A Fluffy Tale Read online

  “Did everyone die?”

  “Some of them. But Zachary won’t, so let’s not talk of it.”

  They stayed until another family came to use the waiting room, so distressed and in need of privacy that it seemed rude to hang around. Julian carried Linis back out to the observation window. The kem made a distressed sound as he saw Zachary lying there, and turned to Julian for reassurance. Julian whispered words of comfort in one silky ear, and petted him for as long as Linis wanted it. But then the kem made it clear he wanted to be set down. He walked over to Leo and rubbed himself against the man’s leg, then went to Pyon and Nuji in turn, giving them sad little face licks. The kems all seemed to know what was going on, and it made Julian feel even worse about depriving Linis of their company. But Linis took matters into his own paws, and with a last quiet meep, he dematerialised. Seconds later, they saw him on Zachary’s pillow, curled up next to his head.

  “Do you suppose Zachary knows?” Julian asked.

  “I can’t think it does him any harm, and I think it helps Linis. Come on, we should get lunch and look after our little kems too.”

  Leo insisted on taking him out to lunch as a thank you to Julian and to give them a break. He was, he confessed, starving since his body clock was messed up, and he was reluctant to put Julian to the strain of catering to his peculiar dietary needs. Julian never ate in restaurants, so had no idea what to recommend. They took a taxi to the city and ended up choosing one at random, which Leo deemed suitable, and Julian thought was well out of his price range. But Leo said it was his treat and he could easily afford it.

  “My family are disgustingly rich, I'm afraid. Zachary doesn’t need to work, but he despises idleness as much as I used to. I’ve…grown accustomed to its charms,” he added with a wry smile.

  Julian grinned back. He really liked this old guy—even if he wasn’t much like his nephew at all.

  The restaurant specialised in seafood, never Julian’s favourite, but he was determined to try it, if only for Zachary’s sake. He let Leo choose, and ended up with a very nice salmon and shrimp pasta. Leo chose a grilled tuna steak, which looked even more tempting. He declined to order any wine, just asking for their best mineral water. Julian didn’t mind—he didn’t drink much anyway. Not since University, at least.

  “Zachary would think this was pretty funny,” Julian said, twirling some pasta on his fork. “You should have heard him tear into me about my diet. He was right though—Pyon’s been so much better.”

  “Kems are his main obsession, but you probably know that.”

  “Do you know why?”

  Leo ate a mouthful of fish and set his fork down. “He was an only child raised by elderly grandparents, a shy, solemn boy in a strange school. Linis was the only one he could trust not to hurt him. My sister and her husband were good people, but not…warm. Or should I say, kind but not very perceptive. Zachary retreated inwards, never spoke to anyone about his parents or how he felt. Linis was his security, his friend, and his only comfort. Eventually, I think he decided no one else could ever offer him a fraction of what Linis did, and he stopped even caring if he was alone. But he cared when he was a child. He broke my heart, but I could do so little. I travelled, you see, and was rarely home. I visited when I could, but each time I returned, Zachary was a little colder, more closed in. By the time my sister and her husband passed away, he’d come to live entirely for himself and Linis.”

  “But he must have had friends—he went to University, like me, he’s got a job. He meets people all the time.”

  Leo shrugged and cut more of his fish steak. “I’ve never heard him mention anyone.”

  “He told me he’d known kems who’d died because of their hosts being selfish. It really upset him.”

  “Yes, but I doubt he cared about the people. The kems are different.” Leo shook his head. “You’d think he’d be lonely.”

  Julian thought back to the strange way the man had dealt with his invitation to go to the country park. “I think he is.”

  “You seem to have formed quite an attachment to him despite your early difficulties.”

  “No, I…I feel sorry for him. And I owe him. But I don’t know a thing about him, except that he’s rich and he loves kems.”

  “Would you like to know him?”

  Julian suddenly realised Leo hadn’t mentioned what sex his cancer-ridden lover had been, and flushed at the implication in the man’s tone. “I’ve got plenty of friends.”

  “Ah. And Zachary is just another one in a long list. Nothing special.”

