He sighed with relief. She finally made peace with who he is.
“I am so grateful that you are still alive!”
At that moment Todd entered.
“I see that our hero has regained consciousness.”
“Hi, Todd.”
He looked up at him. Todd looked more handsome than ever before.
“Hi, Adam.”
He barely managed to answer, but when he did, he smiled faintly.
They looked at each other.
“Are you strong enough to answer some questions?” asked Todd.
Darlene got up. “My boy is worn-out, sheriff. Please be gentle.”
Todd gave his widest grin. “Well in that case I suggest the patient stays in bed. Not that he has much of a choice. Are we in agreement, Adam?”
“You bet.”
The sheriff placed his hands on Adam’s head and gently stroked his hair.
“Are you comfortable?”
“Don’t joke, Todd, please.”
“Well. Adam is going to stay in exactly the same position while I take you out for dinner, Darlene.”
Darlene stared at him. Then she laughed. “Hallelujah!”
“Hallelujah?” Todd frowned.
“Yeah. I asked the Lord to provide and he answered my prayers. I honestly don’t have the strength to prepare food for tonight.”
“Hallelujah indeed,” laughed Todd.
“Hallelujah!” Adam said from the bed.
Todd sat down next to him.
Darlene winked at Todd. “You seem like the perfect guardian angel to have.”
Todd looked at Adam. “This angel only needs to grow some wings!”
Adam cleared his throat. “He doesn’t need wings, mom. I like him just the way he is.”
She looked at them and smiled.
“Well. I will be at the nurse’s station.”
Darlene left the room.
Todd took Adam’s hand and squeezed it as Darlene disappeared down the hall.
“How do you really feel?”
“Bloody sore.”
“I am so sorry about what happened.”
Adam managed a rueful smile. “So am I.”
“You were very brave this morning.” He looked at Adam. “You deserve some kind of award.”
“An award?”
Todd took something from his back pocket. “Apologies. I can’t actually give you an award, but . . .” He pulled out a handkerchief, “but here is something to help you wipe the sweat off.”
Adam knew this was Todd’s way of saying that he would always be there. In this moment, he instinctively knew that everything was going to be fine.
Todd touched Adam’s forehead. “Get some sleep, Adam.”
Adam smiled and winked.
“And good luck!”
“For what?”
Adam barely managed a grin. “For taking my mom to dinner.”
“Why?”
“She’s a talker.”
Todd winked.
“Got my earplugs in my van.”
“And Todd.”
“Yeah, pretty boy?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Adam managed to shift slightly, the pain still quite intense.
Fuck, Adam thought as he managed to lift his head. This man has a beautiful ass!
****
Todd took Darlene to the local pizza place—Bozeman’s favorite hang-out. And Adam had been right. She talked non-stop.
Darlene ordered a super sized Regina pizza and Todd a Hawaiian.
As Todd ate his pizza, he thought about what could have happened to Adam had he not showed up in time. He couldn’t even think about losing him. Darlene kept on making idle conversation, but all Todd could think about, was Adam.
He didn’t even finish his pizza, so he asked for it to go. Darlene finally asked the question..
“So tell me Todd.” She took a sip of red wine and Todd instinctively knew what the question was going to be about.
“When did you realize that you were gay?”
“Am homosexual.”
“I stand corrected.”
Todd paid for the pizzas. “So you finally figured it out.”
“A mother always knows.”
“What gave me away?”
She laughed. “Your eyes when you looked at him just now. And the way he smiled at you.”
Darlene looked at Todd’s left hand. “At least you don’t have a wedding band anymore.”
It was now or never.
“Darlene.”
“Yes, Todd? If I may call you that?”
“Please, feel free.”
He chose his words carefully.
“What I am going to say to you could come as a nasty surprise.”
“Nothing could be worse than what my boy would’ve suffered had you not been there for him.”
Todd finished his wine as if to muster up enough courage.
He put down the empty glass.
“I am going through a divorce.”
Darlene took a big sip of wine.
“A divorce?”
“Yes.”
He gave the waiter a tip.
“My wife and I decided a long time ago that it was not working out between us.”
“Was Adam the instigating factor?”
“No. It’s not only because of Adam.”
“What do you mean?”
Todd put the receipt into his pocket.
“We had been having trouble for quite some time before we separated.”
