Page 64 of Peach Tree Family

Chapter 16

Ever since he lost his job at the café, Seth had trouble sleeping, but last night, after telling Theo he would have to leave, he didn't get a wink of sleep.

He was up plenty early to make pancakes. There were even chocolate chips this time. Ace was in and out, telling him what shapes to make. As Theo came in for a cup of coffee, he lingered waiting for Ace to run out of the kitchen again then he spoke up.

"I think it will upset Ace if you leave too suddenly. Can you give it a few more days?" Theo asked, his expression grim.

"I'm not just gonna run off," Seth said. He hated to think of Ace upset, and Theo was looking mad even as he was asking him to stick around a bit longer.

Leaving was going to be hard, but staying was too. Being around Theo... Seth couldn't take it, not when he was always thinking about never seeing him again, never touching him again.

Theo was willing to let him stay, but that was no good. Seth had heard him talking to Mitch, telling him how he felt he owed him. And Theo probably felt sorry for him too, a pitiful guy with no family.

Knowing what he had to do didn't make it any easier. Theo was making a home for Ace in this house and it felt like it, but Seth knew he wasn't part of that, just some guy sticking around where he didn't belong.

After breakfast, Seth wanted to do some work around the house, maybe clear the driveway of all the overgrown bushes, but Theo wasn't having it. He wanted them on the road to help Seth look for a job. Theo made a list of more places to try, and wouldn't take no for an answer.

At the end of the day, Seth only got to fill out two applications and those were a long shot. Theo was even quieter than usual, but when they arrived back at the house and Ace was running inside to see Butter, Theo broke his silence. "At least you'll have to stay until you hear back from those two places."

He didn't say much to Seth for the rest of the day, but once Ace was in bed, Theo came to sit next to him as he poked at the logs in the fireplace. For a few minutes he just stared at the flames while Seth tried not to stare at him, the glow in his eyes and on his skin. Seth was thinking about how warm Theo would feel, when he spoke up to ask, "Other than a job, what are you looking for out there?"

Seth didn't have a good answer. He just didn't want to be a burden to Theo when he had Ace to take care of. "I didn't plan to end up here, in another small town," he said. Seth didn't yearn for city life, but he had to explain himself and not make Theo feel sorry for him.

"You have your heart set on something bigger," Theo said. "So where are you planning to go?"

Seth was a little caught off guard since he had no real plans. He didn't want to look at what lay ahead. He knew that after being here, the time that waited for him would be dark and lonely.

"Uh, I'm not sure. I... I'll look for my family," Seth said. It was something that he didn't really want to do. "I don't even know if they heard about my grandpa's passing. I'll start with my mom. I was last in touch with her." He didn't tell Theo that was years ago. But now that he said he would look for his parents, Seth thought he might even do something like that.

"You know where she is?" Theo asked. When Seth shook his head, Theo stood up and went to his laptop. "Give me her name. I can do some searching online."

Seth didn't want him doing that. "I already... I have some, you know, leads. Some people I can ask." He wasn't a good liar, but he didn't want to see what Theo might find out. His mother had a new family, that much he knew. As for his father, he sounded angry and drunk the last time Seth spoke to him and yelled at him never to call again.

Until he left Waterfield, Seth had been easy to find, living with his grandfather. All those years same address, same phone number, but he didn't hear from his parents. He knew nothing good waited for him if he ever found them.

"I'll just figure it out as I go," Seth told Theo. "I'll get some sleep now. Good night."

He was going to his bedroom too early, and he had a hunch he wouldn't get any more sleep than he did last night. But sitting up with Theo would have been a bad idea, and not because he might question him about his plans some more.

He needed to keep his distance from Theo because every time he was alone with him, he started thinking about doing things, where he might touch him, how good he tasted and felt, what noise Theo might make when he was coming. Even now Seth was remembering what they did, how good it was.

But it was more than just getting off together. Being with Theo gave him a feeling he couldn't figure out. It was sort of like friendship, but with a stronger ache. He wanted to take care of Theo and protect him, make sure he was happy and feeling good.

He wasn't capable of doing any such thing. He was dead weight. That's why he had to make himself leave even when all he wanted was to stay with Theo and keep him warm and safe.

***

Theo was manning the reception desk with Helen. She was a big talker, liked to gossip, and she had given him a lead on one of the jobs Seth applied for. Now she was telling him about some painting Seth could do for a neighbor of hers, but it was only a day or two, and it wouldn't keep him from leaving to find an actual job.

While monitoring the inn's website, Theo kept an eye on the main doors for new arrivals. He was surprised to see Hannah come in and make her way straight to the reception desk.

Before she could say why she was there, Helen greeted her, "Why, Hannah, what brings you here? How are your folks?"

"Fine, same as always," Hannah said offhandedly then she pointed at Theo. "I'm here to talk to him."

"I'm going to have to take a break," he said to Helen and stepped away.

"What are you doing about Seth?" Hannah demanded. "You know he's dead set on leaving? He said you're not pushing him out, but are you doing anything to make him stay? Are you?"

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