by Shawn Lane
When I was done with my e-mails, I decided to go out the backyard. The breeze had turned a little cool, so I pulled on my sweater as I walked out the little wooden lattice door to the outside.
Of course the garden had been his favorite part of the backyard. Donald’s mother had enjoyed the small kidney-shaped pool. I’d not been particular to either. I remembered a day several years ago, almost in the beginning of our relationship, when Donald’s mom had still been alive.
We’d come over to her house to spend a Saturday with her, and when we got there, his mother, Dorothy, had been out swimming in the pool. Donald had given her a lecture about swimming by herself, but she had just laughed.
Donald had decided to mess around in the garden, so I sat in a lawn chair by the pool, observing them both. I had been amazed at how accepting and easy Dorothy was about our relationship. She’d even accepted me as his much younger boyfriend. I’d never felt like an outsider even though she had this magnificent home. Her acceptance seemed even more remarkable knowing what I knew now.
How could I sell this place? Who would love and care for Donald’s yard like he had? I wouldn’t, and I knew it. But if I sold the place, there would be no guarantee whoever bought it wouldn’t just rip out the vegetables and put rocks and cacti there. I could almost hear Donald’s scream of horror over that.
Which made me smile, oddly. Donald’s special space turned into some southwestern rock atrocity. I couldn’t have that, though, right? So I shouldn’t sell it. I could hire someone to keep it up.
But for what? I couldn’t imagine me cooking up fresh veggies from there as Donald had. Maybe it made me a pain, but I barely tolerated vegetables. I didn’t want his garden to go to waste, though.
I crouched down next to it and realized already it had begun to show signs of wasting away due to my neglect. I pulled a few weeds and barely noticed the tears rolling down my cheeks. I did a lot of crying still. More than I’d ever done the first twenty-five years of my life.
I was starting to think about something, though. No matter if I hired a gardener or even tended to it myself, it would never be Donald’s again. If I kept the house or sold it, it didn’t matter. This garden would be someone else’s to make their own.
I stood and went back into the house ready to contact a real estate agent. This house would forever be haunted for me by Donald and his mother. I loved them, but I didn’t want to spend my days in sorrow and regret. Someone else could make this their home and breathe life into it again.
* * * *
About a week after I listed the house, I pulled into the driveway after spending the last few hours visiting with George. He had wanted to go to the cemetery to see Donald’s grave, and I had gone with him. I wasn’t really the sort who talked to the graves of my loved ones. To me Donald lived in my heart and in my memories, but it was of comfort to George, so I went with him.
I got out of my car and was preparing to go into the house when an airport shuttle van pulled up to the curb.
What the hell?
I stood watching near my car as the driver got out, went to the back of the van, and took out a suitcase, which he put on the other side of the van on the street.
Not expecting any visitors, I opened my mouth to tell the driver and his passenger they had the wrong house, but the driver got back into the van and drove away.
Just past the curb in the street, Theo stood next to the suitcase that the shuttle guy had taken out of his van.
“Oh my God.”
His smile was hesitant. “Somehow I thought you’d be happier to see me.”
I ran at him then, or I think I ran; I don’t know. I just know one moment I stood rooted to the spot, and the next I was in Theo’s arms holding on for dear life. He wrapped his arms around me and exhaled. Had he really thought I wasn’t happy to see him?
“It’s really you,” I whispered into his neck.
“Yeah, it’s really me.”
I didn’t want to move from his arms, but I knew we couldn’t stand out there on display all day long, so I stepped away and gestured to the house.
“Shall we go inside?”
Theo nodded and picked up his suitcase. “It’s beautiful.” He glanced at the FOR SALE sign. “I guess you made up your mind on selling it.”
I grabbed his hand and tugged him up the driveway and inside the house. Once there I threw my arms around him again. I wondered if I seemed like a lunatic.
“I can’t believe you’re here.”
He tightened his arms around me and squeezed so hard I thought he might pop a rib. I didn’t mind. I wanted his arms tighter still.
“I bet you’re wondering how I found you,” Theo said just before he covered my lips with his.
It was a long time before we came up for air, but when we did I said, “Must have been Emily.”
“Yes. I think when I told her what I wanted to do, that I wanted to come here, she about burst she was so excited.”
Laughing, I covered his jaw with kisses. “I’m surprised she didn’t spill the beans.”
“I’m sure she wanted to. She promised she wouldn’t. Emily was sure it would be a happy surprise.” Theo’s uncertain smile returned. “It is, right?”
