The Family We Make

by Dan Wingreen

  “How the hell did she get to be the other teacher in line for your room?”

  Spencer grimaced. “Apparently being a pedo sex fiend doesn’t necessarily make you a bad teacher.”

  Tim shook his head, unable to fully wrap his mind around what he was hearing. He’d seen more than one good person completely ruined by just the accusation they’d behaved inappropriately with kids. Hell, even the worst youth centers he’d volunteered at—

  “Oh my God,” Tim said softly. “That’s where I’ve seen her before.”

  “You’ve met her?”

  “What? No.” Tim blinked, then shook his head again. “I’ve seen her, though, at my last youth center. She was getting thrown out by the director, and I’m pretty sure I remember someone saying she failed her background check the week before and tried to come back anyway. I never even gave it a second thought until now…”

  “Jesus,” Spencer said in disgust. “Small fucking world where child molesters run all over the place and we don’t get to meet each other until I’m almost thirty.”

  “Hey, I love how we met, and the way we got together was perfect.” Tim couldn’t help smiling as he thought about it. “And if we’d met too much earlier you would have been the one dating an undera—”

  Spencer started gently tapping Tim’s mouth with both of his hands. “Hush, you.”

  Tim laughed as he grabbed Spencer’s hands, and, after taking a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching through the small window in the door, he gave them both a kiss. “You could make me.”

  “That’s what I was doing.”

  Tim smiled slowly, meeting Spencer’s eyes and pulling him close. “You could make me,” he repeated, his voice a low, sensuous murmur.

  Spencer raised an eyebrow. “Are you seriously trying to seduce me right now?”

  “Are you seriously trying to say it’s not working?”

  “Definitely.” Spencer smirked and pulled their joined hands languidly down his body and pressed them into his crotch. “See? Not even a little bit hard.”

  Tim’s body started to burn, and for one sharp, eternal second all he could hear was the blood rushing through his veins. What had started as a joke to get Spencer’s mind off Steph McConnell had suddenly turned into a challenge. That they were in a school, a place where Spencer worked, didn’t matter. All that mattered was his boyfriend was practically in Tim’s lap and Spencer wasn’t aroused in the least. Tim’s recently reawakened sexual ego needed to fix that now. “I’ll—”

  It was probably for the best when the classroom door opened before he could finish his sentence.

  “Spencer, do you know—”

  The woman in the doorway stopped mid-stride and stared at them, her eyes slowly widening in surprise. She stood about Spencer’s height, noticeably plump, and had her light-blonde hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. More importantly, she didn’t seem overly disgusted to have walked in on two guys pressed up against each other. Still, when her shock melted into a smug smirk followed by an innuendo-laden “Oh,” Tim’s protective instincts kicked in. He hadn’t been able to do anything for Spencer with McConnell; there was no way he’d let another teacher get away with insulting him or their relationship. He hopped off the desk and shifted so he stood between Spencer and this new woman, but before he could do more than start to cross his arms, Spencer slipped by him like he wasn’t even there.

  “I knew you were swooning,” she said before Spencer could even open his mouth.

  “You knew nothing,” Spencer said, tilting his head back and looking down his nose at the woman even as his cheeks turned red.

  The woman ignored Spencer and turned her attention to Tim. She gave him a slow once over, and even though he was ready to tear her apart if she tried to attack Spencer, he still squirmed under her scrutiny.

  “So, you’re Spencer’s new beau?” she asked.

  “You don’t have to answer that,” Spencer said quickly. “He doesn’t have to answer that. And, by the way, he’s my boyfriend. I’m not Taylor Swift and he’s not the latest It Boy my agent told me to date for publicity. I don’t have beaus.”

  The woman snorted, but otherwise gave no indication he’d spoken. She seemed to be waiting for Tim to answer her question. Something he had no problem doing.

  “Yeah. I’m his boyfriend,” he said, very pointedly leaving out the word new. Even though he knew Spencer hadn’t dated anyone but him in a long time, the implication that he was just the latest in a line of guys pricked him the wrong way. “Who are you?”

