4. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Andre
Z ahir looked adorable as he snored gently. No one could hear the noise, I suspected, except me.
The mountains had slowly given way to farm fields again, and we’d begun our descent. I firmly refused to remember that most accidents happened on takeoff and landing.
Except, duh, I just had.
Call Demetrius or not call Demetrius? What if he rejected me on the spot and I was stuck at the airport in Abbotsford?
Just a bus ride to Mission City, but what did that matter?
I hadn’t booked a room. I didn’t have an AirBNB account.
I knew nothing of how things worked. I never should’ve left Toronto.
Left the only home I’d ever known for the promise of family that was just that—a promise. Demetrius had offered nothing.
I pulled up the text chain.
—I look forward to meeting you. —
That had been his only reply. I had no idea where to go with that. What it meant. What he was trying to convey. I wasn’t always good at interpreting things in person—let alone in text. Mom used to try to convince me I had other talents—but I hadn’t believed her.
Before the seat belt light went on, I figured I should run to the bathroom. When I rose, though, Zahir awoke. He offered me a soft smile. “Good?”
I nodded. “I have to, uh, you know—”
“I know.” He undid his seat belt and rose. “I’ll go after you.”
After acknowledging that, I hustled to the bathroom, and holy crap, these were small. Like super tiny. Still, I made it back to my seat, was buckled in, and sipping my drink when Zahir returned.
The seat-belt light illuminated.
Zahir offered his hand.
I put the lid back on the bottle, stowed it, and took his hand. I met his gaze. “I’ll take you up on your offer of a room. I can’t pay much—”
“I’m not asking for anything, okay? It’s just an offer of a room. No obligation.”
“Everyone wants something.”
His eyes bored into me with an intensity I rarely experienced.
Probably because I didn’t often stare people in their eyes.
I was demonstrating a piece of equipment or watching someone’s technique.
I only looked into their eyes when absolutely necessary.
Most likely because I didn’t want them to see my truth.
“I don’t want anything.” Zahir squinted. “Well, that’s not entirely true. I want you safe. I’ve become invested in your well-being.”
“But why?”
He shrugged. “I’d like to think someone would do the same for me.
Well, now I think about it, people have.
My friend Quinton, his husband Leo, and many of their friends have embraced me.
I’m a bit of an introvert—I left the entertaining up to Marty.
So many of our friends were really his friends.
And those relationships didn’t run as deep as I’d thought.
When he got sick—and subsequently died—many of them simply disappeared into the woodwork.
I made new friends. People who know me as Zahir—Daphne’s dad. ”
“Oh. Well, that’s sort of cute. And maybe a little sad.”
“Not sad. I’ve forged a new path. I’d do anything to have Marty with me. But since I can’t have that, I choose to make new friendships. It’s complicated, but Leo’s ex-husband has a dog, Lucky, who Quinton was looking after. I scooped the dog’s poop and Quinton and I became instant friends.”
“Just that simple.” I scrunched my nose. “Although I guess scooping someone else’s, uh—” I winced.
“Yep. It’s a bonding experience. Quinton’s mother was a nurse.
When she retired, she rescued a little dachshund/bichon mix.
That precious little one, Puff, gets on so well with my Daphne that Quinton insists my baby stay with them when I travel.
Quinton will bring my baby girl over before he goes to work tonight. ”
The flight attendant took her seat and strapped herself in.
“All smooth sailing.” Zahir smiled. “Or maybe smooth flying.”
I gripped his hand. “Yes. That.”
“That’s the mighty Fraser River below. It runs from the interior of British Columbia all the way to Vancouver where it empties into the Georgia Strait—and basically into the Pacific Ocean.”
Slowly, I nodded. “I’ve never seen the ocean. And I know Lake Ontario doesn’t count.”
“All the great lakes are impressive bodies of water, but no, there’s nothing quite like seeing the ocean for the first time. We should make a plan to go. ”
“Oh.” We? The two of us? That hit me in the chest. Hard. “I’m certain you have things to do—”
“Sure. I also have some time off coming to me. I delivered my project early and under budget—earning me a big fat bonus check. My next project doesn’t start for another few weeks.
I’d planned to start right away, but no harm in waiting a week or so.
Especially if it means getting you settled—whatever that looks like. ”
I squinted. “Won’t that mean you might miss a bonus or something?”
