Page 20 of The Road Home
Orson blushed. "I don't know. I didn't mean to say that."
"No, it's okay, but something made you think I wouldn't." Jared didn't know what to think.
"It's just that when I told you why I was kicked out of my home you looked upset, like you didn't want to deal with me suddenly because I was gay. Your whole demeanor changed when I said I was gay."
Jared laughed and shook his head. "It wasn't because I was upset you were gay. Not even close. I was pissed that your parents had done that to you. It was nothing more than that." Truth was, he'd seen his own life in that moment, saw what his life could have been like had he dared to come out to his own parents at about the same age.
"Oh, I thought it was because you didn't approve."
"I don't, of what your parents did. It has nothing to do with you." He reached out and gripped Orson's shoulder. "I have no problem with you being gay. Don't ever think that, okay?"
Orson nodded.
"I'm sorry that I made you feel that way. I didn't realize I was doing it. I was just mad at your parents. Disgusted they could do that to you."
"I just read your reaction wrong." Orson turned back to the hutch. "So you'll give this to them as a gift?"
"Yeah, a while back they were over here and saw one I'd made for someone else. Richard said he wanted one like it someday. I figured it was a simple gift I could make. Better than getting them a coffee pot or some other senseless item."
"It doesn't look simple to me." Orson ran his hand down a piece of wood that was still unfinished.
"I guess really it's not. I've been working on it a few weeks now. I still have a lot to do. They are getting married in September, so I have time to finish it. I just hope they like it. I usually don't do large items like this without getting some feedback from the people I do it for." Jared came around the side. "Anyway, I just need to turn it around so I can work on the back side for a bit, if you don't mind helping me turn it. If you can with that cast on."
"Sure, it won't get in the way." Jared went to the other side. "Which way we going?"
"My way." Jared gripped the edge. "Ready? One, two, three." He lifted the hutch and started to turn it, glancing around to make sure Orson was okay with the weight.
"It's heavier than I expected." Orson gasped as he set it down. "Or I'm in worse shape than I thought."
"It didn't hurt your ribs did it?" Jared hadn't even thought about them before.
"No, I'm fine." Orson laughed. "Stop worrying."
"It's hard. I saw you when you came to the clinic." Jared narrowed his eyes at him. "I know how bad it was."
"Yeah, but I've had worse. I'm okay, honestly."
Jared didn't like hearing there had been worse injuries, but the x-rays had shown old bone breaks. He dreaded to even guess what Orson had been through over the years on the streets. "I still don't want to risk pushing you. The last thing you need right now while you're trying to get a job and a place to live is another injury."
"Yeah, I was hoping to get this off before I started applying to places." Orson rubbed the cast.
Jared frowned, but reached out and took Orson's casted arm in his hands. "Are you going to be applying places this week?" He took in how battered and dirty the cast was.
"I wanted to. I'll check at the shelter tomorrow and if she has something, that will keep me from having to go out, but since you're helping me by letting me wash my clothes and shower, I thought tomorrow would be a good day to walk into a few places near where I stay and try on my own."
Jared ran a finger over the cast again, trying to remember how bad the break was. "How about I make you a deal? I'll cut this off today, but since it's not fully healed, I have an arm brace that you can wear instead to keep it safe and remind you not to use it for anything heavy." Jared was sure it would be okay, but he needed Orson to be careful with it.
Orson glanced up at him nervously. "What is the brace like? I'm not sure I can deal with one of those slings around my neck."
"No, not like that. It's actually used for carpal tunnel. It will cover the area where your break is. I think as long as you're careful, you'll do okay with that on for another week or two, but, should it start to hurt worse, then promise me you'll go to the clinic and get it recast or give me a call." Jared released his arm, meeting Orson's stare. "Deal?"
"You bet. I'd do anything to get this off." Orson smiled. "You just made my day."
Jared laughed. "I don't blame you. I had my arm in a cast a few years ago. I was still in medical school and it made everything impossible. I couldn't wait to get the damn thing off. So I do understand. Let me go get you some stuff to change into so you can shower, make sure I have a brace, and then I'll cut it off before you go shower. That way we won't have to wrap it."
"Thank you." Orson let out a relieved sigh. "I'll never be able to pay you back for all this."
"I don't expect you to. Friends help each other out, right?" Jared glanced around the shop. "It's not a normal saw like I'd use in the hospital, but it will work." He picked up a cut off wheel he used around the shop.
