by E. M. Leya
"I didn't wear your yellow dress. Things should be fine." Ax shrugged as he placed his hand around Les's waist.
Ax was proud of how well Les was holding up. It took a lot to go on with life while something this major was happening. "How about we grab a couple drinks and go back out with the boys?"
Les nodded. "Sounds good."
They walked outside and sat down at the patio table, watching the boys play. "I'm nervous to have you meet my parents. You're the first guy I've ever had them meet."
"You didn't have them meet your ex?" Les looked shocked.
"Nope. I knew it wouldn't last between us. There was no point in him meeting them."
"Are you saying you think we'll last?"
"I'd like to think we could."
Les smiled. "Me too. I mean, it feels like it could. I want it to."
"So do I. More than ever. When that shit with Jeff happened, I didn't expect it to be so hard to be apart. I mean, we really haven't dated that long, but it just feels like I belong with you. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah, it does. No matter how I try to tell myself it's crazy to care about you the way I do, it doesn't change the fact that I do. I mean, we've been through a lot together. The issues I thought I'd have dating you didn't end up being issues. I don't know why I was so nervous about the sex."
Ax laughed. "I hoped it would be good for you, and I'm glad there weren't issues. I still worry a little that being out in public with me as a guy might be hard. The first time someone calls us names or spews hate our way might make you think hard about whether you want this kind of life—"
"Whoa, stop there. I'm not going to change my mind about being with you because someone calls us names. I went through that just hanging out with Jeff as a friend. I don't give a shit what other people think. I'll have no issues being with you anywhere. It won't matter how you are dressed or what is going on. When I said I love you, that meant I love you, not that I was going to shy away at the first sign of trouble. I'm not going anywhere. Especially over reasons like that. I'm not one of these other guys you've dated who only accept one side of you. I accept all of you. I don't care if you're in high heels or tennis shoes. I love you."
Ax blinked back tears. He was shocked by the emotion Les's words caused to grow inside him. He hadn't realized how badly he'd wanted someone to accept him for who he was. So many judged him on how he looked or what he wore. "Sorry. I don't mean to get emotional. I guess I've worried about this more than I thought."
"Don't worry anymore. I'm not planning on going anywhere. I want this to last. I like the thought of forever with you."
Ax kissed him. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. You're easy to love." Les glanced back at the house. "I think your parents are here."
Ax glanced over to see his mother looking out the window at them. He smiled and waved. "Come on. If we are planning a future together, you need to meet them. I apologize now for anything they say or for any embarrassing stories they tell."
"Oh, do they have naked baby pics of you?" Les wiggled his eyebrows.
"Ugh, remind me never to take you to their house." He hugged Les tightly as they turned and headed inside. No matter what happened, he was secure that Les would be by his side for all of it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Les woke to the sound of his phone ringing. He glanced at the clock, his stomach tightening as he saw it was only two in the morning. Calls at this time of the night were never good. He reached for his phone, aware of Ax sitting up in bed beside him as he answered.
"Hello?"
"Les, they found your mom." His dad's voice was shaky.
"Where? Is she okay?" He tossed his legs over the bed and stood.
"They've taken her to the hospital. I'm about to leave now to go to her. All I know is she is thin, and confused."
"Are you okay to drive? I can come get you?" He flipped on the lamp by the bed and started looking for clothes.
"Tim is going to drive me there. I'll meet you there. She's at Hudson Medical Center." His dad sounded as if he was crying.
"I'll hurry and meet you there, Dad." As much as he wanted to comfort his father, there wasn't anything he could say or do right now. It was probably just relief and pent-up emotions causing him to cry. Les was close to tears himself.
"See you there." His dad hung up.
Les dropped his phone on the bed as he looked at Ax. "They found her. That's all I know. He said she was thin and confused, but he's just leaving now to get to her."
"I'll come with you." Ax was already slipping on a pair of pants.
"Thanks. I was so sure she wasn't alive. I'm a bit overwhelmed now that they found her. I have no clue where she would have been all this time." Les pulled a shirt on before grabbing his shoes.
"You'll find out soon enough." Ax slipped his long hair into a ponytail. "Want me to drive?"
"Yeah, you'll have to leave for work." Les paused. "Shit, you have to work. You don't have to come with me. You need to sleep."
"I'll be fine. I want to come with you."
"If you're sure?" He really didn't want to go alone.
"I'm sure." Ax reached for his hand. "She's safe. Take a deep breath."
Les hadn't realized he was shaking until Ax took his hand. He did as he was told and took a deep breath. "I was so scared."
"I know." Ax pulled him into a hug. "We'll figure out what happened, where she was. Then we'll make sure it doesn't happen again. I'm by your side for all of it."
Les smiled against his chest. "I love you."
Ax brushed a kiss over his lips. "Now go brush your hair and let's go."
Glad he wasn't going to have to face this alone, Les rushed to finish getting ready. Five minutes later, they were out the door. They rode in silence, Les lost in thoughts about what he might see when he finally got to his mom.
