20. Chapter 20

Chapter twenty

"You know how I love attention."

G age was glad Sydney was there with him. As much as he loved his family, she was the one that seemed to bring him the most comfort.

"I'm sorry the first thing I said to you was about the paper."

Sydney smiled. "It's fine. I know what it means to you."

"Do you think it means too much to me?"

She looked at him for a moment. "What do you mean?"

"Lately, with you gone and the mayor stuff overwhelming me, it seems all I do is obsess about getting the paper out on time. Writing perfect articles. Interviewing people, which I hate. The photographs. The layout. I'm driving myself crazy." He looked at her. "I can't keep doing it by myself."

"Well, you could hire someone else."

"I don't want someone else." It came out as a bark. "Sorry." He took a breath. "You're right. I need help."

"I thought Clementine was helping at the office."

"She is. But she doesn't know what she's doing. Which is fine. I wouldn't be able to step in and be a deputy. But most of the time it's easier for me to just do it myself than show her how to do it." He rubbed his forehead. "I think she's getting a bit frustrated with me as well."

"Right now, you need to concentrate on getting well and over your injuries."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"I'll go into the office tomorrow and take care of things. Then you have the weekend to recover. On Monday, if you need me, I'll come in and help get the paper ready for Tuesday."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I can't have you stressing all weekend."

"Thank you."

She cocked her head. "I'll only do it if you promise to stay home. No trips to town until Monday. And only then if you're feeling up to it. Really feeling up to it. I don't want you going in because you feel guilty or that the world will stop if the paper isn't perfect and ready to go out."

He nodded. "Fine. I promise."

"Okay. Then you have nothing to worry about."

He yawned. "Before I fall asleep again. What about the mayor stuff?"

"There's nothing going on this weekend. And even if there was, you have a really good excuse for not attending. I'm sure once word gets out, you'll be inundated with well wishes."

"Great. You know how I love attention."

She smiled. "You better get used to that."

He was quiet for a moment, then looked at her. "So, you really think the new deputy is cute?"

Sydney laughed. "I haven't seen him yet. But Clementine isn't the first person to mention it."

"Hmm."

"Why would you care if I thought he was cute? Or if I wanted to get to know him?"

"By getting arrested?"

"Something less dramatic."

"First off, he's young. Probably twenty-five. Twenty-six."

"That's not a problem."

Gage squinted at her. "And he's not from around here."

Sydney shrugged. "That doesn't bother me. I'm not from around here either. We could bond over that." She took his hand. "Why don't you tell me the real reason you'd have a problem with me getting up close and personal with Deputy Kimbal?"

He looked at their clasped hands. "I miss the hell out of you, Sydney."

"Because of my skills as your Lois Lane?"

He shook his head. "No. Because seeing you every day at the office makes the job a hell of a lot easier." He gave her a small smile. "You are a pretty great Lois Lane, though."

"Well, Superman. Or should I call you Clark? I really wish you could just get over yourself and admit you like me. And I'm fully aware that you liking someone is different from anyone else liking someone. It's more complicated and buried under all the layers of stuff you have floating around in your very busy mind. But somewhere in there, I believe you have feelings for me."

She was right. He did. But could he freely admit it? And if he did, what would that mean? "All I know is I've missed you. And right here and now, you're the only person I want holding my hand."

She nodded as her eyes teared up. "Right now. That's good enough for me."

"Corbyn, I can't stay here. I will go crazy lying in this bed."

Corbyn shook his head. "You're a worse patient than Cooper. And he was terrible. But I can't in good conscience let you go home to an empty house. If you can convince someone to come stay the weekend with you. Then I'll sign off on it."

"I'll talk to Cabe. If he can tear himself away from Jovie long enough to help his brother out."

"He did help save your life."

"And I'll be forever grateful. But seriously, he and Jovie are connected at the hip these days. Why don't they just get married already?"

"I'm sure they will when they're ready. And when did you become pro-marriage?"

"I don't have anything against people getting married. I just don't want it for myself." He scowled at Corbyn. "And you're one to talk, Mr. Thirty-seven-year-old single father."

