Nick liked the idea that someone could miss the one they love so much in just a short space of time.He hoped he could have what he was witnessing one day.
“Daddy!” Baylee screamed running in and clutching onto Brian’s legs, looking up at him with a wide smile on his little face. Brian kissed Leighanne passionately once more before bending down and scooping up his little son into his arms. He cuddled and kissed him making Baylee giggle frantically, a loud and pure sound that Nick smiled over when he heard it. Leighanne greeted Nick with a smile on her face also. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hug. He was thankful that he was no longer haunted by his dream of her. He did not feel her body laying on him in his bed when he hugged her anymore. The feelings of guilt and betrayal had vanished from him, and he enjoyed her company again. It was nice to be in a family home; with a family atmosphere- Nick hadn’t felt this warmth in a long time. Baylee crawled out of Brian’s embraced and jumped onto Nick, who caught him clumsily, his heart racing thinking he was going to drop him.
“I wanna play with Uncle Nick.” Baylee exclaimed excitedly, before suggesting to Nick a game to play.
“Now Baylee, let Nick and Daddy sit down and relax” Leighanne encouraged trying to pluck Baylee from Nick, but Baylee began to cry and fuss when she did, so she left him.
“Sorry Nick, he’s all yours now!” Leighanne said laughing.
“No, it’s ok.” Nick said smiling down at the bundle of life he held in his arms. “Let’s go play!” Nick played along excitedly, putting Baylee down and running after him upstairs, leaving his suitcase and bag in the corridor.
Leighanne cuddled Brian again, sinking her head into his neck, happy to have him home. It was also nice to see Nick too, looking better than he had done, the last time she saw him. Nick, as Baylee was, was in bed early that night to try and sleep off the jet lag. Baylee had taken a while to settle down after the excitement of his father’s arrival, along with Nick’s. The two sleeping had been asleep for many hours, but only once Brian had checked Baylee was sound asleep, and then similarly checked that Nick was also sleeping happily, did he curl up on the sofa with his wife. She lent her head against his chest as the TV screen glared at them, but they were indifferent to it.
“How’s Nick doing?” Leighanne asked cautiously, but hopeful also. “He looks much better.” She observed, and Brian held her tighter in his arms as he thought. “It’s up and down.” Brian confessed. He didn’t really want to think about Nick right now, he just wanted to cuddle Leighanne and dissolve into a world where it was just him and her, and their son, and no one else in the world. It was a calm place where he found his sanctuary and solitude. But his heart couldn’t help but think of his friend asleep in a spare room upstairs.
“I’m hoping spending time here with us will help him to relax and feel better.” He said and hoped. Brian thought it was a good opportunity to ask his wife for a few favours. “Honey” He began in the tone any wife would recognise from her husband, and laughed, lifting her head and looking at him as if to say “what do you want?”
“Is it alright if Nick’s friend comes to visit him?”
“Which friend?” Leighanne asked slightly concerned as Nick’s “friends” were not the best of people most of the time.
“No, she’s nice-well I think she’s nice” Brian tried to persuade her, but he decided to just be blunt. “Nick thinks he’s got feelings for this girl, her name is Heather- you remember her, the waitress.”
”Yes I do.” Leighanne remembered their late night in the hospital. “She seemed nice” Leighanne rested her head back against his chest and agreed.
Brian felt relieved and it was not long until he and Leighanne joined Nick and Baylee in the land of dreams. Nick crept downstairs, craving something to drink. He heard the sound of the TV but he was disorientated and sleepy, so he thought he was just tired, until he saw Leighanne and Brian huddled on the sofa, the TV on in front of them. Nick smiled, and walked over to switch the TV off. He flicked the switch and the lack of sound made Brian wake from his sleep.
“Hey.” Nick said soothingly.
“It’s late, and I came down for something to drink, and found you guys, so I thought I’d turn off the TV”
Brian gestured at him with his hand to stop. He understood. Brian kissed Leighanne’s cheek a few times.
“Leigh?” He tried to wake her. “Leigh?” He repeated, and she moaned slightly. “Let’s go to bed Hun.” He said again, and she opened her eyes and stretched. “Go upstairs and I’ll lock up.” Brian said and she kissed his cheek, and then Nick’s cheek before whispering “Goodnight” to them both.
Brian stretched also before checking the doors and windows. Nick went into the kitchen, retrieved some milk and sat down at the breakfast bar to drink it. He was serene and sleepy but had a craving for milk, and drank two whole glasses before Brian joined him. Brian sat down next to Nick, and drank some of his milk.
“You alright man?” Brian asked. “Are you sleeping ok up there. Bed comfortable”
“Yeah I’m fine, Brian, I was just thirsty.” He said taking another glass from the cupboard. When he sat down the glass of the breakfast bar, he opened the cupboard up once again and retrieved a small plastic cup for Baylee who was cowering shyly in the doorway- he didn’t want to be told off for being out of bed.
“Come here little man.” Nick said pouring Baylee a little cup of milk, as Baylee approached and pulled at his Dad’s trousers to be picked up. Brian lazily pulled Baylee onto his lap, and both father and son yawned in unison.
“Why are you up?” Brian whispered.
“I want some milk.” Baylee said guzzling his milk quickly. Brian pulled the cup from his lips.
“Slow down, or you’ll be sick.” Brian suggested, as Nick put the milk back in the fridge. He sat back down and drank his milk sleepily, and dreamily, along with Brian and Baylee- three cowboys drinking milk at a bar in the sky.
