A Good Measure, page 19
“Hello, Mrs. Evans,” Chase said, smiling.
“Oh, pull-ease! Call me Kay! Mrs. Evans makes me feel so old.”
Chase nodded and held out her favorite chardonnay. “We brought this for you.”
Kay looked at the label. “Thank you. I guess it’s been so long since Liam was home, he doesn’t know I switched to pinot grigio, but that’s okay, we can take it to the Johnsons when we go to their picnic tomorrow.”
“Oh! Sorry ’bout that,” Chase said. “I’ll make a mental note for next time.”
She nodded. “Well, c’mon in. Mike’s out on the deck.”
They followed her down the hall and Liam glanced at Chase and shook his head, and Chase smiled knowingly. He’d been preparing himself mentally and emotionally for this, so whatever came, he’d get through it. He just hoped Liam would come through it unscathed, too.
Kay ushered them out onto the deck and Mike looked up from the grill. “I can’t get this damn thing to light.”
“Did you turn on the propane?” she asked.
“Of course I turned on the propane,” he said, sounding annoyed.
Liam cleared his throat. “Uh, hi, Dad.”
“Hi, Liam,” he said, bending down again to check the connection.
“Want me to try?” Liam ventured.
“Be my guest,” Mike said, “but if I can’t start it, I doubt you—” But before he could even finish his sentence, Liam had clicked the starter and made the flames roar up. Mike shook his head and didn’t say anything.
“What can I get you to drink?” Kay said, standing by the door.
“Whatever you have the most of,” Liam said, holding the six-pack out to his dad.
Mike waved him off. “You can give that to your mom to put in the fridge.”
Kay eyed Chase. “What would you like?”
Chase pressed his lips together uncertainly and finally decided to just go for it. “Do you have any Tito’s?”
Kay frowned. “What’s Tito’s?”
“It’s a brand of vodka.”
“Oh, no,” she said, shaking her head, “but we might have some Smirnoff.”
Chase hesitated—he wasn’t a big fan of cheap vodka but he would definitely need a drink—maybe even two—to get through the evening. “Okay—with tonic and lime if you have it.”
Kay shook her head. “Sorry don’t have those, either.”
Chase smiled. “I’ll just have a beer then.”
Kay held up the six-pack. “I hope Bud’s okay.”
Chase bit his lip so he wouldn’t grimace and nodded. “Yep, perfect.”
She broke a can out of the six-pack and handed it to him, and then eyed Liam. “Want one?”
“Sure,” he said.
Mike shook his head. “You bring me beer and then you drink it.”
Liam frowned. “You know what?” he said, shaking his head. “I’ll just have water.”
“I’m kidding,” Mike said.
“No, you’re not,” Liam replied. “And honestly, I don’t like Budweiser—it tastes like pi . . . well, I won’t even say what it tastes like, but water tastes better. So, Mom, if you can spare it, I’ll have a glass of water.”
“Ice or no ice?” Kay asked.
“No ice,” Liam answered, biting his tongue before he could add: I don’t want you to go to much trouble. He handed the can back to her, and she offered it to her husband, but he waved her off again.
Chase stood silently, watching the entire exchange. “Guess it’s just me then,” he said, popping open the can and holding it up. “Cheers!” And then he took a good long swig. There was only so much BS he could tolerate.
Kay sighed, went inside, and returned a moment later with a glass of water and a plate of Ritz crackers topped with cubes of cheddar.
Liam took a sip of his water. “Is Lisa coming?” he asked hopefully.
“No,” Mike said, sitting at the table and crossing his legs. “Your mom forgot to ask her, and when she mentioned it last night, she said she couldn’t come—she just got a big promotion at work so she’s very busy.”
“We also think Jim is going to pop the question soon,” Kay said sounding giddy. “He took Dad and me out for drinks a couple of weeks ago and asked us for her hand.”
“Wow!” Liam said, leaning against the railing. “I didn’t know they were that serious.”