  “I didn’t…I don’t know him. I feel…responsible. That car hit him because I bullied him into breakfast. He wouldn't have even been there if I hadn’t done that.”

  “Bullied?” Leo lifted an eyebrow. “Zachary? And how did you manage that, Julian?”

  “I…uh…well, I asked him. A couple of times.”

  “I see. Which of course left him with no choice, forcing him to come to your utterly execrable and unpleasant apartment, eat your horrible food and then you tossed him out onto the street under the wheels of that car. Is that correct?”

  “He wouldn’t have been there,” Julian muttered, staring into his plate of pasta and feeling rather stupid. Leo wasn’t that different from Zachary after all.

  “You don’t know that,” Leo said gently. “So if your concern for Zachary is based on nothing but guilt, then in his name I absolve you and release you from any obligation. He’s going to need friends for the long haul. Guilt won’t keep you around for more than a couple of days because let me tell you, visiting hospitals and looking after sick people isn’t fun and it isn’t easy. He doesn’t need someone to play at this, Julian.”

  Sharp eyes in an aged face pinned him, and he felt his skin flushing hot again. “I…I didn’t even like him a few days ago. He was a complete snot to me at work.”

  “Yes, he’s very good at that. So why are you here with me, worrying about him?”

  Pyon yawned just then, and climbed off Julian’s shoulder so he could pick his way across the table to visit Nuji, lying in the crook of Leo’s arm. Julian pointed at his kem. “Because three weeks ago, if I’d brought Pyon to a place like this, it would have been a disaster.”

  “Gratitude has no more staying power than guilt, my boy.” Julian sagged. “Why is it so hard to admit that you might just like my nephew?”

  “Because…I didn’t, and now I might do, and he might die.”

  “And it’s hard, isn’t it? Zachary decided a long time ago he didn’t want to be hurt any more by people leaving him. You see the kind of life he leads. Don’t be like that, Julian. Be brave. It hurts, but your life will be so much richer.”

  Julian nodded, his cheeks still burning. “I'm supposed to go back to work tomorrow—I don’t know how I can. I won’t be able to think. I’ve got plenty of leave. I’ll have to ask for the time off.”

  “Let me speak to your employers. I’ve handled similar situations before and I think they might be agreeable to you helping the two of us out, at least until the crisis has passed. And I would be very grateful for your company.” Leo smiled, and Julian was again reminded of Zachary—he’d seen so few of his smiles, but when he had, it had transformed the man. Gave a glimpse of a softer, shyer person who might be coaxed out with time and patience. Julian hadn’t ever bothered to try before with someone so self-contained. He began to think it might be worth doing.

  “I just want to help.”

  “You might come to regret those words. Now, eat up and we can have dessert. I won’t tell Zachary,” Leo added with a wink.

  Chapter 5

  Leo called the hospital after lunch, at supper and then just before they went to bed. The news was encouraging. Not only was Zachary not deteriorating, but he seemed to be a little stronger. The doctors would try removing him from the ventilator in the morning and encouraged Leo and Julian not to visit until that had been done.

  “I don’t understand,” Julian said.

 
“It’s because it’s a little distressing for the patient and those watching,” Leo said. “It’s all normal, I assure you.”

  Julian didn’t want to get to the point where this kind of thing was normal. “How long are you going to stay?” he asked.

  “As long as Zachary needs me—though I may have to have some things sent to me from my home, and buy some more clothes. I packed in something of a hurry.”

  For the first time, Julian dared to think about what came next. Zachary had a broken leg, among many other injuries. He’d be on crutches at the very least—but that apartment of his wasn’t in a very disabled friendly building. And what about Leo? Would he live there too? Would Zachary need a nurse? And what about his job?

  He realised he’d assumed he had any role to play—just as Leo had. But when Zachary woke up, which he definitely had to, the man might have very definite views about the matter. And might not be at all happy for Julian to be involved.

  “I guess I’ll find out,” he whispered into Pyon’s fur after he’d settled down to sleep. They’d taken the time to make the apartment more friendly for two people, and to make the sofa bed up properly, but it would be a bit of a strain to live like this for months. “One day at a time, right?”

