"Those kind. He tells her to take a lot of baths. He has a trunk of kids' toys she can't look at. He doesn't fit the typical profile, though. When her mom isn't there, he sends her to her room. Sounds like he doesn't know how to deal with her. I could be biased because of my own past, but I'd rather be safe than sorry."
"And promoting Southwind is a lot easier to explain to Luke than telling him you want to see that family in action." I reached over to pick up the Bible, then opened the cover. "That makes sense." Then I found what I wanted. "This was the one Bea's mom got when she got married."
"Yeah, it's also old enough that it doesn't have the word homosexual anywhere in it. Instead, that sin is pederasty. " He leaned in to see where I was looking. "You know that if Cats Peak hates us, Luke's the only one who's going to suffer. He's already trying to make sense of what he's been told and what he feels. The last thing he needs is to have people singling him out to warn him about how we'll corrupt him."
"You're telling me to play nice," I realized.
"Yeah. Just for a bit." He scooted a little closer. "These aren't bad people. They just don't know any better. Look at Faith. She calls Ash a fag because that's the only way she knows how to talk about it. She also likes him. And most of these people had nothing at all to do with our lives. You didn't go to school with all of them. All they know is that you're too pretty, they're jealous, and you keep acting like you're better than them."
I nodded, knowing he was right. "What about Faith?" I asked, offering him the Bible back. "Is she ok?"
"He hasn't touched her. I'm just not convinced that he won't. I made sure she knew to call me if she needs anything, but I think she'd call her dad first. I honestly believe that kid would run out the door and keep running. She knows her dad will always stand up for her, even when she's wrong, and that's the only reason I'm not pushing this harder."
"She still doesn't need the trauma of anyone trying," I said.
"And we're not her parents. We're not even her legal guardians. We can't do shit. Not even Luke. Because of his custody agreement, his hands are kinda tied. He gets alternate weekends and any other time that Meredith approves. He pays like six hundred a month in child support, even though his court order is only for two. Yeah, I asked."
A little thought tickled at the back of my mind, and I had to ask. "Are you sure that you're not looking for problems in an attempt to help him out?"
"Honestly?" Cy said. "No, I'm not. I know that I judge any older man who is too handsy with kids. I also have some pretty good firsthand experience with what they're wanting. And yes, I'm well aware that my records can be subpoenaed for family law. I've kept very good - and unbiased - ones. I also record our sessions, so there's that as proof. Kinda reminds me to stay unbiased, too. And it's a very good way to prove that nothing inappropriate happens behind that closed door."
"I had no idea," I told him. "I mean, I agree, but I didn't know you were doing all of that."
"First rule of practicing in a jail, always have proof of what happened. Criminals know how to work the system, and they will claim that I blackmailed them, raped them, or worse. Just a habit now. I keep a little recorder in the top drawer of the desk. The forms Luke filled out give me authorization."
"Ok." I paused as the front door opened and I heard Luke walk in. "Well, I think you should go and invite yourself."
"I think you should have him spend the night with you," Cy said as he stood up. Then he leaned in and kissed the side of my head. "Don't talk about what happened with me. Just let him have some normalcy in his world for one night."
I caught his arm before he could leave. "What about us?"
His lips curled in a smile. "So there's an us, huh?"
"I'd like there to be."
He nodded once. "Me too. I've also waited years to say that, so I'm not going anywhere. Let's worry about fixing the problems first, then we'll deal with the rest, ok?"
"Yeah, sounds good. Just wanted to make sure we're on the same page."
He paused to lean against the door frame. "I currently have a man who doesn't even know his sexuality, another that isn't sure if he hates me still or loves me too much. Then there's you, my lifeline. Trust me, I'm hanging on. I also remember exactly how it felt to have you relax in my arms. We're on the same page."
Then he left. I sat there for a moment longer, smiling at the polished surface of Gran's desk. Of all the compliments I'd been given in my life, that one may have been the best. More than that, I loved how he didn't try to avoid answering or give me some platitude. This was Cy, and when he was direct, he didn't pull his punches.
Then I heard him in the other room. "Hey, Luke? Got a question for you."
"Shoot," Luke said.
I pushed my chair back and headed that way, wanting to see exactly how this played out. Just as I rounded the corner, Cy set the Bible on the kitchen bar and kept going, straight for the fridge.
"I was wondering if you'd give me the address for that church you go to." Then he pulled out a pair of beers and offered one to Luke.
"You want to go to church?" Luke asked.
"Why does everyone say it like that?" Cy asked. "Violet acted the same way. Yes, I want to go to church. Pretty sure I'm not making it back to my last one anytime soon."
"Baptist?" Luke asked.
"First Church of Christ, previously," Cy told him. "I'm also not that picky. Was Methodist before I started going to the same church as my fiancé."
