Page 2 of Up All Night
“Thanks, sweetie.” Eric stared down at the generous square of cake. “It was Monty’s favorite too. We had it at the wedding.”
“I remember.” I tried for a warm rather than wistful tone. “It was a great day.”
“Great weekend,” our mutual friend Jonas added as he snagged another nearby chair. An ER nurse supervisor, he had a naturally reassuring voice. “Even Tony came.”
“Might have been the last time the four of us were together.” Eric sighed as Tony himself wandered over. I hadn’t been aware he’d been able to come, and I smiled broadly at our old friend. Tony had worn his army dress uniform. His longer hair and beard said he’d come off a recent deployment for the hush-hush work he did for the Rangers.
“We’re here now, buddy. And here for you.” Tony clapped Eric on the shoulder before taking a seat next to me. “What needs doing at the house? Laundry? Kitchen? Bathrooms? I’m your man. Put me to work.”
“We’re fine—” Eric started to reply, but Jonas held up a hand.
“Thanks, Tony. The house has plenty of work to go around.” Unlike Tony and me, Jonas had only briefly left Mount Hope for school. He’d stayed with Eric and Montgomery during Montgomery’s hospice care to help keep the household running. “I’ve caught up with the laundry, but if you want to come by later and help me put the kitchen to rights, that would be great.”
Eric opened and shut his mouth before swallowing hard. “Thank you.” He scrubbed at his hair. “God, I hate needing help.”
“You’d tell any of us to take the help offered,” I pointed out. Taking a clue from Tony’s and Jonas’s refusals to take no for an answer, I added, “I’ll be by too. See if there’s some yard work.”
“Plenty of that.” Eric slumped farther in his chair. “More if—when—I put the place on the market.”
“You need to sell?” I couldn’t keep the dismay out of my voice. If anyone loved their house as much as I’d loved mine, it was Eric and Montgomery, who owned one of Mount Hope’s largest, most historic homes. Their purchase a few years back and remodeling efforts had been a time of much joy. “Oh, dude.”
“I’ve been over the numbers. And over them. Huge mortgage, one kid in college, three close behind, and me not pulling near enough hours.” Eric shook his head. His eyes were red, and my chest ached for him. “I don’t know what else to do.”
“Dad.” Maren had returned with a paper cup of coffee for Eric. “You can’t sell.”
“I know, baby girl.” Eric reached out to pat her arm before taking the cup of coffee. “Breaks my heart too. And I hate the idea of moving you kids.”
In addition to Maren, Eric and Montgomery had three other adopted kids, a rowdy crew of teens.
“Rent my room.” Maren’s voice brokered little argument. “I’ve barely slept there in well over a year. Heck, you’ve slept up there more than me. Or turn the old carriage house into a rental. Maybe both?”
“I’ll start paying rent for the basement.” Leaning forward, Jonas spoke up before Eric could reply. “Today.”
“I thought you wanted your own place?” Eric frowned, but Jonas waved the concern off.
“Nah. Turns out the basement is more than enough space for me and Oz.”
“Okay. I should say no, but that might help.” Eric’s tone was pained. “Give us a little breathing room.”
Maybe…The drumbeat from earlier returned, loud and insistent, and before I could overthink things, I raised a hand.
“I can help too.” I used my fire captain voice. Maren and Jonas weren’t the only ones who could be forces to be reckoned with. “Let me fix up the carriage house. I could take Maren’s room while I work.”
“You’re coming back to town?” Eric asked.
“Yeah. It’s my dad’s last year of work. Nothing tying me to Seattle anymore. Declan’s in southern Oregon, and Bridget’s in LA. I’ve been debating the move.” I crossed my fingers, hoping the last fifteen minutes counted asdebate.“And Dad’s got a firefighter going out on maternity?—”
“Rodriguez.” Eric nodded sharply. He’d been on leave during Montgomery’s time in hospice, but Eric was a lead paramedic for Mount Hope, and like my father, he knew all the area first responders. “He’d love having you around more, that’s for sure.”
“And no offense to my mom, but no way am I taking over my old room at forty-three.” I made my eyes wide and horrified and added a smile as Tony and Jonas laughed.
“I suppose you and Jonas as renters isn’t the worst idea.” Eric sounded distinctly reluctant, but I could hardly fault the guy. He looked like he hadn’t slept well in weeks and had enough on his plate even without facing a potential move. “I hate the idea of moving the younger kids. And more adults around would mean I could take more shifts.”
“Let us help you, buddy.” I reached out to quickly pat his knee.
“Get that carriage house done or free up another room by the time I process out this summer, and I’m in too.” Tony nodded sharply, another done deal.
“Oh wow.” Eric’s gaze swept between the three of us.