“Well, they’ve been going together for almost a year . . . so you know how it is—when you know, you know,” Kay said cheerily. “Jim’s such a nice guy, and he owns his own business. I can’t wait until he finally asks her so we can start planning. I’m sure we’ll end up having it at the club, but it’ll be fun to look at other venues . . . and then there are gowns to shop for . . . and flowers—it’s so exciting. Your father and I already started to make a guest list and I bet we have a hundred names on it.”
Liam nodded and looked over at Chase—who raised his eyebrows, and then Liam cleared his throat. “That’s exciting . . . and it’s kind of funny because that’s actually the reas—”
But before he could finish, his dad held up his hand. “Hold that thought,” he said, eyeing his wife. “The grill’s ready if you want to get the steaks.”
Kay nodded and went back inside, and when she came out, she looked at Liam. “What were you going to say?” she asked, handing the plate to her husband.
Liam took a sip of water, feeling his heart pound, and watched his dad open the lid of the grill and start scraping off the rack. “As a matter of fact, I was going to say . . . well, you see, Chase and I have some news, too, and we came out here so we could tell you in person.” He hesitated, waiting for his dad to finish putting the steaks on.
Mike finally closed the lid, and then looked at his wife. “You know, I think I will have that beer after all.” He smiled at Chase. “You can’t have sirloin without beer.”
Chase nodded and smiled. “I think I’ll have another, too, please, Kay,” he said, crushing the now-empty can in his hand.
“Hey, that was my five cents!” Mike teased jovially.
“Oh, well,” Chase said, chuckling. “I’ll give you a nickel.”
Kay came back out and handed the beers to her husband and Chase, and Mike turned to Liam. “So! Big news, huh? Shoot!”
Liam took a deep breath and let it out. “Yeah,” he said, nodding. “Chase and I came out to tell you that we . . . well, we are actually engaged, too, and we’re planning to get married at Chase’s family’s farm, and I know it’s last minute because we really just decided, but we’re hoping that you might co—”
Mike raised his eyebrows and put up his hand, motioning for Liam to stop, and then he shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but where I come from, men don’t marry men so there’s no way in hell we will attend that kind of a wedding, if that’s even what you’re thinking of calling it.”
Liam swallowed and looked at his mom, but she shook her head. “Liam, you know we don’t condone that kind of behavior . . . the lifestyle you’ve chosen. We thought you understood that.”
“It’s not a lifestyle, Mom,” Liam said, tears stinging his eyes, “and it’s not something we’ve chosen. Chase and I love each other and we want to spend the rest of our lives together.”
“Love each other?!” Mike stood up, laughing and shaking his head. “You know what? I don’t even want to have this conversation. You know how we feel, and if you’re going to insist on carrying on, then I really don’t know what to tell you.” He paused. “To be honest, I don’t even know how you can be my son.”
Liam looked stunned. “Is that really how you feel?”
“It is really how I feel,” Mike said. “We don’t understand how you can do the things you do—it’s not normal, and if this is how you plan to live your life, then . . .” He shook his head.
“How do you know what normal is?” Liam said. “What makes you the authority? Because I certainly don’t feel abnormal.”
“Mammals are on this earth to reproduce and populate the world.”
Liam frowned. “Who says everyone has to reproduce? There are plenty of people who—for one reason or another—choose to not have children, and there’s no reason Chase and I couldn’t adopt kids, or find a surrogate mom. It’s about loving someone with all your heart and we’d love to have a family.”
“A family?” Mike laughed and shook his head. “What you’re doing is wrong. Period.”
“It’s not wrong, and who are you to judge us?”
“You know what?” Mike said, eyeing Liam. “Since we are having this conversation, I’m telling you right now, don’t you even think of coming to Lisa’s wedding with a male date or a husband”—he made air quotes—“because there is no way in hell that I’m going to let you make a spectacle of yourself in front of our friends.”
“I wouldn’t think of it, Dad,” Liam said, his tears spilling down his cheeks. “I wouldn’t want to ruin your precious perfect manly image.”
Chase pushed back his chair. “I think we should go,” he said, looking at Liam, “before your dad ends up on the other side of the railing.”
