His Baby Boy novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: My Turn

Malcolm slept through the lunch rush, the afternoon lull and the espresso grinder.

Perrin checked on him four times.

Each time the long body lay on its side on the cot with one hand curled under his cheek.

Each time Perrin's heart turned over.

At four, Agnes put her hand on his arm.

"Take him home, honey," she said. "We've got the counter."

"He's not going to want to."

"He'll want to, if you tell him." She nodded toward the back. "You're the only one he'd say yes to."

"Bernie and you won't tell him about Desmond?" Perrin asked.

"We'll tell him whatever you say," Agnes said gravely. "But he should know."

"Let him sleep first," said Perrin. "Please. Then I'll tell him."

He woke Malcolm with a hand on his shoulder.

The gray eyes opened slowly and found him, and for a moment there was nothing in them but peace.

"What time is it?" Malcolm said.

"Ten past four."

"Past four." He sat up, appalled. "I slept six hours."

"You did. We're going home."

"I have meetings."

"You have a boyfriend," Perrin said. "He is taking you home."

Malcolm stared at him.

"Boyfriend," Malcolm said. A slow, helpless smile spread over his face. "I rather like that."

"Come on."

At the house on Munjoy Hill, Perrin did the thing he had never once done in his life.

He took charge.

He hung Malcolm's coat on the hook and put his shoes on the mat.

He turned on the lamps in the living room, one after another, until the room glowed.

He ran a bath upstairs in the big claw-footed tub that Malcolm had never used.

He poured in a handful of lavender salts he found under the sink.

"Sit," he said.

Malcolm sat on the edge of the tub, looking dazed.

"I don't," he began.

"Daddy. Arms up."

Malcolm raised his arms, and Perrin pulled off his sweater, folded it, and set it on the hamper.

He undid the shirt button by button.

His own fingers weren't quite steady, and he felt it, a shy, thrilling power he had not known he owned.

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