The Baby Favor

12.

Jason was going stir-crazy. It had been two weeks without word from Michael. Surely by now, he'd filed the divorce papers, but not even his attorney had called. He was going to go insane from the deafening silence of the empty house.

He tried to get away from it. Despite Ava's protests, he'd gone into the office every day. His work there wasn't impacted by his broken heart. That was at the core of his creativity. Until he was healed, the brushes were useless. He might as well work on spreadsheets and inventory so he could be productive in his grief.

It was Sunday, however. Ava told him that if he showed up today, she would change the alarm codes on him and all the alarms would go off if he tried to get in. That threat, albeit hollow, was enough to keep him home today, at least. He didn't want to deal with the police and explain to them why his own employee had basically locked him out of his building.

Jason settled for sitting on the deck, watching the ocean. The roar of the waves was a soothing white noise that allowed him to simply disengage. That was the best he could hope for at this point. Eventually, he would pick up and move on, but not yet. He was allowing himself the grace to get through this in his own time so he could heal. If he could heal.

The sound of the doorbell echoed from inside the house. Jason frowned and he got up from his chair. He wasn't expecting company.

He whipped open the front door and froze in place when he saw Michael standing in his welcome mat. He was wearing his favorite blue jeans and his worn brown leather jacket he'd had since they started dating. Jason blinked his eyes twice to make sure he was real and his imagination conjuring the Michael of his past. He was still there. Jason bit his lip, unsure of what to do now. He hadn't been prepared for this at all, and it probably showed.

"Hello, Jason."

Michael gave him a soft smile that threatened to undermine his resolve to stay strong. He wasn't sure why he was here, but he knew he couldn't get his hopes up. He probably forgot his laptop charger or something and had to stop by to pick it up. He didn't even have the courtesy to bring the baby for the visit. Maybe that was for the best, though. Space would help. He hoped.

"I wasn't expecting you today," Jason said skipping the pleasantries, "I wasn't expecting you ever again, actually. Did you forget something at the house?"

Michael shook his head, "No, Jason, I just came to talk to you."

To talk? "About what?" He asked

Michael looked around the front stoop awkwardly and shuffled on his feet, "Can I come in?"

As much as he knew he shouldn't, Jason was desperate for someone to be in the house other than himself. Without replying, he took a step backward and allowed him to enter.

He brushed past him as he stepped into the house, smelling like leather and his favorite cologne. Jason tried not to breathe it in but had to draw in a breath before he turned blue, "What can I do for you today?" He asked as he casually led him to the couches in the living room. Jason thought about offering him a beverage but decided he was being hospitable enough as it was.

He sat down in a chair, forcing Michael into the couch across from him. Michael settled into his seat looking as uncomfortable as he felt.

"Luna is doing well," he offered, "I think she misses you."

Jason gritted his teeth together. It was bad enough that he was miserable; he didn't want to know that Luna missed him. She's already lost too many people in her young life.

"I miss you too, Jason."

He froze in place, his breath held captive in his lungs. Jason didn't know what to say. Was it better to be honest and admit he missed him as well, or to be stoic and let him think he was over him?