Broken Rules

by Jade Buchanan

  "Hang on, I'll grab something for you." Henry offered a pat to the shoulder before he moved past Jonah and headed downstairs. Jonah had a thought to follow him—things would probably be quieter in the basement since most of the ladies would be upstairs—but Rita-Anne would probably kill him if he didn't at least make an appearance up here to greet the well-wishers.

  Nodding to a few women standing in the kitchen, Jonah inhaled the rich scent of tomatoes and garlic. His stomach rumbled, and he tried to remember when he'd last eaten. Hadn't been this morning. He hadn't been able to choke anything down. He didn't quite feel like eating now either, but he wasn't stupid. Hopefully, Jonah could grab a quick bite to eat and get something in his stomach.

  Rita-Anne turned from the stove to greet him. "Hey there, petit chou-feur."

  "Please tell me he isn't here." He bent down to buss her cheek, sidestepping to let a couple move past him into the dining room. Looked like he wasn't the last one here after all.

  She offered a grimace. "He disappeared after the funeral. I tried to get him to come over, and don't give me that face. He's hurting, and I know that isn't an excuse but I don't want him to be alone. We all know he's sitting over there in the dark getting wasted."

  "Naturellement."

  "I know. Here, eat a baguette and go keep Sally company. I'm assuming Henry has gone to get you some refreshments, but please try and put something non-liquid in at some point."

  He rolled his eyes, taking the bread. At least she wasn't going to try and tell him not to drink. Although, the thought of him and his father both getting drunk tonight didn't quite sit right. He wasn't his old man. He would never be his father. Right?

  Man, that thought alone was enough to make him reach for a drink. As long as he stuck to beer, he'd be fne. Jonah waved to a few individuals he recognized, keeping his head down to avoid any serious conversations.

  "Well, there you are, boy. Nice to see you again."

  Jonah glanced up, seeing Mr. Edwards on his right. "Hi there, Mr. Edwards. It's nice to see you again too." Truthfully, he hadn't expected to see the old guy after running into him at Rich's bar the other night.

  "Yep, yep. Had to come and pay my respects. Brought my daughter. She grumbled something ferce about having to put on her Sunday go to meetin' dress, but she sure does like the food here so she's not complaining anymore."

  "Hmm." Jonah tried to school his features. He wasn't sure what a Sunday go to meetin' dress was, but it sure sounded fancy.

  "Well, I'm sure glad you popped on over. I'll see you later."

  "Sure thing. Real sorry about your mom, Jonah."

  "Thanks. That means a lot." Feeling a bit better, he moved on further into the house.

  He found Henry's mom in the living room, holding fort on the love seat. Squeezing in beside her, he accepted the hug she gave him. Henry came in moments later with his beer, and Jonah got ready for a bit of a sit in. One thing he loved about Henry's family, they liked to chat. And it wasn't exactly a participation event. He wouldn't be required to do a thing but sit and listen. Perfect.

  Half an hour later, he was still sitting beside Sally. The crowd had thinned out considerably and now it was mostly family left.

  Rita-Anne had been by and dropped off a bowl of spaghetti. He'd tried to choke down a bit, honestly, but it just hadn't sat right. At least Henry kept him supplied. He had a feeling Henry was going behind his wife since he always happened to show up when Rita-Anne was occupied in the kitchen, but Jonah didn't much care right now.

  He'd accepted a few well-wishers come to tell him how sorry they were. He still wasn't sure what to say to them. What could he say? They all knew he hadn't exactly been in touch with either parent, and he still wasn't sure how he felt about his mom.

  "Now, you know about Paddy, of course. Patrick Flynn came here with his sons during the potato famine. The boys were halfway to full grown and every one of them took wives in the Tri-Towns."

  Jonah nodded, tuning back in to Henry's mom. He spied Neil coming up beside Sally, holding two beers. Neil waved one in the air, motioning to Jonah. "What about his wife?" he asked, distracted. He gave Neil back a little head nod, trying to keep his gaze on Sally.

  "Oh, she died before they left Ireland. Not surprising, eh? Everyone lost a wife during the potato famine."

  Neil immediately turned around, his shoulders shaking. Jonah had to bite his lip to stop himself from joining the other man in laughter. He nodded to Sally, trying to keep his face straight. "Hmm."

  "Now, don't let me monopolize you. I see you there, Neil Brogan. You take this young man outside for some guy talk, hmm. I think he could use a bit of fresh air."

  Not knowing what to say, Jonah stood up and followed Neil outside. Damn, he hadn't expected to end up in this position again. He wondered what Neil was thinking. Probably hoping he didn't get a repeat of that damned kiss. This sucked. He just wanted to go home and forget this entire week had happened. Immerse himself in his job again and go back to being boring, staid Jonah.

  Well, actually, if he was really wishing for something it would have to be pushed up against an available surface and fucked until he forgot everything. But, that wasn't likely to happen anytime soon so he'd have to settle for just going to bed alone and being one day closer to leaving this place.

  Neil headed for the edge of the patio, slipping down to sit on the ground.

  Not knowing what to do, Jonah hovered close to the door.

