Epilogue
“EVERYONE IS going to be here soon, and you aren’t dressed yet,” Lyle told James.
“They’re going to be here at eight, and it’s not even seven,” James said with a wide smile, slipping his arms around Lyle’s waist. “You always get everything done early.”
“Look who’s talking. The man who once turned in a paper a week before it was due,” Lyle teased and leaned back.
“But seriously, go and get dressed. Then I need you to help me get the last of the food ready and help set up the dining room. Mom is going to be here at seven thirty to help, which means she’ll take over everything. ”
“Okay. You want it all done so your mom won’t have anything to do and will leave you alone.” James released him, the warmth slipping away. “I’ll go get dressed.” He hurried out of the room, and Lyle continued prepping veggies for the tray.
Once James returned, Lyle nearly cut his finger, his attention wavering to the sexy man in his kitchen.
“Wow.” The black pants and royal blue shirt set off his eyes and hugged his muscles in just the right way.
He set the knife down and gave James a kiss.
God, he loved this man, and kissing him was the best part of the day.
Well, almost the best part. He shivered as he thought of him and James making tender love the night before.
That was the very best part of the day. Him and James in bed together, sometimes making love and scaring the dogs…
other times just going to bed after a long, maybe disappointing, day and knowing the other was there.
“You okay? You were staring at the wall.”
He blinked a few times. “Yeah. I’m fine.
” He started pulling things out of the refrigerator.
“Could you put these on the table? I have place cards for each dish. The veggies are almost ready, and there are bowls for the chips and crackers on the table.” He watched James go and finished up the veggie tray.
Then he set it on the counter and got out the cheese board before checking the oven to make sure the hot dip and meatballs were ready.
Lyle checked the table and thanked James with a kiss as his mother came inside with Loopy on a leash. The four dogs all hurried over to say hello and then ran through the house as though they were hyped on sugar.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d need help,” Mom told him but looked over the table. “I guess you don’t.” She pulled out a couple of bottles of sparkling wine and put them in the refrigerator. “I figured I could contribute to the party.” She hugged both him and James.
“How are you feeling?” James asked.
“Very well, actually. I got back the latest round of tests, and everything is clean. The doctors said I was very lucky. They were going to do radiation but said there was no need. The cancer was localized, and while it caused issues, it doesn’t appear to have spread.” She smiled.
“Then we have something extra to celebrate tonight,” James told her.
“What about your parents? Will they be here?” Mom asked as she took a seat in the living room.
“No. They’re back home.” James sounded relieved.
They had come for a few days at Christmas and met Lyle and his mom, but they went home right after the holiday.
If he were honest, he was relieved they were gone.
James’s parents seemed to put him on edge, and Lyle didn’t like that.
Oh, they were nice enough to both of them, but they seemed more involved with themselves than they were with James. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“A white wine if you have it,” she said, and James went to get the wine while Lyle dished up the hot food and brought it to the table.
He had never been much of a cook, but he was determined to change that, so he got some recipes online for easy party items, and they seemed to have turned out well.
He brought them to the table and placed the dishes on hot pads just as other guests arrived.
He answered the door and grinned as Red and his partner, Terry, came inside.
They had remained in touch over the past few months because of the case with Debbie, and met Terry at the Y, and they became friends.
Lyle introduced them to his mom and was about to close the door when James’s former roommates arrived.
Soon the house was filled with friends from work as well as more of James’s friends from law school.
“Come and sit down,” James said, extending his hand. “Everything is fine, and there is nothing more you need to do right now.” Lyle wiped his hands and took James’s, letting him lead him out of the kitchen.
He took a seat on the sofa, and immediately Dash jumped up into his lap. When James sat, Daisy jumped into his while the others found willing laps to settle into, with Dahlia choosing Red’s.
“How did you get the dogs?” Terry asked. James and Lyle looked at each other and began the tale of Corky, the dogs, her daughter, and everything else. Red even chimed in with his part of the story.
“They didn’t get away with it, did they?” Amy asked with Dover settled in her lap, soaking up the attention.
“No. Debbie pled guilty, and she’s waiting to be sentenced.
Her husband is still in jail,” Red said.
“We managed to round up many of the people involved with the dogfighting. I think Debbie’s husband is trying to make a deal to testify against the others, but I doubt that’s going to work because he’s the big fish they want, and others will testify against him. ”
“So everything worked out,” Amy said.
Lyle turned to James with a smile and leaned against his shoulder. “Definitely.” He squeezed James’s hand. Everything had indeed worked out much better than he could ever have imagined.