  She smiled, and despite himself Tim couldn’t think of anything but a hungry shark stumbling upon an injured dolphin. “I’m the best friend,” she said. “Cass Baker.”

  She held out her hand, and Tim shook it automatically.

  “Tim Ellis,” he said, frowning slightly.

  This was Spencer’s friend Cass? Spencer had mentioned her in passing a few times, but he’d always pictured her as being closer to Spencer’s age. The real Cass seemed like she could almost be his mother.

  “Oh my God,” Spencer said, his eyes darting back and for the between them. “Is this a shovel talk? Cassandra Baker, are you about to give my boyfriend a shovel talk right now?”

  It was the use of her full first name that had Tim connecting the dots. He was more than a little embarrassed he hadn’t realized sooner.

  “Are you Dick Baker’s ex-wife by any chance?”

  Cass raised an eyebrow. Spencer’s eyes widened. “You know Dick?” she asked.

  Tim nodded, not sure if he should be even more wary of her now or not. Either way, the awkward levels in the room were ticking up a few points.

  “Yeah. I volunteer at his shelter. That’s how I met Spencer and Connor, actually.”

  Spencer winced. Shit, should I not have said that?

  “Oh.” Cass smiled, and as easy as that, her whole demeanor changed. She let go of his hand. “In that case it’s really nice to meet you.”

  It was only Tim’s ingrained politeness that had him returning the sentiment. The rest of him was very confused about what just happened. And he wasn’t the only one.

  “Did you just approve of my boyfriend because he knows your ex-husband?” Spencer asked.

  Cass nodded. “More or less.”

  Spencer stared. “Fucking straight people,” he muttered.

  Cass rolled her eyes. “Oh, stop that. Dick’s a good judge of character. If he thinks Tim’s good enough to look after the kids at his shelter, I’m sure he won’t be anything but good for you and Connor.” She turned a sharp glance toward Tim. “Am I right?”

  “I love them both,” Tim said, a bit more honestly than he had intended.

  Well, I guess that’s one reason why her and Dick got married in the first place. They both make it easy to open up without meaning to.

  “Good.” She smiled again. Her smile quickly melted into a smirk when she turned back to Spencer, however. “So, you want to admit I was right, or should I expect a thank-you letter in the mail?”

  “Shut up.” Spencer glowered. “And nobody uses the mail anymore, you triceratops.”

  “He never would have taken Connor to the center if it wasn’t for me,” Cass told Tim.

  Tim found himself smiling. He decided he liked Cass. She obviously cared about Spencer, and she had this great deadpan way of speaking that amused the hell out of him, now that he knew she wasn’t about to start any homophobic crap.

  “Well then, I’ll thank you,” he said. “Anyone who had anything to do with Spencer and Connor being in my life deserves at least that.”

  Cass’s lips quirked. “Good answer.”

  “So fucking smooth,” Spencer muttered. He shook his head and glanced at Tim. “And don’t do that. You’ll just encourage her.”

  “Encourage me to make your life better?”

  “Yes. No. I don’t…” Spencer turned to Tim with an exaggerated pout on his face. “Tiiiiiim! Make her stop being mean to me.”

 
; Tim laughed. He was still laughing when the door opened again. Spencer was facing the doorway, so he saw whoever had come in first, and whoever it was had his face twisting with fury.

  “Goddammit!”

  Spencer’s sudden shout startled Tim. His laugh choked off when he saw Connor standing in the doorway with a split lip, hunched over under the weight of his bulging backpack and holding a bloody wad of toilet paper against his nose. Tim could see more blood staining the front of his shirt through his open jacket.

  “What the hell happened?” Spencer demanded, though it was obvious from the way he was grinding his teeth together he already had an idea of his own. Connor flinched, but didn’t answer. Spencer scowled. “I said—”

  “Are you okay?” Tim asked, cutting him off. Connor glanced up, obviously surprised at the softly spoken question, and Tim politely ignored the way he saw Spencer flinch out of the corner of his eye.

