by Andrew Grey
“Trevor is here,” Scott said, so Lee didn’t jump when he sat at the table.
Trevor came over and sat down beside him. “I thought you’d want to know that Cliff was the one who pushed your toolbox in the pit. He said he was jealous because you were asked to work in the new garage. He wanted to work there and didn’t understand why a blind person would be given the chance over him.” Trevor lightly touched his arm. “He was angry because he saw you with Dean and figured you had been sleeping with him to get ahead.”
Lee gasped, suddenly wanting to hide. “I never did that.”
“I know,” Trevor said, patting his hand. “You did nothing wrong. It was Cliff who was wrong. Billy and Randy got an earful too. If they want to leave, they are welcome to go, but as long as they do work here, they will treat everyone with respect. I realize those two are partially responsible for egging Cliff on, and that will end, one way or another. They’ve seen the consequences, and they both know they’re just one step out of line away from following in Cliff’s footsteps.”
“Okay.” Lee at least felt safer. “Did you call the police?”
“No. But Cliff will be buying you a brand-new toolbox to replace the one he damaged. He wasn’t given a choice. It was either that or I would call the police and charges would be pressed. I wasn’t going to mess around. He also isn’t allowed on the property. He was given notice in writing.” Trevor patted his hand once again.
“Thank you.” At least Lee didn’t need to feel scared at work any longer. “I appreciate your help.”
“I’d do this for any employee who was being harassed. This is going to be a safe place for everyone who works for me. I won’t have it any other way.” Trevor pushed back his chair, got up, and walked out of the room, and Lee returned to his lunch.
“It’s over?” Scott asked, and Lee shrugged and nodded. He hoped it was—whatever this whole thing was about. He still couldn’t quite figure it out. How could someone be so jealous that they’d throw away their job over something so petty? He couldn’t help feeling there was more to this situation. But he hoped not.
“YOU DIDN’T have to pick me up,” Lee told his mom when he got in the car. “Scott and Brent were going to give me a ride home.”
“I want to talk to you,” she said, and Lee sighed. She pulled out and into traffic. Lee sat back and had little choice but to listen. “I don’t like that you’re seeing Dean.”
“You’ve never met him, and you’ve already made up your mind.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you really think that’s fair?”
She didn’t answer that. “I don’t like it, and it’s hard for me and your father to deal with,” she said more softly.
Lee was well aware that this was more her issue than his dad’s, but he didn’t argue. “I know, Mom. But Dean isn’t the guy who hurt you.” He tried to be gentle, but her inability to see beyond herself was frustrating. “Dean isn’t the guy who left you.”
“I know that. But it’s hard for me to overlook the age difference. I’d always hoped you’d find a nice girl to marry, until you told me you were gay. Still, I could accept that. You are who you are. But this is difficult for me.” She pulled the car to a stop.
“I know that older guy hurt you,” Lee said. “But you met Dad, and you two are perfect for each other.”
His mother sniffed as the car pulled forward. “When I was a girl, I was really stupid. I just don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.”
“I don’t understand,” Lee said, feeling as though he was missing part of the story. But his mother grew tight-lipped, just like she always did. Maybe his father didn’t know what had happened either. “Mom….”
“Just trust me. You need to be careful,” she huffed. “I will meet Dean for dinner like we planned, but I won’t make any promises.” She was clearly in distress.
“But you won’t talk to me,” Lee said. “You never do. You say things like that and then pull away. Is it because I’m blind? Do you think I can’t understand? That I’m dumb or something?” So many people seemed to think he’d lost his mind along with his sight.
“No. It has nothing to do with that.” She patted his leg. “I just did some things that I’m not particularly proud of. And I don’t want you to get hurt the way I did.” The car came to a stop once more. “Please, just be careful. I know you’re an adult now and I can’t protect you from everything, but just think before you give your heart to the wrong guy.” She made a turn and grew quiet. Lee knew he wasn’t going to get anything more out of her. His mom had her own secrets, and she wasn’t going to give them up anytime soon, it seemed.
