the awkward positioning, and let him grieve. Dinner dishes clatter in the kitchen as the wracking leaves Jason’s body.
He situates us with his legs crossed under me. Still not the most comfortable for me, but I don’t tell him that.
I stroke his face. “Can I get you anything?”
He shakes his head and cinches his arms tight. “Don’t leave.” His words come out as a croak.
Mom kneels next to us and runs her hand across his back. Jason looks up with red, wet, puffy eyes. She offers him a glass of water. He shakes his head again. “Take it, Jason,” she says.
He reluctantly accepts the glass, takes a long draught, and hands it back. “Thank you,” he whispers.
“I’m sorry about your dad, Jason. He was a wonderful man and I’m going to miss him.”
Jason nods with his mouth turned down. Mom hugs him from the side, then places the glass on the table in the entry before returning to the kitchen.
“When did you get home? I thought you were staying in L.A. this weekend.”
“Late this morning. I changed my mind. I wanted to spend some time with him after Mom told me last night he was disoriented.”
I squirm a little at the uncomfortable position. “Do you want to go into the TV room?”
He nods again and releases me. I take the glass with us and make him drink more before we settle on the sofa. He pulls me onto his lap and wraps his arms around me.
“Where’s your mom?” I ask.
“Home.”
“Alone?”
“Yeah.” His eyes widen and his mouth gapes in horror.
“Mom!” I shout. She rushes to the door. “Alana is home alone.”
“We already called the Rivens. I’ll get your dad and we’ll head over there.”
“I’m sorry, Rose,” Jason says, threads of frailty wending their way through his voice. “I can go back.”
“It’s okay, sweetie. You stay here for a bit. Go home when you’re ready.”
“I didn’t mean to do that.”
I stroke his face with light fingers. “J, it was an accident.”
His eyes lock on mine. They’re still red from crying. “After they took his body, I felt so empty. I needed you. I needed to hold you.” His weeping starts anew and he hides his face in my shoulder once more.
“It’s okay,” I say soothingly, stroking his hair. “Mom and Dad are going over and we’ll go back when you’re ready.”
“I want him back.” He sobs.
“I know,” I acknowledge, and kiss the top of his head.
Arissa enters with unusual quiet and leaves a box of tissues on the coffee table.
“Thank you,” I mouth to her.
“You’re welcome,” she mouths in return. “Do you want me to stay with you guys, or go with Mom and Dad?” she asks out loud.
“Whatever you want to do, Riss,” I answer.
“I’ll call Damian and see if his parents can drop him off here,” she states, then leaves the room.
Jason quiets again a few minutes later. I pass him a tissue. He wipes his eyes with it, then his nose. I hand him the water and he takes a long pull before handing it back.
“Have you eaten?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
“Do you want me to ask Riss to bring you something?”
He shakes his head again, then rests it on my shoulder. Arissa comes back. She must be hanging around in the hallway.
“Sandwich,” I mouth.
She gives me a thumbs up and leaves again. She returns a few minutes later with a turkey, lettuce, and tomato sandwich and holds the plate out to Jason.
“Oh, jeez,” he says, surprised. “Thanks, Jericho.”
“No problem,” she responds without her trademark snark and leaves with his glass.
He sets the plate on my lap and takes a small bite of the sandwich, chewing slow. I run my fingers through his hair and softly kiss his forehead. He pecks my cheek once he swallows his food. “Thank you, Parker.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You did more than you know.” He takes another small bite.
Arissa returns with the glass and sets it on the coffee table.
“Thanks again, Jericho.”
“You’re welcome. Do you want to finish your dinner?” she asks me.
The corners of his mouth curve down deeper. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, J. When I needed you, you rushed over without eating breakfast after I woke you up.”
“Yeah, but you made me pancakes.”
“Correction. I heated up Mom’s pancakes for you.”
“Same difference.” He gives a small smile for the first time.
“Dinner, Sis?” Arissa asks, a reminder of the other subject matter and that she’s still in the room.
“Yeah. I’ll get it.” I move to get up, but Jason holds tight with his