One Day Soon (38 page)

“No, he didn’t call me to ask if he could
shack up.
Who does that anyway?” I scoffed, pushing the eggs around on my plate. I checked the time on my phone again. The thought of going into work filled me with disquiet.

I loved my job. Most days it was the thing that got me out of bed.

Not today.

“Earth to Imogen!” Lee waved his hand in front of my face and I narrowed my eyes. He pursed his lips and looked irritated. “What’s going on? This is incredibly out of character for you. Perhaps you’re not coping with the separation from Chris as well as I had originally thought.” Lee seemed worried. I put my hand on his arm.

“This has nothing to do with Chris. Though he did show up here last night,” I told him.

Lee’s eyes widened. “Chris came
here
last night? Why?”

“He wanted to pick up his bowling shoes.” Lee gave me a look of disbelief.

“What kind of bullshit excuse is that?” my friend asked.

“Well, whatever, he got his bowling shoes and left. He never saw Yoss. Which is just as well.” I dropped my fork onto the plate and drank the rest of my coffee.

“It’s obvious moving on will be harder for some than others,” Lee remarked pointedly.

“I already feel like a heartless bitch where my ex is concerned, don’t make it worse.” I winced.

Lee put his arm around me, squeezing my shoulder. “You’re not a heartless bitch, Im. I think you were trying to capture something with Chris you had felt before. Maybe with a certain dark-haired man taking up temporary residence in your house.”

I pulled back and looked up at my friend. “Someone’s wearing their shrink Imogen pants today.” I made a face and Lee pinched my cheek as if I were a five year old.

“I’ve shared a room with you and Yoss for all of twenty minutes and I could pick up on the under current between you. He’s your second chance, isn’t he?” Lee asked softly.

“I’m hoping,” I admitted, knowing the words were safe with him.

“Then tell me who he is. Be straight with me, Im. It’s hard to miss the old bruises and scars on his face.”

Lee was my only genuine friend, even if at times it was very one-sided. I didn’t give him much and he knew that.

However, self-imposed isolation was highly over rated.

“I told you about my time as a teenage runaway,” I began and Lee nodded.

“Very briefly. Getting you to talk about anything is akin to pulling teeth,” Lee chastised good-naturedly.

“I know I haven’t been the easiest person to be friends with—”

Lee ruffled my hair in a platonic gesture. “Loving you is very easy, Im. It’s getting you to love back that’s the hard part,” he said softly.

That hurt. More than it should. But he was right.

“Yoss and I were together. When we were teenagers. When I was on the streets,” I explained, feeling strange about sharing my story. Even with Lee.

“So, Yoss was homeless too?” Lee asked, wiping his mouth with a napkin and getting up to take the dishes to the sink.

“Yes. He took care of me. He protected me. And then we were together. I loved him. He loved me.”

Lee turned around and leaned against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest. “That had to make the experience very intense. First love is profound enough without throwing in the whole trying to survive part of it. What happened to the two of you? What happened to
him?”

I listened to see whether Yoss was coming out of the bathroom, but all was silent. I made sure my voice was low when I answered Lee. “We were going to go away together. Leave town. That was the plan. Things had happened…” I trailed off, fisting my hand over my steady, thumping heart. “Anyway, we were going to meet underneath the Seventh Street Bridge. The usual spot. Where all of us hung out. He had to take care of some things before we left. He had promised he’d be there. I knew something was off about him but I was young and naïve and refused to see what was right in front of my face.”

Lee snorted. “We’ve all been there. Love makes even the smartest of us incredibly stupid.”

I gave a half smile that I didn’t really feel. “He never came. I went looking for him…”

“Did you find him?” Lee prompted when I didn’t rush to finish the story.

“I found him,” I whispered. Remembering. I couldn’t tell Lee that part.

“And?” Lee asked.

“And nothing. We never went anywhere. I decided to go back to my mother’s and I never saw him again. Until ten days ago when he showed up at the hospital, nearly beaten to death.”

“You are leaving out some pretty big pieces. There’s more than you’re telling me.” Lee took a drink of his coffee, peering at me over the rim. Then his eyes widened as he made the connection. He put the cup down and smacked his hands on the table. “Wait a second. Is this the new case you mentioned? The one you said was complicated?”

I nodded, swallowing. “Do you see why?”

“So, he’s homeless now. Well not
now
because he’s staying with you,” Lee deduced. “Is that why he’s here? Because I should probably point out how unethical the whole thing is. Him staying with you like this. Considering you’re his social worker and all.”

“He’s sick, Lee. Really sick. I owe this to him. To make him comfortable. To make him
happy.
He deserves that.”

“But, Imogen, I don’t know—”

“I know how this sounds. I know what you’re going to say. But Lee, how could I not? I found him in that hospital bed and I just
knew
this was my chance. His chance.”

Lee took my hands and looked at me intently. “It sounds like what you and Yoss experienced together was hard. It occurred during an unstable time in your life and you clung to each other and your relationship. It makes sense that, because you had a lack of closure, you’d want to reconnect with him. To reestablish a connection you once had. But, be careful. This has all the earmarks of a tragedy, Im.”

There was an audible cough from behind us and I startled. I glanced over my shoulder to find Yoss standing in the doorway, his hair wet and sticking out on top of his head. The growth on his chin was becoming thick again. He needed another shave. I didn’t like his face being covered up like that.

How much had he overheard? It was hard to tell. His face was unreadable.

“How was your shower?” I asked him.
How was your shower?
What sort of question was that?

“Wet,” Yoss said, giving me a wry smile.

“Oh, well that’s good,” I replied lamely. “I mean who likes a dry shower? Is there such a thing? I don’t think so.” I chuckled. I sounded idiotic.

