Henri - 16

 

Henri - 16

 

They left the restaurant, walking toward Bourbon Street. "Definitely crowded," Henri commented, as they dodged around people while looking into the various clubs lining the street.

 

"When isn't it?" Taegan said with a good-humored laugh.

 

"Four in the morning?"

 

"Don't bet on it. This is New Orleans during tourist season." After barely avoiding getting beer spilled on him by one intoxicated young man, Taegan suggested they head down toward the river.

 

"This I recognize," Henri said when they strolled by Saint Louis Cathedral. "Mind you, only from photos, but still… It's quite impressive."

 

"Now you get to see it up close and personal." From there, Taegan took Henri down to the edge of the river.

 

It was dark between the scattered lampposts along the path, and yet there were enough people for Henri to feel safe. He gazed across the wide expanse of the river to the lights on the far shore. "Can you imagine what this must have been like a hundred years ago?"

 

"Much calmer, for starters," Taegan replied, pointing to steps leading down to the river's edge. "Let's sit and watch the moon come up."

 

Henri had no problem with that idea. When they reached the bottom step, he sat, wrapping his arms around his knees. Taegan dropped down beside him, leaning back on his hands.

 

"I think," Henri said quietly, "I could learn to love this city."

 

"There's much to be said in its favor," Taegan responded, smiling at him.

 

The fact you live here being one of them. Henri turned away from Taegan's gaze to watch a boat moving slowly down the river. "I wonder where it's going," he said, pointing.

 

"It's one of the steamboats, so at this point, given the direction it's heading, I'd say it's returning to shore. The one farther out is a tanker—probably heading to the Gulf."

 

"It would be fun to go on one."

 

"A tanker?"

 

"No a..." Henri looked at Taegan, saw he was grinning and shook his head. "You like teasing."

 

"I do if it gets you to relax," Taegan replied.

 

"I'm relaxed. In fact," Henri realized, "I'm close to falling asleep, what with the sound of the water and quiet."

 

"Then let's get you home."

 

"I didn't mean that," Henri protested.

 

"I know. Still, it's been a busy day. I suspect you'll sleep like a log tonight." Taegan stood, offering his hand to Henri.

 

Henri took it, allowing Taegan to pull him to his feet. For a long moment they looked at each other, then with a smile, Taegan put his arm around Henri's shoulders. "Car…then your apartment."

 

They walked back to where Taegan's SUV was parked behind his gallery. By the time they'd made it to Henri's place, Henri really was almost asleep.

 

"When will I see you again?" Henri asked as he got out of the car.

 

"Right now. I'm walking you up so we can check the place out."

 

"You think…?" Henri whispered, a frisson of fear running down his spine.

 

"Not really, but it pays to be careful." Taegan led the way up the stairs to the porch, asked Henri for the keys, and unlocked the door. Staying slightly ahead of Henri, they walked through the apartment.

 

"Looks like it did when we left," Henri said with relief.

 

"I agree. Like a small hurricane hit the living room, since you haven't arranged the furniture yet."

 

"I'll do it in the morning."

 

"I'm sure. Then what?"

 

"I saw a bus stop a block over. Hopefully I can get one into the Quarter."

 

Taegan nodded. "Call me first, so I know you've left—and when you get off the bus."

 

"With what? In case you forgot, I don't own a phone at the moment."

 

"That's right. So you know what you're first stop is," Taegan said. "Do you have paper and a pen somewhere?"

 

"Doubtful. I don't think it was on Miranda's list of what I needed. Wait." Henri hurried into the bedroom, returning a moment later. "The gallery's number is on my copy of the rental forms, so I'm good."

 

"That works. If I'm not there, leave a message."

 

For a moment they stood, looking at each other. Then Taegan gave Henri a fast hug. "I'll see you sometime tomorrow?"

 

"You will," Henri replied once he got over his surprise.

 

"Lock the door after me and don't open it to anyone," Taegan cautioned. "We need to get you in touch with my security company to install an alarm system. Okay, I shouldn't have said that. You went as pale as a ghost."

 

Henri smiled grimly. "I'll mover the dresser in front of the bedroom door tonight. Anyone tries to break in I'll…teleport to your place."

 

"I'll look forward to that," Taegan told him, slowly grinning. "Not a break in, but…" He gave Henri another hug before stepping onto the porch. "I want to hear the deadbolt click in," he said.

 

"Yes, sir." Henri replied.

 

"Sorry. My bossy gene kicking in again."

 

"It's all right. I'm getting used to it." Chuckling, Henri closed the door, and made certain he actually did turn the deadbolt. For a moment he felt a wave of loneliness when he heard Taegan's footsteps going down the stairs. Then, reminding himself he'd see him tomorrow, Henri got ready for bed. He did slide the dresser in front of the bedroom door. And hope I don't have a sudden need to use the bathroom until morning.

