by Jon Keys
“I don’t want to lose what I have with you. This show isn’t as important as you are.”
Mason entwined his fingers with Colin’s, and their eyes met. “Relax. Tonight will be great.” He pulled Colin close and pressed their lips together. The heat of the kiss sent delicious waves through his body.
They stood close for several long seconds. Then Colin lifted their joined hands. “Let’s go. I can’t wait for you to see the guests’ reactions to your work. They are already insanely impressed over your art. Now you have a chance to understand what other people see.” Colin maintained his grip on Mason’s hand as they walked through the decorated doorway.
They took a few steps, and the room went silent. He understood he had to be the one to introduce Mason in this world. He released the hand he held, stepped back from Mason, and began the introduction.
“This wonderful young man is the artist whose work we are here to enjoy tonight: Mason Doyle. His work explores the range of quilt designs from the extreme traditional to those falling in the realm of art quilts with a flavor of the abstract.
“Please take your time and enjoy Mason’s work as I do. We will be here the entire night, so be sure and meet my favorite young artist.”
When he stopped, it thrilled Colin to hear enthusiastic clapping from the patrons. Before he could say anything further, eager admirers inundated Mason. He hovered close so he could run interference if needed. But there didn’t seem to be a need, as Mason worked the crowd with ease. He was like a newly minted politician who had found his voice. They made their way through the multiroom space as people engaged Mason.
Time slipped past, and Colin realized the crowd had thinned in their immediate area, and he wanted to use the opportunity to see all the work.
“I want to go over what you picked. Some of them I remember from your studio. But there are more I’ve never seen before.”
Colin could tell Mason was developing a case of nerves, but he didn’t understand why. Mason was obviously an accomplished artist, with pieces varying from simple nine-patch designs that were known by every beginning quilter to optical illusions created from carefully selected color and patterns until they seem to grow from the gallery wall. As they moved from piece to piece, the tension grew exponentially. While they discussed each work and addressed the occasional question, Colin discerned a pattern to their meandering; they were avoiding the central display area. When Mason gave the same description for two pieces, Colin knew he had to help.
“Mason. Why are you so nervous? Everything looks wonderful. Whatever you picked for the premier piece will be amazing. Now let’s see what you chose.”
“Wait. Colin, let me explain. You need to know that….”
“Nonsense, it will be another amazing work that everyone will find stunning,” Colin said.
Mason trailed behind as Colin walked into the room and found it dominated by a singular work of art. He froze at the doorway, overwhelmed by the quilt. The work was easily large enough for a queen-sized bed and had been made of a traditional style that used a unique pattern in each block. After a few seconds, he understood why Mason had been so apprehensive.
Colin reached out and touched one of the squares and felt the well-loved piece of material, which was once a pair of his pajamas from over forty years earlier. Each pattern was created from bits and pieces that spoke to the fragments of Colin’s life. With traditional patterns ranging from Churn Dash to Flying Geese, he could see how important the pattern choices had been. Stunned, he turned to Mason.
“It’s my quilt. How? When did you finish it?”
It was all he could do to hold himself together as he moved from one angle to another. As he studied the creation, it came to him that the quilt had been made of clothing he had outgrown or worn out. They were also threaded through the symphony of colors and patterns that moved chronologically through his life.
The fabrics were all ones he had fond memories of. From when he was a toddler, the narrative continued through his life, including the time after he was told he was no longer welcome in his parents’ house. From what Colin could discern, his mother had continued the work for as long as she was able. Then a question popped into his head.
“How did you get the quilt? I stored it away after I couldn’t find anyone to finish it.”
Mason nodded. “At one of the Christmas parties, you had a few more shots of whiskey than normal and got to talking about the quilt again. Once I knew where you stored it, I was able to get it out of your house. After that it was just a matter of working night and day to finish in time for the opening. Daniel earned his salary as curator with great suggestions on ways to display it so people viewed the quilting.”
Colin turned to him. “Why? Quilting can be gorgeous, but I wouldn’t have thought to have emphasized the back so much.”
Mason tilted his head and studied Colin. “Did you go through the box the quilt was inside?”
A knot formed in Colin’s stomach. “Yes, some. As you know, it’s a big quilt.”
Mason pulled him aside where they could have a private conversation. “There were written instructions. Very detailed instructions.” He waited for Colin’s reaction as he read through the first few paragraphs. They were primarily dealing with the technical portion of the gift and intended more as instructions for the artist who finished her work.
