Gay Amish 03 - A Way Home (29 page)

After more goodbyes, Isaac turned at the door and gave Nathan a final smile.
Please let him live. Please let me see him again.
Then he was walking, and they were almost at the elevator, and David held his hand. Jen looped an arm around Aaron’s waist, and he kissed her head.

Isaac’s steps slowed. “They really aren’t coming, are they? Our parents aren’t coming to say goodbye.”

David smiled sadly. “It doesn’t seem like it. I suppose they’ve said everything there is to say. What more is there?”

“Yeah. I think they’ve said it all.” Aaron tried to smile. “We know how they feel, and they know how we feel. All we can do is accept it. I’m trying to, at least. And we’ve done what we came here to do. We helped Nathan.”

“You did.
You
saved him,” Isaac said.

Aaron shook his head. “He’s not saved yet.”

“But if he lives, it’ll be because of you,” David said. “You should be proud. We’re proud of you.”

Aaron smiled for real this time. “Thank you.”

“Maybe this is their way of letting you all go,” Jen added quietly. “By not coming to try and convince you to change. Maybe this is the best way they can accept you.”

“Letting us go,” Isaac repeated. “Maybe it is.” He breathed deeply. “Let’s go home.”

Aaron nodded. “God, let’s. Let’s get back to our lives.”

“Aaron!” Danielle called. They turned to find her hurrying down the hall carrying something square wrapped in a white cloth. “I almost forgot—your mother left this for you.”

“For me?” Aaron shook his head. “You must be mistaken.”

Danielle held it out. “Nope. It’s definitely for you, and whatever it is, it smells delicious. So you’d better take it, or I’ll gobble it up. Take care, you guys.”

Aaron took it from her. “I… Thank you.”

As Danielle left with a wave, Aaron stared at the package in his hands. He slowly unwrapped the white cloth to reveal a baking dish full of pasta. His breath caught. “Butter noodles. My favorite.” Tears sprang to his eyes.

Isaac had to blink back his own tears, and so did David and Jen. They all stood there in the hall staring at the food.

Jen wiped her eyes. “There’s a microwave in the cafeteria. Come on.”

So they found a table downstairs, and Aaron got four forks. They shared the meal right out of the baking dish, savoring the buttery noodles with a hint of parsley—Mother’s secret ingredient.

#

Isaac blinked to attention as Jen pulled up outside a large building that was not the airport. He’d been leaning against David’s shoulder and tracing patterns on his palm in the backseat, and now he sat up straighter. “Where are we?”

David cleared his throat. “I thought you might like to go the long way.”

“The bus again?” Isaac wrinkled his nose. “Flying was weird, but it was way less gross.” Then it hit him, and his pulse galloped. “Is this the train station?” From the front seat, Jen and Aaron grinned back at him.

“Yep.” David smiled. “We had to take the bus last time, but I thought we could do it properly now. The way you always dreamed of.”

Isaac couldn’t speak, and his mind whirled.

David’s face fell. “But if you don’t want to, I’m sure we can get on a flight. Maybe not tonight, but tomorrow. We can—”

“No.” He gripped David’s hand. “This is good. Thank you.”

“All right, get out of here,” Jen said. “We’ll see you boys in a few days.”

“Have fun.” Aaron ruffled Isaac’s hair playfully. “Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.”

“Considering we fall asleep by nine p.m. after watching
NCIS: Wherever
most nights I’m home, I think you’re good to go.” Jen grinned.

Isaac unbuckled and leaned over the seat to give them an awkward hug. “Thank you. I…”

“We know.” Aaron nodded to the station. “Now go catch your train, brother.”

They did, in a bustle of activity inside the train station with people darting here and there dragging wheeled suitcases. They still had June’s little purple case, which she’d insisted they keep, and he followed as David read the signs and found the right track. It was the first time Isaac had seen him take the lead doing something worldly, and he puffed up with pride.

We’re going to be okay.

They waited on the platform, and Isaac thought he might bounce out of his skin as the train appeared in the distance, its big white headlight beaming like the freight trains he remembered. Isaac could have leapt on board in a single bound, and David laughed with delight.