“But you’ll keep an open mind, right?” he finally asked. He didn’t get an answer.
DEAN WAS on his way over. Lee would have paced the room, except he’d already banged his leg once on the coffee table doing that. He knew he was being foolish, but dang it, he was nervous. His mother hadn’t said anything more, but her voice got tight and sharp whenever Lee mentioned Dean. He only hoped things didn’t get nasty.
The bell rang, and Lee opened the door, instantly knowing it was Dean by the scent that wafted inside on the summer evening air. “Hi.” He couldn’t help smiling. “Come in.” Lee got out of the way and closed the door after him. “Mom, Dad,” Lee called.
His mother came stiffly down the hall, with his dad behind her.
“This is Dean,” Lee said, and waited.
“It’s good to meet you,” his dad said warmly. “I’m Neil, and this is my wife, Jane.” He liked that his dad was taking charge. “I appreciate that you wanted to meet us.”
Dean cleared his throat after a few seconds. “I know that you have concerns, and I thought it best that we meet and talk about them up front. I care for Lee very much, and I don’t want to cause him any pain.” Dean put an arm around his shoulders, squeezing slightly.
“Yes.” Lee’s mother picked up her purse, which jangled with all the stuff she kept in it. “Shall we go?”
“I made reservations at Hopkins in Bayside. I hope that’s okay?” Dean asked, and Lee tried not to smile. It was his mother’s favorite place to eat—she’d have to give Dean points for that.
“Certainly,” his dad answered, and soon they were being ushered out the door. “You can both ride with Jane and me, if you’d like. There’s plenty of room, and Hopkins has such a small parking area,” Lee’s dad offered.
Dean must have nodded, because they were suddenly moving. Lee took Dean’s arm as they went out to the SUV his mother had gotten last year. Lee climbed in the back seat, and Dean sat next to him.
“So,” his dad said as soon as he closed his door. “Lee tells us that you restore cars.”
“Yes. My dad and I used to do it together before he and Mom retired and moved south. I’ve been working alone for the last few years, but it hasn’t gone as smoothly as I would have liked. Drumming up business takes a lot of time—time I’m not able to work on the cars. So when Trevor suggested we team up, it made a lot of sense.”
“Lee mentioned you have a Cobra down at the garage.”
“Yes. Hopefully we’ll be able to start working on it this week. Lee and Scott are going to be in charge of getting the engine running again. We might need to pull the engine out and rebuild it completely, but I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that. I’d like to keep it in as original condition as possible.”
“I’m really looking forward to it.” Lee held Dean’s hand, leaning against him slightly.
“I’ve been doing some preliminary work on it. At first I was afraid the entire suspension system was shot. That would have taken a huge amount of work and money to recreate. Luckily, it turned out that only a few parts needed to be replaced, and I was able to locate them. I’m sure there are going to be a few surprises, but I’ve been trying to get ahead of everything I can.” That seemed to be Dean’s nature—to head things off at the pass. He was doing it today by inviting Lee’s parents to dinner.
“What are your intentions towards L
ee?” his mother asked out of the blue, and Lee stifled a gasp.
Dean seemed to take it in stride. “Lee and I are going to work together. He and Scott have an incredible talent with engines, and I specialize in the body, upholstery, and interior work. We should all complement each other nicely.” His voice was light, but Lee knew damn well that wasn’t what his mother was getting at. “Trevor and I decided that it would be best if he and his people manage the business itself, which will allow me to keep on top of the work we’re going to do. My dad was always better at that sort of thing than I am.”
“You’ve done well enough for yourself,” Lee said.
“I meant—” his mother interrupted.
“Jane, we’re here to get to know Dean, not give him the third degree. That should wait at least until we’ve had a beverage or two.”
Lee chuckled and would have shared a smile with his dad if he could have.