Mike laughed derisively. “Oh, are you some kind of tough guy now, gay boy?”
Chase clenched his fists but held them at his sides as he stepped closer to Mike, and Mike suddenly realized Chase was a good two inches taller than him. “You know something, Mr. Evans, Liam told me you wouldn’t welcome this news, but I had no idea what an asshole you are. If you don’t want Liam in your life because you’re ashamed he’s gay, it’s your loss. Liam is one of the most sincere and caring people I’ve ever met, and I really can’t believe you’re his father. He is more of a man than you will ever be.”
Mike swallowed and took a step back. “You should leave.”
“I am leaving,” Chase said. He looked at Liam. “You comin’?”
Liam nodded and then turned to his parents. “I’m sorry I turned out to be such a disappointment . . . and you needn’t worry, I won’t show up at Lisa’s wedding and embarrass you.” He turned to give his mom a hug, but she took a step back. “Wow, Mom,” he said, “I’m your son.”
But Kay just shook her head.
37
BALANCING AN ARMFUL OF GOODIES, LIBBY AND ELLIE KNOCKED ON PAYTON’S door, and a moment later, Cash peered through the screen. “Hi, Mrs. Tennyson. Hi, Ellie,” he said shyly.
“Hi, Cash!” Ellie said, grinning.
“How are you, young man?” Libby asked.
“I’m fine.”
“We brought dinner over for you and your mom.”
“Mrs. Finley told me you were coming,” he said, pushing open the door.
As they came in, Ellie held out a bouquet of blue hydrangeas she’d cut from the garden and a jar of jam.
“Is this strawberry?” he asked hopefully.
“It is,” Ellie confirmed.
“Awesome! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” she said, as they followed him to the kitchen.
“How’s your mom?” Libby asked.
“She’s better,” he said. “The doctor gave her some pain medicine, but it makes her sleepy . . . and constipated.”
Libby suppressed a smile—one of the things she’d always loved about Cash was his honesty. “She’s out on the back porch if you want to go see her.”
Libby set the still-warm quiche, salad, and brownies on the counter. “Could you two put the flowers in some water?”
“Sure,” Cash said, nodding, and then immediately began to unravel the aluminum foil and damp paper towel Ellie had wrapped around the stems.
Ellie stayed in the kitchen to help, but Libby went out to the porch, and Payton opened her eyes. “Hi, there! Is tonight your night to make dinner?”
“It is,” Libby said, smiling.
“You girls are too much! You didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”
“It’s no trouble. We’re happy to help—it makes us feel useful.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“So how are you feeling?” she asked, sitting in the chair next to her.
“Better’n I did yesterday, but still tender,” she said, reaching up to touch her bandage.
Libby nodded. “I didn’t know if you’d be able to swallow so I made a crustless quiche.”
“Ooh, that sounds good,” Payton said, smiling. “I wasn’t very hungry yesterday, but my appetite seems to be returning. Heaven forbid it not come back so I could lose a few pounds,” she added, laughing.
“I know what you mean,” Libby agreed, “but having an appetite is a good thing—it means you’re gonna survive,” she added, smiling. “I can remember a time when I didn’t feel well for several months, and although Dr. Hamlin couldn’t find anything wrong with me, I had absolutely no appetite. I lost fifteen pounds, but it was so odd—and disconcerting—to look at food and feel repelled by it. I almost forgot what hunger felt like.”
“I think a lot of people wish that would happen to them, at least for a little while.”
Libby smiled. “Probably.”
“Did he ever figure out what was wrong?”
“No, but he thought it might’ve been due to stress because it was soon after Cale died, and we had a lot going on, especially with Gage—who’d decided he wanted no part of farming. At the same time, he and Jack both seemed determined to blame themselves for Cale’s accident, even though neither was at fault. The chain broke and Cale was standing in the wrong spot. End of story. It was no one’s fault, but it didn’t help Gage and Jack’s already stressed relationship.”
“I remember that day like it was yesterday,” Payton said sadly.
