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  “Mom, Dad, you remember Scott Trask. He’s Jack’s little brother,” Preston told them.

  “Oh, Jack, sure, of course.” Mr. Reynolds shook Scotty’s hand. “It’s been a while, I think. You were just a boy when we last saw you. How is Jack?”

  “He’s very good, sir.”

  “It’s nice to see you, Scott.” Preston’s mom’s brow furrowed. “Are you and Marilyn friends?”

  Scotty smiled, ignoring the flutter in his stomach. “We do know each other, Mrs. Reynolds, but I came along because I’m a private investigator. Preston has a client’s case coming up, and the man is originally from up here. It was the perfect opportunity for me to mix work with pleasure.”

  “Oh.” She nodded. “That makes sense. I do seem to recall Preston mentioning something about you doing investigations. Well, we’re glad to have you. The wedding should be lovely.”

  Marilyn opened the door of the restaurant. “Shall we?”

  Scotty waited for them all to precede him. When they were all inside but Preston, his lover turned to him and raised an eyebrow. He shrugged. Preston hadn’t told him how they were supposed to explain his presence, so he’d improvised. It was better than standing there stuttering over it.

  * * * *

  Preston made sure to get a seat at the table next to Scott. Just the nearness of the man soothed him. Which was the reason he’d wanted Scott along in the first place. He wanted the man with him all day, every day, but if that weren’t possible, he still wanted Scott around as much as he could. The thought of coming up here for the wedding alone just didn’t compute. He was in deep, he knew.

  Somehow, this weekend, he was going to have to find the nerve to tell his parents. He couldn’t risk losing Scott by remaining stubborn. He’d wait until after the wedding. That would only be fair to Marilyn and Oscar. Maybe they could meet for breakfast on Sunday morning. His stomach twisted just thinking about it.

  His mother, who sat on the other side of Preston, leaned over to speak to Scott. “So, Scott, being such a handsome man, you must have girls all over you,”

  “Mom.”

  “What?” She gave him an innocent look.

  Scott took a sip of his wine and smiled. “Actually, Mrs. Reynolds, I have someone special in my life.”

  Preston tugged at the collar of his button-down shirt. “It’s pretty hot in here, don’t you think?”

  “That’s lovely. I’m not a bit surprised though.” His mom speared a bite of her salad. “She’s very lucky to have you.”

  Fuck.

  “Thank you, ma’am. He is very lucky to have me. But I doubt he always thinks so.” Scott winked at Preston’s mom. Preston wanted to disappear under the table.

  “Oh.” His mother blushed, and the table got suddenly very quiet. “Oh, I see. Well, how…nice.”

  His dad cleared his throat. “Yes, that’s right. Your brother mentioned you were gay once. I’d forgotten.”

  Scott continued to smile. “Yep. I came out several years ago now. I guess I forget sometimes it’s not old news to some.”

  His mom, still blushing, returned Scott’s smile. “Well, I am sure all the girls were crushed when you did.” She held up a basket of sourdough rolls. “Bread?”

  “Thank you.” Scott took the basket, and the conversation at the table started up again.

  Preston blew out a breath and took a spoonful of his soup.

  “Are you all right?” Scott asked him, his voice low. “You look pretty pale.”

  “I’m fine.” He couldn’t wait until the dinner was over. God, he hated this. He could see why it ate at Scott that they had to hide their relationship. It was getting to him too. But he also saw the look on his mom’s face when Scott told her he was gay. She hadn’t been appalled, exactly, but she definitely didn’t have a clue how to react.

  The waiter came by asking if any of them wanted dessert, prompting Marilyn to make the suggestion that they all go over to her and Oscar’s house for cheesecake that they had bought earlier in the day. Their house wasn’t far from the restaurant.

  “Besides, I’m sure the kids would love to see you, Preston. And their grandparents too,” Marilyn said.

  “Great, we’d love to.” He got their address for his GPS, and after settling the bill, they went to their car.

  “Pres?”

  “Hmm?” He clicked the electronic locks.

