Fix My Feet When They're Stumblin'

Chapter 73

     A burst of noise roused Tana from her fitful slumber, and she blinked drowsily as her children clamored in the distance, bright peals of laughter floating through the winding halls.

     "Knock it off, knuckleheads," she heard Ronnie chide gently, his voice barely loud enough for her to hear. "You're supposed to be quiet for your dad, remember?"

     Brandon. Tana glanced down, smiling at her husband and tightening her loose embrace. Still fast asleep, he had managed to wrap his good arm around her waist, his head tucked peacefully into her shoulder.

     A hushed chorus of apologies reached her ears, then a rustle of plastic bags: "Here, take your sh - uh, I mean, your stuff to your rooms, divvy it up, put it away. Do some homework, make your mom happy. Go on, get out of here."

     A torrent of little footsteps faded away up the stairs, until Tana had to strain to make out the soft sounds of their friend's crutches on the hardwood, pausing inexplicably every few seconds and slowly drawing near.

     "Ron, honey, I could...are you sure you don't want me to carry it? You're gonna - "

     The drummer snorted derisively, and there was another little whisper of plastic. "Back off, Livvie," he muttered. "Stop trying to steal my shit. It's my shit. I can handle it."

     "Fine. Don't come crying to me when you drop it on your foot, then," Olivia retorted, her voice bubbling with suppressed laughter. "Hey, they're not in here, either...where'd they go?"

     "Stupid giant-ass house," Ronnie complained softly. The sounds of his crutches stopped again and plastic rustled as he adjusted whatever he was carrying once more, cursing under his breath.

     Olivia giggled, then suddenly she was visible as she turned the corner. Tana shifted and carefully lifted a hand from Brandon's chest, giving a little wave. The other woman squinted, straining to see through the distance and the dim light, then grinned and waved back.

     "Ron, shh! Quit whining. They're just ahead here, in the hall. Brandon's asleep, I think."

     "Well, what the fuck are they doing out here?" the drummer grumbled sourly as he came into view behind Olivia. Valiantly, he struggled to balance his crutches and a heavily laden plastic bag slung precariously over his shoulder, threatening to slip at any second. Tana smiled. He and Brandon really are so alike. Too stubborn for their own good.

     Olivia stopped beside Tana and crouched down, touching her arm in silent greeting. Turning slightly, she watched her husband stump awkwardly toward them with a mixture of concern and undisguised amusement.

     Breathing heavily, Ronnie finally paused in front of them and nodded to Tana, his eyes turning soft as velvet when they dropped to Brandon's face. He watched his friend sleep in silence for a moment, then nodded again as if some decision has been made. Smiling to himself, the bearded drummer huffed quietly and turned away, continuing down the hall to their bedroom. The soft tinkling of glass followed him, and Tana raised her eyebrows and looked questioningly back to her friend.

     "What's in there that he's so protective of?"

     Olivia rolled her eyes after her husband's clumsily retreating back, but shook her head and pressed a finger to her smiling lips.

     "Can't say, sorry. We've all been sworn to secrecy. He wants it to be a surprise. But you should know that we got your kids popcorn and soda and spoiled their dinner, like proper babysitters should," she teased, winking.

     Tana snorted weakly, settling back against the wall and wrapping her arm more securely around Brandon's back. He whimpered as she moved and she froze, holding her breath. For several long seconds, she stared down at him, but he seemed to still be sound asleep. Slowly, she relaxed, smiling up at her friend.