Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Hank
I knew I’d been a little unfair to Jasper when I teased him in the feed store. But seeing him crouched by the chicks, looking all soft and sweet? I just wanted to muss him up a little. Every time I was around him, I felt too flustered and off-kilter not to spread the chaos a bit.
It was a short drive from the feed store to Bert and Faust’s place. It gave me a few blocks to pull myself together and brace for the inquisition I knew would be waiting. Sure as shit, they were already on the porch when I rolled up, perched like two old foxes watching for their prey.
I parked alongside the house, grabbed their birdseed order from the truck bed, and snagged my toolbox while I was at it.
“Hey, fellas. Sorry, I’m late. I got held up at the feed store.”
Faust paused mid-fan to peer over the top of it. “Interesting. What a coincidence you needed to stop by there today.”
“I go there all the time,” I countered, but I could already see the anticipation in their eyes. If anything moved faster than the gossip grapevine in Comfort, I hadn’t met it. The speed of light had nothing on two old men with a front porch and a working phone tree.
“You said your faucet was leaking?” I asked.
I had no defense against their questions, so it was best to evade.
Before he semi-retired, Bert was one of the best criminal lawyers in the state.
There was no damn way I’d weasel my way out of a cross-examination with my ego—or my secrets—intact if he got started. “Kitchen? Bathroom?”
“Kitchen. I’ll fix you a glass of sweet tea, and we can catch up,” Faust offered.
The screen door banged behind us as we trooped into the kitchen. Their turn-of-the-century, casually elegant cottage was filled with light. After retirement, Bert had become obsessed with interior design. Their place was in a constant state of renovation.
“Thanks, I’d appreciate it. It’s hot as hell out there, and the load-up at the feed store took a while.
” It wasn’t until the words were out of my mouth that I realized I’d given them an opening big enough to drive a semi through.
I caught the pointed look between the two of them and sighed internally.
The interrogation was about to begin.
“I heard that some family member is living out at Sissy’s place. Have you met them?” Faust was going for innocent, but the sing-song tone gave him away. Good thing Bert was the lawyer in the family.
“Yeah, we’ve met. He’s a nephew or a cousin or something. Seems like a nice guy.” Faust handed me the tools as I asked for them, but in exchange, I had to ignore his pointed looks. “I can’t work if you’re gonna stare at me.”
“You’re under a sink. How do you know where I’m looking?”
“Because I can feel your eyes.”
Faust ignored what I said and plowed on, “Before you got here, I got an interesting phone call.”
And here it comes.
When I glanced out from under the cabinet, I saw he’d parked himself on a kitchen chair right next to me.
He was settled in for the long haul. I scooted out from under the sink, grabbed some plumber’s tape, and Faust pounced on the moment.
I’d known it was coming, but I’d decided to be a rip-the-Band-Aid-off guy.
“Nancy called because Lauren texted her because Jace was working at the feed store today. He told his sister a wild story.”
“What was the story?”
“Nancy said Jace told Lauren that…Jasper… Is that right?” Faust paused long enough for me to confirm my new neighbor’s name. “That’s a name you don’t often hear anymore. I like it. Anyway, Jace claimed that Jasper called you Daddy in the middle of the store.”
“It was a joke. And meant exactly nothing.”
“Did you laugh?”
“I laughed on the inside.” It was a struggle, but I kept myself as deadpan as possible, but Faust just scoffed at my deflection and stared me down.
I felt every second that ticked off in my bones until I couldn’t take it anymore.
The old man won. “Fine, he’s my neighbor, and I think he’s a funny guy.
Jasper was joking, and it’s not any deeper than that. ”
“Is he cute?” Bert asked.
“Why? You looking to trade in the old man?”
Faust narrowed his eyes at my question and interjected, “It’s been thirty-five years.
That old man is stuck with me until one of us is dead, and then the haunting begins.
And he better not bring some young thing in after I’m gone.
” Bert crossed the room to plant a firm kiss on Faust’s mouth.
Then returned for a second lingering one.
“What are you doing? I don’t want to see a make-out session from my almost parents. I’m too young to understand.”
