The Way In Which Things Work

Chapter Four: The Same Black Dress

He places his small little hand into mine and firmly links his fingers with mine as we walk down the set of stairs layered with torn and faded carpet. The brisk air is just as bitter as it was this morning when we step outside. I keep him close to me as we walk the few blocks to his old nanny's apartment building. We get buzzed upstairs and she opens the door before we even reach the doorway. Arlene gathers Graham into her arms and he smiles brightly at her, showing off his missing front tooth. "So good to see you Graham. Jaclyn." She nods warmly at me and ushers us inside her heated apartment that was so much nicer than ours.

After Arlene nods at Graham to go play with the toys that litter the living room from the other kids she watches, she walks me to the kitchen. I take her up on her offer of coffee and sip it slowly before telling her why we were really here. "I'm sorry to bother you so suddenly but the water got shut off at our place, is there any chance that he can shower here?" She doesn't hesitate to nod as soon as I finish speaking. "And uh," I scratch my head, afraid I'm asking too much, "Would it be alright if he stayed here tonight too?"

"Of course darling," her eyes crinkle as her grin pulls them against her skin. As soon as I tell her I can get her the money tomorrow for her service tonight she interrupts, "Nonsense Jaclyn," she says to me, "I miss Graham a little too much these days." Her old age is defined by the way she eloquently pronounces her sentences and the wrinkles that fold into her face, it makes her seem sweeter. "Go on and tell him while I start dinner."

I walk over to my brother whose body is spread over the carpet, blocks in hand. "Hey bud, I got a question for you."

His eyebrows pinch at me, waiting for me to talk, "Would you be alright staying here tonight? I'll be back to get you in the morning for school, does that sound good?"

Graham happily nods his head and tells me that it sounds awesome. I tell him and Arlene I'll come back later with some clothes for him and his school bag as soon as I can and kiss his forehead goodbye.

By the time I make it back to the apartment I see Daniel's car parked out front. His body is leaning against his car and when he hears footsteps coming his way his head turns quickly. The relief that floods my body upon seeing him is overwhelming. I quicken my pace and embrace him tightly, "I'm so glad you're ok." I whisper into his shirt. I step back and observe he's wearing different clothes from earlier and his hair is slightly damp. He appears to be a little dressed up and that's when it clicks, I guess we're still going on that date he was talking about.

He opens the broken door to the building and holds it open for me, "Hey Daniel, I dropped off Graham at Arlene's a minute ago but I gotta pack him some clothes cause he spending the night there. Do you mind coming with me?"

"Of course. Why he staying there?"

"Water got shut off, Tony can't fucking stop drinking long enough to even fill out a job application." Our conversation continues while we climb the creaky staircase. "I'm guessing by your attire you still plan on taking me out?" I say to him knowingly, he wouldn't have to answer for me to know.

"Of course, you know I'm a man of my word." He looks utterly breathtaking in the button up shirt that covers his body, the black color making his eyes stand out. He's dressed in simple black jeans but paired with brown felt covered boots but he doesn't even have to try to look as incredible as he does.

"Would you mind helping me pick out something to wear for tonight since I don't know where you're taking me?" I ask him with a smile hanging on my lips.

"I'd be honored," Danny says while grabbing me from behind. I playfully swat his hand and away and tell him he should be on his best behavior if he wants to have a good time tonight. "Baby you can't really expect me to wait that long?" I just laugh to myself as I unlock the shit door for the second time tonight. My mother and Tony are sitting just where I left them an hour ago.