Page 67 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
Nowthey were getting closer to the underlyingsadness. Joe asked, “What’s your part?”
“Heartbroken.”
Joe blinked. “You’re in love with my sister, too?”
Kip laughed weakly. “You’re kind of an idiot, but that’sokay. I clearly have a weakness for idiots.”
And it clicked. “You love your best friend.”
The redhead snorted. “Who doesn’t? A friend loves at alltimes.”
Fine. He could say it clearer. “You’reinlove withyour best friend. With Ash.”
“I take back the idiot remark. Compared to Ash, you’re agenius.” Kip tipped back the last of his beer. “He never noticed.”
TWENTY-SIX
Squirreled Away
Questions swarmed through Joe’s mind, but he swattedthem aside. None of them seemed even remotely appropriate in the face of Kip’sheartache. So he handed him a fresh can and opened the tin that still remainedon his desk.
“Mom made these with the nuts we were cracking earlier.” Joeoffered him one of the bite-sized tarts, all dark and sugary and rich withbutter. “They’re my favorite.”
Kip popped it into his mouth and went for an appreciativesound, only it came out as more of a whine.
Joe pretended not to notice and passed him another. Hecouldn’t think of anything else to say, so he just repeated, “I won’t tell.”
Tears slipped down Kip’s cheeks.
Another tart found its way into his hand.
“Jiro, would you mind if ….” He cleared his throat. “Ireally need to hold onto something for a little while, ’kay?”
“Sure.”
Kip patted the floor at his side, and when Joe sat there, anarm draped across his shoulders. Turning slightly, Kip reached across Joe andlinked his hands.
Joe sat very still in the circle of those arms, but nothingelse happened. Just an additional closeness. Tami sometimes needed this fromhim. He’d always assumed they needed to touch because they were twins. They’dbeen teased for hand-holding all the way into their teen years. At home, nobodythought it was strange when they curled up together. Were Rivven the same,needing that extra connection?
Usually, Tami was the only one he wanted this close. Nowthere was Biddie. And Kip.
Joe reached up to feed Kip another tart. Then leaned into hisside the same way Tami was always leaning into him.
“You’re a good kid,” Kip mumbled.
“I’m an adult.” He pushed another tart into the teary-eyedsquirrel’s mouth. “I might even be older than you, in human years.”
Kip hauled him snug against his side, wrapping his tailaround them both. “You arenotthe first person to call my maturity intoquestion.”
His smile was soggy, but he was rallying. Joe rewarded hiscourage with another tart.
“I remember you, you know.” Kip pulled up his shirt to wipehis eyes. “I was a janitor when you were at school.”
“No,” Joe countered. “Our janitors were two old guys.”
“Yeah, that was us. You really hit it off with Ash. He wasMr. Black back then.” Kip took a long swig of beer. “I remember you, your dad,your grandad. Ash and I have been watching over Landmark for a long, long time.I thought we’d go on like that forever.”
Joe calmly played dumb. “You can’t be a janitor anymore?”
