Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Jake whined. “My mother told you?”
“Yeah,” Sam said snidely. “If nothing changes from now to Christmas—don’t test me, all right? There are marshals who do my bidding in California as well as here.”
Jake mumbled something under his breath as he turned away.
“I’m sorry, what was that?” Sam called after him.
“I said I have no doubt,” Jake answered as he walked into the kitchen.
“His mother didn’t call you,” I whispered to my husband, leaning in close to him. “You lied like a rug.”
He scoffed. “Come on, we both know he can’t juggle for shit. He needs a routine, a set schedule to succeed. Between the girls and the job, we both know that school is suffering.”
I couldn’t fault his logic.
Sam smiled at me then. “Tell me. What did you do to Tighe?”
“I did nothing. He just had a little confession about being out.”
“As in he’s not and Harper doesn’t know.”
“Correct.”
“That’s not gonna fly. Harper’s not hiding who he is for anyone.”
“I agree, so I suspect Christmas might be a bit sad.”
Sam reached out and put a hand on my cheek. “I almost lost you for that same reason. Coming out is not for the faint of heart.”
“No it’s not.”
“I hope you told him that he has to be ready to do it for himself, not for anyone else.”
“How ’bout you tell him that.”
He groaned, but I prodded him to get up, and he did, after a few minutes of me begging, and went into the kitchen and took Tighe with him outside.
“What is going on?” Harper asked me when I joined him.
“What do you think?”
He stared at me for several moments, and everyone went quiet around us. “Tighe’s not out.”
“No he’s not,” I agreed. “When did you come to that conclusion?”
“Before we left, when he basically shoved me into a bush when we were walking together on campus. I saw some of his frat brothers, and suddenly I went flying.”
Jake laughed.
“That’s not funny.”
“Sorry, sorry,” Jake said, chuckling. “I just imagine you yelling whoa and then finding yourself tangled up in an arborvitae.”
Kola snickered and started laughing, which got Jake going again.
“They’re jerks,” Hannah said, walking over to put her hand on his shoulder. “But if Tighe gives you an ultimatum, if you go into the closet for love, I will understand and still support you no matter what.”
“Thanks, Hannah, that means a––”
“I won’t respect you,” she added, “but I’ll still love you.”
He threw up his hands in defeat.
I crossed quickly to reach him and take his face in my hands. “We’re always on your side.”
He nodded and leaned in and hugged me. “I know.”
“Me too,” Jake said, wrapping his arms around both of us.
“Me three,” Kola husked, hugging us as well.
“Me four,” Hannah said, giggling. “Because like I said, I won’t respect you, but the love will still be there.”
Harper groaned, and I noticed Tighe and Sam walk back into the kitchen.
The two boys left without dessert.
Later, when the five of us were eating pie and ice cream and playing Uno, I asked Sam what he said to Tighe.
“I just told him to make the best decision he could,” he answered. “I reminded him that he’s young, and that hopefully he’s got a lot of time here on this planet and not every second is gonna be sunshine and roses. He’s going to have good times and bad and that’s okay. This too shall pass.”
I smiled at him.
“You have to know what you want, and who, and if that all lines up,” he said, taking hold of my hand and kissing my palm, “then you’re golden.”
“And how do you know that?” Hannah wanted to know, putting down her cards and looking at her father.
“Yeah,” Jake asked him, staring at his face. “I mean, what is love?”
“Go ahead, Dad,” Kola said, gesturing at him with a spoonful of peach pie and vanilla ice cream. “Tell us.”
Poor Sam. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
“And while you’re explaining all the secrets of life,” Hannah said, glancing around the room, “maybe you can tell me where everyone is supposed to sit on Thanksgiving.”
That’s it, all. I hope your holidays are wonderful, and I’ll see you all in the new year.