Senses 03 - Love Comes Home (DA) (MM) (16 page)

“What’s going on?” Tom asked.

“It’s like the ice queen meets Mr. Freeze out there. They’re talking, but she has no idea what to say, and the kid isn’t interested in talking to her, so they’re spending most of their time sitting at the table, staring at each other. Which is probably a little weird, considering Davey can’t see her.” Skip flopped down into one of the chairs. “This has to be the coolest ranch house I’ve ever seen.”

“Greg’s an architect, and he designed the remodel,” Tom said. “He’s amazing. He did some work for people my family knows. Actually, he’s quite well known.”

Skip tilted his head to the side slightly and smiled. Greg wondered what that was all about.

“That’s Skip’s way of saying he thinks I’m being cute.” Tom flashed Skip the finger, and he laughed.

“Would anyone like something to drink?” Greg asked and got up. “Sanjay, what can I get you?”

“Wine or beer is fine,” he answered.

“Beer is fine for us,” Tom said, and Greg went into the kitchen. As he passed the windows, he saw Davey and Joyce. It didn’t look like any sort of thaw had happened. He sighed, went into the kitchen, and pulled bottles of beer out of the refrigerator. He got an opener and glasses, put them on a tray, and carried them back to the living area.

“Sanjay,” Greg said as he opened two bottles, “would you take one to Joyce? And while you’re there, tell her to ask Davey about playing beep ball. I told her a little about it on the phone. It might help break the ice.” He handed the beers to him, and Sanjay stood and headed out toward the back.

“That was really nice,” Tom whispered as he opened the remaining bottles and filled glasses.

“No one should go through life thinking their mother doesn’t like them. That’s just not right. I know Davey wants her attention, but he’s too hurt to admit it. So if he can get over some of that hurt, it’s good. They’ll probably never be super close unless she makes a great deal of effort, though I don’t see that happening, but Davey knowing his mother in some way is better than him thinking the worst of her.”

Greg sat back down next to Tom and every now and then stood so he could see out. From the way they were sitting, it seemed the thaw had come, at least a little. They were talking, and after a few minutes Sanjay came back inside and joined them.

“That was a nice thing you did,” he said. “That broke the ice and they’re talking. Davey is telling her all about this game, and he even said she could come watch tomorrow if she wanted.”

Greg smiled. “So what did you guys do today?” he asked Skip.

“Tom took me around town. It’s nice. I was expecting something smaller. We saw the lake, and he said that while I’m here, he’ll show me the sights in the area. Apparently there are waterfalls, and I saw a sign for something called Pictured Rocks. And I guess I’m playing beep baseball tomorrow. Tom said he has a blindfold I can use.” Skip laughed.

“I wasn’t kidding. We need more players for the team. You know what baseball is, so you can play. And afterwards we’ll go out for pizza.”

“Har har,” Skip said before drinking from his glass. “So what is there to do for fun around here?”

“Skip, this is it. There aren’t high-end clubs and fancy gourmet restaurants like in New York.”

“Not even one?” Skip asked in complete disbelief.

“No. Life here is more basic and less frantic. We’re joining them for dinner and then maybe we’ll come back and have a drink and talk. Early tomorrow evening, we’re playing beep baseball with Davey.”

“What time do you go to bed?” Skip asked before taking another drink.

Greg looked at Tom. “About ten or so.” Greg thought Skip was going to do a spit take. He glanced at Tom, wondering what he’d given up to move here, and if he would eventually get bored and want to move back to New York. Life here was nothing like that, and if that pace and activity was what he was used to, then hell, maybe Tom would get bored with him.

“Good God. Do you sleep your lives away?” Skip asked, looking at all of them, but centering on Tom.

“No. We go to bed at a reasonable hour. Besides, when was the last time you were actually out of bed before noon? You sleep the entire morning away every day,” Tom teased. “Tomorrow morning it’s going to take a crowbar to get him out of bed at a reasonable hour.”

“No, it’s not. I had to be up early to catch my flight. I’ll probably be tired,” Skip said. “And I don’t go out every night, just most nights,” he added sheepishly.

“How did you and Skip meet each other?” Sanjay asked.