Sydney came through the door. "Am I interrupting?"

Corbyn glanced at her. "No. You have perfect timing."

She smiled at Gage. "Are you going home today?"

He looked at her. "Shouldn't you be at the office?"

"I'm going. I just wanted to check up on you before I went in. And…" She held up a Styrofoam box. "I brought you breakfast."

Corbyn stepped back from the bed. "He's only going home if he gets some help for the next few days."

"Help at home?"

"Yeah."

Gage grumbled. "A babysitter, in other words."

Corbyn shook his head and left the room.

Sydney set the box down on the bedside table. "Did we wake up on the grumpy side of the bed?"

"I'm afraid both sides of this bed are grumpy." He glanced at the box. "What did you bring me?"

"Biscuits and gravy."

"From the café or from Remy?"

"Remy. Why?"

"He's a master. The sausage he uses in his gravy is superb."

"So, you'll eat it, then?"

"Hand it over." He pushed the button on the remote which raised the head of his bed. It caused some pain in his ribs, and he held back a groan.

Sydney opened the box and handed it to him. "I'm glad you're hungry."

"I'm starving."

She watched him eat for a moment, then said, "Who can come stay with you?"

He shrugged. "I just need someone to tell Corbyn they'll stay with me."

"Gage."

"I don't need a babysitter."

"You'll get well much faster with someone helping you. If you have to get up to fix meals, or keep the fire going, you won't be resting like you should."

"Are you secretly working for Corbyn?"

"No. I just agree with him."

"Hmm." He pointed at the food with his fork. "This is great. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He looked at her. "What are you thinking?"

"Who says I'm thinking anything?"

"I know you, Sydney. I know when you have something on your mind. What's up?"

"I could stay with you."

He cocked his head. "Why would you want to do that?"

She shook her head. "No hidden agenda. I can come get you after I close the office today and stay the weekend. We could even work on the paper from home, and I can help you field the calls from the concerned citizens of Calaway Crossing."

"You know I don't handle being less than optimal."

"I know."

"I'm not sure I can risk you being more unhappy with me than you already are."

"I'm not unhappy with you. Like I said yesterday. If holding your hand is the most you can give me right now, I'll take it."

"I'll agree on one condition. If it gets to the point where you want to strangle me, you promise to leave."

She smiled. "I'll leave before it gets to that point. If it got that far, I may very well go through with it."

Gage laughed. "I believe you would." He took another bite. "Have you tried this?"

"No. It looks good, though."

"I'd give you a bite if…" He looked at his fork. "You know."

"Yes. I know." She opened the drawer on the table and dug around, coming up with a wrapped plastic spoon. "Will this do? Or will my germs still migrate to your food?"

"It's not about germs. I'm not a germaphobe." He offered the box to her. "Take a bite or two."

She took the box from him. "You're a little bit of a germaphobe." She ate a bite. "Mmm. Wow. That is good." She glanced at him and took another bite, then handed it back to him. "I should get to the paper."

"Thank you for breakfast."

"You're welcome. Anything I should know about Tuesday's edition?"

"There's a piece on Mayor Bessler. And another on Deputy Kimbal. If you want to interview him and add your two cents to the story, that's fine. It'll give you a chance to check him out."

"I just might do that."

"I don't want anything about my accident in the paper."

"It's news, Gage. I won't give specifics. Just that you'll be back next week, good as new and ready to take on the mayorship."

"Fine. Call Pax and ask if he and Elaina want the baby in the announcement section."

"Okay. Have you seen him?"

"No. They don't want to bring him here to the clinic. Which is totally understandable. I've seen pictures though. Damn cute."

"Well, he's a Calaway."

"That's true. We're all damn cute."

"Anything else?"

"That should keep you busy today."

"I'll close at four and come get you."

"Are you sure about taking care of me?"

"Yes."

He sighed. "Okay. I'll see you at four." He looked around the small room. "It can't come soon enough."

She patted his hand. "Get some rest. It'll be time to leave before you know it."

"Have a good day, Lois Lane."

"See ya, Clark."