Falling Together (All That Remains #2) (28 page)

“What’s
wrong?”

“Nothing.
Everything’s fine. Looks like everyone is having fun.” I kiss his cheek, and he
grasps my arms when I try to step back.

“Nice
try, what did she say?”

“I
don’t know what you’re talking about.” There’s no way in hell I’m telling him
how she referred to the loss of Mason and Tim.

“Bullshit.
Tell me.” I’m pulled down to sit beside him, our legs dangling over the edge of
the boat. His emerald eyes darken as he gazes at me intently. Oh, I don’t want
to hurt him.

“She’s
happy you turned away from a godless lifestyle,” I whisper, trying to get away
with telling him as little as possible.

He
nods, and scoots closer until his warm thigh presses against mine. “I told you,
sweetheart. Don’t worry about it. I’m telling them tonight. They can take me or
leave me.”

“I
want to be there when you tell them.”

“You
and Airen both,” he agrees.

My
voice wavers when I respond, resting my head on his shoulder. “I love you.”

“Then
none of this other shit matters.”

The
next few hours inch by. Connie’s comments effectively dampened my mood, and I’m
fearful of what will happen this evening when Joseph reveals our relationship.
Before we head home, he invites his parents to come for a drink after dinner.
All smiles, they accept, and I find myself holding onto a sliver of hope
they’ll at least be a part of his life, even if they don’t respect the way he
loves.

When
I open my front door, I’m greeted by wall to wall sheets and blankets stretched
across my living room, turning the space into one big fort. “What the hell?”

A
hand darts out and grabs my ankle. “I’ve got her, matey,” Airen growls. Lane’s
head pops out and he growls, imitating his crazy father. I burst out laughing
at the sight of my boys. Airen wears a paper hat and a black vest with no
shirt. He’s drawn a moustache above his lip identical to the one my baby boy is
sporting. Lane has a bandanna tied around his head and they each hold a
cardboard sword.

“Argh,
lass. Surrender, or walk the plank,” Airen says with a goofy grin.

“Joseph
beat you to it.” I laugh. “He threw me down the slide.”

“I
didn’t throw you! I took you for a ride,” he declares, shaking his head at Airen
in amusement.

“Okay,
scallywags, clean up for dinner. Joseph’s parents are coming for a drink
afterwards.” I nod when Airen glances at me.

“Alright,
matey.” Lane giggles as he’s scooped into his arms. “Let’s get your bath. There
be barnacles to scrub off your bottom.”

“Airen!”

Carson
cracks up. “Well, they both smell like pirates.”

* * * *

Airen’s
face hardens when I tell him what Connie said to me about Joseph’s family. I
had to tell someone. “Fucking bitch,” he grumbles, his eyes flashing with
anger.

“Airen!”
I have to admit, I agree, but I don’t want him to insult Joseph’s mom where he
may hear. “You can’t lose your temper tonight. I don’t know exactly how they’ll
react, but we need to stay calm and be there for Joseph.”

“Fine,
but if they start berating him, I’m getting him out of there.”

“As
fast as you can.”

Joseph
steps into the bedroom. “They’re here, waiting in the living room.” Airen takes
one look at Joseph’s anxious expression and embraces him. They hold one another
without a word, letting the connection of their warm bodies convey their deep
rooted love and devotion. Joseph’s forehead smoothes, the tension seeping from
his body as he draws comfort and strength from Airen’s silent reassurance.

“Ready?”
Airen asks gruffly when they release each other. Joseph nods, and I put my arm
around him as we walk to the living room.

We
greet his parents, and Airen pours everyone a drink. Joseph swallows his double
shot of bourbon and immediately refills the tumbler. “We need to talk,” he
begins, getting to his feet. A knock at the door interrupts him, and Julie
peeks her head inside.

“I’m
sorry. I don’t mean to intrude. I brought some aloe for Abby. She looked pretty
crispy on the walk home.”

