Page 65 of A Simple Mistake
“Yeah.”Gareth sighed.“I shouldn’t grumble.She cares about the boys.”
“True, but running at a setback isn’t your MO, nor Jack’s.From the beginning, you’ve been all about stability, and that’s what Daniel and Nico needed most.What they’ll need now and going forward.Remind them how much they contributed to their escape and see how you go.My offer stands if they need a break for a day or so.”
“Thanks, Aidan.I’m too tired to think right now, but I’ll ask.”
“Do that.And don’t forget to talk to Jack, too.”
“That’s the daftest thing you’ve said tonight.”
“Maybe.Now stop loitering and get some sleep.”
“You, too.”
Aidan hung up and Gareth folded his arms on the kitchen table and rested his head on them.He’d go to bed in just a moment.
The Price of Absence
Thesafehousewherethey’dfirst stashed Daniel and Nico rarely made it to the forefront of Jack’s mind.But having the two boys wrapped around him, and Daniel jerking awake with a strangled cry every time he managed to drop off to sleep?That brought back memories.
Despite the jetlag, Jack hadn’t minded acting as Daniel’s nightmare guard.He’d dozed between quiet confessions and tales meant to distract, and they’d all finally succumbed to deeper sleep around four in the morning.The only thing that had bothered him—and that had joined his jumbled sense of time and space in nagging him awake—was that Gareth hadn’t come to bed.Were the police not done messing around downstairs?
He disentangled himself, grabbed a T-shirt and socks, and tiptoed from the room before dressing on the landing and heading downstairs to locate liquid sanity.
The first thing he found was Gareth, crumpled on the sofa as if he’d meant to just sit for a moment and hadn’t made it back up yet.
Well… that explained that.
Jack stared at his lover—the bruised knuckles, the lines around his eyes, and the frown that even sleep hadn’t eased.Gareth wouldn’t dismiss a home invasion as trivial.Neither would Jack, to be honest, but he hadn’t been here to mop up the mess.Gareth had held their family together, not just in a crisis, but for the weeks Jack had been gone.
If Conrad wanted to send him on a job anytime soon, he could keep right on asking.
Jack slipped from the living room and closed the door, determined to let the other three sleep for as long as possible while he entertained himself with coffee.
The state of the kitchen stopped him short.
Every single mug they possessed was out on the counter, along with most of the plates and bowls, and all showed signs of use.Empty pots filled the sink and overflowed onto the worktops… and Jack now had a much better idea of Gareth’s level of exhaustion.Gareth didn’t go to bed until the house was tidy.
Last night, he’d left his beloved kitchen in a state.
Jack started the coffeemaker, sure he’d need every drop of caffeine to get through the day.Then he loaded the dishwasher, emptied the sink, and ran hot water.He washed and dried everything that hadn’t fit into the machine, and once he’d wiped down all surfaces, the kitchen was approaching a state that suited his image of Gareth.
He was contemplating breakfast options when the door opened.
Pillow creases marked Gareth’s cheek and exhaustion darkened his eyes, but he lit up when he caught sight of Jack.And when Jack stepped close and twined his arms around Gareth’s neck, he wrapped him in a hug that was as welcome as it was desperate.
They kissed as they hadn’t been able to do the previous day, with the taste of coffee between them and no thought in Jack’s mind than that this moment was precious and not to be wasted.It was comfort with a capital C and something they both needed just then.
“Thanks for restoring order,” Gareth whispered a while later.
“I was grateful for the chance to move,” Jack said, determined to banish the guilt from Gareth’s tone.“When did you finally get rid of them all?”He moved to fill the kettle as he spoke, then pulled out the teapot and a dark green caddy with embossed vines, holding it up for approval.
“Earl Grey is fine, thank you.”Gareth scrubbed his hands over his face as if to dislodge the cobwebs.“They left just after two.”
“Any idea what took them so long?”
“Beats me.You haven’t looked yet?”
Jack shook his head, not surprised when Gareth grabbed his hand and towed him to the backdoor.
