Stable Hill

by Jodi Payne

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  SUNDAY NIGHT supper had been a big deal in Momma’s house growing up. Russ was pretty pleased to have been invited to Oscar’s, and nervous too. Yeah, he and Sophie had an understanding, and he and Miss Rose did too. He wasn’t really nervous so much about meeting the older girl, Emily, and the little twins for the first time either. It was more the whole thing, the whole picture—his lovers, the kids, his… well, basically his mother-in-law, he guessed, all at one table like a real family. A nice big family.

  Yeah. Excited and nervous. But it was good. It was all good. It was about time he was invited, time he felt included. He knew Oscar hadn’t meant to exclude him exactly, he understood that the relationship the three of them had was hard to explain, but it was the three of them, after all. He tried not to be upset that Emily’s accident had forced the issue instead of Oscar just speaking up for him. Doing the right thing wasn’t always easy.

  He’d showered, shaved, brushed his teeth, found clean jeans, a button-down, and his better pair of boots. He didn’t have dressy ones, but these were in good shape and clean, so they’d do. Then he grabbed his keys and got in his truck.

  It wasn’t a bad drive; long, but easy on a Sunday, and he cruised into Oscar’s neighborhood right on time. Wow. This was regular suburbia over here. The houses were big, with shiny SUVs in everyone’s driveways, and sidewalks and green lawns. Some of the houses had three-car garages. Some had swimming pools. He drove past one neatly lined-up mailbox after another until he got to Oscar’s house, number 141, gray with black shutters, lovely if slightly more modest than some of the others. Well looked after. It was a nice house.

  This was why Oscar wanted to sell the farm, huh? To keep this house with neighbors and neat little mail boxes.

  He saw Jeff’s Mercedes parked in the driveway, so he pulled in and parked behind it, figuring that was a fairly safe bet. Sophie met him at the door with a big smile, and he found he was glad to see her. The logistics had been complicated, and sometimes he had to drive Soph home or pick her up, but they’d found a way for her to spend more time with the horses, riding and talking. She was a shy kid but a smart one, way smarter than he was. Smart like her dad.

  “Hey, Soph.”

  “Hey, Russ. Look. Before there are a lot of people around, I want you to see something.” She handed him a sketchbook before he’d been through the door one second. The book was open to a picture she had drawn of a horse… not any horse; that was definitely Angel. “Wow, that’s Angel, for sure. Look at that. You didn’t tell me you were an artist.”

  “I’m not. I just draw. But I knew you’d recognize her.”

  “Of course I recognize her. She’s my girl.” For a little while longer anyway. Damn. He was going to miss that mare.

  “Sophie’s a little young for you, Russell.”

  Sophie looked horrified. “Grandma!”

  He looked over at Miss Rose and gave her a smile. “Yes, ma’am. Sophie was showing me her drawing.” He leaned down so Rose could kiss his cheek.

  “Hello, dear. I’m so glad you came.”

  “Thank you for inviting me.”

  “Well, for some reason Oscar kept… forgetting.”

  “He’s an old man. It happens.”

  “Hey, now.” Oscar stepped up behind Rose and rested his hands on her shoulders.

  “Come along, Sophie. I need you in the kitchen.” Oh, Rose was good.

  “Gotta make dinner.” Sophie smiled at him and then followed her grandmother off.

  Oscar gave him a warm smile. “I’m not that old.”

  “Compared to me, you’re an old-timer.”

  “Yeah? I keep up with you all right.”

  Jeff wandered over, hands in his pockets. “Some men age like a fine wine.”

  “Okay, guys. Thank you. You’re both here at my invitation, remember.”

  “Wrong! Miss Rose invited me.” He looked over Oscar’s shoulder. “Can I kiss you hello, or is that weird?”

  Oscar laughed. “These girls already had two dads, remember? And I’m finding that three seems to be less of a stretch than you might think.”

  Russ leaned up and kissed Oscar first, then Jeffrey, and came away smiling. He felt just fine.

  “Come on in and meet the rest of the crew.” Oscar led him into the little living room. “Hey, Zoe? Riley?”

  Two identical heads popped up from working on a puzzle on the floor. “Is that him?”

  “That’s your other boyfriend?”

