Peach Tree Family: Gay Romance

by Trina Solet

  "Lucy is our baby friend," Riley said.

  "And Huey is our dog friend," Gloria said while hugging the dog.

  Eventually Theo got to greet his bosses. "With that throng of kids, it's like you are a celebrity bodyguard, Mr. Copeland," Theo told him.

  "I'm only Mr. Copeland at work," he said so Theo risked needling him a little.

  "So I can call you Mr. C?"

  He laughed. "How about Leo?"

  "Alright."

  "You're just in time to eat burgers we're serving up on Sam's homemade buns," Rico said to Andy.

  "We got held up by a tug of war. My aunts wanted to keep Lucy there until your grandmother arrived and they could taunt her with how cute the baby was."

  "Yeah, they're off having old lady fun and scratching each other's eyes out," Rico said and clapped Andy on the back. "Now let's eat. Want a burger, little baby?" Rico took the baby's tiny hand and she smiled at him.

  The kids were the first to line up for the burgers, and Ace was a big fan of the "real burgers from a fire!" as he called them. Tasting the burgers for himself, Theo had to agree.

  "These are outstanding," he told Mitch and Rico, and included Sam too. "And these buns are just great."

  "Makes you realize how much you need a grill," Seth said to Theo.

  "You know what he's getting at," Rico said and he nudged Theo with his elbow. "Nothing like grilling together with your man." Rico looked over at Mitch, gave him a beaming smile and leaned into him. Returning his smile, Mitch put his arm around him but then he frowned and looked up.

  In a second, they all felt drops of rain hitting them, and Mitch announced, "Let's move things inside for dessert."

  They went in and Theo got a look at the house inside. It was older but well taken care of with traditional furniture and pretty big.

  "This is a really nice house," he told Mitch.

  "We have it thanks to Rico's grandmother. She had me work on it, and let me and Sammy live here when we had nowhere else to go," Mitch said.

  "And now you've helped us with the house and haven't charged for it," Theo said.

  "Seth traded for the work on the porch by helping me on another job," Mitch told him.

  "That means the two of you helped me out together, and I owe you both. Let me know what I can do to repay you," Theo told him then he looked to see what Ace was up to and noticed that Seth was standing nearby with his head down.

  Was he upset? Theo was going to ask him, but then he heard the kids yelling. Rico had asked them if they wanted whipped cream with their fried apple pies, and they were all clamoring for it.

  While different conversations were going on, the kids were trying to persuade Andy and Leo that the baby should have whipped cream. Seth was sitting on the end of a sofa next to Huey, running his hand through his fur. He didn't look happy though. He had been subdued since they came in, or did it start before that?

  They stayed for a while, but Theo couldn't draw him out. Ace had a great time though and couldn't stop chattering on the whole drive home. Then he told Butter all about it even while he was brushing his teeth.

  "You'll get toothpaste everywhere," Theo told him.

  It took Ace a while to settle down and go to sleep, but Theo was glad he had so much fun. Now he wanted to find out what was on Seth's mind.

  He didn't find him in the house though. It turned out he had gone out on the porch.

  "Enjoying the porch?" Theo said as he came out.

  "It's nice out here, but it's still cold. It will be a treat to hang out here when the weather gets warm." Seth had his arms wrapped around himself as he looked out into the dark. Then he said what Theo had been afraid of. "Too bad I won't be here for that."

  "You might still find a job. Give it more time. Or is there some other reason you want to leave?" Theo questioned him and he couldn't keep the edge out of his voice.

  "I just think it might be time to cut my losses," Seth said. "I haven't had any luck here."

  Theo shut his eyes. Maybe he shouldn't take that personally. Seth was probably talking about his job search, but Theo couldn't help it. Seth didn't see any reason to stay. He didn't want to be here any more.

  As Seth went inside, Theo didn't follow him in. Left alone out there on their newly repaired porch, Theo wanted to smash it to pieces.

