Stained Hearts (Links in the Chain Book 3)

by Parker Williams

  “Really? You’re serious?”

  Galen smiled. “Of course I am. I reached out to the Cudahy Foundation, showed them the work we’ve been doing for the last year, and asked them for support. They’ve given us a five-year renewable grant. There’s enough money here to upgrade all the things we’ve had to put off.” He leaned in. “I know how badly you wanted it, and I thought if I could give it to you….”

  The two sat staring at each other before Robert burst into tears. He threw himself into Galen’s arms and kissed him soundly.

  I knew how much it meant for Robert to get that. It would bring food, critical supplies, and more to the shelter. He had been running in the red for years, doing his best to keep up, but now, with this grant, they might finally get in the black again.

  When I first met Galen, I wasn’t sure he was right for Robert. I was never so happy to be wrong. This new Galen was a marvel, and the fact that he made Robert happy meant everything to me.

  “Tom?”

  I turned to find Olivia behind me, holding a large package in her hands. She handed it to me, then went back to her seat.

  “What’s this?”

  Aiden swallowed hard. “It’s from me.”

  My fingers trembled as I took off the paper. When I peeled it back, letting it fall to the floor, everyone gasped. It was the window I had ordered, but not exactly what Aiden had shown me. Though the phoenix still burst from the ground in a cascade of color, in the corner of the glass there was a heart, in shades of red, blue, and white. Inside the heart was Aiden’s name and mine.

  “I hope this is okay.” He was chewing his bottom lip, his gaze darting around the room.

  I rushed over to where he sat on the couch and pulled him to me. “Baby, this is the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever seen.”

  “I know just where to put it,” Dad said. “We’ll rebuild the frame on the front of the house, so this will be the centerpiece, and then we’ll put clear glass around it. Anyone who sees it will know love lives in this house.”

  Everyone was in awe, telling Aiden how incredible it was and mentioning that they might want something like that for themselves.

  “I think I’m out of the stained-glass business,” he said quietly. “I’m not sure I can go to the shop anymore.”

  Dad came and sat next to Aiden. “Have you been to the garage lately?”

  “No.” He looked at me. “Why? Did I miss something?”

  “I’m making a workshop out there for you. I want you to continue making these things, and I want you to be safe while you do it.” He put an arm over Aiden’s shoulder and pulled him close. “My son deserves something that’ll make him happy.”

  Aiden’s lips quivered, and then I noticed the tears sliding down his cheeks. “Thank you.”

  Dad held him as Aiden sobbed into his shoulder. “It’s okay. Let it out.”

  We sat there quietly as Dad comforted Aiden, stroking a hand over his back.

  “I was so scared.” His voice was nothing but a hoarse whisper. “I kept thinking they’d pick me up and throw me into the river or toss me out into traffic. I didn’t want to die, Dad. I had too much to live for.” His gaze flicked to me. “But it hurt and I was afraid and—”

  His voice was guttural now, a raw, aching need that he tried to keep hidden. I looked up and found everyone had moved, giving us some privacy. Dad kissed Aiden’s forehead.

  “I’m sorry that happened. I’m sorry you had to see the ugly in people.”

  Aiden choked on a laugh. “But that’s just it. I didn’t see them. I only saw Tom and my family. I was afraid, but you guys gave me the strength to hold on. That was the moment I truly felt I belonged here.”

  Dad shuffled over to where I stood and pressed Aiden to me. He sighed and sank into my embrace.

  I stroked his hair as he nuzzled my chest. “Aw, sweetheart, you always belonged, but I’m glad you figured it out for yourself.”

  Mom went in and got us hot cocoa, because of course at three in the morning we needed something to make us sleepy. This family was strange and wonderful, and I loved it.

  “We need to be at the Pfister by noon,” Dad reminded us, shaking his head. “I can’t believe Lincoln’s getting married.”

  Of course he could. Noel meant the world to Lincoln, just as Mom meant everything to him. Dad loved seeing people happy, and if he had a hand in it, so much the better.