  “Girls, this is Russ. Russ, this is Zoe, and that is Riley.”

  “Lord, I am never going to get that right, am I?” Although….

  “No one ever does.” Both girls shrugged.

  “Well, hold up. Give me a second.” He looked at them both carefully, nodding sagely. “Zoe, your right eye is a little flatter and wider than Riley’s. And Riley’s got a kink here in her lip and a tiny little scar on her jaw. How’d you get that, honey?”

  “I fell down the outside stairs last winter. It was icy.”

  Zoe stared at him. “You’re like a wizard or something.”

  “No, I had to learn to tell horses apart real quick. I’ve had practice.”

  “Set the table, girls!” Rose’s voice came in from the kitchen.

  “Come help us, Russ?”

  “Please?”

  “Zoe….” Oscar tried to save him, but he didn’t really want saving. This was the good stuff. The stuff he’d been missing out on. He smiled, letting Oscar know it was all right.

  “Well, I can’t say no to two such beautiful little ladies, can I?”

  Riley took his hand and hauled him away, leaving Oscar and Jeff laughing behind him.

  “Sucker!” Jeff called after him.

  They had no idea. Five minutes as a captive to Riley and Zoe and he’d never had so much fun setting a table.

  “Grandma Rose.” Riley’s eyes were humongous. “Don’t ever let Russ set the table by himself.”

  Rose played along. “No?”

  “He doesn’t know his right from his left! And he’s old!”

  “So old,” Oscar joined in, laughing softly.

  He hung his head. “It’s all true, and I kept forgetting which one was the fork and which was the spoon, didn’t I, Zoe?”

  “I showed him twice. I think he failed school,” Zoe said seriously.

  Sophie jumped right in with “Good thing you’re good with horses,” and he smiled.

  “Right? They don’t use forks.”

  Honestly, he loved every second of this. Every damn second.

  Brian showed up right before supper was ready, and he helped Emily down the stairs. He was right there, making sure she didn’t trip, ready to help her if she needed it. That girl was a trouper. It was really good to meet her when she was actually aware of what was going on. She’d been sort of out of it for their brief meeting in the hospital. She was a beautiful girl, and Brian was totally taken with her. Anyone could see it.

  “Oh, lasagna!” One of his favorites, and he hadn’t had it in ages and ages.

  Oscar laughed, but it was Jeffrey who chimed in, “Rose makes it for everyone Oscar is trying to win over.”

  “Such a snitch, Jeffrey. And here I thought you would keep my secrets.”

  He smiled at Rose. “It’s amazing, Miss Rose, but totally not necessary. I’m already won.”

  Jeffrey nodded. “I was too, Russ. Oscar just didn’t know it yet.”

  “Aw.” Russ caught Oscar blushing but didn’t tease him. “That’s sweet.”

  Dinner went by quickly with lots of conversation and laughter. It was everything he’d missed about family and he counted himself lucky to have even a taste of it back.

  When they were done, he got up to help clear, and so did Brian and Jeffrey, and pretty soon the three of them were shuttling dishes and drying while Oscar washed. The kitchen was sparkling in no time.

  “Oscar, sweetheart, I’m going to take Zoe and Riley off to bed. Brian already took E
mily upstairs. Sophie is reading.”

  “Thank you, Rose.”

  Russ jogged over to her and offered a hug, which she accepted. “Thank you so much for dinner. It was delicious.”

  “You’re very welcome, dear. Come back again soon, please. Now that I know about you.”

  Oscar winked at Russ. “You didn’t know I was in the dog house, did you?”

  “Oh bah. I only wish you’d told me earlier.”

  Jeffrey smiled at Rose. “He was worried you wouldn’t approve.”

  Rose snorted. “I understand that, I guess, but I know how hard it is to fall in love again after you lose your spouse, as I have yet to do it myself. My Emmett felt lucky to find Oscar, and Oscar is lucky to have found not one, but two kind, handsome men who love him. Emmett would tell you both you’re very fortunate to have found Oscar too.”

  “We are,” Russ agreed quickly.

  Jeffrey leaned over and kissed Rose on the cheek. “Thank you, Rose.”

  “There’s no need for the dog house.” Russ stepped in this time. “Oscar was worried about the girls too. You know?”