  Chapter 16

  Ever since he lost his job at the café, Seth had trouble sleeping, but last night, after telling Theo he would have to leave, he didn't get a wink of sleep.

  He was up plenty early to make pancakes. There were even chocolate chips this time. Ace was in and out, telling him what shapes to make. As Theo came in for a cup of coffee, he lingered waiting for Ace to run out of the kitchen again then he spoke up.

  "I think it will upset Ace if you leave too suddenly. Can you give it a few more days?" Theo asked, his expression grim.

  "I'm not just gonna run off," Seth said. He hated to think of Ace upset, and Theo was looking mad even as he was asking him to stick around a bit longer.

  Leaving was going to be hard, but staying was too. Being around Theo... Seth couldn't take it, not when he was always thinking about never seeing him again, never touching him again.

  Theo was willing to let him stay, but that was no good. Seth had heard him talking to Mitch, telling him how he felt he owed him. And Theo probably felt sorry for him too, a pitiful guy with no family.

  Knowing what he had to do didn't make it any easier. Theo was making a home for Ace in this house and it felt like it, but Seth knew he wasn't part of that, just some guy sticking around where he didn't belong.

  After breakfast, Seth wanted to do some work around the house, maybe clear the driveway of all the overgrown bushes, but Theo wasn't having it. He wanted them on the road to help Seth look for a job. Theo made a list of more places to try, and wouldn't take no for an answer.

  At the end of the day, Seth only got to fill out two applications and those were a long shot. Theo was even quieter than usual, but when they arrived back at the house and Ace was running inside to see Butter, Theo broke his silence. "At least you'll have to stay until you hear back from those two places."

  He didn't say much to Seth for the rest of the day, but once Ace was in bed, Theo came to sit next to him as he poked at the logs in the fireplace. For a few minutes he just stared at the flames while Seth tried not to stare at him, the glow in his eyes and on his skin. Seth was thinking about how warm Theo would feel, when he spoke up to ask, "Other than a job, what are you looking for out there?"

  Seth didn't have a good answer. He just didn't want to be a burden to Theo when he had Ace to take care of. "I didn't plan to end up here, in another small town," he said. Seth didn't yearn for city life, but he had to explain himself and not make Theo feel sorry for him.

  "You have your heart set on something bigger," Theo said. "So where are you planning to go?"

  Seth was a little caught off guard since he had no real plans. He didn't want to look at what lay ahead. He knew that after being here, the time that waited for him would be dark and lonely.

  "Uh, I'm not sure. I... I'll look for my family," Seth said. It was something that he didn't really want to do. "I don't even know if they heard about my grandpa's passing. I'll start with my mom. I was last in touch with her." He didn't tell Theo that was years ago. But now that he said he would look for his parents, Seth thought he might even do something like that.

  "You know where she is?" Theo asked. When Seth shook his head, Theo stood up and went to his laptop. "Give me her name. I can do some searching online."

  Seth didn't want him doing that. "I already... I have some, you know, leads. Some people I can ask." He wasn't a good liar, but he didn't want to see what Theo might find out. His mother had a new family, that much he knew. As for his father, he sounded angry and drunk the last time Seth spoke to him and yelled at him never to call again.

  Until he left Waterfield, Seth had been easy to find, living with his grandfather. All those years same add
ress, same phone number, but he didn't hear from his parents. He knew nothing good waited for him if he ever found them.

  "I'll just figure it out as I go," Seth told Theo. "I'll get some sleep now. Good night."

  He was going to his bedroom too early, and he had a hunch he wouldn't get any more sleep than he did last night. But sitting up with Theo would have been a bad idea, and not because he might question him about his plans some more.

  He needed to keep his distance from Theo because every time he was alone with him, he started thinking about doing things, where he might touch him, how good he tasted and felt, what noise Theo might make when he was coming. Even now Seth was remembering what they did, how good it was.

  But it was more than just getting off together. Being with Theo gave him a feeling he couldn't figure out. It was sort of like friendship, but with a stronger ache. He wanted to take care of Theo and protect him, make sure he was happy and feeling good.