No matter what, she couldn't go home. That much was clear. She needed to be somewhere secure and safe. Even if Les moved in with his parents, which he didn't want to do, it would be impossible to have an eye on her twenty-four hours a day. She had to go to a care facility. It broke his heart to think of sending her somewhere, but at least she would be safe and have the care she needed.
Once at the hospital, Les linked hands with Ax before going inside, scared to death what he would find when he got there. It had been ten days since his mom went missing. That was ten days where he didn't know if she had food or anything to get her through. She had to have found something to get by.
As they came into the emergency waiting room, he saw his father sitting hunched over in a chair, Tim right beside him.
"Dad, how is she?"
"They say she'll be okay in time. They are treating her for dehydration and exposure, but they say the worst is her feet. They said they were raw." Tears filled his father's eyes.
Les swallowed hard, determined to stay strong. "Where was she?"
Tim glanced up. "They said they found her walking down the road downtown. She was still in her robe, her feet bare. Someone called it in and the cops found her. She didn't know her name or where she lived. Once they got her here, they were able to search missing persons and figure it out. As soon as they said her name, she looked up at them and smiled."
Les leaned into Ax's body, glad for the support. "They don't know where she's been for ten days?"
"No idea. She could have just been wandering for all we know. Other than her feet and sunburn, they say she is in pretty good shape. We're waiting for the doctor to finish, and then you guys can go in and see her." Tim glanced up with a worried look. "Be prepared, she might not know who you are."
Les nodded, his stomach turning at the thought of his mother not recognizing him. Up until now, his mom had been confused, but always knew him on sight. "I'm just glad she's safe. I can handle anything else."
Ax gently tugged Les's arm. "Come sit."
"Thanks." Les took a seat across from where his father and Tim were. "Thanks for being here with me." He leaned his
head on Ax's shoulder.
"Of course. You've always been there for me." Ax kissed his forehead. "Your dad looks tired."
"Yeah, and weak. I've never seen him this bad." Les closed his eyes. "I'm not ready to lose him."
"I don't think we are ever ready." Ax rubbed a hand down Les's back. "It's something we all dread."
They sat in silence as they waited. Les thought about everything that he was going to have to do once his mom was released. First thing in the morning, he needed to call around and find out where he could put her. She had good insurance, but he had no clue what was covered when it came to nursing homes. As for his dad, there wasn't anything he could do. He didn't know if it was the cancer or the chemo that was making him so weak. Probably a mix of the two. Either way, he needed to face the fact that his dad wouldn't be around much longer. He could see it in the way his father looked. This was the beginning of the end for him.
A doctor walked out from the back of the emergency room and went to over to Les's father. Les stood, going to them, needing to hear what was said.
The doctor glanced over at him.
"Doc, this is my son, Lester, and his… um, friend, Ax." Les's father frowned at them.
"Sorry to meet under these circumstances." The doctor gave a weak smile before looking back to Les's father. "Your wife is resting. I imagine she hasn't had much sleep the past week. She's got some major injuries to her feet, but nothing that won't heal with time. We're hydrating her, and have given her something for the pain. Our neurologist will be in to see her first thing in the morning and we'll go from there with a treatment plan. Until then, rest is the best thing for her. You're able to come see her, but I will warn you, we have had to restrain her. She kept trying to get out of bed, and right now, with her confusion and the injuries to her feet, we need her to remain in bed."
Les worried his lip.
"We'll let you see her now, but we'll be moving her upstairs shortly. Once we get her settled, then you can join her." The doctor glanced at Les. "While you're welcome to stay with her all night, my advice is to go home and get some sleep and come back in the morning. The medication we gave her will have her sleeping for the next few hours. There isn't much you can do until morning."
Les nodded. "I think that's best." He glanced at his father. "Dad needs all the rest he can get."
"If you want to follow me, you can come on back."
"I'll wait here," Tim said.
"So will I." Ax kissed Les's cheek.
Les took a deep breath as he followed his father and the doctor back. Walking through the halls of the emergency department, he remembered coming for Ax after he'd been beaten. What a horrible year this had been, but then again, it had been amazing in other ways. He would never have dreamed he'd be in love, especially with another man. Ax was the best part of his life, and even though they'd had a ton of shit happen over the last few months, he wouldn't change any of it if it would mean he wouldn't have Ax in his life.
"She's in here." The doctor paused at a door and gestured them in.
Les slowly followed his father into the room, hiding a gasp of shock as he saw his mother for the first time since she'd gone missing. Her hair was a matted mess around her swollen and sunburned face. Her lips were chapped and cracked, the area under her eyes puffy and dark. Her legs were bare, and her feet wrapped in white gauze.
Swallowing back the emotion at seeing her this way, He went to her bedside, gently taking her hand. "Mom…." He spoke more to himself than her. She was sound asleep.
"This is all my fault." His father wiped at the tears that fell from his eyes.
"No, it's no one's fault, Dad. We couldn't have known this was going to happen. She's safe now. We'll get her the help she needs." Les hated seeing his father so weak and crying. He wanted the strong and aggressive man he'd grown up with.
"I knew she was confused. I should have stayed awake."
