Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Echo

I t’s almost eleven, and I’ve spent the evening with Ariel on my lap as I stare at the clock. I can’t focus on anything. I keep thinking of Dean going through another Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony by himself and his silent vigil at midnight. Does anyone know he did that? Does his brother?

Of course the mayor knows. He probably has Dean tagged. Is there a Find My Brother app? I snort at the idea. Ariel wakes up and gives me the stink eye.

“I’m sorry for disturbing your sleep, princess.”

She chirrups, stretches her legs, extending her claws which she thankfully does not stick in me, and returns to sleep.

I feel like I’m missing out. The whole town is having fun, but I’m stuck at home thanks to a small hairy dog. I stare at my ankle and wonder if I can suck it up just for one evening. Then I move my leg and flinch as a sharp pain stabs through me. I think the answer is no.

I sigh. Then I grit my teeth. Dean needs a friend whether he knows it or not.

I call the one person I know can help me, but Aunt Hebe doesn’t pick up, neither does Heather. Then I try Gloria. She answers on the second ring.

“Hi there, gorgeous Gloria speaking. What can I do for you, honey?”

I roll my eyes. “Gloria? I need your help.”

“Always, sweetheart. What do you need from your Aunty Gloria?”

“I’m older than you. You know this, right?”

“What’s that got to do with it? Now hurry up. I’m on my break, and I’ve got to get back to work soon.”

“You’re working?” I thought she had the day off.

“Yeah, one of dispatchers called in sick. But if you need something, you know I can help.”

I take a deep breath. “I need to get to the Christmas tree in the square.”

“Now?” She sounds doubtful. “The festivities are over. They finished hours ago.”

“I know, but Dean will be there in an hour.” I ignore the noise of understanding she makes. “Do you know anyone who could give me a ride there for midnight?”

“You leave it with me. Someone will swing by in forty minutes.”

“It doesn’t take twenty minutes to get to the square.”

“It’ll take you that long to get down your stoop and into the car.”

She has a point.

“Thanks, Gloria.”

“You’re welcome. Wrap up warm. It’s freezing out there.”

“I will.” I disconnect the call and regard my cat. “Sorry, princess, I’m off to rescue our Prince Dean from himself.”

Ariel chirrups as if she agrees with my plan.

She’s not so happy when I dislodge her from my lap and wriggle to the edge of the seat to stand up. It’s only ten past eleven but I need to get dressed. This could take a while.

By the time it’s eleven-thirty, I’m sweating and cold at the same time. But I’m dressed in pants and a nice sweater. I’ve got one shoe on and the boot on the bad foot. I sit on the couch in my jacket, waiting for the knock. I’m ready to go.

At eleven forty precisely, there’s a knock at the door.

“I’m coming,” I yell as I use my crutches to get me to the door.

I fling it open to find the sheriff. I stare at him, then look behind him to see the cruiser.

“Is something wrong. Sheriff?”

“I’m your ride.”

I still stare at him. “You?”

“My deputies are busy, so she enlisted me to help.”

“But I can’t ask you to help.”

“You didn’t. Gloria did. And I’m not going to argue with her. Are you ready?”

“Uh…yeah.”

I pull my hand and gloves from my pockets, check I’ve got my keys and wallet, and step out onto the porch, nearly sending us both flying as I slip and end up in Morgan’s arms.

“Geez,” he mutters, grabbing me, before I send him hurtling down the stoop.

“Sorry.” I try to stand upright without going flying again. “Maybe Gloria had a point.”

“Getting you down the stoop? Gloria had that conversation with me too. I’ll help you down. We’ll go slowly.”

By the time we reach the cruiser, this time without incident, I’m sweating buckets and am ready to go back to bed…if I could face the stoop again. Morgan opens the passenger door, and I back in, like Dean showed me before. I heave a huge sigh of relief when I’m safely in the car. I’m also dreading getting out.

The sheriff slides behind the wheel and regards me for a moment. “If you need to hurl there are bags here.”

