Key To His Heart (Gay Romance)

by Trina Solet

  Neither one of them was enjoying the party, but tomorrow would make up for it. Actually all the tomorrows with Phillip would make up for all the days Leon spent feeling alone and miserable, his hope draining away. Nothing could bring him down as long as Phillip was by his side.

  *

  As he met her, Phillip was relieved to see that Leon didn't look much like his mother. He must take after his father, not the petite blond woman who gave Phillip a tight-lipped smile. Knowing that she had neglected her son and allowed him to be abused made Phillip hate her, but for Leon's sake, he was polite to her and even her husband.

  After Phillip was introduced to Leon's mother and stepfather, he didn't have much to say to them or they to him. Leon's mother did want to have a word with Leon though.

  Stepping away, Phillip gritted his teeth in frustration and pretended not to hear her as she harangued Leon. In the meantime, an older boy had approached Ant and was circling him. Just as Phillip went closer to keep an eye on Ant, Leon came to join him.

  "Busy being overprotective?" Leon asked in a whisper.

  "Yes," Phillip admitted readily. He watched Ant and that other boy like a hawk.

  "You a girl or what?" the older boy asked Ant.

  "I'm a boy," Ant said evenly. The question didn't seem to bother him and neither did the boy's sneering tone.

  "Then why is your hair so stupid?" the boy said.

  "My hair is good, like Leon's hair. Leon is a lion, and lions have big hair. Ant-man! Lion-man!" Ant prattled on like only he could.

  "You're a weirdo," the boy said.

  "You're a weirdo," Ant retorted flatly. He didn't seem upset, but Phillip decided the boy had gone far enough. Waiting until he had the boy's attention, Phillip glared at him. The boy moved away from Ant. Ant didn't notice anything, but Leon did.

  "Did you make that little twerp run off just by staring him down?" Leon said. He obviously approved.

  The two girls were now drawing on the wooden fence with chalk. One of them broke off a piece and gave it to Ant. Since he was still having fun, Phillip and Leon couldn't bring themselves to leave. Then somehow they ended up talking to the girls' mother and another woman, and they seemed nice. But it wasn't long before Phillip heard Ant yelling.

  Turning, he saw Ant jump and scream as some older boys laughed at him. Instantly, Phillip was fuming. When he and Leon went over to see to Ant, the boys retreated.

  "A mean boy throwed a worm on me," Ant said as he shook his head to dislodge the worm.

  "Hold still," Phillip told him.

  "Those little shits," Leon said under his breath as he watched the preteen boys where they went to huddle by some bushes.

  Phillip gently pulled a green centipede from Ant's hair. "I got him," he said and showed the centipede to Ant.

  "It's green," Ant said. "Can I keep him?"

  "For a little while, but be careful with him." Phillip let the centipede crawl from his hand to Ant's.

  Seeing this, the two little girls came over to get a closer look and to squeal. That's when Leon walked off. Phillip saw him go up to the group of preteens who thought it was fun to mess with a three-year-old.

  Just as Leon approached the kids, two men accosted him. One was heavyset, the other one taller and more muscular. To Phillip, their demeanor didn't seem friendly so he went to back up Leon.

  Getting closer, Phillip recognized the guys as some of those who had given him and Leon hostile looks when they first arrived. Now they were sneering at Leon.

  "What's your problem, goldilocks?" the taller man said to Leon. "It's just boys being boys, but you wouldn't know anything about that."

  "Actually, DJ, I would know a lot about that," Leon said and smirked suggestively.

  DJ's expression turned darker. "You're filth and everybody knows it. You keep your hands to yourself around those boys. You even look at them funny, and I'll knock your teeth down your throat."

  His threat was bad enough, but DJ really shouldn't have taken that step toward Leon. When he shoved Leon, forcing him to take a step back, Phillip's anger boiled over. He saw Leon's fist clench, but his own was faster.

  Phillip's right shot out like it had a mind of its own and connected with DJ's jaw. DJ's head spun to the left. His teeth snapped, shutting his mouth. He staggered back and landed on his ass in the lawn.