"Dad, you're getting chemo. Your health is important too. We all knew she was confused. None of us thought she'd wander off the way she did. It's not your fault. It just happened."
"She'll never come back home, will she?"
Les took a deep breath. "Probably not."
"It wasn't supposed to end this way." His dad looked defeated.
"I know, Dad. Some things we just can't control." He hated this as much as his father did.
His mother stirred, opening her eyes as she looked at Les. "Who are you?"
Les blinked, fighting back the tears that burned in the back of his eyes. "I'm Lester, your son."
She shook her head. "I have a son?"
"You do, Mom." Les gave her hand a squeeze. "Do you remember Dad?" He nodded toward his father on the other side of the bed.
His mom rolled her head to look. "Oh, Harold…" She went to lift her hand to him, but found it tied to the bed.
"Why am I tied down?" Her eyes opened wider.
"You hurt your feet." His dad told her. "They didn't want you to forget and try and stand until they are healed."
Les was relieved that his mom at least remembered his dad. That was a small bright spot in the midst of all that was going on.
"I'm so tired." His mom closed her eyes.
"Then sleep, Mom. We'll be here in the morning when you wake up." He glanced at his father, wishing he could take away the pain that filled his eyes.
"I can't leave her, Les." His dad's gaze lifted to meet his.
"I know, but you have to. You need to rest too." Les hoped his father wouldn't argue. "She won't even know we are gone. She'll be fine until we get back."
His father nodded before leaning down and giving her a kiss on her chapped lips. "I love you," he whispered.
Les bent and kissed her cheek. "I love you." He straightened and smiled at his father. "Let's get you home. When we get back, she'll be awake and stronger. We can talk then about what happened and see if she remembers anything. Once the doctor comes in, we can figure out where we go from here."
Following his dad out of the room, Les wished it was all just a bad dream. It was overwhelming to think about what the next few months held. The only positive thing in his life right now was Ax, and as he stepped into the waiting room and saw the man he loved, he gave thanks that at least something in his life was right. In the midst of all the pain, Ax was his comfort, and he would hold on as tightly as he could, making sure that he never lost him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Running from his car to the door of the apartment, Les was soaked. It was raining like crazy. The drive home had been slow. He was tired after a full day of work before he'd stopped at the care center where his mother now lived.
She hadn't known who he was, but she'd talked to him, telling him about some of the things she'd been doing. As confused as she was, she was making friends with the other patients and seemed content. Les figured transitioning was easy when you didn't remember what you were leaving behind.
He went to see her twice a week, sometimes more, but after a month in the care center, he was comfortable that she was safe and happy. His father was a different story. His health was deteriorating, and the chemo wasn't working. It was only a matter of time before he would have to face his father's death. The thought scared him so much he tried not to think about it too often, but the reality was, he needed to.
Refusing to get lost in all the negative, Les pushed the door open and focused on what made his life happy. Things with Ax were perfect. The more time they spent together, the more Les fell in love with him. He loved coming home to him every night.
"Welcome home." Ax stood in the entryway, her fluffy blue robe on and a pair of Les's favorite high heels. They were the ones that really made Ax's legs look amazing.
Les sucked in a breath. "Well, hello there." His gaze wandered over her as he dropped his keys on the table. "I could get used to coming home to this." He closed the distance between them and kissed her hard.
"You're wet." Ax swatted him back.
"It's raining like crazy."<
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Ax shook her head. "Go change. I have dinner ready, then we can watch that new movie you wanted to see."
Careful not to get her wet, he kissed her again. "You're too good for me."
"I know, but don't keep reminding me or I might think twice about it." She smiled.
He loved her so much. He ran his hand down her cheek taking in her perfectly done make-up. She was up to something. It was rare that Ax would take the time to do her make-up after coming home from being at work all day. It was more something she did on the weekends. "What are you wearing under that robe?"
"Something special for you, but you don't get to see it until after dinner." She held the top of the robe closed.
"Tease."
"Yep, and you love it." She slapped his ass. "Go change. I'll set the table."
It was rare they ate at the table. Most days, they just took the plates in and ate on the couch, in front of the TV. She was up to something if they were eating at the table. "I'll hurry." He rushed down the hall, excited to come home to such a surprise.
After all the stress they'd been under, it was nice that they could finally get back to normal and fall into a comfortable routine. Ax had been so supportive through everything. He didn't want to think about how it would have been without her by his side.
Throwing on a pair of sweats and a shirt, he made his way to the kitchen, his stomach growling when he saw she'd made his favorite enchiladas. "I come home to a sexy woman greeting me at the door, my favorite food on the table. What are you up to?" He hooked his arms around her from behind and pulled her back against him.
"Can't I just want to make you smile?" She turned her head to catch his mouth against her own.
"I smile every time I see you."
"Maybe I wanted a bigger smile." She turned in his arms. "Go sit. I'll grab the salad and be over."
He did as he was told, enjoying watching her walk across the small kitchen, the shoes she was wearing making her calves rounded and sexy. He had the best of both worlds. He had a sexy woman and a gorgeous man by his side. He didn't prefer one over the other. He loved her either way.