Resilience

by Tymber Dalton

  “Ah.” Tyler opened an eye and peered up at him. “Anyone else awake yet?”

  “Here? I don’t know. None of the kids were downstairs yet.”

  “Well, I don’t know about you,” Nevvie said as she sat up, “but I need coffee and I’m getting hungry. If the smell of bacon doesn’t roust them, nothing will.”

  Tom held his hand up to her as she rounded the bed. “Help me up again, baby girl. I’ll come down with you.”

  “I was going to grab a shower.”

  “Even better. Scrub my back for me, please?” He turned on the puppy dog eyes.

  She reached out and helped him up. “Why do I have a feeling this is going to devolve into shower sex?”

  He grinned down at her. “You complainin’?”

  “I didn’t say that.” She looked around him. “You want to make it a threesome, Ty?”

  He smiled up at them from where he’d pulled Nevvie’s pillow into his arms. “No, loves. I think I want to doze a little longer before breakfast. I’ll shower later.”

  Nevvie led Tommy into the bathroom and he gave her credit for managing to wait until they were under the spray. She kept her voice down. “He going to do it?”

  He nodded. “It’ll take a while. I told him the basics and that you know, but to keep it from Ty.”

  She wrapped her arms around him from behind, kissing his back. “Thank you for looking out for him.”

  “Hey, kinda my job.” He glanced over his shoulder at her. “I might not be much use for some things anymore, but I always have his back. And yours.”

  “So how bad was it?”

  He turned in her arms so he didn’t have to keep looking over his shoulder at her. “Bad. He brought their urns back, and—”

  “Their urns? Oh, hell, no! I—”

  “Shh! It’s okay. I’ll explain later. Please, baby girl, this is important.”

  She looked like she wanted to argue. “Anything else I need to know?”

  “He brought home a picture of them, together. It’d sat on his bedside table. And their wedding bands, and one of Jean-Claude’s necklaces.”

  “Why?”

  “Because, baby girl, it’s what Ty needs to do. Marcus asked if we could bring them both to the States, because one of the things Jean-Claude never got to do was come here, even though it’d been in their plans. I don’t know when or if Ty will be able to scatter their ashes, but I’m okay with this. It’s part of his process. Let’s let it play out. Okay?”

  It was anything but okay to her, but she eventually nodded.

  He held her close, stroking her back. “Thank you, sugar. Trust me, okay?”

  “Did we lose a part of him over there to that asshole?”

  “No, but I think a tiny part of him that was always missing finally returned.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Andrew wasn’t sure how he’d keep Tom’s promise not to say anything to anyone when Colin was staying with him. Translating the letters wasn’t exactly something he could do sitting at the dining room table every evening without garnering a few questions from Karen and Bill, either. His prime time to work on them would be during the day, when Karen, Bill, and Chloe weren’t home, or at night after retiring for the evening.

  And he’d be—hopefully—with Colin most of those times.

  Susan, her husband, and Steven’s younger siblings hadn’t attended Friday’s football game, although Colin went with Nevvie, Andrew, and the others. It disturbed Andrew that Steven said his sisters and brother wanted to come watch him play, but his mother had put her foot down about it, telling them they could go to church with her on Sunday or stay home for the game, and his father had, finally, to keep the peace, asked them to please miss the game that week, and that he’d try to get her to soften her approach.

  Shades of Emily all over it.

  It curdled Andrew’s anger and made him hate the woman even though he hadn’t yet met her personally.

  Sunday afternoon, Andrew was mentally debating exactly how he was going to broach that subject when Colin’s cell phone rang. They’d been sitting in the living room and watching TV with Karen and Chloe. Colin glanced at the phone, frowned and answered.

  “Hello? … Why? … No, I mean why are you going to do that? …” He stood and motioned to Andrew to follow him, moving down to the dining room and hitting the speaker mode button as they stepped inside, out of earshot of Chloe.

  “What do you mean why? There’s a hurricane coming! Aren’t you paying attention to the news?” The woman’s voice sounded impatiently shrill.

  “Yes, I know, but I’m ready for it.”