  "Oh for the love of... sit down. I don't bite."

  Jonah so wasn't going to respond to that. He moved forward to sit beside Neil anyway. They both tipped their heads back and took a bracing sip of beer. Jonah stared up at the stars in the sky.

  "I miss the stars in Calgary."

  "Yeah?"

  "There're too many street lights. On a really clear night, you can still see the little glistening dots of light but that doesn't happen that often."

  "Nothing like this, I bet. I missed this when I was down in Toronto at university."

  "Clear skies, nothing to obstruct the full effect of the stars above. Yeah, I miss this."

  Jonah and Neil sat comfortably beside each other. Minutes passed and neither made a move to go back inside. Jonah could hear from the noises fltering outside that the crowd had thinned once more. Bursts of laughter occasionally made their way outside, and he was glad that they were enjoying themselves. His mom wouldn't have wanted everyone to sit around and cry. She wasn't like that. Although... maybe he didn't know her as well as he thought he did. The mom of his youth wouldn't have kicked him out. At least, he never would have dreamed that would happen when he was a kid.

  Neil put his bottle down on his other side. "You don't have to answer this, but...are you ever going to tell me why you left after high school?"

  He should've expected that. He knew Neil was curious. Jonah gulped for air, "She made me leave." Crap, he hadn't meant to say that. It followed his train of thought, though. If he didn't know better, he'd think Neil was a mind reader.

  "Your mom?"

  Man, he didn't want to talk about this, but maybe it was time. He really hadn't told Rita-Anne everything. She still lived here, still was close to his mom and he didn't want to ruin her feelings toward them. That just wouldn't be fair. His problems with his parents were about them not about anyone else.

  He'd used to talk to Neil about everything when they were younger. They'd shared a lot about their dreams and what was going on with their lives. The only secret they really had was Jonah's sexuality. That he knew of, at least.

  Maybe it would help him to talk about what happened. Maybe this was why Neil was here this week. Everything happens for a reason, right? Maybe that's why he ran into his best friend again after all these years. Besides, he really didn't want to lose this connection right now.

  Taking a deep breath, Jonah tried to think of how to say this. "It was her idea. Leaving. Dad didn't want me around, he hit me

  a few times—"

  "Christ. I'm so
rry. I shouldn't have asked. Jonah, it doesn't matter. You don't have to tell me this."

  "It does. Matter, that is." Jonah studied the familiar chocolate gaze beside him. Neil was older than the last time they'd spent this much time together, different. Jonah could see the differences, and they weren't all physical. There were parts of Neil that Jonah didn't know, so many things he'd missed in the last ten years. He wished suddenly that things had been different, that he could have confessed everything to this man. Maybe he could, now. Would it make a difference? Maybe. Maybe not. But Jonah suddenly needed to say the words.

  "I'm gay."

  Neil smiled wryly. "I fgured."

  "Does it bother you?"

  Neil opened his mouth, taking a deep breath.

  "Well, well. If it isn't Jonah Chevalier, back from the dead. Alberta, I mean."

  Jonah whirled around. Smiley was stepping through the patio door, Jackson a step behind him. Smiley looked exactly the same as he had the last time Jonah saw him. Still gangly and longlimbed, with a thatch of blond hair that stuck out at odd angles. He walked with a perpetual hop in his step and a near constant smile on his face. Hence the name.

  Shaking his head, Jonah stood up. "If it isn't Sam Mills. Hey, Smiley, I didn't know you were here."

  "Of course we are. Haven't seen you in ages, J." Smiley held out his hand.

  Jonah grinned, reaching for Smiley and accepting the handshake. Jackson McKay came around back and threw his arm around Jonah's shoulders. Jackson was a big guy, easily standing taller than any of the rest of them. His face was shadowed with a thick black beard under twinkling blue eyes.

  "You okay?" Jackson asked, a frown creasing his forehead.

  "I've been better."

  "I'm real sorry, J."

  "Thanks, Jackson." Jonah stepped back, watching his two friends greet Neil. "Geez, have you been here the whole time? I really have been out of it."

  "No no. We just got here. Smiley's wife had to take the little one home and we grabbed a bit to eat. Didn't want to intrude when you still had family here but Rita said we could come over anytime."

  "I fgured Smiley would be here, but don't you work, Jackson?" Neil grinned.

  Jackson threw himself down on the steps leading to the backyard. "Yeah, I work, jackass. I just came up for the weekend. Figured Jonah would be here and I wanted an excuse to bring the little woman up to meet mom and dad."

  Neil reared back in mock shock. "You're serious about some girl? Wow, Hell did freeze over."

  "Yep, we're dropping like fies." Smiley laughed boisterously. "Which one of you guys is next? My little boy needs a playmate."

  Jonah winced, covering it up with a fake shudder. "Not me. I spend too much time with kids during the day. No way am I having one at home too."

  "You got a lady in mind to have that kid with?" Smiley asked. He moved over to brace himself against the porch railing.

  "Nope. Happily single." Jonah glanced over at Neil, not sure what to say.

  Smiley paced over to sit beside Jackson on the porch steps. "I'm real sorry I couldn't be here all week, Jonah. My wife had us down visiting with her family in Ottawa."

