Manchester Ménage 01 - Saving Samuel (13 page)

Samuel bit his lip then looked at his feet. “Daniel’s too soft with me. You’re not, but I need that too. I’m so used to having people do everything for me, it’s easier to just let that continue, but I don’t want it to keep happening. I don’t think you’ll let that continue.”

“I won’t. I'm not a push over. And even though I care about you and keeping you safe, that won’t mean I’ll change totally. I’ll try to be more…” He chewed his lip. “Well, just less abrupt. Less me.”

“I like you being you.” Samuel smiled softly at him and got one back.

“I'm glad.”

Both of them shared a long look, then Milo took in a deep breath and stood up. “I have some things to finish off, or start depending on how you look at it. Why don’t you play around on the laptop? Take a look at what’s been going on in the world. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”

Samuel took the laptop from him and settled it on his lap. He had no idea what to do with it, but he was sick of living in his little bubble. He may not be able to leave the house, but that didn’t stop him from seeing the world.

M
ilo sat back in his chair and watched the grey haired woman sitting in front of him. Claudia Hemmingworth was easy to find. Not only was she still a registered nurse, but she still lived in the same little terrace house where she took Samuel.

Milo talked to her for hours. What started off as a telephone conversation a day ago led to her being called in to give an official statement. She insisted on coming to Manchester to do it too, instead of just letting an officer in her local station take it. She was here to visit Samuel, of course, and after talking to her in detail about his time with her, Milo knew both of them would have an emotional reunion.

Her account of what their little Sleeping Beauty went through after he escaped had been difficult to listen to. Milo was too involved for it not to be. He couldn’t just sit back and let the information filter through his barriers, it slammed into him and took everything over. He couldn’t hide how angry he was or how much pain he felt for Samuel. It was something Claudia appreciated, and she even commended him on doing such a good job of protecting him.

It would have been easier to accept if Milo felt like he was doing a good job. He felt like part of him was taking advantage of Samuel, even if it was just internal and never acted on. Almost a week had gone by since their first day alone together. A week of them being together alone a lot due to Daniel’s shifts at the fire station, and Milo not wanting to draw any more attention to where Samuel was staying by keeping them both under a self-imposed house arrest.

Claudia finished off her tea, talking to two detectives from CID while Milo drifted in and out of the conversation. He’d heard most of this before, but still half listened for anything new she’d forgotten. He was only here because he was driving her to Daniel’s house for her visit. He checked his watch, five thirty. They were expected at sixish and Milo didn’t want either Daniel or Samuel to worry about her being late, so he stood up and flashed a quick look at the guys across from him.

“If you’re done, I’d like to get going. Ms Hemmingworth will be available for questions tomorrow morning before she leaves.”

“We’re just wrapping up a few loose ends. Give us ten minutes, then she’s all yours.”

Milo clenched his jaw and nodded. “I’ll be changing out of my uniform. Ms Hemmingworth, I’ll be back soon.”

“I’ll be here waiting for you.” She smiled widely. “I can’t wait to see my little Sammy.”

“He’s very excited about this visit. Worried too.” Milo silently glared at the men beside him as he walked off. “Which is why I’d like to get going on time tonight.”

After a quick change, Milo leaned against the wall in the changing rooms and called Daniel up. “Hey. I'm late. Not my fault this time. Tell Samuel Claudia is fine and can’t wait to get out of here so she can see him.”

“I’ll let him know. He’s worn a hole in the floor pacing around for the last half of the day. We need to buy him an Xbox or something.”

“Books are good. How’s he getting along with the Kindle?”

“Urgh, don’t. You have some shit books on there. And what’s with all the randy romance shit?”

Milo grinned down the phone. “I like light reads after work. I don’t want murder and mystery. I get enough of that in my real life."

“You’d think some of that romance might make it into your real life at some point.”

“I have ideas. I can be romantic.”

“Really? When?”

“Danny…” Milo laughed. “You know, you could do the same thing for me. Why does it have to be me?”

“I once arranged a weekend away and you went mental. We ended up not going.”