  The rest of the morning was filled with gifts, food, conversation, and so much love, I was surprised one house could hold it all.

  I sent a little prayer up to whoever might be listening, telling them that if we were blessed with a child, they’d never want for anything, never need to be afraid, and would always know what love was.

  Because this family embodied it, heart and soul.

  And it was ours.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  KATY WAS stunning in the white robes with the deep green stole she wore around her neck, as well as the chartreuse stripe in her hair. She stood on the stage with Lincoln and Noel in front of her. Aiden, leaning on his walker, took his spot beside them. He was dressed in a fancy tuxedo that accentuated his lithe form, even if one sleeve had been adjusted to fit over his cast. I couldn’t wait to strip it off him. Noel and Lincoln each wore dark blue suits with crisp white shirts. Lincoln’s tie was burgundy, while Noel’s was sapphire. Together they were a sight to behold.

  I glanced around the room. Robert and Galen were in the front row, and Galen looked so pleased he might burst. It was a good thing that he, Lincoln, and Noel had patched up their relationship. I hoped that their bond would grow stronger for their shared pains. I recognized a few other people, gave them a wave, and then took my seat so the wedding could start.

  “Thank you all for being here.” She nodded to Lincoln, then to Noel. “When Noel came into the diner and asked for a job, I never dreamed that one day I would be standing up here, officiating as my two best friends got married. And before you ask, yes, I got ordained just for this. You’re looking at Reverend Mother Katy, and what I’m wearing is my finery.” She spun around so everyone could take in the vision of loveliness. “So don’t be haters, okay?”

  Noel rubbed his eyes, then turned to Aiden. “Remind me again why we asked her.”

  “Because you love her.”

  He shrugged. “Well, I guess there is that.”

  Katy scowled. “Will you shut up? I’m trying to get you to stop being a kept man.”

  Lincoln growled, but Katy ignored him.

  “Now, as I was saying, I never expected to be standing up here, in front of friends and family, helping the two men I love more than I can ever say get married. Lincoln helped Noel come out of his shell, and in turn Noel got Lincoln to remember what fun is. These two men need each other in ways that transcend the heart and soul.”

  She reached out and cupped Noel’s cheek.

  “Noel, I need you to make sure this is what you want, because this is a lifetime commitment, baby. It’s being understanding about the long hours Lincoln puts in at the diner, willing to shoulder the burdens when he’s too exhausted to do much more than drop into bed, and to simply love him because of who he is. Is this something you’re willing to do?”

  “Yes.” His voice was clear and left no doubt where his heart lay. “I do.”

  She smiled. “I’m glad to hear that.” She turned to Lincoln, reached out, and cupped his cheek. “And you, Lincoln… I need you to make sure this is what you want, because this is a lifetime commitment. It’s remembering that Noel needs you to hold him together at times, to keep in mind that no matter how tired you are, you’ll be aware he has needs, both physical and emotional, and you’ll see to those. You’ll also have to love him, simply because of who he is. Is this something you’re willing to do?”

  Lincoln peered down at Noel, and I could see so much love in their gazes. “It is.”

  Katy’s gaze shifted over to Aiden. “Who has the rings?”

  He reached into his pocket
and took out the box that contained the wedding bands, then held it out to Lincoln.

  Lincoln snapped the box open and withdrew the two platinum rings he’d chosen, then handed one to Noel. “With this ring, I give you all that I am. You’re not just my husband—you’re my lover, my friend, my heart, and my soul. I will cherish you always, pup.” Then he slid the ring over Noel’s finger.

  “Your turn, Noel.”

  Noel took in a deep breath and stared into Lincoln’s eyes. “With this ring, I give you all that I am. You’re more than a husband, Lincoln. You’re the calm in the storm, the sun shining through the clouds, the safe harbor on the horizon. I will always love and cherish you, sir.” He slipped the ring onto Lincoln’s finger.