 

Henri – 15

  

They went quiet when the waiter arrived with their food, thanking him before he left. Then Taegan said, "Not to sound conceited, but different in a good way?"

 

"I think so," Henri replied. "You're sophisticated, in control—"

 

"Meaning bossy?" Taegan broke in, grinning.

 

"Yes, but I think it's because you need to be, since you own your own business."

 

"You did too, from what you said yesterday, but you don't come across as controlling," Taegan commented.

 

"I was when it came to my clients. I had to be, to keep them safe while we were out in the bayou. Some people just don't get that gators aren't overgrown lizards. They want to get up close and personal."

 

"Sometimes tourists don't seem to have the brains God gave a squirrel, or the sense God gave a goose, from how they act."

 

Henri laughed. "That's for sure." He finally tasted his jambalaya, then took a bite of his sandwich, deeming them both excellent. "And not because I'm starving."

 

"Of course they are," Taegan replied. "Would I steer you wrong?"

 

Henri looked at him, smiling. "No clue, since I've only known you for—"

 

"A short time. You do keep stressing that."

 

"Sorry," Henri murmured, returning his attention to his meal.

 

"There's no reason to be," Taegan assured him. "It's true. It doesn't mean we can't be—attracted to each other and want to know more about one another, does it?"

 

"No. I suppose not." He looked up again. "I presume… I hope you're not in some sort of relationship."

 

"No. Henri, there's one thing you have to know about me from the start. I don't mess with people's emotions even though, when I want to, I can easily read them."

 

"Right. Miranda did say you're empathic."

 

"I am. I've avoided reading you as best I can, except to pick up on the fact you're very afraid, with good reason. I don't want to be influenced by what you're feeling and make more of it than I should."

 

Henri nodded. "Good to know. Being manipulated by you because you can is not on the top of my list of what I want to happen."

 

"I would never do that!" Taegan stated adamantly. "I try to help people when they're hurting—talk to them, get them to let it out and maybe suggest what they can do to make things better. That's the sum extent of it."

 

"You'd make a good psychologist, I suspect."

 

Taegan chuckled. "I was a psychotherapist in the eighties. Had a small practice with all that entails. Then, of course, as we all do, I had to move on before my patients realized I wasn't getting any older."

 

"And became an art dealer instead. That's quite a switch."

 

"What can I say? I love art. Always have. So why not channel that into something that makes me and my customers happy."

 

Henri held up his hand, ticking off on his fingers, "Spy, therapist, gallery owner. Any other careers you haven't mentioned?"

 

"In the late thirties and early forties I was a journalist. It kept me from being drafted." Taegan grinned. "I think the army doctors would have been more than a little shocked when they studied my blood."

 

"No kidding."

 

"In the twenties—and don't laugh—I worked on a farm in Nebraska."

 

"You have definitely lived a varied life."

 

"I'm sure you must have as well."

 

Henri shrugged. "Not really. As I said, I stuck to small towns. Sometimes I'd clerk in a store. Other times I'd work for a logging company or the local foresters."

 

"It gave you the freedom you needed."

 

"Absolutely. I don't like being stuck indoors if I can help it, even more so now," Henri added dryly. He looked at his meal, surprised to see that he'd managed to eat most of it while they were talking. He finished the last of the muffuletta and gave a contented sigh. "I'm finally full."

 

"I am as well," Taegan replied. "To the point I think I need to take a walk to work off some on the calories."

 

Henri tensed, but still responded with, "That would probably be a good idea."

 

"It should be safe enough," Taegan said, reaching across to grip Henri's hand for a moment. "Xavier isn't likely to try something when the streets are full of tourists."

 

Stiffening his resolve, Henri nodded and beckoned to the waiter for the check.

 

 

Henri - 14

 

 

Henri and Taegan picked up the furniture—more than he probably needed in Henri's opinion, but Miranda was adamant that he take it all. He also remembered to pack up his clothes and personal belongings. Returning to the apartment, he and Taegan wrestled everything up the stairs—which Taegan swore got longer each time they climbed them.

 

When they finished, it was the middle of the afternoon. As a result, Henri told Taegan, "No arguments from you, I'm taking you out for dinner. It's the least I can do for all the help you've given me."

 

"It's not really necessary, but I accept. Did you have someplace in mind?"

 

Henri grimaced. "Not really. Where would you suggest?"

 

"A restaurant I dearly love in the Quarter. We can drop off the truck at my place and walk there. Oh, before you have a panic attack, it's also very reasonably priced."

 

"Money is no object," Henri said airily, getting an 'uh-huh' look from Taegan.

 

Twenty minutes later, as he looked at the Napoleon House menu, Henri was quite relieved to find that Taegan had told the truth. Henri could afford their meals, as long as they stuck to non-alcoholic drinks. They each ordered half a muffuletta, jambalaya and coffee.

