aterovis_bm_reapthewhirlwind.p65 (20 page)

It wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for, but checking with the delivery company sounded like a good idea and having something concrete to do made me feel better. I was able to go back to my painting. I finished off the evening with a few chapters of So You’re Having a Baby.

I ran by the delivery company on my way to work the next morning but the young man working wasn’t very helpful. In fact, he was downright surly. All I could get out of him was that the person who had been working on Saturday only worked on weekends. I decided it would be easier to just wait until then and try to talk to them.

Wednesday, Aidan and I spent the afternoon cooking spaghetti, which was pretty much the only thing we were sure we could pull off. I divided my time between painting and making the sauce from scratch, I used my mom’s recipe, and, even though by the time I was finished I looked like I had been slaughtering hogs, I was quite proud of the results.

Caitlin arrived promptly at six and we all sat down to eat. Conversation at the table was polite and mostly generalities. After the dishes had been cleared we all settled into the living room for some real conversation.

“Well, I’ve thought about everything,” Caitlin began.

“The baby, your offer, you know. And I decided that I’d be crazy not to accept your offer, especially if we make it legal and all. I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

“What about your parents?” Aidan asked.

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“I haven’t told them yet,” she said with a frown. “I don’t know if I even want to. They’re going to totally freak out. My stepdad will anyway. He’s a really strict Mormon. My mom won’t be sober long enough to care one way or the other. I haven’t seen my real dad since I was twelve.”

“How old are you now?”

“I’ll be nineteen in January.”

“Do you work?”

“I’m a full-time student.”

“What’s your major?”

“I haven’t decided yet. Hey, I feel like I’m being in-terviewed for something here.”

I was getting the same impression so I quickly stepped in and changed the subject. “How’d the doctor’s appointment go?”

She broke into a grin. “Great! I got to see the baby on the sonogram. It’s too early yet to know what it is though. The doctor said the baby was doing fine, right where it should be for how far along I am. I also found out that my insurance will cover almost everything. I just have to pay like a small amount at each visit.”

“That’s great!” I said. “When do you go back again?”

“In two weeks. I’ll be nine weeks then.”

“Can I go with you?”

Caitlin and Aidan both looked at me as if I had suddenly sprouted antennae and ordered them to take me to their leader.

“What?” I said defensively.

“You want to go with me to see the doctor?” Caitlin asked.

“Yeah, I’ve been reading all these baby books and I’d really like to be involved as much as possible; well as 181

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much as you feel comfortable with anyway.”

“Well, I guess if you are sure you want to…”

“I’m sure; as long as you’re sure you don’t mind.”

“I guess not.” She didn’t sound too sure.

We all sat in an uncomfortable silence for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Aidan broke the moment. “So, uh, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?”

he said to Caitlin.

The sudden shift in subject seemed to catch her off guard as if she had been thinking about something else.

I was a little surprised myself, but mostly because I had forgotten that Thanksgiving was the very next day! I was glad he’d reminded me. I’d been invited to dinner at Killian’s house along with Aidan. Apparently, they had some kind of tradition of inviting lost souls to Thanksgiving dinner and I fit the bill.

“I don’t really have any plans,” she said. “I don’t really feel up to dealing with my family right now. I think our ties that bind have all been cut, and I don’t know anyone else. I’ll probably just settle on some Stouffer’s turkey and dressing.”

“Hey, Aidan,” I said suddenly. “Do you think Killian’s dad would mind if Caitlin came too?”

“No, I couldn’t! I don’t want to intrude,” Caitlin insisted.

“Actually,” Aidan said thoughtfully, “I seriously doubt they would mind at all. Their motto seems to be the more the merrier. I mean none of them even knew me last year except Aunt Meg, and I was completely welcome. Why don’t I call and find out at least?” He left the room to make the call.

“So you’re reading baby books now, huh?” Caitlin said with a grin. “I haven’t even started reading baby 182

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books yet. It still doesn’t seem real somehow.”

