by Tara Lain
Rod stalked into the room carrying a tray with the bottles and glasses rattling like crazy. “Did I just hear you say ‘tattooed pervert’? Are those your words, Theodore Walters?”
Hunter jumped up and grabbed the tray, probably to keep Rod from dumping it on Theodore’s head.
Theodore frowned. “No, of course not.”
Without the burden in his hands, Rod planted them on his hips. “Will you please tell me what the hell problem you have with Snake Erasmo when it’s obvious to all the rest of us that he’s the best fucking thing to happen to you since the day Andy was born?”
Theodore gritted his teeth. “I let him get so close to Andy, it’s going to be hell to get them apart.”
David looked at him with his beautiful wide eyes. “Why do you have to separate them? Snake seems to love Andy.”
“Andy’s not the one who counts in this situation.”
Rod raised a brow. “Oh really? To hear you tell it for the last two years, he’s the only one who matters. And are you trying to tell me that you don’t care about Snake, Mr. Humped Him in the Back Room Because I Couldn’t Resist Him?”
“He lied to me.”
“About what?”
“His name. A lot of things.”
“Crystal Streams? Who the fuck cares about his name?”
“It’s complicated.”
Adam’s soft voice intruded. “Why don’t we discuss how we want to proceed?”
SNAKE HELD the popcorn bag while Andy dove in, grabbing a handful. On the big-screen in front of them, ads and promo pieces for various TV shows flashed, while people filed in with kids in tow.
Andy chewed thoughtfully and looked up at Snake. “My dad was being kind of a derp, wasn’t he?”
“He’s got a lot on his mind.”
“Yeah. You know, he always tries to make stuff turn out good for everybody.”
“Yes, that’s true.” Perceptive little bugger.
“Except for him.”
Snake looked down at the dark, shaggy head bent over the popcorn. “Yeah, I see what you mean.”
“Sometimes you just gotta make him do the happy stuff.”
“Is that what you do?”
Andy nodded then looked up. “Yep. I tell him, ‘Dad, I really want to go see Rod and Hunter.’ That makes him go see his friends.”
Snake smiled at the earnest face.
“So we gotta do that now.”
“Oh? How?” Snake chewed a little popcorn.
The little face got even more serious. “You need to show him that we have to be together.”
“Uh, you mean you and your dad.”
“No, Snake. I mean me and my dad and you.”
What the hell to say? “But I can’t make him want to be with me, Andy.”
“He already does. But he thinks—” He waved his arms and snorted. “You know all the junk he thinks.” He did his low voice again. “Perfessional image. Gotta see your grandparents because they love you sooooo much. Like fudge!” He shoved popcorn in and spoke with his mouth full. “You and me. We’ve got to show him.”
Snake stared at Andy. He reached in his pocket, pulled out his phone, and started to text under the light of the words on the screen saying No talking or texting.
Chapter Seventeen
“SIR, I need to take a day off next week.” Theodore stood halfway in the door of Dr. Thurston’s office. He’d been working his butt off for two weeks so he could ask for this day.
Dr. T. looked up from his laptop. “Of course, just let me know when, so I can plan to cover all the classes.”
“It’s Wednesday.”
Dr. T. sat back with his hands folded over his rounded belly. “I hope you’re doing something fun with your time off, but it being on Wednesday suggests otherwise.”
“Uh, yes. I have a, uh, court hearing.”
“Oh my.” He frowned. “No fun at all.”
“No.” He glanced at the floor.
“I don’t mean to pry, Theodore, but is everything all right? If there’s something I can do—”
Dr. T.’s concern was partly his rambunctious curiosity, for sure, but also he really cared. Theodore walked forward and sank into the guest chair in front of the messy desk. “It’s a child custody issue.”
“What?” He looked shocked and upset.
“Yes. Child Services has been interviewing me and my son and all my friends, I gather, and Wednesday’s the hearing. It’s kind of a long story involving my in-laws. My lawyer feels we have the upper hand, but I’d appreciate knowing what my chances are of getting my dissertation approved. Having a better employment situation certainly wouldn’t hurt.”
