Theo And Reed's Wedding Bells : Book 2

Chapter Twelve

Reed knew he had had no sleep last night but as he was helping Theo out the car when they returned home after lunch he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. It couldn't be. Could it ?

Could that really be his former vet clinic receptionist Winston Palmer sitting slouched and rejected looking on the steps of his and Theo's apartment building ? He had a battered old suitcase by his side and he was twirling a strand of his long honey blond hair. He had on the same bright clothes that Winnie favored but wasn't the twenty year old boy supposed to be in Texas? Not on the East Coast in D.C. ?

Theo steadied himself on the sidewalk and stared where Reed was. " Reed, isn't that....."

" Winnie Palmer. Looks like him. "

" Shouldn't he be....."

" In Sweet Flower. Yes , darling. "

" Then why? "

Why was the question. The answer came when Winnie looked up and saw them. His grey eyes looked like he had been crying. The kid looked rough.

" Reed ! Theo ! Thank goodness you got here ! Some man asked me for a cigarette and I don't even smoke. Another wanted to know how much I cost. An old lady in a hideous dress tossed me a quarter and prayed over me. What kind of neighborhood do you live in ? This isn't like Sweet Flower. "

Reed looked at Theo. Theo looked at Reed. Yep , it was Winnie alright. There couldn't be more than one.

Winnie widened his eyes as he looked at Theo. " Theodore, what happened to you ? You look like the roadkill Millie's Cafe claims they don't serve. "

Reed closed his eyes and shook his head. Theo just laughed. It was the first time he had laughed since the diagnosis and the sound blessed Reed's heart. Reed loved Winnie for making Theo laugh.

" You'd look like roadkill too if you had cancer ," Theo said. " Let's stop giving the neighbors gossip and go upstairs. Besides there is a man across the street looking at your suitcase. I have the feeling we're about to get mugged. "