  That's when the other man moved. Leon stepped in, but Phillip didn't let him get between them. As he evaded the man's clumsy punch, Phillip took advantage of his failure and landed two neat jabs that bloodied his nose.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Phillip saw DJ getting up. Phillip could tell from his crouching stance and the placement of his hand on the ground that he planned to launch himself up at him. Leon saw it too, and he got in his way. Shifting to the side at the last second, he avoided a collision with DJ's fist and got him in the ribs with a raised knee.

  Even if DJ missed, Phillip's stomach clenched as he saw his fist fly by Leon's head. At the moment, Phillip was also keeping an eye on DJ's friend who was looking for an opening. DJ was doubled over in the grass but already trying to get to his feet. Leon was ready to get into it as well when his stepfather stepped in.

  He had made his way through the crowd that had gathered to watch and jeer. "That's enough of that," Gary said. He motioned for some guys to keep DJ and his friend back while he pulled Leon aside and told him. "Now, I'm not saying it's all your fault, but it would be best if you get your friend, or whatever, out of here."

  "Gladly," Leon said bitterly.

  Phillip looked at Leon's stepfather with distaste but said nothing. He didn't want to make things any worse. Plus he had Ant to worry about.

  "Tell me Ant didn't see that," he said to Leon as they went to collect Ant. "He can't see me doing something like that." Now that it was too late, Phillip was worried about the bad example he was setting for him.

  "Too many people were standing around for him to be able to see," Leon said and Phillip breathed a sigh of relief. "But I think those girls are telling him about it right now."

  Just as Leon said, the two girls were talking excitedly and miming punches for Ant's benefit.

  "Oh, God. I'm sorry about this," Phillip said. "I should have found a better way to handle the situation."

  Leon dismissed his apology. "Step-cousins are for punching. What else are they good for?" Leon might not mind but Ant didn't agree.

  Once they were standing in front of him, he let them have it. With a grave face, Ant lectured, "Fighting is bad."

  "Yes, it is," Phillip agreed. "I'm sorry." He was relieved that Ant didn't approve of his display of violence, but Leon still came to his defense.

  "Your uncle didn't start it. DJ did. It's OK for a guy to defend..."

  "Fighting is bad," And repeated and frowned at Leon until he agreed with him.

  "Yes. Fighting is bad."

  Once Leon said that, Ant nodded with approval and smiled at both him and Phillip.

  "I guess he told me," Leon said to Phillip as they left the party.

  "Yes, he did. He's my sweet, gentle boy."

  On their way to the car, Phillip looked over at Leon to make sure he was OK about the way things turned out. He seemed fine. Leon even smiled at him, but then he noticed that Phillip was rubbing his hand and he frowned.

  As for Ant, he only had good things to say. "It was a big party."

  "Yes, it was big," Phillip agreed. He did wonder if there was supposed to be a cake. Good thing he had one waiting for Leon at home.

  Leon insisted on driving and stopped to get Phillip some ice for his hand and a grape Popsicle for Ant. Glancing over at Phillip as he got back on the road again, Leon shot him a bright-eyed look and a smile. After a party like that, he could still look so happy.

  It didn't add up, but Phillip felt the same way. Leon behind the wheel, Ant in the back seat making a mess of himself, and Phillip nursing an aching hand – they were their own world. Speeding through the darkening streets, they watched lampposts coming o
n to light their path as they headed home.

  *

  At Phillip's, Leon found gifts and a cake waiting for him. Phillip brought out the cake all lit up, and Ant helped blow out the candles. Ant had the best time and his high spirits were infectious. Leon had never had a better birthday.

  After Ant was in bed, Leon had to work on convincing Phillip of that.

  "Sorry I got you kicked out of your own birthday party," he said as he took Leon in his arms.

  "You're a bad boy alright, but my real birthday party was right here," Leon said and gave him a kiss. But he did want to know what was going through his mind. "How come you punched him?" It seemed so hard to believe that his civilized, gentlemanly Phillip had this other side to him.

  "I had to especially when it looked like you were about to," Phillip told him, and he was right about that. Leon had been ready to swing at DJ when Phillip's fist went right past his head and knocked that idiot on his ass.