For a second, Dr. T. looked stricken, then inhaled and pasted on a smile. “We haven’t had our final meeting of the committee yet.”
“But it’s not looking good, right?”
“I don’t want to give you false hope, but I also don’t want you to give up hope.”
“I understand.” Yeah, that he had no chance in hell. “Thanks, Dr. T.” He stood and walked toward the door.
“I have an appointment to talk with senior administration about this issue. I can’t believe that this college would willingly overlook such a promising scholar.”
“Thanks, sir. But I can.” He glanced back. “By the way, one of my students—your students—has a complaint about Sean Rance. It may be taken care of, but if not, I’ll send her to you to discuss it before I go.”
“Go?”
“Yes. I told you I’d have to leave the college to get a better paying job. I need to support my son—especially now. He’s waited long enough to have a decent life.”
“But you’re a brilliant teacher.”
“Tell that to Ashworth. If I can’t teach students my way, I’m letting them down as well as myself. I’ll let you know when I’ll be leaving. Thanks again, Professor.”
THEODORE WRUNG his hands and stared at his polished shoes. How the hell did I get here? A couple of weeks ago, I had a stable if not altogether happy life. Now? Chaos and shambles—and it all started with one tattooed Snake. Maybe the Bible was onto something. He smiled grimly.
People walked by on the boring, featureless floor of the hall outside the hearing room. The judge was in there—with the Andersons. Theodore wasn’t in there because Adam wasn’t. Where the hell is he? He scuffed his shoe against a rough spot on the linoleum and tried not to jump to his feet and run.
I want to throw up.
Adam kept telling him not to worry. They had their ace in the hole. Right. An invisible ace.
He glanced at his watch. Eleven fifteen. Sweet Jesus.
The sound of running feet made him look up. “Where the hell—?”
Adam waved a hand. “Sorry. Took longer than I thought.”
“What?”
“Tell you inside. Let’s get in there.”
Adam pushed open the heavy old door and held it so Theodore could walk in first.
“Thanks.” Whoa. Thanks for nothing. Hanson and Grace sat on the far side of a large conference table, glaring at him with a weaselly-looking man beside them. Lawyer? Two seats down sat a court stenographer or recorder or whatever they were called. At the head of the table, the judge gave Adam and Theodore a level look.
Adam said, “I’m so sorry, sir. My tardiness was actually pertinent to this meeting.”
They sat across from the Andersons, and Theodore gave them a nod but couldn’t muster a smile. Smile? Fuck. He’d gladly throw himself across the table and strangle both of them.
The judge looked down at a stack of papers. “I’ve read both of your petitions and reports. The facts are straightforward. Mr. Walters was married to Andrew’s mother, was present at Andrew’s birth, has lived with and supported the child since that birth, including after the death of the mother. That is in essence the definition of a father.” He looked up at the Andersons. “I assume you’ll agree with all of that?”
The Andersons’ weasel started to speak, but Grace cut him
off.
“He never told us he wasn’t Andy’s father—biologically. We didn’t know until JP came to us. Imagine how horrified we were?”
The judge raised an eyebrow. “You were and are aware that Mr. Walters is gay?”
Hanson gave Theodore a narrow-eyed glance. “Yes, we know it—now. But we don’t think our daughter knew it at the time of the marriage.”
The judge looked at Theodore, but Adam answered. “Mrs. Walters was quite aware of Theodore’s sexual orientation from the time they were very young. They were best friends but never romantic. He knew, however, that her family would greatly disapprove if she told them she was pregnant out of wedlock. He offered to marry her and conceal the truth of Andrew’s biological parentage. They represented it to the Andersons as a ‘one-time thing’ and never tried to suggest that Theodore wasn’t gay.”
Grace said, “But Theodore never gave JP a chance to step up and be a father. He probably didn’t even know she was pregnant.”
The judge glanced at Theodore. “Is that true, Mr. Walters?”