“The happiest,” I said. “I thought—”
“That it was over? That I didn’t want a long-distance relationship?”
I bit my lip. “Well, yeah.”
“I know, and I don’t know how it’s going to work exactly, but I’ve decided we need to try.”
My heart thumped rapidly. I didn’t know what to say. Thoughts were swirling around in my head about the future.
“I had some vacation time coming, so I thought I’d come here and talk you into giving me a real chance, Dane. Not just because you were in Northfield to visit your family or you were trying to get over the loss of Donald. Or because I was your first. I want you to take a chance on something real with me.”
Before I could say a word, Theo was pushing me up against the wall, kissing me over and over until I was breathless and gasping. I missed this, I missed him, and I gripped the collar of his shirt, and I pulled him closer.
“I want you,” Theo said, sinking his teeth into my bottom lip. He grabbed my ass and lifted me against his erection. “I want to spend days in bed with you, fucking you over and over.”
I shook with need and the wonder of having him here with me. Something I had never expected to have again. I drew his lips to mine once more and thrust my tongue into his mouth. Slipping my hand inside his partially open shirt, I skimmed my fingers over his bare chest and caught my breath when a tremor went through him. After several minutes of trying to devour each other, Theo pulled his lips from mine, but his hands framed my face, holding me there, as though afraid to let me get too far away.
“Dane, what do you say? Did I come all this way for nothing?” His dark eyes showed his desperation. “I know a long-distance relationship might be hard, but maybe someday—”
I shook my head.
Theo blinked. “What? I know I was against it to begin with, but I think you’re worth trying.”
“No, Theo. No long-distance relationship. You were right.”
“I…was?”
“How would that work?” I asked. “We exchange e-mails and phone calls, and a couple of times a year we visit each other in person?”
“Um, yeah, I guess.”
I smiled, which I could see confused him even more. “That’s not going to work for us. I don’t know how that could work for anyone. As much as I love the sound of your voice, I need more than that.”
His hands dropped from my face, and I could feel him trying to move away, but I grasped his arms to prevent him from leaving.
“What I’m trying to tell you, Theo, is I want to be with you.”
He shook his head. “What? Then Dane, Jesus Christ, what are you talking about?”
“I’ve had it in the back of my mind ever since I put the house on the market,” I said. “I didn’t
let it fully form because I wasn’t sure where the two of us stood, but now that you’re here, I know what’s right. What I want to do.”
“Which is?”
I leaned forward to kiss the edge of his mouth. “Don’t you get it? You said yourself I can write my books anywhere. Even Vermont.”
His eyes widened slightly. “Are you saying you’re willing to move to Vermont?”
Laughing, I nodded. “Yes, genius. I have to sell this place first and get things all straightened out here, but once I do, if you’re not ready to have me live with you, I can get my own place or rent or whatever.”
Theo grinned. “Oh, no fucking way. You aren’t going anywhere in Vermont unless you live with me.”
“You’re sure?”
He kissed me again. Not the usual hungry, devouring kiss, but more like a promise.
“I’ve been sure,” he said against my lips. “I haven’t wanted to pressure you. Make you feel uncomfortable since you were grieving over Donald.”
I nodded. “I’ll always love Donald. Nothing will ever change that. But I know after everything that’s happened, Donald loved me. He really loved me. And there’s no doubt he’d want me to be happy.”
Theo smiled. “I know I would.” He hugged me tight. “We have to wait for you to sell this place, huh? You can’t move now and let someone else take care of it for you?”
“Hmmm. How long is your vacation time? How long were you planning to visit me for?”
“A week and a half.”
I tilted my head to the side. “I guess it’s possible to be ready in that amount of time.”
“I love the sound of that,” Theo admitted.
“Speaking of what you just said,” I said, biting my lip.
“Yeah?”
I lowered my head until my forehead touched his cheek.
“What, Dane? Suddenly shy?” He hooked a finger under my chin and forced me to meet his gaze.
“What you said in the airport? Do you think maybe you could say it one more time?”
He gave me a sexy smile, kissed the tip of my nose, and whispered, “I love you, Dane.”
THE END
ABOUT SHAWN LANE
Shawn Lane is a multi-published author of gay romances and believes love and passion know no boundaries. Happily Ever After is for everyone.
She has been published by Loose Id, Ellora's Cave, Amber Quill Press, Dreamspinner Press, and Evernight Publishing.
Shawn lives in California and holds down a boring day job in a legal department of a giant corporation dreaming of the nights and weekends when she can create new stories.
For more information, visit smlgr8.blogspot.com.
ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC
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