  "I did always want a guy who would fight for me, but now you have a happy boyfriend and a hand that hurts." Leon took hold of his hand and kissed the bruised knuckles.

  "I only care about that first thing," Phillip whispered.

  "Then I guess you don't need me to make you feel better," Leon said wickedly.

  "Come over here," Phillip said and pulled him into a tight, passionate embrace.

  Chapter 46

  Sunday morning Phillip, Leon and Ant drove down to Danning. Crossing the bridge over the Tekeniohneka River, they headed to the west bank and parked near the docks. Lined up the along the wharf, fishing boats and motorboats bobbed on the water.

  Phillip and Leon carried coolers and duffel bags for their trip down the river. They stopped where a small boat was docked and set down their supplies. The boat looked old and had a tiny, partially enclosed cabin. It was dingy white with red trim. Ant loved it at first sight.

  Phillip wasn't so sure. "How old is this thing?"

  "I don't know," Leon said as he admired the small vessel. "Depends on which parts you're talking about. Those cushions are pretty new," he said, pointing to the bright blue seat cushions on the white bench. "I think the engine was replaced at some point. The rest is circa 1970's." Seeing how Phillip looked at him, Leon assured him, "It will float."

  Phillip nodded and then put the bright orange life vest on Ant. All suited up, Ant celebrated by jumping up and down, his feet bouncing on the planks of the dock. He wasn't that close to the water, but Phillip still kept hold of him.

  Leon told them more about the little boat, "It belongs to my friend Randal. He's pretty much my only friend from Danning. The boat used to be his dad's. The way Randal tells it, his dad divorced his mom so he could marry this boat. He was crazy for fishing and Randal went with him all the time. When I was a kid, I was so jealous of him. He would go up the river with his dad, and by then, I never even saw mine. But the bottom line is quality father son time happened on this boat so let's continue that tradition," Leon said with a big smile.

  Ant didn't follow much of that, but he was eager to get on board and start their adventure. The small craft rocked on the water and strained against the ropes that tied it to the pier. Phillip handed Ant off to Leon, then stepped on the deck himself. Once they were all on board, Phillip held onto him tightly while he looked over the side.

  It got very noisy when Leon started the engine up and the boat shook. Ant jumped at the sound and clung to Phillip, but then the boat started moving and Ant got excited.

  "Are you scared?" Leon asked him over the noise.

  "I was. But then I was brave like Uncle Phillip."

  "I'm taking lots of pictures. We'll send them to your Gran-gran. She'll be so proud of you," Phillip told him as he got out his phone and started snapping away.

  With Leon at the controls, the boat chugged along, its noise throaty but not unpleasant. They were heading upstream first then back downstream. It was a more picaresque route as they were leaving behind commercial docks, disused waterfront warehouses and shuttered factories.

  Here the river narrowed and nature replaced industry, for a while anyway. Further downstream Tekeniohneka river was joined with Karahkwa river making a wider waterway. But here both banks seemed within reach.

  Dense with trees and shrubs, they were overflowing with green. Ant kept peering into the overgrown banks of the river as if he wondered what creatures might be hiding there. A rustling in the bushes caught his attention.

  "All sorts of things are happening out there. Maybe we'll see some squirrels, or we might see some of those goats up in the trees," Leon told him.

  Ant nodded. Since he didn't find anything strange about what Leon said, he grew suspicious.

  "Ant, do you know what goats are?" Leon asked him.

  "They are birds," Ant said right away.

  "Because they're in the trees?"

  Ant nodded.

  "Can't fault his logic," Leon said with a laugh, but Phillip couldn't leave it at that. Instead of letting him believe that goats were birds, he got out his phone and looked up some pictures.

  "These are goats," he said as he showed them to Ant.

  Seeing the pictures, Ant looked at Leon accusingly.

  Phillip showed him another picture. "And these are the goats in the trees."

  "Where are they?" Ant asked and looked all around.

  "I'm not a hundred percent convinced they are real, but according to this, they're found in North Africa," Phillip told him.

  "Let's go there," Ant said, ready to go right now.

