‘No thanks, I’m good.’
‘You won’t be when I tell you about your dad.’ Roger ripped the top off a stubby and tipped half the bottle down his throat before sitting on the other end of the sofa, his shoulders slumped. ‘He swore me to secrecy, you know.’
‘Actually, I don’t.’ Whatever Roger told him, it couldn’t tarnish his view of his father any more than Mac himself already had.
When Roger remained silent, chugging his beer, Cruz said, ‘Look, I get it, Dad was your best mate and you miss him. But I’m going to clear this place out and—’
‘You can’t!’ Roger yelled so loudly that Cruz jumped.
‘I’m sorry, but—’
‘This was our place,’ Roger whispered, so softly that Cruz thought he misheard. ‘I feel closest to him here.’
The thought of anyone caring this much about his callous father surprised Cruz. Then again, he’d had limited contact with Mac over the last decade; maybe his father had mellowed in his old age and been kinder to his friends than his family.
‘There’s a Men’s Shed in town, Roger. I’m sure you’ve got other mates you can hang out with there.’
Roger barked out a harsh laugh. ‘You don’t get it, do you?’
‘Get what?’
Roger swiped an age-spotted hand over his face and sighed. ‘I’m so bloody tired of living a lie.’
Cruz’s confusion must’ve shown because Roger straightened and eyeballed him.
‘Your dad and I were more than mates.’
Cruz’s reflexive response ‘I don’t understand,’ died on his lips, because in that moment, the truth detonated.
Why his father barely looked at his mother, let alone touched her.
Why his father spent so much time away from home on trips.
Why his father didn’t want his wife or kid coming in here.
Why his father had a bed in a man cave.
‘Sorry to blurt it out like that, but I’m so damn tired …’ Roger trailed off, sadness twisting his mouth. ‘You never had a clue?’
Cruz shook his head, unable to articulate half of what he felt. Anger that Mac had treated his mother so badly. Pity that his dad hadn’t been able to live the life he’d wanted freely and in the open. Disappointment that Mac hadn’t confided in those closest to him.
‘Does Mum know?’
Roger shook his head. ‘Mac never wanted to embarrass her, so we were discreet. Only ever met here. And if anyone noticed, which they didn’t, we could’ve passed it off as two old mates catching up.’
‘How long?’
Roger reddened and glanced away. ‘Before he married Ferne and brought her here.’
‘Fuck,’ Cruz muttered, hating that Mac had dragged his mother into this mess when he could’ve continued living the life he wanted. ‘Poor Mum.’
‘Mac wanted an heir for the farm, so he hid that part of himself.’ Roger patted his chest. ‘As have I. Living in a small country town isn’t conducive to coming out.’
‘People are tolerant these days.’
Roger snorted. ‘In the city, maybe, but Rosevale Grove isn’t ready for two old codgers to be walking down Main Street hand in hand.’
Cruz smiled and some of the tension holding Roger’s back rigid eased.
