Over the next few days, my role changed. With Eric working from home, he spent most of his time in his bedroom at the small desk, typing on his laptop, sending and receiving countless e-mails, taking a large number of phone calls on his cell phone. After that first morning, it was clear that he needed an earpiece, and while he had received one for free with his cell phone, he did not like having that cord in the way, so I offered to go buy him a Bluetooth headset.
As I walked down the street, I came to realize that instead of being "just" a little sister and a live-in girlfriend, I was taking on the role of the dutiful wife, doing whatever she could to make her husband's life a little easier. That thought brought a smile to my lips, and I had to take extra care to wipe the smile from my face before I entered the T-Mobile store.
I took to my new role eagerly. In part it was to "forget" about the devastation affecting part of the city, and in part because I knew that, more so than at any time since we have moved into the apartment together, my big brother needed me, for his work world had been turned upside down and he was working in rather unique circumstances. He was very appreciative when I returned with the Bluetooth headset, although it had to be plugged in and charged until mid-afternoon before he could actually use it. I had bought lunch for us as well, and although he ate at his desk, there was a genuine thankfulness in the way he brushed my hand as I set the sandwich and drink beside his laptop. That afternoon, I changed into the bikini, and twice came to his bedroom to give his shoulders a brief massage as he fielded yet another call or read through and responded to a report.
I added a t-shirt and shorts long enough to go to the mailbox, but once back in the apartment, I was only wearing the bikini again, as was the case when Eric finally emerged from his bedroom at what would normally be the end of the day for him. He stretched, the base of his t-shirt rising up to reveal a little skin, and then he joined me on the futon, cuddling with me as I flipped through the cable channels.
"Thank you," he said softly and unexpectedly, giving me a gentle squeeze.
"'Thank you?'"
"Yeah..." He gave me another soft squeeze. "Thanks for making today somewhat bearable for me. I feel like I'm out of my element without a true office."
That I could understand. I also felt a little out of my element for not being in the library, although in my case, without an open and fully-functioning library, I had no work to do.
"Look on the bright side," I said, stroking my big brother's chest. "At least until I have to head back to the library, you'll have me here to take care of your needs as you work."