August 8th 2020

Chapter 221
Their Blaze of Hospitality

Coming up the lane, many of the houses still showing their Christmas lights all colorful and bright, just as they had seen the whole ride back from the hospital, Maya and Lucas both sort of hoped, deep down, that this would do their passengers some good. Sure, the lights would not change what had happened today, wouldn't fix the house, wouldn't heal them quicker… But it would be a reminder that the world kept turning, and they were days away from… whatever they would make of Christmas, and then soon after that would come a brand new year.

Both the elder Friars were seen looking out on those lit up houses as they went along. Their house had been lit up like that, too, just last night. When Lucas and Maya had gone to check out the place earlier, there had been something inevitably foreboding about finding it the sole dark spot on the street. Now, they were here, making their way to a house still tuned to 'merry and bright.' Later, Sam would tell his sister and brother-in-law how he had debated whether to turn them off or not, thinking maybe it would be like a weird reminder to the displaced couple, but in the end he had chosen to leave them on, as a sign of welcoming. It had been the right call, and they thanked him for it.

He was here now, as the car pulled up next to the minivan. Sam stood on the porch, waiting. He had that same look about him as he'd done before they'd left earlier. His whole demeanor was locked on to making himself available to his sister's in-laws in whatever needs they might have had. His first assignment came in the form of tag-teaming with Maya to assist Thomas Friar out of the car. His swivel maneuver had not worked so well coming out, and so the siblings acted like crutches for him to manage to stand up without using his bandaged limbs. Meanwhile, Lucas went and helped his mother, bringing her up from the car as he'd brought her to it before.

"It's about to get crowded in there, isn't it?" Thomas Friar stated.

"Are you going to be able to get to the basement alright?" Maya asked him, thinking about it now. He couldn't hold to the ramp, could he?

"Isn't your friend staying down there?"

"She went to stay with a friend, it's all yours," Sam replied. "I put in new sheets on the bed, and you've got… well… There's empty drawers for…" He was realizing, even as he was saying it, that they had nothing to them save for the clothes on their backs.

"That is very kind of you," Thomas told him, bailing him out.

"I took some of Lucas' PJs down, hope that's okay. They should fit you," Sam went on.

"Yes, imagine that."

"And, well… I wasn't sure, with Mrs. Friar, since Maya is… well…"

"Shorter? You can say it, Sammy," Maya smiled.

"So, I called the Sandersons. Missy ran over a few things of her mother and grandmother's, for tonight at least. They'll be back in the morning."

"He's something else, this brother of yours," Thomas turned to his daughter-in-law.

"You have no idea," Maya smiled over to Sam.

As they'd walked into the house, there was a moment where they were left to consider what to do next. Did they want to just go downstairs, or sit in the living room, or the kitchen? It quickly came down to the kitchen, and so they went. Without a word, Sam brought over cups, and a few of their stay warm mugs.

"Coffee here, hot water for tea or hot chocolate here," he pointed out. "I wasn't sure what…" he started, then stopped as Melinda Friar touched his arm and gave a smile and a thankful nod before indicating the water and reaching for a tea bag. Soon, they all had their drinks set before them.

They were all quiet for a few minutes, the silence broken only by the sound of stirring spoons, cups picked up and put back down again after a sip… As he couldn't pick up his own cup, Mr. Friar had to be aided by his wife. They were all visibly tired from the day's events, but they didn't look like they were ready to go to sleep either. So where were they supposed to start? Without a doubt, there would be so many questions to address, about what would happen with the house, what calls needed to be made, when they might be able to start on repairs, what was the state of their injuries… None of that would be brought up tonight, there just was no way. Even asking about the fire, how it had started, and how Mr. Friar had gotten burned… They were the most direct questions, seemingly most natural ones to ask, but no one seemed ready or willing to vocalize them.

Eventually, it was Melinda who broke the silence, to a point. She tapped her son's arm and made the easily recognizable gesture for 'I would like something to write with.' Lucas stood at once, grabbing a nearby notepad and pen and bringing them to his mother. It was hard not to watch her as she set herself to writing, even as she tried to dissimulate the way her hand shook still as she worked the pen. They'd already noticed it from the clinking of her tea cup whenever she'd take hold of it.

Thank you for everything you've done tonight.

She'd shown this to each of her three hosts, with a quick nod to each. It wasn't as though any of them had needed to wonder whether or not they would do it, so really they might have said it was nothing. But whether that was the case or not, she needed to express this gratitude, and they would not take it from her.