“It’s okay, I understand. Lee and I are figuring things out, Jane. I’m very aware of our age difference, and truthfully, at first it concerned me as well. But Lee deserves to be happy, and he’s more than capable of making his own decisions. I’m not going to force him into anything. Lee knows his own mind. In the end, he’ll do what he wants to do.” Dean grew quiet, letting that sink in.
“I just don’t understand how a man in his thirties can have much in common with someone Lee’s age.”
“Mom, I’m not a kid.” Lee did his best not to sound like he was whining, because that would undermine his cause. “I know what I’m doing. What if Dad was older than you? Would you have not gone out with him?”
“I’m not talking about your father and me. I’m talking about you, and I’m worried.” She sounded more angry than worried to Lee.
“Jane, that sort of argument isn’t helping,” Lee’s dad added. “Lee is an adult, and he’s been through a lot more than most people his age. I think our son deserves some credit.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Lee added softly.
“But I don’t want him taken advantage of—” She cut herself off.
“Jane, honey, you did a good job. Lee can be independent. Be happy about that.”
The car slowed and then pulled over. Lee sat and waited as his dad spoke softly to his mom for a few seconds and then they got out, closing the doors. He wondered what was going on.
“Your mom is upset and your dad is comforting her. We’ll give them a few minutes,” Dean whispered, and Lee snuggled closer to him, letting the quiet of the car wash over him. He remembered reading, before he lost his sight, that in many places in the world, politeness was not looking at or acknowledging someone else’s pain. If that was what was happening, then he was happy he could stay in a world of his own for now.
His parents got back in the car, his dad pulled the car back onto the road, and thankfully the conversation shifted.
“Neil, what is it you do?” Dean asked, obviously trying to break up some of the tension.
“I’m an economics professor at UWM. During the summer, I work with a number of local municipalities to help them build systems to better weather the economic cycles that are sure to come. Economics encompasses a number of disciplines. I specialize in the business cycle, and I try to develop models that will allow us to determine where economies are headed, be it national, state, or global.”
“Cool,” Dean said.
“Yeah. Dad is pretty impressive, but he can be intimidating. He scared away the first and only guy before you that I ever brought home. And I’m grateful for that.” Lee chuckled. And he was glad. Nelson hadn’t been a good person. His dad had seen that right away and had pulled out every ounce of intimidation he had to scare him off. At the time, Lee had been furious, but his dad had been right. Nelson hadn’t bothered him after that.
“Any time,” his dad said with a smile in his voice.
“I don’t scare easily,” Dean commented.
“We’ll see about that,” his mom added, making Lee wonder what she was up to. His mom wasn’t a schemer, and thankfully she didn’t maneuver to get her own way… usually.
“Jane. We’re here to have a nice meal and get to know Dean. He’s important to Lee, and that should be enough for us, both of us, to give him a chance.”
“It’s okay.” Dean hugged Lee a little tighter. “Jane’s allowed to feel the way she wants, as long as she’s willing to grant Lee the same right.”
Dang, Dean had basically maneuvered his mother into being nice or else looking like a complete witch. And his mom wasn’t like that.
“It’s okay, Mom. I don’t need to be protected from Dean.” Lee reached forward to pat her shoulder as the car slowed and they made a turn. His dad parked, and Lee got out of the car, waiting for Dean to guide him forward.
“There’s a step just ahead,” Dean whispered.
Lee followed his directions until they were inside, which was a little familiar. He had been here a number of times, but the tables could have been moved, so he always stayed close to whoever was guiding him. That had been one of the hardest things for him to get used to after losing his sight—being dependent on others.
“I need to speak with the host. I’ll be right back,” Dean said. He slipped away, and Lee stood alone.
“Honey,” his mother said from next to him, taking his arm.
“Mom. I really want you to like him. Dean is a good person, and he cares for me.” He patted her arm gently. “I know you’re using our age difference as a reason not to like him, but I really do. Would you act any differently if I brought home a guy my own age?” Somehow, he didn’t think so.