  A haughty sigh. “Look, Dad. We’ll be over in about an hour, and—”

  “Susan, my house is boarded up, my fridge and freezer are empty, and I’m not even home.”

  That brought her up short. “What?”

  “I’m not home. I’m spending the next several days at a friend’s house. They have a whole-house generator, storm shutters, and no big trees around them.”

  Karen appeared in the dining room doorway, looking curious, and Andrew waved her in. It was obvious from how Colin was focused on him and not the phone that he’d wanted witnesses to this call.

  “Why are you at someone’s house? Where are you? Who are they?”

  “Because there’s a storm coming, a friend’s house, and none of your business.”

  Andrew noted the evilly playful smile on Colin’s face.

  “What do you mean it’s none of my business?”

  “It’s none of your business. Because I know what you’ll do, you’ll want to come over here, be the bitch you usually are, and stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong. Oh, and in case you were thinking about it, I changed the locks on the house months ago, and none of my neighbors have the new key.”

  “What?”

  “Here’s the thing, honey—I’m gay, and it makes you mad. You and your brothers made it clear you’ve disowned me. Oh, and FYI, I also went to my attorney a while back and changed my will and all my paperwork to take you three off it.”

  Her voice dropped. “What game do you think you’re playing, Dad?”

  “See, that’s just it. I’m not playing a game. This is my life, and I’m an adult, and I’m going to live it and be happy for a change. I’ve been miserable since your mother died, thanks in no small part to what you did. I’ve met someone who makes me happy, his family has welcomed me in and basically adopted me, and in the past week I’ve felt better than I have in the past ten years. That says a lot.”

  Icy venom filled her tone. “Oh. So he’s gay, is he?”

  “No, he’s not. Doesn’t matter what he is, he accepts me for who I am.”

  Andrew loved how Colin was toying with her. Wasn’t exactly a lie, just wasn’t the entire truth, either.

  “You need to stop this nonsense, Dad. Tell me where you are. Right now. I don’t have time for these games, and—”

  Karen had finally had her fill. “He doesn’t need to tell you where he is, honey, because he’s a grown-ass adult. Don’t worry. He doesn’t need you and your bullshit, either. Frankly, you aren’t welcome around here.”

  “Who the hell are you?”

  “She’s my daughter,” Andrew spoke up, “and I’m bloody well proud of her. Name’s Andrew Paulson, by the way, and let me add that no, you absolutely are not welcomed here, you silly cow. Good day, madam.” He reached over and hit the end button, smiling at Colin. “Sorry, pet, but I won’t tolerate her talking to you like that.”

  Colin’s eyes had widened when Andrew spoke up. Now Colin grabbed him and kissed him, long and hard and making Andrew wonder if they could sneak away for a little while.

  Meanwhile, Karen giggled. “I’ll leave you two alone.” She slipped out of the dining room.

  When Colin finally released Andrew, he had to send another call from Susan to voice mail, but his gaze never left Andrew’s. “She’s gonna paint a bull’s-eye on you now.”

  Andrew shrugged. “Le
t her. I welcome a challenge. I assure you, I’m quite capable of handling her. If you wish her to be handled.”

  Colin nodded.

  “Then, as my son’s anti-hero, Augustine, would say, game motherfucking on.”

  “I really need to start reading his books.”

  “You’ll have plenty of time over the next several days, love.” Maybe that was the answer to how to find the extra time to do the translations for Tom, to distract Colin with Tyler’s Augustine series.

  I’ll keep that in mind.

  * * * *

  Andrew invited everyone over for dinner that evening, an informal occasion, to grill out on the porch and unwind. John and Kelly came over from across the street, as well as Nevvie, Tom, Tyler, the twins, and Mikey. Between him and Colin, they’d had over three dozen hot dogs in their freezers, some of them growing close to their expiration date, and Andrew wanted to free up some space ahead of the storm.

  Plus it’d be a chance for Colin to finally meet Tyler and Tom.

  When Tom walked in, he didn’t even bother with a handshake and went straight for a hug. “Nice to finally meet you, Colin. Everyone’s been tellin’ us all about you.”

