“Would you come home?” Grady’s mom asked—Janice, Deacon had learned her name was.
Grady looked at him, and he nodded, hoping it conveyed that he would do whatever was best for Grady.
“If Deke and I are both welcome and will be treated with respect, then yes, we’d like that.” Grady reached out and took his hand again. The way he squeezed, Deacon felt like Grady’s lifeline, like he’d said those words afraid of what the response would be and needing Deacon’s strength if it didn’t go well. Deacon would gladly give it to him, would support him in any way he could.
It was one thing for them to be glad to see him at the hospital when his dad was sick, but after all those years, they couldn’t wipe away their feelings that quickly.
“Yes,” Cat answered.
“Thank you, but I need to hear it from Mom,” Grady replied.
“Yes, of course. Your…”
“Boyfriend,” Grady finished for Janice.
“Yes, your boyfriend is welcome.”
“Okay, we’ll meet you there, then.”
They didn’t hug or kiss the way Deacon’s family did when they parted, even though they saw each other all the time; that was simply the way they’d always been. But then, Grady’s family had a lot between them, years of bigotry and anger and pain. He couldn’t imagine what it would take to bridge that. He just hoped it wouldn’t be the same for him with Eugene and Frances.
He and Grady walked out together. When they got to the car, he asked Grady, “You want me to drive?”
“No, but I do need you to hold me for a minute.”
Shit. He should have thought of that himself. He couldn’t imagine the conflicting emotions Grady was experiencing. Deacon wrapped his arms around him, walked him backward until his ass was against the car, holding him tight, hugging and kissing and making sure Grady knew he wasn’t alone.
“Damn, you got me feelin’ all needy,” Grady tried to joke, then sighed. “I don’t really know what to feel right now. I’m worried about my dad, and I’m confused about my family. I know their belief system, and it’s what’s kept us apart all this time, but the way they’re acting today is like…”
“People can change, Grady. That’s one of the most beautiful parts of being human. We have the ability to evolve, to do better, to be better. We just have to be willing to look inside ourselves and do it.”
“I’m afraid to get my hopes up.”
Jesus, that broke his heart. He couldn’t make sense of why it mattered so damn much. “You deserve more than what you’ve been given. Regardless of what happens, you got me. I won’t ever go anywhere.” Deacon wanted to spend the rest of his life with the man in his arms.
Grady pulled back some, cradled Deacon’s face in his hands before leaning in and pressing a slow kiss to his lips. “I won’t go anywhere either.”
“Good, or I’ll be the one chaining you to the bed like we talked about that one night,” Deacon teased.
“Name the time and place.” Grady winked, then nodded toward the car.
It was a nice drive out to the home Grady was raised in. It was a large piece of property, on thirty-five acres. Betsy had a house built on the same land.
“Dad’s a farmer. He expected me to be one too.”
“You never wanted that?” Deacon asked. “I can see it, you working all day in the sun.”
“I thought about it, that’s for sure. I’m not averse to the idea. It’s just…I left, and that was the snowball that kicked everything off. I’ve never had anything like this of my own, though, clearly. I don’t think I’d want something this big, but I’d love a piece of land like Roe and Holden’s one day.”
“We gotta have a big screened porch,” Deacon found himself replying, as if this dream home would belong to the both of them together.
“Obviously. We can put chimes all over too—for Patricia. Maybe have a little pond, and I can build us a deck we can go fishing off of. Do you like fishing?”
“Is that really a question? And Moose will probably need a friend too.”
“Oh, and I want one of those small, hairy cows. They’re cute as fuck. What are they called?”
“A Scottish Highland cow?”
“Yes! That!”
“Baby, they don’t stay small forever.” Deacon laughed, enjoying this fictional world they’d made together.
“They have mini ones that do. Or we can get a big one. Just get me a furry cow, Deke. That’s all I want!” The last part he said dramatically, making Deacon’s chuckle grow.
“We can have a furry cow…and a Bigfoot in the yard if you’re really nice.”
“Thank you,” Grady replied, taking a left down a driveway, and Deacon realized they were there. He knew what that talk had been—a distraction, a way to keep Grady’s mind off things, but…Christ, could they do that? Could they really have that? Settle down together, him leave his home, the two of them finding one together in Briar County, with furry cows and a stupid metal Sasquatch and dogs running around. Simple nights spent out on the porch, talking about their days, while chimes blew in the distance.