  “M…” Connor swallowed heavily, and Tim held back a flinch of his own. I hope that wasn’t blood. “My nose hurts…”

  “Aw, kid…” Spencer said. Tim gave his wrist a squeeze before turning his full attention to Connor.

  “Can I take a look?” he asked, using his best Everything Will Be Okay voice. He’d seen Connor hurt before, and he’d seen Connor miserable before, but he’d never seen him looking so young and lost. Tim could actually feel his heart breaking. “Just to make sure it isn’t broken?”

  “I should go,” Cass said quietly to Spencer, her voice was low and hard. “Maybe I can catch them before they leave.”

  She obviously wasn’t out of the loop on what was going on with Connor.

  Spencer just nodded, most of his attention understandably taken up with his busted-up son. Cass gave his shoulder a quick squeeze before her eyes met Tim’s. They shared a moment of silent communication, a wordless promise that they were now allies in protecting Connor and watching after Spencer. Tim nodded. Cass nodded back. Then she left.

  Connor glanced away and wiped at his eyes before answering Tim, his voice barely loud enough to understand. “Okay.”

  Tim wasted no time moving across the room and kneeling in front of him. It scared him, how docile Connor was being, but he pushed his own feelings to the side, well aware Spencer was taking this a million times worse than Tim. With Cass gone it was up to Tim to keep them both together right now.

  Gently, he took hold of the soaked through toilet paper and moved Connor’s hands away from his face. He pulled the wadded-up paper away from his face a moment later, holding back a wince at the way blood hadn’t stopped pouring out. This can’t have happened more than a few minutes ago. Maybe she’ll actually catch them. Thankfully, his nose didn’t seem to be broken, just swollen and very, very red.

  “It looks a lot worse than it is,” Tim said, speaking to both of them. He carefully placed the wad back under Connor’s nose. “Not broken at all.”

  Spencer let out a whoosh of air. Connor blinked away more tears, but, otherwise, he didn’t react at all.

  “Kid,” Spencer said softly, coming over and kneeling down next to Tim. He hesitated for a moment, then pulled his son into a hug. Their embrace was slightly awkward, with Tim still holding the toilet paper against Connor’s nose, but he stayed still and let Spencer do what he needed. “Fuck.”

  “Dad…” Connor’s voice was muffled by Spencer’s shirt as he hugged him back.

  “Okay,” Spencer said a minute later, pulling back and taking in his son’s face. His jaw clenched, and he took a deep breath through his nose. “Okay. What happened?”

  Connor’s only answer was to stiffen up.

  “Connor,” Spencer said, his voice sharp. Connor flinched.

  “Spencer,” Tim said quietly, placing his free hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder. He was so tense his nearly nonexistent muscles felt like corded steel. Their eyes met, and it was their turn for silent communication.

  I know you’re upset and feeling helpless, but please don’t take this out on him; it’s not his fault.

  Spencer let out a breath, and Tim felt some of the tension slowly melt out of his body.

  “Fine.”

  Now for the other half.

  “Connor,” Tim said, his voice still soft. “Can you please tell us who did this to you?”

  He wasn’t sure if it was the tone, or the way he asked instead of demanded, or, maybe, it was the way Tim and Spencer were both acting like concerned parents together for the first time, but whatever the reason, Connor deflated in the face of it.

  “Dean and Julie beat me up again.”

  With all the blood coming out of Connor’s nose, Tim would have thought it impossible for there to be enough left over for a blush, but Connor’s face turned a deep, burning red the moment the words were out of his mouth. He pretended he hadn’t seen and checked Connor’s nose. The blood had finally slowed, so he tossed the toilet paper in the nearby trash can before handing Connor a small wad of tissues and giving him an encouraging smile.

  “Did this happen at school?” Spencer asked, his voice surprisingly calm.

  Connor slumped even more. “Yeah…”

  “Did you throw the first punch?”

  “No.”

  “Okay.” Spencer nodded. “Kid, I am so sorry this happened to you, and I swear to God the second we’re done here, you and Tim can go do whatever you were gonna do today, but I gotta ask—you remember our deal, right?”