 

When the waiter left, Henri suddenly felt tongue-tied. It was one thing to talk with Taegan about things having to do with stopping Xavier and everything that involved. It was another to try to make casual conversation with a man he had to admit interested him—a man he still wasn't certain was gay. He did sort of flirt with me at the barbecue, and Miranda hinted he's gay.

 

"Cat got your tongue?" Taegan asked.

 

"I guess." Henri smiled ruefully. "I'm not much of a talker."

 

"Could have fooled me."

 

"But that was about Xavier and…and…"

 

Taegan nodded. "Not making idle chatter. I understand. Okay, we'll start with the fact I get you're not all that familiar with the city."

 

"Not terribly. I came here… Well, you know why."

 

"To hide from Xavier. And before that? Had you ever visited? You didn't live too far from here."

 

"True, but I wasn't interested in visiting the—" Henri made finger quotes, "—big city. I've always been a country boy at heart. I like room to run whenever the spirit moves."

 

"You grew up in Paradis?"

 

"No. I was born in Maine and lived there until my parents were killed. Then I began traveling—looking for somewhere to settle. I saw a fair amount of the eastern half of the country, working my way south. I'd find a small town, settle in for a while and move on. Nowhere really appealed to me until I got down here. I fell in love with the bayous, found a house for sale outside of Paradis and lived there ever since." Henri smiled dryly. "Well, until Xavier decided to screw up my life."

 

"You've always been on your own?"

 

Henri nodded. "Pretty much. There was a time when I thought I might have found someone but she couldn't handle the fact she was growing older and I wasn't."

 

"I see." Taegan seemed a bit puzzled. "I thought… Oh well, no matter."

 

"What?"

 

"For some reason, I thought you were gay."

 

"I'm bi."

 

"Oh. Oh. That explains it."

 

"Why you thought I was gay?"

 

"Why I'm attracted to you," Taegan replied. "I'm usually pretty good at figuring out when a guy is… Okay, available sounds wrong, but you get what I mean."

 

"When he might find you interesting in return?" Henri chuckled. "I was wondering the same thing about you. Oh sure, you were flirting with me at the barbecue, but Miranda said you do that with everyone, male or female. She implied it was just the way you are."

 

"I'm afraid it is," Taegan admitted wryly. "It's…fun. Most people don't take it seriously because they know me."

 

"I didn't, once I figured it out." He studied Taegan with new awareness. "Are you really interested in me?"

 

"I said I was. I might flirt in public, but one-on-one I'm honest about my feelings."

 

"That's good to know."

 

"How so?" Taegan asked. 

 

"Despite the fact we barely know each other, I'm intrigued by you. You're very different from any man I've known."

Henri – 13

The apartment was small, taking up—Henri thought—half of the second floor, with the second apartment on the other side of a common wall. He figured the entrance to that one was via the stairs he'd seen when they went into Mrs Dean's office. To the left, off the entryway from the porch, there was a hallway that ran the full length of the apartment, with the kitchen and bedroom off it to one side. On the other side was one large room. The bathroom was at the end of the hall. The whole apartment smelled slightly of fresh paint and the lacquer that had been used on the highly polished hardwood floors.

 

"Nice big windows in here," Taegan said, standing at one in the living room. "Makes up for the fact there aren't any in the bedroom, " he added, chuckling.

 

After checking to make certain Mrs Dean wasn't listening, Henri replied, "Not a problem. It will feel safer, knowing the only way someone can get in when I'm sleeping is through the door."

 

"True. Are you going to take it?"

 

"Yep. It's not a mansion, but, truth be told, I'll be glad to have a place where I don't have to walk half a mile to get from my bedroom to the kitchen."

 

Taegan laughed. "That's why I like my place. There's something to be said for compact."

 

Henri went in search of Mrs Dean, finding her on the small porch at the top of the stairs. "The Realtor insisted on calling this a balcony in the listing," she said, shaking her head. "I'm afraid there's barely room enough for a chair."

 

"No problem. If you're willing, I'd like to rent the apartment."

 

"More than willing. Come back down to my office. There are, of course, papers to fill out—ID, work history, the usual.

 

"Work history is easy," Taegan told her before Henri could get past the panic he'd felt about that statement. "He's been one of my employees for the last four years."

 

"Very good," Mrs. Dean replied.

 

Henri took a deep breath, whispering, "Thank you," to Taegan.

 

"One of the reasons I came along," Taegan replied softly, patting Henri's back. "To cover your ass if there was something you needed help with."

 

Henri smiled weakly, then began filling out the paperwork. With Taegan there, Mrs Dean didn't have to call to verify Henri's supposed employment. After reading everything, she said she was satisfied, accepting Henri's check for first and last month's rent. Then she handed over the keys to the apartment and the two men left.

