Caine was in his meditation room, putting out the candles with the palm of his hand. "In here, my son." He turned to face Peter with a smile as the young man entered the room. "You are looking well, Peter. A bit impatient, perhaps." Caine's eyes started to twinkle. "You are anxious to get home?"
Peter grinned sheepishly. "I'm anxious to get home every night, Pop. It's like there's a part of me missing all day long, and I'm not whole again until I'm back together with Kacie."
Caine's eyes took on a faraway look. "It is written that, in a marriage, the two shall become one. Your mother and I felt a connection such as that."
They looked at one another in perfect understanding. Their relationship had come so far, as they struggled to leave behind the regrets over fifteen lost years and learn to rejoice in their new-found, constantly evolving, and deepening bond.
Peter suddenly frowned. "Pop, do you have some kind of tonic you could mix up for Kace? She's so tired all the time these days. I'm getting really worried about her."
"I will bring some herbs." Caine put on his jacket and slung his pouch over his shoulder. Setting his hat on his head, he smoothed the brim into a jaunty angle before clapping an arm around Peter's shoulder. "Shall we go?"
He made his way back to their bedroom, flicking on the overhead light. He was at first relieved, and then concerned, when he found Kacie curled up on the bed sleeping soundly. Sitting down next to her, he put a hand on her back and shook her gently. "Kacie? Sweetheart? Are you sick?"
Her eyelids fluttered, and she yawned sleepily at him. "Peter. What are you doing home so early?"
"Early? Honey, it's almost six o'clock. Pop's here for dinner, and…"
Kacie's eyes flew open, and she scrambled to sit upright. "Six? It CAN'T be! I got home at four. I-I was tired, so I just closed my eyes for a few minutes. I must've fallen asleep." She eyed him in dismay. "Oh, Peter, I don't have anything ready!" Without warning, she burst into tears.
Peter took her in his arms and patted her back comfortingly. "It's OK, Hon. We'll just eat a little later, that's all."
Caine knocked at the door. "May I come in?" At Peter's nod, he walked forward. "Is there something I can do to help?"
Kacie hung her head in embarrassment as Peter explained. "She fell asleep after she got home from work, and she's upset because she doesn't have dinner ready for you-us."
"Ah." Caine nodded wisely and bowed. "I will go get something started for you." He slipped noiselessly from the room.
"I'm sorry, Peter," Kacie sniffled. I didn't mean to mess up dinner tonight. Don't be mad."
"Honey, I'm not mad. I'm just glad you're not sick or something." He hooked his index finger under her chin and tipped up her teary face to plant a kiss on her lips. "You get put together, and I'll help Pop with dinner."
Caine was going about supper preparations in his usual calm and methodical manner when Peter joined him in the kitchen. "Kacie will be out in a minute, Pop."
"She must have been very tired," Caine commented. "Has she been ill?"
"I don't know, Pop. She hasn't been eating very much lately, and she's always tired." He gripped his father's arm and asked in a shaky voice, "Pop, you don't think she could be really sick, like my-my mother was, do you?" He held his breath, waiting for his father's reply.
"I do not know, my son." Caine rested a hand on Peter's shoulder as a panicked expression filled the young man's face. "Peter, there are many possible reasons why Kay Cee is fatigued." He smiled reassuringly and gently slapped Peter's face, a touch so gentle it was more a caress. Shaking a finger at his son, he said, "You must stop jumping to conclusions."
"Jumping to what conclusions?" Kacie asked, walking up the stairs to join the two men in the small kitchen. Before either could answer, she smiled shyly at Caine. "I'm sorry I invited you to a dinner that you ended up having to prepare, Dad."
He embraced her and kissed her forehead. Shrugging one shoulder, he smiled. "I like to feel useful." He looked at her closely. "You are not feeling well?"
Stifling a yawn, she grinned wryly. "I'm just tired a lot. I've been meaning to talk to administration about cutting back my hours, but I haven't gotten around to it yet." Reaching for Peter, she slipped an arm around his waist and nestled into the niche beneath his arm. "If I'm going to juggle my marriage and my work, I need to make it clear to them that I'm a wife first, and my career comes second."
"Mmm. I like the sound of that." Peter kissed the top of Kacie's head, earlier worries forgotten for the moment. He looked around for something to set his hand to. "Now, what can I do to help with dinner?"
Caine and Kacie looked at one another and grinned. Kacie went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle, handing it to Peter. "Have a beer, Honey. Dad and I will call you when dinner's ready."
"Is that some kind of comment about my cooking abilities?" Peter tried to sound hurt, and failed miserably.
"It is," replied his father.