Edward Unconditionally Common Powers 3 (28 page)

Bill laughed, came around the desk, and slapped Jack on the back. “You old dog.”

“Funny you should say that.” Jack grinned at his good friend, relieved this had gone so well.

With that, Jack left. Now, he just had to face his men at the department.

And everyone in town.

Jack stood next to Edward as the minister talked about Olivia's life. Edward had asked Jack to be there as moral support. He'd told Jack that by having Jack stand next to him, it would be like putting them on display, letting the townspeople get used to seeing them together in a safe venue.

Edward's mother stood on the other side of Edward, her face hidden by a black veil. There had been a small argument about burying her under the oaks, but Lillian had given in faster than Edward had thought she would.

Wildflowers bloomed around them, the air thick with their sweet scent. It was incredibly peaceful. Olivia had made a good choice. The grave was next to her late husband, Frank Rawlings. Forever together.

That's how love should be. How Jack wanted it to be for he and Edward.

Half the town stood behind them in the little grove on Olivia's ranch.

Jack glanced around, seeking support of his own.

Mayor Bill Lansing and his wife were there to pay their respects to Olivia. Bill raised an eyebrow and gave Jack a small nod at Edward, then smiled, showing his approval and support. A small flicker of pride in his lover ran through Jack, and he remembered how he'd gushed over Edward in Bill's office.
Shit
. Jack had actually
gushed.

Brian met his gaze and gave him a small nod. Like Jack, Brian had worn his dress uniform. Jack checked out several other officers who'd shown up. There had only been a few of his men who'd let Jack know they weren't happy with their chief being gay.

He could deal with the ones who were open about their dislike. It was the ones who hid it who were dangerous. Looking down the line of his officers, he ticked off whether they stood with him or against him. Shit. Now was not the time for that.

Behind Brian stood Rush, Mitchell, and Sammi. Jack was glad they had all returned for the funeral in support of Edward. He needed all the friends he could get, especially now that the news was out and things had begun to heat up.

The day before the funeral, Edward had come out of Olivia's house to find his car had been vandalized. Someone had spray painted FAG GO HOME on the side of it. He'd called it in, and a report had been filed. Jack was certain it wouldn't be the only act of intolerance they'd face and doubted they'd ever catch who'd done it, even though Jack had a good idea who the culprit was. Edward had told him about the incidents at Smith's Garage, and Jack would lay odds it had been Jimmy Wyatt.

Jack didn't care, as long as no one got physical. Edward was no match for most of the men around here, and Jack couldn't guard him every minute of the day.

Still, they'd get by. Or they'd leave. Jack had decided he'd resign if the town couldn't accept them or if it got too intense. He'd give up everything he'd worked so hard for to protect the man he loved.

Jack's attention came back to the minister as he closed the ceremony with a prayer. Most of the men slid their hats back on their heads, including Jack.

Next came the hard part.

Edward had arranged for everyone to go back to Olivia's ranch house and have lunch. It's what she would have wanted, he'd said. He'd wanted a picnic, complete with blankets, but Lillian had fussed, so they compromised with tables and chairs under the oaks.

Lillian had been calm, almost eerily so, and Jack had been bracing himself for when she blew. He could see it building and knew that Edward felt it too.

Jack wandered through the crowd, his gaze searching for Edward every now and then. Edward and Lillian stood near the tables of food laid out under the oaks in front of the house and greeted their guests. Kristen and some of the women from church had helped to organize the reception, cooking food, making Igloo coolers full of iced tea, setting up tables, and now they served the food.

Surely no one would disrupt Olivia's funeral. She was probably one of the most beloved people in the town. No, they'd give
her
their respect.

It was tomorrow Jack worried about, and the days after that.

Sammi approached him, linked his arm in Jack's, and pulled him along.

“Don't worry, Jack. I've been listening to everyone.”

Jack stared at the young man on his arm. “Listening?”

“Yes. I can hear everyone's thoughts.” He shrugged. “It's a gift. Like Edward's ability to heal. Most of the people here are cool with it.”

“With what?”

“You're being gay. With Edward. They like him, but they
love
you.” Dark eyes flicked up to meet his.

