Chapter 25
I was stunned when the flowers arrived at the door. I thought Rodney was still trying to kiss my ass after the miserable time I had on our last date, or at least I did until I read the card.
Sylvie,
I have been a complete prick. I don’t deserve Ellis.
But I would like your help to make everything okay again.
I’m going to tell everyone that I’m gay on the London Business Tonight show this Friday.
All I ask is that you get Ellis to watch.
I love your son-in-law with all my heart.
He’s right, I shouldn’t be keeping him a secret.
Aiden xo
Well, that wasn’t what I had expected. I understood why my boy was so pissed off at Aiden.
His family had hurt him so much by rejecting him for being gay, and part of him felt like Aiden was doing the exact same thing.
But this old girl saw it differently. I understood where Aiden was coming from too.
He loved his family, he respected his father, and didn’t want to disappoint him.
Hell, I even understood where Aiden’s dad was coming from.
People are assholes, and sharing that you’re gay, as Ellis knew too well, can be a recipe for hurt.
He was, with a warped logic, protecting his son.
I didn’t know what to do for the best. But I knew Ellis was hurting and I would have done anything to put the smile back on that boy’s face.
* * *
“Ellis, stick that TV on, will you? And put it on to ITV,” I called from the kitchen as I made us both a cup of tea.
“London Business Tonight? Sylvie, when the fuck did you start paying attention to business news?”
I grinned at him as I walked in and set his cup of tea in front of him. “Since you started working for Mr Hotty. Have you seen some of the businessmen in London, love? I’m old, not dead. I might find someone to go and work for myself.” I laughed.
“Jesus, you get worse.” Ellis laughed at me and drank his tea.
I cuddled in against my son-in-law, hoping it would be enough to trap him and stop him from leaving once Aiden was on the screen.
“And next on the show, we have Aiden Munroe.”
Ellis looked at me. “Did you know about this?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean. Now shut up. I’m trying to listen.”
I could feel his eyes boring into me as I pretended to not notice and keep watching the TV. As much as he might temporarily hate me for making him watch and tricking him, I knew how much he still felt for Aiden, and I knew he wouldn’t be able to not watch.
“Is that something you would like? To get married and have a family?” the presenter asked him.
Aiden smiled widely; he was proud of what he was about to say. “Well, I’m gay, so my method of getting a family might be a little unusual, but I would love to have a husband and get married and have some children with him.”
Ellis gripped my hand tightly. “Did he just…”
“Sshhhh!”
He stopped and we both sat there in silence for the next few minutes.
“So, what changed?” he was asked.
“I met someone, and for the first time in my life, I could see myself settling down and having a family, and that was something I couldn’t hide so easily. That’s something I want to be shouting from the rooftops.”
The presenter was starting to look like the cat that got the cream. “Does this person have a name?”
I held my breath; so did Ellis. “He’s called Ellis, and he’s the most amazing man I’ve ever met.”
I looked at him as a tear slid from his eye and soaked his cheek. I squeezed the hand that was still in mine.
“Tell me I’m not dreaming, Sylvie,” he whispered to me.
“No, son. This is real. Mr Hotty just went on TV and declared he’s gay and that he’s in love with you.” More tears fell, and I pulled him in against me for a hug. “I told you, my boy. He loves you.”
He shook his head. “I can’t believe he did that… And I can’t believe that you were in on it!”
“Well, how the hell else would you have seen it?” I laughed, and he glared at me.
“He can’t just declare it on there and expect me to be over it and think everything’s okay!”
“He won’t. But he had to start somewhere, and I think as starting gestures go, that’s a pretty good one.”
Ellis agreed. “I think I need to go back to work.”
I grinned. “I think you do, and I think my work here is done.” I lifted my cup and shuffled off to the kitchen with it.