by Max Vos
J.J. saw Thad wince in pain. “Would you try to not kill the guy?” J.J. admonished Adam.
“Oh, sorry. Bad habit I’ve got. Didn’t mean to hurt you there, son.”
“It’s okay, Coach.” Thad smiled for the first time. “Everyone at school knows.”
“What?”
“Told you so.” J.J. laughed. “You don’t know your own strength, babe.”
Adam looked hurt and then started to sulk, which only made J.J. and Thad laugh more.
* * * * *
“Come in, come in,” Maggie said, opening the door before Adam could reach for the doorknob.
“Hey, Ma,” Adam said, kissing his mother’s cheek.
“Happy New Year.” J.J. kissed her cheek.
“Ma, this is Thad…”
“Thad St. George,” J.J. finished for Adam. “You’re so bad with names.” He play punched Adam in the chest.
“Yeah, whatever.” Adam shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Anyway, he is one of J.J.’s students.”
“Welcome to my home, Thad,” Maggie greeted him warmly. “Let me take your coat.”
“Thank you for having me, Mrs. Sutton.” Thad handed her his coat and knit hat.
“Make yourself at home,” Maggie smiled at him as she pushed the youngster’s coat into Adam’s chest. “Would you like some hot chocolate? I just made some. It’s awfully good in this kind of weather.”
“Uh, yes, ma’am. That would be nice.”
Maggie draped her arm across Thad’s shoulders. “Do you like marshmallows on top?”
As the two made their way to the kitchen, Adam and J.J. hung up their coats, Adam grumbling. “I see where I rate. Just the coat checker.”
“Oh, quit your complaining,” J.J. snickered.
Adam was about to close the closet door when the front door opened, pushing him into the closet.
“Hey, Ma—” Luke barged in like a bull. “We’re here.” No sooner had the words left his mouth did he see J.J. “Hey, J.J. How’s it going?”
“Hi, Luke,” J.J. greeted Adam’s older brother. He then saw Andrea right behind him with the new baby and their three boys. “Happy New Year, Andrea.” J.J kissed her cheek then stepped aside so the rest of the clan could come in out of the cold.
“Where’s that lout of a husband of yours?” Luke asked as he closed the front door.
“I’m right here,” Adam said, a not so happy look on his face as he emerged out of the closet.
“Hey, little bro.” Luke laughed. “I thought you’d come out of the closet years ago?”
“Yeah, yeah… very funny.”
“Hey, while you’re there…” Luke shucked his coat off and gave it to his little brother. “And this…” he then handed him his three sons’ coats.
Adam looked at J.J. who was laughing. “Hush, you. I told you, nothing more than a coat checker.”
Luke took the newest member of the family, their daughter, only a week old, while Andrea gave Adam her coat as well. “Happy New Year, Adam.” She leaned in so that her brother-in-law could kiss her cheek.
“Same to you, Andrea. How’s the little princess?”
“She is the best baby. Hardly ever cries.” Andrea pulled the blanket away from the baby.
“Wow, look at all that hair,” J.J. remarked, looking at the sleeping newborn.
“Yep. We Suttons always have a head full of hair.” Luke beamed.
“Yeah, along with a butt load everywhere else,” Andrea remarked, giggling.
J.J. blushed slightly. “Yeah, that, too.”
“Oh, there you are,” Maggie greeted them as she and Thad re-entered the living room. “How’s she doing, Andrea?”
“Ah, Mom, she’s been the best baby.” Andrea handed the bundled up new born to her grandmother. “She looks just like Adam, I think.”
“What? She looks like me, you mean,” Luke huffed.
“She looks like a Sutton.” Maggie cooed to the infant.
“Who’s this?” Luke asked, looking at Thad.
Thad was standing there holding a large steaming mug with both hands, his eyes as big as saucers.
J.J. went to his student’s side. “This is a student of mine, Mr. Thad St. George.”
“I thought—”
Luke’s mouth clamped shut when he saw the look his mother was giving him, a clear warning to shut his trap. He and both of his brothers knew that look and also knew to shut up.
