Nick got to his feet. "Mrs. Solomon," he said, "I didn't know you had come up."
"My husband... Jack," she said. "We came as soon as we heard." Helen paused. "As soon as we could." She sat beside Mark, gently running her fingers through his hair.
Nick pursed his lips. "Yeah I... could imagine how hard this... Mark told me about his brother."
"JJ" she said "Mark told you about him?"
Nick nodded. "Mark umm... he's been a real friend to me, even when I didn't deserve it. He... opened up to me and... he told me about what happened."
"He's a good boy" Helen said. "He was always such... a sweet boy." She still gazed at Mark sadly. "He took it so bad when his brother died. We never... see him anymore. He can't even come home for the holidays."
"He told me that but... Mrs. Solomon, he's just worried about you. He told me that he's worried of hurting you... of you having to see Jack... JJ... when you look at him. Mark loves you very much. I know that."
"You're very close with my son."
"I like to think so," Nick nodded. "I'm his roommate at the cottage." Nick looked at Helen's questioning glance. "We umm... we're rebuilding the community center in the square since it burned down this summer. There are eight of us... staying in the cottage in town. Hope to get it done soon."
"That's very admirable," Helen said. "You kids giving up your summer, your free time to help out."
"We're helping eachother at the same time," Nick explained. "To make up some group work we missed during the year."
"Still" she said. "It's commendable."
Nick nodded. "I should get going. Football practice." He looked at Mark as if he were speaking to him. "I'll let you have some time with him. Nick looked at Mark again. "I'll be back a little later."
>>>>>>
Michael plopped himself down on the sofa in his suite. He had managed the rest of the day off, but he still had a lot to do, studying for the medical boards. He was aimlessly flipping through the pages now, unable to concentrate. Even the simplest concepts were escaping him now. His mind was elsewhere.
The keys jingled in the door and it swung open. Ron entered, already beginning to unbutton his workshirt. "Michael," he said. "Hey. I didn't think you'd be here."
"Yeah," Michael said. "Managed to talk myself out of the rest of the day. Got the Boards to study for and that's going to take my whole life." He sighed. "It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do."
"Well don't let me disturb you, man," Ron said. "Study away."
Michael took a deep breath placing the book aside. "Ronnie," he said. "I need to ask you." Ron looked at him. "Shannon..."
"Michael, not you too man," Ron said. "Marcie's already gone through the whole thing."
"No, I'm not... I'm just curious, Ron. I'm curious as to what it is that makes you want to date her. What exactly is it that you two have in common?"
"A lot more than you know." Ron said. "Look... I care about Shannon. And you care about Marcie. I know you would never hurt her. You have to know that it's the same with me and Shannon. I would never do anything to hurt her."
"I just would have never thought, ya know?" Michael said. "Shannon really doesn't strike me as your type."
"Neither of us went looking for love, Mike. We just kinda fell into this. But... the feelings are there. And they're real. I care about your cousin very much. I know you want to look out for her. To protect her. But you don't need to protect her from me. You know me, man. You know that I could never..."
"Hurt her," Michael said. "I know. I never thought that you would. I just... this is so all of a sudden and Shannon can be... well a handful sometimes."
"She needs someone to listen," Ron said. "I think she's just got a lot inside."
"Shannon..." he said. "Never really talked too much after she came to live with my Mom. She was really close to her mother. She stayed with her dad after she died and then came to stay with us when he passed away. She never said much more than that."
"Michael. You don't have to worry, OK. Don't worry about Shannon. Trust me. I'm just getting to know her." He took a deep breath, patting Michael on the back. "I'm gonna hit the shower. Study away."