A Little Lesson

by Pandora Pine

  “I said I was sick of letting my ex-wife control my life and I meant it. I deserve to have a life. I deserve to be happy. You deserve both of those things too. What we’ve found together is so rare, Nash. Don’t you see that?” Bronson took a shaky breath, resting his hands on his hips.

  “Of course I see that. I love you, Bronson and I know you love me, but that special, once in a lifetime kind of love is going to be what costs you your son.” Feeling completely worn out, Nash sat down hard on the couch.

  Bronson sat down next to his lover and picked up his hands. “No it’s not, Nash. Our love is going to be what makes us a family. Are you ready to fight for that?”

  Nash nodded. God help him, he was.

  19

  “What do you mean you decided to take control of your life? I told you to keep your relationship with Nash on the down low and you invited him over to spend the night with you and Tucker?” Rainier James looked like he was holding on to his temper by a shred.

  “I know what you said, Rainier. I was sitting in this exact seat when you told me.” Bronson sighed. The last eighteen hours had been the worst and hardest of his life. After Alicia’s left with Tucker, he and Nash had just sat in silence, holding each other until the pizza came. They’d eaten in silence too until Nash got all worked up about Alicia never letting Bronson see Tucker again. That was the reason he was sitting in Rainier’s office.

  “You said she was taking pictures?” Rainier carded his left hand through his dark hair.

  Bronson nodded. “It’s not like we were doing it on the coffee table. Jesus, the three of us were sitting on the couch watching a movie. I had called out for pizza and Nash brought a cartoon movie for us to watch as a…” Bronson faltered, sucking in a rough breath.

  “A family.” Rainier got up from his desk and walked around to the chairs across from his desk, sinking into the empty one next to Bronson.

  “The doorbell rang and I thought it was the pizza, but it was Alicia. She started swearing and using hateful language when she saw Nash and started taking pictures. I was near the door and Tucker was so scared that he’d climbed into Nash’s lap and held on for dear life. If she shows the pictures, all you’re going to see are a scared little boy and me spending time with a friend. Rainier, she told me she’d make sure this was the last time I ever saw my son.”

  “That’s not going to happen. Her lawyers could file an injunction to stop you from getting your scheduled custody, but there has to be a compelling reason to grant such a request, like Tucker being in eminent danger or proof that some kind of abuse took place.”

  “At this point, I wouldn’t put anything past her. She wants full custody of Tucker so badly and she won’t play fair.” Bronson sank his face into his hands. He could feel a headache starting at the base of his skull.

  Rainier set a hand on Bronson’s shoulder. “I know how hard this is for you.”

  Bronson snorted, shaking his head. “I don’t think you do. You can go out tonight and bring home anyone you want. You can fall in love with anyone you want. Up until I met Nash, my life had no color.” Bronson got up to pace around the spacious office. “I went to work, came home, tried to keep the peace with Alicia and raise my son the best way I knew how. Then, on the first day of school, I meet the man of my dreams. I know that sounds corny, but it’s true. Nash is everything I could ever ask for in a husband and father for Tucker. It’s pretty obvious that Tucker is just as crazy about Nash as I am.”

  Rainier nodded thoughtfully. “It’s only been a month or so that you’ve known each other and you really have these kinds of feelings for Nash?”

  “Yes.” Bronson sat back down. “He treats Tucker like my son is his son. Nash trusts my decisions and my judgment. All I want to do is start my life with him, but my ex-wife won’t let me. She’s making me chose between my son and the man I want to spend the rest of my life loving. You said it yourself that this case looks like revenge to you. It is revenge. She doesn’t want Tucker. She never has. How much longer do I have to pay for the sins of my past?” He looked up at his lawyer with pleading eyes.

