Anything but move in, say yes, graduate, get married, start their lives, have babies…
“Daddy, why cry?”Peter crawled up into his lap, his sensitive baby frowning deep.
He hugged his son tight, trying to come up with an answer that would let Peter understand and be satisfied and not scare him.The truth was, he wouldn’t have his babies if he hadn’t said yes to those things and he wouldn’t give up these two for anything, not anything at all.They were the best pieces of him, of his heart.
The rest of him was…tired and sad.
“I think I’m just tired, sweetie.Uncle Mike-Mike is coming over to see you.”
Petey patted his face with both hands.“Nap time for Daddy.”Then he clambered down and ran to his sister.“Uncle Mike-Mike comes!”
“Mike-Mike!”She cheered, fist pumping the air and jumping hard.
Peter stared for a second, then did the same.
Two little peas in a pod.God, he loved them.
The back door slid open behind him, and he whipped his head around, JP standing there, hair tousled, a little wild-eyed, a little stoned.“Is everything okay?I heard shouting.”
The kids stopped, staring at him.Peter started to cry, and Victoria stepped in front of her brother, fists up in the air.“Stranger!Stranger danger!Daddy!”
“Guys!Guys, it’s the…this is the…he’s the hockey man.”Jesus fucking Christ.
JP looked around wildly.“Stranger?Where?”He looked ready to fight.He’d no doubt collapsed if he threw a single punch, and he was leaning hard against the doorway, but he was ready.
“Easy.Easy, everyone.This is JP.Remember him?The hockeyman?From when Santa was here?”Your father?Remember him?“JP, the kids were just playing.I’ll try to keep them quiet.Let’s get you back to bed.”
“Playing?Oh.Damn.I’m sorry.I thought I heard shouting.I thought something was wrong.”JP was blinking hard and listing slightly.He hadn’t even used his crutches to get out here.
Ian was pretty sure he was not supposed to be walking on that leg, like at all.
“Come on.I’ll help.You two stay right here and do.Not.Move.”
Peter was crying for real now, and Victoria was confused and worried.
“Fuck, I’m sorry.Go look after them, I’ll get back on my own – it’s not far.”
“Daddy!Him bleeds!”
Sure enough the dressings were seeping.Lord have mercy.“Okay.Okay, let’s go.Kiddos, Uncle Mike-Mike is coming.We’re okay.”He stared at JP.“You.Bed.Now.”
“Trying,” JP growled, turning and going absolutely white as he took a step back toward the other room.He made a noise and then just went, limping hard, but moving fast.
Ian followed, trying not to panic.He didn’t know what to do.He wasn’t a nurse.
But he had been a teacher, and that meant “be in control, don’t show panic.”
JP actually made it to the bed, falling onto it with a cry, and a bitten off, “Fuck.”
“Okay.Okay, let’s look.I’ll call the ambulance if I have to.Michael’s on his way.”Michael was a nurse and way better at this than he was.“I’m sorry the kids woke you.They were playing.”
Was he supposed to keep them quiet forever?
Maybe he should just keep them over at Mike’s…
“Sorry, sorry.I thought someone was hurt.I’m fine.I’ll be fine.Just go look after the kids.”
“No.They’re just loud.”He unwrapped the bandages, and, while it was seeping, it wasn’t too bad.He didn’t barf, after all.
