Chapter 9
PORTER
It's been a week since I made this agreement to be Reena's fake boyfriend. A week of morning runs with her uncle, evenings spent recounting stories over the dinner table, and goodnight kisses.
All of it makes me realize how different my life has become in such a short time. One week is all it took to make me want this to be real.
To make this relationship with Reena be real.
Even now, waiting outside for Cliff to join me for our run, I replay the kiss last night in my mind.
The warmth of Reena in my arms, the way her fingers slid through my hair, and the little sounds she made that made my cock swell until I was afraid I'd scare her away with the evidence of how much I wanted her.
The sound of the door opening makes me turn and I wave at Cliff as he comes down the stairs.
"Morning," he says, squinting at me, hesitation in his steps, and I can see his confusion until recognition dawns. "Back again, are ya?"
"That I am, sir. It's been good for me to get back into this routine. Thank you for letting me join you on these runs."
He nods, meeting me on the sidewalk, and we head off on our usual route.
Cliff follows the same path every day, and I catch him remarking on the same details each time, not aware they're the same things we saw the day before.
Our conversation is limited, but that's all right.
It's comfortable, just being out in nature with each other, and I'm happy to jog in silence with him.
Until I notice that he's stumbled to a stop, hands on his hips as he looks around. We're only twenty minutes into our run, but there's something like panic in his eyes as I make my way back to him.
"You all right, Cliff?" I'm careful as I ask, not getting too close, not reaching out to touch him. "Need to head home already?"
"Where am I?" The older man turns in a circle, searching our surroundings, and when he returns his gaze to mine, he shakes his head. "I don't know where I am."
This is exactly what Reena has been afraid would happen on one of his runs. Why she didn't want him going alone.
I keep my voice calm as I answer. "We're just out for a jog. Following the same route we always do. This path in the woods is only a few minutes away from downtown if we head back that direction. That's where the diner we like to get breakfast at is."
Cliff's face crumples as I talk, and I hate the fear that radiates from him. "I need to sit down."
Leading him over to a bench that is tucked in alongside the trail, I sit down beside him and wait. He doesn't need more words thrown at him right now. He just needs to feel he's not alone.
When his breathing finally calms, he says to me, "I don't remember your name."
"It's Porter, sir." Hoping to add some extra detail to help him make the connection, I add, "I'm your niece's boyfriend."
He nods, but there's still some confusion on his face.
He reaches for the zipped pocket of his sweatpants, pulling out a folded slip of paper and holding it up to the light.
I can see a list, tight script that slants to the right.
I can make out Reena's name and realize this is a list he's been keeping with him.
"My sister died." His finger hovers the page, and there's a wealth of sadness in his words. "I've been taking care of Reena since she was a girl. But I think I can't do it anymore."
He tips the paper toward me, and I take it, reading over the notes he's written with painstaking care. His doctor's name, his address, even his telephone number. Practical things. Until I get further down the page.
Bevvy died.
Reena is my niece.
She came back to take care of me.
She needs someone to take care of her.
My chest goes tight. He wrote all this down to make sure he doesn't forget what's most important to him. And that's Reena.
"I know there's something wrong with me. I feel it, but it's hard to remember. Like there are things right there, in my mind, but they slip away, and it feels like I'm losing parts of myself."
He's a strong man, but here, in the quiet of the woods, he needs some reassurance. And honesty.
"You have dementia. It's getting progressively worse over time. Reena's been working with your doctor, getting you the best treatment program to help. But there's no cure."
Cliff nods, and he swipes at his eyes, looking away from me as he does. "She's a good girl, my Reena. Always worrying after me, making sure I eat and get some sleep. I can't leave her alone."
"She won't be alone, sir, I promise you that."
He twists on the bench, eyes on me, and asks the one question I didn't expect. "You love her?"
Quiet hangs between us as he waits, needing to hear my answer, and certainty washes over me. I offer him all I can.
Honesty.
"Yes, Cliff. I do."