  “Nice to meet you, too.”

  Tyler leaned in next for his hug. “Likewise,” he said. “It’s a pleasure.”

  “Wow. Nevvie wasn’t kidding when she said you guys look alike. Pictures don’t do you two justice.”

  Tyler was his usual charming self. “I keep warning this bloke here about the preview he’s getting, yet he hasn’t pitched me in the rubbish yet.” Tyler smiled up at Tom, who leaned in for a quick kiss. “And he somehow still tolerates me.”

  “That’s because you’re our Evil Genius,” Nevvie said with a smile. “No Steven tonight?”

  Andrew sighed. “No, and not likely, either.” He filled them in on the earlier call from Susan.

  You could have sliced open coconuts on Nevvie’s grim smirk. “She did, did she?”

  “Now, love, I took care of it,” Andrew said. “It’s been handled.” He remembered how Nevvie had nearly taken a literal swipe at Emily in the grocery store that one time, and how he’d had all he could do to hold her back and keep her from committing assault.

  That was over fifteen years earlier. He doubted he had the strength to hold her back now.

  Hopefully Tom and Tyler do.

  “Yeah, well, she tries to show her face around here,” Nevvie said, “you call me.”

  “Ahem,” Tyler said. “Actually, no. I’d prefer we don’t need Crystal and Elliot trying to spin a story about our wife being arrested.”

  “You’re no fun. All logical and that garbage.”

  He leaned in for a kiss. “Yes, I know. I’m such a spoilsport.”

  It was after seven, and they’d finished eating and the adults were all sitting out on the porch and talking when Andrew spotted a set of headlights sweeping up the driveway. He didn’t recognize the car, and was about to stand when Colin spoke.

  “Oh, no.”

  Bollocks.

  Colin was already up and moving before Andrew could even stand.

  “What’s going on?” Nevvie asked.

  “I believe you’re about to get your wish, love.”

  “Oh, fuck no,” Karen muttered, also standing and following Colin, Nevvie right behind her.

  Susan Jardine pulled up into the yard next to the other vehicles and parked, not hesitating at all to get out and storm over to where Colin stood at the bottom of the porch steps.

  “I don’t know what you think you’re trying to pull, Dad, but get your stuff and let’s go. These people aren’t your family.”

  “Funny. You seemed to want me out of your family. So I obliged you.”

  “Don’t be stupid.”

  Nevvie snorted. “Aw, bless your heart. It’s like you think we won’t have your ass arrested and hauled out of here for trespassing.”

  “Shut up! This isn’t your concern.”

  Nevvie stepped forward, Karen flanking her. “Uh, since this is our dad’s place, yeah, kinda does concern us, honey.”

  Colin crossed his arms over his chest. “The only thing you’ve proven by coming here is that you know how to Google a name and cross-reference it with the county property tax list. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Susan’s hard gaze took them all in. “That is my mother’s house. You can’t just cut us out of the will.”

  “Considering it’s my house, purchased in my name with my name on the deed, that your mother’s been dead for ten years, and she was a stay-at-home wife and mother for most of our marriage while I earned a living, and it was my money that paid for the house, yeah, I can do what I damn well please. Funny how you weren’t interested in me until today, when you were informed you can’t just wait me out and inherit my stuff.”

  As the adults crowded around Andrew and Colin, everyone fixing angry, silent stares on Susan, Andrew could see when it finally registered in her brain that she had zero friends in the group.

  “This isn’t any of y’all’s business, so why don’t you butt the hell out? This is between me and my father.”

  Andrew smiled. “Oh, but my dear, it is our business. Especially my business.” He draped his arm around Colin’s waist. “Why don’t you run along and go whine to your nasty little church friends about how the horrible Brit seduced your father and made him happy?”

  Then he snogged Colin. Rather thoroughly, too, taking his time and making sure to stare into Colin’s eyes the entire time.

  Colin enthusiastically kissed him back.

  “There,” Andrew said, glancing Susan’s way. “Was that scandalous enough for you? Or shall I kiss him again?”