  “Are you mad because I didn’t hide being gay?” Scott asked, getting into the passenger side.

  “No, honey, I’m not mad. I know you don’t want to hide who you are.” Preston just wished he could be half as brave as Scott. “And there’s no reason you should. I’m sorry I’ve made you hide us this long.”

  “You are?”

  “Yes.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m going to tell them Sunday, after the wedding.”

  Scott rested his hand on Preston’s thigh. “Are you sure?”

  Was he? Probably not. But he had to do this. He couldn’t keep lying to everyone he knew and most of all to himself. What was it Jack had told him?

  ”Preston, those who love you will love you anyway, and those who won’t accept it never loved you in the first place.”

  Easy for Jack to say. Jack was straight and the apple of his father’s eye. Ken thought Jack could do no wrong and Scott could do no right. Preston sure didn’t want that with his father.

  “Pres?”

  “I’m sure, babe. I’m sure.”

  * * * *

  They pulled up in front of Marilyn and Oscar’s nice suburban tract home. It was just like all the houses around it. Quiet and unassuming, but cozy. Similar to the neighborhood Scott grew up in, actually.

  Preston’s parents pulled up right behind them and got out of their car at the same time as he and Preston. The front door of the house burst open, and out came Preston’s six-year-old daughter, Candace.

  “Daddy! Scotty!” She ran to them and threw herself at her father, who caught her with a grin.

  “Hey there, pumpkin.”

  Scotty loved to see Preston with his children. He wished they lived closer so he’d get to spend more time with them. Preston scooped her into his arms. She reached over and grabbed a hunk of Scotty’s shirt.

  “Scotty, guess what?”

  “What?”

  “I got an A on the school project.”

  “The one I helped you with?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Mrs. Reynolds looked at them quizzically. “When was this, Candace?”

  “Last time Daddy and Scotty were here. Daddy wanted us to meet his boyfriend.” She touched her father’s face. “Huh, Daddy?”

  “His…Scott isn’t your daddy’s boyfriend,” Mrs. Reynolds said.

  “Yeah, he is. They live together.” Candace bit her lip and looked at Scotty. “Oops.”

  Mr. Reynolds came to stand next to his wife. “What is this?”

  Preston’s mom was shaking her head rather frantically. “No, Candace. You have it wrong.”

  “Candace, maybe you’d better come back into the house,” Marilyn called from the front door.

  Preston set his daughter on the ground. He didn’t say a word, but he’d turned a little red. Candace’s face was screwed up in a big frown.

  Scotty bent down to her height. “It’s okay, kiddo. Go on inside.”

  She cast one last worried look in her father’s direction and then ran toward the house.

  “Preston?” Mrs. Reynolds asked.

  Preston wouldn’t look at his parents, or Scotty for that matter. He looked toward the house where he daughter had just disappeared inside. “It’s true, Mom. I…Scott and I live together.”

  “As roommates?”

  Scotty knew by looking at her she knew very well that wasn’t what Preston meant. He ached for Preston. He’d been through this himself. He could still recall the pain of his parents’ initial reaction to his being gay.

  “No,” Preston said quietly. “We’re partners.”

  “Partners?�
� she repeated, her voice going up an octave. “As in…as in lovers?”

  “Jennifer.” Preston’s father touched her shoulder.

  “Yes, Mom.”

  “But you’re not gay, Preston,” she insisted. “You were married, for God’s sake. You have children. You are not gay.”

  Scotty wanted to hug Preston and tell him everything would be all right. Preston was about to lose it. He could see his lover’s bottom lip tremble.

  Preston turned and looked straight at his parents for the first time since his daughter spilled his secret. “I prefer men. Before when I was married, that was the mistake. I think I knew then, but I tried to pretend otherwise. Scott is my partner, and we love each other.”

  She recoiled against her husband and then turned teary eyes toward Scotty. “You! This is your fault!”

  “Don’t talk to him like that, Mom,” Preston said firmly. “I know this is a shock for you, but I won’t let you talk to Scotty like that.”

