Page 115 of Feeding Hope
“Thanks, Saul, appreciate that.”
“No problem, Katy. It’s rare you call needing a favour. This Alex must be pretty special,” Saul teased.
“He is. Thanks Saul. I know you lock the doors at nine, but I’m here till nine...”
“I’ll stay to let Alex in, and I’ll keep a bed aside too,” Saul promised, and I thanked him profusely before hanging up.
“Alex has demons,” Jenny stated.
“Doesn’t everyone?” I asked.
“Yes. But that there is a man who’s decided and looks like he’s planning to stick to it,” Jenny said, eyeing Alex up.
“I hope so. Jenny, I don’t want a broken heart.”
“Ah, Katy, I don’t think Alex wants one either. He seems half-terrified and half-determined. Alex’ll succeed and get off the streets. Be yourself, and Alex will worship the ground you walk on.”
I turned and regarded Alex contemplatively. He was talking with Tom and the old-timers. Tom was showing Alex around the church hall. There was a shower here they could use, and theycould also wash their clothes and blankets. Alex was listening intently and nodding at the right times. Alex was charming Tom, and that made me smile because that old man was beyond grumpy.
“Okay, what are we doing?” I asked.
“Start peeling carrots and potatoes, sweetie, we’ve got the joints cooking already,” Jenny ordered as she began dragging vegetables over.
Around half an hour later, Alex reappeared, smelling of lemons and a popular deodorant. His hair was still wet, and he’d showered. Alex also wore clean, newer clothes.
“Tom said we could shower and take a change of clothes,” he said, looking a little shamefaced.
“That’s why they’re there.”
“Katy, I don’t know what I’m doing,” Alex admitted.
I handed Alex a bag of carrots and a peeler. “You’re helping prepare dinner,” I ordered, and Alex laughed.
“Not what I meant, but I’ll help.”
“What did you mean?” I asked after a few moments.
Alex was happily peeling carrots, but wasn’t allowed a knife. That was a no-no here. A knife could harm themselves or someone else.
“Yes, and what I stated. You deserve better than a homeless bum who has PTSD.
“Will you hurt me?”
“What? No, never!”
“Cheat?”
“Katy, get real. No.”
“Will you be loyal, respect and treat me like a queen?” I tilted my head to gauge Alex’s reply.
“Yes.”
“Then I’m getting what I deserve.”
Alex shook his head before bursting into laughter. “You’re going to keep me on my toes.”
“As I do, Mom and Dad, and everyone else. Just because I’m quiet, it doesn’t mean I’m meek and mild.”