  “Oh, Oscar.” Rose took Oscar’s hand and held it. “Just be happy, sweetheart. That’s what matters, isn’t it? That’s the best example you can set for a child.”

  Oscar kissed her hand and kept it together, somehow. Russ was pretty impressed.

  “Good night, everyone.” Rose smiled at each of them.

  “Sleep well.”

  They all watched in wonder as Rose left the room.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  ONCE ROSE understood the nature of Oscar’s relationship with his lovers, a grand conspiracy formed. She’d already had Jeffrey’s cell number and now she had Russ’s too. Oscar didn’t stand a chance. The three of them plotted to get him out of the house and out to the farm the following Saturday, despite his protests that he should be home with Emily.

  Rose insisted he go. She was downright immovable about it. Jeffrey and Russ had been texting him all morning, making sure he was coming. Jeffrey even asked if he wanted a ride.

  Finally, he’d left the house out of sheer annoyance. But the closer he got to Stable Hill, the more he wanted to see his men, not in a hospital, but somewhere they could be themselves. No one, not even Rose, was telling him it was wrong to want this. To need these men. Maybe they were right. Maybe he needed this night.

  He pulled up next to Russ’s truck and hopped out, making sure this time to take his phone inside with him. “Oh, it smells so good in here.”

  “Jeffrey is cooking.” Russ came right to him and felt like home in his arms.

  “You feel good.”

  Russ hummed against his chest. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “I am too. I was wrong. This is exactly what I need.”

  Russ kissed him, soothing him, shifting his focus even further away from the stress of the week.

  “Hello? The kitchen wench would like a kiss too.”

  Oscar laughed against Russ’s lips.

  “He’s so impatient.” Russ grinned back.

  “Coming, wench.”

  “Not yet you’re not.” Jeffrey curled a hand into his shirt and pulled him in as soon as he got close. Oscar heard himself groan like it was coming from someone else. It was low and heated and entirely Jeffrey’s doing. “Oh, that was very nice, Oz. Keep that thought for after dinner.”

  Jeffrey was so good at that. So strong.

  “What are you making?”

  “Chicken Parm. Pasta. Humongous salad.”

  “My request.” Russ grinned. “Beer?”

  “Sure. Thank you. It sounds great, Jeffrey.”

  “How’s Emily?” Russ handed him an open beer and leaned on the counter, watching him.

  “She’s okay. No school again this coming week, but after that, she should be okay to go back as long as she takes it easy. She has some recovery to do, you know? I’m just grateful it wasn’t worse.”

  Jeffrey nodded. “She was lucky. So was Brian.”

  “Oh, that poor kid. He feels terrible, and I can’t seem to convince him I don’t blame him. He apologizes to me every time he sees me.”

  “It probably scared him half to death.” Russ took his hand.

  “Yeah, it did. We talked a little about it. He’s dealing with some difficult things. The guilt especially. You know, he told me that he let her down.”

  “Because he was supposed to be taking care of her?” Jeffrey was stirring something on the stove.

  “That’s what he said. I just told him she loved him.”

  “You’re a good father, Oscar.”

  He shrugged. “I’m winging it, but I do okay.”

  “It’s too bad Sophie won’t be riding tomorrow.” Russ squeezed his fingers.

  “She’s super excited, though. I’ll bring her out again soon.”

  “You don’t mind the driving?”

  “No, actually. Time alone in the car with Sophie is great. She actually talks.” Some of Oscar’s best moments with his girls happened in the car.

  Russ smiled and nodded knowingly. “No wonder we get each other.”

  Oscar appreciated the relationship Sophie was forming with Russ. They connected over horses, but Russ seemed to have a way about him that she responded to. It was good for her, and good for Oscar too, because she was such a mystery.

  “Okay, Russ. I need you. Oz, you set the table, please?”

  “Set the table. So domestic.” It felt for a minute like they all lived here. He got placemats and silverware and very happily helped get the food on the table too.

  “This smells so good.” Russ danced out to the table with a plate and sat down. “Hurry up, boys, or I’m starting without you.”

  He laughed. “It does smell good.”

  “No starting yet, Russell Morton White, or I’ll take you over my knee.”

