Chapter Ten #2
Mom looked from me to Jack.
"So, how long have you two known each other, Jack?"
"We met at the first hockey practice after the team returned from its preseason retreat."
"We've spent a lot of time together since then," I added.
Emma laughed.
"That explains the expression on your face."
"What expression?"
"The one you've had ever since you called."
Dad regarded me thoughtfully.
"You've obviously become important to each other very quickly."
"I know it sounds crazy, but it doesn't feel that way."
"It rarely does when you've met the right person," Mom replied, glancing at Dad lovingly.
"Does Patrick know?" Dad asked.
"We told Coach this morning after practice."
Dad leaned back slightly. "And?"
"I spent all last night worrying he'd throw me out of his office...maybe even off the team."
Mom frowned. "What actually happened?"
"He thanked us for being honest." I glanced at Jack before continuing. "Then he made it very clear that as long as we treated each other well and kept things professional around the team, he had no problem with us being together."
Dad nodded slowly.
"That says a great deal about him."
"It does." I smiled. "I respected him before today. After that conversation, I respected him even more."
Jack held up another message.
Dad wants Mason judged by the player and the man he is, not by who he loves.
Mom smiled.
"I think that's exactly how it should be."
Emma leaned closer to the camera.
"I have one very important question for Jack."
Jack looked at her expectantly.
"Can you put up with my idiot brother for the rest of your life?"
I groaned.
"Emma."
"What? It's a reasonable question."
Jack laughed silently before typing another reply.
I'm hoping he'll put up with me.
Dad chuckled.
"A very diplomatic answer."
"It was," Mom agreed. "Although I suspect you've both already discovered that relationships require a fair amount of patience."
"I think we've already discovered communication is going to be one of our strengths," I admitted. "Because Jack can't speak, we never assume we know what the other person's thinking. We stop, we listen, and we make sure."
Mom's smile widened.
"That sounds healthier than most relationships."
"It probably is."
Dad took another sip of his coffee before looking back at me.
"Have you told Corey yet?"
"No. I wanted you to know first."
Dad nodded.
"I'm glad."
Mom reached toward the camera as though she could somehow bridge the thousands of miles between us.
"Thank you for taking such good care of our son already, Jack."
He looked genuinely touched by the words. He typed a reply and when I started to relay the message, he placed a finger to my lips and again held his phone where my family could see it.
Thank you for trusting me with him. I promise I'll do my very best.
My throat tightened. Nobody spoke for several seconds but then Dad cleared his throat.
"Well," he announced with mock seriousness, "seeing as we've officially gained another son, I suppose we'd better make plans to meet him in person."
Emma clapped her hands together.
"I call first hug."
I rolled my eyes.
"You two are unbelievable."
"No," Mom corrected gently. "We're just happy, Mason."
"So am I."
For the first time since leaving Florida, those three words carried no uncertainty at all.
The conversation gradually wandered away from the subject of me and settled into something far more comfortable.
Mom wanted to know whether Jack was enjoying medical school despite the workload, and he admitted through another message that enjoyment sometimes depended entirely on how many hours of sleep he'd managed the night before.
Dad laughed at that, pointing out that every doctor he'd ever known had complained about the same thing, while Emma declared she'd made the right decision avoiding medicine altogether because she preferred courses that allowed more than four hours in bed.
Watching Jack become part of the laid-back nature of my family amazed me. Less than an hour earlier they'd been complete strangers. Now they were teasing one another as though they'd been sharing Sunday evenings together for years.
Eventually Mom asked the question I'd expected from the beginning.
"What made you choose ear, nose and throat surgery, Jack?"
Jack's fingers hesitated over the keyboard.
He'd already explained to me that he wanted to become an ENT surgeon, but he'd never told me why. Whatever memories sat behind that decision clearly weren't something he discussed easily.
I've wanted to help children with conditions affecting speech and hearing since I was young.
"That sounds like exactly the right reason to choose a specialty," Dad approved.
"It does," Mom agreed. "Patients are fortunate to have doctors who genuinely care why they're there."
Jack acknowledged the compliment with a grateful nod but didn't add anything further. I sensed there was much more to the story than he'd written, yet I respected the fact he wasn't ready to share it. One day, when he wanted to tell me, he would and I'd be ready.
Emma leaned a little closer to the camera, studying Jack.
"Can I ask you something?"
Of course.
"Has my brother been this happy ever since you met him?"
I groaned.
"Em..."
She ignored me.
Not every minute. Hockey still stresses him out. But he's happiest when he forgets to think so much.
I read the words aloud before looking at him.
"I overthink things?"
Jack met my gaze and nodded.
Emma laughed.
"He's got you figured out already, brother."
"I'd say that's a very fair assessment," Mom added.
Dad looked at me over the rim of his mug.
"Your mother's been telling you that since you were ten."
I shook my head.
"I was hoping someone would eventually prove her wrong."
"Not a chance," Emma replied.
Jack's grin widened as he watched my family gang up on me.
Dad eventually glanced at the clock on the wall behind them.
"We'd better let you both get some rest. You've got classes tomorrow, and I'm guessing Coach Callahan isn't likely to go easy on anyone at practice."
"Definitely not," I agreed.
"We're really glad you called," Mom stated.
"So am I."
"And we're very glad to have met you, Jack," she added.
I'm very glad to have met all of you too.
Dad lifted his mug in a small salute.
"Take good care of each other."
"We will," I replied.
Emma pointed toward the screen.
"Next time we meet, Jack, I expect embarrassing stories about Mason."
I'll see what I can find.
"Traitor," I quipped and everyone laughed.
"We'll let you both get on with your evening. Love you, sweetheart," Mom finished.
"Love you too."
"Goodnight, son."
"Night, Dad."
Emma waved.
"Bye, Jack."
He lifted a hand and waved.
Goodnight. It was wonderful meeting you all.
I read his words aloud before ending the call.
***
For several moments I sat there staring at my own reflection in the black display, trying to absorb what had just happened.
I'd carried that conversation around in my head for years, convinced telling them I was gay would change everything between my family and me.
Instead, it had changed almost nothing except the fact I no longer had to hide the truth.
A different name drifted into my thoughts.
Corey.
The relief I'd been feeling faltered.
"I have to tell Corey."
Jack rested his hand over mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze without trying to influence my decision.
I opened my contacts, found Corey's name, and pressed the video call button.
Corey answered on the third ring, his face filling the screen.
"There he is." He leaned back in his chair with a grin. "I was beginning to think Evergreen had kidnapped you. You disappear for a couple of weeks and all I get are a few lousy texts."
"I've been busy."
"I can see that. You actually look..." He leaned forward and frowned. "Different."
"Different how?"
"I don't know. Happier."
I hadn't expected him to notice.
"I guess I am."
Corey's attention shifted to one side.
"Who's with you?"
I turned the phone just enough for Jack to come into view.
"This is Jack."
Jack raised one hand in greeting before lifting his phone to my screen.
Hi, Corey. It's nice to meet you.
"He communicates through his phone. He's mute."