His voice drops as his gaze lowers. “He walked in on me with someone this afternoon. Mary was still at work, and he came home from work early. I didn’t think he was going to be home until eight tonight.” He scratches at his right eyebrow, where a stainless ring pierces it. He got it a few months ago. I’m not happy about that, but I’ll never say anything about it, either. It’s not a battle worth fighting right now.
“Your dad threw you out because he caught you with a girl?” I ask.
Now I’mreallyconfused. I could understand Bill possibly reading him the riot act out of parental responsibility. Especially if the girl is younger than Lucas. Even Bill isn’tthatout of touch with common sense. Although, to be honest, I’d expect Bill to be an ass, probably grin and give him an attaboy.
But to throw our son out anddisownhim?
Especially when the sonofabitch can’t keep his own goddamned pants zipped?
Really?
Lucas takes a deep breath. He speaks so softly I almost don’t hear his next words. “He didn’t catch me with a girl.”
Arlo, Nolan, and I all exchange a glance with each other. Lucas looks up, first to Arlo, then Nolan, then me. “He caught me with Caine.”
I blink, stunned into silence. I need a moment to figure out the best thing to say in response.
Laughing isn’t an option, even though I honestly feel like it. Lucas is upset and would mistake the reason behind it and not understand it isrelief.
“Let me get this straight,” I carefully start. “Your dad threw you out…because he found out you’regay?”
He nods as tears well in his eyes.
I step forward and pull him into my arms as he starts sobbing. Both men instinctively step in, enveloping us in their embrace.
“It’s okay, baby,” I whisper. “We love you. It’s okay. You’re safe. You’re finally home, where you belong, and we love you.”
I close my eyes and fight my own tears as he sobs in my arms. Of all the bombshells Lucas could have dropped on us, being gay isn’t even in the same ballpark of what I consider “bad” news.
Does it make me a shitty, petty person that inside I’m silently doing a touchdown dance? Because it likely means Bill will never again take my son from me.
I know it makes me petty to wish I’d known this years ago, so I could’ve used it then to get Bill to disown Lucas.
I’ll own that pettiness, except you need to understand how much heartache this boy has brought to me and Arlo because of his father manipulating him.
Yet I still love Lucas, because he’s mine. We both nearly died when he was born, and I will absolutely give thanks to any powers that be if Bill Motherfucking Webb is finally out of our lives for good.
Lucas cries for several minutes while we maintain our group hug. Eventually, he sniffles and steps back, the men also releasing us. Nolan hands Lucas a wad of paper towels, which he gratefully accepts.
I don’t miss the look the men exchange. This will change our plans, and not just for the weekend, either. Exactly how remains to be seen. Regardless, I thank god I insisted Nolan spend the weekend anyway.
While I’m open-minded and not the least bit upset by my son’s admission, I have no practical experience being a gay man. At least Nolan and Arlo can help guide him, even though Lucas doesn’t know that yet.
I sigh. “Let’s sit down and eat. Then we can talk after dinner. Okay?”
Lucas nods, looking for once like my little boy and not the almost-man he’s become. He opens a cabinet and starts pulling out plates without any prompting from us.
The three of us exchange another shocked glance.
Lucas setting the table without being asked?
Wow, he reallyisupset.
