Chapter Thirty-Seven
“What do you even get a five-year-old boy?” Sam asked as he and Connor walked up to Jules and Brian’s house the following Saturday. “I feel like the rules are always changing—plastic, no plastic; dolls, not cars.”
Connor held a gift bag in one hand and Sam’s hand in the other as they scaled the steps to the front door. “I just went with something practical—socks and candy.”
Sam chortled. “Socks? Matty’s going to pull your invite for the next one.”
Connor knew Sam was joking in an attempt to put him at ease.
The first event they were attending as a couple was a kid’s birthday party, so he couldn’t even rely on a cold beer to calm his nerves.
After Connor had come out to his dad, Brian had offered to give their friends a heads-up, an offer he’d gratefully accepted.
He wasn’t great at heart-to-heart conversations at the best of times, and the thought of having this particular one over and over again with everyone he knew made his palms clammy.
“It’ll be fine,” Sam said, catching Connor’s anxious look.
Connor covered it quickly with a smile. “Of course, yeah, I know.” He knocked on the door, and Jules answered with Ellie on her hip, appearing frazzled.
“Come on in,” she said, barely audible over kids’ shrieks and the soundtrack of a popular children’s show. “Brian is with Matty in the backyard. Help yourself to food; we’ll do cake in a bit.”
As Sam walked ahead into the house, Jules caught Connor’s arm in the hall. “How’s your dad?”
“He’s doing all right. We’re keeping a close eye on him and have a home nurse who comes by once a week and reports back to his specialist.”
Jules nodded. “I’m glad. That must give you and your mom some peace of mind.” She shifted Ellie onto her other hip and leaned in conspiratorially. “I heard Sam’s staying in town.”
“Looks that way. For the time being, at least. I don’t want to jinx it.”
“Believe me, you’re not the only one thrilled by the news.”
They both glanced through the open patio doors at Brian, who had tackled Sam into a hug. Connor grinned. “Don’t worry. I can share.”
Jules returned the grin. “Me too.”
Connor went outside to join them. It was a sunny afternoon, and a bouncy castle was set up in the corner of the yard, which teemed with small children. He managed to track down Matty, and when he gave him his present, the kid was less enthused by the candy than he was by the socks.
“Sacrilege!” Brian cried with mock outrage as Matty pulled the red-and-blue Superman-themed socks onto his bare feet. “We’re a Marvel house, Finnis. At least you didn’t get him any more plastic junk we’ll have to throw out.”
Tyler and Mimi were already there, and Mimi looked decidedly uncomfortable. She rubbed her extended belly and warily eyed the rogue gangs of children.
“This’ll be you soon,” Connor said.
Tyler gave a skittish chuckle. “Still getting my head around that.”
“Well, you’d better hurry,” Mimi retorted. “I’m due in three weeks.”
Evie and Marcus arrived shortly after with their two kids and a large wrapped box for Matty. The boy sat on the grass and began tearing off the paper with rabid enthusiasm.
Sam appeared at Connor’s side, holding two cups of lemonade, and handed one to Connor. “I didn’t have time to spike it.”
Connor clinked the rim of his plastic cup against Sam’s. “I appreciate the thought.”
“It’s Lego!” Matty cried and sprinted off to show his mom.
Brian grimaced. “The scourge has begun.”
“Payback.” Marcus smirked. “For the packing peanuts you gave me for Christmas last year.”
Tyler sidled over while Brian and Marcus traded barbs. “So, Sam, I hear you’re sticking around.”
“That’s the plan,” Sam said. “I figured I’d give Oakdale another shot.”
“Well, we’re lucky to have you—especially this guy.” Tyler slapped Connor on the back. “I hope you don’t mind; Brian filled me in. Good for you, man. I want you to know we’re in your corner.”
“Thanks,” Connor said, fighting the heat that rose to his cheeks.
“Might need to brush up on company policy, though,” Tyler teased. “Pretty sure there are rules about dating employees.”
“Ha ha,” Connor returned dryly.
As Tyler was pulled into the ongoing fracas between Brian and Marcus, Connor watched his friends’ antics and felt an odd relief.
Sam was right: It was fine. It didn’t matter to them.
And armed with that and the knowledge that his father hadn’t disowned him, Connor felt ready to face the rest of the town.
Sam’s warm hand slipped into his. “I take it back. The socks were a hit.”
“It’s not the first time you’ve underestimated me.”
“And it won’t be the last.”
Connor reached out to brush a stray strand of hair back from Sam’s forehead. “I was thinking, what if I made you manager? I want this to be a team effort, and you deserve a say in how the business is run.”
“This isn’t because of what Tyler said, is it?” Sam shot him a coy look, the one he saved for when Connor emerged from the shower in just a towel or woke up with a particularly demanding erection. “Because you should know I have zero qualms about bedding the boss.”
Connor laughed and ducked his head. “No, it’s about what you said—giving this a real shot. I want you to have a stake in the business. For us to be partners.”
Sam’s expression changed. “Do you really mean that?”
“You already do everything except for the actual jobs, and you know way more than I do about marketing and strategy. Plus, with all the extra work you’ve brought in, I think it’s only fair you get a share of the profits.”
“I don’t know. What about your dad? What will he think?”
“Well, it’s a family business, and you heard my mom—you’re part of the family now.”
Sam seemed to struggle to contain his excitement. “You’re serious about this?”
Connor’s heart skipped. “You’d better believe it.”
And they both stood there, surrounded by squealing children, grinning like idiots.
