Midnight Wonders

4.4.3. Morning Under Sycamore Trees

Luc ate a meal with Kay in Kay's room. One part of his mind called it dinner because he was going to bed after this, and the other called it breakfast because it was the first meal he'd had since waking. Another called it probably the last meal he would eat with Kay.

As usual, Luc was the only one eating. Well, Kay had eaten a hazelnut. Maybe two. He somehow managed to make one hazelnut last ten minutes, and Luc had hardly noticed that he himself was also eating slower. He almost felt guilty, irrationally so. The longer he spent here, the longer Cora waited. But all he was doing was waiting for Annabel to fetch him, so in reality the time he spent here with Kay did not at all affect the time he might reach Cora, just the time he had to sleep.

He didn't feel like sleeping. He felt like he'd slept enough for a whole summer. He wondered how long it had been. Luc put the spoon in his mouth and realized it was already clean. Perhaps he'd been done for a while and had done nothing but spoon air into his mouth for ten minutes.

He put the spoon in the bowl and put it down, glancing at Kay, who was playing with the tie around his neck.

Kay looked at him, noticing his gaze. "You're done?" He undid the tie around his neck and held it out to Luc, who took it. "Show me how to tie it."

Luc was grateful for the excuse to do something. "Here," he said, smoothing out the tie. He started to loop it around Kay's neck, but Kay leaned back so he was out of reach.

"Wait," he said. "Show me how you do it first."

Luc did so, putting the tie around his own neck. The fabric was soft and familiar between his fingers, and he tried to slow his movements, being precise with each one.

"Who taught you?" Kay asked.

"One of my neighbors." Luc crossed the ends and pulled one through the loop. "When Cora and I moved to where we live now we were both incredibly clueless. It was seven years ago, right after...you know, so I was probably more so than her, even. It was probably he and Cora who took care of everything, at the beginning. Even afterwards, too. He helped with the house, helped get us in school and get jobs outside of it. And he did this even with his own daughter to take care of."

Luc didn't think he'd ever truly expressed the extent of his gratitude to Mr. Jacobs, even to the man himself. His entire life was practically the past seven years, and they had all been built on the support of Mr. Jacobs.

"And he didn't ask for anything in return?" said Kay as Luc adjusted the knot of the tie to sit straight against the middle of his collar.

"Nothing," Luc said. "He never asked, but I offered whenever I could. Cora and I helped take care of his daughter when she was very little. He's a single father, so it must have been hard for him, too, but he never let it show. He's busier now, though—his daughter goes to school now, so he can go to work. And I haven't spoken to him very much since Cora's gotten worse and I've had to spend more time with her." He began to undo the tie.

"He seems like a good man," said Kay.

"He is. I'm very fortunate," said Luc, "that I know only good people. I wish to be as good as everyone I know." He held out the tie. "Come here." Kay scooted towards him, and Luc wrapped the tie around his neck, smoothing it against his collar. Luc could feel the heat of Kay's skin beneath his clothes. "The Collector, the one who brought you here. He wore ties?"

"Did Annabel tell you?" said Kay. He wasn't even looking down at what Luc was doing, he was just staring at Luc. Like how he hadn't even looked at the light when Luc had tried to show him the moon. "He did."

"Was he from outside, then?"

"Yes. Most of the Collectors are. Since they know firsthand what it's like."