“Well,” Brian said, with everyone’s attention focused on him. He rubbed his hands together and looked a little contemplative. Josh wondered what his dad was thinking about so hard and why he didn’t think any of this was that strange.
Brian continued. “As strange as this might sound, I do know what’s going on with all this,” he glanced at Josh, who gaped at his dad like he’d grown horns.
“What do you mean you know what’s going on? I barely had a chance to explain anything to you at home and you just watched what happened with Cory when I left him. The doctor had no idea what was going on and you think you do? How could you possibly know anything about this?” Josh looked at his father with a skeptical expression.
“Um, maybe it would be best for us to wait for Cory to finish up before I get into it too much,” Brian went on. “It’s going to take some explaining, and it will probably be easier if I just have to do it once so we’re all on the same page with everything. Then I’m sure you’ll all have questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them. And if I don’t have answers we can sort that out later. But, for now, just know that all is well, and there really is nothing to be worried about.”
Diane, Jim, and Josh all sat there with dumbfounded expressions on their faces. Jim and Diane looked at each other and then Brian again. Josh had no idea what his dad was talking about, but it seemed like whatever he did know he was going share so they would have some idea of what they were dealing with. Although how his dad claimed to know anything was still a mystery to Josh. What could his dad possibly know about this crazy situation, where a guy he’d never even met before, from a family on the other side of town, had this weird connection thing to him. Josh had a million things running through his mind and couldn’t help but keep looking at his dad like someone who was delusional.
“So you actually think you know what’s going on between Cory and Josh?” Jim finally asked, looking at Brian hopefully.
“Yes. I do,” Brian stated, looking between all of them. “As I said it’s going to take some explaining, but we can get to all that over dinner when Cory’s ready.”
“Well,” said Diane who stood up. “Let me just go check on everything and get dinner out to the table then. Josh, would you mind helping me in the kitchen?” Diane asked over her shoulder.
Josh stood and turned to follow. “Not at all. What can I do to help?”
~
Ten minutes later everything was set, and food was being delivered to the table. Brian had taken everyone’s lemonade in, and Jim got down a fresh glass for Cory.
Josh stopped in his tracks as Cory came into the kitchen freshly showered and wearing a purple tank top with cut off shorts. His blond hair was still wet but had laid down in a cooperative manner. The pieces of hair in front looked longer than the rest and framed Cory’s face where they lay swept to the side. His bare feet padded through the room followed closely by Jenny, who seemed to be next to Cory wherever he went.
Stopping in the archway between the kitchen and dining room, Cory rested against the doorframe and looked back at Josh. Josh had been scooting the dining chairs around to accommodate the additional fifth chair they would need, but his attention focused on the slowly growing smile that spread across Cory’s handsome face.
Josh hadn’t been around Cory for very long at all so far, and certainly not when he was freshly showered and rosy cheeked, with a sleepy look on his face. He’d only seen Cory in his hospital gown and the sweats and white shirt he’d gone home in. But this Cory captivated Josh’s attention. Josh’s answering smile stretched across his face as he came around the table and stopped in front of Cory.
It appeared he was only an inch or so taller than Cory, so they were practically on the same level. Cory’s smaller frame, however, gave him a sleek, almost graceful appearance that Josh hadn’t noticed before.
“Hey,” said Josh, with a hint of reverence in his tone. He reached out and threaded his fingers with Cory’s, who gave him a small squeeze in return. “How was your shower? You look good…” Josh trailed off, and his cheeks warmed. He rushed to continue. “I mean, I’ve only seen you in a hospital gown and sweats, so you look different. But, it’s good,” he blurted, and his cheeks seemed to grow even hotter.
Cory chuckled lightly. “Thanks. A guy always likes to hear that he looks good out of a hospital gown.” He gave a wink to let Josh know he was teasing. Sobering up a little, though, Cory spoke again, “I think we might need to test out a few scenarios with this whole thing, like how far away we can be from each other before I fall asleep or pass out. I was really sleepy and foggy in the bathroom, and since my bedroom is at the end of the hallway, I had to force myself to keep moving just to get dressed and make it back out here before I crawled into bed, or just fell down. My saving grace was that I know my way around so well I didn’t really need to be totally with it to manage.”
Josh grew concerned as he listened to Cory and a small furrow formed between his brows. “I’m sorry. I hate that you were so uncomfortable. I wasn’t really paying attention to how I felt either since I was busy with my dad and helping your mom. I mean, I know we need to be near each other, but you’re right. We’re going to have to figure out just how far away that is. If you can’t even function and I’m inside your house with you, what good is it going to do if I’m out in that gardening room? That’s way too far away for you to be comfortable, and what about school, or just anything.” Josh sighed and tried not to let his frustrations get him down. He rubbed his thumb along Cory’s finger with his head lowered as he regrouped from his minor freak out.
“My dad seems to think he knows what’s going on between us and plans to enlighten all of us over dinner. I have no idea what he thinks he’s talking about, but maybe he’ll have some answers for us.” Josh turned his gaze back to the crystal blue eyes that locked with his own.
