Chapter Text
If there was one thing Booker hated about London it was the traffic. Too many cars on the streets and they moved to slove.
Booker groaned as he rubbed his face when he once again got stuck in the traffic.
“What?” Booker shouted when his phone rang.
“Sorry what?” Beatrice asked.
“Hey Boss,” Booker said. “What’s up?”
“Do you mind telling me why you have left your delivery route?” Beatrice wanted to know.
“Family crisis,” Booker replied. “And before you ask, I did deliver the rest of the parcels before driving towards London.”
“Glad to hear that,” Beatrice replied. “I wanted to tell you something.”
“Let me hear,” Booker replied as he turned right. “Hopeful you haven’t fired me.”
“No, I haven’t,” Beatrice replied. “Despite your mood, you’re good at your job.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Booker replied. “And about my mood. Still working on it.”
“Glad to hear it,” Beatrice replied. “Anyway, you’re getting a pay raise.”
“That’s fantastic to hear,” Booker replied. “Thanks, Bee. I can use the money.”
“I know,” Beatrice replied. “Get to your family crisis. You can always bring the van back tomorrow.”
“Once again, thanks,” Booker replied. “And I promise.”
Booker started to think that with the pay raise he might finally have money enough for the plane tickets. He wanted to fulfill one of Nicky’s biggest birthday wishes.
In the hospital, Miss Rosa had been moved to a room.
“Ah, there’s better company,” Miss Rosa said. “Come sit with me.”
Andy helped Nicky up on the bed and Miss Rosa found the crossword, while Andy sat down on a chair.
“You haven’t finished it?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Of course, not,” Miss Rosa replied. “We’re only five questions from having solved it.”
Miss Rosa read the questions, while Nicky answered.
“Greek ax with two sides?” Miss Rosa asked.
“Don’t know that,” Nicky replied. “Never heard of it.”
“It’s called a labrys,” Andy said.
“How do you know that?” Nicky wanted to know.
“It’s on my family crest,” Andy replied. “And my father has one hanging in his office.”
“Can I see it one day?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Why not,” Andy replied. “But don’t tell your brother. I don’t think his nerves can handle you with a weapon.”
They all laughed.
“Can you believe it?” Booker asked. “Some jerk claimed I took up two parking spots. And then gave me a fine.”
“Young man,” Miss Rosa said. It always made Nicky giggle whenever Miss Rosa called Booker that. “What have I said about your language around your little brother?”
“Sorry, Miss Rosa,” Booker replied. “I’m trying.”
“Well,” Andy smirked as she got up. “You have always been terrible at driving and parking.”
Andy placed a kiss on Nicky’s forehead.
“See you on Wednesday, Nicky,” Andy said. “I was thinking after we have played with the labrys, we should try out paintball. I’m sure you can hit a barn door.”
“Sounds like fun,” Nicky replied. “And after paintball, we can go eat burgers.”
“Deal,” Andy replied as she looked at Booker. “What’s with you?”
“I’m going to call you later,” Booker replied. “And then we’ll have a long talk about what you do when you’re babysitting.”
“I’m not a baby,” Nicky said as he crossed his arms looking angrily. “I’m almost 14.”
“Sorry, Booker said. “Brother sitting.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Andy said.
“Where are you going?” Nicky wanted to know.
“To see a priest,” Andy replied. “Got things to confess.”
“But you’re an atheist.,” Nicky pointed out. “Just like Seb is.”
“It’s therefore I need to see a priest,” Andy replied. “Bye, bye.”
Andy closed the door after her.
“What was that about?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Beats me,” Booker replied. “How are you doing, Miss Rosa?”
“A broken leg,” Miss Rosa replied. “But I’ll be home next week.”
“What?” Nicky asked. “They can’t keep you. Who am I going to talk with about Les Mis?”
Miss Rosa leaned their foreheads together, while Booker placed a hand on Nicky’s knee.
“I promise you, Nicky,” Booker said. “That we’ll visit Miss Rosa every day until she is home again.”
“Can I?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Yes, you can,” Miss Rosa replied. “Remember I told you, that you’re better company than the doctors.”
A couple of hours later, Booker finally got Nicky to bed.
“Seb?” Nicky asked. “Can you help me with vacuuming Miss Rosa’s floors? The men who picked up her didn’t take off their shoes.”
Booker placed a kiss on Nicky’s forehead before getting Nicky to lay down.
“Yes, we’ll do it tomorrow,” Booker promised. “Together with watering the flowers.”
“Thanks,” Nicky replied. “I know Miss Rosa will be happy about that.”
Booker sat down on the bed and ran his fingers through Nicky’s hair.
“You should know, Nicky,” Booker said. “I’m so proud of you. For helping Miss Rosa when she needed it.”
“I like to help,” Nicky replied. “And Miss Rosa is always helping us, so why shouldn’t I help her?”
“You’re right,” Booker replied. “If you need to talk about what happened today, you wake me. No matter the time.”
“Ok,” Nicky smirked. “Even though you’re sleeping like a rock.”
“Ha, ha, ha,” Booker said. “You’re still not funny.”
“Funnier than you’ll ever be,” Nicky replied. “And you know it.”
“And now it’s time for you to sleep,” Booker said. “Night night.”
“Night, night,” Nicky said as he yawned.
A week later Miss Rosa was home again.
“When my leg is better,” Miss Rosa said. “We’ll go to the theater again. What shall we watch?”
“I heard that they’re putting up ‘Wicked’,” Nicky replied. “So, I was thinking we could watch ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ as preparation?”
“That is a wonderful idea,” Miss Rosa replied as she looked at Booker in the kitchen. “Are you stirring in the pot?”
“Yes, yes,” Booker replied. “Just as you told me to do.”
“Why does it smell burned like that chicken?” Nicky smirked.
“And still we are talking about it,” Booker said. “It was almost four years ago.”
“Nicky is right,” Miss Rosa said. “Are you stirring?”
“Yes, I’m stirring,” Booker replied. “It’s like cooking with an audience.”
They laughed as they soon sat down to eat while watching ‘The Wizard Of Oz’. A movie Booker still denying he fell asleep to if you asked him.