Page 64 of Leading the Blind
He was going to make them a home, make this place right for them.Dammit.
So. They would go hit the Walmart once the big furniture came. Grab some food. Then he would make sure he had enough daylight to string some of the ropes Jason would need first while he let Jason set up some of the fridge and stuff like he wanted it. Mini did great as long as things stayed in the same place every time.
They were going to sleep in their bed in their house tonight. Jesus. That brought goosebumps all up over his skin.
They just sort of sat there holding hands until they heard the big delivery truck pull up. Then they grinned at each other again.
“Time to get to work, Mini.”
“Yessir. I’m on it.” Jason chuckled softly, then they both started howling, letting that hint of sorrow out. A man had to laugh sometimes, so he could re-right his shit.
They did have a hell of a lot to do, though, so the moment had to pass. They got up and got moving, and Bax wouldn’t let Jason fall.
Not even for a minute.
Chapter Seventeen
Jason woke up, fighting the panic when he couldn’t remember which hotel he was in. He had to pee, so he reached for the wall. If he followed it, he would find a bathroom. All hotels worked that way. Bed. Bedside table. Wall.
Oh. Okay. Window. Open window. Door?
He reached for the door handle, curious, and almost immediately, Bax covered his hand.
“No, Mini. I haven’t checked that balcony yet. You hunting the bathroom?”
“Oh. We’re at the house.”
Bax chuckled. “Yes. First night. Every sound is waking my happy ass up.”
Bax led him to the bathroom. “Double sink, then the toilet.”
“Thanks.”Christ. Wild. Seriously.
“Yeah. No problem.” He heard Bax humming, probably wandering around, waiting for him.
He did his business, more awake now and less freaked. He explored a little bit, then headed back to bed. Momma would be bringing his TV for the bedroom and the noise would make it easier.
For Bax too, he would bet. That was how they drowned the noise at hotels, so they were both used to the TV.
When he came out, Bax made sure he was back in bed before taking his turn, then came back to slip under the sheets and cuddle with him.
“You’ll get used to it soon, Mini. Me and Jack will shore up the balcony this weekend, just to be careful.”
“Thanks. I… I don’t want to be useless.” He didn’t want to believe that he’d never see this house.
“You’re not. You’re gonna work with Momma to set up the kitchen and front room so you can get around. Be firm with her.”
Yeah, Momma would try to put things where she thought they went, but Jason had ideas.
“Right. It don’t take me long to reckon things. You know that.” He’d learned more in the last set of months than he’d thought he could. “I got a knack for this getting-around thing. Hell, I even went to the Walmart today.”
That was scarier than getting on the back of a damn bull.
“I know.” Bax rested their foreheads together. “That was something. Man, we can spend some money, huh?”
They’d gone a little wild. A grill. A little kiddie pool like the one at Momma and Jack’s to lounge in. Sheets and towels and food and TP and all the basics to set them up for a week or two.
“Yeah, but it’s a good thing to spend on. I feel like… I feel like this time it’s not throwaway. This is real.” It was stupid, but he didn’t know how else to say it.