“But we aren’t your actual parents, so it’s perfectly fine. Those lovely people are enjoying their retirement hours from here. But have you seen Faust? He’s hot.”
“Oh my god, stop. Never say that again. And, no, it’s definitely not fine. You’re practically my surrogate parents, so all the same rules apply.”
“Such a child.”
“Yes, that’s correct. I am your almost child,” I said with a grin. Both of them smiled back.
My parents loved and accepted me, but they hadn’t understood the “gay stuff.” Faust and Bert had stepped in for all of that.
I’d been doing their yard work since I was big enough to push a mower, and when I began to question my sexuality in high school, they helped me figure out how to tell my parents. I’d be lost without them.
“At least tell us why he’s here?” Faust asked.
“He’s turning Sissy’s place into a bed and breakfast. If his coming and going is anything to go by, he’s got to be making progress. He was getting plants at the feed store and, yes, before you try to weasel it out of me, I’m dropping them off when I leave here.”
“Please tell me he has good taste. Sissy would roll over in her grave if he turned it into a farmhouse chic monstrosity,” Bert yelled from the other room.
“He turned the bunkhouse into his apartment, which looked nice. Super…I dunno…cozy? Is that a style?”
“Close enough. So you’ve been in the house?” Faust asked with fake innocence.
“Yes, and only because he wanted to say thank you for helping fix his fence, so he fixed me dinner. And before you ask, dinner was delicious.” Bert returned just in time to exchange looks that they didn’t even pretend were subtle. “Don’t start planning a wedding.”
“Hank, you’ve got to admit that you’ve put relationships on the back burner since you took over for your dad. You’ve had plenty of opportunities to make a connection with someone, but you haven’t. It seems like you might like him.”
“He’s a nice enough guy. I like him all right.” That faint praise was the best I could offer.
They weren’t wrong, but I didn’t want to examine it too much. Whatever craving Jasper had woken in me was too unfamiliar for me to put a name on it. It was evasive, but a few days without introspection hadn’t killed anyone.
“I guess I’ll have to leave it at that.”
“Faust, if it changes, you’ll be the first to know.” I crossed the room and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. His nosy questions were borne out of love, and I knew it. “Just let it go for now, okay?”
“Fine, but a pseudo-parent can dream.”
Honk. Honk.
I had expected Jasper to come out when I pulled up with the planters and goat feed. But after honking a couple of times, there was no response. His car was parked off to the side like usual, and Sissy’s old truck sat next to the barn. But no Jasper.
After I left Bert and Faust’s place, I’d swung by the hardware store.
I had no idea what kind of hooks or screws Jasper had—or where the hell he kept them—so I figured I’d play it safe and bring some with me.
I bought heavy-duty hooks since those planters weigh a ton when wet.
Got him some pull-down ones for easier watering too.
Hell, I even threw in a watering wand just in case.
I grabbed the ladder from the barn, gave the goats the last of the feed that was still out there, and got to work. By the time all the planters were hung and secure, Jasper still hadn’t come out. With nothing left to do, I replaced the ladder and refilled the goat feed bin.
The front seat of my truck was as far as I got. The logical part of me said he was taking a nap, working, or just didn’t want to see me. What I should have done was haul my ass home and not create more headaches for myself. But I couldn’t bring myself to turn over the engine.
What if he was hurt? Or sick? Home injuries were the most common cause of emergency room visits. Probably.
With a sigh, I heaved myself back out of the truck and made my way to his little house.
Nothing looked out of sorts. The cushions were still on the porch swing, and the chairs were tucked in at the bistro table.
There were no bodies lying around that appeared to have fallen off the roof.
It sounded like the TV might be on, but it was hard to tell from outside.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I knocked. It took a minute before the door eased open. Jasper appeared, but not a version of him I’d seen before.
Gone was the guy in cutoffs with a fast mouth and a quicker smile.
This version of him stood there in what looked like a full-body bear onesie, clutching a beat-up puppy stuffy that I vaguely remembered from his cozy corner.
His eyes were rimmed red…maybe from crying, maybe not… but either way, he looked wrung out.
“You all right?”
He didn’t answer. Just gave me a one-shoulder shrug.
I softened my voice.
“You feelin’ little, sugar?”