Cory seemed surprised. “Your dad knows something about this?” Cory questioned with raised eyebrows.
“He claims to,” Josh stated.
“Alright boys. If you’re ready to join us I think we might start this discussion and get the answers you’re wondering about,” Diane interrupted.
Josh and Cory both startled and blushed at being addressed. They dropped their hands and looked back at the table.
Jim, Diane, and Brian were all seated and watching them amusedly. Brian was seated on an end by himself whereas Diane and Jim sat next to each other, leaving the remaining two seats for Cory and Josh.
“We’ve been here for a few minutes wondering if you boys were going to notice and join us,” Jim chuckled. “I guess you were understandably sidetracked. Have a seat and let’s find out what Brian has to say.”
~
A comfortable silence filled the space as Josh and Cory took their seats and dinner plates were passed around.
Brian hummed his approval after a few bites, saying, “This is excellent, Diane. Thank you so much for the meal. I can tell you really know your way around the kitchen. This is a nice change for Josh and I to eat with someone besides ourselves.”
Diane smiled then and nodded her head. “Thank you for the compliment, Brian, and we’re glad to have you both over, as well. I do enjoy cooking, and even though it’s a simple meal, you can do a lot with seasonings and a fresh garden.”
“Well, it’s delicious,” Brian remarked and set down his fork. He then turned his attention to Josh and Cory who were tucking into the meals with enthusiasm. “Are you boys ready to learn what’s going on with this?” Brian asked.
“Yeah, Dad. Some answers would be great. You’re being all cryptic and weird,” Josh said and took a sip of his lemonade. He looked at Cory who nodded his head, whether in response to Brian or in agreement with Josh’s statement, it didn’t matter either way. “Tell us already.”
“Okay,” Brian stated and looked each of them in the eye before continuing. “As you have seen and experienced, some things in this world appear unexplainable. Life and death situations that have a happ
y ending, feats of strength performed by seemingly ordinary people, the ability to withstand extreme conditions without lasting consequence, and in this situation, two lives that become interdependent; inexplicably intertwined.” He paused. “There’s a history in our family line of interdependence. I know that term sounds a bit strong, but it’s at least one way of thinking about what’s going on here. The actual name for this condition, that I was taught from my father, is Connectivity.”
Josh stared at his father with a mixture of shock and confusion. “What are you talking about, Dad? I’ve never heard you say a peep about anything even remotely related to something like this. What do you mean Grandpa told you this and that we have a family history? Since when?” Josh demanded.
Brian already had his hands up to placate him. “I can see that you’re skeptical and a little upset. But let me continue with the explanation before we get too far off topic. I can come back around and answer questions if I leave anything out.”
“Fine. But I can’t believe I didn’t know any of this. It sounds like something you made up,” Josh grumbled. Cory reached over and grabbed Josh’s hand and gave it a squeeze of reassurance before he turned back to Brian.
Brian nodded his thanks and continued with his admission. “I’ve never told you any of this because I didn’t think it would be something we would have to worry about for a while. My father told me on my eighteenth birthday. And his father did the same for him and so on. I guess you caught me a little off guard seeing as how you’re only seventeen. Granted you’ll be eighteen next month, but still. As far as our histories go, I’ve never been told about anyone finding their Connection before the age of twenty-five.”
“So, when I say Connection and Connectivity that’s exactly what I mean,” Brian continued, motioning toward Josh and Cory. “Josh carries the Connective gene and Cory is his Complement. Neither one of you would have ever found another Connection. Josh would have never married, much like myself, because he never would have found Cory. And Cory,” Brian paused. “You would have never woken up from your coma.”
Diane and Jim gasped at that. “What do you mean he never would have woken up?” Diane challenged.
“That’s exactly what I mean. For those people who are Connective Complements, as they are called, they would have no idea what they really were. They would go about their daily lives and possibly marry, or have kids with no repercussion. They might go their whole lifetime and never find the Connection they were truly meant for, leaving the Connective Catalyst, the one who carries the Connective gene, to a lifetime of solitude.
“However, if something medically traumatic should ever happen to the Connective Complement they would end up much the same as Cory did. They would remain in an unresponsive state for the rest of their lives. The only thing that would ever rouse them again would be their Connective Catalyst. And unfortunately for those of us who are Connective Catalysts, sometimes the families of an unresponsive Complement decide to end life support measures or donate their family member's organs, thinking they will never wake up from their coma. Not knowing that all that person needs is their Catalyst.”
Taking a bite of his dinner, Brian chewed and had a sip of his lemonade. “As the story of our Connective origin goes, it says the reason for the Complement to suffer a trauma in order to find their Catalyst is to make sure the Connection is true. While the Complement could go their entire life without the Catalyst, nature has a sort of checks and balances system. The Complement would lead a life full of peril and risk. They might be thrill seekers, adrenaline junkies, or involved in the military. They would enjoy things with lots of danger. Or, the Complement could simply be predisposed to being clumsy, or careless; walking into traffic with their head in a book, that sort of thing. Thus ensuring at some point they might be in a position to find their Catalyst.