  “Hopefully not much longer if I have anything to say about it. I want you to go home and write up what happened last night with as much detail as you remember. Do NOT collaborate with Nash. I’m going to call him and ask him to do the same thing.” Rainier sighed and gave Bronson’s shoulder a squeeze. “Part of this is my fault. I had no right to tell you to stay away from Nash, but in my defense,” Rainier snorted, “I felt it was the best way to protect your interests in this case. If Alicia couldn’t prove you were involved with another man then she had no case. But the truth of the matter was that I was shutting you up in the closet. Not just you, but Nash too.”

  “I could see the logic in your orders to keep me away from Nash, but the heart wants what it wants. Plus, if I had won this case, Alicia would have just dragged me back into court once Nash and I were out and proud with our relationship. She’s not going to give me a moment’s peace until she gets her revenge.”

  “I never asked you this, but why do you think she’s so hell-bent on ruining your life?” Rainier looked personally interested in Bronson’s answer.

  It was Bronson’s turn to snort. “Because I had the audacity to achieve my dreams. I found a way to go to school online and work part-time while Alicia was pregnant with Tucker. All she did was sit on the sofa and feel sorry for herself. I got my degree and the career of my dreams and she never finished her degree.”

  “You really think this is what it comes down to? Dreams coming true?” Rainier looked dubious.

  “I’d bet my life on it.”

  Rainier nodded. “Once I get the full picture from you and Nash about what happened last night, I’m going to get in touch with Alicia’s lawyers. Until the matter of Alicia threatening not to let you see Tucker again is settled, I think it’s best if you and Nash stay apart. I’m so sorry to say that, Bronson, but if she manages to get this injunction, a judge won’t look kindly on that ruling when it comes time to decide what’s in Tucker’s best interest.”

  “Okay, I’ll go home and write that up for you now.”

  “Is there a message I can pass on to Nash for you?”

  Bronson took a deep breath. “Tell him I’ll love him with the last breath in my body.”

  Rainier nodded. “Will do.”

  XX

  Nash was sitting on the sofa staring mindlessly at an episode of Hawaii Five-0 when he realized he hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. Shuffling into the kitchen, he went to the sink to wash his hands. He was reaching for the soap when he saw a strange man walking around and taking pictures in his back yard.

  He walked to the back door and ripped it open. “Can I help you?” What the hell was going on? Who the hell was this man and why the hell was he snapping pictures of Nash’s yard and house?

  The man turned the camera and started snapping pictures of Nash. “Is it true you’re Bronson McKinnon’s lover?” He snapped a few more pictures as he advanced toward Nash’s back deck.

  Nash’s mind was spinning. Was this guy some kind of private detective hired by Alicia’s lawyers? He started to shut the back door when the man ran up the stairs and wedged his foot in the door.

  “How long have you been fucking Tucker’s father? Does Little Wonders Montessori know you’re gay?” The man smiled like it was Christmas and the Super Bowl rolled into one.

  “Get your foot out of the way or I’ll call the cops.” Calling anyone would be a bit of a problem considering that his cell phone was sitting on the coffee table in the living room.

  “How long have you been molesting the little boy?” The man shouted. “Is that why you work at the school? So you can molest little boys?”

  “Hey!” A strange but familiar sounding voice shouted. “What do you think you’re doing here?”

  “Fuck off, pal, this doesn’t concern you.” The man turned back to Nash and started snapping more pictures.

  “I’m Mr. Spencer
’s attorney, so it damn well does concern me. Now who the hell are you and what are you doing here?”

  “Just doing my job.” The man shrugged, finally taking his foot out of Nash’s door.

  “Get the hell out of here before I call the police and have you arrested for trespassing and harassment.”

  The man held out his arms in a “who, me?” gesture. “Ain’t no thing, chicken wing.” The slimy stranger strode down the stairs and out the back gate.

  “Rainier? Thank Christ!” Nash opened the door wide enough for Rainier to come in the house before sagging against it, once he’d shut it.

  “Christ, Nash! Are you okay?” Rainier set his hands on Nash’s shoulders.

  Nash nodded. “I am now. I was pretty scared when that man shoved his foot in the door. My phone is on the coffee table. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t showed up.” He took a seat at the kitchen table and folded his hands in front of him. “What are you doing here?”