“Love me?” He'd never thought about the people of Spring Lake caring for him.

“Love. Respect. Care about.” Another shrug. “Don't worry. This town will accept you and Edward, just like they accepted Rush and Brian.”

“Not everyone is here.”

“No. Not everyone. But enough.” Sammi sounded so sure.

“Thanks for letting me know.” Jack stared at Sammi. After all, he'd just told Jack that he could hear people's thoughts. In their heads. Odd thing was, Jack believed him.

“There's no need for you to leave Spring Lake. You're needed here. So is Edward.”

“Edward?”

A sly smile parted Sammi's full lips. “He's been thinking about the future. Ask him.”

Then Sammi let him go and slipped back to Mitchell's side. Mitchell wrapped his arm around his lover and pulled him close even as he stood speaking to someone. Unashamed of Sammi.

Time for Jack to man up.

He made his way to Edward's side and put his arm around Edward's shoulder. Edward leaned into him, seeking comfort. Lillian looked at them and frowned.

“Sorry if this bothers you, Mother.” Edward smiled as Jack pulled him closer.

“I'm just worried about Jack, dear. He seems such a nice man.”

“He is.” Edward tensed under Jack's arm.

Lillian turned to face her son. “You're going to destroy him, you know.”

“What?” Edward's voice rose.

“Lillian.” Jack sighed. “Edward isn't going to hurt me, just like I'm not going to hurt him. We're going to be together for a very long time.”

Edward looked at Jack as his brows shot upward.

“I want you to live with me here. My place is small, but it's big enough for two.”

“Actually, I had other plans.”

Jack's heart stuttered. “What?” He let Edward go. Took a step back as everything came crashing down around him in one sharp blow to the gut.

Lillian let out a little noise of triumph.

Edward faced his mother and stepped away from Jack. “Olivia left everything to me, Mother. Both houses, including the ranch and all its income. I won't need my trust fund, at least until I'm forty when it comes to me. You can't control me anymore.”

“Everything?” She gasped.

“Yes. All of it. And I want to— ”

“You had her change her will?” Lillian hissed as her eyes narrowed. “That's why you were so eager to stay. That's why you didn't heal her. To get the money.”

“No! She asked me not to heal her. She had a living will and refused my help, just like she refused the doctor's help. She'd changed her will when you took me away. And she told me the truth about Father.”

“Truth? What truth?” Her head snapped back.

“That Father was gay. Like me.” Edward's hands curled into tight fists. “And you never told me. And you never stopped him, never came between us. You knew, and you let him treat me as if I were worthless. Less than a man. I'll never forgive you for that.” Edward's eyes went liquid.

“She said that? She told you he was
gay
?”

“Mother. She caught him with one of his lovers. Threatened to tell you if he didn't tell you. That's when he packed us up, cut her out of our lives, and left Texas.”

Lillian clutched at her chest, her hand searching for something to sit on. Jack rushed to a nearby chair, snagged it, and placed it under her. She hit the chair as if her knees had given way.

“Gay?” She shook her head. “Your father was
not
gay.” She said it as if he'd accused his father of being an alien from outer space.

Edward knelt beside her. “As long as I can remember, you and Father had separate bedrooms. Whose room did you have sex in, Mother?”

“Sex?” she whispered.

Edward stood. “Sex. Did you
ever
have sex with Father after I was born? I'm gay, and I'll tell you the truth. I could never have sex with a woman. Just couldn't. Some gay men can and do, in order to live the lie. If Father did have sex with you, it was probably infrequent, every now and then.”

She rubbed her hands over her crisp black linen skirt. “Once in a blue moon.” The she looked up, tears in her eyes. “I just thought he didn't want me that way and that I didn't please him anymore. I thought he had mistresses.”

“No. It wasn't you; it was him,” Edward said. “I guess he deceived us both.” He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “I'm so sorry he hurt you.”

She brushed his bangs from his forehead. “I'm sorry I let him hurt you, but he always knew what was best for us. I believed him when he said we shouldn't coddle you or give into your phases.”

“Phases? Being gay is a phase?” Jack snapped. “Pretty damn long phase, if you ask me.”