  “How could you!” she wailed, and then she turned and ran down the pathway and into Marilyn’s house.

  “Dad—”

  But Preston’s dad just shook his head and followed his wife. The door closed behind Mr. Reynolds, leaving Scotty and Preston outside in the front yard.

  “God, I’m sorry, babe.” Scotty stepped toward Preston and took his hand, threading their fingers together. He had hoped it would go better but had feared Preston’s parents might react badly. He knew that was why Preston had been reluctant to tell them.

  “Yeah.” Preston nodded. “Let’s go back to the hotel, okay?”

  “Sure, of course. You want me to drive?”

  Preston answered by handing him the car keys. He opened the passenger side and sat inside the car, closing the door.

  Marilyn came running outside. “Wait!” She glanced at Preston sitting in the car.

  “I think he wants to be alone for a second,” Scotty said, trying to give her a smile. He feared it was a terrible attempt.

  “I’m sorry, Scotty.”

  “It’s not your fault. Kids will be kids. Anyway, it had to come out eventually,” he assured her.

  She hugged herself. “You two are still coming to the wedding, aren’t you?”

  “We’ll try.” Impulsively he embraced her. “Thanks, Marilyn. You’ve really been cool with this, and I appreciate it.”

  Marilyn nodded. “You’re welcome. I used to resent you, to be honest.”

  “Resent me?”

  “Yeah, before when Preston and I were married, before you went to New York. I didn’t know exactly what it was about you, but I knew you were special to Preston, and I was jealous. It didn’t occur to me then that it was sexual, but you know, when Preston told me about the two of you it all made sense.”

  “Well, thank you again. And I promise to try to get Preston to your wedding tomorrow.” He kissed her cheek.

  “Thank you. I’ll talk to his parents too. Maybe there’s something I can say.”

  He went to the driver’s side and opened the door. “See you tomorrow.”

  She waved and turned to go back to the house.

  Scotty got in and started up the car.

  “You know how to get back to the hotel?” Preston asked in a low voice.

  “I think so. Besides, we have the GPS if I get lost. Why don’t you just rest there and close your eyes until we get there.”

  Preston sighed, leaned his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes. “How did you do it?”

  Scotty knew what he asked. How was he able to get through telling his parents? “To be honest it was fucking hard.”

  “Jack said your mom cried, and they wouldn’t even talk to you for three days.”

  “Yeah.” He blew out a breath and pulled the car away from the curb. “She still cries sometimes.”

  Preston opened his eyes and looked at him. “She does?”

  “Sure. She cries because my dad and I don’t get along. We never did, really, but it’s definitely worse since I came out. Sometimes she cries because she knows people treat me like crap just because I’m gay. It hurts her every time she hears a story about gay bashing or an anti-gay rally.”

  “I never knew.”

  “She hides it a lot. She’s afraid for me too. Plus I think she still thinks about how I’m not going to give her a grandchild. She’s going to have to rely on Jack for that.”

  Preston closed his eyes. “At least I gave my parents that, huh?”

  “Yeah, and your kids are great. Both of their parents are awesome. Whatever they choose in life, both you and Marilyn will support them. I think that’s so cool.”

  “Yeah, cool.” Preston’s lips curved into a small smile. He grew quiet then and kept his eyes closed.

  Scotty turned on the radio, but he found a classical station and turned it low enough that it would be soothing to Preston.

  By the time he reached their hotel, Preston had dozed off. Scotty pulled into a space in the parking lot and touched Preston’s arm.

  “Hey, babe, we’re back at the hotel.”

  Preston opened his eyes slowly. He stared at Scotty for a long time and then cupped his jaw. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “I need you so much, Scotty. Please don’t leave me.”

  Scotty felt the prick of tears. “I never will, Pres. I promise.”

  Preston nodded, looking very somber by the parking lot lights. “I promise too.”

  “Come on. Let’s get you up to the room. Do you want some tea or coffee or a drink of something?” He opened his door and came to the passenger side to help Preston out. Not that he needed it really, but he wanted to touch Preston, to offer him comfort in any way he could.

