by Andrew Grey
WILLY WOKE with a start, pulling Reggie out of a sound sleep.
“It’s all right.”
“Someone’s here.” Willy pushed back the covers, got out of bed, and pulled on his thin robe.
A tentative knock sounded, and Reggie rolled over, groaning at the time. Figuring whoever was at the door at this hour wanted him, Reggie yanked on his pants, got out of bed, and hurried through the house to the front door, with Willy behind him.
Reggie opened it, surprised to find the Reverend Gabriel on his front porch. He looked at Willy and then back to him, prepared to shift into guard mode if necessary. “Can I help you?”
“I’m sorry about the hour, but I haven’t slept all night and I need to see my son.”
There was no pushiness or even the hint of harshness in his voice. Reggie detected a ton of parental worry, and he stepped back, letting him inside. Turning to Willy, he put an arm around his waist in an effort to ease the worry that filled his eyes.
“You scared your mother and me half to death. Are you okay? Did you get hurt at all?”
Willy shook his head slowly, staying where he was. “I’m fine, Dad. I got a little banged up in the back of the van, but Reggie found me very quickly and they didn’t get a real chance to hurt me.” He approached but stayed behind Reggie, taking his arm. Reggie inched closer. “I’m sorry you and Mom were worried, but everything is okay, as I told you yesterday.”
Reggie stayed between them as Reverend Gabriel stepped closer.
“I know things have been… difficult between us. But I want something different. I want something better.” He wrung his hands. “I don’t know what to do. My beliefs tell me one thing, and yet my son… it’s very difficult.” He sighed and grew quiet.
“You were always so sure of yourself, that what you believe is right. But, Dad, that’s wrong. Your beliefs are just that—an opinion, nothing more. Yes, you feel strongly, but so do I, and I won’t acquiesce to what you think any longer. I have to live my own life. Reggie helped show me that.” Willy held his arm tighter. “Maybe we can come to an understanding. We might be able to get along. But that requires that you accept that I am the man I am.”
Reggie could feel the strength building inside Willy. It had always been there, but now it rose to the surface and stayed there.
“Reverend, I love your son.” Reggie turned to Willy, sharing a smile. “This isn’t some passing infatuation. He’s strong and smart, gentle, and an incredible man.”
“Reggie,” Willy said, blushing adorably, in Reggie’s opinion. But that display of affection only made Reverend Gabriel more nervous, shifting his weight slightly from foot to foot.
“I was hoping to convince you to come home and be part of the family again. To….”
“To do things the way you want and be under your thumb?” Willy shook his head. “I’m not coming back to that house of grief and pain again. I won’t live under your thumb anymore. This is my life, and I’ll find my own path.” Willy stepped around and up to his father.
“You’re going to live here?” Reverend Gabriel asked.
“I don’t know. I have a job now, and I’m looking at places to live. I may not have my entire life planned out, but I’m on my own, living my life, and it’s going to stay that way. People in town may talk about me or look at me funny, but I don’t care. They’ll get over it as soon as there’s something or someone else to talk about. The thing is, do you want to be part of my life or not?” He put his hands on his hips, and Reggie wished he could see Willy’s eyes right then. He could only imagine the steel in them. “I don’t believe the same things you do. Can you live with that?”
Reggie touched Willy’s shoulder just to remind him that he was here for him. This had to be one of the hardest, most difficult things anyone could do, disagreeing and stepping away from a parent.
“I guess I’ll have to learn,” Reverend Gabriel said. “You are still my son and I still love you.” His lower lip trembled. “I don’t know how I can come to understand the choices you’ve made or—”
“Dad, being gay isn’t a choice. It’s part of who I am. You and Mom didn’t do something to make me this way. It’s just how I was born.” Willy stepped back until he touched Reggie. “I could deny who I am, but that would only lead to a life of misery.” He reached out and took one of his father’s hands. “You always said that God didn’t make mistakes, we did. Well, then I am who I am and I’m not a mistake. If you want a relationship with me, you need to accept that.” Willy released his hand.
Reverend Gabriel stood still, blinking. Reggie had seen that world-rocking look a few times before. The man looked shell-shocked and out of his depth. Part of the bedrock he’d thought he’d built his life on had been changed to sand, and he didn’t know what to do about it. “I—”
“I got some really good advice from a friend the other day. Think about what you really want, Dad. Are your beliefs so central to you and who you are that they’re worth the loss of your son?” Willy waited a few seconds, but Reverend Gabriel made no indication of his feelings. Then Willy turned and walked back down the hall toward the bedroom, the click of a door closing ringing through the house.
Reverend Gabriel nodded and turned. “I’m sorry for bothering you so early.” He left the house, and Reggie closed the front door and then returned to their room.
“Sweetheart,” Reggie said as he went inside. Willy sat on the edge of the bed, raising his head as Reggie came inside. “I’m so sorry…,” Reggie said quietly.
