Page 17 of Reaching Roland

“Cameron, come help an old woman,” Miss Georgina called over her shoulder from the sink.

“Yes, ma’am.” He huffed, but he stopped long enough to drop a kiss on the top of Indie’s head.

Kenny spun in his seat. “I’m glad you coerced me into coming over, Daddy. This is fun.”

I couldn’t hold it any longer, and I barked out a laugh. Wagging a finger between the two young men at the table, I said, “Behave. Both of you.”

Indie smiled that sugar-sweet smile that let me know I was in trouble. “We will, Rolly.” He hopped up. “Come on, Kenny. Let Rolly start dinner, and I’ll show you the family albums.”

“What? Why?” Cameron asked from the sink, and Miss Georgina reached up and swatted him on the back of the head. “Ow. What did I do?”

Kenny raised his eyebrows at me like he was seeking permission. “Go ahead, shortcake. This is Indie’s home, too, and there are plenty of pictures of him as a little guy in there.”

“Thanks, Daddy.” He jumped up so fast I was worried he’d hurt himself.

The two of them took off at a light sprint, and I yelled, “Walk,” at the same time as Cameron. He turned to me wide-eyed. “What?”

I heard Miss Georgina murmur to him to mind his business, and he went back to helping her, but I didn’t know what he was making such a big deal about. Indie and his friends were over here all the time—all a bunch of boys—and I constantly had to remind them to walk, chew their food, or slow down. They were an excitable bunch, who all loved that they had Daddies, who adored them and protected them. But I was a father, and when they were in my house without their partners, I looked out forthem. It wasn’t that big a deal I included Kenny in that equation. I didn’t think he identified as a boy, but he was a lonely, single young man who could use a little extra-special care and attention, too.

We had a connection, and he’d become a dear friend to me rather quickly. But really, we’d been interacting weekly for months now. I’d gone to his salon the first time in January, and now it was the beginning of June. That was more than enough time for a healthy friendship to develop, and since I didn’t have my old crew anymore, I cherished this new connection. If his calling me Daddy irritated my son that much, he’d just have to get over it. His life had grown and expanded. He had everything Rhonda and I had ever wanted for him. A good job he excelled at, and a man that he loved and adored. We’d done our job well, and he was soaring. And while my love had passed on to her great beyond, it didn’t mean I was gone, and I deserved to have people in my life to hang out with, too. Yeah, Cameron needed to get over it.

Dinner ended up being a fun and lively affair. Miss Georgina peppered Kenny with questions that he happily answered, and even Cameron seemed to get over himself with a full belly and Indie by his side, leaning into him and loving him up. It made my heart happy to see both my kids so enamored with each other and settled. Now, to make my special guest happy. “Who’s ready for strawberry shortcake?” I asked.

“Oh, me, me, I am,” Kenny said. “Bring it on, Daddy.”

Chuckling to myself, I picked up two of the glass dessert cups I’d filled up and carried them to the table. “Here you go, shortcake,” I said, settling the monstrosity of layered shortcake, whipped cream, and strawberries that I’d made especially for Kenny down on his placemat, then the much smaller one for MissGeorgina in front of her. Where I’d layered the deliciousness times three for him, I’d made her a single layer.

“Holy hell,” Kenny said, reaching for his spoon. He dug in and took one massive bite, moaning around it like a porn star.

Making grabby hands, Indie gave me puppy dog eyes. “I want mine, too, Rolly.” Laughing at him, I went back for his and Cameron’s.

Cameron stared down at his dessert, then raised his gaze to meet mine as I joined them at the table. “How come his is bigger?” he asked, back to glaring daggers in Kenny’s direction.

“Because I’m Daddy’s shortcake,” Kenny answered, making Indie cackle. I bit back my own laugh.

Indie leaned into Cameron. “Don’t be mad, Daddy. You’d do the same for me.”

I expected Cameron to argue further with the implication that my and Kenny’s relationship was the same as theirs, so I was proud when he stabbed a spoon into his own double-layered treat and let it go. He knew it wasn’t like that, and Kenny only pushed into the whole Daddy thing to irk him.

Kenny gazed at me with amusement, and I mouthed, “Behave.” He rolled his eyes and gave a small shake of his head. He really cracked me up.

“So, Indie, tell us what you’ve decided about speaking on behalf of the Takoda Outreach Center.”

Indie sighed, setting his spoon down and slumping back into his seat. “I’m still not sure. I’ve written up my story for them to use however they want with their promotional stuff, and I told Anson I’d come in soon and speak at one of the lunches they’rehaving at the soup kitchen to encourage them to visit Anson if they need help with employment or housing, but I don’t know how I feel about the fundraising.”

Pulling his spoon slowly out of his mouth, Kenny hummed under his breath. “What are you talking about?”

Indie went on to explain that they wanted to use him as a speaker at fundraising events, and my son abandoned his own dessert to put his arm around his boyfriend’s shoulders and hold him in support. That was the man I’d raised, and he made me proud.

Kenny nodded his head. “You’d be awesome at that. You have an amazing personality. People are drawn to you, anyway, but I think hearing your actual story will have a serious impact.”

I smiled my appreciation for his words over at him. Then redirected my attention to Indie where he was shaking his head. “You don’t get it, though. The first big event would be at the club my dad and his friends hang out at. It’s where Rolly used to go with them, too, unless they were all here. I’m not sure if I can handle that.”

Kenny hummed softly. He’d already hoovered the rest of his strawberry shortcake, so he pushed the glass up and leaned his elbows on the table, staring at Indie intently. “I hear exactly what you’re saying. I won’t bore you with the story, but I’ll say this. When I was in high school, something really bad happened. I thought the whole thing would be swept under the carpet, but this guy, Knight, spoke up. And then others did, too, including me. It was hard and uncomfortable, but it changed the dynamics of our small town and my own life. I’ll never regret being a part of that. You’re friends with Will. Ask him sometime what it was like growing up in Little Beach Bay and why. He’ll tell you.

“Sometimes, no matter how hard it is, we have to be brave enough to speak up for what’s right. What your father did to you was wrong on every level, not just as a person, but especially as a father. That’s his shame to carry. Not yours. If what you went through and how much the Outreach impacted your life can help someone, then you should do it. Don’t let your father keep winning.” More than ever, I wanted to hear the story of what happened when he was in high school.

Indie glanced up at Cameron, then looked at me. “But how do you think his friends will handle it if they’re there?”

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