Chapter Seven #7
“Let me guess, I’ve been invited to meet your parents.” Jackson’s smile never faltered.
Henry nodded. “My three older brothers too.”
“Sounds good,” Jackson said without hesitation, and it caused his heart to pound. It seemed like Jackson wanted to meet his family. “When?”
“Friday.”
Jackson pulled up to Henry’s parents’ spacious two-story country home.
He loved this property. The sparling twelve acres gave off an air of solitude and peace.
Sometimes, however, it was anything but here.
Off to the left side of the house, his brothers Lincoln and Jasper were tossing a football back and forth.
On the porch, his father sat in a rocking chair with a cigar that his mother didn’t allow in the house.
“Henry.” His father stood to greet him.
“Hey, Pop.” Henry hugged the man. “Mama kicked you out again?” He laughed.
“You know her.” His father laughed as well. “She can’t stand this smelly old thing.” He turned to Jackson. “Ray Andrews,” he introduced himself.
“Jackson Owens.” Jackson shook his father’s hand.
“I heard it was Major Owens.” Keith stepped out of the house and onto the porch.
“It is.” Jackson held his hand out to him.
“This is my brother Keith,” Henry introduced them, but Keith didn’t shake it. Jackson shrugged then dropped his arm.
Henry saw his other two brothers abandon their game and rush over to the porch. “This is Jasper.” He pointed to him then to the other man. “And this is Lincoln.”
“It’s good to meet you both.” Jackson shook their hands.
“Would you like to tell us why you threatened our cousin?” Keith asked, eyes narrowed on Jackson. Jasper and Lincoln crossed their arms over their chests, trying to look serious. Jackson stared back at them, never wavering under the intense scrutiny.
“Don’t start, guys,” Henry told his brothers, squeezing Jackson’s hand.
Jackson kissed him on the cheek. “He was being an asshole, and there is no way in hell I’m going to let anyone treat Henry that way.”
“Sam made an appointment with a psychiatrist,” Lincoln told them.
“I know.” Jackson nodded.
“How do you know?” Jasper seemed taken aback.
“Because he called me yesterday,” Jackson told him.
“He called you?” Jasper stared in disbelief. “How the hell did you get him to call you? We all have to beg him to pick up when we call.”
Jackson shrugged. “I threatened him,” he said nonchalantly, as if his brothers had asked about the weather.
“Dinner, boys,” his mother called from inside the house.
Henry tugged Jackson along with him. His mom was in the dining room, and she came over as soon as she saw them. “Henry.” She wrapped him up in a hug. She always seemed genuinely happy to see him, but he was never sure of her motives. “And you must be Jackson,” she said after letting Henry go.
“Yes, ma’am.” Jackson held out his hand to her.
“Oh, I don’t shake hands, dear.” She went for a brief hug.
“Mama,” Henry admonished, but Jackson just winked at him and hugged her back. He shook his head.
“I’m Charlotte.” She took Jackson’s arm so that she could show him to his seat. She put him right next to her. It was all the better for her to ask questions, he supposed. “Well, everyone dig in.” They filled their plates from the serving dishes in the center.
It was his father that started them off. “What branch of service are you, Jackson?”
“Marines, sir.”
“What do you do now?” Keith’s tone wasn’t any friendlier than it had been outside.
Jackson looked at Henry, apparently just as confused by the question as he was. “What do you mean?” Henry asked.
“It’s not a hard question, Henry. Where, does, he, work?
” Keith paused between each word. Henry hated it when Keith did that.
It made him feel incredibly stupid. He closed his eyes, shook his head, then blew out a breath.
Jackson put his hand on Henry’s knee. Henry looked over at him.
The man looked equal parts concerned and pissed off.
Henry covered Jackson’s hand with his own. Jackson winked at him.
“You’re completely right,” Jackson told Keith. “It’s not a hard question, just a completely unnecessary one. I have already told you what I do. It’s the same thing I’ve done for the last twenty-two years. I’m a Marine.”
“Twenty-two years, wow.” Lincoln looked impressed, and Jackson nodded. “That’s really—”
“Wait, how the hell old are you?” Keith cut Lincoln off. Damn, he is really on his worst fucking behavior today.
“Forty.”
“You do realize Henry is still in his twenties,” Keith sneered.
“Give it a rest, Keith,” Jasper told him.
“I know how old Henry is.” Jackson’s voice remained calm and even, but the tightening of his hand on Henry’s knee told him he was getting pissed.
“Let’s have a pleasant dinner, boys,” his mother said. “Tell us about yourself, Jackson.”
“What would you like to know, ma’am?” Jackson turned to his mother with a smile.
“Oh, please, it’s just Charlotte. No need to call me ma’am.”
“If I did that, my own mother would smack me.” Jackson chuckled, causing her to as well.
