“What’s going on with you?” Charlie squinted at me when he let Salem out of the carrier the cat didn’t need, because he knew not to run away. It was a precaution to have it though, for emergencies and such, so Salem tolerated the occasional trip inside it, just so he wouldn’t forget about it.
“What do you mean?” I asked, all innocent and wide-eyed.
“You’ve been quieter. Like you’re musing on something.” He went to pile Salem’s food tins on my counter. “Anything I can help with?”
Definitely not.“No, not really. I’m just trying to wrap my brain around something.”Like how plausible it would be for me to get to wrap my legs around your brother.
“Well, just know I’m here whenever you need me.” He grinned at me, looking carefree and beautiful like he did so often these days. “Except this weekend. This weekend I’ll keep my phone on mute and only check it once a day.”
I went to hug him tightly. He really was the best guy. Not just for my uncle, but as a friend, too.
“I love you, Charlie.”
“Love you too, Oak.” He squeezed me back tightly. “Take care of our boy?”
“I will. We’ll have fun. I’ll have Cricket watch him while we’re outside. I have the weekend off too, so I might skate tomorrowif the weather holds. I bet he’ll find that fascinating for like two minutes.”
Charlie chuckled and went to grab his furry son for kisses and cuddles. “You be good for Uncle Oak, okay? Daddies will be back to get you on Monday morning.”
“I’ll bring him to the office with me,” I promised. “Now go. He’ll be fine.”
Charlie frowned slightly, then smooched Salem’s head and set him on the shelf above the couch. “I know it’s silly to feel bad leaving him, but….”
“You’re his dad. I get it.” A car horn honked outside, and I grinned. “Uncle Teague is waiting.”
He hadn’t come in; instead he’d chosen to wait in the SUV. We all knew it was because he would’ve been even worse about leaving Salem than Charlie had been so far.
“Go.” I pushed Charlie to the door. “I have all the numbers and I have wheels for emergencies and I have everything under control.Go.”
“Okay, okay.” He steeled himself, wiped under his eyes, and slipped outside.
I gave Uncle Teague a two-finger salute and he smiled back. “Have fun!” I mouthed, and he nodded, then concentrated on Charlie who was strapping himself in.
I spent my Friday night by cleaning my own place with Salem’s help. That mostly meant he was chatting at me, and then fell asleep on my lap as soon as I sat down to eat my dinner in front of the TV.
The next morning, I woke up to Salem pawing at my face.
“What?” I grunted, catching his paw before he could hit me again. “What’s the rush? It’s Saturday.”
“Mrrow.”
“Oh, okay then.” I stretched and scratched my treasure trail, then got out of bed and went to give Salem his breakfast.
I took care of morning business and cleaned his litterbox while I was in the bathroom, then made myself some quick breakfast.
It felt odd not to have work, but since I worked every morning-to-afternoon and then every evening during the weekends, Dana had insisted I skip the dinner service in lieu of babysitting Salem. She was as fond of the little beasty as everyone else, and none of us wanted to leave him alone for long.
Once I felt human and Salem was raring to go, I got dressed and we went outside. It was so damn bright out with the sun shining from a cloudless sky, that I squinted for a while. Then I went to fetch my shades and decided that I could get my exercise in.
Cricket ambled over to the soundtrack of Salem’s delighted chirps.
“Are you telling her about your morning?” I asked him as I tied my skates.
She thwacked him with her tail, and I grinned. I put a blanket on the edge of the ice in case Salem wanted to sit there, and then told Cricket to not come on the ice at all. I didn’t want any mishaps with the furry friends and my skates, and Salem especially could get a little wild.
I started with a leisurely circle around the pond. The feeling of peace that washed over me was incredible. I got into a zone and kept moving, gliding over the ice, changing directions on occasion so I wouldn’t make myself dizzy.
After maybe half an hour, Cricket got up from where she’d been lying next to the blanket. Salem was napping on the fleece,but he stretched and got up when she turned her head to listen to something.
