Page 21 of Out of the Storm

Gary opened the door, and his heart immediately did a flip-flop when he saw Jeff waiting for him.

“Uh, hey?” Jeff said, sounding uncertain. “I... brought you some books.”

Gary’s eyebrows shot up. “Books?! Really?” Gary’s smile had stretched so wide, he couldn’t help but think he probably looked like the Cheshire cat. “Wow, Jeff, that’s so sweet of you. Come in!”

Gary stepped aside. After Jeff kicked off his sneakers, he removed his backpack and held it out for Gary to take.

“Here.”

“I can’t wait to read them!” Gary plopped the backpack onto the sofa cushion to open it. “What made you want to bring me books?”

“Eh, they were my mom’s. I won’t be reading them.”

Gary pulled out the six books that Jeff had brought, the fullness in his chest swelling more and more with each one. Books! From Jeff!

“I amsotouched. Really.” Gary flipped through the pages of a slightly outdated book on outer space. “Everyone in Niles will benefit from these! All of my listeners, anyway. Are you sure you’re okay with rehoming them?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“Well, I was practically passing out before, but I’ll tell ya, I am wide awake now. Do you want a cup of coffee or something?” Gary asked, hooking his thumb toward the kitchen.

“I thought you were wide awake.”

“Ah, one can never betooawake. Especially me.”

With a sweet half-smile, Jeff said, “Yeah, okay, I’ll take some coffee.”

“Cream and sugar, right?” Gary said with a wink.

Jeff rolled his eyes. “Yeah, sure, Gare.”

After setting up the coffee to brew, Gary resumed thumbing through the space book while he waited for the coffee maker to finish. Meanwhile, Jeff seemed content to study the shelves of records in the studio room. Once the coffee was ready, they stood in the kitchen sipping from their mugs, silently enjoying each other’s company. Or, well, that’s what Gary was doing. He couldn’t believe how nice it was to have Jeff over. And right when he’d needed it most.

“Thanks for coming by, Jeff. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

Jeff raised one of his eyebrows. Sheesh, how cute was that?

Gary tacked on, “Just, you know, I was feeling pretty low before.”

“Oh.” Jeff’s brow furrowed with what looked to be concern. “Why?”

“Ah, nothing you need to worry about.” He couldn’t let himself unload his silly parental rejection problems onto poor, unsuspecting Jeff. “But seeing a friendly face makes everything better. Truly.”

Just as Jeff opened his mouth to respond, the telephone rang.

“Ah, shoot. Could you hold on a sec?” Gary asked, holding up a finger. He set down his coffee cup and then walked over to wherehis telephone hung on the wall near the entryway. “Hello?” he said as he picked up the receiver.

“Hey,” Dawn said from the other end. “I need the necklace back.”

“Not a problem,” Gary said reflexively before realizing he had no idea what Dawn was talking about. “What necklace?”

“From the box. I think I want to leave it to Amy.”

“Oh.” Shoot. “Are you sure she’d want it?”

“Of course! It’s an heirloom.”

“Right.” Shit. “Which?”

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