Willy shook his head once and wiped his eyes. “No. There’s nothing to be sorry for. My father… Dad… is who he is, and I can’t change that. Only he can, and he doesn’t do change well at all. So….” He shrugged. “At least we were able to talk, and that’s about as much as I can hope for.” He stood, reaching for the knob. “I should get dressed. Maybe I can find a place to live.”
The thought of Willy leaving sent a stab of pain racing through Reggie’s heart. “Stay here. You can have the guest room if that’s what you want.” Reggie tugged Willy closer. “I mean, you don’t have to stay here in this room with me. Sharing my bed isn’t a condition of—” God, now he was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
“Do you want me to stay? Really?” A smile rose on Willy’s lips like the dawn, slowly and brightly.
Reggie cleared his throat. “Dammit, yes, I want you to stay. And if we’re talking about what I want, then I want this side of the bed to be yours and that one to be mine for as long as you’ll have me. I want you to smile when you see me in the drugstore, and I want to see that look in your eyes whenever I’m in my uniform.” Reggie grinned and wiped his own eyes.
“But it’s only been a few weeks, and—”
“Then keep your things in the guest room if that will make you feel better. We don’t have to rush. As long as you’re safe and sound and I can hold you—” Reggie tugged Willy into his arms. “—then we can face anything, including the town gossips, your father, and God knows what else will come our way.” He smiled as Willy nodded and drew closer.
“But isn’t that a lot?” Willy asked tentatively.
Reggie shook his head. “No. It’s a small price to pay… for you.” He closed the distance between them. There was still plenty to do, but he had what was important, and the rest he could take care of… later….
He pressed Willy back onto the bed. Definitely later.
Epilogue
INSTRUMENTAL CHRISTMAS music played in the background as Willy worked to fill the candy display. This time of year, the store was always busy, which was wonderful. Willy had designed and installed the window displays, as well as a lot of the other decorations for the store. It was very festive, and Mr. Webster was pleased mainly because he didn’t have to do it.
It turned out that after all the years in business, Mr. Webster was a bit of a Scrooge. “I just want this season to be over,” he said softly as he approached. “Every year it’s the same thing. They wan
t the one item I didn’t order enough of, and they complain about it for days.” He rolled his eyes. “The family is always so excited, and I get home completely exhausted from the long hours.”
“Why don’t you ask them to work? They’re old enough to help. Maybe have them earn money for the holidays,” Willy offered. “I can keep them busy.”
Mr. Webster chuckled. “I bet you can. Heck, you could run this store without any help from me.” He patted Willy on the shoulder and handed him an envelope. “It’s your Christmas bonus and a notice of a raise. You deserve it.”
Willy opened the envelope, blinking at the amount. “This is too much.”
“No, it’s not,” Mr. Webster said, patting him on the shoulder again and hurrying to the back of the store where a customer was asking for him.
Willy blinked at the five-hundred-dollar check. He put it in his pocket and went back to work, finishing up his display. He took the empty boxes away and got the last of the Christmas items from the back. There were still two weeks until Christmas, and it looked like they were going to have a sellout of the holiday items, which was awesome. Everyone in Sierra Pines seemed to be in the holiday spirit.
“Willy!”
Willy stowed the cart just outside the stockroom as Ezekiel barreled into him. He hugged his brother, lifting him into his arms.
“I did really good. See?” He showed Willy a paper from school with a star and a smiley face on it. “I get lots of those.”
“That’s awesome,” Willy said. “Are you here with Mom?”
Ezekiel shook his head, pointing as Willy’s father approached, with Reggie not far behind him. Now that was a strange sight.
“Dad?” Willy asked. He hadn’t seen his father very much over the past few months, and when he had, he was cool and rather aloof. He hadn’t said anything bad or hurtful—distant was probably the best description Willy could come up with.
“Reverend,” Reggie said as he joined Willy. “I came to take you to lunch, but it looks like you already have company.”
“Ezekiel, why don’t you go see if you can find something for your sister for Christmas?” his father offered, and Ezekiel hurried down the candy aisle. Goodness knew what he would pick out. “Willy, Reggie,” his dad began, “I….” He fidgeted. “We are having a family gathering Christmas Eve and wanted to invite both of you.”
Willy turned to Reggie as a shot of excitement jolted through his veins. “Did Mom put you up to this?”
His dad hesitated. “No. It’s time I put aside some of my pride and stubbornness.” The hurt in his dad’s eyes told Willy he was being truthful. “You’re my son and I’m your dad, and it’s time I started acting like it again. At least I’m going to try.” He looked to both of them. “Please come.” He turned away, following behind Ezekiel, and a childish squeal of delight rang through the store as his father scooped Ezekiel into his arms, both of them laughing.
“Can we go?” Willy swore he wasn’t going to cry, but dammit, he was so close.
“Of course we can. I’ll call my parents and let them know that we’ll need to adjust our plans a little. They were having their get-together for Christmas dinner, so it will be fine.” Reggie put his arm around him, and Willy instantly felt as though the spinning world had calmed once again.
