Chapter 33 – Luke
LUKE
Tonight couldn’t come fast enough. Jack was so excited, in every way, at the thought of seeing Luke again.
He wanted to share his parents with Luke, and Luke with them.
He wanted to prove to himself and to Luke that he truly understood how to show he was choosing Luke fully, not merely wanting him.
And, perhaps instinctively, he would watch for signs from Luke that Jack’s choice was enough for now, a good-faith bet on their future.
He was grateful that Luke might be ready to spend the night together.
The other day, after coffee, Jack could barely keep his hands off him.
Is this what life feels like when you stop thinking about missions and strategies? Just pride, enjoyment, pure love? He knew one thing: Jack had never desired anyone like he desired Luke. Man, woman, Anna. Anyone.
“Thanks for choosing the restaurant,” Jack said when Luke got into his jeep. “It sounds perfect.”
“Quiet, elegant but not pretentious, a famously deep wine list, and the best Italian food on the Western slope,” Luke said.
Jack hadn’t pulled out of the driveway. They sat in the darkness, nervously smiling at each other, and Jack touched the back of Luke’s head.
“Hey,” Jack said.
“Hey,” Luke repeated.
They came together for a soft, tender kiss that was brief but powerful. They rested their foreheads on each other for a moment, and Jack said, “OK, time to go meet the folks?”
Luke pulled Jack’s hand up and kissed it. “Let’s go.”
Jack and Luke walked into the dark restaurant, and the hostess led them to the Garrisons’ table.
The parents rose to meet their son and the other man at his side.
Jack kissed his mother on the cheek and put an arm on Luke’s shoulder. “Mom, Dad. You remember Luke.”
“Yes, of course we do,” Mrs. Garrison said, shaking Luke’s hand and beaming.
“Evening,” The Colonel said, also shaking Luke’s hand.
The Garrisons returned to their seats while Jack pulled out the chair next to his mother for Luke, then sat on Luke's other side.
“It’s so nice to see you both back in town after so long,” Luke said with a warm smile. “How does it seem to you now?”
“Oh, it’s a special place, always has been,” Mrs. Garrison said. “We’re enjoying it so much, and the weather is cooperating for the most part.”
The initial chitchat flowed easily, with no long, awkward stretches of silence between comments about air travel and the hotel renovations. The Colonel talked enough to be cordial, but he seemed to be holding back, observing more than trying to stamp his signature on the scene.
The waiter took drink orders and asked about appetizers.
“What do you like here?” Jack asked Luke.
“The burrata looks nice.”
“We’ll start with that while we select our entrees,” Jack told the waiter.
“Yes, of course, Colonel Garrison. I’ll get this order in for you right away.”
Jack paused and smiled up at the young man. “Do we know each other… Donnie, is it?”
“Yes, Sir, Donnie. And no, we’ve never met, but I’m a student at Calder Ridge University. Well, everyone on campus has noticed you, Colonel.”
“Nice to meet you, Donnie. These are my parents, visiting for a few days, and this is…”
“Luke Calder, of course. Everyone knows Luke Calder.”
Luke was used to this kind of attention. “Donnie, hi, nice to see you tonight.”
Jack noticed that Luke never said, “Nice to meet you,” because he had explained that it would be awkward for the other person if they had already met. It was a small act of kindness, one of many Jack noticed in Luke.
“We’re with two celebrities,” Mrs. Garrison said.
Jack put his hand on Luke’s shoulder and said, “No, just one.”
“And now you run the field house, Jack tells us,” The Colonel said.
Luke looked to Jack for a translation.
“Rec center.”
“Oh, yes, The Ridge. I’ve been managing it for almost 10 years now, and I’ve been back most of the time. It’s more like a second home than a job.”
“We try to stay fit,” The Colonel said.
“Yes, I can see that!” Luke said. “You should come to The Ridge while you’re here. We offer classes, or you can work with one of the trainers.”
“It’s a nice gym,” Jack said, smiling at Luke and nodding. “Luke leads quite a team.”
Jack’s mother asked Luke which hiking trails they should explore and whether he knew what had become of a couple of families she recalled.
Jack beamed at the way they were all interacting. He’d been prepared to defer to Luke and brag about him all night. But it turned out Luke didn’t need any promotion with these two.
They enjoyed the family-style lasagna, green beans, and salad. The only glitch came during dessert. Jack's mother was recounting a story from his early Army career and said casually, "But you've always been good at keeping your options open."
Jack wiped his mouth with the white cotton napkin, set it down, and reached to take Luke’s hand in his.
"I'm not doing that anymore,” Jack said.
He locked eyes with Luke, who smiled sweetly, and they shared the silent understanding that had passed between them.
Jack stood and excused himself to visit the restroom. When he returned, he could swear that The Colonel was concluding some kind of statement to Luke and stopped when he saw Jack approaching.
Something was different at the table. Jack smiled and looked at each of the three people as if to say, Well, is anyone going to share it with me…?
But no one did. Three against one?
Jack’s mother insisted on decaf and dessert, clearly enjoying her time with Luke. When the Garrisons finally stood to leave, she hugged Luke and said she hoped to see him again while they were in town.
The Colonel shook his hand and leaned in to say, “You remember what I said.”
What the hell…? Jack smiled and walked his parents to the valet stand. It was a warm evening. He paused to look up at the stars in the black, clear sky.
Am I crazy, or are things changing all around me? Or what if it’s me… am I changing how I choose to see things? At my age?
Jack was smiling when he returned to the table, shaking his head for dramatic effect. “You’re the son they never had.”
“They’re lovely,” Luke said.
“Lovely. The Colonel is lovely,” Jack said, chuckling.
Luke nodded with calm contentment and said, “Let’s call it a night.”
In the car, they drove in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Jack finally asked:
"What did my father say to you? When I was in the bathroom?"
Luke looked out the window, a small smile playing on his lips.
“I probably shouldn’t tell you,” Luke said, hesitating. "He said that you’ve always drifted through certain aspects of your life, and he hopes now you can let yourself rely on something.”
Luke paused again and turned to look at Jack. “He said, ‘You’re the anchor he’s been looking for, Son.’”
Jack was silent for the rest of the drive, with a look of surprise that froze on his face: wrinkled eyebrows, mouth open in an O.
Jack pulled into Luke's driveway and put the Jeep in park. He sat there, staring straight ahead.
"He called you 'Son,'" Jack said finally.
"Yeah." Luke's voice was soft. "He did."
They sat in the still darkness.
Jack turned to Luke. "I won't let you down again. I won’t.”
Luke reached across and took Jack's hand.
“I’m gonna let you get some sleep tonight,” Luke said. “That was a lot to process.”
“Probably a good idea,” Jack said. “You’re so special, Luke. I love you. I do, I really do.”
Luke kissed him softly, said, “I love you, too,” and opened the door to leave.