MATTEO
May
I plucked away at Chopin’s “Nocturnes No. 2” as the morning sun streamed through the floor to ceiling window of Nana’s living room, heating my face and rejuvenating my soul.
Some of the furniture was still covered in white sheets, reminding me of lonely ghosts shedding their unfinished business after discovering the light. As I played, I stared at the silver frame preserving my Grandmother and Grandfather’s anniversary photo, their smiles radiant. They’d had real love, the kind that lasted beyond death. The kind I always dreamed I might find.
This is for you, Nana.
I wished she were here to listen to me play, and I hoped she knew I was going to be okay. I swore, I could feel her sitting next to me, her small frame containing a big spirit. Maybe Heaven was a real place , a space between the spaces that my music could reach. I moved my hands across the keyboard, every note tapping my heart. This was where I was supposed to be, and all the years of hardship and pain ceased to matter.
It was mind-blowing to me how quickly time could go by. It was exactly two months from the day of the hearing. A week later, I’d gotten word the judge had ruled in my favor. Waiting for my birthday had been a slow and anxious process. All I could think about was the bullshit my father might pull at the last minute. But Sean had showered me with love and a surprise Birthday outing that made me feel special.
My father refused to go down without one last bitter swing. It took three weeks from the day of my birthday to receive the keys to my grandmother’s house because he had the lockschanged. Mr. Salvatore had to do some legal stuff to force him to hand over the keys. It was my father’s last act of defiance.
Nothing I’d said to him that day at the hearing had penetrated his hard and dead shell.
Mr. Salvatore had suggested taking legal action against my parents, but I’d turned it down. I wanted to move on. Let them live their miserable lives that were devoid of love, music, and happiness.
I was finallyfree. I was twenty-one now and the money was in my bank account. I had the keys to the house Nana left me and her grand piano at my fingertips.
And I had Sean. He was the most surprising part of everything life had thrown me. Like a wrench tossed into a machine just to see what would happen, only it made everything function better.
He’d accompanied me last night as I walked into my grandmother’s house for the first time in years. He’d stayed and I’d played a few songs for him. We’d had sex in my old bed. And I’d awoken next to him, naked, the sense of rightness clearer than ever before. As if everything I’d endured was supposed to happen in order to lead me to where I was.
I zoned out on the still keys, some of the more used ones slightly worn from use. They would need to be refinished soon. All the wear and tear was a reminder of the music I’d shared with Nana.
Strong arms enveloped me, and I bumped my head against Sean as he kissed the top of my hair.
“It’s kinda nice waking up to such heavenly music,” he teased. “I should keep you around more often.”
“Uh huh. You’re the one that’s supposed to pamper me in the morning. I’m the breadwinner now.”
He chuckled and straddled the piano bench like a horse. He was gorgeous with bedhead and a satisfied look in his eyesthat stemmed from a good fuck. I ran my fingers through his soft beard, appreciating everything about him. I wished I could express in music what he meant to me, but I wasn’t sure such a piece had been written yet. Maybe I’d be the one to compose it.
I tugged him into a chaste kiss, scenting fresh toothpaste. He gave life to this place, as if I weren’t the only one living here. I liked the idea of sharing my grandmother’s house with him.
“I have a bone to pick with you,” he rumbled. He was trying to be serious, but a smile was permanently curled over his lips. “Before we left yesterday, I grabbed my mail and before I could open it, you molested me. I got around to opening it just now and it seems I have an investment account with a million bucks in it that I knew nothing about.”
“I asked my lawyer to set it up for you,” I said.
He stroked his beard for a moment. “I’m not comfortable with you giving me this kind of money.”
I turned to face him. “You haven’t asked how much I inherited. Why?”
I expected him to say something like:It’s none of my business.But we were closer now, weren’t we? More than friends. Instead, he said with a little smirk, “Because it doesn’t matter. Whether you’re broke or loaded, you’re still my brat.”
I bit my lip to keep from smiling like the happiest person in the world. “You’ve done so much for me. Let me do this for you, please? And I want you to know it's a drop in the bucket.”
“Wait, I get it now. You’re trying to buy blowjobs because I give the best head.”
“Oh shut up, Pooh Bear,” I growled and slapped his shoulder. “As if I need to buy sexual favors. I could have any guy I want. Just look at me.”
He pulled me into his kiss, stealing my words and I melted into him. He made a purr-like sound. “Yet you chose me.”
“I like having you around,” I said against his mouth.
“For as long as you want me here,” he started and took my hand. He kissed my knuckles. “I will be.”
