Chapter Fourteen #2
The older man smiled but replaced it with a scowl when Tyler stood back. “Not enough to visit me. I’m not getting any younger, you know.” He patted Tyler’s cheek, swept him aside with an arm, and locked a curious gaze on Owen. “This must be the boyfriend I’ve heard so much about.”
The low hum of conversation stopped immediately, as if someone had hit Mute on a remote. It seemed like everyone held their breath while waiting for an answer. Tyler turned and met Owen’s gaze with a peaceful smile spreading across his face. “Yes, Grandpa, this is my boyfriend, Owen.”
The conversation resumed around them, and no one displayed surprise or outrage, though he felt their curious gazes.
Tyler led his grandfather over to Owen. “This is my grandfather, Simon Booth.”
“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Owen said as he offered his hand.
Simon studied him for several moments before accepting Owen’s gesture. “It’s nice to meet you too. You boys must be hungry after a day of traveling.”
“Yes, of course you are,” Wendy said. “How rude of me.” Her expression and voice were neutral, making it hard to gauge her reaction to Tyler’s news. “Come on into the kitchen so I can warm up dinner for you.” Then, she turned on her heels and headed out of the room.
David offered them a reassuring smile before following his wife, and Owen thought that was a good sign. Tyler’s shoulders slumped as he watched his parents.
Simon shuffled over to him and placed his hand on Tyler’s back. “Did I speak out of turn, son? I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”
Tyler took a deep breath, then smiled at his grandfather. “No, sir. You ripped the Band-Aid right off.”
Simon hugged Tyler once more, then said, “Better than peeling it back slowly.”
“We’ll catch up after we eat,” Tyler told him.
Owen didn’t resist reaching for Tyler’s hand as they walked toward the back of the house.
The kitchen was twice as large as any Owen had ever seen and epitomized the loved-and-lived-in description Tyler had used.
Artwork, photographs, a calendar, and a running grocery list adorned the stainless-steel refrigerator.
Cow paintings hung on sunny-hued walls, and yellow gingham curtains covered the window above the kitchen sink.
The pop of color interrupted a sea of white cabinetry.
Covered pots and an extra-large aluminum pan rested on the stove, dirty dishes filled the sink, and condiments sat on the countertops. Lived-in and loved.
The aroma of succulent barbecued meat and cheesy carbs made Owen’s mouth water.
Wendy stood near the stove with her back to them when they entered the room, and David sat at the table with his hands folded in front of him.
He glanced at Tyler and Owen’s joined hands before shifting his gaze toward his wife.
Wendy took a shaky breath, then shifted into a flurry of activity—pulling down plates and scooping food onto them.
David stood up and said, “What would you boys like to drink?”
Tyler chose tea, and Owen went with water.
He’d consumed too much caffeine, and it was wreaking havoc on his frayed nerves.
He figured it was a good sign that Ty’s parents hadn’t freaked out when Simon outed him, but Wendy’s silence was concerning.
Owen thought he detected a few sniffles coming from her direction.
“Mama,” Tyler said. “Maybe we should talk this out before we eat.”
As hungry as Owen was, the food would taste like cardboard if he didn’t get his emotions under control.
Wendy stilled, then turned around. Her eyes were red-rimmed and glistening with tears. “Why?”
Tyler furrowed his brow. “Why am I bisexual?”
Wendy huffed a frustrated sigh and shook her head. “Why didn’t you tell me you were bisexual? Didn’t you trust me?”
Tyler let go of Owen’s hand and walked over to her.
“Mama, I honestly didn’t know the truth until the end of October.
It kinda hit me like a Mack truck. Telling you over the phone or in a text or email felt cowardly.
You and Dad deserve better. I planned to tell you this weekend, and yes, I was more than a little worried about your reaction.
I didn’t know Grandpa figured it out.” Tyler shifted his gaze between his parents.
“To be honest, neither of you look or sound all that surprised.”
David handed Owen a bottle of water and joined his wife and son.
He set the tea on the counter, then settled his big hand on Ty’s shoulder.
“We had a strong suspicion, but we thought it was best to let you come out when you were ready.” David studied his son with a neutral expression on his face.
“You really didn’t know until recently?”
“Yeah.” Tyler narrowed his eyes. “How long have you two suspected?”
“A few years,” David said. “But I was sure of it once I saw the two of you interacting on the Redemption Ridge YouTube channel.”
Tyler frowned as he considered that. “Why the hell was I the last one to figure it out?”
