“I don’t want to go to his house at night. I don’t like not being able to see you when it’s dark outside. I don’t want to get left.”

Shane was confused. She gave Carmen a puzzled look and leaned back on her heals.

“What do you mean you ‘don’t like not being able to see’ Shane?” Carmen asked.

Shay was getting upset again. Why did nobody understand him? He shrugged Carmen’s arm off a little harshly and backed into the corner more. He narrowed his eyes and looked into Carmen’s.

“It’s not just Shane! It’s you too, Carmen! I don’t like not seeing you at night! What if you guys leave me? What if I wake up and you guys aren’t here and you don’t come back? How am I going to get food?” He started to cry uncontrollably.

Shane immediately scooped him up as he wrapped his legs around her waist and his arms around her neck.

“Shhh Shay,” She said through glassy eyes. “It’s okay. We aren’t going to leave you. We will always be here, okay? I love you and Carmen does too. Just because we need some time alone occasionally does not mean that we are going to leave you—ever. Do you understand that?”

Shay nodded into her shoulder. Carmen planted a kiss on his head and rubbed his back as Shane started to rock him. They all three sat there in the closet on top of his dirty clothes until he fell asleep, then Shane carried him to his bed and Carmen pulled the covers over him. They crept out of the room.

As Carmen closed the door behind her, Shane let out a deep breath and looked her lover straight in the eyes.

“He needs therapy. He’s got major attachment issues and food anxiety. Shit—therapy is going to cost a fortune.”

Carmen nodded and gave a weak smile as they walked into the living room.

“Hey,” Carmen said. “I know the Shay thing is really upsetting but I have an hour before I need to leave for work and I think he will be out for awhile.”

Shane’s ears immediately perked up. She looked at her lover with wide eyes and then pulled her off the couch and made her way to the bedroom with Carmen in hand.