help Harry. You call if you need anything.”
She smiled, sipped lemonade when he went inside. “It’s starting to feel like a dream. Did you know they were here?”
“Mason told me. They flew in early this morning.”
“You’re going to like them.”
“I already like them. What’s not to like? I’ve got a beer and I’m getting cheesy eggs.” He had to set the ice aside to dig the phone out of his pocket. “I’ll answer later. I’ve been getting calls and texts for hours. Everybody wants to know how you’re doing, come see you. Bring food, flowers, Jesus knows.”
“Everybody?”
“Name somebody. I bet they’ve called or texted.”
Like family, she thought. Friends and community could be like family if you let it happen.