  Rainier sighed and pulled out the chair opposite from Nash. “Bronson came to see me this morning. Told me all about what happened with Alicia last night.”

  “It was awful. I’ve never seen a mother act like that in front of her child before. She was screaming and swearing and accusing me of…” Nash could still hear Alicia’s accusatory tone. He’d never forget her hate-filled words as long as he lived.

  “Bronson told me what she accused you both of.”

  “Alicia was supposed to have Tucker this weekend. That’s why Bronson asked me to come over.” To tell the truth, Nash had been more excited about spending the night as family rather than with just Bronson. It had been a dream come true until Alicia barged in like a bull in a china shop.

  “Wait! Say that again!” Rainier sat up straighter in his chair.

  “This was Alicia’s weekend to have Tucker. Bronson came over here Thursday afternoon to invite me to come spend Friday night with him. He had it all figured out that I’d park my car a few blocks away and sneak in the back door of the building.” Then they’d spend the entire weekend living on take-out and fucking each other’s brains out.

  “So what happened to change that plan?” Rainier had an excited look about him, as if the story Nash was telling was music to his ears.

  “When it’s Alicia’s turn to pick Tucker up from school, she shows up to get him. Friday, Peggy and Mitch McKinnon came in to pick Tucker up. Bronson told me later that Alicia had texted him to pick up Tucker.” Nash thought about Bronson’s handwritten love note, which he’d put in his wallet for safekeeping.

  “Then she just showed up at Bronson’s apartment unannounced?”

  Nash nodded. “We’d ordered out from Italiano’s and when the door buzzer went off, we thought it was the pizza. If Bronson had asked who it was instead of just letting the person in…”

  “You could have hidden in the closet?” Rainier rolled his eyes.

  “Something like that.” The defeated tone was back in Nash’s voice. “Bronson said that he was going to fight this thing to the end. He said we shouldn’t have to hide our relationship and I went along with him because I missed him so damn much. I just wanted some time to sit and talk with him like we used to do. These last two weeks without him have been hell and because I wasn’t strong enough to live for a little while without him, I probably cost him custody of his son.”

  “I’m going to tell you the same thing I told him earlier today. I had no right to tell you not to see each other. There’s nothing wrong with you and Bronson being in a relationship together and everyone in this town with kids at Little Wonders knows what an amazing teacher and advocate you are. No one will believe Alicia’s allegations for a second.”

  Nash shook his head sadly. “That’s where you’re wrong, counselor. Once word of this gets around to our parents, kids are going to start getting pulled from my classroom. People still think that being a gay man also makes you a pedophile.”

  “If you think Remington is going to let that happen, you’re sorely mistaken. You know my brother better than that.” Rainier offered a genuine smile. “His house is my next stop today. I’m gonna sit with him and help him draft a letter to all of the LW parents and nip this thing in the bud. I’m with Bronson. We’re going to fight this thing tooth and nail. Hate isn’t going to win in this town.”

  Nash burst out laughing. “That’s just the kind of sappy thing the dorky hero in a John Hughes movie would say.”

  “Well then call me pretty in pink.”

  20

  “Tucker, come on, buddy. You have to get up for school.” Bronson sat on the edge of his son’s bed.

  “Don’t wanna go.” Tucker shut his eyes and pulled the covers back up over his head.

  The little boy he’d gotten back last night wasn’t the same happy-go-lucky kid he was used to. Usually when Tucker came back from spending time at his mother’s house, he was practically jumping out of his skin with excitement to be back with Bronson.

  Last night, he’d walked in the door alone. Alicia didn’t bother to walk her five year old son up the stairs. He’d refused to hug Bronson and went straight to his room. Bronson couldn’t even tempt him out with macaroni and cheese or rocky road ice cream.

  “You get to see Mr. Spencer today and feed the lizards. I bet they all missed you over the weekend.” Bronson knew for a fact that Nash was excited to see Tucker, but didn’t think now was the right time to mention that. What was important now was getting his son up and dressed so he wasn’t late for work.

