Chapter 16

 

 

 

Len drove home to get some clean clothes. “Shit.” He swerved to miss a squirrel and got back on the road. “Pay attention to your driving.” His mind was definitely elsewhere. Janelle had walked in on him and Cliff together in Cliff’s bed. He almost smiled, and it would actually have been funny if she weren’t so scary right now. He pulled into the yard and parked next to his mother’s car. Turning off the engine, he rested his head against the steering wheel.

Opening the door, he got out and went inside. His mother came out of her room and closed the door behind her. “I wasn’t expecting to see you this morning.”

“I need to get some fresh clothes.” Len noticed that there was something different about his mother. She was smiling and seemed sort of graceful. Len peeked down the hall, looking at her closed bedroom door. Turning back to her, he smiled, and she blushed beet red. “Mom, are you seeing someone?” She blushed deeper and nodded her head slowly. “That’s great. Does he make you happy and treat you right?”

She lowered her voice. “Yes, he does. He’s one of the administrators at the hospital, and we’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks.”

He mimicked her tone. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was waiting until I knew it was serious.”

“Is it serious?” She nodded, and Len smiled, pulling her into a hug. “I’m very happy for you.”

“Speaking of happy, how was your evening?”

“The evening was great. The morning was a little weird. Janelle walked in on us this morning, and you probably heard the fireworks from here.”

“Were you… busy… at the time?” He could tell she was trying to suppress a smile.

“No, we were asleep when she barged into Cliff’s bedroom.”

His mother couldn’t hold it in any more and burst into peals of laughter. “She was always too nosy for her own good. Serves her right.” She started cackling.

“She let out a wail that sounded like a moose in heat.”

Lorna completely lost it, cackling and laughing until her sides hurt. Eventually, her door opened, and a man Len didn’t know stepped out and closed the door. “Are you all right, Lorna?”

“I’m fine.” She managed to get a hold of herself. “Jerry, this is my son, Leonard. Len, this is Jerry Foster.”

“It’s nice to meet you. Lorna has told me a lot about you.” He extended his hand, and Len shook it.

“I don’t want to interrupt anything. I just need to get changed for work. I’ll only be a few minutes.” Len excused himself and went into his room, closing the door behind him. He changed quickly and packed a small bag to keep in the trunk of his car. When he was done, he opened the door and quietly walked to the kitchen.

Lorna seemed to be waiting for him. “You’re really okay with Jerry and me?”

He pulled her into a hug. “Of course I am. You deserve someone who’ll make you happy, and he seems really nice. So go back to him, and I’ll see you later.” He kissed her on the cheek and left the house, the drama with Janelle and Cliff’s family temporarily forgotten as he drove back to work.

When he pulled into the drive at the barn, Cliff was waiting for him, looking very nervous. “My sisters will be here for lunch, and I’ll tell them then.”

“Cliff, there’s nothing to be nervous about. These are your sisters, your family, and they love you. Besides, I think Mari already suspects.”

“Should I tell the guys?” Cliff’s mind was wandering.

“They already know, remember?” Len began leading him back toward the house. “Cliff, just relax. We’ve done nothing wrong.”

“I know. I’m just worried that they’ll hate me.”

“They won’t hate you. They may not accept it, but they won’t hate you. No matter what, you’re still their brother. Besides, if they’re going to hate anyone, it’ll be me.”

“You? How do you figure that?”

“They’ll hate me for corrupting their brother.” Cliff glared at him. “I can just hear Janelle.” Len mimicked her voice. “He wasn’t gay until he met you.”

“That’s nonsense. I’ve had these feelings for as long as I can remember. I just denied them for most of my life.”

Len opened the door and guided Cliff inside. “I know, and you need to help them understand that. But Cliff, I don’t want to come between you and your family.” It would break his heart if Cliff lost his family because of him, and he couldn’t let that happen.

“What are you saying? That if they don’t accept us, you’ll leave?” Cliff turned to face him, his eyes blazing. “Is that it? You’ll be magnanimous and leave to appease my family and what? Make me completely miserable? Leave me alone?” Cliff poked his finger in Len’s chest. “Don’t you fucking dare!” The heat in Cliff’s eyes continued to blaze.