Joseph
gestures for her to join us. “It’s fine. Come in and have a drink with us,
Jules.” I glance at Airen, and he shrugs, also surprised by his invitation.
Maybe he has a few words for her as well. Once Julie is settled on the couch
alongside his parents, Joseph tries again. This time it’s his mother that
interrupts.

“Before
you begin, I just want to tell you I’m so sorry for all the time we’ve missed
together. I love you, and I really want to get to know my grandson.”

Joseph
swallows hard. “I’d like that too, Mom, but why now? You couldn’t accept me
before, so what’s changed?” I know what he wants to hear, what we all want to
hear from her.
I was wrong. Forgive me. I love you as you are
.

She
smiles at him fondly. “You’ve changed, sugar. You’re obviously in love with
Abby. You aren’t…gay anymore.”

Joseph’s
face falls and his body stiffens. “I was never gay. I’m bisexual, and that
hasn’t changed.”

His
father hasn’t said a word. He sits and stares, stone faced while Connie
approaches Joseph. “It makes no difference how you feel. You aren’t acting on
it, dear, and that’s what matters to God.” My heart is breaking along with
Joseph’s. Airen’s knuckles are white from his grip on his glass, and I silently
remove it from his grasp before he can shatter it and cut himself.

Joseph
laughs bitterly before stalking to Airen and pulling him to his feet. He grabs
his face and slams their lips together, thrusting his tongue into his mouth
repeatedly. Turning to glare at his parents, he declares, “This is the man I
love.” His arms wrap around me, and the kiss he gives me is softer, full of
reverence and passion. I almost forget the whole room is watching with their
jaws hanging to their knees. “This is the woman I love, and they love me.
As
I am
. No asterisk or fine print.”

The
silence is broken when Joe storms to the door. “I told you he hasn’t changed,”
he snarls, glaring at Connie.

“You’re
wrong, Dad. I’ve changed a great deal from the scared, ashamed kid you threw
away. I know who I am and what’s important to me. I found happiness, first with
my husband and sons, and now with Airen and Abigail. I discovered I’m worthy
and deserving of their love. I have changed. Unconditional love changes a
person.”

Joe
curses and slams the door behind him. The room is as silent as a morgue while
Connie and Joseph regard one another.

“You’re
all three…together?”

“Yes.”

“You
know this is wrong. It’s wrong to be with a man. The bible says so.”

“It
also says you should stone disobedient children and kill anyone who works on a
Sunday. If you can choose not to adhere to those edicts, I would think you
could overlook a quote from Leviticus for your only son. If you loved me.”
Tears pour down my face at the words he’s spoken with such confidence, without
a hint of the pain I know he’s feeling, and I notice Julie is crying as well.

“You
just expect me to tolerate…” Connie begins, her words trailing off as she
shakes her head.

“No!”
I snap, jumping to my feet. I tried, but I can’t stay out of this anymore. “I
hate that word! You tolerate some negative aspect of life you can’t change. You
tolerate a sore throat, or an annoying bug bite. We expect you to love him,
because that’s what a mother does!”

Joseph
tucks me against his chest, and murmurs, “Stop, baby. It’s okay.”

Connie
retreats a few steps, her voice hardening as she replies, “I can’t. I can’t
support your sin. Unrepentant sinners go to hell. I love you, but I can’t love
this part of you. What kind of man…” she trails off, shaking her head and
moving toward the door.

Julie
bounds to her feet. “
What kind of man
?” she exclaims. “You want to know
what kind of man your son is?” Joseph stares in shock as Julie glares at
Connie. “He’s the kind of man who shows love and compassion to everyone who
crosses his path, deserving or otherwise. A man who once risked his life running
into a burning house to save me and a child who doesn’t belong to him, but who
he accepts as his own. A man who never holds a grudge and always forgives those
who hurt him. Joseph’s the kind of man anyone should be proud to know and call
their son. That’s who he is, and if you can’t see that then he’s better off
without you. You’re telling him ‘I love you, but I hate who you are’ and that
isn’t love. He’s better off without that
kind
of mother.”

