Page 90 of Sweet T

Titus raised an eyebrow in consideration, then offered Evan an approving smile. “You know, you already resemble Pedro in size and build. But now you’re starting to sound like him, too.”

“So, you know this?”

“I do.”

“Then why would you let it go on? He’s your son, Titus.”

Titus ran his hands through his hair, cupping the back of his head and squeezing as if to render an answer. “It’s complicated,” he sighed more than said. “When I lost Violet, I was your age raising a child alone. I was twenty years old, depressed, lonely. So, I put Tucker above everything else–against my deceased wife’s wishes, mind you. Violet had left me a letter instructing me to raise Tucker well but not to neglect myself in the process. But I didn’t listen. I focused all my energy on Tucker for four years. Then, one day, I met Pedro, and I started considering myself again.”

Evan listened patiently. He wasn’t sure where Titus’s story played regarding the topic, but he trusted things would come around.

“Pedro and I fell in love, fast and furious, on my part anyway. It’s not a far stretch from what I’m seeing with you and Tucker. Same season and setting too–only I was closeted. Hell, we both were, considering the circumstances and Spoon. But our love was strong–strong enough that word got out beyond our little haven on property here. I was soon out to my parents, and when Pedro’s ass-hat of an employer found out, he tried to get him deported back to Mexico.”

“The fuck?”

Titus laughed. “Yeah. Anyway, we were in love, but not everyone in a small town like ours takes to that so well. We were gay and different hues–two strikes to some. Silas Compton, Pedro’s employer at the time, obviously didn’t take to it. He and Junior Sikes, via Milton Barksdale, were threatening us.”

“I’ve heard those names. I guess from Tucker.”

“I was the one that mentioned Junior to you. He’s the sheriff. He’s a friend now. Silas is gone. Truth is–I ran him off. Last I heard, he’s in Milledgeville. A drunk. His son, Jasper, is a good kid, though. I think he’s in the play with you.”

“He is. I met him one afternoon.”

“The Barksdales are in Morehead. They kinda run things over there.”

“Yes. Now, I remember. Tucker said they’re your rivals, and that you had invited them to the wedding.”

“They’re not so much rivals anymore. Most of that was Daddy’s generation and before. There was a little tension between me and Mason in school—with Violet. Small in retrospect. I moved on. I think we both have. His kids, Monty and Pru, went to school with Tucker and Javy. I think they were friends. Acquaintances, at least.”

“No offense,” Tucker interrupted. “But what has all this got to do with you and Tucker?”

“Overcompensation, I guess. I thought us being gay was going to be the primary problem. Turns out, not so much. The gossip was that I was taking advantage of a migrant worker–a big, well-to-do white man, using his power over a less fortunate in exchange for favors. Citizenship mainly.”

Evan tried his best to suppress the flush rising in his face, but he couldn’t hide the guilt in his eyes.

“That thought crossed your mind too, huh?” Titus asked.

“I–”

“It’s OK, Evan. Believe me, you’re not the first. I’ve accepted it. It’s inherent. Human fucking nature.”

“But being here, seeing you two. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

“You know that. I think most folks do now. Twenty years together is a long time. But back in the day, not so much. Anyway, it made me mad. I told my daddy I wanted to make Spoon a refuge for gay folks, underdogs, regardless of race or ethnicity. He was open to it, but knew it wouldn’t get me elected. My father’s dream was for me to succeed him as mayor. Business makes a town thrive, he often said. So, he went about helping me try to incorporate the two ideas and–”

“You put an article in the paper.”

“Sebastian told you, huh? Yeah. He and Gerald were my one success. We just didn’t have the outreach, or the tools, or the know-how at the time.”

“Pause that, and we’ll come back,” Evan said. “First, tell me about Javy.”

Titus set his empty bottle on the table. “When Daddy died, and they elected me mayor, Pedro’s cousin and her husband were killed in an auto accident in Mexico. We had always wanted to have more children, but, you may know, it’s not always an easy feat for a gay couple to adopt—especially in the south. So, when we found out, Pedro adopted him as next-of-kin, and we brought him to the states. He was a little older than what we had in mind, but still another son. I had long abandoned my dream of making Spoon a refuge, but here we were with another rescue. It’s selfish, I know. But Javy was proof that I would do the same all over again, for anyone—in this case a son. No supposed favors exchanged. He was also a chance to keep my dream alive. Two dreams–having another child and broadening the diversity of Spoon.”

“Is Javy gay too?”

“We think he might be, but he never came out to any of us. His focus was on academics and sports, more so than the average teenager. When we first got him, he was introverted, overwhelmed and grieving, barely spoke English. All I wanted to do was take his pain away, and the best way I knew how was to help him succeed. So, I poured all my energy into him. I gave him the tools and the confidence he needed. And, unlike Tucker, who had these tools all along, Javy soaked it up like a sponge. He became very ambitious, which, honestly, I admired. He’s a hell of an athlete, too.”

“So, Tucker took a backseat.”

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