Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“I wanted to tell you first.” Despite the crowded room, I directed my attention to Declan. “That’s why all the phone messages. Didn’t want to leave this news in a text or as a surprise.”
“Oh, I’m surprised.” His tone was flat, as hard to read as his expression.
“I’ll just go check on lunch.” My mother bustled off, my sisters fast on her heels, all of them likely in a hurry to give Declan and me privacy. We were Murphys. We didn’t yell or make scenes, but this was unchartered territory for all of us.
“I’m sorry you had to find out this way,” I said to Declan. Denver kept ahold of my hand, but his posture was rigid.
“Does Bridget know?” Declan asked, raking his hair, ruining its careful style.
“We talked on the phone last night. She said she was happy if I was happy. And I am.” I glanced at Denver, who was eyeing the door. “We both are.”
“Yep.” Returning his attention to the living room, Denver gave a sharp nod.
“Happy is good.” Stacey nodded enthusiastically. “Love is love.”
Declan shot her a look I couldn’t decipher before frowning at me. “Guess we know why Mom left for the Antarctic.”
“Declan.” I recovered my ability to use a stern parental tone. “My sexuality isn’t why your mother and I divorced.”
“I know.” He scrubbed at his smooth jaw. “Sorry. Bad joke. This is…gonna take some time. You and a dude. Wow. Never saw this coming.”
“Can’t say as I did either.” I offered what I hoped was an encouraging smile. “But what I told Bridget is right. I’m happy. Really happy.”
“And we’re Murphys.” My dad chose that moment to stride into the living room in a fire department polo shirt. “We stick together.”
“You’re okay with this, Grandpa?” Declan eyed my father closely. And I did too, especially when he took a moment to respond. He’d been warmer since our second talk at the station, but I wasn’t sure okay would have been my word of choice.
But then my dad clapped both Denver and me on the shoulders. “I love your dad a lot, Declan. And I don’t know how many more years I have left to tell him that. None of us do. Like your sister said, if our Sean is happy, I’m happy.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Blinking hard to not tear up, I gave him a grateful smile. Next to me, Denver finally exhaled, grip losing tension and posture relaxing.
“Exactly. Our Sean is happy.” My mom came back into the room wearing giant Disney oven mitts. “And there’s mac-n-cheese for an army of Murphys.”
Declan crossed the room toward the dining area and kitchen, dragging Stacey with him.
“Love you all, but I need a drink.” Almost out of the room, he turned back toward me. “You need one, Dad?”
“I’m good.” I glanced over at Denver. “Well, I suppose that could have gone worse.”
“Give him time.” My dad used the same sage tone he used for all parental advice. “And speaking of time, have you filled out any job applications yet?”
“Job applications?” Denver’s expression went from stoic to confused.
“The firefighter I’ve been covering for is coming back from maternity leave. I can apply to stay though. And Dad wants me to apply for the chief position.”
“Help me convince him.” Dad gave Denver a conspiratorial grin. “The wife and I are going to be snowbirds. Winter in California, summer here. Ideal retirement. Just need my ideal replacement.”
“Like you said earlier, Sean needs to be happy.” Gaze going tender, Denver squeezed my hand. “And he’s a damn good firefighter.”
“He is,” my dad agreed.
“I’m honestly happiest on the line with the crew right now.” Voice not wavering, I met my dad’s gaze. “And right now, I want to do the things that make me the happiest, so I put in for the firefighter opening. And told Suzy to apply for both captain and chief. You want someone who’s excited to lead.”
“I can respect that decision.” Dad didn’t sound particularly joyous, but at least he wasn’t fighting me on the job issue. “Now, let’s eat.”
He headed toward the dining room, leaving Denver and me more or less alone. Well, as alone as one could be in a house full of Murphys.
“Doing okay?” I asked.
“I was about to ask you that.” He chuckled and tugged me a few steps closer. “You’ve got a good family, Sean.”
“I do.”
“They love you, and they want you to be happy. Like me.”
“Like you.” I was dying to ask whether he meant to imply he loved me, but my earlier nerves over being enough for him kept me from asking. “You do make me happy.”
“Good.” He smiled, glancing down at my mouth. We didn’t kiss, but the promise was there for later.
Later. Time was a beautiful thing. Like my dad said, none of us knew how much time we’d get, but I knew I wanted to spend mine with Denver, wanted to take time to get this right, make it last.