One Plus Two Equals... - 42

Julyan had been afraid being cooped up in the condo with nothing to do would drive him crazy after the first day or two. Unlike in New Orleans, where he worked publicly with Duane, here he wasn't able to. He was relegated to entertaining himself.

Deciding to make the best of it, he took care of the place and began learning how to cook more than the basics. That way when Duane returned home in the evening, there was a hot meal waiting. Julyan had chuckled to himself at one point when he'd thought, I'm becoming a regular little house-husband. If he hadn't loved both of them so much he might have found the idea distressing rather than amusing. As it was he was more than willing to make himself useful in whatever way possible.

Being useful included, of course, doing the food shopping. And that meant he got to get out of the building and rove the streets in the neighborhood on his way to and from the surprisingly well-stocked grocery store he'd discovered not too far from the condo.

Two weeks after they'd arrived, Julyan decided to venture farther afield before shopping. From the window of his bedroom he could see the Hudson River and the path running beside it. After bundling up in his warmest clothes and a jacket, he headed out, his empty backpack slung over one shoulder. Being Louisiana born and bred he'd expected to hate the chilly northern climate. Instead he found it marvelously different and invigorating. Even the cold breeze off the river didn't bother him in the least.

As he rested his arms on the railing, looking out over the river, he thought, I could really get hooked on this place. It's sort of a cold New Orleans, minus the voodoo shops and the Cajun restaurants and the carriages and the trolleys. He shook his head, amused. Okay, so it's not at all like New Orleans except for the river but I still think I'll get used to it.

He glanced at the time, and with a slight sigh took off to the grocery store. As he did, his cell vibrated. He answered without checking to see who was calling since only Duane and Auden had the number. So when a voice he didn't recognize asked if he'd been enjoying himself he figured it was a wrong number and hung up. Seconds later there was another call. This time he checked only to find the call was blocked. Curious, he answered anyway.

No one spoke but he could hear breathing and traffic noise. Then a horn honked and breaks squealed. It took him a second to realize he heard that both through the phone and a few hundred feet away from him. Keeping the phone pressed to his ear he turned slowly, trying to see if he could spot the caller. No one stood out, which didn't really surprise him.

He felt reasonably safe; the sidewalks were full of pedestrians and there were plenty of shops he could dart into if necessary. His only problem was deciding if he should continue on to the grocery store or return home. Seeing the store half a block ahead he thought What the hell? I'm here, I might as well do what I came out for.