THANKSGIVING

Chapter 6

“No, no! Reid, you’re overreacting. Please don’t do this. You’ll regret it.”

While Ethan continued to sleep, Luke had whispered in Reid’s ear, clearly attempting to sound firm despite his low volume. “When he comes home, let’s have a family dinner. We can invite my sisters, Parker, Emma, Jack, Carly, Noah, Mark, Katie, Jacob, and Chris.”

That was all Reid needed to hear. He dragged Luke out of Ethan’s room and after closing the door narrowed his eyes as he faced his partner. “There’s no way in hell I’m inviting the Hughes family into my home -- at least not Dr. Hughes, Junior. As of this morning I intend to remove him, as unceremoniously and loudly as possible, from our son’s case.”

With Ethan clearly on the mend, Reid could finally face the issues that led to the boy’s disastrous fall and knew exactly where to lay the blame.

Lowering his voice so the entire staff wouldn’t hear them, Reid continued. “Trust me, Luciano, if you were still a Grimaldi, I might actually involve la familia. That’s how angry I am.”

“Please, Reid. This is unnecessary. And removing Chris from Ethan’s case will hurt him as much as Chris. Don’t do this.”

“Why not? Should we pat Dr. Hughes on the back for, once again, having the judgment of a jackass? He shouldn’t even be playing the role of father in Jacob’s life.”

“Well that’s not your business, or your decision, is it?” Luke paused, taking a deep breath. “Chris is our friend, he’s family; and whether you admit it or not, he’s your friend. Not to mention, his wife is one of your best friends.”

“Maybe this little incident will wake my best female friend up so she realizes what a moron she married.”

Luke ran his fingers through his hair and frowned. “How can I make you see reason?”

“Whoa, boys, we could hear you two going at it from the moment the elevator doors opened.” Jack walked up to Luke and Reid, as did Noah, who was accompanying Jack. Noah was carrying a large bag that was presumably filled with a variety of breakfast foods.

“Good morning, Jack.” Luke sounded less than enthusiastic as he gave his uncle a quick hug.

“It should be. Your brother’s going to be okay from what I hear. Carly, Faith, Natalie, and Parker all send their love, as does Emma. She’s baking a huge batch of Ethan’s favorite oatmeal, chocolate chunk cookies to bring later. They’ll all be visiting throughout the day. Be prepared.”

“He won’t be eating them for a day or two. It’ll still be clear liquids for the better part of the day.” Reid couldn’t put his attitude to rest, even when talking to welcome company. He liked Jack, respected him, and he would never forget the kidney he gave up for Luke the previous summer.

“I’ll let you discuss Ethan’s dietary restrictions with my mother when she arrives. In the meantime, what the hell are you arguing about?”

Noah looked from Reid to Luke. “I was wondering the same thing. When Mark told me everything was progressing better than expected and Ethan was healing quickly, and would make a full recovery, I assumed you two would be over the moon. Instead, you’re about to come to blows.”

“Coming to blows is your method of angry release, Mr. Mayer, not ours.”

Eyes wide, Noah took a step back. “What!”

Reid shook his head. “Damn!” He looked directly into Noah’s eyes. “That’s history long past. Sorry. I’m not angry with you, or my naive spouse.”

“So what’s got you so wound up that you’d bring up one of the lowest actions of my adult life, and throw it in my face?”

Jack rested his gaze on Reid. “I’d like to know the same thing, doc. You don’t act like someone who just got great news about his kid’s health.”

“History. History sometimes creeps up on you when you least expect it and rams itself down your throat with painful reminders of how thoughtless people can be. And sometimes those people are supposed to be your friends.”

Luke sighed. “He is your friend, our friend.”

Noah nodded. Having spent a good portion of the previous night with Luke, he must have heard the details of what led up to Ethan’s injuries. Handing the bag of food to Jack, he cautiously approached Reid. “I once thought you were the worst person on the planet. I actually believed that somehow you were sent to torture me by driving a wedge between Luke and me.” Moving closer, he placed a hand on Reid’s shoulder. “It took me a long time to figure out my own culpability in my break-up with Luke, and even longer to really understand and believe that an accident is an accident. Hell, I didn’t apologize to Luke properly for laying the blame for my blindness completely on him until I moved back to Oakdale a couple of years ago.”

Reid nodded. While he was a genius, it didn’t take one to see some of the obvious parallels to how he was dealing with his feelings toward Chris.

Opening the bag of food, Jack pulled out a bear claw and handed it to Reid. Talk about a loaded message. “Fill your stomach -- I hear you’re more pleasant to be with when you’re full.”

Reid huffed. “I sense some more sage advice about to come from dear cousin Jack.”

“My mother has all the sage advice. I just have a suggestion -- you can take it or leave it.”

“And what’s that?” Reid took a bite of the sweet pastry. It tasted pretty good. Now if someone could place an order at Java for his favorite coffee he’d be much calmer.

“Eat some breakfast.”

“It’s brunch, haven’t you heard? Gayest meal on the planet.” Reid couldn’t turn off the snark, but it was worth it since he actually heard Luke chuckle.

“Just eat. Then talk to Chris. Sounds like you have a lot of unsettled issues with the guy.”

“Is that what we call the down home Snyder words of wisdom?”

“Call it whatever you want, Reid, but deal with it. You and Luke should be celebrating, not fighting.”

Lowering his head, Reid took another bite of his food as Mark walked up to them with a tray of coffees from Java. “I stepped outside for some fresh air and picked these up. Sorry, Jack. I didn’t know you were here. I only brought four.”

“I’ve had my breakfast. You boys eat and I’ll go talk to my sleeping nephew. Maybe he’ll wake up and let me know what he wants for Christmas this year. Carly seems to be in a shopping mood and I’m hoping to give her all the holiday responsibilities. I can’t stand stores.”

Luke gave his cousin a big hug. “Thank you for being here and helping. You never let us down.”

“Holden never let me down either. I figure payback doesn’t cost anything when it’s for family.”

Closing his eyes, Luke hugged his cousin again. Reid wasn’t sure if his partner was thinking about the kidney Jack had given him just a few short months earlier, or of Holden, who they both loved so much and continued to miss. Either way, Jack was someone in the family Reid not only tolerated, but truly liked. If he thought it was a good idea to sit down with Chris, maybe it couldn’t hurt. At least filling his stomach with brunch carbs and coffee was calming his nerves.

There was so much Reid had never really talked about with Chris. He let the issues of the past melt away without discussing them, and by doing so, had never dealt with the anger brewing beneath the surface. It seemed a moment of poor judgment on Chris’ part brought their history back to the forefront.

If Reid was going to continue having both a positive working, and endurable personal, relationship with Chris Hughes, they’d need to deal with the past.

Hell, if Noah Mayer could admit the accident that blinded him was just that, an accident... and apologize to Luke as well as Reid for his infantile and inappropriate accusations and behavior, maybe Chris could see the cause for Reid’s anger.

[TBC]
 

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