Now Joe was tense again.
Alistair studied them both for a moment, then gave a short nod. “Fair enough. For now.”
They climbed the narrow stairs to the top floor. The space was large with slanted ceilings, a double bed and a desk in front of the window. The bathroom had a shower and a bath deep enough to disappear into. Light spilled in, thin and pale through the window. The city stretched out ahead, rooftops, chimneys and tall buildings scraping the sky. Joe liked the word skyscraper. It was clever.
He wondered how long they could stay.
“This is temporary,” Kaden said quietly, as if reading his thoughts.
“I know,” Joe said. And he did.
“Bring all your stuff over,” Alistair told Kaden. “You might as well give notice on your place. No point paying rent when you’re not living there. Any furniture you want to transport?”
“Not much worth keeping,” Kaden said.
“Then bring everything in a cab and I’ll treat us to a takeaway tonight,” Alistair said, sounding almost pleased.
Was he lonely? Joe thought he might be. He understood loneliness.
The cab ride back was cramped with boxes and bags and a chair. Kaden balanced his phone on his knee.
“I’m giving notice to my landlord,” he said, already tapping.
“What about the authorities?” Joe asked. “For me.”
Kaden paused. “Good point.” He held out his hand. “Your card. I’ll need your number.”
Joe passed it over.
“There are a lot of people to tell,” Kaden muttered. “I’ll do the rest tomorrow.”
“Should we offer Alistair money?” Joe put his card back in his pocket.
“I will, though I doubt he’ll take it. We probably won’t stay for long.”
Alistair opened the door as they walked from the cab. “Do you need a hand?”
“We’ve got it, thank you,” Kaden said.
A few trips and they had everything in the house.
“Changed your mind?” Kaden asked as the three of them looked at the bags, boxes, cases and office chair piled up in the hall.
Alistair chuckled. “Go sort yourselves out then come down for coffee.”
They made the bed with Kaden’s sheets. Joe’s clothes and some of Kaden’s went into the wide chest of drawers. The desk took shape under Kaden’s hands. The laptop, notebooks and pens were aligned with precision, the chair tucked underneath. Joe arranged Kaden’s books on a shelf and Kaden placed the megalodon tooth on the windowsill, where the light caught its edge.
This was how home was made. The thought made Joe’s heart stutter. In his other life, he had hardly anythings.He liked havingthings.The thought of what his planet would have doneto the Earth made him breathe heavily. The Earth was a much better place than the one Joe had come from.
“Think Elsie would like a walk?” Kaden asked when they were back downstairs.
The wordwalkhadn’t even finished leaving Kaden’s mouth before Elsie was on her feet, tail sweeping the air, her whole body bright with purpose.
Alistair laughed. “Have your coffee when you come back.”
Outside, the air was cool and smelled faintly of rain. Elsie trotted between them with Kaden holding her lead.
The city unfolded slowly as they walked. The corner shops, narrow streets and the rhythm of their footsteps eased that tight feeling in Joe’s chest. Kaden hadn’t had to give up his home for Joe, but he’d chosen to. Kaden had done everything for him.