He held out his big hand to the young man. “I’m Luke Sutton, Adam’s brother.”
Thad put his hand out, letting Luke shake it. “Uh… nice to meet you, Mr. Sutton.”
“Oh, just call me Luke. Mr. Sutton was my ol’ man.”
“’Kay,” Thad squeaked.
“Okay, children, I’ve got hot chocolate for everyone in the kitchen,” Maggie announced to her grandchildren.
All three of Luke and Andrea’s boys made a beeline to the kitchen.
Maggie handed the sleeping baby back to her mother. “She's beautiful, Andrea.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Andrea’s eyes gleamed, obviously a very proud mother.
“Everyone get comfortable,” Maggie called over her shoulder, heading to the kitchen. “Adam, turn Dick Clark on.”
Adam shook his head. “I know I told her that Dick Clark died, but she still insists that New Year’s Eve is still called Dick Clark for some reason.”
“Hey, remember when we were kids?” Luke asked his brother. “Back then it was that Guy Lombardo guy.”
“Oh yeah, I remember him.” Adam chuckled. “Damn, he was boring.”
“You know it. But remember, it was Guy Lombardo for years, even after he had died.”
The two brothers went to the big screen T.V. they had gotten their mother for her birthday.
“Here, J.J.,” Andrea said, pushing the new born into J.J.’s arms.
“Wait!” J.J. exclaimed, taking a step back. “I don’t know anything about holding a baby.
“She won’t break,” Andrea smiled warmly at him. “Just make sure you support her neck and head.” She laid the small bundle in his arms.
J.J. stood there, amazed at the little human sleeping in his arms. He stared at the rosy pink cheeks, the small little mouth, and all the dark curly hair surrounding her head. He looked up at Andrea. “She is beautiful.”
“Thank you. I think so, too.”
They stood there admiring the child for a moment.
“Here, I’m going to go help Maggie in the kitchen,” J.J. said, handing back the still sleeping baby.
Just as Andrea took the child back, her other children entered the room, each walking carefully while holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
“You boys sit down and don’t spill any of that on the rug now,” their mother warned them before taking a seat next to her husband on the long sofa.
“Yes, ma’am,” they each answered, sitting on the floor, placing their mugs on coasters that protected the wooden coffee table.
“Come, have a seat, Thad,” Adam said, patting the place next to him on the couch.
J.J. made his way to the kitchen.
“So much for going into the city, huh?” Maggie asked as he came in.
“Oh, Maggie, it just broke my heart to see him sitting on that park bench.” J.J. shook his head as he took a tray down from a cabinet. “How… I don’t…”
“J.J., it takes all kinds of people sometimes. You did the right thing.”
“Maggie, I hope it is okay with you. I mean I don’t—”
“Don’t you say another word!” Maggie stopped and looked sternly at J.J. “You did the right thing in bringing him here. And you know Adam is correct. It wouldn’t look right for him to show up at your house now. The last thing the two of you need is for those homophobic asses to have ammunition against you.”
“Maggie!” J.J. was shocked. He had never before heard her cuss.
“Oh, when I’m mad enough, I can cuss a blue streak. Don’t you worry, and I’m just mad enough.” she
laughed. “Now, shut your mouth and hold that tray while I get these cookies on.”
“We don’t know how long he’ll need a place to stay, you know,” J.J. continued.
“Doesn’t matter.” Maggie paused midair with a spatula full of cookies, fresh from the oven. “Honestly, it will do me some good to have someone here besides me in this big ol’ house.” She slid the cookies onto the platter then went for more. “I really do get lonely here and miss having the boys around.”
“I can see that.”
“I’ll let you take these out. When you come back, bring young Thad with you and we’ll have a little talk. Okay?”
It was only a few moments later when J.J. came back into the kitchen with Thad following him.
“Would you like some more cocoa, Thad?” Maggie offered.
“Oh, no, ma’am. I’m good, thank you.”
“Come, let’s have a seat,” Maggie said, indicating the large kitchen table. “J.J. here has told me what has happened, I hope you don’t mind.”