  He wasn't capable of doing any such thing. He was dead weight. That's why he had to make himself leave even when all he wanted was to stay with Theo and keep him warm and safe.

  ***

  Theo was manning the reception desk with Helen. She was a big talker, liked to gossip, and she had given him a lead on one of the jobs Seth applied for. Now she was telling him about some painting Seth could do for a neighbor of hers, but it was only a day or two, and it wouldn't keep him from leaving to find an actual job.

  While monitoring the inn's website, Theo kept an eye on the main doors for new arrivals. He was surprised to see Hannah come in and make her way straight to the reception desk.

  Before she could say why she was there, Helen greeted her, "Why, Hannah, what brings you here? How are your folks?"

  "Fine, same as always," Hannah said offhandedly then she pointed at Theo. "I'm here to talk to him."

  "I'm going to have to take a break," he said to Helen and stepped away.

  "What are you doing about Seth?" Hannah demanded. "You know he's dead set on leaving? He said you're not pushing him out, but are you doing anything to make him stay? Are you?"

  "Why don't you get him to stay?" Theo would have been glad to have Seth stay even if she was the reason, but she threw it right back at him.

  "You're the one driving him away."

  "Sorry to spoil your fun," Theo told her, but he wondered if she was right. Was he the real reason Seth was leaving?

  "You're telling me you're OK with him moving away?" Hannah challenged him.

  "I need to get back to work," Theo said.

  "I don't know why the hell Seth keeps defending you," she said and stomped out the door.

  Watching her go, Theo couldn't deny that she must care a lot to hunt him down here. But what could he do? If she was so hot for Seth, why the hell didn't she do something about it?

  But maybe it was up to Theo to get to the bottom of this.

  For the rest of the day, Theo turned it over in his head. The way Seth talked about his plans sounded so vague, like he didn't want to get into the details. But why not? Was it because it was an excuse?

  When Theo considered the timing, he had to wonder if something that happened at the barbeque pushed Seth into his decision to leave.

  The only thing Theo could think of was all that teasing from Rico about them being together. When Rico was saying that stuff, Seth looked really uncomfortable. Maybe he realized that living with a gay guy meant people could guess what he had been up to.

  Was that really it? Theo couldn't be sure, but Seth wasn't in such a hurry to leave until then.

  One thing Theo knew – Seth leaving wouldn't be real to him until he told Ace about it. Theo didn't know how much longer Seth would wait. He had to talk to Ace.

  Seth drove him and Ace home then started cooking dinner. Ace couldn't wait to let Butter out. He was playing outside with her, and Theo called him over to sit on the porch steps with him.

  He started by saying, "I know you like having Seth with us."

  Ace agreed. "It's good because sometimes you're grouchy."

  "I'm not that grouchy," Theo said but he knew he had been in a bad mood ever since Seth told him he would be leaving. And now he had to tell Ace and make him unhappy too.

  "It's still good to have another guy to talk to," Ace said very seriously.

  "You can always talk to me," Theo told him with a smile and stroked his hair.

  Ace frowned at him though. He could tell something was wrong. "Theo, you don't want me to be friends with Seth, is that it? Are you jealous? I'm not gonna like him better than you, you know."

  "You... what? I'm not jealous of Seth," Theo told him.

  "OK. I believe you." That's what Ace said, but it sounded like he didn't.

  "You know Seth might have to leave and go somewhere else to find a job," Theo told him and watched his face crumple.

  "No. He has to stay with us."

  Theo pulled him into a hug. "Sorry, but Seth might go and look for his mom and dad too."

  "But then he can come back." Ace sounded so miserable as he looked to Theo for reassurance.

  "Maybe. We'll see." Theo wasn't counting on it. He was pretty sure that Seth wanted to get away from him.

  ***

  All day Seth was working on the picnic table. If he built it right, the table would still be there even after he was gone and that gave him a good feeling. It didn't take away his sadness though.

