Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“What your mom and I had could never be diminished by any new relationship I might have. But I’m not going to lie to you. Your mom and I married when we were babies, you know that. We didn’t have a clue about love or life at the time. We fumbled our way through and somehow managed to raise you two boys.
“Maybe we were so busy just ‘getting through’ things, we didn’t take the time to connect. Not in the way Will and I have. Maybe this sort of connection can only happen when you’re older. When you’ve got time to focus on things without life grabbing you in twenty different directions.”
“No, I don’t think that’s necessarily true.” Jason looked thoughtful.
Jack glanced at him, suddenly aware of something he’d really known for years, though he’d never had the courage or understanding until now to face it. With a kind of wonderment, he waited for what he knew Jason was going to say next.
Jason’s smile was calm. “I have that kind of connection right now. I was going to tell you both, when the time was right. His name”—Jason paused, letting the use of the masculine pronoun sink in—“is Tom.”
Chapter 14
Jack thought they would never leave. Poor Eric—he had to feel sorry for him, getting double-whammed like that. Jack was both surprised and not surprised by his older son’s revelation. On some level, he realized he’d known for a long time.
For whatever reason, it was clear Eric was more inclined to accept his brother’s orientation more easily than his father’s. No doubt walking in on Will and him had colored Eric’s view. Jack knew it would take time to mend the rift between them, and for Eric to come to terms with things.
But right now he honestly didn’t care. Or more accurately, he cared about something—someone—else more.
His sons had stayed over an hour. They probably would have stayed longer, much longer, if Jack hadn’t pleaded a headache—which was true—and the need to lie down and rest for a while.
He had no intention of resting. What he wanted to do was leap into his truck and drive as fast as he could to Will’s house. What he did instead was plug in his cell phone to the charger and go to the landline in the kitchen to call Will’s number.
Will answered after three rings. “Hello?” He sounded somewhat out of breath. Jack had a sudden horrible sensation Will was with someone else, and had run to the phone from that man’s arms.
“Will?”
“Jack. Jack. Are you okay?” Will’s voice was fraught with relief. Jack gripped the receiver, guilt assailing him.
“Will, I’m sorry. I, uh, I got kind of drunk last night. I didn’t realize my cell phone had died. I pretty much passed out, I guess, until I was woken by my sons staring down into my face this morning. They’ve only just left.”
Will gave a small laugh, which was like water to Jack’s parched conscience. “Do you think,” Jack pressed on, “I could come over? We really need to talk and—”
“Yes,” Will almost shouted. He laughed again, this time self-consciously, adding in a more normal tone, “Yes, please do come over. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I’m just going to jump in the shower to try and clear my head. Then I’ll be right over.”
~*~
“So what did you do last night? I kept thinking of you, driving away with no shirt. I’m sorry about that, by the way, about ripping your shirt.”
Will grinned. They were lying on his bed, on top of the quilts, fully clothed except for their shoes and socks. When he had opened the door to Jack, they’d embraced, holding each other tight, neither wanting to let go.
Will had suggested they go into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Jack had surprised him, asking instead if they could lie down on the bed. “I have a killer hangover,” he said sheepishly. “I guess I was trying to drown my sorrows. I’m really very sorry, Will, that I left you alone in the workshop like that. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“I understand, really I do. I was upset at the time, but in thinking it over, what else could you have done? Your son needed you at that point, more than I did. How’s he handling it, by the way? Has he ‘forgiven’ you?” Will used his fingers to make quotation marks in the air. “Or is he going to disown you?”
Jack told Will what had happened the night before and this morning. Will tried to remain serious but didn’t succeed, laughing with glee despite himself. “I’m sorry.” He put his hand to his mouth. “But I would have loved to be a fly on that wall. I guess I should feel sorry for your son and all, but you have to admit, it’s a pretty ironic twist—him lining up his brother so they could both come at you.” He dissolved into laughter again and Jack began to laugh too.