“Furthermore, a Catalyst will typically be inclined to go into a medical field. Therefore giving themselves a greater chance of finding their Complement. However, that’s not always the case. More often than not though, a Catalyst will try to align his or herself toward their best chance for success. That’s why I choose to work in the hospital. As you know, Josh, I started where you are now, except at patient intake. And once you were born, I knew I was going to need to take care of you on my own, and I started going to school taking business administration classes. I always tried to stay around hospitals so I might have a chance to find my own Complement. But as I said earlier, finding your Complement young is almost unheard of. So I took classes, took care of you, and worked my way up. I got hired at the University Hospital once I moved high enough in the ranks, and therefore broadened the reach of my own search.”
Brian took another drink of his lemonade and set his glass back down. The motion drew Josh out of his trance. He looked around the table and realized everyone else was in much the same state he had been in. Everyone had all but forgotten the food they’d been eating and sat staring raptly at Josh’s dad.
“So what does this mean?” Josh questioned, startling everyone at the table. “Is a Catalyst always male, or can they be female too? Has there ever been a same-sex Connective pairing? How did I even get here if you never found your Complement?” Everyone looked from Josh to Brian waiting for his answers.
“A Catalyst can be either male or female, although the tendency for offspring of a Catalyst to be male, means that more often than not, the Catalyst will be male. If a Connective pairing should have more than one child, which is unlikely although not unheard of, the subsequent children will likely not carry the Connective gene. As for same-sex pairings, I’ve never heard of it happening. Although we’ve never known anyone who was gay before. So, maybe nature just provided you with your correct pairing after all. I’ll have to ask your grandpa if he’s ever heard of a same-sex Connective pairing. I’ll admit I was a little shocked when you started telling me earlier what was happening with Cory. I wasn’t sure what to expect with you, but you’ve definitely thrown me for a loop by finding your Complement at such a young age.”
Brian pushed his dinner plate out of the way and scooted his chair back a bit to be more comfortable, then continued on.
“As for your mother, Josh, I’ve never kept that a secret from you. You’ve always known that your mother and I were young, and she was not in a good place emotionally, to be a part of your life. No, she was not my Complement. But when you’re young and your father tells you something crazy like I just told you, one tends to have a certain reaction. I was young and my reaction was to rebel against the idea that there would only ever be one person for me. I wanted to experience life and try new things. I wanted to spread my wings and get my feet wet, so to speak.
“After my father explained that I didn’t really need to worry about finding my Complement for several years, I guess I felt trapped by knowing that once I turned twenty-five, or so, it could happen any time. And in the meantime I was going to be young, and dare I say, careless. Needless to say, here you are,” Brian explained.
“You’ve always known the story of your mother, Josh, but I’ll share it with everyone else, too. Shelly was emotionally unavailable and just coming out of a relationship. We saw each other a few times, but once she told me she was pregnant, I knew I had to man up and stop fooling around. I was going to be a father. I knew I had to have you in my life and your mother confessed she wasn’t going to be available to take care of you. It really worked out for the best since I knew I would be passing down my Connective genes to you and you would need me as you got older. It’s always been just you and me. I’ve loved every minute of raising you and being your father. You were never a burden and you know that. I like to think we were even a little closer than other father-son relationships because we have a special bond built into our DNA.
“I know it’s confusing for you right now to hear all this. You’re probably shocked, and maybe a little hurt, that you didn’t know about this. But just think of how special your Connection is to Cory. Finding him so early fr
ees up your entire future. You can choose the life you want instead of focusing on trying to find your Complement. The two of you can grow together and develop an actual relationship based on your interests and desires. You can make plans, and you won’t have to worry about your life being interrupted at age thirty-two because you found your Complement or Catalyst. That part is over and now you only have to look forward to the future.”
Josh saw the earnest look on his father’s face and knew he was right. “This is a lot to take in all at once, Dad, but I’m glad it’s all out in the open now. It feels exhausting and overwhelming to think through all the details right now. I’m just trying to process everything,” Josh said and looked at Cory who was already watching him with a dazed expression. “What do you think? How crazy does all this sound to you?” Josh asked, still holding Cory’s hand in a silent offer of support.
“Um, I’m not really sure, honestly. That was one heck of an explanation that I wasn’t really expecting.” Cory brushed his bangs off his forehead with his other hand and blew out an overwhelmed sigh. “Wow. I’m going to need some time to think about all this. I mean, I just got home and was in the hospital for days. Now I have this crazy Connectivity thing to think about.” He shot Josh a worried glance. “Not that I think it’s bad or anything, just, you know, not what I was expecting the rest of my life to look like.”
Josh nodded his head in agreement. “I understand. Trust me. On Friday, I was just a regular kid, going to school and living life, getting ready to graduate. Now everything is different,” Josh stated.
“Well, that was certainly more than we were expecting as well,” Jim said, sitting back in his chair, looking contemplative. “I guess we all get the basics of what’s going on, but we are definitely going to need a few days to process and adjust to all this. There’s no way you can go back to school right away, Cory. And maybe Josh should take a few days off as well. Just so we can figure out a system and plan a course of action. What do you think, Diane? And even you, Brian. You’re just as involved in this as we are.”
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