 

"Next stop, taking Miranda up on her offer of furniture for you," Taegan said, once they were on the road again.

 

"Meaning I'd better rent a truck."

 

"Strangest thing… I happen to have one," Taegan said with a grin. "When was she going to pick you up?"

 

"When I call her."

 

"Then do so, and tell her we'll meet her at the house after we get the truck."

 

"Why are you so willing to help me out?"

 

"Because you need it?"

 

 "It seems I need it from everyone." Henri sighed. "I haven't made a very good showing of handling things on my own."

 

"I disagree. You did the most important thing possible. You managed to escape Xavier not once, but twice."

 

"Three people died because of me," Henri said morosely.

 

"No, Henri. Three people died because of that bastard. If you'd stayed and tried to fight for them, they still would have died and you'd be his prisoner again." Taegan rested one hand on Henri's shoulder. "The man is insane, in case you haven't figured it out yet."

 

"Believe me, I know," Henri replied. He liked the fact Taegan was touching him, even though he was well aware it was just out of friendship—if that.

 

"Call Miranda," Taegan said.

 

"I can't, unless you have a phone. And don't—" Henri essayed a grin, "—say 'strangest thing, but I do'."

 

Taegan laughed. "Okay, but…" He took out his phone, handing it to Henri. Henri made the call and Miranda said she'd meet them at the house in an hour.

Henri - 12

 

 

"Call me when you're finished," Miranda told Henri when they dropped him off in front of Taegan's home. "We're going shopping." She grinned at John's groan of disgust. "You will survive, my dear."

 

"Uh-huh," John muttered.

 

Henri watched them drive away, noting they stopped longer than necessary at the corner. It made him feel better to know they were there, even though he was certain Xavier wouldn't try anything in broad daylight on a busy street. That thought didn't keep him from swiftly entering the gallery.

 

"Ah, there you are," Taegan said, ceasing his discussion with what Henri presumed was one of his employees. "Come. My car is out back."

 

Henri was surprised to see Taegan's car was a normal, everyday SUV. For whatever reason, he had expected at least a Jag or a Mercedes.

 

"I've had ritzy cars," Taegan said when Henri asked. "They were worse than useless for hauling things I need for the gallery. Yes, I do grunt work as well as meeting and greeting favored clients. It's part of the reason I'm successful, I suspect. I'm very much hands-on."

 

"The best way to be," Henri agreed, having no other response that wouldn't make him sound foolish. He kept his gaze locked on the sideview mirror, trying to determine if anyone was following them.

 

"Relax," Taegan said. "We're fine. I'm taking the long way around to where we're going. If our friend tries to tail us, he'll be SOL. I do know what I'm doing."

 

Henri chuckled. "Your secret agent gene kicking in?"

 

"I was a spy during the War Between the States," Taegan replied. "Of course, back then, I wasn't driving a car, looking for anyone trying to figure out where I was headed."

 

After studying him for a moment, Henri said, "You're serious, aren't you?"

 

"About cars? Sure. They didn't come into general use until the turn of the century." He winked at Henri. "But that's not what you meant. Yes, I was a spy, for the Confederacy. Not a bad one either, if I do say so myself."

 

As they talked, Taegan made several turns, rights and lefts, then declared, "We're safe enough now." He took another right and two minutes later they pulled up down the block from a house Henri recognized from the Realtor's website.

 

"Let's take a walk first," Taegan said. "Check out the neighborhood."

 

When they got to the block behind the house, Henri saw there was a tall privacy fence at the back of the building, separating it from the field that stretched from there to where they stood. A chain-link fence ran along the side of the house to the street, effectively protecting the stairs leading up to the apartment, while not hiding the view of the rest of the field.

 

"Now let's go meet your landlady," Taegan said when they were in front of the house again.

 

"My presumed landlady," Henri pointed out.

 

"Presumed." Taegan smiled as they went up the porch stairs and he rang the bell.

 

An older woman came to the door. She looked them over with a jaundiced eye until Henri said, "I'm here about the apartment."

 

Her whole demeanor changed as she stepped aside. "Come in. Come in. I'm Mrs Dean, and you are?"

 

Henri introduced himself and Taegan, as they followed her into a small office, at the foot of a flight of stairs, off to the side of the living room. "Tell me a bit about yourself," she said, at the same time that she began digging through a desk drawer. Henri barely got his mouth open to do so when she held up a set of keys. "I knew I'd put them in here. Come on. I'll show you the place. It was just redone about a month ago. My last tenant… Well, he wasn't very neat, to say the least."

 

By then, they were back outside the house. She took them up the outside stairs, telling Henri they were the only way to access the apartment. "So, you'll have all the privacy you want," she commented, unlocking the door.