  Especially now that Ace knew he was leaving. The little guy wasn't happy with him. The only part that made sense to him was that Seth might go look for his mom and dad. Ace didn't understand that Seth's parents weren't like his and Theo's. They wouldn't welcome Seth with open arms.

  That night, after Ace was in bed, Seth planned to escape to his bedroom, but Theo didn't let him.

  "Let's go out on the porch," Theo told him then went out without checking that Seth followed.

  He did and then he waited for Theo to say his peace. It was cold out and the porch light lit up Theo's hair. Seth longed to touch it, and then touch more of him, so he dragged his eyes away and just stared at the moonlit trees and shrubs, their branches mostly bare. Any day now spring would turn everything out there green, but he wouldn't be standing on this porch and seeing it.

  He heard Theo take in a deep breath and knew he was about to speak.

  "When I told Ace that you were going to look for your parents, I felt like I was telling him a lie. Why is that?" Theo turned a pair of sharp, beautiful eyes on him, and Seth had to lower his gaze. Theo took that as an answer though Seth didn't mean it to be. "So the job and going to look for your parents – that's not the real reason you're leaving."

  "I never planned to stay, you know that," Seth said.

  "I noticed how uncomfortable you've been around me. You've been avoiding me, like you suddenly don't like sharing space with a gay guy."

  Seth couldn't believe what he was saying. "That's not true."

  "So you like it?" Theo asked stepping up to him provocatively, like he expected Seth to step back. "You said before you didn't know how to act around me. That means I make you uncomfortable."

  "No." That's all Seth managed to say. With Theo standing so close, he couldn't think. He had to turn his eyes away.

  "You told me a bunch of lies, and now you can't even look at me," Theo accused him.

  "I can look at you." But as Seth's eyes returned to Theo's face, he found that wasn't as easy as he thought. There was a catch in his throat and he couldn't swallow. His breathing wanted to speed up but he didn't let it.

  "Theo," he whispered and watched his jaw clench.

  Theo thought he didn't want to be around him, and even if Seth was leaving for good, he didn't want him thinking that. He didn't know how to prove to him it wasn't true because he had been avoiding him lately. He was used to people believing the worst about him, but from Theo it hurt worse than anything.

  He had to take away the accusing look from Theo's eyes though.

  What could he say? Even at his b
est he had trouble explaining himself, and the way he felt right now, he couldn't think more than two words at a time.

  "You make me feel things I don't understand," he admitted.

  "And that's why you're running away from me," Theo said.

  "It's not. I just... I have to live my own life, not yours," Seth told him, and watched Theo shut his eyes tight like he couldn't stand to look at him another second.

  "Do what you want," he said and turned to go inside.

  Seth reached his hand to stop him, but he was too slow. Theo was gone.

  Feeling the night and the cold gather around him, Seth hung his head. He wanted to tell Theo that he liked the life he had here. If he had a job, he would love it here. But he was depending on Theo for everything, and soon his money would run out and he wouldn't even be able to chip in for food. That was no way for him to live.

  In the end, he couldn't make Theo understand, but maybe that's just how it had to be. Maybe there was no good way to leave.

  Chapter 17

  So now Theo knew that he was right. Seth was leaving because he didn't want to be pulled into being gay by living with him.

  He almost wished he didn't know, didn't feel this bitter anger boiling up inside him. But no matter how mad Theo was, he hated to think of Seth out there all alone. He already had loneliness written in his eyes. There would only be more of that out there for him unless his family suddenly embraced him.

  Why the hell was he worrying about Seth? If he found himself alone, it would be his own damn fault.

  At breakfast, Theo stayed tightlipped so he wouldn't tell Seth to go to hell. Just thinking of Seth abandoning them made him want to ram his fist into something. But seeing Theo so silent and grim made Ace uneasy. He would need to fix that, make sure Ace knew that everything would be OK.

  Seth was still picking up Ace from school today. He texted Theo that he was on his way to the school and then again, but this time he was asking if he could bring Ace to the inn for a visit.