Of course David gave him the window seat, and as the train rolled out of Minneapolis, Isaac pressed his face to the glass. He loved the gentle sway of the car and the hum of the engine, and David beside him with their fingers entwined.

“Sorry you can’t ride on top like you used to imagine,” David murmured. “With the wind in your hair. I asked, but they don’t allow it.”

Isaac chuckled. The seats were like on the bus, rows of two seats facing the same way. There were people all around, so Isaac kept his voice low too. “This is just as good.”
I’m on a train. A real-life train.
He’d ridden the BART in San Francisco, but it wasn’t the same.

“Just wait. It’ll get better.”

Isaac turned away from the window. “What do you mean?”

“You’ll see.” David was clearly trying not to smile.

When they reached Omaha five hours later, Isaac found out. He followed as they climbed down from the car and David asked someone where to go for the California Zephyr. It was almost eleven o’clock when the new train arrived. Isaac squinted down the track as it pulled in, his heart thumping. It was bigger than the other train, with two levels. “What’s a zephyr?”

“I have no idea, but the internet said this is one of the best train rides to take.” David grinned. “It sounds really pretty. I think you’ll like it. I think I will too.”

They climbed on board, and David peered at their tickets, which he said he’d printed himself at June’s on white paper. A man in a navy uniform pointed them up the stairs nearby, and the butterflies were back in Isaac’s stomach, but in the best way. There were doors all along the passageway upstairs, and David stopped in front of one. “I think this is it.”

Isaac frowned. “What do you mean?”

A woman in navy appeared. She smiled widely. “You’re in this roomette?” David showed her their tickets. “Yes, here you are. Have you ridden with us before?”

“No. Only just now to get to Omaha,” David answered.

She smiled again. “I’m Monica, and I’ll answer any questions you have. Let me show you the features of your roomette.” She slid open the door.

Isaac bit back a gasp. “Is this
ours
?”

Monica nodded. “All yours! You can see the picture window—just wait until we hit the Rockies—you won’t believe the view. Now your two seats here facing each other convert into a bed, and there’s an upper berth that folds down from up here.” She pointed as she spoke. “Your restroom and showers are just down the hall, and you’ve got climate control, electrical outlets, reading lights, towels, and bed linens.”

As Monica went over all the features, Isaac could only stare, barely hearing her. He and David were taking a train all the way to California, and they had
their own room.

“There’s bottled water there, and let me know if you need anything else. Would you like turn-down service?”

“Uh…” David glanced at Isaac, who had no idea what that meant. “I think we’re fine. Thank you.”

“Enjoy your trip. Sleep well, gentlemen.”

There was barely room for both of them to stand once they closed the door behind them, but Isaac didn’t care if it was tiny. It was
theirs.
He threw himself into David’s arms. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” David kissed his cheek. “I know it’ll take longer, but after Zebulon…I thought it would be nice. Just you and me for a little while.”

“More than nice.” The train started moving, and Isaac didn’t know whether to laugh or cry or shout. “It’s perfect.” He went to the window, but could only see their reflection.

“Here.” David flicked off the light.

In the darkness, the lights of Omaha soon gave way to the plains of Nebraska. Under the gleam of the moon, the land stretched out flat as far as Isaac could see. They unfolded the seats into a narrow bed, not bothering with the one above. It didn’t matter if there was hardly any room—no way were they sleeping separately.

In their pajamas after midnight, they knelt on the bed at the window shoulder to shoulder and watched the world go by. They couldn’t hear any other passengers, and the only sound was the low growl of the wheels on the track and the whistle blowing every so often. It sent a shiver down Isaac’s spine. He could almost believe he and David were alone on the train, and that this was all for them.

He whispered, “I can’t wait to see the mountains.”

“And the ocean again. Isaac, let’s see everything. Let’s ride all the trains.”

Isaac tore his gaze from the window and watched David—beautiful and brave, and
his
. David smiled at him in the moonlight. They kissed softly and turned back to the world and the way home.

David was puffing by the time he reached the top of the hill at Bernal Heights Park, glad that the sun was hidden behind a cluster of clouds in the blue sky. The grass was brown now at the end of August, but dogs still raced around with their owners nearby. As he reached the fence surrounding the radio tower, he passed a clump of teenagers smoking something sweet and cloying that he didn’t think was a cigarette. A path wrapped around the fence, and David smiled as he remembered the first time he and Isaac had walked all the way around, marveling at the three hundred and sixty degree view of the city.

