Sundae's Best (Briar County 2)

“Me too. Guess it’s settled, then. It’d be a tragedy if we were both sobbing.”

It was silly, this little back-and-forth, but it felt like they both needed it, maybe as a way to let go of the sadness. Or Grady was crazy and it was just him, Deacon playing along to pacify him.

Deacon opened the fridge. “I have some ground beef. We can fry up burgers or whip up some spaghetti. I’m not a gourmet chef by any stretch of the imagination, but I do okay.”

“I’m fine with either. And I’m the same. I’m not a disaster when it comes to cooking, but I won’t be winning any awards either.”

“Well, now I’m disappointed,” Deacon joked, pulling the package from the fridge. “How about burgers and homemade fries?”

“Sounds good to me.”

They washed their hands, and then Deacon got out a few potatoes, cutting boards, and knives. They stood side by side at the granite countertop, chopping them up together.

“You liking Covington Supply Co?” Deacon asked, and for some reason, Grady was a bit surprised he’d been the one to start a conversation.

“Yeah, I do. Monroe and Holden are good people, and I have to admit it’s nice to work for someone who’s queer. It’s sad, but that’s always a worry—how people will react. I’m at a point in my life where I don’t have any inclination to be around someone who can’t accept me completely.”

“That makes sense, and you shouldn’t have to. It’s crazy when you think about it, how there can be so much good in the world, so many good people, but so much ugliness and hate too. Can’t quite figure out why any of it matters to someone—who someone loves, the color of their skin, or where they’re from.”

“You can say that again.”

They chatted some more, and when they were finished with the potatoes, Grady put them in a colander to wash them while Deacon warmed the oil. They made the hamburger patties next, dropped the first batch of fries into the oil, then got the burgers going.

They didn’t talk about anything important while they cooked together, cutting tomatoes and onions and toasting buns. It was strangely easy between them, just like it’d been from the start. Grady had felt a connection to Deacon since before he knew him, and now that they’d met, it seemed their shared love for Patricia and Nathan bonded them in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

Once everything was finished and they made their plates, Grady could hear the soft patter of rain on the roof.

“You said you like the rain too, right?” Deacon asked, and when Grady nodded, he said, “Want to eat out on the screened-in porch?”

“For sure. That sounds good.”

“Want a beer? Lemonade? Water?”

“Water’s good.”

“Me too,” Deacon replied.

They filled their glasses, then carried those and their plates to the back door that led to the porch. Grady saw another door, but that one went to the yard.

He could smell the moisture in the air as they went out, could hear the drops hitting louder than he could while they were inside. There was an outdoor table, along with a love seat and two chairs. They each took a chair, sitting at opposite ends.

“It’s nice out here.” Grady looked up and saw some of the chimes they’d spoken about.

“It’s my favorite place at the house.”

Grady gave a simple nod in return before taking a bite of his burger. “Holy shit. This hits the spot. We did good, if I do say so myself.”

Deacon finished chewing and said, “Absolutely. You were right about adding the Worcestershire sauce.”

“Sometimes I use a little soy sauce too.”

“Sounding awfully chefy over there,” Deacon teased as they continued eating.

The rain picked up some, the wind as well. Every so often, they’d hear a chime, but neither of them mentioned it or looked at them. They just ate and talked—about fishing and work and some about Deacon’s family. He had a brother and a sister, nieces and nephews, both his parents were still alive, and he was close with his grandmother. He told Grady he still spent a lot of time with Eugene and Frances.

“It’s hard sometimes… I love them like my own parents, but it hurts to be around them too. Their lives have basically stood still since losing Nathan and Patricia. They don’t do much other than church.”

“Shit. That must be hard.” For some reason, Grady wondered how they would feel if Deacon ever moved on, if he met another woman and fell in love. And he also couldn’t help wondering how they’d feel if they found out now about Nathan. Eugene and Frances had been his biggest worry about coming out, that they wouldn’t accept him, and he hadn’t wanted to put Patricia in the middle.

“It is hard,” Deacon concurred, and the conversation shifted after that.

They’d finished eating a while ago, but Deacon didn’t get up to go inside, so Grady didn’t either.