  Karen laughed as Susan’s jaw gaped. “Lord, Dad. You’re on fire tonight.” She offered him a fist bump, which he returned.

  Susan finally recovered her voice. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She reached out to grab Colin’s arm, but Tom, Tyler, Bill, Adam, and Mikey, who’d joined the fray at some point, all stepped between them.

  Tom was the tallest and stared down at her. “Lady, you have until the count of three to get yourself the hell off this property or I’m callin’ the sheriff. One.”

  “You can’t hold him here!”

  “I’m not being held—”

  “Actually, I am holding you right now, love,” Andrew teased.

  Colin laughed. “Oh. True. But I like this kind of holding.” He kissed Andrew again.

  “Two.”

  A strangled noise escaped Susan. “How dare you! That’s…that’s—”

  “Sexy as hell?” Nevvie offered. “Love at first sight usually is, sweet cheeks. Fricking adorable, if you ask me. See, I’m hoping for a Christmas wedding. We haven’t had one of those in this family yet.”

  “Three.” Tom pulled his phone from his pocket and stared to dial. “Hope you have bail money, lady.”

  Whether it was the threat of arrest, or she could no longer tolerate the sight of Colin and Andrew kissing, Susan finally beat a hasty retreat to her car, started it, and kicked up a rooster tail of dirt once she got turned around in the yard and peeled down the dirt driveway.

  Nevvie walked up to Colin, wearing a grin. “Opa! Welcome to the family!” She threw her arms around the men in a hug, kissing them each on the cheek.

  “Thanks,” Colin said. “Although I can’t believe she’s not going to try something else.”

  “What can she try?” Tyler said. “You’re an adult of sound mind making consensual decisions. You’re free to change your will however you so choose. Unfortunately, we’ve had to deal with someone like her before. They will bluff and bluster, and make themselves a pain in the arse for a while, but the law is completely on your side.”

  “I don’t know, but I do know she’s stubborn, and she won’t let things end there.”

  Karen yawned. “Well, she’s still an amateur compared to the fuckery Em tried that time with Tommy, Nevvie, and Ty. And considering you don’t have any mi
nor children for her to threaten, I think she’s going to find she doesn’t have a damn legal leg to stand on if she tries anything.”

  Andrew didn’t miss the depth of the roiling anger in Nevvie’s glare as she stared toward the driveway. “And we have an attorney who loves billable hours. We have no problem bankrupting her with legal fees if she wants to try something. That bitch tries to play legal chicken with me, she’s gonna find her goose isn’t just cooked, it’ll be deep-fried, roasted, and then flambéed with a side order of blackened charbroil.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  “Pinch me.”

  Andrew turned from where he’d been about to walk into the bathroom. He’d already removed his T-shirt and tossed it in the hamper. “Beg pardon?”

  Colin walked over to him and held out his arm. “Pinch me. I can’t believe that happened. Pinch me so I know I’m awake.”

  Andrew smiled, pulled him in for a long, sweet kiss…and let one hand come to rest covering Colin’s bulge. He gave it a firm, seductive squeeze.

  “I hope you’re wide awake, because I must confess I’m feeling more than a little frisky after that encounter earlier.”

  It was after ten and everyone else had long since returned home. At least now there was no way Colin would be able to feel he wasn’t accepted into Andrew’s family.

  Nevvie’d done everything except get into Susan’s face and issue a direct Fight me, bitch challenge.

  Although had Susan not departed, he had no doubt Nevvie would have quickly escalated things to exactly that level.

  She was adorably protective of her family, and it was one of the many things he desperately loved about her.

  When Colin ground himself against Andrew’s hand, Andrew squeezed a little harder, loving the way the other man’s cock grew stiff against him. “I think tonight I’d like to feel that inside me, love,” Andrew whispered. It was one permutation they hadn’t tried yet.

  Colin’s face went an adorable shade of pink. “You sure?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “What about the noise?”

  “Would you like me to wear a gag?” Andrew smiled as Colin’s blush deepened. “Love, no one will hear us. There are plenty of bedrooms between us and Chloe and Karen and Bill.”