  "Hey, no sweat. I'm just glad you're here."

  Half an hour—and a few beers—later, they were all sprawled out on the porch.

  Smiley sighed loudly. "Funerals and weddings, man. Only time we see each other these days and you never get to really sit and visit at either."

  Jonah started to snicker. "Okay, you're starting to sound old. What's next, reminiscing about high school?"

  Neil shifted in place. "Shit, remember when we hung that last year before everyone took off? That was a great year."

  "Hell yes." Smiley grinned widely. "I remember all the shit Jackson used to bring up. What was that thing called again? Dirty Sanchez?"

  Jonah groaned. "Don't get him started again. Crisse, we had to hear enough about all that stuff back then."

  "I think the rusty trombone was my favorite. To hear about, not to do." Neil chuckled.

  Sputtering, Jonah shook his head at Neil. "Sure sure."

  Jackson leaned forward. "Heck, I've got a new one. Have you ever heard of a Latchford tuque?" He paused for effect, waiting until everyone had shaken their heads before continuing. "Well, let me tell you. It's after you have sex with a girl and you take the condom off and slap her on the head with it. Then you run away."

  "That's fucking sick." Jonah wrinkled his nose. "I'd kick someone's ass if they did that to me."

  Neil started to laugh like a lunatic. Jonah chuckled in reaction. He couldn't help it, Neil's laughter was infectious.

  "No, no," Smiley interrupted. "If it's a tuque then you should take the condom off and try to pull it down over her head. Otherwise the name just doesn't make sense."

  Jackson scoffed. "Right, have you ever tried to pull a condom down over your head? That shit's halfway impossible."

  "Because your head is so fucking big."

  "The name doesn't make sense anyway. What's with Latchford?" Jonah asked.

  "The guy who told me about it was from there."

  "Huh, I wonder what a balaclava would be like." Neil mused.

  Jonah elbowed Neil. "Don't encourage him."

  Jackson leaned back again. "I've got another one. You want to know what a Norwegian gumboot is?"

  Smiley kicked Jackson's foot. "You told me this one. Is that the big toe in the anus?"

  "Tabarnac. You're both idiots." Jonah guffawed. It was just like being back in high school. Sneaking beer and trying to gross each other out.

  "Oh, I have one. The Spiderman."

  Jackson kicked back at Smiley. "What the fuck is a Spiderman?"

  "It's when you jerk off and then whap, throw it in her face."

  Jonah bent over, his shoulders shaking. Neil was making a wheezing sound beside him.

  "Did you have to make the hand motion, Smiley?" Jackson chuckled.

  "Well, it doesn't make sense otherwise. How would you all know what I was talking about?"

  "Boys, there you are."

  Jonah jerked at Rita-Anne's voice coming from the screen door.

  "Shit," Smiley exclaimed.

  Rita-Anne stepped outside, wrapping her cardigan closer to her body. "Come inside, it's getting chilly."

  Smiley and Jackson immediately stood up. Geez, Jonah hoped she hadn't heard any of that.

  "Thanks for letting us come over, Rita. I better get back home and Jackson has a bit of a drive tomorrow."

  "We'll see. I might end up staying an extra day." Jackson murmured.

  "You drove up from Michigan?" Jonah asked.

  "Yeah. It's not too bad. I've done it quite a bit. Every time Mom wants me to come home. It's easier to drive than navigate airplanes."

  Neil stepped forward. "If you're staying, give me a call tomorrow and we can do something. I'm not driving down south until the day after."

  "Will do."

  "Well, I'm glad you two could make it. I know this means a lot to Jonah." Reet went back into the house after sending him a small grin.

  Smiley and Jackson quickly followed her through the sliding door into the kitchen.

  Neil hung back, holding out a hand to Jonah. "J. I need to say something."

  Jonah frowned. "What, it's not about the gumboot thing is it?"

  "Shit, no. This is serious."

  "Okay…"

  "The answer is no. It doesn't bother me."

  "What doesn't… Oh!" Him being gay. Jonah nodded, his throat tight. Neil held his gaze for a moment before nodding and stepping through the doorway.

  Walking back inside the house, he realized there were only a few of them left. Henry was sitting at the kitchen table with Sally, Debbie and Tom. There were two more of Neil's brothers hanging out with them, the only ones missing were David and Chris. He wasn't surprised that they were gone, since both were still young enough to want to do anything but hang out with a bunch of old folks after a funeral. He was surprised Patrick and Stan were still here,
though. Especially Patrick. Hell, Pat didn't even live in the Tri-Towns.

  Jonah walked Smiley and Jackson to the landing at the back door, waiting for them to get their shoes. "Thanks for coming, guys. It means a lot."

  "No sweat. You look me up next time you're here." Smiley grinned, giving Jonah a back-slapping hug. "Thanks Reet!" he yelled up the stairs.

  "Welcome!" she yelled back.

  Jonah laughed. "See you around, Jackson. Have a safe trip home."

  Jackson slung his arm around Jonah again. "You take care."

  He waved them out the door, keeping watch until Smiley's car pulled away from the curb across the street.