Of
all of us, Julie was the last person I expected to go off and tear Connie a new
one, but it was fantastic to watch. Without a word, her eyes trained on the
hardwood floor, Connie opens the door to leave.

“Goodbye,
Mom. Take care of yourself,” Joseph murmurs.

After
a moment’s hesitation, she replies, “You too.” She closes the door gently
behind her, the click echoing through the room with a tragic finality. Julie is
shaking with anger and outrage when Joseph nearly tackles her, squeezing her
tight.

“I’m
so sorry, Joseph. I was no better. I shouldn’t have judged your relationship,”
she sobs.

“You
aren’t like them. I knew you’d come around.”

Julie
chuckles through her tears. “They don’t deserve you.”

“They
don’t have me.”

When
she releases him, Airen cups his jaws firmly with both hands and gazes into his
eyes. “I’m so goddamn proud of you.”

Joseph
gives him a watery smile. “I need to wash my face. I’m a mess.” He heads toward
our bedroom, turning to press his palm to my chest when I start to follow him.
“Just give me a minute alone. I need a quiet moment to clear my head, baby.
I’ll be okay.”

I
nod reluctantly, and the slump of his shoulders as he walks away makes me want
to choke his parents until they see what they’ve done to this beautiful man.

“I
shouldn’t have encouraged him to give them a chance.” Airen sighs and scrubs
his face with his hands.

“He
would have done it, anyway.” Julie’s smile is sad. “It’s who he is.” We talk
softly for a few minutes before Julie rises to leave. “Would you check on him
before I go?”

Airen
nods and heads toward the bedroom. I hear him curse and about thirty seconds
later he appears, handing me a flashlight. “He’s gone, took off out the side
door. Julie, watch Lane, would you?”

“Of
course, go. Find him.”

“Where
would he go?” I ask, dismayed.

“I
have an idea where he is.” Airen leads me through the west field and into the
woods. Grabbing his hand, I sidle up closer to him. I hate the woods at night.
There isn’t a clear cut path, but Airen moves with determination; he knows
where he’s going.

“Where
are we going?”

“To
a tree we like to…sit under,” he mutters. It’s too dark to see, but I know he’s
blushing, and it’s sweet beyond words. They have a place that’s special to
them. Oh, please let him be there.

“Over
here.” Airen points to a magnificent weeping willow tree. The drooping leaves
graze the forest floor, creating a curtain that encloses the large circular
area surrounding the trunk. We step between the branches, and Airen sweeps his
flashlight back and forth quickly. Joseph sits with his back against the trunk,
knees pulled up to his chest, his head hung low; a silent portrait of despair.
He doesn’t even seem to notice our arrival.

Airen
reaches into a hollow space between two bulging roots and produces a lantern. Once
it’s lit, the effect on the small space is stunning. Soft orange light throws
dancing shadows on the emerald curtain, separating us from the world. A lush
carpet of silky green moss covers the ground. Feeling like I’ve stepped into a
fairytale land, I close my eyes for a second, inhaling the overwhelming scent
of damp leaves and sweet smelling grass.

“Joey,”
Airen says softly, as we sit on either side of him.

Joseph
shakes his head. “I want to be alone.”

“That
isn’t going to happen.” Airen squeezes his shoulder. “You did so well, buddy.
I’m sorry for what they put you through.”

Joseph’s
shoulders shake and he keeps his face hidden in his arms. “Why can’t they just
love me?” he sobs.

Oh
God. I crush him in my arms, undone by his words. How many times had I cried
out those same words? How many times had I written them? Agonized over them?
Screamed them into an uncaring universe, begging for an answer, hoping it
wasn’t because I was just too worthless to love. I know exactly how he feels
and what he needs to hear, to understand.

“You
can’t change them, sweetheart, but you can keep them from changing you. Don’t
doubt for a second what a beautiful, kind, and loving man you are. See yourself
for the wonderful person you really are, and accept that they’re too damaged to
do the same.” Airen stares at me pointedly, and I know he’s thinking I should
follow my own advice. As though the difference between me and Joseph isn’t
night and day.