Sundae's Best (Briar County 2)

“I’m so glad you two finally get to meet. I’ve been wanting that for a while. You were just a toddler when…when we messed up and hurt your uncle. I wish I could go back in time and do it over again, because I’d do things differently.”

Her words were partly for Grady’s benefit, but also for Scout’s. Grady was sure of it.

“You don’t think there’s something wrong with being gay?” Scout asked.

“No. I don’t. People tend to have a lot of misconceptions, and when you’re raised a certain way, it’s easy to accept those beliefs without trying to figure things out for yourself. I did that, but things have changed. I’ve changed. This family has changed, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay. There is, however, something wrong with not protecting your family, your kids, and I refuse to be that kind of mama. I will always protect you and love you no matter what.”

“Daddy?”

“Him too.”

He nodded, his body shaking like he had pent-up energy he didn’t know what to do with. Scout didn’t admit anything, but he didn’t deny it either, just stood there, watching his mama. And then he smiled.

Cat said, “You and Uncle Grady should trade phone numbers. I’m hoping he’s going to be around a whole lot more now.”

“Okay, yeah, that’d be cool,” Scout replied. Opened his mouth to say something else, then just leaped back over the railing and ran off.

“That normal for him?” Grady asked.

“Yeah, the kid can climb anything. He’s amazing, Grady, good with his hands and building stuff like you and Daddy, but—oh, there he goes.” Grady looked over to see him doing cartwheels then instead of running.

“Scout is what changed your mind about me,” he ventured.

She sighed and sat beside him. “Yes and no. Miller was raised differently from us. He’d always been more progressive with things, and over the years, it started to rub off on me. Still, it’s not something we actually talked to Scout about. I figure we should have, but it wasn’t as easy for me. You were gone, and I knew how Mama and Daddy felt. I thought I was supposed to feel the same, and I guess…I didn’t have a reason to be more vocal? Which is shitty. I get it. But little things about Scout would make me wonder, and then one day when he thought we were gone, I caught him wearing one of my dresses. I tried to get him to speak to me then, but I didn’t want to push. And I didn’t tell Miller because… Hell, I don’t know. Should I have? Was I supposed to out him? Push him? Make him tell me or his dad something he wasn’t ready to tell, or maybe hadn’t even worked out? I just knew that it didn’t matter. Scout is my child, and that’s all I care about, which made me see things in a whole new light and made me feel even worse about you. It’s been a year now, and I know I could have tried to find you or to see if I could figure out your phone number, but…it’s hard admitting you’re wrong. I looked you up on social media a few times, once on your birthday, but you aren’t on any of the sites.”

Grady reached over and squeezed her hand. He was still angry, still hurt, and it would take a lot for them to get through this, but he wanted to be there for Scout, and the fact that his sister was, and Grady knew she would protect him, that went a long way to bridging the gap. “I’m here now,” he said. “The rest we’ll work on.” They were quiet for a moment before he asked, “How did you get my number to call me? I did change it all those years ago.”

“Dad had it. I have no idea how or for how long, but when he got hurt, he asked for you, and he gave me your number, Grady.”

Shit, that was surprising. He didn’t know what to do with it.

The door opened, and both their gazes darted over. This time it was Deacon standing there. Deacon, whom he loved. Deacon, who loved him.

“Am I interrupting? I can go back inside.”

“No,” Grady replied. “I want you with me always.” And he meant it.

Chapter 32

Deacon

They finally got the call from the hospital that Grady’s dad had done well during his procedure. He was tired and still coming out of anesthesia and probably would be for most of the day.

They’d stayed at the house all afternoon, Betsy’s and Cat’s husbands and kids joining them. It wasn’t perfect. It was quiet and awkward at times, all of them trying to navigate their relationship again. But at other times there was laughter, Grady talking with the kids and getting to know them. He was good with children, and it was clear he wanted to be a part of their lives.