Thad glanced at J.J. and then down at his hands in his lap, not saying anything.
“Thad, look at me please.” Maggie’s voice was soft and caring.
Thad looked up, his cheeks flushed and eyes shinny.
“What happened to you is not your fault. You may not think so now, but trust me on this one. I have a gay son and he was about your age when he finally told us he was gay.” Maggie held out her hand to him, waiting for him to take it. He stared at her hand before slowly put his in hers.
“Being gay is just the way God made you, that’s all. It’s no different than if you had brown eyes instead of blue. Or if you were short instead of tall, it's just the way it is. Understand?”
Tears started to stream down Thad’s cheeks. Eventually, he nodded his head in agreement, wiping his face with his other hand.
“Now, I’d like to ask you a question. You don’t have to answer me right away, but I would kind of like to know by midnight, if you don’t mind.” Maggie grinned. “I’m no spring chicken and staying up past midnight isn’t exactly something I look forward to.”
Thad nodded, “Yes, ma’am.”
“I’d like to offer for you to stay here with me. As I said, I’m getting on in years and I sure could use a little help around this place. Now, this is just until we can figure out something more permanent, but it would help me out if you would say yes.”
Thad’s mouth fell open. He looked from J.J. then back to Maggie. “I… I’m not sure what to say. Thank you?”
“You’re welcome, if that means yes.”
Again, Thad looked at J.J., who also nodded his agreement, smiling.
“Oh, yes, ma’am, I would like that.” Thad smiled genuinely for the first time that night. “I’ll do whatever you need.”
“Good, now that we have that settled, let’s get some of this other food out there.” Maggie scowled. “J.J., you know what it’s like when those two galoots get hungry.”
Thad first giggled, then started laughing. Maggie and J.J. turned to look at him.
“What’s so funny?” J.J. asked.
Thad stopped to catch his breath. “I never thought I’d hear anyone call Coach Sutton a… a galoot!” He broke out in laughter again.
Maggie laughed too. “He may be Coach to you, but to me he is just my son, and trust me, he knows it, too.”
J.J. smiled broadly and winked at Thad. “Just wait till he slips up and says a cuss word. It’s too funny.”
“Does he do it often?” Thad inquired, his head tilted slightly to the side.
“More often than he wants,” J.J. said, laughing.
“Come on, you two.” Maggie was still laughing. “Let’s get these hors d'oeuvres out there before they start eating the furniture.”
J.J. set a large platter of shrimp with cocktail sauce on the coffee table.
“Oh, damn, Ma, that looks great. My fave,” Adam remarked as he leaned over to nab a large shrimp.
A loud whack resounded.
“Ouch!” Adam yelped, his head dipping down.
Maggie looked at Thad and shook her head. “Like I said, more often than you’d think. After all these years you’d think he’d learn.”
J.J. and Thad busted out laughing, and before long, the entire room was laughing. All except Adam, who sat back, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, y’all.”
* * * * *
“What time is it?” J.J. asked as Adam stood up stretching. His flannel boxers were tented with his morning hardon.
Adam walked over to his dresser, his dick pointing the way. Looking at his phone, he answered, “Nine-thirty”
J.J. stretched in bed, the covers creeping down to his midsection as he did so. “Wow, been a long time since we’ve slept in like this.”
“We didn’t get to bed till after one, babe. Not really sleeping in, if you ask me.”
“I’m glad we have a king-sized bed at home.” J.J. stood up from Adam’s full sized bed in his old room. “I think we’re just a bit much for this bed.”
Adam took J.J. in his arms and kissed him tenderly. “Yeah, but it made for some great cuddle time.”
“Oh, is that what you call it? I call it nearly getting pushed out of the bed and onto the floor,” J.J. said, his voice muffled by Adam’s furry chest.
“We can take a nap later when we get home.”
“Yeah, I’m sure I’ll fall asleep while you’re watching football.”