  Tucker sighed under the covers. “Okay. Can I wear my Rex shirt?”

  It was the middle of October and the high temperature today was going to be in the low sixties. “Sure thing, Buddy. I’ll go make you a bowl of Fruit Loops, okay?” He made a mental note to put a hoodie in Tucker’s backpack in case he got cold.

  “But it’s not Friday.” Tucker’s voice sounded small.

  “I know it’s not, but I’m the Daddy. Fruit Loops it is.” Bronson kissed the lump under the covers and bounded out of the room to pour Tucker a bowl of cereal. He hated using cheap tricks like that to get Tucker moving, but fortunately, he didn’t have to resort to those options very often.

  Bronson got the cereal ready for Tucker and made himself a piece of toast. He was carrying them to the table when Tucker hauled himself up onto his chair. “Here we are, sir. One bowl of Fruit Loops.” Bronson poured in the milk.

  Tucker nodded and dug into his breakfast silently.

  “What’s wrong, Tucker?” Bronson had never seen his son act like this, all sullen and quiet. When he was younger, Tucker used to throw fierce tantrums, but those had lessened when Bronson learned how to read the little boy’s non-verbal cues. Never in Tucker’s five years on this planet had he ever been this quiet. It was unnerving to see him acting like this.

  The little boy shrugged and kept eating.

  He’d have to mention this to Nash and hope Tucker’s mood improved over the course of the day. If it didn’t, the only thing he could hope for was that his parents could figure out what was wrong with Tucker.

  Half an hour later, Bronson was walking the still silent Tucker into Little Wonders. Nash was talking with Colby’s mother when they came into the classroom. “Okay buddy, we’re here. Do you want to go say hello to the lizards?”

  Tucker shook his head no and headed off toward the rainbow colored reading rug.

  Bronson watched in disbelief when Tucker refused to talk to Gabby who’d sat by his side on the rug.

  “Well, that’s a first,” Nash said from behind him. “Tucker and Gabby talk constantly.”

  “Something’s wrong with him, Nash.” Bronson turned from Tucker so he could watch Nash’s reaction to what was going on.

  “What do you mean, something is wrong? What is it?” Nash sounded concerned.

  “He’s been like this since Alicia dropped him off last night.”

  “I’m so glad Rainier was able to stop Alicia from taking Tucker away from you.”

 
; “Me too, but Tucker’s behavior is the more pressing problem.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  Bronson turned to look over his shoulder. Gabby was still sitting next to Tucker, who had his head down. “He’s always super excited to see me when he gets dropped off, but last night he walked right past me on his way to his bedroom.”

  Nash looked stunned. “He didn’t hug you or anything?”

  Bronson shook his head sadly. “No, he literally walked right past me as if I wasn’t standing there. Then he stayed in his room for the rest of the night. I couldn’t tempt him to out with his favorite foods and he didn’t want to read books before bed.”

  “Tucker didn’t want to read books?”

  That had been just another weird thing in a day full of weird things. Usually Tucker begged and pleaded to hear just one more story every night, but last night was the first night that his son had stayed with him that he hadn’t read the boy a story. “That’s never happened before.” Bronson glanced back over at Tucker. He and Gabby were sitting silently together, but were holding hands now. “Do you think Alicia scared him so badly that he doesn’t want to talk about it?”

  Nash shook his head. “I don’t know. Why don’t we see how the day goes with him? He might warm up as the day goes on. I’ll read his favorite book and maybe that will help jumpstart his day. In the meantime, why don’t you call Alicia and ask her how their weekend went?”

  Bronson shivered in the warm room. The absolute last thing he wanted to do, aside from sticking his dick in a blender, was talk to his ex-wife. “After the way she treated you on Friday, I don’t think I can talk to her without cursing her out. Text me to let me know if Tucker warms up. I’ve got to get to the library.”

  “Okay, I’ll let you know how he’s doing around lunchtime. Are your parents picking him up today?”