  For a second, Tim saw familiar defiance flash across Connor’s face, but before he had the chance to do more than mentally cringe at the thought of being in the middle of another fight about this, Connor sighed and nodded. “I remember…”

  Tim barely held back a sigh of relief.

  Maybe he finally realizes how serious this is.

  “All right.” Spencer met Tim’s eyes, another silent conversation passing between them in an instant.

  I’m going to handle this my way. Will you let me?

  Tim nodded grimly. You know I will.

  “Okay,” Spencer said, nodding back. “I can deal with this.”

  *

  Tim had known from the second they’d met that Spencer was protective of his son, but seeing him in full on Papa Bear mode was more arousing than it had any right to be. He kind of hated that he thought so, because Connor was obviously shook up by what happened and this was pretty much the least appropriate time and setting to want to tear Spencer’s clothes off, but none of those truths changed the fact that he followed Spencer to Principal Corbin’s office with half a hard-on filling out his jeans. One that turned into a full-on when Spencer barged in, his arm still around his son’s shoulder, and demanded the principal order the Henderson siblings to the office. When Corbin tried to protest that they probably already left the school, Spencer just grabbed Connor and pushed him right in front of the principal’s face, bloody tissues and all.

  Five minutes later a bus monitor dropped two visibly annoyed teenagers off at the office.

  For as big of a shadow as they’d cast over Connor’s life—over all their lives—these past few months, Dean and Julie didn’t really look like much in person.

  Dean could have been any other fifteen-year-old boy; a bit taller than most, maybe, but he still swam in his tough guy outfit of baggy jeans, an overlarge white T-shirt that came down to his knees, and a thick camouflage jacket. A crooked Chicago Cubs snapback covering what seemed to be a blond buzzcut completed the look. The only thing noteworthy about him were his eyes. They were a startlingly clear blue, and Tim might have even called them pretty if they hadn’t been glaring at Connor with palpable fury.

  Julie shared her brother’s coloring, though she wore her hair long and done up in a simple ponytail. She dressed in tight black jeans with a large gray sweatshirt, and even though her top was baggy enough to hide her build, Tim could tell she was unusually stocky. Not fat, but solid in a way teenage girls usually aren’t. Her face was angular and, like Dean’s eyes, probably would have been pretty if she weren’t currently sc
owling.

  “Mr. Henderson. Ms. Henderson,” Principal Corbin said. He appeared to be in his midsixties with thinning salt-and-pepper hair, the permanently red nose of an alcoholic, and the sharp clear eyes of someone who hadn’t had a drop in a while and was better off for it. His obvious disdain for the entire situation he found himself in was apparent in every line of his overweight body, and Tim wondered if it was because of Connor’s bloody face or because he wanted to get on with his day and having to deal with last-minute discipline issues was holding him back. Either way, he didn’t seem eager to waste any time. “Did you attack Mr. Kent?”

  Both Hendersons looked at Spencer in confusion.

  “The younger Mr. Kent,” Corbin said, a hint of impatience creeping into his tone.

  “We didn’t do anything,” Julie said. Her eyes never left Connor, though, and the threatening glare on her face was open and obvious.

  “Would you like to explain why he thinks you did?”

  Tim bristled at the question, but Spencer didn’t so much as twitch, which surprised him.

  “’Cause he’s an autistic crack baby,” Dean muttered just loud enough for Tim, who was closest to him, to hear. Julie elbowed her brother in the side. “Ow! What?”

  “Is that what he said?” Julie asked, glaring at Connor now and pointedly ignoring her brother. “That we attacked him?”

  Jesus, she’s not even trying to be subtle.

  To Tim, she was obviously trying to intimidate Connor into either staying quiet or saying they never hit him, but for the first time since calling the Hendersons into his office, Corbin seemed almost hesitant.

  “That’s what we’re here to discuss, yes.”

  “Well, we never touched him. If anyone’s saying we did, they’re lying.”

  “Are you calling my son a liar?” Spencer asked. His tone was calm and even, but both siblings still flinched.

  “He’s your kid?” Dean asked, his voice squeaking slightly. Even Julie seemed apprehensive now.