I look at the bags and then at him. “Do a lot of people hurl in your car?”

“Occupational hazard,” he says drily as he reverses out of my drive.

“Thanks. I’m okay at the moment.”

“You’re the color of the snow.”

As I’m ready to pass out from the pain in my ankle, this doesn’t surprise me. We reach the square in a few moments. The sheriff is clearly not one for conversation and that’s fine with me. I wouldn’t know what to say to him.

“He’s there,” Morgan says, pointing to the lone figure by the tree.

“He’s here every year,” I say.

“I know.”

I guess if there’s one person in the town who should know, it’s the sheriff. As he helps me out, the sheriff fixes me with a stare. “It’s good he’s let you into his life. Don’t screw it up.”

There’s so much I can say to that, but I want to get to Dean, so I just nod. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Call Gloria if you need a ride home.”

I nod, grateful for his offer. “Thank you, Sheriff Morgan.”

My screen lights up, and I’m surprised to see Dean’s name on the screen. “Dean? Are you all right?”

“I need a friend.”

“I’m already here, honey,” I call out as I struggle out of the car.

Dean turns and sees me hobbling toward him. I admit I’m kinda relieved when he strides over to me and wraps a firm arm around my shoulders. “What are you doing here? How did you get here? Don’t tell me you were stupid enough to drive.”

When he finally pauses to take a breath, I point to the sheriff who leans against his car.

“I called Gloria who mobilized the sheriff to help me.”

“The sheriff drove you here?” Dean sounds gobsmacked. “And you didn’t freak out?”

“Believe me, I’m plenty freaking out riding next to the sheriff. My mama always said I’d end up in a cop car. Now could we sit down somewhere before I fall and need another ambulance?”

I wave at the sheriff, who waves back and then gets into his car. I can’t help the sigh of relief when he drives off, leaving the two of us alone. I turn back to Dean.

“I need to sit, then you talk to me. I’m here for you.”

Dean guides me over to a seat. “You didn’t have to come here. I know you’re in pain.”

I caress his cheek. “So are you.”

His chin wobbles a moment. “Yeah. But I should be over it.”

“There’s no time limit on mourning someone. We’ve already had that conversation.”

I hold him close, and he leans against me. We sit in silence for a moment.

“You’re still wearing the Santa hat,” I say.

He snorts. “I haven’t been home yet. I went to the hospital and ended up visiting with Curtis.”

I furrow my brow. “Curtis? I don’t know him. Is he a nurse?”

“He owns the Chronicle.”

“Oh right.” The local newspaper. I don’t think I’ve read a copy yet. I got all the local gossip from Randy. “Why is he in hospital?”

“He slipped on ice and hurt himself pretty bad. I spent a few hours talking to him. He’s so bored.”

“If I’d known it was this dangerous in Collier’s Creek I’d have carried on driving,” I mutter.

“I promised to go back tomorrow with books and candy.”

“I’ll come with you,” I suggest.

“You’re supposed to be resting your ankle.” Dean gives me a stern look.

“I want to be here for you.”

“Thank you. But you’re still going to rest your ankle.”

I love the little growl in his voice when he tries to give me an order.

But when I hold him close, he leans into me like he needs my embrace so badly. We’re going to freeze out here, I’m sure of it, but at least we have each other’s body warmth. I finally look up at the tree watching the spiral of twinkling lights. “The tree is beautiful.”

Just like the man next to me.

Dean rests his head on my shoulder. “It is. I know it’s weird to come here year after year, but this is therapy for me. It’s a chance to remember the good times Marty and I had together, not just the accident.”

I pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “That’s good for you.”

“Even Danny leaves me alone here.”

Have I invaded his private space? Yeah, he’d called me, but maybe he still wants to be alone. “Do you want me to go? I can call the sheriff for another ride.”

Dean chuckles. “I wouldn’t put you or him through that again.”

“I fell into his arms and nearly threw us both down the stoop. It’s a good thing his reflexes are good.”

“I hope Ben doesn’t hear about that or you’re toast.”