  “That was beautiful, guys. I’m happy to announce, by the power vested in me by the Sisterhood of the Moon, the two of you are now married.” She nudged Noel. “Kiss him.”

  Noel threw his arms around Lincoln’s neck and wrapped his legs tight around Lincoln’s waist as the two of them kissed. It was fucking hot, seeing them. I might have got a bit of a boner, but I wouldn’t ever admit to it.

  After the ceremony, we retired to the ballroom, where dinner was being served. The meal was elegant—a choice of crab-stuffed sole or a strip loin of beef. I couldn’t decide, so Aiden suggested we each order different ones and sample from the other’s plate.

  When the dishes had been cleared away and we were all warm and happy, we were escorted to another room for cake. While it was some strange tradition for the couple to smash each other in the face with their desserts, Lincoln and Noel were gentle and delicate. It was sweet and erotic all at the same time, watching them feed each other.

  “Stop staring.”

  I turned to Aiden. “What?”

  “Don’t think I didn’t notice your hard-on.”

  I shifted in my seat. “What can I say, I’m still horny.”

  “Suffering is good for the soul.” He leaned closer. “I can’t wait to get home. I need to get fucked in the worst way.”

  Mom snickered and covered her mouth.

  Aiden’s face turned about fifty shades of red. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

  “Oh, honey. That’s close to what I said to Dwight on our wedding night. It was a nice memory, nothing more.”

  Dad scowled. “Memory? You act like I don’t put out anymore.”

  She reached over and patted his hand. “Of course you do, dear. Just like when you were in your twenties.” She smirked. “Maybe not quite as enthusiastic, but still….”

  Dad leaped out of his chair. “C’mon.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “First we’re going to go dance. Then we’re going to head to the coatroom.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, you bad boy.”

  I shook my head. “Ew. A world of ew.” As they stepped out onto the dance floor, I called out after them, “And don’t go near our coats!”

  Mom waved a hand over her head. They were on the floor for only a few moments before they disappeared. I did not want to know what they were doing.

  “Let’s dance.”

  Aiden frowned. “Uh, not exactly light on my feet.”

  I got up and took his hand. “Then you can be light on mine. Is it okay if I pick you up?”

  He smiled and gave me a nod.

  I hoisted him up. “Put your arms around my neck.”

  He did, and I carried him out to where the other couples were dancing to some weird electronica-trance-music-fusion thing. A few curious glances from others had me glaring at them. Fuck them if they didn’t like it. This was my time with the man I loved.

  I wrapped Aiden in my arms, and together we started swaying gently to the music. He put his head on my shoulder and let me take him around the room. It was magical. When the song was over, we returned to our seats. His face was flushed, and there was a sad smile in place.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I never thought I would be able to dance. It was… I don’t even have the words to describe it.” He put a hand on my arm. “Thank you.”

  The simplest of things that people took for granted gave Aiden the most pleasure.

  “Trust me. It’s not going to be the only time we dance.”

  He smiled and gave me a nod. “I’m counting on it.”

  The rest of the evening, we sat and watched others have their fun. Noel came over and thanked us for coming. He hugged Aiden and kissed him on the cheek, then shook my hand. When I saw Lincoln give him a nod, Noel smiled and threw his arms around me.

  When Mom and Dad finally came back, her dress was rumpled and his jacket was askew. She blew out a breath as she sat down, then grabbed the napkin to wipe off her forehead. Dad’s chest was puffed up, and he seemed inordinately proud of himself.

  “We’re going to head out.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “We’re not staying at the house tonight. I got us a room here.” He held out a hand to Mom. “Ready?”

  She stood and slipped her hand into his. “Always.” As they walked away, she stopped and turned to me. “Oh, Tom? I suppose I should ask you, is your jacket dry-clean only?”

  I narrowed my gaze, and she laughed as Dad pulled her to the elevator.

  “Fuck, and I liked that coat.” I turned to Aiden. “Are you ready to go home?”

