What Happens on the Cruise

80. What We Ain't Got

"Hey, hon," Tim greeted his husband as he arrived. He leaned over and gave Austin a kiss. "Is that strawberry applesauce?"

"It is and I'm not sharin'," Austin replied, defending his breakfast.

"You remind me of this cat a high school friend of mine had that would growl the entire time it was eating," Tim teased. "Any word on releasing you?"

"Well, I've 'eliminated' just fine, so I expect as soon as the doctor visits I'll be good. We going to the hotel?"

Tim shook his head. "Chris called last night, said he'd talked to Adam who really wanted us to stay with him till we fly home."

"That's awesome. I wish I could help him more with getting the house ready for Ericha."

"I think having someone to destress and focus him some might help more than you know."

"I'm not always great on the focusing part," Austin confessed.

"But you're good for bouncing ideas off of."

"True."

***

"It's okay, honey. It's just mommy wearing a funny hat," Adam tried to soothe Cerise as she clung to him, wary of Ericha.

"Just let her... sit in... your lap... for... a while," Ericha advised. "She'll... calm down... event...ually."

Adam nodded. "How is it here?"

"It's... good. Food is... a little... bland, but... I've got... PT... every day. And... all the... older ladies... love... having someone... young to... dote over."

Adam chuckled. "You're going to get spoiled here and never want to come home."

"You... spoil... me plenty." She smiled at him and clumsily held out her hand.

He took it and gave it a kiss. "I miss you."

"I miss... you, too. You look... tired."

"I've not been sleeping well," he admitted. "Between the broken collarbone and the empty bed, it's just hard."

"I'm sorry."

"I shouldn't be complaining," he said.

"No. Your... struggles... are valid. Just... because I'm... hurting worse... doesn't... negate... your pain."

Cerise started wiggling, so Adam set her down and she toddled over to Ericha and stared up at her, then broke into tears again.

"Oh, baby... it's okay..." Ericha tried to comfort her.

Cerise held her arms out.

"I don't... have... the hand... strength..."

"I've got her," Adam responded. "Here, kiddo, you want in Mommy's lap?"

"Should you be... picking... her up... like that?"

"Probably not, but what can you do?" Adam replied.

"We should... get... an au pair."

"Yeah. I'm looking into that."

"Good. How... are Tim... and... Austin?"

"They're okay. Austin's probably being released today," Adam told her.

"Are they... staying at... ours?"

"Yeah."

She gave him a look. "Are you... finally... going to... talk to Tim?"

"I don't want to," he admitted.