Sam finished chopping the cucumber and swiped the chunks from the cutting board into the salad bowl with the dull edge of the knife. Connor stood beside him in the kitchen of Sam’s new apartment, tearing a head of lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
After spending far too long trawling Oakdale’s meager rental listings and having to revise his big-city expectations—fitness center, trash valet, rooftop terrace—Sam had opted for a spacious one-bedroom apartment in a quiet neighborhood close to the center of town.
It retained its original 1960s decor, which gave the place a charming, albeit slightly run-down, feel.
While nothing like his swanky condo in downtown Austin, it was cozy all the same.
Connor helped him move in and was more than willing to assist Sam in christening the place—every room except the laundry, but there was still time to check that off the list. Connor had also fixed the broken heat lamp in the bathroom and the glitchy outlet for the dishwasher that kept tripping the fuse.
It was a five-minute walk to the office and a ten-minute walk to Connor’s apartment, where Sam often found himself after work.
But having his own space was important; it gave him a place to retreat to when he needed time alone.
There had been enough change in his life recently, and he didn’t want to rush into the next thing straightaway.
What surprised him was how right that felt—to discover he could pump the brakes and not send everything toppling over.
Sam glanced at the clock above the stove and figured he had another couple of minutes before he had to take the chicken out of the oven.
They were cooking dinner for his mom and dad, who were coming over for an unofficial housewarming celebration.
It would be his parents’ first time in his new apartment and the first meal they’d share with Connor.
“You know,” Sam said absently, reaching for a tomato. “I don’t think my parents have ever had dinner with one of my boyfriends.”
Connor cocked his head and grinned. “Well, I’m honored.”
“I guess they weren’t exactly meet-the-parents types.”
“And I am?”
“To be fair, they’ve already met you.” Sam dropped the slices of tomato into the bowl with the rest of the salad. “Just not in that way, I guess.”
Connor stepped over to the sink and turned on the tap to rinse his hands under the water. “Then I’d better make a good impression.”
“Maybe one of these days, we can get both sets of parents together,” Sam mused.
“Considering how well it went the last time?”
Sam let out a wry laugh, remembering the disastrous end to the awards dinner. “You Finnegans love a bit of drama.”
Connor was staring down at the running water, absorbed in thought, and Sam reached out to touch his arm. Connor started and switched off the tap.
“Sorry.”
“Thinking about your dad?” Sam asked.
Connor nodded. “Just, you know, how quickly things can change. Who knows what’s lurking around the corner?”
“Yeah, I get it.”
“I know you do.” Connor looped his arms around Sam’s waist and pulled him close.
Sam was now a regular fixture at the Finnegans’ Sunday-night dinners, and as Connor had stipulated, he never felt anything but welcome.
Connor’s dad, after his hospitalization, seemed to have mellowed out somewhat, and Sam had begun to let his guard down around the man, no longer worrying if he sounded too enthusiastic or appeared too flamboyant.
On family-dinner nights, Sam stayed over at Connor’s.
He loved not having to dread Mondays anymore.
It was damn near impossible to be struck down by the Sunday scaries when he got to fall asleep nestled against Connor’s chest.
One evening, when Sam and Connor had offered—as they always did—to wash up after dinner, Ian had shooed them off and rolled his chair into the kitchen to help Maureen with the dishes.
Connor stood there looking bewildered. “That’s a first.”
Later that evening, when they were cuddling in bed and marveling at Ian’s unexpected about-face, Connor had hidden his face in Sam’s shoulder and said in a wobbly voice, “You make everything more bearable.”
There was a knock at the front door, and Sam drew back. “That’ll be them. Can you take the chicken out of the oven?”
He slid from Connor’s embrace and headed down the hall to let his parents in. When he opened the door, Sam saw his mom and dad had dressed up, and his father was clutching a bottle of red wine his mother had no doubt picked out for the occasion.
“Thanks for coming,” Sam said as his mom stepped forward for a hug.
“It’s such a cute building,” she gushed. “I didn’t even know it was apartments.”
They moved inside, and Connor appeared, reaching out to shake Sam’s father’s hand. “Have any trouble finding the place?”
“In a sprawling town like Oakdale? I had to pull out the GPS.” His father chuckled and patted Connor on the shoulder before continuing through to the kitchen.
Sam’s mom gave Connor a peck on the cheek and stood back to take him in. “Connor, it’s so lovely to see you again.”
“Likewise, Lily.”
They made their way to the dining table, and Connor went to find a corkscrew to open the wine. Sam placed the salad on the table next to the chicken.
“Did the move go okay?” his mom asked, taking a seat beside his father.
“As well as it could have,” Sam said, carving up the meat. “I’m sure you’re enjoying the peace and quiet.”
“We loved having you, Sam,” his mother protested, elbowing his father. “Didn’t we, David?”
His father nodded reluctantly. “But it’s nice to have your mother’s little creations back in their own room. I was tired of picking sequins out of my socks.”
Connor returned with the uncorked wine and poured some for the table then pulled out the chair beside Sam and sat down.
Sam’s mom raised her glass. “I have to admit, these past few months have been a whirlwind. But a wonderful whirlwind. I’m so happy for you both.”
Sam glanced over at Connor, who was looking back at him.
“So here’s to your new place, and here’s to new beginnings,” his mother said.
“To new beginnings.” Connor leaned forward to touch glasses with Sam’s mom and dad. Then he turned to Sam, their glasses clinking. “Thanks for taking a chance on me,” he murmured.
Sam recalled that first meeting in the office, nervously handing his résumé over to the handsome electrician with kind eyes and a firm handshake. “Ditto,” he said with a smile.