Guess I’m special enough to lay claim to, but not enough for her to fixmea plate.
I just barely get my plate loaded, when Gannett comes back around the house with dad in tow. “Ayy! There he is! Evan, where’s your”—his face scrunches, looking like he’s searching for the right word—“do you call him your boyfriend, or partner, or what?”
Brooks stands and joins me. “Partner,” Brooks says, holding his hand out for my dad to shake. “I’m Brooks. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Waters.”
Dad snorts. “First time it’s ever been called a pleasure,” he scoffs, looking over my shoulder at Mum. “Hear that, Mutha? I’m apleasure.”
Brooks laughs. “Technically, I said the experience ofmeetingyou was a pleasure…”
Dad chuckles, still shaking Brooks’ hand. This handshake has gone on for an awkwardly long time. “Don’t hear that one too often either, if I’m being honest.” Dad’s facial expression suddenly flattens, and hetugs Brooks’ hand towards his chest, instead of letting it go. “What’re your intentions with my son?” he asks gruffly, arcing one of his wispy, white eyebrows.
Brooks gulps. His cheeks flush. “Uhh… to… love him?”
“Dad, seriously,” I grumble. “Stop messing with him.”
Dad chuckles, finally releasing Brooks’ hand. “Iamjust messin’ with ya, kid. Jesus H, when did I become the Abominable Snowman, anyway? First Evan’s all terrified to tell me he wants to date a man, then you’re afraid I’m gonna bite your head off. Y’all act like bumbles can’t be humbled. Took me some getting used to, but I’m working on it.”
Brooks gives him a sheepish laugh.
Then Dad spins to address the group. He whistles shrilly. “Everyone, listen up! Evan’s here and there’s someone he’d like everyone to meet…” He steps aside, as if he’s just peeled back the curtain on a stage.
“Uh, hey,” I greet everyone, my voice cracking. “So, I’m sure you’ve probably heard some rumors about me, and those rumors are probably true. I’m gay. This is my partner, Brooks.” I reach for his hand, and he threads his fingers through mine, squeezing them tight.
“That’s right,” Dad pipes up again. “If any of y’all here has a problem with my boy datin’ another man… well, I’d say pipe up now, but the truth is, I’d rather not hear what you gotta say about it. I’m just happy he’s happy, and I hear Brooks makes him very happy. Anyone got any quarrel about it, you better high tail your ass outta here before you see ‘em smoochin’ at some point, because I won’t be the one tellin’ em to cut it out, and none-ah you all will be either!” Dad puffs his chest out proudly.
I roll my eyes, but then look around to find that no one has budged. No one is whispering their thoughts to anyone else. I’m not too damn daft to know that this won’t be chattered about behind my back,because that’s just how it is here, but no one has tarred and feathered me yet, anyway.
A few look a little stunned, but not nearly as many as I would have thought. Maybe they have already heard rumors about me, for all I know, and this just solidified it. Either way, their silence speaks volumes. It’s as much acceptance as I’m going to get in the here and now.
Brooks chuckles, his cheeks adorably pink. “That was a heck of a welcome speech,” he tells Wagner, when everyone resumes their chatter.
Dad reaches out and claps Brooks on the shoulder. “Listen, I’m gonna tell you what I told my son when he professed he was seein’ ya. I have looked the Grim Reaper in the face, not once, but twice now, and both times I winked at him before spittin’ in his face and walkin’ away. I had a little time in the hospital, after they Roto-Rootered my ticker again, to think about what mattered most to me.
“If you are the one that my eldest finds fit to want to start courting, then I don’t care if you’re gay, straight, bi-sexual, pan-sexual, hoobidy-doobidy sexual, or whatever else kinda sexual there is out there. It literally doesnotmatter to me anymore. All I want is for him to be happy, and I’ll be happy. Got me?”
Brooks grins and nods.
“Wow, Dad. I think maybe you should consider writing Oscar-award speeches. That was touching as fuck,” Gannett snarks, then he looks at Brooks. “You think I’m kidding, but you’d have to grow up with the guy to know that’s pretty fucking heartfelt shit, right there.”
“Ohhh, yut,” agree a couple of Dad’s other buddies, who must have been eavesdropping. One of them being Roger, my former boss.
The boss I’d have absolutely zero interest in climbing into bed with tonight, also worth noting, because the only boss I’ve ever wanted to bang is Brooks.
Another surprise attendee also happens to be my father-in-law, Walter. Even more shocking is when he comes over to offer his nod of approval to Brooks and me. “Evan, you know I’ve always respected the hell out of you. Took a lot of courage to stand up here and tell everyone you’re gay. I’m not going to lie and say I’m not stunned as all get out, because I did not see that coming, but just know that I respect you even more knowing now that you had this secret and still gave Miranda and Colton the world. That’s a man of his word.” Then he leans in and whispers, “I know about my grandson, too. Tell him Paps won’t be upset if he wants to swing by withhisboyfriend sometime too, okay?”
I nod, but before I can respond, he gives me a clap on my shoulder and heads to the cooler to grab a beer for himself.
“Oh, Mutha,” Dad addresses Mum with the traditional Mainer term of endearment again. “Would you be a deah and fetch the boys here a brewski? I think we owe them a proper toast, don’t you?”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Mum replies, handing out a few dripping cans of lukewarm beer to everyone nearby.
Dad holds up his can first. “Here’s to the happy couple! Welcome to the fold, Brookstah!”
My poor, shell-shocked boyfriend sticks out like a sore thumb right now, and his face is even more beet red for it. It’s like seeing a cultured dignitary trying to fit in with a bunch of redneck hillbillies. We’ve had a coming out celebration indeed—just with a classic Water’s family twist on it.
I pull him in close to me and tap my can to his. “Cheers, babe. You better start drinking up. It’s probably the only way you’re going tosurvive a night with this rowdy bunch.” Then I kiss his temple, before taking a swig of my own beer, a feeling of extreme relief washing over me.
Chapter Thirty-One