  Oscar blinked. “What? Morton?”

  Russ rolled his eyes. “I am so sorry I said anything.”

  “Russ told me one sweaty night after… you know.” Jeffrey’s eyebrows waggled. “Pillow talk.”

  “God.” Russ sounded horrified.

  He squinted at Russ. “Morton? Like the salt?”

  “It was my grandfather’s name. Can we eat, please?”

  Jeffrey laughed. “Maybe we should call him Morty.”

  “Morty!”

  “I swear to God, y’all, I’ll go sleep in the barn.”

  Jeffrey laughed. “Damn. That’s a good threat.”

  “No kidding, right?”

  Russ looked smug and grinned at them. “You’d miss me.”

  “We would.” He shook his head. It was hard to believe he was even having this conversation.

  “Can I eat now?”

  “Hey.” Jeffrey raised his glass of wine. “To us.”

  Russ raised his beer. “To Saturday nights.”

  “To family.” He touched his wineglass to Jeffrey’s and then to Russ’s beer.

  “You can eat now.”

  “Finally!” Russ dug right in. “Oh my God, so good.”

  Oscar and Jeffrey laughed.

  DINNER CONVERSATION was light and lively, and Oscar couldn’t recall ever having this much fun washing dishes.

  “So I’m walking by the barn, and I’m just about to call it a day, and I hear this howling. And the first thing I think is it’s another goddamn raccoon, right? So I go looking, follow the sound, you know?”

  “Okay….” Jeffrey had been wiping down the table in the dining room but reappeared in time for the punch line.

  Russ dropped a dishtowel down on the counter for emphasis. “It was coming from behind the new siding. The contractors walled up one of the fucking barn cats.”

  “What?” He stared at Russ. “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. And I couldn’t tell which one either. Turned out to be Tilly. I had to rip the siding off to let her out.”

  His homeowner’s brain kicked in for a minute. “They came to fix it for free I hope.”<
br />
  Russ rolled his eyes.

  “Right, I just…. Sorry.” He shrugged and chuckled.

  Jeffrey put his arms around Russ. “Are we done here? Because I have plans for family game night.”

  He laughed. “Twister?”

  Jeffrey rolled his eyes. “Got it in one, Oz.”

  “Be nice, or I’ll go sleep in the barn with Russ.”

  “Ooh, there’s an idea.” Russ slipped away from Jeffrey and into his arms instead. “What do you think, baby?”

  “Hey!” Jeffrey protested.

  Oscar raised an eyebrow. “You’re thinking we should give him something to think about?”

  “Yeah. To watch.”

  Jesus, that idea was… it made him blush and it turned him on at the same time. He rested a couple of fingers behind Russ’s ear and pulled Russ in for a kiss.

  Jeffrey watched them, moving slowly closer. “Pretty, but what is this? Mutiny?”

  “I believe it’s a called a conspiracy. Whoa. Or maybe it’s an assault.” He laughed, pretending to try to fend off Russ’s hungry kisses when he really wanted every single one.

  “Come on, Oscar.” Russ took him by the hand and led him to the stairs. He looked over his shoulder at Jeffrey and shrugged, grinning. Who was he to deny Russ anything?

  “Traitors.” But Jeffrey followed them, riding their wave of testosterone up the stairs to the big bedroom.

  “You’ve got it all wrong, Jeffrey.”

  “Yeah? So let me in there.”

  “No.” Both he and Russ replied at once and then turned to stare at each other.

  Russ gave him a grin. “Just caught on?”

  He had. Jeffrey was so strong, the man was an irresistible force sometimes, and he was looking forward to having a little of that control back. Making Jeffrey watch, hands off, would be fun.

  Russ tugged at his shirt as they made their way down the hall toward the bedroom. He followed, fascinated by this flirty side and how much Russ also seemed to get off on the idea of keeping Jeffrey at bay.

  He glanced over his shoulder at Jeffrey again, laughing softly until Russ cupped a hand over his crotch through his jeans, making his head snap back around and his whole existence suddenly narrow in.

  “Russ.”

  “That’s it, Oscar. Eyes on me.” Russ pushed at his shirt, and he reached back and tugged it off over his head. “That’s better.” Russ did the same, baring smooth skin and tight abs.