Owen wanted to raise his hand and say he was technically the last person to realize Tyler returned his feelings, but he didn’t want to intrude on what was shaping out to be a truly wonderful moment between Tyler and his parents.
Wendy smiled indulgently at her son. “We’re always the last to know things about ourselves. I’m glad you’ve figured it out now and we’ve gotten the truth out in front of us.”
“You’re not mad?” Tyler asked.
David scrunched up his nose as he considered the question. “Do you want us to be?”
“No, of course not,” Tyler replied.
“But you thought we would be,” Wendy said. She heaved a sigh. “I can understand why you might’ve felt that way, but I don’t like it. I thought we’d come a long way since you left home.”
“We have, Mama. It’s just…” Tyler pursed his lips, and Owen could almost hear the gears turning in his head.
“We were all brought up with traditional values. Men marry women and start families. I didn’t know how well you’d take the news.
” Tyler swallowed hard, and tears filled his eyes.
“A big part of me expected you to make me choose between our family and Owen. I’ve been bracing myself for a permanent goodbye.
Owen is the one who reminded me that I was being unfair to you and Dad.
” Tears spilled down his cheeks, and Owen wanted to go to him, but Wendy beat him to the punch.
She pulled him into her arms and hugged him like a life raft. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry you’ve felt this way. Maybe Dad and I should’ve spoken up sooner, but we didn’t know if that would make things worse or better. I just felt you slipping further and further away and didn’t understand it.”
“I think a confrontation might’ve made things worse or at least more confusing for me,” Tyler replied. “You did the right thing, but I’m sorry I pulled away from you. I didn’t do it intentionally.”
Wendy kissed Tyler’s cheek, pivoted, and then crossed the room to hug Owen. “And you,” she said, squeezing him tight. “You’ve given my son back to me twice now. Thank you.” Wendy pulled back, cupped Owen’s face, and said, “Welcome to the family.”
Owen was too choked up to speak, so he nodded.
David let out a big sniffle and said, “All right, let’s get you boys something to eat.
” He placed one hand on Tyler’s shoulder and the other on Owen’s.
He led them to the table so they could sit down.
He kicked off idle chat about life on the ranch while Wendy fixed them plates of pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, brussels sprouts, baked beans, and cornbread.
Owen widened his eyes at the volume of food in front of him but vowed to give it his best. He ate three-quarters of the meal before pushing his plate away and waving a white napkin in surrender.
Tyler, who possessed a bottomless stomach, finished his plate and took several forkfuls of Owen’s leftovers.
“I know they feed you on the ranch,” Wendy said. “Half our conversations are about Harry’s cooking.”
“Yeah, but it’s not my mama’s food,” Tyler replied, making his mom beam with delight.
“The meal was amazing,” Owen said. “Thank you.”
Tyler pushed back his chair, grabbed his and Owen’s plates, and stood up. “I’ll start cleaning up the mess so you can rest, Mama.”
“No way,” Wendy said. “You go visit with the family while I clean up.” She took the dishes from Tyler’s hands and carried them to the sink.
“Can I help you?” Owen offered. It was the least he could do.
Wendy beamed at him. “I’d love that. It will give me time to get to know you better.” She looked at David and Tyler and made a shooing motion.
David rose to his feet and placed his hand on the back of Tyler’s neck. “We’ve been dismissed, son.”
Tyler followed David but watched Owen over his shoulder until he disappeared out of sight.
Wendy turned on the sink and rinsed the first plate from the stack. “Tyler has always volunteered to do dishes with me.”
Owen smiled as he stacked the plate in the dishwasher. “He wanted your undivided attention.”
Wendy smiled. “He’s always been a mama’s boy, and he struggled when the younger kids came along.
I thought middle child syndrome was a myth or excuse some moms made up to explain away bad behavior until I had middle children.
” She stared out the kitchen window for a few seconds and looked to be lost in a memory.
She giggled, shook herself free, and smiled wryly at Owen. “Can I confess something?”
“Sure.”
“I wanted to refuse Tyler’s help because it took three times as long with him as it would to do them by myself. Such a perfectionist.”
“Mmhmm,” Owen agreed. “Tyler sees spots that no one else can. He ends up rewashing everything I touch.” It was Owen’s turn to laugh at a memory. “Can I confess something too?”
Wendy’s blue eyes shimmered with humor and warmth. “Please do.”
“Tyler got assigned kitchen duties when he first arrived at jail. That’s usually where the new inmates go because it’s the most dreaded assignment.”
“Not for Tyler,” Wendy said.