“We went to college together, and after we graduated, we remained friends and stayed in New York,” Tom said and then turned toward Greg. “Skip and I were never anything more than friends, though. We used to go clubbing together and pick up guys. Sometimes we tried for the same one. God, that was bad, especially when the guy in question wasn’t interested in either of us.” Tom began to laugh, and Skip laughed right along with him.

“That was so embarrassing,” Skip said.

“And dumb. Were we delusional? I remember telling each other we were going to meet someone really interesting, but all we ever saw were barflies. Turned out we saw the same guys over and over again. After a while it got really dull,” Tom said.

“Things have changed. There are so many new clubs now,” Skip said.

“With the same guys, looking for the same things they always have, just in a different setting. I like it here. People are real and don’t play games.” Tom took Greg’s hand, and they shared a smile.

“If you two get any sweeter, I’m going to need a dentist,” Skip quipped.

Greg wasn’t sure how to take that, but Tom laughed it off.

“There’s nothing wrong with being happy. You should try it,” Tom said and then stood up. “I’m going to go out back. I need to stretch my legs.”

“Why don’t we all go?” Greg suggested. “There are plenty of chairs, and it’s a nice day to be outside.” Sanjay didn’t look convinced, but Greg was dying to find out how things were going between Davey and Joyce. They all followed him through the living area to the door, which he slid open, letting everyone outside. Once they were settled, Greg went back inside for a second round of beers, along with a Coke for Davey, before sitting next to Tom on the wicker settee.

“Did you and your mom have a good talk?” Greg asked Davey.

“Yeah,” Davey said with just a hint of enthusiasm. “I explained beep ball to her, and she’s going to come tomorrow to watch me play.”

Joyce turned toward him, and Greg nodded once. Then he checked his watch and settled back in the chair. By all rights, he should be nervous and jittery. He was sitting on his back patio with his ex-wife and her… whatever Sanjay was… and his boyfriend—he liked the way that sounded in his mind—and Skip, along with a slightly confused Davey, who seemed to be trying to follow the conversations.

“Davey, Skip is going to play beep ball with you tomorrow too, and we may have some other players.”

“Are any of them like me?” Davey asked.

“I hope so,” Tom said.

“Remember, your teacher might come as well,” Greg said. “It seems there are lots of people who find this curious, so we might have more spectators than players.”

“Interest is interest, and it all helps in gaining support,” Tom explained.

“Are you hoping to be able to play games?” Joyce asked. “I mean, what if he gets hurt?”

“I’m fine, Mom,” Davey said. “Dad is there, Uncle Tom is there, and so are Uncle Howard and Uncle Gordy. They make sure I’m safe. Well, not Uncle Howard. He’s blind like me, but he has Token and he says they’re the team mascots.” Davey stood and moved over to where Greg sat. Greg moved a chair next to him and helped Davey into it. Joyce passed over the can of soda, and Greg placed it in Davey’s hands.

“Davey was really good in Little League,” Greg said. “I think I sent you some of his team pictures,” he added to Joyce, who nodded.

“The whole purpose of the game is to open up another avenue to people who are visually challenged,” Tom chimed in. “There are leagues and even a World Series.”

“There must be special equipment,” Sanjay said.

“Yes. Tom got all that. We have everything we need except players, and we’re hoping to have those soon,” Greg said, taking Tom’s hand. “It isn’t so much about playing games and winning as it is about having interesting and challenging activities for people who can’t see. We even went out to eat afterward, just like other teams do.” He didn’t mention that they’d gone to Tom’s house and had frozen tacos. That wasn’t important. What he was trying to get across was that anything that made Davey feel as though he’d lost less because of his blindness was a good thing, and he was going to support it, no matter what. “You had a good time, didn’t you, Davey?”

“Yup, and we’re going to play again tomorrow, right?” Davey asked Tom.

“As long as it isn’t raining, we’re going to play tomorrow. Skip and I will meet you and your dad at the park at seven. I’ll bring the equipment, and we’ll play. Sophia is going to join in, as is Hanna. They all want to get in on the act and have some fun. I’ve been contacted by other people who might be interested, so we might get lucky. We’ll have to see.” Tom settled against him, and the conversation moved on for a while.

Greg checked his watch a few times as they talked. This experience was more than a little surreal, sitting on his deck with his ex-wife and actually hoping she and Davey could repair some of the hurt between them, for Davey’s sake.