Theodore shook his head. “No, sir. Esther, my wife, had been dating JP in school. In fact, the Andersons knew that. He seduced her, got her pregnant, and when she told him, he refused to acknowledge any responsibility. He said she should have been more careful.”
“That’s a lie!” Grace’s voice had risen to the shriek stage, and her lawyer tried to shake his head at her. She glowered at him.
Theodore sighed and didn’t try to hide it. “No, Grace, it’s not, and you know it. Esther was fond of JP. You know she would have married him if he’d stepped forward.”
She started to yell something else, but Hanson put a hand on her arm. “Sir, JP Rellico came to us and said he never got to do the right thing, and he now wants contact with Andrew. He believes that Andrew would have a more wholesome and uplifting home with us while JP gets to know him and Andy comes to love his real father.”
Theodore slapped a hand to his mouth as his whole body turned to ice.
Grace gave him a nasty smile.
Adam patted Theodore’s hand and returned the smile with equal nastiness. “Actually, that’s no longer the case. I spoke with Mr. Rellico, who admitted he was short on funds currently and therefore felt the Andersons could provide him with money in return for his spending time with Andrew, who he referred to as ‘the kid’ and ‘the brat’ in my presence. Mr. Rellico has a drug and alcohol problem and is unemployed—a fact I’m sure could not have escaped the Andersons’ notice. After a short meeting, which made me late for this appointment, he signed this release of all rights and claims to Andrew.” Adam slid forward a signed document.
I might pass out. Theodore breathed deeply to clear the dizziness.
“That’s not true! What did you say to him?”
The judge looked up. “It really doesn’t matter, Mrs. Anderson. The paper is completely legal. I believe we have nothing further to discuss.”
“But we’re Andrew’s grandparents. We have rights.”
“No, actually, you don’t in this case. Only if Andrew was in danger in his home environment.”
She leaped to her feet, almost knocking over the chair in which she sat, and pointed toward Theodore. “He’s a dreadful person and a terrible influence on Andy. He’s a pervert and exposes his child to other perverts like him. He doesn’t take his child to church and he’s poor and drags Andy through a bare subsistence living, he’s—”
The judge held up a hand, and she shut up. “Mrs. Anderson, we do our homework. We’ve interviewed people connected to Mr. Walters and we’ve interviewed the child under the supervision of Child Services. Andrew adores his father. He’s happy and well-adjusted. Mr. Walters’s associates say he’s the most dedicated parent they’ve ever met. While he’s not well off, he works hard to support his son and has excellent prospects. This court doesn’t recognize homosexuality as a perversion. Therefore we have nothing further to discuss. I would recommend that you adopt Andrew, Mr. Walters. This case is closed.”
The judge stood but Theodore couldn’t. The Andersons’ lawyer practically pulled Grace out of the room, and Hanson shot him a look of such dislike it should have blistered his skin. Sticks and stones. They didn’t get Andy. He looked up at Adam. “I get to keep my son.”
Adam smiled and helped Theodore to his feet. “I told you. The court values real fathers. That’s you. Come on.”
With Adam’s hand still on his arm, he walked unsteadily out into the hall. No sight of the Andersons. “I wonder what they’ll do next?”
“They don’t have any real options. We’ll get started on adoption proceedings right away.”
Theodore nodded and started walking beside Adam. Suddenly, he stopped. “How did you get that asshole to sign that paper? It couldn’t have been out of his bigheartedness.”
“Nope.” He glanced around and lowered his voice. “I bribed him.”
“What?”
“I offered him ten thousand dollars to sign the paper. He jumped at it.”
“Sweet Jesus, how—I mean, I don’t have that kind of money.”
“You have friends who do.”
“Rod and Hunter?”
“I’m sure they would have, but no. Snake gave me the money.”
Theodore felt the tears. No fighting them. Why would Snake trust me with his money when he doesn’t trust me with the truth? He wiped at his face. “But—I have to find some way to pay him back.” He sniffed. “I’m leaving the college and will be looking for a job. I’m a good researcher, so if you hear of anything, tell me.”
Adam frowned. “You can’t quit when you’re so close to your degree.”