“Me, too. For a long time, I dreamt about it every night.”
Payton nodded. “Cale was following in Jack’s footsteps, and then he was just . . . gone. It was so tragic and everyone in town was shocked.”
Libby nodded and then searched her friend’s face. “I came over to talk about you, not me!”
Payton laughed. “That’s okay. I need to take my mind off myself! I spend way too much time dwelling on my problems. I worry too much.”
“Don’t we all?” Libby said. “It’s our mother hearts!”
“So true!” Payton said. “God tells us to give our worries to him, and put everything in his hands . . . and I try to do that, but the very next moment, I take them all back.”
Libby nodded. “I know exactly what you mean.”
“Soo,” Payton asked. “Are you ready for the big day? It’s coming up soon.”
“I’m getting there. I went dress shopping with Ellie and Jodi the other day, and I actually found a dress.”
“What color is it?”
“It’s a pretty coral with white trim around the neck and I’m going to wear Gram’s pearls.”
“Very nice! She would definitely approve!” Payton said, remembering Libby’s grandmother from their childhood.
“You and Cash are coming, aren’t you? I gave Gage and Maeve your address a while ago . . . and Amesy’s address.”
“We are. In fact, we just got our invitation today—it’s beautiful!”
“Good,” Libby said, smiling.
Payton rifled through the mail on the table next to her chair and pulled the invitation out of the pile. “Ames and I would love to make the centerpieces for the tables. She said she has a plethora of sunflowers—more than any other year.”
“That would be wonderful!” Libby said, and then she ran her finger lightly over the illustration. “Gage painted it.”
“I wondered! He’s such a talented artist. I’ll never forget all the blue ribbons he used to win at the fair. No one else’s drawings even came close.”
“I’ll always regret not helping him pay for art school. That’s why he never finished, but at the time, Jack held the purse strings, and he told Gage that being an artist was not a way to make a living, so Gage was on his own.” She looked up. “I regret not helping him make his dream come true. Everyone has their own dreams, and who are we to say what’s worthwhile and what isn’t?”
Payton nodded, her friend’s words speaking to her own heart.
As Libby started to open the invitation, Payton said, “I think it’s wonderful that both your boys are getting married on the same day. That is going to be a fun party! The Tennyson boys’ parties were always the talk of the town—I used to hear about them, but I was too old to be invited,” Payton said, laughing. “Now I am invited!”
“You definitely are!” Libby said.
Just then, Ellie and Cash came out on the porch with the bouquet. “Hi, Mrs. Childs!”
“Hi, Ellie, my dear, how are you?”
“I’m fine. How are you?”
“I’m doin’ better, thank you. And look at those flowers—they’re beautiful—I’ve always loved hydrangeas.”
“Me, too,” Ellie said, looking across the yard at her birdfeeder. “Wow! You have a Baltimore oriole at your feeder,” she whispered in awe.
“I do?” Payton said, sitting up to look.
“Right there,” Ellie said, pointing. “I’ve never seen one before.”
“I haven’t, either,” Payton said as they all watched. “It’s our lucky day.”
“It is!” Ellie said.
“Well, my dear,” Libby said, “I’m sure you’re going to have to reheat the quiche now. It was warm when we brought it over, but I’m afraid we’ve lingered too long. Maybe Cash can heat it up for you . . . or we can stay and fix the plates for you. There’s salad and brownies, too . . .”
“No, no,” Payton said. “Cash can heat them up. You’ve already done too much anyway.”
“If you’re sure,” Libby said.
“Positive,” Payton assured her. “Cash is a professional in the kitchen . . . and my legs aren’t broken.”
“Okay, but if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call. I’m just up the road and I can be here in a heartbeat.”
Payton nodded. “I’m so thankful to have such good, caring friends. Between you and Ames, I couldn’t ask for more. And thank you again for bringing dinner over.”
“You’re welcome,” Libby said, leaning down and giving her a hug. “I brought you some strawberry jam, too. Ellie and I made it today.”
“Ooh!” Payton said, “We’ll have to have some with our quiche!”
