suggest you mind your own business, Isobel.”
The blonde woman grinned despite the not so subtle threat in his voice. “You know me, Arthur…I never do.”
Chapter 11
Arthur didn’t approach the boy until the two women had left the room. The extra time was as much for him to regain his footing as for Matthew to get used to his presence. Isobel’s hints had pushed him out of his comfort zone. She had been fishing of course, guessing that there was more to him and Maya than met the eye, but she didn’t know anything. Arthur hoped he could trust Maya to resist the prodding.
The young man sat on the empty bed beside Matthew’s and loosened his tie, undoing one button from his collar. The young boy was watching him closely.
During his last visit, Mark had overtaken Arthur’s attention so this was the first time he was able to really meet his charge. The dark-haired boy had Maya’s clear eyes, maybe a little bluer, and a very delicate complexion, too delicate maybe. His veins were an unmistakable blue web below his fair skin. The tumour in his throat formed a small bump just below his Adam’s apple.
He had rarely seen a kid looking so fragile. His lips were nearly purple with the lack of proper breathing; the low hiss of his painful respiration was heart-breaking. Arthur wondered if the boy would let him hold him the way he’d allowed Maya, but something in the wary stare stopped him beforehand. Thus he simply said, “Maya wants you to get better quickly.”
The boy stayed still. Arthur relaxed his posture on the bed.
“I think that’s because she really likes you.”
This time a small grin rewarded his attempt. Arthur leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, fingers linked.
“Are you afraid, Matthew?”
The direct question seemed to surprise the child and he didn’t move right away. After a moment, he nodded once, slowly. Arthur stood up and went to sit on Matthew’s bed, one leg folded over the rail, facing the boy.
“I understand. These tests will ensure that the doctors can safely remove that thing from your throat so you can have a normal life again.”
He had always thought children understood a lot and were probably appalled by the dimwitted behavior of adults. As a kid, his father’s severe attitude had contrasted a lot with the pitiful looks or suffocating coaxes. He had never fully understood why, but it had helped keeping his head up. At times, he would have liked to be embraced like Maya did Matthew; but only his mother could have done that, and she was gone.
Matthew considered his explanation for an instant before he quietly slipped his little hand into the larger one and Arthur squeezed it. The little boy stirred the need to protect him in those around him and he could see why Maya was so taken with him. He briefly wondered how she would react if the surgery failed.
He smiled at the kid. He hoped with all his heart that it didn’t.
***
After one hour of blind corridors, antiseptic scent and lectures about the hospital and the Foundation, Isobel asked for a truce. They stopped by the cafeteria for a cup of coffee. Maya picked up one for Arthur too, hoping he took his coffee with a cloud of milk.
“Wow, you even have him evolved from his bitter black espressos? You really have quite an influence on that guy, Maya.”
She hid her embarrassment behind a cough. Why hadn’t he taken the time to tell her that he took his coffee black and strong? Or whether he liked muffins? Damn him. How stupid of her to try to be nice and bring him a cup.
Apparently unaware of her sudden uneasiness, Isobel was looking at the other side of the room. She made a small noise with her tongue.
“Arthur is not my type but he is definitely…”
Maya followed Isobel’s stare and giggled.
“That is Gavin…”
“I’ve heard that name before.”
“Yes, probably from Colin…”
The blonde sighed.
“Just my luck.”
She pouted for a second before her laugher chimed once more and she grabbed
The blonde woman grinned despite the not so subtle threat in his voice. “You know me, Arthur…I never do.”
Chapter 11
Arthur didn’t approach the boy until the two women had left the room. The extra time was as much for him to regain his footing as for Matthew to get used to his presence. Isobel’s hints had pushed him out of his comfort zone. She had been fishing of course, guessing that there was more to him and Maya than met the eye, but she didn’t know anything. Arthur hoped he could trust Maya to resist the prodding.
The young man sat on the empty bed beside Matthew’s and loosened his tie, undoing one button from his collar. The young boy was watching him closely.
During his last visit, Mark had overtaken Arthur’s attention so this was the first time he was able to really meet his charge. The dark-haired boy had Maya’s clear eyes, maybe a little bluer, and a very delicate complexion, too delicate maybe. His veins were an unmistakable blue web below his fair skin. The tumour in his throat formed a small bump just below his Adam’s apple.
He had rarely seen a kid looking so fragile. His lips were nearly purple with the lack of proper breathing; the low hiss of his painful respiration was heart-breaking. Arthur wondered if the boy would let him hold him the way he’d allowed Maya, but something in the wary stare stopped him beforehand. Thus he simply said, “Maya wants you to get better quickly.”
The boy stayed still. Arthur relaxed his posture on the bed.
“I think that’s because she really likes you.”
This time a small grin rewarded his attempt. Arthur leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, fingers linked.
“Are you afraid, Matthew?”
The direct question seemed to surprise the child and he didn’t move right away. After a moment, he nodded once, slowly. Arthur stood up and went to sit on Matthew’s bed, one leg folded over the rail, facing the boy.
“I understand. These tests will ensure that the doctors can safely remove that thing from your throat so you can have a normal life again.”
He had always thought children understood a lot and were probably appalled by the dimwitted behavior of adults. As a kid, his father’s severe attitude had contrasted a lot with the pitiful looks or suffocating coaxes. He had never fully understood why, but it had helped keeping his head up. At times, he would have liked to be embraced like Maya did Matthew; but only his mother could have done that, and she was gone.
Matthew considered his explanation for an instant before he quietly slipped his little hand into the larger one and Arthur squeezed it. The little boy stirred the need to protect him in those around him and he could see why Maya was so taken with him. He briefly wondered how she would react if the surgery failed.
He smiled at the kid. He hoped with all his heart that it didn’t.
***
After one hour of blind corridors, antiseptic scent and lectures about the hospital and the Foundation, Isobel asked for a truce. They stopped by the cafeteria for a cup of coffee. Maya picked up one for Arthur too, hoping he took his coffee with a cloud of milk.
“Wow, you even have him evolved from his bitter black espressos? You really have quite an influence on that guy, Maya.”
She hid her embarrassment behind a cough. Why hadn’t he taken the time to tell her that he took his coffee black and strong? Or whether he liked muffins? Damn him. How stupid of her to try to be nice and bring him a cup.
Apparently unaware of her sudden uneasiness, Isobel was looking at the other side of the room. She made a small noise with her tongue.
“Arthur is not my type but he is definitely…”
Maya followed Isobel’s stare and giggled.
“That is Gavin…”
“I’ve heard that name before.”
“Yes, probably from Colin…”
The blonde sighed.
“Just my luck.”
She pouted for a second before her laugher chimed once more and she grabbed
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