  Pyon chirped and licked his face enthusiastically. Whenever Julian grew a little mopey about being involved in this mess, he only had to look at his kem to realise that, at least for him, it had been worth it. Not for Zachary though. Zachary would probably curse the day a cheeky little kem had made him spill coffee all over himself.

  “Not a lot I can do about that now, eh?” Pyon squeaked again and squirmed under the blankets so he could nest properly in Julian’s arms. Smart boy, Julian thought. Rest was good. Thinking was getting him nowhere.

  ~~~~~~~~

  He remembered more of his nightmares in the morning—Zachary dying, Linis crying before he too, disappeared forever—and could only hope they’d drop off once they were sure Zachary would recover. They weren’t there yet, however hopeful the doctors were.

  But there were mundane matters to deal with first. Leo, who was a someone, or at least had once been, used his reputation and wealth to go straight to the top, and Julian had an uncomfortable meeting with him and the most senior of the senior partners down at the office. It was so weird to see Mr Clarke so deferential and polite. Of course anything Mr Underwood wanted was just fine with the firm. Our Mr Godwin is at your disposal, Mr Underwood, for however long you require him, Mr Underwood. Our only concern is Mr Ledbetter’s return to health. We're making arrangements to deal with his caseload, and he shouldn’t worry about a thing. Do let us know if you need any further assistance, Mr Underwood. Our firm is at your service.

  Julian found himself in a taxi on the way back to the apartment before the dazed feeling wore off.

  “What did you say you did before you retired?” he asked his deceptively innocent-looking companion as they drove away from the building.

  Leo gave him a slightly wolfish grin. “It’s a more a matter of who I know. And who my family were. I don’t usually play that game. But it’s nice to able to, don’t you think?”

  Julian could only nod mutely. It had been ever so slightly scary seeing Leo pull rank on the terrifying and normally not at all genial Mr Clarke. “You think they’re going to take it out on me when this is over?”

  “My boy, they’ll probably promote you.” He patted Julian’s knee. “Don’t worry about it. Let me call the hospital.”

  The news he received meant the taxi was redirected, Julian holding tightly onto Pyon as they drove. Please be okay, he begged Zachary in his thoughts.

  They were asked to go to the waiting room. Julian couldn’t relax, couldn’t even sit for anxiety. “What’s taking so long?” he demanded as he paced.

  “Calm down, my dear boy. You’re upsetting Pyon and Nuji.”

  He made himself sit down and set Pyon on the floor so he could race over to his new friend and clamber up Leo’s leg. “They said they’d removed the ventilator. What’s the problem?”

  “I don’t know, Julian. Be calm. There’s nothing we can…hello, Linis.”

  Zachary’s kem rushed straight to Julian, who swept him up into his arms to cuddle and comfort him. But Linis didn’t seem so distressed—more as if he’d simply missed them all. Julian frowned at Leo. “I don’t understand—”

  The door opened and a nurse put his head in. “If you’d like to see Mr Ledbetter now, you can, but only for five minutes.”

  Linis squirmed out of Julian’s arms and ran out of the door, the most undignified thing Julian had yet seen him do. “That’s a good sign?” Julian asked hopefully.

  “I think so,” Leo said, smiling with annoying calmness. “Nuji, please go inside. I think three kems will be two too many.”

  Julian took the hint and asked Pyon to retreat as well. Then they followed the nurse out to the ward. They had to wash their hands and put on masks and gowns—for some reason kems didn’t bring in germs, but their hosts were another issue—before they were allowed through to Zachary’s bed. The breathing apparatus was gone, but he looked worse. One side of his face was covered in dressings, and he had two black eyes. What wasn’t bruised or cut or covered in bandages, was as white as the sheets he lay on.

  Julian hung back while Leo approached. He held his breath as Zachary opened one swollen eyelid, and seemed to say something. Leo took his uninjured hand and bent low to talk to him in a whisper. Julian had a sudden feeling that he had no right to be here. He wasn’t family.