He shrugged. “There’s still an excellent chance I’ll get the next project in on time or early.
There’s no bonus for that one, and no rush on the company’s behalf, so a few days won’t make any difference.
” He squeezed my hand. “I like the idea of showing you around my hometown. Unless you’re busy with Demetrius all the time. Or you don’t want to sightsee with me.”
“I want.” I pushed out the words. “I mean, that would be really nice. I just…don’t want to be a pain in the ass.”
“You’re not. I promise. If I need a break, I’ll let you know. You’ll have free range of the house—including the entertainment system. Marty loved streaming shows and I’ve never gotten around to canceling the subscriptions. Watch whatever you like.”
Watch whatever you like . I’d never had access to streaming services.
I had basic cable and that had been it. Everything was so damn expensive.
I hated that I hadn’t had money for luxuries.
Not because I needed such things—I didn’t.
But that the option hadn’t been there. I paid my bills and stayed out of debt—thanks to Mom’s lessons on being frugal.
That saved me enough for this trip. I needed to make the most of it.
“I, uh, thank you. I don’t watch much television. ”
“Ah. Neither do I. I enjoy music and time with Daphne. Not that the dog can’t watch television. She’s just a lapdog. I hope you like her. ”
“I love dogs. I promise.”
We hit the ground with a jolt, and the jet braked hard. My seat belt held me securely in place as a force unlike anything I’d ever felt enveloped my body.
Zahir continued to grip my hand.
The plane slowed and began moving slowly toward what I now spotted as the airport.
“Abbotsford is…low tech.” My new friend grinned.
“We walk down a flight of stairs and across the asphalt to the terminal. We’ll pick up our bags and then we can head to long-term parking.
I left my car here. While we’re driving to Mission City, you can decide if you’re hungry and what you might like to eat.
We have many of the same fast-food restaurants as you had back in Toronto.
There are a few nice sit-down restaurants—Greek, Italian, west coast cuisine, and a cute diner. ”
“Uh, do you have Chinese food? I really love it and don’t have it often—” Because it’s so expensive .
“Absolutely. While we’re waiting for our luggage, I’ll get you set up on the website of my favorite. We can order now and pick up on the way home. Unless you want to go to Demetrius’s first.”
I shook my head. “Tomorrow’s good enough. Maybe—” I swallowed. “Maybe I’ll call tonight.”
“Sounds like an excellent idea.”
The plane stopped and, after a moment, the seat-belt light shut off.
“Let’s move quickly.” Zahir already had his buckle undone and was rising to grab his bag.
I followed suit, and we were close to the first people off the airplane.
We walked to the airport and up a long ramp to the terminal. The heat coming off the asphalt in shimmering waves struck me. “How is it warmer here than in Toronto?”
“We’ve got a heatwave going on. That happens out here. It’s certainly a drier heat than Toronto. Didn’t I see they were due for some hot weather starting day after tomorrow?”
I shrugged and grabbed the door before he could.
I gestured for him to go first and then held the door for a bunch of people.
When a lull occurred, I stepped inside the air-conditioned space.
I couldn’t figure out if I should leave on my jacket or take it off.
I was hot, but the AC was blasting cold.
“The conveyor belt is this way.” Zahir gestured. “We’ll take our coats off before leaving. They always keep the temperature Arctic-level cold in here.”
I wasn’t about to disagree.
“We can have a shower at my place.” He pulled out his phone. “The only decision we have to make—aside from selecting dinner—is whether to shower before or after. Reheating the food is easy. Getting off the yuck of air travel is pretty important.”
“You have two showers?” Wow, that’s an oddly intimate question to ask. Except I was sort of wondering what showering with him might be like. “And what about Daphne?”
The skin around his eyes crinkled as he smiled.
“Quinton’s working the night shift at the hospital.
He’s going to bring Daphne home. I’d drive to his place, but he lives outside of the city—to the north.
He’s doing me yet another huge favor. But I brought back souvenirs for Melodie and Trevor—his kids. So that’ll balance out, I think.”
“Nice of you. Nice of, uh, Quinton.”
Zahir grinned as he pulled out his phone. A pair of reading glasses appeared out of nowhere and next thing I knew, he handed me the phone. “Pick what you like. Leftovers are the best, so we’ll stock up.”