Chapter 9 #2
“I did,” William interrupted. “I tried to get over you for a long time. I went out with others and to the clubs in Harrisburg, but every time I met someone, they didn’t measure up because none of them were you.
That’s how I know that we could be great together.
I can’t get you out of my mind. So I just have to make you understand that I will do anything to have you. ” Jesus. A chill went up Derek’s back.
“But you can’t have me. I’m just not as interested in you as you are in me.
That doesn’t mean that you have to spend the rest of your life alone.
Just go out and find someone who feels the same way about you.
” He checked his phone. “I need to get home, but you have a nice night.” He forced a smile and walked past William, determined not to run, but to put as much distance between them as possible.
He purposely didn’t look back, but he paid special attention in case William tried to follow him.
When he reached the corner and didn’t hear footsteps, he chanced a glance back the way he’d come.
He didn’t want to seem like he was looking, but he had to know.
William stood in the same place, not having moved at all.
But he was too far away for Derek to see his expression.
He continued around the corner, and William disappeared from sight.
Only then did he pick up his pace to get home as quickly as possible.
His phone chimed and vibrated in his hand. “I just finished work. Had a really good day. How are you? Still want to have dinner?”
Derek read Harm’s message and replied, “Had a great day at work too, but met William on the way home. I talked to him, don’t know if it helped or hurt, but I’m home now.” He sent the message and was about to send another, but he got a response from Harm first.
“I’m on my way, Will be there in five minutes. Do not go inside… just in case.” Derek smiled and instead of going home, knocked on a neighbor’s door, and Harvey answered.
“Sorry to bother you,” Derek said. They had met a few times over the fence, but that was about all. “I’m sorry about the drama last night with the trash can fire.”
“I saw that this morning. What happened?” He stepped back and let Derek inside. “Was it an accident? Did someone toss in a cigarette?” Harvey closed the door, and they stood in his front hall. At least Derek was inside where it was warm.
“Not sure. I called the police.” He swallowed hard because they really hadn’t talked a lot.
“I’ve got a guy who has been following me sometimes, and he’s started causing trouble where I work.
It’s possible he set it. I reported the incident to the police.
So if you happen to see anything or anyone suspicious, please let them know.
” He was finally beginning to warm up and relax a little.
“It’s been quiet today. I’ve been working from home, and my office is in one of the rooms upstairs. The window in that room overlooks your back and side yard, and I haven’t seen anything, but I will let you know if I do.”
“I appreciate it. I ran into him on the way home, so it’s possible he came from the area around the house. I don’t know.”
Harvey nodded. “My sister had a stalker while she was in college, and you can’t be too careful.
Thankfully hers wasn’t doing the work and he got kicked out of school.
That brought it to an end. Otherwise he never would have stopped, I know that.
” That wasn’t the kind of thing he wanted to hear, but it was what he had started to understand.
Guys like William… the attachment wasn’t reasonable, so neither was their behavior.
“Are you alone? Do you have someone that can watch your back?”
Derek didn’t even have to think about it. “Yeah, I do. He’ll be here as soon as he can.”
“Good.” Harvey looked out the window. “Ummm, not sure, but there’s a huge guy out in front of your house. He’s looking the place over. Do you want me to call the police?”
Derek peered out the next window. “That’s Harmon.”
“The guy who has your back?” Harvey asked, and Derek nodded. “Jesus. What is wrong with this stalker of yours? From the looks of him, this guy could tear anyone apart.”
“Yeah. Except Harm is as kind and gentle as anyone I’ve ever met. He’s just big.” Derek practically giggled as he remembered just how big Harm was… in so many ways. He cleared his throat. “Thank you for keeping an eye on things. I really appreciate it.”
“Any time,” Harvey said, and Derek thanked him again before stepping outside. Harm was nowhere to be found when he came out. Derek checked down the passage between the row houses and into the backyard. Harm stood near the back windows, peering inside.
“What are you doing?” Derek asked and realized there was no way Harm was going to be able to answer that. “Sorry. Are you checking the place out?”
Harm nodded, his expression deadly serious.
“Is it okay?”
He nodded and then shrugged. Derek took that as an “I think so.”
“Should we go inside? I was at the neighbor’s until you got here. Harvey is nice, and his office overlooks the yard. He said he didn’t see anything unusual.” Derek unlocked the back door of the house, and they both went inside.
Harm motioned for him to stay where he was, and he went through the house before returning.
Derek wondered if that was a little over the top, but then, it was how Harm showed that he cared.
As soon as he returned, Harm hugged him and gave him a kiss.
Now, that was the best way to say “welcome home”.
“Are you hungry?” Derek asked. Harm indicated he was, but his gaze told Derek that he was starving for something other than food. This time when he kissed him, the heat was nearly overwhelming. “I see.”
Harm stepped back slightly. “I thought about you all day,” he signed. Derek didn’t correct his signing, because now was not the time, and he liked the idea that Harm was thinking about him.
“I did too.” He didn’t move, looking into Harm’s eyes. “If you want to go upstairs….” He waited, but Harm’s expression seemed to grow tentative. “Is something wrong?”
