Mommy Mouse (sequel to City Mouse)

Chapter 20: Communication is Key

Henry went to work for the next few weeks and really lost himself there. Fall was always a busy time at the agency, with all of the spring and summer scheduling to do, and all of the shooting that went along with it; now, with everything that had happened with Leo, Henry welcomed the distractions of photography and paperwork even more than before. He didn't even feel free to enjoy Mouse's pregnancy like he wanted to, because any thoughts of impending parenthood inevitably brought him back to unwanted reminders of the shattering news about Leo.

He still couldn't believe he'd shouted at him as he had. The look on poor Leo's face when he heard the volume of Henry's voice, and then realized that yes, those awful words were intended for him. He'd had his small hand on the doorknob, fingers spread to turn it, as he joyously called his father to dinner. Then, as if in slow motion, lifting his eyes to his father's face, his cheerful expression falling away from his features as if he'd been slapped.

And he knew that he'd dropped in his wife's estimation, as well. The knowledge that Mouse saw him as less than before really hurt. He could tell from the look in her eyes that it would take some time before he could earn back her trust. He hated knowing that he'd disappointed her, that he was less of a father, less of a man than before in her eyes. The fact that he'd let down the two most important people in his life so egregiously ate away at him, but he didn't know what he could do about it.

So he worked. All the time.

Away from the apartment, everything was the same, he was still Henry Gardener, gifted photographer, popular owner and manager who was fun to talk to and easy to get along with. He could joke around and put the models at ease, smooth over the ruffled feathers of the magazine publisher who was visiting from Sweden and sweet talk an editor into extending a deadline, all without breaking a sweat.

At home, though, things were brittle and friable, and everything was very minimalist and superficial. He knew that Mouse and Leo were spending a lot of time together, talking, and hopefully Mouse was making Leo feel better and meeting his emotional needs. They'd always spent more time together without Henry, of course, from the very beginning; it used to be, however, that when Henry came home from work to join them, or woke up on Saturday mornings to Leo jumping on their bed, he was welcomed into Mouse and Leo's circle of warmth and love. The mother and son would expand to make room for him, to include him. Now, however, though everyone was civil, Henry definitely felt like he was on the outside looking in.

Henry ran his hand through his hair and looked at the time. It was already past six. He knew he should head home, but the thought of facing Leo's wary, watchful face, and Mouse's kind, distant courtesy was more than he could deal with.

"Boss? You need anything else before I head out?"

Henry looked at the doorway, where his intern Flora had popped her head in. Flora was a lean redhead with huge eyes who had begun as a child model before realizing, as she put it, that modeling "bored her out of her tits" and begun to take an interest in things on the other side of the camera. She had an incredible eye, and had used her modeling money to put herself through college as a design and visual arts major.

He shook his head at her. "I've told you before, you can go home at five, Flo. You're unpaid, you don't have to do overtime."

"Nah, I'm one of five interns, got to curry favor whenever I can, right?" She winked at Henry and waved. "See you tomorrow."

Henry waved back and looked at his monitor, sighing. This could wait, he knew that. He shut it off and headed out the door.

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"Hold on a sec, okay?" Mouse said to Leo as they entered the lobby of their apartment building. "I have to talk to Mr. Benevides about something real quick."