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When the frittata was done, Simon placed a portion in front of Ben with a bowl of mixed berries and a mug of tea heavily laced with honey.
“You don’t have to finish it all,” Simon said, “but do your best.”
Ben ate about half of the frittata, his entire bowl of fruit, and two cups of tea before he claimed he was full. Simon cleared the dishes and put them in the dishwasher.
“Ready to go back upstairs?”
Ben nodded, the sweet blush back on his face. Simon found himself thinking about placing his lips against the hot flesh and was surprised at what an erotic thought that was. He was shocked at his body’s visceral response. Enough that he had to take a moment, leaning against the island, to get back his composure.
“You don’t have to come with me if you don’t want to,” Ben said. “I think I can figure out the elevator.”
“Yes, but I want to see what your doctor put on your release papers, okay?”
Ben smiled at Simon and that made something inside him flutter. It was strange, to say the least, but not in a bad way. “Sure. Although I doubt it’ll be exciting reading.”
Simon walked with Ben to the elevator door. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
Once upstairs, Ben headed straight for his bedroom. Simon stayed in the kitchen looking for Ben’s paperwork. After finding it, he scanned through it and couldn’t help but frown. Ben was both underweight and anemic. The doctor had recommended a number of vitamin supplements, seeing a dietitian, and wanted Ben to follow up with his regular doctor.
Simon was fairly sure that left to his own devices Ben would not follow through. He doubted Ben had a doctor of any sort. Simon searched online to find the consequences of untreated anemia and didn’t like it. Especially not the part about mental confusion, being more likely to get an infection, and also being slow to heal and recover from illness. He also had no idea where to start. Perhaps with a dietitian. Simon had no idea if they made house calls, but he’d put Celia on it. She’d get it taken care of; it was her superpower. Granted, she did have his money to throw at things. Just about anyone would make a house call if you paid them enough. It occurred to Simon how money made everything in life easier. Poverty, he reasoned, must therefore make everything twice as difficult. If not more.
He didn’t want to send Ben back to that kind of life. Simon wasn’t sure, though, what a permanent solution might be in practical terms. He could ask Celia about that as well.
Sunday, December 17
Simon’s office
The Gold Coast
Simon was going through a mound of paperwork that needed he needed to sign when his phone buzzed. To both his surprise and delight, it was from Ben.
Ben:you said I could text for any reason
Simon:of course. What do you need?
Ben:I’m bored
Simon:couldn’t find anything in the media room?
Ben:I want to draw
Simon:yes?
Ben:I want to draw YOU
Ben:but only if you still want to
Simon:because you’re bored.
Ben:yep
Ben:if its ok
Simon:I can be up in about 15 min.
Ben:yay! Awesome
Simon:you are an easy man to please.