“You booked it without me knowing. I had work commitments I couldn’t get out of.”

“Well, how could I surprise you with my romantic gesture if you knew about it, huh?”

Milo sighed. “I'm going now.”

“Wait! Samuel wants you.” Daniel passed the phone over and he heard the gentle breaths of Samuel before he spoke.

“Milo, is Claudia really okay?”

“She’s fine, Princess. I'm bringing her home now. She did really good.”

“Did she… you know, tell you everything?”

Milo ran his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, she did.”

Samuel waited a few moments, then took a deep breath. “Are you okay?”

Milo laughed as he shook his head. Samuel knew what Claudia had told Milo, and he was only concerned about him. “Yeah, I'm…” He wanted to just spew some shit out and hide everything like he usually did, but he found it hard to be so detached around Samuel, and right then, there was no hiding the small shake in his voice or the thickness in his throat as he spoke. “I'm more determined than ever to get these fuckers. And I need a hug or something from you when I see you.”

“I can do that.” Samuel chuckled softly. “Don’t tell Daniel,” he whispered the words and Milo sighed.

“We should tell him, perhaps not the detailed version like what I got, but… just the basics.”

It was different hearing Samuel’s watered down version of his kidnapping and recovery, but hearing it from Claudia, seeing the pictures she took for evidence, it was heartbreaking and something Milo didn’t want to share with Daniel. But they were all in this together and he should be up to speed.

“Thank you. I cooked dinner.”

“I'm sure it will be good. I’ll be home soon, okay?”

“Okay. Bye, Milo.”

“Bye, Honey.”

Milo walked back through the building to his department and found Claudia looking out of the window and appearing deep in thought. “Ms Hemmingworth, if you’re ready, Samuel’s waiting for you.”

“Of course.” She wrapped her coat tighter around her and took a deep breath. “I know he’s been living rough since I last saw him, but after talking to you, I feel better about how he’s doing. I thought he’d slip up and start using again. I’m really happy to hear he stayed clean.”

Milo gently pressed his hand against her back and walked with her to the lift. “He never wanted those drugs in the first place. No matter what happened to him after he got clean, he’d never go back to using.”

Claudia smiled softly as they waited for the lift to arrive. “I felt that too, but all the same, there was still that little doubt in my mind. And, I had no idea if those horrible men found him again. I’ve been so worried. His last letter was so long ago. He’s like my son.” She wiped a tear from her eyes as the doors slid open and they stepped inside. “I love him like my own. I know that’s insane, but we went through so much in such little time. I’m not the easiest person to open their heart up like I did. I’ve seen a lot over the years. I guess like you in this job, you get a tough skin.”

Milo nodded, watching the lights tick down on the floors.

“Samuel’s just so easy to love.”

“I know.” Milo smiled softly as the doors opened.

Claudia followed him out, then stopped him by placing her hand on his arm. “You love him differently from me.”

“What?” Milo stared into her eyes and took a few breaths. “I didn’t say that.”

She shook her head. “You love him. It’s easy to see. The pain you showed when you saw those pictures. Saw what he’d been through at the hands of those disgusting men. You’ve been in this job too long for it to affect you like it did.”

“I'm not in love with him. I don’t fall in love like that.”
Liar, Milo. What about Daniel? You knew the moment you saw him just how much you would love him.
“And I'm very concerned about his mental well-being. I'm his guardian, not legally, but right now… He’s my job. I care about him keeping safe.”

“You’re in love with him.” She fastened her coat buttons and walked off, leaving him in a frustrated state and not moving. “Don’t lie to me. There’s no need. He needs loving. I can’t think of a better person for it to come from either.”

“Look.” Milo stopped her before they reached the exit by holding her elbow. “He’s living with my boyfriend.” Milo ran his fingers through his hair again and sighed. “I don’t want you to think I'm… well, that we’re… It’s innocent.”

“I believe you, Milo.” She stroked his arm and smiled. “Doesn’t your boyfriend mind you being so smitten with his house guest?”