  He sighed. “Home takes on a whole new meaning now.”

  It did. We would be moving Mom and Dad’s stuff over the next few weeks, and at the same time, we’d be bringing ours in. I had a twinge of sadness for letting go of the old house, but Brian was right. I needed to look to the future I was building with Aiden, instead of trying to hold on to the past. The only thing I asked Aiden for was if we could keep Brian’s urn in the house. He said it would be an honor to have the man who brought us together enshrined in our new home.

  After we got our coats, we went out to the car, with Aiden listing to one side. He was obviously exhausted from spending so much time with the walker. If I had to guess, I figured he would probably need to use the chair for the next few days to gather his strength again.

  “Tired?”

  He nodded. “Doesn’t mean we can’t get busy when we get home.”

  I snickered, because after standing all that time with Noel, then drinking a few glasses of champagne with his dinner, I knew damn good and well I’d be carrying Aiden into the house, then putting him to bed. That was okay, though.

  “Did you have a good time?”

  He yawned. “Yeah, it was great. I’ve only been to a couple of weddings, but I liked them a lot. All the pomp and circumstance that goes into them? It’s just… I don’t know, beautiful.”

  With those words, he rested his head against the window, and within minutes he was asleep. I was glad to hear he liked weddings and hoped that in the morning when he woke, he would find the small box I’d stashed under his pillow. I wanted Aiden as my lover, my partner, and, hopefully, my husband.

  I once more sent up a silent thank-you to Brian, a man who saw that bringing together two stained hearts could have them beating in time as they found love.

  Epilogue

  One Year Later

  THERE IS a moment, just as twilight gives way to total darkness, when everything over the lake is still. It’s like the world is holding its breath, waiting to see what’s going to happen. It’s during this one singular moment when I can look over at my husband and smile as I recall the journey that brought us to this point in our lives.

  “I love you.”

  A bird called out as it flew overhead, and the creatures in the night sang a song in their unique voices just for us. In the distance, we could see a young buck raise his majestic head and turn it in our direction, then bound off into the forest.

  Aiden grinned. “Love you too.” He took a sip of his hot chocolate and gave a contented sigh. “I love it here.”

  “Me too.” I slipped my arm over his shoulder. “In fact, I could live here.”

  “That would be nice, but everyone is coming for Christmas, a
nd we haven’t decorated the house yet.”

  Now it was my turn to sigh. It was a great dream, even if the practicalities weren’t fully there. I glanced over at Aiden, who sat staring up at the Milky Way.

  “This place is so peaceful. I can see why you like it up here.”

  The real reason was the man sitting by my side. When we bought the cabin, he was dubious, but after his first night sleeping there, he never wanted to go back to the city.

  “What do you want for Christmas?”

  He held up his left hand, showing off the gold band that I’d slipped on his finger six months ago. We’d held our wedding in the park across from the diner, which made Noel insanely happy because he’d dreamed of it.

  “This is the only thing I need.”

  He’d been so beautiful, his arm draped over Olivia’s shoulder as she stood with him on the stage. We gave our vows, and there wasn’t a dry eye among our guests.

  When we were at the cabin, Aiden pointed out a particularly bright star, I took that as a sign that Brian was watching over us. It wasn’t logical, but it’s what I felt in my heart.

  “So, what do you want?”

  “I just told you, I have everything I need.”

  I grinned to myself, because in my suitcase were two plane tickets to Playa De Las Balmins, in Sitges, Spain. Aiden had once told me of a fantasy he had of lying out on the beach with the sun overhead as the waves lapped at his feet, then looking over and seeing a man winking at him. I was going to give him his dream on one of the finest nude beaches in the world.

  “Should we go inside?”

  The temperature had dropped, and even the down comforters we’d wrapped around us couldn’t keep the chill out forever.

  “I suppose.”

  I stood and picked him up.

  As we approached the door, he chuckled. “Is it wrong that I think of these times as you carrying me across the threshold?”