Isaac sat waiting on the ocean side, of course. His legs were tanned under his shorts, and he had his pocketknife out. He carved a thick twig with a little smile playing on his lips. For a moment, David just watched, smiling himself.

He plopped down beside Isaac on the side of the hill, kissing him lightly and hardly even thinking about other people being around to see them. They could even kiss at
church
if they wanted. Not that they ever did, but they could.

“Hey.” Isaac slipped the knife away, and glanced at his phone before putting it in his pocket as well. “Chris says hi, and that he’s going to kick your butt at that new soccer game at Lola’s Sunday night.”

David laughed. “Undoubtedly. He’s way better at video games than I am.” He took the twig from Isaac, its bark almost gone. “What’s this going to be?”

“I don’t know. A snake maybe. Not enough wood for much more. Was Reverend Albert happy with the new pews?”

“Yes. I know you’ll see them on Sunday, but I took a picture.” David pulled out his phone and tapped in his secret code. He held up the screen so Isaac could see.

“They look amazing! Everyone’s going to want to sit on that side.”

David couldn’t help but beam. “I hope they can raise the money soon to do the other half. They’re so old and creaky. Reverend Albert tried to pay me again. I took a little so he’d feel better.” The Unitarians had welcomed David and Isaac with open arms, and David had never looked so forward to church. No more four hours of dreary German hymns and sermons. They actually laughed in services now. They had new friends, and went for brunch some Sundays. David sipped mimosas and never felt the need to gulp.

“Are you starting on the desk for Clark’s boss next? I thought we could work on it together tomorrow morning before Jen’s surprise party at Flanagan’s.”

“I’d like that.” David wiped the sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his T-shirt.

Isaac chuckled. “Aaron said Clark’s making the cake I like. With the cream cheese? I told him I forgive him now too, but I’m not sure he believes me yet. But I get cake, so that’s okay.”

“It’s…what do they call it? Win-win?”

“Yes. And Jen’s mom is bringing chicken adobo.”

David groaned. “So delicious. Gary’s ribs are the best too. And those wings we had that time—the boneless ones? I’m hungry just thinking about it.” He picked up one of the little stones by his feet and tossed it down the hill. Below them was Bernal Heights with its narrow streets and houses packed together. He imagined he could see the roof of Jen and Aaron’s townhouse, even though there was no way to tell which one it was.

“So, Danielle left me a message while I was in class.”

David sucked in a breath. “And?” Surely Isaac would have told him right away if it was bad news?

“Nathan’s cancer-free. His hair has almost all grown back and he looks Amish again. He says hi.”

“That’s amazing!” David wanted to whoop for joy.

“I know.” Isaac’s smile faded. “She won’t see him anymore unless he gets sick again. But I hope Mother and Father will still let him write me back like they promised.”

“I’m sure they will.” David ran his hand over Isaac’s thigh. “Any word about Ephraim?”

“He hasn’t left the last June heard. But I got a letter from Mervin. It was short, but he seems good. Still planning on marrying Sadie after harvest. He said his brother’s definitely asking Mary soon too. They’re going steady now.”

“Good. Maybe Mary will write again soon with her happy news.” Her only letter had spoken of mundane things like Eli splitting his pants during a barn raising and Sarah learning how to write her cursive alphabet. But that she’d written—and addressed the letter to both he and Isaac—was something he held close to his heart.

He and Isaac leaned together quietly for a little while as the sun danced with the clouds.

Isaac sat up straighter. “Oh, did you see the message Anna sent on Facebook? The Parkers are letting her have the afternoon off to come to Jen’s party tomorrow.”

Warmth bloomed in David’s chest. “Good. It’s been two weeks. I miss her. That’s kind of them.”

“They said she’s the greatest live-in nanny and housekeeper they’ve ever had, and an extra afternoon is the least they can do. According to Anna, anyway.”

David laughed. “Not that she’s biased.”

“Not at all,” Isaac agreed.

“I saw a boy talking to her on one of her posts. I wonder if she’ll bring him to the party.”