Having a heart to heart with your brother

 

Alfie was glad Phil and Lexi were back. He brought over a few grocery items they might be missing. Possibly, not the biggest welcoming party, but they looked rather exhausted from the Thanksgiving trip.

"I haven't even done any Christmas shopping," Phil said right away.

"Oh, who has all their Christmas shopping done, anyway," Alfie laughed as if it was no big deal. "Besides, it's being together that means the most." He told them to come over on Christmas Eve. They would play a few board games and eat all the sweets that Boone's mom would make. 

Phil asked about Boone then. "I haven't heard from him, like I usually do."

"I dunno, what's up." Alfie couldn't imagine what the problem might be until now when he looked at Phil. "I should talk to him."

"Yeah, you probably should," Phil nodded. Of course, he thought he would have seen him by now.

"I'm sure he's just giving you two a rest," Alfie nodded and left to go to his brother's apartment. Boone was being so quiet. He checked his watch. Boone had to be home and he was only down the hall. Alfie winced. How could it be? Well, he did want to respect his privacy, but not today.

 Dory answered the door. 

"Is he home?" Alfie didn't know what was up. He hoped Boone wasn't sick. Dory pointed to Boone's room. Alfie nodded as if it wasn't supposed to be this mysterious with the holidays around the corner.

Alfie went to the kitchen first and turned on the electric kettle. He'd make coffee. Hopefully, it would be up to par. Finally, Boone opened his door and of course, set up the pour-over before Alfie even got a chance.

"What is going on?" Alfie asked.

"Did mom call you?" Boone looked at him blankly.

"No." Alfie knew he was talking about Janine, not their biological one. Boone shrugged and went on to get the coffee ready.

"You can't tell me the holidays have gotten you down?" As he recalled Boone had his own Santa hat and he had been wearing it at work most of December.

They sat down in the livingroom with their cups of coffee. Dory was off in his room with Madonna.

"I think I messed up this time," Boone was straight-lipped as if he'd already said too much.

"Messed up?" Alfie squinted. He tugged shirt tensing a chill. "What do you mean?"

"I dunno," he looked as if he could cry. "Why can't Lily be honest with me?" He fretted. "It's not like we had a falling out, but..but waiting for her to just say it."

"Say what?" Alfie wanted to know.

"She might be.." he sighed. "We might be pregnant."

Alfie cleared his throat as if he wasn't sure how to handle this information.

"I tried to get it out of her, but..but it just went all wrong?" Boone winced. "When did I start doing everything wrong? I mean..I wanted to wait..really wait....but there is so much she won't tell me. Is it always like that?"

"I'm afraid so. Oh, there are plenty of textbooks to tell you what you should be doing, but really it's not like that at all," Alfie admitted. "But..I really hope you two get this sorted before Christmas."

"Yeah, that would be good," Boone agreed. "I know on one hand Mom would be so excited if it was true. Even Dad might find it.." Boone tensed. 

"Don't start overthinking. It might not be. And even if it is, just take one day at time," Alfie said. "Just keep talking."

"Yeah, if I don't lose my mind, before then," Boone said he hadn't slept in ages.