I smack my forehead. “He’ll throw me out on the streets if he thinks I’m after his man.”

“Don’t worry, Echo. I’ll protect you from the big, bad Deputy.”

I give him the side-eye. “Now you’re just making fun of me.”

“A little,” he agrees.

I huff and he laughs. Then he entangles his fingers in mine. It’s not easy as we’re wearing gloves, but it’s too cold to take them off.

“Can I tell you about Marty?” he asks.

I had just been about to ask him the same question. I want to know about the boy who captured his heart.

“I’d love to know about him,” I say.

He shivers a little and I hold him closer. “I hit him in the face with a ball in 4 th grade.”

“You hit him?”

“He hit me back,” Dean protests. “Then we were suspended for fighting.”

There’s clearly more to this teenage love than I thought. “Go on.”

When Dean finishes, we sit in silence for a few minutes. Then I turn, gently lift his chin, and kiss him.

“Thank you.”

“I’ve never told anyone about him. Not even my brother, and believe me, he asks about Marty a lot.”

That forestalled my thought about his brother not caring. “Why did you never discuss Marty with him?”

Dean is silent for a moment and I’m about to say it doesn’t matter when he speaks. “Initially I thought he was just a homophobic jerk, you know? Only he’s not. Danny doesn’t always know the right words to say, but he’s a good man.”

“But you still didn’t tell him?”

“I always knew the only person I’d talk to about Marty was someone I trusted to understand me. Danny treats me like his kid. He loves me, but he doesn’t really get me. We’re not the same.”

I sit there, understanding the gift he’s just given me. He trusts me. He barely knows me, but he trusts me to talk about his heart.

I let out a sudden shiver. “I’m freezing. Let’s get out of here. Do you have your car?”

“I do.” Dean points, and I squint, just making out his Ford in the dark. “You don’t have to ask for the sheriff taxi.”

“How did you know?—”

“JD would never let you struggle home by yourself.”

“Deputy Ben might, if he thinks I’m feeling up his man.”

“He might,” Dean agrees. “How’s your ankle?”

“I can’t feel it. Like I can’t feel my legs, I’m so cold. Next time you talk about Marty, could we do it in the warm?”

“You think there’ll be a next time?”

“I hope there is.”

Dean chuckles. “You’re a strange guy, Echo. Willing to know about another man’s boyfriend. Are you ready?”

“Let’s go slowly.”

I crutch toward the Ford. Dean has his hand on me the whole time, ready to scoop me up if necessary. But we reach his pickup without incident. I groan in pleasure as I sit down.

Dean closes my door, then slides behind the steering wheel. “Home?”

“Home,” I agree.

The pickup is only just heating up by the time we reach my house, but that’s okay. Dean helps me up the stoop, then takes the keys out of my hand to open the door.

“I need my bed,” I admit.

“I’ll help you,” he says.

“You don’t need to do that.”

“You spend all evening listening to me talk about my dead boyfriend in the freezing cold. I can help you into bed.”

“Well, when you put it like that.” I don’t argue anymore. I’m too tired. Dean scoops up Ariel so she can’t trip me up and guides me into the bedroom.

He makes me take pain meds, then helps me undress, waits while I use the bathroom, then eases me into bed, propping a pillow under my ankle and resting an ice pack against it. It’s impersonal but kind at the same time.

As he pulls the covers over me, I take his hand. “Stay.” I see the uncertainty in his eyes. “Just for comfort, nothing else.” Then I admit, “I’m not up to anything more interesting.”

He hesitates, then nods. “Okay. I’ll make sure Ariel’s all right and turn off the lights.”

Ariel is buried next to me in the covers. She’s fine. Dean quickly returns, strips down to his briefs and slides into bed next to me. He rolls onto his side and takes my fingers.

“My brother wouldn’t understand comfort like this.”

I crack up and he starts laughing too. I fall asleep still giggling.

Despite Dean’s insistence that I need to sit on my butt and rest my ankle, his words, not mine, I go with him to the hospital. I don’t know why; I just want to give him the company. I also want to get out of the house.

