"How is Avery doing?" Luke asked easily into the phone, held to his ear by his shoulder. He stood in his office at Grimaldi Shipping, aimlessly walking through the room and pretending to read the papers in his hand.
"He's better. I think he's mostly upset that he won't get to miss school on Monday," Reid grinned. He was at the hospital enjoying a microwave dinner for lunch. "Katie's with him now, I guess she left Jacob with Hank and what's-her-name for the afternoon."
"Barbara," Luke corrected with a knowing grin.
"Yeah, that lady."
Luke laughed, moving toward his desk and sitting on the edge.
"So what are your plans tonight?" asked Reid.
"Working," Luke sighed. "And I promised Natalie and Ethan I'd take them to a movie."
"Ah," said Reid, trying not to sound disappointed.
"What about you?" Luke inquired.
"Me? Probably reading, and taking care of a sick child," he shrugged, earning a sympathetic laugh from Luke.
"Ah, the life of a single parent," he smiled. Reid's lips turned up in a smile as well.
"The life indeed," he sighed contently. "Alright then, what about tomorrow? It's Sunday, so I know you're not working," he added quickly.
"No work," Luke confirmed with a laugh. "I'm having lunch with my Grandmother, but I'll be free the rest of the evening. Why?"
"Avery misses you," Reid said immediately, earning a laugh from Luke almost instantly.
"Ah, Avery misses me, huh?"
"Yes. Immensely. I think he's going through Luke-withdrawal," Reid continued to tease.
"Well, we can't have that now, can we?"
"Not at all. So you'll come over?"
Luke laughed. "Of course. What time?"
"Ah," Reid shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "How about six? I think Avery said something about making pizza."
"Sounds fun," said Luke. "I'll be there."
"You better be," grinned Reid. Luke rolled his eyes.
"Well I better get back to this paperwork," said Luke. "But I'll call you later, okay?"
"Alright," said Reid. "And before I forget, I had the displeasure of running into your mother today," he began, earning a sigh from Luke that he ignored. "She was visiting Noah and gave me grief about how you haven't visited in a few days. Not that I'm giddy about you spending time with him or anything," he admitted, this time earning a smile from the face on the other end of the line, "but is everything alright?"
Luke sighed, impressed that Reid cared and was handling this so maturely, and wishing he was able to do the same. "Things are fine. It's just been… I don't know, awkward?"
"I get that," said Reid carefully.
"You think I should visit him, don't you?"
"I think you shouldn't leave things hanging," Reid clarified. "I think you need to tie off any loose ends, save yourself the grief."
Luke silently nodded, pausing a moment.
"You're right. Maybe I'll stop by tomorrow before I come over," he said.
"I think that's a good idea," said Reid, amazed with how easy it was to say that; amazed that he trusted Luke enough to say it. "As long as you aren't late to dinner. I think it would break Avery's heart."
Luke laughed loudly, grateful for the humor.
"Well we can't have that," he chuckled. "I promise I'll be on time."
"Good," grinned Reid. "Alright, I'll let you get back to work. I'll talk to you tonight."
"Sounds good. Bye."
"Bye."