“Okay! We’ll face this together, no leaving and no running. But it’s not going to be easy. I hope you know that.”

“Nothing worthwhile is.”

“Don’t be flip. This is important. Do you know what it means? There’ll be people who won’t want to do business with you anymore. You may have trouble finding help when you need it. This is a big step. I’m not saying you shouldn’t do this; I’m just saying you need to do it with your eyes open.”

“I am. My eyes are wide open.” His expression softened. “For the first time, I know what it is I really want, and that’s you with me. The rest of the world be damned. Besides, I’m not the one who’ll have to deal with finding help when we need it. You will.”

“I will?”

Cliff’s eyes twinkled with delight. “Yes. As the new farm foreman, it’s your responsibility. You’ve already told me that if I dealt with the hands, I’d run them off, so you’re the foreman. Not that it’s a big change. You’ve been doing the job almost since you arrived. I’m just making it official.”

“But what about Fred and Randy? They’ve been here longer than I have.”

“I already talked to them, and when I told them I was looking to hire a foreman to help run the farm, they both mentioned you. But there is one thing you need to do that you aren’t doing now.” That twinkle was back in Cliff’s eye. “You need to organize a poker game for Friday nights. It seems you’ve been lax in that area.” Cliff kissed him as they heard Geoff calling from upstairs. “Seems he’s awake and our reprieve is over.”

“I should get started anyway.” Len took another kiss and then headed outside while Cliff climbed the stairs to get Geoff.

“I’ll see you in time for lunch, and don’t spend too much time on the tractor today.” He disappeared upstairs before Len could say anything in response.

Leaving the kitchen, the screen door banged closed behind him. Len strode across the yard to the barn to get his work day started. After making sure all the horses had water and hay, he began the daily ritual of cleaning stalls.

The slamming of car doors announced the arrival of Fred and Randy, and they met in their usual spot and talked about what needed to get done.

Randy reluctantly agreed to split the tractor duties with Len, and everyone got to work, with Len taking the morning and Randy getting tractor duty in the afternoon. Then everyone got to work.

 

 

Len drove the tractor back to the farm, parked in the drive before shutting it off, and headed right into the house. Cliff was already pacing, wandering from room to room, and stepping over Geoff’s toys.

“Cliff, it’s not the end of the world.”

“I know. I’m just nerved up.” Even his voice sounded nervous.

“Keeping busy will help with the nerves. Go make lunch, and Geoff and I will pick things up in here.”

Len started the cleanup games with Geoff, and soon he was running around, picking up his things, with Len chasing him around the room. Once the toys were picked up, Len gave Geoff a few he could play with, and the toddler began running the trucks over the furniture.

Len went onto the kitchen to make sure Cliff was doing okay. “You need any help?”

“I’m almost done.” Len could tell he was still nervous.

Slipping his arms around his lover’s waist, Len planted a kiss near the base of his neck. “Just be honest with them and remember that what you’re doing takes courage.” The sound of closing car doors drifted in through the open windows. “Remember they’re your family and they love you.” Len let his hands slip away. “And try not to get frustrated.” Len backed away. “Oh—” He replaced his hands. “Remember that I love you, no matter what.” Len backed away just as the back door opened. Dan and Vikki came in, and Dan helped her into a chair.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“God, yes.” Cliff got a tall glass of iced tea and set it on the table in front of her. “Thank you.” She gulped from the glass. “Thank God I’ve got just a few more weeks.” She held the glass to her forehead. Dan took a chair next to her and Cliff put a glass in front of him as well.

“Aun’ Ikki.” Geoff raced into the kitchen, and she bent down slowly and gave him a gentle hug. “You fat.”

To her credit she smiled. “I’m going to have a baby.”

His little eyes got wide as he stared at her tummy. “Like me?”

“Yes, but not quite as big.”