“But the rest of the instructions include a letter to you. I took your mother’s handwriting to do the quilting. The letter is the quilting, but you can only read it from the back.” He motioned toward the quilt. “Take a peek.”
Colin stood stuck in time as he tried to make sense of Mason’s words. The gallery, its patrons—everything but him, Mason, and the quilt faded. He moved to a spot behind the quilt, located the beginning of the narrative, and read.
He’d read little more than the initial paragraphs before the tears began. The letter his mother left him was nothing less than the explanation he’d ached to receive for most of his life. Her words ripped open wounds that had been festering for decades. He shook from the impact of his emotions until Mason came behind him and embraced Colin, helping support him through the emotional portions of his mother’s message.
He was winding down to the final paragraph when someone cleared their throat at the doorway. The sound broke the spell that had wrapped itself around Colin. They turned to find the gallery empty but for Daniel, who stood in the entry.
“The exhibition closed a little earlier, and everyone has dispersed to New Year’s Eve parties. From the comments, the exhibition impressed people. I’ve locked the doors and will take my leave.”
Mason separated himself from Colin and gave Daniel an enormous hug. After a few moments, he stepped back beside Colin.
“Thank you for everything. This would have never happened if it weren’t for you.”
Daniel said, “I’m not so certain, but I think this will be a wonderful exhibition space for the region. But we can discuss that at a later time. I have a party to attend, and I believe you are at the beginning of a long conversation.” He nodded to Colin and Mason before disappearing into the cold night.
THE CHILL of early morning filled the room, no one willing to leave the warmth of their shared bed to stoke the fire. But now the emerging dawn raised the importance of the issue.
Neither of them were clothed after their night of lovemaking, but Colin decided the chore would fall on him. He made it halfway to the stove when the breath of winter slid across his skin, and he let a gasp escape.
“It’s colder than a well digger’s butt in January. Throw in some wood and get back under the quilts,” Mason said.
Colin followed the advice and curled back against his lover. Their bare bodies pressed tight, and before long they were enjoying the warmth of their shared space. He leaned against Mason and gave him a lingering kiss on the back of his neck.
Mason groaned and turned to face Colin. He trailed his fingers through Colin’s hair, pulled their faces together, and p
ressed his lips against Colin’s. The kiss lingered for a delicious length of time before they let their touch trail apart.
Colin pressed his forehead against Mason’s. Then he whispered, “Last night was amazing. I’ll never forget what you did.”
“You’re a remarkable man; you deserve to be happy. I’m glad I was able to help you find peace.”
They squirmed a little more before settling into a relaxed cuddle. Mason sighed and rested his head against Colin’s shoulder.
“This is so nice. I wish it would never end,” Colin said.
“Who said it has to end?”
Colin flipped over so they were facing each other. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I don’t want our relationship to end. I love you and want us to be together for the rest of our lives.”
Joy flooded Colin as he realized his life had taken a new turn. He buried them under a pile of quilts as they started their lives together with a morning of unbridled love.
JON KEYS’s earliest memories revolve around books either read to him or that he created from places his active mind occupied. As he got older, the selection expanded beyond fairy tales and fables to the world of westerns, science fiction, and fantasy, as well as erotica, romance and graphic novels—who can resist a superhero in hot tights?
A voracious reader for half a century, Jon began creating his own fiction when he wrote tales that fit his personal idea of fantasy. His rural background forged the first stories, which were his attempt at showing LGBT characters in a more accurate light. Now he moves comfortably between several genres. Jon pulls his inspiration from a diverse background that includes time spent as a ranch hand, teacher, computer tech, designer, retail clerk, welder, artist, and, yes, pool boy. With interests ranging from kayaking and hunting to sculpture and cooking, he uses this range of life experiences to create written works that draw the reader in and wrap them in a good story. His success is evident in receiving runner-up at Rainbow Awards 2015 for his first gay fantasy novel.
Email: [email protected]
Blog: jonkeys.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jon.keys.773
Twitter: @Jon4Keys
By Jon Keys
Camouflage
Heart of the Pines
Home Grown
Iced
Piecing Together His Life
OBSIDIAN SERIES
Obsidian Sun
Obsidian Moons
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Piecing Together His Life
© 2019 Jon Keys
Cover Art
© 2019 Brooke Albrecht
http://brookealbrechtstudio.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64405-776-6
Digital eBook published December 2019
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America