“No,” he signed. “But have dinner first.” His attempts at signing were a little off, but he was improving, and Derek told him so by signing back, parroting some of what Harm had said as a correction.
“Then I’ll go get things ready.” At least William hadn’t tried to mess with the house, and who knows, maybe he would leave him alone now.
Derek had reiterated that he wasn’t interested yet again, and maybe William would begin to let the message sink in.
Derek hadn’t given him any encouragement.
He wasn’t sure if it was even possible for William to just give up on this obsession of his, but all he could do was hope that William would just leave him alone and move on with his life.
Derek took off his coat and hung it up before going to the kitchen.
He got the makings for BLTs out of the refrigerator and put the bacon in the oven to cook.
Then he started prepping the lettuce. Harm nudged his shoulder and cut the tomato into thin slices.
“You like these?” Harm nodded vigorously.
Once the fixings were ready, he got a couple of beers, handing one to Harm. “Cheers.”
They clinked bottles and got the toaster going on the bread. Harm put his bottle on the counter and signed “WILLIAM.”
“Yeah, I know. I was firm with him, and I hope he got the message. I don’t know what I’m going to do if he didn’t.
Maybe a restraining order.” It was frightening having someone following him around like this all the time.
“I feel like I have someone spying on my life, and what if he doesn’t like what I’m doing?
Is he going to set a fire again? Maybe he’ll decide to buy a gun and kill me.
I don’t know.” He set down the knife he’d been using to cut the cantaloupe he’d found at the store, which looked surprisingly good for out-of-season fruit. “I wish he would leave me alone.”
“Police?” Harm asked.
“I talked to them and told them about the fire. So it’s on the record, and they said they would stop by and look at what was left. I haven’t heard anything more from them, but I’m assuming they were here at some point.” He sighed.
“Talked to Joe and Larry.”
“What did they say? If you want, try to sign it as best you can.” He really wanted to be encouraging.
“Flying in Friday. They rent a car.” His signing was slow, but he was doing well. The classes as well as the books and videos he was using were really helping. His grammar was off, but the ideas were coming across.
“I’m looking forward to meeting them.”
Harm smiled. “I tell them about you. They happy, but worried, I think.” Derek wasn’t sure what that meant. “I think they hope for college.”
“What does being with me have to do with you and college?” Derek asked and then nodded. “Of course. You may need to move if you decide to go, and they’re afraid that you won’t go if you and I become involved.” He understood and bit his lower lip. Harm took him in his arms, shaking his head.
“I college here,” he said. “They worry. Parents.” He hugged him, and Derek returned it, a little nervous at this. The last thing he would want to do was stand in the way of Harm going to college and bettering himself, but he had just found him and hated the idea of him going away.
“I can help you with the applications and things,” he offered, and Harm held him tighter, their warmth mingling.
He rested his head against Harm’s chest. “I even have a few contacts at Dickinson College that we can talk to if that is where you want to go.” The two of them stood together until the toaster popped.
Then he backed away and put in some more bread.
Some of the joy had gone out of the evening, and Derek knew it was his fault. He shouldn’t be worried about Harm going to college or anywhere else. There were lots of options, and he needed to look on the happier side of things. Harm’s dads were coming to town, and that meant a great deal to him.
“What do Joe and Larry like to do?”
Harm chuckled. “HERSHEY,” he signed, letter by letter.
“So they go to Chocolate World?” He chuckled, and Harm nodded vigorously. “Let me guess. They go on the rides and then buy a ton of the special flavor chocolate.” He knew it was what he did whenever someone wanted to go.
“Yes.” He laughed, and Derek loved the sound. He hadn’t heard it before, and he liked that Harm was happy.
“I think my sister is going to come visit for the holidays. She closes her practice for two weeks and comes most every year. I can’t wait for you to meet her.
She’s a lot of fun, and I know she’s going to like you.
Suzanne loves a lot of the same things you do.
She reads a great deal, she’s smart, and she has a great sense of humor. ”
“But will I understand her?”
“You will. You are picking up ASL quickly. You have people around you to support and reinforce your learning here as well as at work. I’m willing to bet that you and Suzanne will get on like a house on fire.
” He got the last pieces of toast and set them on the plates.
Then he pulled out the bacon, drained it, and began building the sandwiches.
Harm got the pad he always carried. “Can I ask something? I know that they make things to help people who can’t hear, hear. I wish they made something so that I can talk again without sounding like a machine.”
“Suzanne is too old for that. As a kid, you learn language and communication, building the brain pathways for language. But those are all set by the time you’re twenty. So after that….”
Harm shrugged.
“Okay. Suzanne has never heard the spoken language in her life. She communicates through her hands and expression. So if she heard English, it would be gibberish and she would need to learn everything the way a child does. Except her brain doesn’t build pathways the way a child’s does, so she would be almost completely lost. Implants work really well for those who lose their hearing because you’re allowing them to regain what they lost. Now, if Suzanne had had an implant as a child, it might have done her some good.
But I think she’s perfectly happy the way she is, and I love her for that, just like I care about you for the man you are. ”