“Well it is real and you better get your rear in gear, missy,” I teased. I picked up the book I had just finished reading the night before and handed it to her. “Let me recommend a book.”

“So You’re Having a Baby,” she read aloud then looked at me with raised eyebrow.

“It was very informative,” I said defensively.

“I bet.” She laughed. “Seriously though, I will read it if you don’t mind.”

“Help yourself. That was the whole idea.”

“So when do you lose that cast?” she asked, pointing to my arm.

“Not for a few more weeks.” I sighed. “I can’t wait. It itches like hell.”

“Okay, I talked to Adam,” announced Aidan as he came back into the room. “He says to bring anyone we want; they’re cooking for a small army.”

“Great, then it’s settled,” I said.

“I suppose,” Caitlin said doubtfully, then brightened.

“How about those paintings?”

I showed her what I had finished and she was grati-fyingly impressed.

“Wait until you see them all framed and matted. You wouldn’t believe the difference it makes,” I told her. “I have to have them all dropped off by Friday morning so that Nikki can get them done. She’s calling in some favors with her framer to get them done last minute like this. Hey, why don’t you come to the show Friday night?”

“That would be fun. Is it formal?”

“Yeah, technically it’s by invitation only but I think I can wangle you one.”

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“After all, you are the star,” she teased. And of course, I blushed.

***

We arrived at Killian’s house, a two-story cedar shingled beach house in a resort town about half an hour away, a little early, but an enthusiastic Killian and Asher met us at the door. We were ushered in and introduced to the others already there. Well Caitlin and I were introduced; Aidan already knew pretty much everyone.

First, I met Adam and Steve, Killian’s legal guardians.

They were the first gay couple I’d ever met besides Asher and Killian. Adam was tall and trim, with red-dish blonde hair that was beginning to silver at the temples and blue eyes. Steve looked amazingly like Tom Selleck from his Magnum PI days. Also early were friends of Adam and Steve named Ilana and Lysander with their new baby daughter, Melody.

While Caitlin and I were still cooing over Melody, Killian’s mom and little brother got back from a last-minute trip to the grocery store. Killian’s mom, Meg, was beautiful and looked much too young to have a son Killian’s age. She was petite with shoulder length blonde hair and the same brilliant blue eyes as Killian.

Kane looked like an adorable little elf with bright green eyes and spiky blonde hair.

The last of the guests arrived soon after. They turned out to be another gay couple, Bryant and Calvin. Bryant was the picture of health, with smooth skin tanned to a 184

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warm glow, wavy dark hair, and muscles that rippled under his ribbed turtleneck sweater. Calvin on the other hand looked as if he was a walking corpse. He was wraith thin and so pale I got the impression if I looked away he might have disappeared before I looked back.

His wispy hair was almost white and his eyes were such a pale shade of blue they too looked almost colorless.

Once everyone was ready, we gathered around two large tables that had been set up and Adam stood up to give the blessing.

“Before we get started,” he said, “I want to say how honored Steve and I are that each of you could join us today as we celebrate Thanksgiving. Some of you are familiar faces, it’s good to see you again, and some are new faces. And then some, like Will, are a new but familiar face.” Everyone laughed and I turned red as everyone looked from me to Asher. “We started a tradition last year and it was such a smashing success that we purposefully planned it the same way this year. We invited just enough people so that we could have thir-teen guests, not counting Melody. Well, last night Aidan called and asked if he and Will could bring along a friend. I never turn anyone down so I said the heck with tradition; bring it on. Well, lo and behold, who should call this morning but Killian and Asher’s friend, Jake.

He was supposed to be flying in this morning and spending a few days with us but had decided to stay in California with his new family for his first Thanksgiving with them. While I was disappointed, I have to say that I think he made the right choice. The bright side is that the tradition continues, and once again it’s proven that God does have a sense of humor.” He finished up his speech and gave the blessing and everyone dove 185

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into the food with gusto.

Dinner was incredible. I’d never seen so much food.