  But then Linis pawed at his leg, wanting to be picked up. Which was odd because surely he should be with Zachary. Julian picked the kem up, and drew closer to the bed. Leo stood up. “Zachary, Julian’s here. Look.”

  Zachary had his eyes closed again, but he opened them a slit. “’Lian? L’is?”

  “Yes, I’ve got him,” Julian said, trying to hold Linis so Zachary could see. “We’ve been making sure he didn’t get too lonely while you get better. Here, Linis. Go to him, he needs you.”

  He set the kem on the bed—Linis picked his way delicately over all the cords and tubes and drip lines so he could sit near Zachary’s head. A faint smile switched briefly on Zachary’s dry lips.

  “’on?”

  “Pyon? He’s fine—just being discreet. He and Linis have been playing together a lot, and Nuji. When you get out of here, you’ll love seeing them. Zachary, you have to get better, okay?”

  What an inane thing to say, he thought angrily. But Zachary just smiled again, and whispered something Leo bent low to catch.

  “He says he’ll try,” Leo reported. “You do that, nephew.” He squeezed Zachary’s fingers and then nodded at the nurse who signalled to them that time was up. “We’ll be back soon. Just rest and get well, my boy.”

  They were ushered out and stripped of their gowns and masks. Leo wiped discreetly at one eye with a spotlessly white handkerchief. “Well, well,” he said, his voice a little clogged. “It seems he really is going to make it.”

  “Yes.” Julian flicked quickly at his eyes too. Amazing how seeing someone just open their eyes and talk, could be so moving.

  Leo cleared his throat and patted Julian’s arm, leaning a little as if looking for support. He looked rather frail, as if all the strain had caught up with him. “I just want to speak to the doctor if I can before we leave.”

  “Let me find him. Take a seat.” Before you fall down, Julian nearly added. He waited until Leo had done that. “Pyon?” His kem popped up, nose twitching curiously. “Stay with Leo, will you?” He lifted Pyon down onto Leo’s lap. Nuji appeared too and the two kems cuddled together quite happily.

  Leo looked up with moist eyes. “I was so afraid,” he whispered.

  Julian gently squeezed his shoulder. “Me too. He looks bloody horrible, but he’s going to make it. Linis knows it too, that’s why he’s so cheerful.”

  “True. Yes—they’re wise little things, aren’t you,” he said, patting the two mischiefs
in his lap.

  The doctor took a little while to find, but when she came, she gave them more reassurance. “We should be moving him out of critical care in the next twenty-four hours. Then we can move him down to the orthopaedic ward.”

  “I’ll pay for a private room and whatever he needs,” Leo insisted.

  “Then you’ll need to fill out some paperwork. He’s still far from well, you understand, and we’ll have to operate on his leg when he’s stronger.”

  “How long before he can come home?” Julian asked.

  She pursed her lips. “At least a month, and he’ll need a good deal of support when he does. You may have to make modifications to his home and so on, but you’ve got plenty of time to organise it. Now I don’t think he’ll be up to any further visits today. Call tomorrow morning and we can update you on his status.”

  “Thank you, doctor.”

  Leo turned to Julian. “Let’s go home. We have some planning to do.”

  Chapter 6

  Leo said he should move out, either to Zachary’s apartment or to a hotel. But when Julian pressed him on it, he admitted he didn’t actually want to leave—he just didn’t want to burden Julian.

  “But I like you here,” Julian insisted. “It’s not so…”

  “Lonely?” Leo supplied. “I know what you mean. But my dear boy, you have hardly any space, and you have your own life to lead. I'm an old man, set in my ways. I’ll drive you insane.”

  Julian looked him in the eye. “You want to live in a hotel? Really? Or in that fridge Zachary calls an apartment? On your own?”

  “No, I don’t. But I have an obligation—“

  “And so do I. Mr Clarke said I had to look after you. So…I am.”

  Leo laughed. “Stubborn, stubborn, wonderful boy that you are. Very well, but you must let me do my bit to help.”

  Julian wondered what he could do, realistically, but agreed happily enough. “Then we don’t talk about this again. You’re staying here while he’s in hospital. After that…we see what he needs, right?”