Eugene patted Nick's back. "I almost didn't. Laura's sister just had a baby." He pulled from the embrace but still kept a hold of his brother. "So she went there. I came here."
"I'm just glad you did," Nick boomed. He grasped Gene's face in his hands. "I have missed you so much!" Another kiss landed on Gene's forehead this time. "Jarrod will be ecstatic. Best present he could get, you being here."
And so it was. Since Eugene and Laura married the family had not seen much of Eugene. There had even been halfhearted jokes among the ranch hands and family friends about him not even existing any longer.
The situation had been especially difficult for Jarrod, though he was not prone to admit it. Jarrod was exceptionally emotional when it came to his siblings and he felt Eugene's absence deeply. And even though he had Nick, Heath and Audra there was something about the absence of his baby brother that stayed with him. Even in his early twenties Eugene was still the one he could coax into his lap, or lay down with him at night. That was something that had started when Gene was three or four. At that time it was Jarrod who was away for great lengths of time. When he was home his baby brother wanted every minute he could get and often would crawl into his bed, snuggling up to him in the middle of the night. In the years that followed Gene unashamedly sought that comfort of closeness. Yes, there was a definite emptiness there.
It was an emptiness that Eugene felt too. He missed having his older brothers around, especially Jarrod. But he was a grown man now, married, on his own.
Having Eugene arrive for his birthday was the greatest gift Jarrod could have asked for. He reveled in the visit.
The day passed into evening and the evening into night. Jarrod and Eugene always the night owls finally started on their way to bed.
Stopping outside his bedroom door Jarrod turned to his brother. "Thank you. Thank you again for being here."
Eugene smiled. "I'm glad I could be. I'll have to remember to thank my new niece some day."
"Me too," Jarrod agreed.
The brothers leaned in for a goodnight kiss, their lips touching briefly. Gene turned to head for his room but started back. He stopped in front of Jarrod. Something was on his mind but he wasn't even sure what exactly it was.
Jarrod was puzzled but only momentarily. He laid a gentle hand on his brother's shoulder. "Something just occurred to me," Jarrod spoke. "Did you want to cuddle?"
Gene's heart raced. Was that what had been niggling at the back of his brain? And if so was Jarrod a mind reader? No just a brother. Suddenly, the idea was embarrassing. "Aw, Jarrod, I've outgrown that."
"That's too bad," Jarrod told him. "Because I haven't."
Gene looked at the floor then back at his brother. All he could do was nod.
"Michelle!" Victoria Barkley's voice was frantic. "Mich....", she started to call again only to have her niece bump into her as she exited her room.
"I heard you, Aunt Victoria. What's the matter?"
"I went to wake Eugene and he's not there!" Victoria gestured with her hands. "His bed hasn't been slept in. His bag is still there..."
Michelle put her hands up. "Slow down," she told her aunt.
"Where could he be?"
"Where could who be?" It was Nick.
Victoria looked to her son. "Eugene's gone."
"Eugene's gone?" That was Heath having made his approach.
"He didn't sleep in his bed last night." Their mother started her rant all over again.
Michelle rolled her eyes. "Where was he last?"
"He was still up talking with Jarrod when I went to bed," Heath volunteered.
The family made their way to Jarrod's room. They quietly opened the door although Victoria was at the ready to announce to her oldest that Eugene had not slept in his bed. But there huddled under the covers Jarrod's arms locked protectively around him, his head pillowed on Jarrod's chest was the missing son.
Nick took in the scene. "Well, I'll be."
Victoria couldn't hide her pleased expression, "I would have sworn... Oh, never mind."
"Let's leave them," Michelle suggested. And they crept back out into the hall closing the door.
"Boy Howdy, now that that's settled I could use some coffee." Heath offered his arm to his mother and led her away down the stairs.
Michelle started to follow but was stopped by Nick.
"You know, I wouldn't admit this to just anybody, but I think I'm jealous." Nick looked toward Jarrod's room then back to his cousin. "And I'm not sure which one of them I'm jealous of. Maybe a little of both."
Michelle shrugged. "Well, just tell Jarrod you want to cuddle," she suggested with a smirk.
"Yeah right." Nick put his hands on his hips. "People in Europe paid you for stupid advice like that?"
"Don't look at me then." She held up a hand as she passed and continued down the hall.
"Tell him I want to cuddle," Nick grumbled to himself. "Hot shot therapist," he called after her. He shook his head and started for the stairs. Halfway there he spun on his heel and went back to Jarrod's room. He opened the door just enough to peer in. Neither brother had moved. "Ah, what the hell," Nick said just over his breath.
Nick entered the room, closing the door behind him. With a sense of determination he strode to the bed. Inhaling deeply he lay on the bed on top of the blankets, careful not to disturb the occupants. Hopefully, Jarrod wouldn't be too upset about the boots on the bed. He inched closer to the two and rolling on his side draped an arm across Eugene his hand coming to rest on Jarrod's arm.
Eugene awoke to a suffocating heat and a strange feeling of being trapped. Lifting his head from Jarrod's pajama front he attempted to roll backwards only to find himself pinned by a mountain of warmth from behind. He managed to shift just enough to follow the extra arm. Eugene smiled to himself and shook his head. Good old Nick. Never one to be left out of a brother moment like this. Gene turned his head just enough to plaster a kiss on Nick's forehead. Turning back to face Jarrod he bestowed his oldest brother with a similar kiss. Then settling down between them dropped off to sleep again.
THE END