Christmas Delights 3 (28 page)

It was now Kevin’s turn to be silent while he thought how to
phrase his response. 

“I guess because I didn’t want to think of it that way it
was less frightening to tell myself that I’d fallen. I also didn’t want you to
worry. You had to leave for your new job and I knew you weren’t happy about
leaving us behind; I just didn’t want you to worry that all.

“Kev, I could have been there for you.” Kyle said.

“I didn’t want to think about the attack then and I still
don’t want to now. So please just let it go.” Kevin said getting up and pushing
past him to leave the office and Kyle caught his arm stopping him. “Kyle it’s
the past can you leave it there?” Realizing he wasn’t going to get anywhere
Kyle agreed and left.

At noon he went back out front to cover for Amy’s break.
After the morning rush the lunch crowd was thin, the forecasted six inches of
snow, which had begun to fall was the reason for the lull. The bell on the door
called his attention and he saw the Sheriff come in knocking snow off his feet.
He was follow by a reluctant Kyle. Kevin figured he was unsure if he was
welcome after their brief talk back in the office earlier.

 “Are the roads getting slick?” he asked pouring coffee for
the Sheriff then looking at Kyle for what he wanted to drink.

“Can I get a Coke with no ice?” Kyle asked. 

“A bit, but if you're careful it won’t be a problem,” Hank
said taking the coffee and stirring in a bit of sugar. “And I’ll have the
burger plate.” He added when Kevin set Kyle’s drink down. Kevin could tell Kyle
still felt uncomfortable, which was starting make him feel the same. It was
time for a new topic.

“Sheriff did Kyle tell you he was twenty one when he became
our legal guardian?” Kevin hoped this would move things

“Your brother will have the burger plate as well.” Hank said
when he didn’t order food. He then turned and said to Kyle, “legal guardian at
twenty one, that had to be hard.” when Kevin face the window to turn in the
orders.

“I was the oldest, I didn’t have any other choice, and I’d
do it all again if I had to.” He said, and then went on to say. “There was a
lot of help and support from neighbors, without them I’d never of made it
through the police academy. Course it help that Squirt here wasn’t a problem.”
He said gesturing towards Kevin where he was standing on the other side of the
counter. “Sarah was the wild one, and yes he hates to be called Squirt.”

“And you’re lucky I’d be the one who’d have to clean it up
or you’d be wearing that drink,” Kevin said topping of the sheriff’s coffee.
The sheriff responded with he wanted to eat in peace.

“Seriously though Kyle had to make some tough calls back
then give up a lot, like a personal life to do it and I think he did a great
job.” Kevin was glad to see some of the unease had left Kyle when he set their
plates in front of them.

* * * * *

Weather reports rarely get it right,
Jackson thought
as he cleared the couple of inches of snow off the truck before getting in
heading for home. After the day he had it was lucky he didn’t run into either
his father or brother or he’d of decked them both.

Ten minutes on the road and he drove back into snow fall,
and was glad he thought to cover the bed he borrowed for Kyle with a trap. The
further he went the heavier the snow fall. As much as he tried to forget it,
his anger towards his father lingered.

Jackson sat silent staring straight ahead when Kevin got in
to the cab Kevin could feel the anger     roll off him. Jackson tried not to
direct it at Kevin; he knew Kevin wouldn’t question him until he was ready to
tell him. Unfortunately it made the short ride home a bit uncomfortable.

   When they got there Jackson backed into the driveway,
seeing the look on Kevin face prompted him to say,

“I borrowed a bed I thought we could clear a spot for it in
the computer room, give Kyle some privacy.” Jackson said. A bit more hash then
he meant to because Kevin didn’t deserve it.

“Sounds good,” Kevin said as they got out and walking back
to the tailgate.

 It sure seemed like more than six inches Jackson thought as
he opened the tailgate and began to pull the bed out. They got the bed inside
without speaking another word, or getting it full of snow. They’d rolled it
into the computer room which had Jackson’s desk and computer, Kevin always
referred to it as Jackson’s study where as Jackson called it the computer room.
With the bed made up Jackson sat down at the desk and began logging onto the
computer and Kevin went out to start fixing dinner. Jackson sat at the computer
without really looking at the display. He knew he had to talk to Kevin but just
thinking about it was making the anger course though him. He was just going to
need a little more time to cool off.