“I don’t know,” she confessed. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“The only way that will happen is if I sit home all the time and do nothing, never dating, never having a real life.” Lee paused, trying to think of what he wanted to say. “I have to take some chances, Mom. Every time I leave the house, I take a chance that I’ll be able to find my way home again. I have to rely on you and Dad, Dean, and Scott. I want some part of this world to belong to me. Is that so bad?” He pulled away as Dean returned and took his arm once again, glad he couldn’t see his mother’s face.
“Our table will be ready in a few minutes.”
“Jane,” his dad said. “He’s an adult, and you need to treat him that way.”
“But he’s also my baby,” his mother whispered, and Lee turned away, pretending not to hear.
“He isn’t a baby any longer. He’s a man, and he deserves to be treated like one.” His dad’s voice became firmer. “You are going to have to let this go.”
“Your table is right this way,” a man said.
Dean patted his hand before leading him slowly toward the wall of sound that was the overlapping conversation of dozens of diners. “Here’s your chair,” Dean said quietly, and Lee sat down, searching for the napkin that he knew from past visits was at his place right in front of him.
“Jesus, I can’t even go out to eat without that blind guy showing up,” a voice growled from behind him, and Lee stiffened at the sound of Cliff’s voice. “Do you think we can get a different table?”
“You’re upset because a blind man is sitting near you?” a female voice asked.
Cliff said something under his breath that Lee didn’t hear, so he shrugged and did his best to concentrate on Dean and his mom and dad taking their seats. He really didn’t care what Cliff thought.
“I don’t care if he got you fired. I’m not going to take this obsessive crap any longer. All you did was complain about the guy when you worked with him. Lee did this and Lee thinks that…. I’m tired of it.”
“Maryanne, calm down, okay?” Cliff begged, and Lee turned to Dean.
“Is there anything that’s different on the menu?” Lee asked, trying to put Cliff and his circle of drama out of his mind. The guy was a loser, but a good enough mechanic. He’d probably already found another job, if he could afford to eat out at Hopkins.
“It’s the same as last time,�
�� his dad said. “Do you need us to review it?”
“No, thank you. I want to have the duck with raspberry sauce and a glass of wine.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” his mother asked, and Lee wanted to cry in frustration.
“It’s fine, Jane,” his dad said, stepping in. Dean thankfully said nothing. With luck, the evening would go quickly and they would get out of here without his mother completely embarrassing him. Yeah, he wasn’t the prettiest eater, but he didn’t need his mother drawing attention to that fact.
“I can’t stand this.” Cliff’s voice reached the edge of Lee’s hearing. “He gets whatever he wants. Look at him. No wonder he got the job. The guy is sleeping with the boss.” Cliff’s hate-filled voice was little more than an almost-sibilant hiss.
A chill went up Lee’s spine. He did his best to ignore what Cliff was saying, but now that he was tuned in to his voice, it was hard for him not to hear it. Lee took Dean’s hand under the table and squeezed it slightly before releasing it again. His mom and dad were still talking, and Dean was probably listening to them, not realizing that Cliff was just a few tables away. He thought of saying something, but kept hoping they’d leave.
“That’s enough. Jealousy really isn’t attractive,” the woman said, which only seemed to make Cliff angrier.
“I’m not jealous. But it’s not fair. He gets to work on a Cobra, for God’s sake! And everyone bends over backward for the guy. God. You’d think he couldn’t do anything himself. But fuck all if he doesn’t come over and give me advice on what I should do.”
Lee tried not to gasp. He’d only tried to help, but now it looked like people thought he was some sort of know-it-all. Or maybe they just didn’t want a blind man helping them.
“Lee,” Dean said, patting his hand, pulling him away from eavesdropping. “The server is waiting for our order. Are you ready?” There was no impatience in his voice.