“Not when he’s even more smitten with him.” Milo rolled his eyes. This sounded even worse out loud than in his head.

“Ahh.” She laughed loudly, then walked out of the door. “I see. And he’s the fireman who rescued Samuel, isn’t he?”

“Yeah. I know what you’re going to say. We’ve been through all this over the last ten days since we met Samuel.”

“Saving Samuel will take more than just you. I'm happy he has two strong, capable people around him.”

Milo nodded, looking at his car in the distance. Sometimes he wondered if it was Samuel being saved, or if he was saving the two of them. Since he’d come into their lives, things moved so much smoother. “I don’t know if loving him is the right thing to do.”

Claudia laughed again. “Since when is love ever the wrong thing to feel? And who the hell could stop it from happening anyway? Love is love. The heart can’t be told what to feel. It has its own way of dealing with these types of things, and does what it wants. Even if you don’t want it to. You can’t fight it. Does Samuel return your feelings?”

“I don’t know. We don’t really voice them. We’re only concerned for him and how to make things better. I don’t want him to feel under any kind of pressure, or to feel like he has to love us. If things were different… very different, I still don’t know if I’d voice how… How I may feel for him.” Milo took out his keys, bouncing them in his hand. It took him six years to tell Daniel he was in love with him. Even now it didn’t really come easy to him to say the words.

“I’m sure he will feel how you two care. Even if he doesn’t understand how deeply, he will feel loved and wanted. That’s the important thing.”

“Daniel and I both work really hard to make sure he always feels safe. He’s become a big part of our lives. It’s happened quickly, but I can’t seem to see Danny or me without him being there beside us.”

“I know right now this will be difficult for you to discuss. And it may not even be an option for you all to be together, but it’s one you shouldn’t disregard. When things have settled down, you should talk to him. Give him the chance to think about it. He deserves that much. Allow him to decide what’s best for him, what he wants. Don’t do it for him.”

Milo opened the car door for her and stared at her as she settled into the seat. “That’s hard to do. And not just about our feelings. I'm a bit of a control freak, and this situation, it has me at breaking point a lot of the time.” Milo sucked in a deep breath. “It should feel worse being around him, but it doesn’t. It’s when I'm apart from him it hurts more.”

“Uh huh.” She chuckle. “You’re so in love with him.”

“Oh… Be quiet, woman.” Milo shut the door with a smile.

Urgh. Love, really? Dear God! Milo shook his head. He wasn’t in love, it was misguided concern and sexual desire. Not love. That couldn’t happen. Not now.

The drive home was quick and filled with small talk about herself and her work. By the time Milo pulled up outside Daniel’s house, he knew Claudia was someone who he would gladly have as a friend, and happy Samuel had her back in his life.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, Milo saw Samuel standing still in the driveway, watching them both. He glanced at Claudia and saw tears spilling down her face as they took a moment to look over each other. Samuel moved first, and then she rushed to him, both of them colliding against the other in a bone-crushing hug which made Milo grin from ear to ear.

Samuel shook with the force of his tears and Milo could hear Claudia’s soft words as she comforted him. He kept back, watching as they held each other tightly, both rushing out their words, each sharing their apologies and regrets mixed up with comforting touches and kisses.

Samuel finally lifted his head and smiled at Milo, then wrapped his arm around her waist and walked into the house, hovering at the entrance while he waited for Milo to join them.

Samuel leaned up and kissed him softly on the cheek. “Thank you for finding her.”

“It’s no problem.” Milo smiled, letting Samuel’s slim hand curl in his own as he closed the door.

Claudia and Samuel sat together and he introduced her to Daniel before he offered to make them all a cup of tea and gave them some much needed time alone. Milo joined him in the kitchen, both of them listening as Samuel rushed out what he’d been through since they saw each other and questioning her about her safety, telling her how he had stayed away only to save her. It made Milo and Daniel smile as they stole quick glances at them both through the half opened door.

Samuel needed friends and people who he trusted in his life and both of them knew Claudia was a welcome person in his life, one he obviously loved a lot.