Adam pushed J.J. back from him, holding him by the shoulders. “I can’t understand how you can even think about sleeping during some of the best football—”
“Babe, I’m sorry, but it puts me right to sleep every time, you know that. It’s like the best sleeping pill ever made.” J.J. couldn’t help but laugh at the look on Adam’s face.
There was a knock on the bedroom door. Adam pulled J.J. close to hide his morning erection before calling out, “Come in.”
The door opened just enough for Thad to stick his head in. “Oh, I’m sorry, I’ll… I’ll come back.”
“Don’t be silly, come on in,” Adam said.
“I didn’t mean to… like, interrupt or anything.”
“You didn’t. Just giving my husband a little morning hug.” Adam kissed J.J.’s forehead. “What’s up?”
“Uh… Ms. Maggie wanted me to tell you that breakfast would be ready in about five minutes.”
“Cool.” Adam let J.J. go, reaching around him to grab his jeans off the bed. “I’m starving.”
“Well, there’s a news flash.” J.J. chuckled. “Tell Maggie we’ll be right down.”
“’Kay,” Thad murmured as he averted his eyes, then closed the door quickly.
Adam pulled his jeans on. “J.J., we’re gonna have to watch that boy close. He’s been so conditioned to hate himself, it scares me.”
“I think you’re right, babe. It’s sad. He’s so bright. I wish he could see he has so much going for him.”
“Ma will be good for him, though.” Adam pulled an old sweater from his closet. “Damn, this thing still fits.”
J.J. looked at Adam. “Yeah, if you don’t breath or move.”
“Shuddup,” Adam gruffed.
Thad was setting the table when J.J. and Adam made it downstairs.
“You sleep alright?” J.J. asked, taking some plates from Thad, helping out.
Thad smiled. “Yes, thanks. It was much better than on that park bench.”
“Great. Glad to hear it.”
“Thanks, Mr. Jones.” Thad paused a moment before putting down the last plate. “I think you may have saved my life.”
“Thad,” J.J. said, placing his hands on the youngster’s shoulders, “you have a lot of life to live yet. You have such a bright future ahead of you.”
Thad looked up into his teacher’s eyes. “I’m scared.”
“Thad, I promise you, I will do everything I can to make sure you stay safe and are taken care of. Understand me?”
<
br /> “Yes, sir.”
J.J. wasn’t expecting the hug that started and finished before he had time to react.
“Ow! Ow! Ow!”
J.J. rushed to the kitchen just in time to see Maggie Sutton spanking her eldest son with a wooden spoon as he danced around the big kitchen.
“I told you to keep your fingers out of it. Now go on with your pestering self before I tell your wife on you. Go on, get your sorry rear-end out of my kitchen!” Maggie was still waving the spoon about as Luke rushed past J.J. into the living room.
J.J. looked over at his husband and Luke’s three young sons who were howling with laughter. Well, that was until Maggie glared at them, her eyes mere slits.
“Let that be a lesson to y’all. You start putting your fingers in the food and you’ll be getting some of this, too!” She smacked the spoon into her open palm. “Understand me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” answered a chorus of Sutton boys, a hang-dog look on their faces.
J.J. walked up to Maggie and hugged. “I love you, Mom.”
Maggie froze for a moment, a surprised look on her face. She hugged J.J. back. “Took you long enough. Now, you wanna help me get this gravy right? You’re better at it than I am.”
J.J. kissed his mother-in-law’s cheek. “You bet.”
* * * * *
After breakfast, Maggie, J.J. and Andrea, who was nursing the baby, were sitting in the living room. Andrea was able to look out the window to keep an eye on the rest of her brood as they played in the front yard.
“That was a nice breakfast you guys put together. Wish I could have been more help,” Andrea commented.
“Don’t you worry, dear, you have more important things to take care of.” Maggie smiled. “Besides, I had most of it done yesterday.”
Loud voices erupted from the kitchen, piercing the quiet.
“Dear Lord, now what?” Maggie got up, shaking her head. “I swear I’m gonna have to get my spoon back out.”
Andrea and J.J chuckled as she left the room.
Andrea leaned towards J.J. “I’m glad we have a few moments alone. I wanted to talk to you.”