My jaw drops when I see he’s dressed up in the Santa costume again. “Why? I thought you hated that costume.”

He grimaces. “I do, but Curtis dared me to turn up like this. He’s going to make a donation to the hospital if I show up as Santa.”

I shake my head. Most guys would have told him where to stick his donation, but not Dean.

“I need to go via the bookshop. Curtis wants something new to read.” Dean fixes me with a firm stare. “You will stay in the vehicle, mister.”

“Yessir.” I salute him and he rolls his eyes.

He’s a matter of minutes in the bookshop, then gets in the pickup and hands me the bag.

I peek inside. It’s a mix of thrillers and horror. “I’ve been meaning to read some of these.”

“I’ve got them at home,” Dean says. “You can borrow them. Maybe then you’ll stay off your ankle. I offered to lend them to Curtis, but he’d already put in an order at the bookshop.”

I poke my tongue out at him. He sighs and starts the truck.

Okay, I’m really regretting my decision to do this as we walk, or in my case, limp, into the hospital. It doesn’t help that I get a scolding by Dr Crane who spots us as we walk through the entry. Dean gets a scolding too, which he points out is very unfair.

“I told you to sit on your butt.”

“Does it help that my ankle hurts like a bitch, and I’m a breath away from crying?” I ask.

He sighs and turns on his heel. I’m left standing here, wandering what to do. Then he returns with a wheelchair. “Sit,” he snaps, like I’m a dog.

But sitting sounds good, so I do what I’m told. Staff and patients stare at us as he wheels me through the hospital.

“Aren’t you supposed to be checking your list right now, Santa?” one of the nurses calls out as she goes past.

“He’s on the naughty list,” Dean says, pointing at me.

“I bet he is.” She’s almost purring.

“Oh, dear God,” I mutter under my breath. “Get me out of here.”

Dean snorts, and we carry on until we reach the ward.

“Do you know Curtis?” Dean asks.

I shake my head.

“Just a warning. He’s a journalist. He says it like it is. Don’t pay any attention to him.”

Duly warned. Dean opens the door.

“Oh fuck,” the man in the bed says as he spots us. “How much?”

How much? Does he think I’m for sale?

Dean squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t panic. It’s the Santa costume he’s annoyed about. Quit whining, Curtis. I collected your books, you’ve got a pretty man to stare at, and you can laugh at my suit.”

“I’m annoyed because I didn’t think you’d have the balls to wear it,” Curtis growls. “And I don’t stare at men.”

I want to make a crack about Santa’s balls, but I don’t know this guy, so I keep my mouth shut.

Curtis glowers at me. “What happened to you?”

“Taken down by a small hairy mutt when I was Santa.”

“At the old codgers place?” Curtis gives a nod. “I heard about that.”

“Don’t let Hebe hear you call it that,” Dean warns.

Curtis shrugs. “She’s called it worse.”

“Hebe’s my aunt,” I say, before he says anything else.

“You’re Echo? Randy’s new guy?”

“I am.”

“He says good things about you. That doesn’t happen often.”

“Echo is supposed to be resting his ankle, but he’s as stubborn as you,” Dean says.

“Nothing wrong with that.” Curtis actually grins at me. “Come over here, kid. I need someone else to talk to.”

“Not for long,” Dean says. “I’ve got plans for Echo.”

I stare at him over my shoulder, and he blushes, suddenly realizing what he said.

Curtis snorts. “You finally found yourself a fella, Dean? ‘Bout time.”

“If I see Honey Sweeting gossiping about us in the Chronicle, I won’t be happy,” Dean warns.

Who the heck is Honey Sweeting?

“Kid, you think it’s a secret? The whole town knows.”

I reach back to take Dean’s hand. “Then no one needs to talk about it. Do they?” I fix him with a stare.

Curtis blinks, then turns to Dean. “He’s a keeper. Don’t screw it up.”

Dean squeezes my hand. “I know that.”