Yoss arched an eyebrow. “No, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a dry shower.”

Lee looked amused by my verbal diarrhea. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you ramble like that before, Im,” he teased.

“Really? I seem to remember her unfiltered mouth all too well,” Yoss interjected.

Lee smirked. “Well it seems we know two very different people. I’m interested to know more about your Im though.”

“Hey, Lee, I bet Kevin’s home and wondering where you are.”

Lee gave me a pointed look, but pulled out his phone. “Three missed calls. He’s probably close to a fit. I’d better get home.”

“Yep, you’d better hurry,” I said.

Lee held out a hand to Yoss who shook it. “It was nice meeting you, Yoss. I hope we can talk more soon. I’m sure you’re full of embarrassing Im stories that I’m dying to hear.”

Yoss laughed. “I can think of one or two.”

“I am standing right here, you know. At least conspire behind my back like normal people,” I muttered.

“Touchy, touchy,” Lee tsked, pulling me in for a hug. “Be careful, darling,” he whispered into my ear.

“Okay, I’m leaving you with the clean-up, “ Lee said a little louder and I rolled my eyes.

“Of course you are.” I gave him a gentle push towards the door.

“I’m the cook, not the dishwasher. I thought we established these rules years ago.” Lee opened the kitchen door and with a final wave left Yoss and me to our not quite comfortable co-existence.

Yoss picked up the rest of the dishes and put them in the sink, turning on the water.

“I can do that—” I started to say.

“I’m sure you have to get ready for work. I can take care of this. I’ve got to earn my keep somehow,” Yoss interrupted.

“Well, I do have a dishwasher,” I pointed out.

“I like the process, makes me feel useful.” Yoss shrugged. “But if you want me to use the dishwasher—”

“No. You can wash the dishes however you want to. Thanks,” I said quickly.

I stood watching him systematically clean the plates and pans. His wet hair was drying and hung in his eyes. His skin was still jaundiced but his eyes were clearer this morning. The dark circles gone.

“How did you sleep?” I asked him, remembering his nightmares from the night before. I had stood outside his door for almost a half an hour, only going back to bed after he had quieted down and I was sure he wouldn’t start cry out again.

“Not bad. The bed is really comfortable. It’s been a while since I’ve slept on high thread count sheets.”

“That’s good. I’m glad.” He handed me a clean plate and I put it in the rack to dry. “We should probably look into getting you some clothes,” I suggested.

“I was thinking of going back to the house where I was staying to get my things today.” He paused for a moment, glancing at me, his green eyes hesitant. “That is if I can still stay here.”

I put my hand on his arm. He tensed. Muscles coiling, contracting. Wanting to pull away.

“Of course you can. I want you here, Yoss,” I said softly.

He dipped his hands back in the soapy water and started scrubbing the pan Lee used to make omelets.

“I like Lee. He’s nice,” Yoss said.

“He’s a therapist. He’s trained to make you think that,” I remarked with a smile.

“Well whatever, I’m just glad you have people like him in your life.”

“I was actually thinking you might want to talk to him sometime,” I began. Yoss frowned.

“I was just talking to him,” he pointed out.

“I mean about your situation. With your illness. Dr. Howell had made the suggestion that you speak to a counselor and Lee is great. He has a lot of experience working with end of life patients.”

Yoss’s face paled and my stomach dropped. “I didn’t mean you were end of life. I just meant given the severity of your disease—”

“It’s okay, Imi. We both know how sick I am. How bad the whole thing really is. There’s no sense in tiptoeing around it. I could die. In fact it’s looking like a very real possibility.” He lifted the plug in the sink, letting the water drain. “But I don’t know about being shrinked. That doesn’t sound like a good time to me.”

“Lee’s great. He won’t shrink you. Too much,” I smiled.

Yoss nodded. “Maybe.”

I stood there, knowing if I didn’t go to get a shower I was going to be very late for work. That should have bothered me.

But it didn’t.

Because I didn’t want to go to work.

The tightening in my stomach had nothing to do with anxiety about messing up my routine.

“Let me come with you to get your things,” I said.

Yoss looked at me in surprise. “I thought you had to go to work.”

I tightened the belt of my robe around my waist feeling strangely nervous. “I never use my holiday or sick time. I have loads of comp hours. I’d like to come with you, Yoss.”

“I can get my things myself,” he argued.

“I…I want to spend the day with you,” I let out in a rush.

Yoss didn’t say anything. I felt like I was hanging out in the wind, fluttering wildly, hoping I didn’t blow away. He left me in limbo with his silence and unspoken words.

“I don’t want you to see it, Imi,” he finally said.

“See what?” I was confused.

“Where I was living.” Yoss kept his eyes focused on the sink.

“I lived with you in a place like that, Yoss. You don’t need to be ashamed—”

“I
am
ashamed, Imogen!” he shouted, slamming his hands on the counter. I jumped at his tone.

He took a deep breath and seemed to calm himself down. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I’d love it if you came with me. If it’s okay for you to take the time off work,” Yoss said, not quite looking at me.

“Okay, well let me shower and get dressed. Um, you can watch TV or whatever. I’ll only be a few minutes.” I grabbed my phone and hurried back to my room. I quickly called Jason, telling him I was sick and wouldn’t be coming in.

“You’re sick? Since when? You’re the healthiest person I know,” Jason remarked suspiciously.

I coughed delicately and made sure to put a rasp in my voice. “I woke up feeling horrible. I don’t want to spread my germs around to everyone.”

“We work in a hospital, Imogen. We’re surrounded by germs every day.” Jason clearly wasn’t buying my excuse so I dropped the sick act.