* * * * *

The front door opening let Kevin know Kyle had made it back.

“So how was the rest of your first day? It got to be a far
cry from what you’re used to in the city.” Kevin said hopping he wouldn’t want
to pick up the discussion from this morning.

“It was good. Not as intense as the city where I think
people forget how to drive in snow,” Kyle said taking his coat off and pulling
off his boots. Kevin told him that he saved some dinner for him, and got up to
get it.

“I’m not helpless, and I know where the kitchen is.” Kyle
said. Heading for the kitchen and pulled the plate out of the oven where it was
being kept warm.

“It’s not much, and I hope it’s not dried out.” Kevin said
coming in and leaning against the counter.

“I’m sure it will be fine. “Kyle said and decided to go for
it. “I didn’t mean to upset you back at the café office. It’s just that it hurt
that I wasn’t there, that you went through it alone. And that’s all I’m going
to say.” The room fell quiet.

“I wasn’t alone,” Kevin finally said. “I had counseling and
a support group of other victims, some hurt far worse then I was. I also had
Jackson.”

“Where is Jackson, I saw his truck?” Kyle asked finishing
his meal.

“Either back on the computer or in our bedroom.” Kevin said
“Either his father, or his brother, or maybe both, really ticked him off. He
just needs some alone time to cool down.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Kyle said putting his dish in the sink.

“You’re not the one to be sorry, I am for being in a bad
mood,” Jackson said coming up behind Kevin. “Kev I need to talk to you.”

  “Sure thing,” Kevin said following Jackson into the
bedroom where he sat down on the bed while Jackson paced the room a bit before
turning toward him.

“That Bastard...” Jackson fell silent as he forced himself
to calm down “My salary is being cut by just over a third. My dad claims it’s
the economy.”

“Did they do this any of the other staff?” Kevin asked.

“Of course not, this is just another dig at me.” Jackson
said

“What about the clinic here?” Kevin asked “It’s nearly
done.”

“If they had wanted me they would have all ready asked,”
Jackson said starting to pace again. I’m just screwed. There are no other jobs
in the area and he knows it. As for the hospital board, you know they will
always do just what he wants. I’m sorry I told you I wasn’t going to let them
ruin Christmas again this year, but they have found a way anyway.” He said
dropping down next Kevin

“It’s only ruined if you let them. Kevin said putting his
arm around him and giving him a squeeze. “So don’t let them see it bothers you.
Now I got to go show Kyle his bed and that was nice of you to get it for him.
Kevin added getting up and heading for the door.

   “Don’t thank me yet, he hasn’t slept on it yet.” Jackson
said getting up to follow.

“I don’t want to put Jackson out of this room.” Kyle said
when Kevin had showed him the bed in what was obviously Jackson’s home office.

“You’re not, trust me. Besides you need a place, when you
want to be alone.” Jackson said. “Feel free to use the computer for e-mail or
whatever. Look I’m not going to be the best company to night so I’m just going
to turn it.”

“Me too,” Kevin said following Jackson.

* * * * *

As the week ended, Kyle insisted that he should start paying
rent, and didn’t take no for an answer. Kyle knew that things were not going
well for Jackson at the hospital, and he knew how miserable he was even though
he tried not to show it around Kevin. But Kevin knew and it was starting to
affect them both. So when Kyle heard the Mayor, the Sheriff and a couple of
others from the council talking about hiring a doctor for the new Grandville
clinic he just spoke up,

“I know I’ve only been here a short time and it’s not my
place to butt in but have you thought about Jackson Walker?”

“Dr. Walker would be an ideal person, but he’s too well
connected at St. Anne’s he’d never leave it,” The Mayor said dismissing the
thought.

“But he would have been ideal,” Rita, from the Cut 'n Curl
said. “Being local, I know I’d like that and I’m sure the community would too.”