“Father was very persuasive.” Edward gave his mother's hand a squeeze and let it go. “I'm going to live at the ranch house. I'm going to use Olivia's house in town to open my massage business.” Jack marveled at how confident and sure Edward sounded, like a completely new Edward. The Edward who didn't want Jack. Who didn't want to live with Jack.

Christ. He'd been such a fucking old fool.

Jack's heart hurt so bad he thought he'd just die. He needed to get out of there, leave before he made a complete fool of himself. Lillian had been right. Jack had destroyed himself over Edward.

There was no taking this back. No way to make it right. No way to go back to his nice, safe little life.

He lurched away, pushing through the last of the guests, to get to his truck. He had his hand on the handle when a hand on his shoulder jerked him around.

“Jack? Where are you going?” Edward looked up into Jack's face.

“I'm getting out of here. Have some pity for me, Edward. Leave me some dignity,” Jack gritted out.

“What are you talking about?”

“I gave up everything for you. My career. The respect of my friends and my men. I was even willing to walk away from this town, the only real home I've ever had, for you. And you tossed it to the side.”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“I'm talking about us, dammit.” Jack growled, taking Edward by the arm, his hand convulsing. “I'm talking about being in love with you and you dumping me, like all the others.” Jack's heart shattered, and it took the breath from him, leaving him gasping.

Edward's mouth hung open. “Dumping you? Others? Where did you get that idea?” What the fuck was Jack talking about?

“I guess your mother was right. I was just another fling.” He gave Edward's arm a shake as he let him go. “Leave me alone, Edward.” He got in the truck and slammed the door.

Lillian
. Edward should have known. If he didn't act fast, he'd lose Jack, and that was not going to happen. Not this time. This time, he'd fight for his man.

Edward jumped onto the running board and grabbed Jack's arm through the open window. “Jack! Listen to me. She's wrong. She's just trying to break us up. I love you. You have to believe me. Those other men, the ones she's talking about, they dumped me. They. Dumped. Me.” Edward hung on, even as Jack tried to shake him off. “I wasn't good enough. Not for them.” Edward's voice caught in his throat. “When you said you loved me, as is, well, that was the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to me. But if you don't believe in me, in my love, then I guess I'm not really good enough for you either.” Edward didn't know what else to say, so he let go and stepped down off the truck.

Jack shook. Unable to get the key into the ignition, he gave up. It all came down to this. He loved Edward, but did he believe Edward?

Raising his head, he looked into Edward's eyes. They were large, deep brown pools that pulled him under every time he gazed into them.

“I want you to live with me at the ranch,” Edward whispered. “I should have talked to you about it first, not sprung it on you.”

“Live with you? At the ranch?” Jack dropped his hands into his lap and laid his head on the steering wheel. “Christ, Edward.” His entire body turned to mush, and he was afraid he'd never be able to lift his head again. He'd stormed off like a petulant lover in the middle of Olivia Rawlings's funeral.

The town would be talking about this for years.

He'd let himself get so out of control with Edward. Over Edward.

Oh fuck, yes, Edward was dangerous. And Jack had developed a taste for danger.

“I'm so sorry, love. I didn't mean to hurt you like this. I love you,” Edward said.

Jack pulled himself together, opened the door, and stepped out of the truck.

“Edward.” He grabbed Edward by the lapels of his black suit jacket and hauled Edward against his body. “If you
ever
do that to me again, I won't be responsible for what happens.”

Then Jack crushed his mouth to Edward's.

Applause and cheering went up around them. Jerking back, Jack looked around. A small crowd, with Brian, Mitchell, and Sammi at the front, had gathered around them. The uniforms of the Spring Lake police force were scattered among the people. Kristen stood there, tears painting her cheeks.

“Oh shit.” Jack groaned.

“He loves me!” Edward waved to everyone.

“Edward,” Jack growled.

“Shut up and kiss me again.” Edward pulled Jack to him, and their lips met in a scorching kiss.

“Get a room!” Mitchell shouted, and laughter erupted.

“Okay, everyone, show's over. Break it up.” Brian waved his hands to disperse the crowd.