Brian said in a stuffed voice, “The baby might. When it comes.”
“That’s different. Can’t nobody keep a baby from crying. Anyway, Helen loves babies. She’ll be thrilled. Last couple upstairs, they fought all the damned time, and then made up like cats in heat, but never had any kids. Left the place a mess and ran out on the rent. Wait here.” He turned, climbed the steps, and went inside.
Nick exchanged looks with Charlie, who shrugged. “At least he doesn’t have a problem with the blacks and the gays.”
“Right.”
The door opened again, and Frank came back out with a crumpled bill in his hand. He held it out to Charlie. “Here. Order a plain cheese and mushroom for us. Helen can’t eat the pepperoni anymore, gives her gas. Come on down and knock when you’ve got it. Helen’s napping now, but when I tell her, I bet she’ll bake a cake.”
Charlie said, “You don’t have to pay for it.”
“Now, son, ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. Or a free pizza. You take the money. Then you get that poor girl’s bed up in her room so she can get off those swollen ankles, and you order up some dinner. Right?”
Charlie took the money with a blink. “Sure. Yes, sir.”
“Attaboy.” Frank turned and marched back inside.
Doc laughed. “At least you’ll be able to get along with the neighbors. If you can get a word in edgewise.”
Brian said, “Don’t you mind the stuff he called you?”
“I’m not crazy about being called ‘boy’, at all. But I’m not sure the old guy really hears what’s coming out of his mouth. I’ve met a lot worse folk.”
“I guess.”
“Oh, believe me.” Doc’s tone had a definite edge to it.
Lori said, “Well, you heard Frank. Carry my bed upstairs before my ankles pop, or whatever he said. Pretty please?”
Nick said, “I think it was your belly that was going to pop. Yeah, let’s not have that happen till we get our cake and pizza. C’mon, Brian, grab a mattress with me.”
As they maneuvered one out of the truck, Charlie said, “Hey, Zander, I think we can get the other one. It’s just a single.”
Charlie was looking a little gray and not like someone who should be lifting stuff. Nick quickly said over his shoulder, “Why don’t you call for the pizza, while we run this one up? I’m starving.”
Charlie frowned at him. “You’re not even a bit subtle, Rugo.”
“All right. Sit your fucking damaged carcass down for ten minutes. You look like roadkill.”
“I liked you better when you were trying for subtle.” But Charlie moved away from the truck and got out his phone, which said something about how he was feeling.
The pizza arrived when Nick and Brian were locking up the now-empty truck. The delivery guy handed Doc a stack of boxes and collected his money from Charlie. Brian glanced from the boxes to the house. “Do you think we should go knock on their door?”
Before Nick could answer, Frank pulled the front door open and stuck his head out. “There it is. The good stuff. Bring it on in, boys. And gal.” He disappeared back inside, leaving the door standing ajar.
“Here.” Doc shoved the pizza boxes at Nick, who managed to balance them.
“What?”
“I’m going home. Don’t want to leave Mama all by herself for dinner.”
Nick would’ve teased him about preferring his mother’s company to theirs, but he was trying to control his tendency to dig at people. “Oh. You want to take some pizza?”
“She’d disown me. Besides, I ate so much of it in residency, I’ll never pick it over home cooking. See you.” Doc headed for his truck.
Charlie called after him, “Hey, Zander, thanks for the hand!”
Doc waved over his shoulder but didn’t turn.
Brian whispered, “You think Frank hurt his feelings? Should we tell him not to talk like that?”
Nick gazed after the departing classic pickup. “I don’t know if Doc wants us fighting his battles for him.”
“I’ll ask him tomorrow,” Brian said.
The simple sweetness of his boyfriend washed over Nick like a wave. He’s a better man than me. He had to remind himself this really wasn’t the ideal place to kiss the hell out of Brian. “Come on, pizza’s getting cold.”
They trooped into the entryway, where they met Lori coming back down. The door to the downstairs unit stood open. Brian knocked on the door frame. “Hello?”
Frank called, “Come on in. Table’s over here.”
The downstairs unit was laid out the same as Charlie and Lori’s, with the kitchen ahead and the living room off to the left. Between the two was a polished wooden table where Frank stood. An unmatched set of chairs crowded around the table, suggesting the old man had done his best to pull together seating for all of them.
In an armchair at the head of the table sat a tiny old woman. She smiled at Nick as he brought his armload of white boxes over to set down. “Ah, y’all do know the way to my husband’s heart, don’t you?”
“Ma’am?” He eased the boxes onto the smooth tabletop.
“Pizza. And don’t be so formal. I’m Helen.” She tilted her head like a bird, glancing quickly between all of them. “Now, who is it that’s moving in upstairs?”
Charlie took a step forward. “That would be me. Charlie Connors, and my friend Lorraine Anderson.” He set his good hand on the small of Lori’s back.
Lori immediately went toward Helen, her hand held out. “Hi. I hope we’ll be good neighbors.”
“You’re having a baby.” Helen took Lori’s hand in both of hers, shaking it gently. “How wonderful.”
“Thank you.”
“Your first?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t hesitate to ask for advice, dear. We had four, and I’ve treated a lot of colic and diaper rash and green poo and baby spit-up in my day.”
A flash of alarm passed over Brian’s face, but Lori managed to look serene. Or maybe she was used to babies. “Thanks, that’s really nice of you.”
Helen patted the chair beside her. “Sit here, honey, and let the menfolk get our food for us. Never give up a chance to be waited on, is what I say.”
Lori’s polite smile widened to something more genuine. She braced her hand on the table and lowered herself to the chair.
Frank glanced around at the front door. “Is that black guy coming in?” He said to his wife, “I invited ’em all, even the ones who were gay-kissing on the walkway.”
She patted his hand. “You’re a good man.”
Charlie said, “Zander had to go home. His mom’s there alone, and he wanted to keep her company.”
“A good boy takes care of his momma.” Helen nodded her approval. “I’ll meet him another time.”
“That one’s not moving in.” Frank began sliding the pizzas out of the boxes onto plates down the center of the table. Brian took the empty boxes and set them over on the kitchen counter. “Just these two.”
“He and his mom were putting Lori up,” Charlie said. “But this is better, and a lot closer to the hospital.”