“Does your own mother know you date children?”
Henry gasped. “Stop, Keith.” Lincoln rolled his eyes. “Henry’s not a kid.”
“I’m not sure Henry ever was a kid,” his father laughed. “That boy has been independent and self-sufficient since he could walk,” he told Jackson.
Jackson looked over at Henry with a grin. “Yeah, I could see that.”
“Now, your mother went out of her way to prepare this wonderful meal. So, I want this nonsense to stop,” his dad said, looking at Keith.
But Keith wouldn’t let it go. “You’re way too old for him.”
“He doesn’t seem to think so.” Jackson looked Keith right in the eyes.
“What could a twenty-year-old and a forty-year-old have in common?” Keith continued.
“I’m twenty-eight,” Henry corrected.
“Whatever.” Keith blew him off. “So, what do you have in common? Or is this just a sex thing?”
“Keith,” his mother admonished. “What a vulgar thing to say at the table.”
“Come on, Mama. We all know Henry puts out.”
Jackson’s jaw was clenched. Henry could see rage in his eyes. “If I were you, I would choose my next words a little more carefully. Talking like that is what almost got your cousin knocked out.”
“It’s for the money, then.” Keith nodded. “I get it. If I wanted to retire from the military, I would try to hook up with someone loaded too.”
“I’m with Henry because I really like him. No other reason.” He turned to Henry. “Does your entire family treat you like shit?”
“You know what—”
“Stop,” Henry forcefully cut his brother off.
“No more. You always do this. You go out of your way to make me feel stupid and incompetent. But guess what, I’m not.
And I’ve had enough.” Maybe having Jackson by his side brought out his bravery, or maybe it was the fact that he’d insulted Jackson. Either way, he was done.
“Boys, please stop fighting,” his mother pleaded.
“I am not going to sit here and listen to him insult someone I care about.” He turned to his mother.
“If you really must know, this is exactly why I didn’t tell you I have a boyfriend.
” He looked back and forth between his parents.
“You let him do whatever he wants to me, Lincoln, and Jasper. Then you make him give us a half-ass apology, and we’re just supposed to act like it never happened.
And I’m not putting up with it anymore.” He shook his head.
“If you want to see me, you know where to find me, because I’m not coming back here.
Come on, Jackson, let’s go.” Jackson stood then took his hand, squeezing gently.
It calmed Henry a little, letting him know that he wasn’t alone.
“You’re being so fucking dramatic. So, I tease you guys.
Don’t be a pansy about it. You’re like a toddler throwing a tantrum.
” Henry felt Jackson tighten his grip on his hand.
His body was rigid, and he looked ready to fight.
“This is why I say you’re a kid. This is completely childish behavior.
” Keith’s voice got high pitched and mocking.
“Boo Hoo. I can’t handle a couple of questions so I’m not coming back. Grow the fuck up, Henry.”
“Will you hate me if I punch him in the face?” Jackson asked him.
Henry didn’t answer, instead addressed his brother. “You live with our parents, in a house I paid for, and I’m the child? I can’t take any more of this bullshit.” He tugged Jackson along with him toward the front door.
“Please don’t leave, Henry.” His mother grabbed his other hand.
“Henry’s right.” Jasper shook his head then stood up. “We’re grown men. None of us live here. We don’t have to stay and take this shit.” He pulled Lincoln up.
“We’re all sick of it,” Lincoln told his parents.
“But—” His mom was cut off by Jasper.
“Sorry, Mama. I hope you and Pop have a good night.”
“It was nice to meet you both,” Jackson told Henry’s parents before Jasper ushered the four of them out the door.
“Sorry about that, Jackson. He’s always a jerk, but he was being horrible tonight,” Lincoln said, letting out a heavy sigh.
“Are you okay, Henry?” Jasper put a hand on his shoulder, and Henry nodded. “I don’t know what the hell came over you, but you were incredible in there.”
“Yeah, man, thanks for making us realize we don’t have to make ourselves miserable to keep the peace for Mom and Dad,” Lincoln said. “Keith has been the obvious favorite since we were kids,” he told Jackson. “Don’t get me wrong, they love us all. They just turn a blind eye to the way he acts.”
“You guys want to grab a beer?” Jasper suggested.
“I’m not feeling it tonight, Jasp. I’m kind of shaken up by what just happened, and I want to be at home,” Henry told them.
Jasper nodded then turned to his other brother. “How about you, Linc?”
“Yeah, I could definitely use a drink.”
I’ll see you guys later,” he said, then hugged them both.
He took Jackson’s hand. “It was nice to meet you,” he said as Henry pulled him over to his Jeep.
“I’m sorry about tonight,” Henry told him. Jackson pulled him into a tight embrace, just holding him for a while, then put him into the Jeep.