  "That's far away, but maybe one day," Phillip told him. "We'll go lots of places. We'll take boats and planes and trains and have lots of adventures."

  Hearing his promise, Ant's eyes lit up. "With Leon," he added.

  "Of course with Leon." Phillip couldn't imagine being without him. He didn't know how he had survived without him until now, how he took even one breath in that dark time before they met.

  Further up the river, Phillip and Ant both got to drive the boat for a while. Phillip took dozens of pictures of Ant at the wheel. The boat moved at a leisurely pace allowing them to take a good look around. Both banks were like a jungle. The vegetation spilled over with branches that dipped down into the water. Surrounded by dense and mysterious greenery, Ant wanted to be on both sides of the boat at once so he could see everything. Whenever other boats passed them, Ant waved at them.

  They anchored for their picnic lunch, choosing a spot near a huge tree with branches that reached almost halfway across the river. They couldn't get to shore from there unless they wanted to swim for it.

  "I know how to swim," Ant said, but they stayed on board and enjoyed the scenery, the sandwiches and sodas.

  After getting under way, Phillip noticed a change in the weather. The wind had picked up, whipping up the waves into sharp peaks. On the shore things were no longer tranquil. The boughs shivered in the stiff breeze. The leaves folded over, their pale undersides showing. Crumpled white flowers flew into the water.

  At one point the wind died down. That's when swarms of tiny flies filled the air. That prompted Leon to warn Ant to close his mouth. Low dark clouds heavy with rain passed overhead slowly, covering the sun. Then it started to rain, drops bouncing off the gray water and tapping on the deck.

  Leon stopped the engine and they all huddled under the canvas cover to wait out the rain. Then Leon had an idea. "We'll have to eat this before it gets wet," he said as he got a box out of one of the coolers.

  Ant watched with big eyes as Leon unpacked a small cake. "Another cake!"

  "This one is a boat cake," Leon told him as he sliced it and Phillip got out some paper plates.

  Ant gave the cake a questioning look then he looked at Leon.

  "It's not a cake that looks like a boat. That's just where we eat it," Leon explained.

  Once they each had a slice, Leon started singing, "Someone left the cake out in the rain." He was doing a very bad job of it too, not that the song deserved better. He only knew
a few of the lines, but he taught them to Ant and they sang it together while waiting out the rain.

  The sun came out before the rain stopped. The clouds were dispersing but not gone as sunshine bounced off the water and dazzled Ant's eyes. He shielded them with both his hands as he squinted.

  "It's sunning and it's raining!" Ant said and looked up at the sky.

  "That means there's probably a rainbow lurking around somewhere," Leon predicted.

  Ant looked for it, craning his neck. To help him out, Leon swung him up and put him on his shoulders. Laughing in surprise, Ant hung on to Leon's hair. They didn't find that rainbow but Ant had fun anyway. Phillip watched them laughing together and he felt like his heart would burst with all the love that filled it.

  After they moved on again, their journey brought them to the point where Leon planned to turn the boat around. They passed under a bridge and waved at some people fishing on the shore.

  As they headed downstream they passed the same spots but noticed new sights along the way. There was a wedding going on in a huge back yard that sloped down toward the shore. When Leon stopped the boat so they could watch the happy couple cut the cake, Phillip put his arms around him. Watching that wedding as uninvited guests gave Phillip all sorts of ideas, and Leon seemed to know it. He shot Phillip a sideways glance.

  "One day that's going to be us," Phillip said to him.

  "That's where we're heading alright," Leon agreed.

  Right now that was as good as a yes. Phillip could already see them married, honeymooning in Italy, standing under that lemon tree in Moe and Franny's garden. They might rent a boat and explore the Mediterranean coastline together.

  "The birds are happy," Ant said hearing them sing and watching them fly up from the trees.

  They were on their way again. Raindrops clung to the spider webs on the riverbank and made them sparkle. Back in full force, the sun glinted off the waves. The gleaming surface of the water was broken now and then by jumping fish. After a splash, they were gone leaving small ripples. Enchanted by the jumping fish, Ant kept reaching for them while Phillip held on to him protectively.