The turkey was so big I thought someone must have shot Big Bird; plus there was ham, candied yams, green beans, mountains of fluffy mashed potatoes, gallons of gravy, stuffing, warm yeast rolls, coleslaw, artichokes, and six different kinds of homemade pies for dessert.

Steve and Adam must have been cooking for days. The atmosphere was festive as food was passed around and conversation flowed back and forth like the tide. When everyone had eaten their fill, and then some, Adam and Steve went around the table with an after dinner wine and coffee. Even Kane was allowed a small glass of the sweet red wine. Only Caitlin refused, covering her glass with her hand and smiling with a shake of the head.

Eventually we managed to waddle into the living room for phase two of the tradition as Adam put it. We sat in a loose circle on chairs, the sofa, and the floor.

Once everyone was settled, Adam once again spoke up.

“Last year Aidan came up with this little gem and we’re going to continue the practice if everyone is game.

What we’ll do is we’ll go around the room, one person at a time, and say one thing that you are thankful for. If you absolutely can’t keep it to one thing, a panel of judges will evaluate the merit of each request on an in-dividual basis.”

Everyone laughed and looked at Bryant who put on an innocent expression.

“Who’d like to go first?” Adam asked.

“I will,” said Lysander. “I’m thankful that we now have a happy, healthy baby girl. For those of you who were here last year you’ll remember that it was one year ago tonight that we made the big announcement.”

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Ilana smiled down at the sleeping bundle in her arms.

“What can I add to that?” she said.

“That’s it?” Adam said.

“Sandy said it all,” Ilana said tranquilly.

“Okay, new rule,” Adam said. “You have to come up with your own thing to be thankful for.”

Calvin was next. He waited for the laughter to die down, took a deep breath, and then smiled shakily. “I’m thankful to be alive for one more Thanksgiving.” The room was deadly quiet for a few beats before the silence was broken by a choked off sob from Bryant. No one knew what to say and after a moment, Calvin went on. “We found out a few months ago that I’m HIV positive.” There was a chorus of gasps from around the room. “I’ve been having health problems for about a year now and they tested for HIV early on and nothing showed up. They tested me again later on and it came back positive. So far—so far Bryant has tested negative.”

By now, Bryant had pulled himself together enough to take his turn. “I’m thankful for whatever time we have left. We’re going to make the most of it.”

No one said anything for several minutes as the clock ticked noisily on the wall. Finally, Bryant gave a slightly hysterical giggle. “Well, wasn’t that quite the show stopper? Next year we’ll go last.” Everyone laughed and the tension seemed to be broken. Some questions were asked about treatment; Calvin had opted for an aggressive action, but it was too soon to tell how effective it would be.

“Well,” Adam said some time later, “I guess we’d better get back to our thanksgiving. It’s my turn and, well, I’m thankful that it’s been almost a year since anyone in my family has been threatened, held at knife 187

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point, or almost blown up. In fact, no one has had anything worse than a cold. It’s been very peaceful and deliciously dull. And for that I am very thankful.”

Steve nodded. “Me too.” Adam shot him a pointed look and he hurried on, “I have my own, don’t worry. I was just saying that I wholeheartedly agreed with yours too. I’m thankful that I have been blessed enough to not only find my soul mate, but to also truly love his family as my own and be accepted by them. I am truly content and happy in my life. Your turn, Meg.”

“Well, I’m thankful most of all to get to see my handsome son again and see how happy and well adjusted he is these days. As an extension of that, so I’m still on my first thing, Adam, I’m also thankful for my second son, Asher.” Asher blushed and for once, I was glad to see someone else turn red besides me. “Now, I would like to ask for a second thing if I may.”

Adam gave an exaggerated sigh. “You’re really pushing the limits, Meg, but I suppose we’ll allow it.”

“Thanks, you’re a dear. I’m also thankful that things have been going well for me up in PA. The divorce is now final and I’ve managed to get back into school. I’m really excited about my future for the first time in a long time. Now I’m done. You’re next, Kane.”