“You okay?” Tom whispered when it was nearly time for them to leave for dinner.

“I’ll tell you later,” Greg said as he set his half-empty bottle aside. He noticed that Tom hadn’t had much of his drink either. Skip, on the other hand, seemed to be having a good time.

When it was time to leave, Greg provided Joyce and Sanjay with directions to the restaurant. Tom asked Davey if he wanted to ride with him, so Greg drove Skip in his car, following the Ferrari, with Joyce and Sanjay following him. They made for an interesting convoy. Davey was all smiles when he got out of the Ferrari at the restaurant. Greg had called ahead, and they easily got a table.

Dinner was nice. Well, as nice as could be expected. Davey sat next to him and talked with everyone but his mother and Sanjay, except to answer their direct questions. It was upsetting Joyce, but there was nothing Greg could do about it. She needed to be the one to make the effort, and while he was willing to help give them a little boost, that was all he could do. The rest was up to them.

“So you really think you can help Davey?” Tom asked Sanjay toward the end of the meal.

“I can try,” Sanjay answered, and Greg liked him a little more. If he’d have made lofty promises, Greg could easily have dismissed him. But he didn’t.

“Sanjay is going to contact Dr. Jerry, and they’ll discuss things,” Greg told Davey.

“I might be able to see again?” Davey asked, hope instantly springing up. Greg looked sternly at Sanjay.

“We don’t know, Davey. Your dad has asked that I work with your doctor to see if it’s possible. There’s nothing more to it right now,” Sanjay replied.

“Davey, we’ve already seen a lot of doctors, and they’ve ruled out all the available treatments they know about. This could be one of those. It could also be something new, and if it is, then you and I will decide together if we want to take the chance. I promise you that.” They’d ridden this roller coaster of hope again and again only to have it speed downhill and come to nothing. Greg didn’t want this to be another of those times.

“I know, Dad,” Davey said softly, and Greg’s heart ached. He placed his arm around Davey’s shoulder to comfort him, and alternately looked at the faces around the table. Joyce dabbed her eyes with a tissue, and even Sanjay looked moved. He didn’t have to look at Tom to know how he felt, but when he did, he saw nothing but support. Skip looked like he was trying to figure out what was happening.

Thankfully, the server brought the check and Greg paid it. Then everyone stood to leave.

“Will I be able to see Davey tomorrow?” Joyce asked him.

“He has class, and I have to go into the office. We’ll have a quick dinner and then go to the park. So why don’t you meet us there? We plan to go for pizza afterward, and you can join us if you want,” Greg explained. Joyce looked miffed. “I did explain that we had appointments and schedules that have to be kept.”

She huffed slightly and then her expression brightened a little.

“I’ll call Davey’s doctor in the morning and ask him to contact you,” Greg told Sanjay and took the card he offered.

“Bye, Davey, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Joyce said.

Greg could tell she was waiting for a hug, but Davey didn’t move. She stepped forward, and Greg shook his head, hoping she wouldn’t force the issue. She took his hand instead and held it for a few seconds, then released it and walked away.

“Do you want to come back to the house?” Greg offered.

Skip yawned rather dramatically. “Tom, why don’t you take me back to your place? I can relax for a while, and you can spend time with Greg.”

Tom paused. “Are you sure?”

“Of course I am,” Skip said, pushing open the restaurant door. He held it, and they all walked outside. Greg guided Davey to the car, and they rode home in near silence.

“You know, it’s okay for Tom to spend the night,” Davey said. Greg nearly drove off the road. “I know about the birds and the bees. You like Tom, and he likes you. It’s okay if you wanna do the dance with no pants.”

“Davey, where did you hear that?”

“Television,” he answered giggling. “That is how you feel about Tom, isn’t it?”

“I like Tom a lot and….” Greg swallowed hard. He could not believe he was talking about this with his son. He was too young, and…. But Davey was growing up, and he needed to understand that.

“Do you like Tom or
like
Tom?” Davey asked.

“I… this… this is something I’d rather talk about with him,” Greg finally answered.

“
Okay
,” he agreed dramatically and then grew quiet, to Greg’s everlasting relief. “Do you think I’ll be gay because you’re gay?”

“You’ll be who you are, and I’ll love you no matter what,” Greg answered, relieved about the comparatively easy question.