“You have a good day.” The orderly uttered his first words as he turned and scurried back into the hospital with the wheelchair.
Leo paused with his hand on the door of Aud’s Jeep and watched the kid go. Then he shook his head and looked at his folks. “You guys remember where my place is, don’t you?” They’d only been to his apartment a couple of times. It was a family custom for everyone to go to their house for the holidays, and since his folks didn’t like driving south through Denver, they hadn’t been to his place often.
“I think we can find it, but if Aud would be so kind as to drive slowly out of the parking lot, it would be better to follow him.” Leo’s father took the plastic bag from his mother and set it in the backseat.
“That’s fine, Howard,” Aud replied. “If I don’t see you behind me at the exit, I’ll wait for you there.”
“Thanks.” His father flashed Aud bright smile. “You’re a good guy, Aud.” He turned to Leo’s mother. “Come on, dear, let’s head to the car before the boys get tired of waiting for us.”
“I’ll see you at the house, Leo,” his mother said, and then she gave Aud a hard look. “You be careful with my boy.”
“I will.”
His parents hurried off through the parking lot as Leo eased himself down into the seat. Aud closed his door and then strolled around the front of the Jeep to get in.
“It feels good to be out of there.” Trying to ignore the pain, Leo started to lean across the console and kiss Aud. But agony whipped up his side and he pulled back.
A horrified look distorted Aud’s handsome face. “What’s wrong?”
Leo clutched his side. “Trying to do too much.” He gasped. “I’ll be fine in a minute. Better not try leaning across the seat to you for a while. I just wanted to kiss you.”
As his face relaxed, Aud leaned toward Leo and kissed him. “There. You don’t need to come to me—I can come to you. I don’t want you in pain.”
“Thanks.” The pain subsided enough that Leo could give Aud a slight smile.
Aud started the car. “So was it my imagination or was the orderly kinda weird?”
“Quiet?” Leo leaned back against the leather seat, thankful the pain was ebbing. “I think so. Maybe we threw him off. He might not be comfortable about gays. You know, we might’ve attacked him in the elevator or something.”
Aud laughed after he glanced in his rearview mirror, then pulled onto the street. “Especially with your parents there. That might’ve been it.”
“Oh well. It doesn’t matter. I’m out of there and heading home. That’s all that’s important at this point.” He leaned over so he could put his head on Aud’s broad shoulder. His stitches complained a bit again, but it wasn’t as bad and he tried to ignore them. “And I’m with you. That really means a lot to me.”
“Me too.” Aud leaned his head against Leo’s. “I’m so thankful I didn’t lose you. It gets upsetting when I stop to think how easily Randal could’ve killed you.”
“But he didn’t. I had Julie and Felix there with me to stop him, and now he’s in custody. That alone makes me feel a lot safer.” Leo didn’t mention that just being with Aud made him feel secure.
“I know, but I still keep expecting him to show up.” Aud stopped for a red light. “It’s strange. With all his stylish clothes and everything, I’m surprised he hasn’t bailed out by now, but according to Benet, he’s not even contacted a bondsman. It’s leading them to think either he doesn’t have anyone to call or he’s more unstable than we realized.”
Leo couldn’t keep the shudder that welled up inside him from escaping. “I hadn’t even thought about him bonding out. Please don’t mention that to Felix. I think standing up to Randal was really good for him. He’s more like the old Felix since I’ve been in the hospital.”
“Okay.” Aud turned onto a busier street. “I’ve noticed he’s started letting people touch him again. You’d said he’d withdrawn. He’s allowing Julie to hug him and hold his hand.”
“That’s good. I did a little research while I was laid up when folks weren’t gathered around. It said sometimes rape victims never fully recover, but if they can begin letting people back in, that’s a really good start. It might take a long time, but I think Felix will recover. At least, I have my hopes.”
“Good. I’ve never known anyone who’s gone through this until now.” Aud sighed heavily. “Hell, I’ve never known anyone who had a stalker or got stabbed in a Walmart parking lot before.”
The way he said it brought a smile to Leo. “I hear you. We’ve all been through a lot of rough firsts the past few weeks, but you know the really important part of it all? We’ve made it through. A little rougher for wear and tear, but we’re all still here.”