He swiped the last of the wet from his cheeks. “I can always finish it later. It’s about time I entered the real world.”
THEODORE RUSHED out of his bedroom adjusting his dress shirt and thrust his head into Andy’s room. “Time to—” Empty. No Andy in the bed. What the hell? For a second he panicked. Then he heard the TV and the faint sound of a spoon clinking against a bowl. He covered the few steps to the living and dining area in one bound. There sat a fully dressed Andy staring at the TV and ladling cereal into his mouth. Yes, there was a puddle of milk on the edge of the table, but otherwise the scene looked serene. “Uh, good morning.”
“Morning, Dad.” He smiled but didn’t take his eyes away from the cartoons.
“Have you been up long?”
“Just a few minutes.”
“I overslept. Sorry.” He walked to the kitchen and started coffee.
“That’s okay. You were tired.”
“Yeah. I guess so.” He glanced at Andy but didn’t see upset or anxiety.
Theodore kept his voice as calm as he could. “So, everything went well at the court yesterday. We don’t have to worry about that guy anymore.”
Andy finally looked toward Theodore. “I figured that would happen.”
“Oh? How come?”
“The judge guy asked me if I liked living with you, and I told him you were my dad and I didn’t care who caused me, I know my dad when I see him.”
Theodore swallowed hard. “What did he say?”
“He laughed and said he did too.”
“Yes. Well, that derp signed a paper saying he doesn’t have any claims on you at all.”
“Good.” He looked back at the TV.
Theodore stuck a cup under the dripping coffeemaker to catch the liquid as it emerged. “Of course, if you ever want to get to know him, all you have to do is tell me, okay?” He peeked sideways to see the reaction.
Andy shrugged. “Okay. I don’t think I would, but I guess teenagers do weird stuff, so maybe sometime when I’m older.” He grinned at the cartoons.
Theodore poured himself some cereal and came to the table. He sat next to Andy and drowned the healthy oats in lots of milk and honey. “So, Andy, what about your grandparents?”
Andy frowned and looked at him. “They’ve done a lot of bad stuff to me, Dad.”
“Yes,
they have.” He shoveled in a spoonful of munchiness and chewed quietly. “I’m very sorry I let that happen.”
Andy said, “I guess you were scared about this court thing. That’s what you meant about bad things happening?”
He nodded and stared in his bowl. “Yes. I know I should have talked to somebody like Adam before, but I was afraid people would find out about that guy.”
“Sure. I get it. You’re my dad and you love me.”
“Yes, I am, and oh yes, I do.” He reached over and smoothed his son’s dark hair. “I guess I was scared that the guy would show up and he’d be able to offer you more than I could.”
Andy cocked his head. “Like what?”
“Like a nice house and lots of video games and a good education.”
“Oh Daddy, you’re so silly.” Andy got up from his chair and gave Theodore a hug. “I gotta get to the bus.” A smile spread across his face. “I hope you have a really nice day.”
Theodore barked a laugh. “Thank you, Andy. I hope you have a really nice day too. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Yep. Bye.” He waved, dark eyes sparkling, grabbed his laden backpack, and left the apartment.
What an amazing conversation. He’d expected Andy to be more upset, more frightened by the uncertainty, but he acted like he’d been completely assured of things turning out his way. And Andy hadn’t asked about Snake even once. Good. Maybe he’s getting over him. The resilience of kids.
Theodore cleaned up the milk spill and put the dishes in the sink, grabbed his own tote, and walked to the Toyota. Andy’s getting over Snake. Wish I could. His deep breath inhaled pain.
A half hour later, he stopped in his tiny office before his first class. A quick perusal of email showed two responses to job applications he’d sent. One was a polite expression of interest but without any immediate position available. The other offered an interview. He got both a heart leap and sinking stomach at the response. The job was as a salesman for an educational supplies company. They offered a base salary plus commissions and benefits—the magic word. Still, sales wasn’t his dream job. Oh well, he hadn’t been offered the position yet, and he had to get over his ivory tower existence anyway. He typed a polite acceptance of the interview.
