Page 43 of Let Leaves Lay Where They Fall

Andrew is standing on the landing at the top with the apartment door wide open. “What the hell happened?” He steps forward, taking hold of Jamie’s other arm and helping pull the rest of the way.

“A little accident at work.” He leans his head on Andrew's shoulder. “This is Nathan.” Jamie nods toward the nurse. “Nathan, this is my roommate Andrew.”

“Nice to meet you, Nathan.”

“Nice to meet you.” The nurse smiles.

They help Jamie to his room. Setting him on the edge of the bed.

“Thanks guys.” He looks around the room. Hoping he’s not left an embarrassing mess. Having Nathan in his personal space without being able to tidy up first, feels awkward. Thankfully everything is in its place.

“I’m planning to make a veggie lasagna, if you’re still up for dinner?” Andrew mothers.

“Sounds amazing.” His belly growls.

“Have you eaten?” Andrew looks to Nathan.

“I’ve got to get back to work.” Nathan’s hand is on Jamie’s shoulder. “I’ll check in later though?” His eyes ask for permission.

“Okay.” Jamie’s smile is sleepy again. “I’m going to grab a quick nap.”

“Of course.” Andrew says, slipping back to the kitchen.

Nathan insists on helping him get into bed and tucks the blankets around him. “I’m glad we got to chat. Sorry for the circumstances.” Nathan’s tone is soft again. “I have the next few days off. Let me know if there’s anything you need. Okay?”

“Okay.” Jamie rolls onto his side. Closing his eyes. The meds take him to sleep.

Nathan softly closes the bedroom door on his exit.

“Thank you for helping him get home. I wish he had called me.” Andrew is slicing zucchini.

“It was my pleasure.” Nathan’s hand is on the doorknob. “I’ll keep checking in. He’s probably going to be out for a while.” He turns the knob and opens the door. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Same here.” Andrew smiles.

Chapter 16

Lasagna

Nathan and Mabel do their usual pre-dawn lap around the neighborhood, through the cemetery and back. The coffee finished brewing before their return.

He fills her bowls. Grabs himself two slices of cold leftover pizza, a big mug of sweetened sludge and they enjoy breakfast together. He still needs to get cream.

Mabel curls up next to him on the sofa with a full belly. Lays her head on his lap and falls back to sleep within minutes. The champ.

The attic apartment is cozy today. The heat rises from the floors below, feeling similar to the air back home in the Nevada desert. A drastic contrast to the cold outside.

Nathan pulls up a novel he’d started reading several months ago on an app. A nurse named Marco, back in Oregon, had recommended it.

A sweet modern science fiction fairytale about a heartbroken librarian who is gifted a robot companion that he soon falls head over heels in love with.

He’d started the read ages ago, but life got busy, and this morning felt like a good time to dig back in. While he waited for a reasonable hour to text Jamie and check to see how he fared through the night.

He hopes Bertie is happy he’s taking her message from the dream visit seriously and making an effort to connect with the cutie. Even if it’s just for a couple months.

After consuming two chapters, Nathan hops in the shower.

Mabel sits in the bathroom doorway, with confused eyes as to why he’d subject himself to baths every day. She hated them!

---