“Thank you. This is the first sign that….” It was hard for him to say.
“I know, sweetheart,” Reggie said gently. “Why don’t you go tell Mr. Webster that you’re leaving and get your coat so I can take you to lunch? There’s a lot I want to tell you.”
“Give me a minute,” Willy said, then hurried to the office to get his coat. He told Mr. Webster he was going to lunch and slipped on his coat. He waved to Rose at the register as he left, and she waved back.
Wisps of snow fell around them as they walked to the diner. “I thought you were in Sacramento and weren’t going to be back until tomorrow.”
The human trafficking case had quickly gotten much larger than their small town. The tendrils of the organization had reached as far away as Los Angeles and San Diego. It seemed that Reggie had been able to pull enough threads of the organization and Jack followed them back to their origins. Dozens of people had been arrested.
“Shawn pleaded guilty, and he fingered James Calder, who also pleaded guilty. They will be spending a lot of time behind bars, but their cooperation is going to send a lot of worse people away as well. So that part of the case is over. The state approved the money for an additional deputy to aid in making sure this type of thing doesn’t get a start in our area again.”
“So you have to hire two deputies?”
“Just one more. Jack says he wants to join the force here. He likes the area and has been looking to find a place where he can settle down. He’ll take Shawn’s spot as my lead deputy, and I’ll do a search to fill the new position. Jack will start just after Christmas. I should have filled the position a while ago, but I wanted to make sure anyone I hired would fit in here.”
“You think Jack will?” Willy asked, pulling open the door of the diner.
“Yeah. He told me his boyfriend left him a year ago and he’s been looking to get away and start somewhere new.” Reggie winked, and Willy chuckled. “Both Sam and Jasper worked well with him and they already know him, so it should be a pretty easy integration.” They found a seat, and Willy took off his coat, waiting for Reggie to do the same before sitting down. “The entire town needs a chance to digest what happened.”
“Yeah, but considering no one really liked Shawn, and James Calder was a self-important jerk, I think they’ll get over it, especially now that the trial is over and the story can fade from the news and stuff.” Willy picked up a menu and glanced over it before setting it down again. He knew it by heart and ordered his favorite chicken salad. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Me too. It’s supposed to storm tonight. They’re calling for eight to ten inches of snow. I was trying to get back before it started.” Reggie ran his fingers over Willy’s before pulling his hand back. Just about everyone knew they were a couple. Most people went about their business, though a few tried to cause trouble, but they didn’t get very far. Basically he and Reggie were careful in public.
“It’s good to have you home,” Willy whispered softly. “The house always seems so empty.” Their bed certainly did.
AFTER LUNCH, Willy went back to work and then drove home. Reggie’s house had quickly come to feel like home, and Willy associated Reggie with that feeling, so when he was gone, the place never seemed to warm up, no matter how much he tried to heat it. It just felt empty when Reggie wasn’t there.
Willy pulled into the garage, went inside, and got things together to make dinner. Reggie came in a little while later, turning on all the Christmas lights to make the house seem more festive. Sometimes Reggie was just a big kid.
“What are we having for dinner?”
“I have a couple of steaks and some mashed potatoes. I also got fresh carrots at the market. Is that okay?” Willy asked as Reggie walked around the kitchen work area, took Willy by the hand, and led him to the sofa.
“I know it’s early, but I have your Christmas present. I tried to wait until the day, but it hasn’t worked out.”
“Reggie, it’s too early. Just wrap it up and put it under the tree. I’ll wait until then.” He wasn’t Ruthie, who peeked at everything under the tree well before the holiday. His mother always hid her presents.
“I don’t think I can do that.” Reggie stood. “Wait here.” He hurried away, returned with a large box, and set it on the floor in front of him.
Willy huffed and opened it. A large black puppy tried to climb out of the box, and Willy reached for it, hugging it immediately to his body. The puppy licked Willy’s chin, squirming and wiggling like crazy.
“His name’s Bear and he’s a black lab. The people who originally took him couldn’t keep him. I had hoped to find someone to hold him until Christmas, but I figured it was better that he got settled in
his new home.”
“Reggie,” Willy said softly. “This is….” He wiped his eyes as Reggie sat down next to him.
Reggie leaned closer, sliding an arm around him. “This way you won’t be alone when I have to go away. And just so you know, my parents have already invited their new grandpuppy for Christmas.”
“Thank you. I always wanted a dog….” Willy pressed in for a kiss. “This is perfect. I love you so much.” He kissed Reggie deeper until the puppy squirmed and whined. Willy set him down, and he wandered through the room, exploring and smelling. “Does this mean I won’t have a present on Christmas day?” Willy laughed as Reggie pushed him back onto the cushions.
REGGIE KISSED away the question, knowing that the ring rested at the bottom of his sock drawer, already wrapped, just waiting for Christmas morning.
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