He turned his head from side to side, his little mind puzzling. “How do you get it out?” All the adults began to laugh, and Vikki gave him a hug and sighed with relief when Cliff put Geoff in his chair and gave him his lunch.

The back screen door closed, and Mari walked in carrying a dish of salad, setting it on the table before giving her siblings hugs and settling in a chair. “How are you feeling, Vikki?”

“Like a balloon ready to pop.”

Her husband’s hand slipped into hers. “She’s only got a few weeks, and we’re trying to keep her as comfortable as possible.” He rubbed her belly like a proud papa, and Vikki smiled back at him. Cliff brought her a glass of tea as well and started getting lunch on the table.

Mari got up to help. “So what is it you wanted to talk to us about?”

Cliff took a deep breath and sat at the table between Mari and Vikki. “I’m expecting Janelle, but she seems to be running late.”

Just then a car pulled in, and a few moments later, Janelle walked into the kitchen, a sour look on her face.

“I asked you here because I have something to tell you.” Len leaned against the counter on the other side of the kitchen, not wanting to intrude on the family gathering, but Cliff motioned for him to join them. “I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to come out with it.”

Janelle’s voice cut him off. “You’re going to tell them in front of Geoff?”

“Of course.” Len turned specifically to watch Mari and Vikki. “I’m gay and I’m going to build a life with Len.” Cliff turned to look at him. “If he’ll have me.” Now that the words were out and couldn’t be taken back, Len could see Cliff visibly relax. Now the ball was in their court.

Both of them remained silent until Mari got to her feet and put her arms around Cliff’s neck, giving him a hug. “Good for you.”

Len saw Vikki turn to Dan, who just shrugged like it was no big deal, before she turned back to her brother. “What about Ruby? Did you love her?”

“Yes, I did. Very much. But I’ve always felt attracted to men, though I suppressed it for a long time. Len helped give me the courage to face who I really am.” Cliff’s words seemed to flow. Len glanced at Janelle, noticing the surprised look on her face, but to her credit, she kept her feelings to herself.

“So is Len going to live here with you?” Mari asked excitedly.

“We haven’t discussed it yet.”

Vikki motioned for Cliff to move closer to her. “Do you love him? And does he make you happy?”

Cliff looked at Len as he answered. “Yes I do. I love him very much, and he makes me very happy.”

Vikki sat back and began to remove the covers from the food. “Can we eat now? I’m starved. This eating for two thing is absolutely true.” Mari got up and helped Cliff get the lunch on the table.

“Is that it?” Janelle stood up. “Is that all you’re going to say?”

Mari put the plates on the table. “What more is there to say?”

“How about that it’s immoral and a sin? Or that it’s wrong?”

Mari sat down and began passing the food. “Can it, Janelle. You were always so high and mighty, but you don’t know crap, so get over it.”

Vikki began filling her plate. “You can’t fight the wind, Janie. Besides, if they love each other, that’s all that matters. And when did you get so religious anyway?” Janelle just glared at them. “You can’t do anything about it, so you just need to accept it and move on.”

Len could hardly believe his ears. He’d expected Mari to be supportive, but it didn’t seem to be a big deal to Vikki either.

Janelle stood glaring at them before picking up her purse. “We’ll just see if I can’t do something about it.” Then the back screen door slammed, and they heard her car start up and drive off.

Mari patted his brother’s hand. “She’ll be fine. You just need to give her time.” Len wasn’t so sure, but he took the empty seat between Mari and Cliff.

Vikki scoffed. “Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes and swished her fork as she spoke. “When have you ever known Janelle to change her mind about anything? The woman’s as stubborn as a mule.”

“So what happened to bring on this revelation? It was obvious from her question about Geoff that Janelle already knew.”

Len took some salad and stared down at his plate. This one was all Cliff’s.

“She came by the house early this morning to ask why I sold you the Henderson house, because apparently she wanted it. Anyway, she walked into my bedroom and—” Cliff didn’t get to finish the sentence before Mari, Vikki, and Dan all started laughing. Geoff even got into the act, laughing and spraying food on his tray. “That’s one morning wake-up call neither of us is likely to forget any time soon.”