“Rita, we can’t afford him, we could never be able to match
his salary” Calvin, who owned the Bar 'n Grill.

“We have to get someone just starting out, get him to move
here.” The Mayor said. “We can’t afford Jackson Walker.”

“No sir you need to ask Jackson, I think you’d be surprised
by his answer,” Kyle said knowing he was pushing it. “You’ve got nothing to
lose by asking him. Like I said he may surprise you.”

   The Sheriff took Kyle by the arm and pulled him aside and
asked quietly,

“Now what do you know that you’re not saying in front of
them?” Kyle thought for a moment and decided it was for the best.

“I can’t really say because it’s not my place to tell you,
but just offer him the job and see what happens.” Kyle said. “I know you won’t
be sorry,”

Hank thought about it for a few minutes before walking back
over to the group,

“We have nothing to lose by making the offer to Dr. Walker I
think an offer should be made to him.” the Sheriff said, not going into the
details Kyle had given him.

“Well this will have to be discussed with the rest of the
committee, but as you said there is nothing to lose.” The mayor said and with
that the impromptu meeting ended and all went their separate ways.

“Well it’s now in the councils hands,” Kyle thought as he
got ready to go out on his patrol. There was nothing else he could do or say,
he might have said to much all ready.

* * * * *

The weather that evening was quite cold with wind chills
down in the single digits. This would be another late night for Jackson to work
and Kevin was not looking forward to the walk home.

He had just locked the door when he heard someone pull to
the curb and he turned to see Kyle in the sheriff SUV

“Well don’t just stand there, get in.” He called out through
the open passenger window. Kevin didn’t need to be asked again and climbed in
feeling the blast of hot air from the heater.

“Jackson called, didn’t want you walking home in the cold.”

“Thanks for coming; and I’m so glad he called you.” Kevin
said sitting back. He was glad the day was over and was looking forward to just
curling up with a good book on his nook. Of course it would have been better to
curl up with Jackson.

“How late are you working?” he asked Kyle as they pulled
away from the curb and heading down to Louis, they slid a bit when they turned
the corner. Kyle didn’t answer Kevin right away but spoke into the radio saying
they needed salt trucks on Main Street.

“Till ten.” Kyle said pulling into the driveway and noting
the dark house.

“You really need to leave the porch light on when you leave
for work so it would be on when you get home, or get a photocell so it comes on
when it gets dark. And yes I know, big brother worrying.”

“Photocell, good idea. I’ll look for one next time I’m in
Lowes,” was all Kevin said before getting out of the warm cab and made his was
up to the front door. Kyle waited in the drive until Kevin was inside and the lights
came on, then he was on his way.

* * * * *

Although Kyle was supposed to have gotten off work at ten,
he ended up putting in a bit of overtime. He was just coming back from a call
when he witnessed the pick-up ahead of him swerve on a patch of ice and slide
into the ditch. Putting his flashers on as he stopped and pointed the
spot-light on where the truck went in. He got out and climbed down to the
driver’s door, pulling it open, hearing a string of cussing.

“Jackson! Are you ok?” he asked

“I’ve been better,” Jackson said moving to get out of the
cab. Kyle noticed his right hand was bandaged up, “What did you do to your
hand?”

“That dip shit brother of mine happened.” Was all Jackson
said. This didn’t really tell Kyle how he got cut. “How am I going to get this
out?”

“You’re not, I’m afraid it’s going to need to be towed out,
and that will have to wait until morning.” Kyle said. “Come on, I’ll take you
home, but first I’ve got to go back to the station to make out the report on my
last call and clock out. Jackson reached inside and got his bag, and nearly
slipped when he slammed the door and locked the pick-up. He followed Kyle back
up to the SUV. Jackson was not in the best of moods.

* * * * *

When Kevin woke he could feel the warm presence of Jackson
behind him and he just pushed back towards him. Kevin glanced at the clock and
saw that it was time to get up. With a bit of reluctance, he slipped out of bed
and into the shower. When he returned to the bedroom to get dressed, the bed
was empty.

“
Damn I woke him up
,” he thought as he pulled on
clothes. He found Jackson sitting at the counter in the kitchen.