  “All I need is you, Scotty.”

  He took Preston’s hand. “Good, because you definitely have me.”

  Chapter 4

  Preston opened his eyes and peered at the digital clock next to the hotel bed. A little after eight already. The weight of Scott’s arm around his waist was a comfort. He didn’t want to ever move.

  “What time is it?” Scott asked, snuggling closer.

  “A bit after eight.”

  “The wedding is at eleven?”

  He shrugged. “I’m not sure we’re going.”

  Scott suddenly moved until he was lying on top of Preston. He held Preston’s face in his hands. “Babe, come on. Marilyn wants us there.”

  “I don’t want to ruin her wedding.”

  “We won’t. In fact, I think we’d ruin it if we didn’t go. She wants us there, and the kids want you there.”

  “My parents…”

  Scott sighed and kissed him. “Pres, I don’t think they will ruin the wedding either. They’re too classy to make a big scene at Marilyn’s wedding. It might be a little awkward, but I think we should go.”

  “God, I hate it when you’re sane and rational.” Preston wrapped his hand around Scott’s neck and pulled him down for a deep, tongue thrusting kiss. “Mmm. I’d rather spend the day in bed with you.”

  Scott grinned. “Yeah, me too. But sometimes we have to be adults and do what’s expected of us.”

  “Damn.” Preston felt suddenly better, which surprised him. “Okay, okay. I guess we’d better get showers and into our suits.”

  * * * *

  The wedding itself was held outside under the flowered archway in the outdoor garden of the local community center Marilyn and Oscar had rented for the reception. They managed to have perfect weather, sunny and clear with only a slight breeze. Marilyn had told Preston they didn’t want fancy, and so she wore an off-white knee-length dress, and Oscar chose a navy suit.

  Candace and Logan were dressed to match Marilyn and Oscar, which Preston thought was a bit over the top, but Scott told him he thought it was too precious.

  Across the garden, Preston spotted his father standing tall in a suit. His mother was nowhere in sight. Disappointment in his mother nearly overwhelmed him, but he pushed it aside. This was Maril
yn’s day, and whatever his mother’s problem was…well, it was her problem. Not his, not Scott’s, and certainly not Marilyn’s. That his mother would choose to stay away from the wedding because of his love for Scott hurt just the same.

  Later, after the reception started and the lodge was crowded with well-wishers, Preston decided to approach his dad. The man stood off to the side, looking uncomfortable and as though he wished he could be anywhere else. It shouldn’t be like that. Scott came up to Preston and handed him a glass of champagne. He followed Preston’s gaze.

  “Going to go talk to him?”

  “I think I should.”

  Scott nodded and stroked his fingers over Preston’s hand. “Want me to go with you?”

  “No. I need to do this alone.” He handed his champagne back to Scott. “Be right back.”

  His father stiffened as he approached, but he did not move away. “Hello, Preston.”

  “Where’s Mom?”

  His father was quiet for a moment, then looked at the ground. “She’s not feeling well. Thinks it was something she ate last night at dinner.”

  “You’re a terrible liar, Dad.”

  His father sighed. “I’m sorry. She’s having a difficult time accepting…accepting—”

  “I’m with a guy. I know.”

  “Yes.” His father looked away.

  “Look, this isn’t a phase I’m going through or a fad or whatever. And I’m not trying to hurt Mom or you. I’m attracted to men.”

  “And in love with Scott Trask,” his father said.

  “Yes. I’ve been in love with him for years, really, I just tried to pretend otherwise. I’ve been pretending a lot of things, Dad. I don’t want to do that anymore.”

  “But…you got married and you managed to-to have children.”

  “I know. And I thought that was what I wanted at the time, Dad. The expected thing everyone else does. I love Candace and Logan, and I’m very happy I have them. I care about Marilyn too. Since our divorce we’ve become friends. Something we never were when we together. Dad, this is for real. I’m not going to change my mind.”

  His father gave him a small smile. “I didn’t think you would. You’re going to have to give your mother some time, son. She’ll come around. You’re her boy, and she loves you.”