Desi’s voice drops, deep and cold. Vicious. “Last time, Mom. I’ll write you and Dad a check you can go deposit in the bank to reimburse you for my college and law school education. Take it or don’t, I don’t care. But this is the absolute last time you throw it in my face that you paid for me to go to college.”
“What are we supposed to tell our friends?” she wails.
His father quietly stands behind her, arms crossed over his chest as he stares at his feet. He looks very uncomfortable, but I suspect it has more to do with her than Desi’s revelation.
“How about the truth? That your son is an attorney, he’s very happy with the man he’s going to marry, and he’s returned to Maudlin Falls to be with him. If you’re ashamed of your son, that’s your problem, not mine. It’s not my job to be an accessory for you to flash in front of your friends.”
Her mouth gapes like a fish and she’s about to speak again when Desi’s father lays a hand on her shoulder and squeezes, silencing her.
“Son, I’m very happy for you both.” He makes a point of looking me in the eyes. “I always did like you, Tom. If this is what Desi wants and needs to be happy, then of course you have our love and support.”
His mom’s head snaps around as she stares at him. “But—”
“No buts,” his dad says, cutting her off. “I love Desi. I’m done letting you try to mold him to whatever perfect vision you have in your brain about his life. Time for you to let go.” He returns his focus to Desi. “Of course you aren’t going to pay us back for college. We wanted you to be able to make a living for yourself, and you are. If we needed the money, it’d be different, but we don’t. Will you let us take you boys out for dinner?”
I follow Desi’s lead and he looks relieved. “Thanks, Dad. Yeah, that’d be nice.” They hug, then his dad hugs me. “You might as well call me Dad, too, son,” he says. “We’ve certainly known you long enough.”
His mom stands there, stunned. “We need to talk about this, and—”
“The only thing we’re talking about,” his father says, “is where we’re going for dinner. Just stop it.Now.”
Her mouth snaps shut and she stares at him, but I think Desi’s dad just found his spine.
Finally.
Thank goodness.
Later that night, as we’re lying in bed with full stomachs, we’re too tired and emotionally wrung out to do anything but hold each other and talk.
“I think your mom finally realizes her hold on you is over.”
“Yeah,” he says, snuggling me tighter against him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For your patience.” He kisses me. “For forgiving me. For the second chance.”
“Yeah, well, you’re worth it.” A sweet quiet fills the room. “As long as you don’t give our cat peanut butter again.”
He bursts out laughing and it’s the best sound in the world next to him telling me he loves me.
Chapter Eighteen
Four Weeks Later…
Desi
Sitting on the back porch late this Friday afternoon, I take a deep breath and enjoy the sweet scent of fresh-mown grass and savor the satisfaction of a job well done. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy this chore.
I despised going to the gym. At least with activities like this to stay on top of, it helps keep me from getting totally flabby.
And with the guy I love by my side, and now that I don’t work in a cut-throat firm that places a premium on appearances, I don’t need to struggle to stay unnaturally tight and firm all over. Tom loves me the way I am, for who I am, and I’m enough for him.
During my absence from this most perfect of places, I’d forgotten how wonderful that feeling was, too.
“Maow.”
I look over. Jester is staring at me from where he’s sitting inside his new catio. “Hey, buddy. Like your new digs?” We finished it last weekend. It was something we’d talked about building for him when we first adopted him, but didn’t get around to before I left. Tom never had the heart or energy to do it after I was gone.