“And I suppose Adam was the final straw?”
“Yes, he was.”
She gestured toward the waiter.
“I think I need some more wine. And I’ll pay for the second glass.”
The waiter refilled her glass
“I might not quite understand it.” She took a big sip, “but I would prefer not to have too many details.”
A big weight lifted off his shoulders.
“I will not give you any more.”
“But there is still something I want to get something off my chest.”
Oh boy! Here it comes, thought Todd.
“I have not seen my boy so happy in my entire life.”
Todd felt an even bigger sense of relief.
“Thanks Darlene.”
“I would rather have a happy son than a dead one.”
That was putting it bluntly.
“But then there is something else, Darlene.”
She took another big gulp of wine. “What else could there be?”
“I am not a churchgoer,” he confessed.
Darlene put her glass down slowly. This, he realized, could be a complete conversation killer.
He anxiously awaited her response.
Darlene finally smiled, if only slightly.
“I can live with that.”
“You can?”
“Yes. But on one condition.”
“And what is that?”
“That I can ask Pastor Ken to keep you guys on the prayer list.”
He shook his head, chagrined.
“I don’t think that is a good idea!”
“Then I will have to do instead of him. Keep you two in my prayers, I mean.”
Todd put out his hand and squeezed Darlene’s.
“If that will make you feel better.”
“It would definitely.”
He got up.
“Let me drop you off.”
“Thanks for the pizza, Sheriff!”
Suddenly Todd had the nasty feeling that Pastor Ken was waiting for them outside the pizza place with a prayer book in his hands.
Epilogue
Six months later . . .
Todd was still nervous as he drove through Bozeman, he’d had some time to reflect.
His first battle began when he met Adam and he realized that he had feelings for him. The second battle was accepting those feelings.
Then there was Adam’s mom. He expec
ted a huge battle for her acceptance. But Darlene recognized true love when she saw it and she finally raised the white flag.
Another battle won.
Todd turned the corner. Bozeman was quiet and peaceful, exactly as he liked it.
After Adam was released from hospital six months ago, Todd decided that it was time to liberate himself. He tumbled out of the closet shortly after Adam left the hospital. It caused quite a stir.
He laughed. He was probably the first openly gay sheriff in this part of America.
And now the final step toward a new life awaited for them.
Todd stopped in front of the church and got out of the vehicle.
The other cops were waiting for him—some joking and laughing. When they saw him they saluted him.
“At ease, boys!”
“Way to go, sheriff!”
Minutes later he entered the church. The biggest surprise being—Pastor Ken was going to marry them.
It was almost too good to be true. After several requests and promises, including a passionate plea from Darlene, the pastor gave in. Who can deny true love?
They were now waiting for the music to start.
When the first familiar notes filled the air, Todd turned around.
Adam was walking toward him.
Todd saw the handsome, tall man with short black hair especially trimmed for the occasion coming toward him. Todd also recognized the chain around Adam’s neck. His mother gave it to him and it obviously had a special place in his heart.
But best of all, he now noticed the handkerchief he had given to him in the hospital. It was in Adam’s top pocket.
Todd had never seen Adam looking so handsome or so happy.
As he approached Todd, Adam turned and looked at some uninvited guests—curious townsfolk. This wedding was indeed the talk of the town—the first gay wedding in this area.
Todd fell in love with Adam, all over again, as he took his place next to him.
Todd kissed him. There was a slight buzz from the uninvited guests, but one stern look from the sheriff restored order.
“I love you,” Todd said to Adam.
“I love you too,” replied Adam.
They looked at their friends and family in the church. Darlene, predictably, was in tears, completely overcome with joy.
Then Adam noticed John Stone in the second row from the front. His mother was with him.
Adam smiled at John who smiled back. Todd heard that John’s mom had finally finished rehab after John broke away from the gang. He was still on his way to complete rehabilitation, but was making good progress.
“Are you happy?” asked Todd before Pastor Ken started the service.
“I have never been happier in my life.”
“Choices . . .” mused Todd.
“Good ones,” replied Adam.
“Now—if the bridegrooms will give me a chance. This is where I come in,” said Pastor Ken.
“Apologies, Pastor,” said Todd. “Let the ceremony begin.”
THE END
Battlefields: Everyone has battles Page 11