Page 78 of Big Britches

Silas looked at Tucker’s hand in Pedro’s. He chuckled. “The Indian in the Cupboard? You wanted to see a kid movie.”

“I’m a big fan of the book. I read Banks. Well, I used to read her… when I was young.”

“So, she wrote in Mexican?”

“Spanish,” Pedro corrected. “Yes. She’s translated everywhere.”

“We need to be leaving,” Titus interrupted. “It’s past Tucker’s bedtime.”

“Yeah,” Silas said. “I wouldn’t want to keep you two. You boys run along.”

Back home, behind the gate, their normal peace returned. Titus, always hungry, went into the kitchen for a snack. Pedro put Tucker to bed.

“Light on or off?”

“Off, please.”

“You got it.”

“Wait,” Tucker said, hesitantly. “You’re not going to leave, are you?”

“I’ll be right down the hall with your father. Not far at all.”

“No. I mean, leave us.”

Pedro reached out and took Tucker’s smaller hand in both of his. “No. Why do you ask this?”

“Because I don’t want you to ever leave. I want you to be my daddy, too.”

Pedro’s heart leaped. He smiled through misty eyes. “Well, sport. As long as you two will have me, I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

“I wish you lived here every night.”

He raised Tucker’s fingers to his lips. “Maybe soon, sweet T. Maybe soon.”

Titus was already in the bedroom watching television, shirtless and in his pajama bottoms. Pedro observed him, the gentle rise of his stomach, his arms and legs spread, making even a king-sized bed look small.

He sensed Pedro standing in the doorway, patting the mattress next to him. Pedro removed his shoes and joined him, climbing onto the tall bed.

“You OK?”

Titus nodded. “Yeah, now that we’re home. Guess we’re going to have to start eating in and watching videos again. It’s aggravating.”

Pedro curled up next to him, caressing his chest.

“Are you uncomfortable with people knowing about us?”

“No. I’m worried about you.”

“Why?”

“Because you love your job. I don’t want to be the reason you lose it.”

“I want you, T. If I had to choose between the two, you would win.”

“You shouldn’t have to make that choice. You also have your mother to consider.”

“All the same, I still want you more than anything else.”

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