"I'm just glad you're both okay," Lucas promised his mother, sharing this notion with a look to his father, too. "When you called, I just…" he shook his head, the memory strong in his mind. Now that the initial shock had worn off though, a few things fell into place, top most being… "Where's Duke?" he asked even as the thought came to him. The moment the dog's name was brought up, Maya and Sam sat up as well.

"He's alright, he's safe," Thomas reassured them all. "Neighbors have him for tonight, we can get him in the morning, that'll be… a lot of dogs in here," he looked around.

"Not really, Rosa took her two with her over to Jenna's. Technically she's not supposed to have dogs in her apartment apparently, but Jenna told Rosa that they'd run the risk, and if anyone asked questions, she'd handle it."

"Then it's settled, Duke is coming over tomorrow," Maya nodded. "It'll be good to have him around," she smiled over to her mother-in-law, who looked very glad to hear it. She was still so shaken up, but being here now, with family, at home, all went a long way toward getting her closer to herself again.

"She rescued him, you know?" Thomas told the kids, nodding to his wife with a spark of pride in his eyes, and a little shake of his head like 'you mad woman, I love you so.' "He was losing it out there, hiding under the kitchen table, but she crawled under there and got him, kept him safe. That's how the smoke got her, and then I had to get them out."

He went back inside. Melinda's second note was joined to a look on her face that read more like 'Thomas Joseph Friar, have you lost your mind, you could have died.'

"I wanted to try and contain it as best I could until the firefighters came," he shook his head, showing how he saw his own foolishness now. His arms left gingerly on the table's surface, the bandages showed – or hid – the extent of what that decision had cost him. "I learned my lesson," he bowed his head to his wife, receiving a 'you better have' look in return.

"Are you going to be okay to get some sleep? You really should…" Lucas told his parents.

"We will, yes," Thomas assured him, looking to Melinda, who looked half asleep where she sat. "Very soon, I think."

In time, the pair retreated, with Melinda helping her husband down to the basement, where they would find the clothes borrowed from Lucas and the Sanderson women. Maya gave her brother his marching orders, with an excess of gratitude, and Sam went off to his room. Once they'd picked up and put away the cups and other items laid out on the kitchen table, Maya and Lucas went upstairs as well, moving into their room to start changing for bed.

The evening had started out so differently. It didn't seem possible that just a couple of hours ago the two of them had been casually enjoying some quiet closeness on the couch, and now… Now they felt like they'd just run an emotional marathon.

"I can feel you watching me," Lucas stated as he pulled on a shirt. "And not the normal way where you pretend like you're not." He turned around to find his wife standing there, a borderline apologetic smile on her face.

"I can't help it," she shrugged. "Ever since we left to go get your parents, I just… I worry… about you, and how you're handling this, because I can see it in you, even when I can't see your eyes, how much it's just…" she gestured at his face, looking for the words that wouldn't come.

"I know you do," Lucas assured her, walking those short steps to rejoin her. "How do you think I've been keeping myself from losing it completely all night?" he smiled, brushing hair from her face. "Couldn't have done this without you… Couldn't do… all the things we're going to have to do over the next few weeks without you."

"Well, then, it's a good thing you won't have to, right?" she nodded up at him.

"I was just thinking that."

"Come here, sit," Maya took hold of his hands, leading him to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Why?" he wondered.

"Because, like there's ever a chance you could forget, you are so much taller than I am, and when I hug you standing up, it all still just feels like you're hugging me, and right now, I need the vertical advantage. I think you need it," she informed him. She knew it would make him smile, and she was right. Stepping up closer, she put her arms around his shoulders, until his head could rest over her heart and his arms could lock around her waist. "See? Now I've got you," Maya hummed, pressing a kiss to the top of his head, as he let himself be held by her.

"I really get it now," he agreed, looking up at her. She met this gaze with a slow kiss to his lips, after which he resettled his head as it had been, where he could feel her heartbeat. After a few seconds, as the beats started to lull him into calm, it slowly made him feel as though the night was expanding over him. He had been going around with everything that had happened with his parents, and the house, carrying it like a tight ball in his grasp, to keep it from bursting out. Now it was coming out in waves, and his fear, even if he knew now that his mother and father were okay, had never felt more real. He was safe though, it didn't overpower him, because wherever the waves crashed, all they found was Maya's loving hold, and it pushed those waves away, until he could relax, exhale. Tomorrow, they would start fresh.

TO BE CONTINUED

See you tomorrow! - mooners