Page 10 of Stutter

“I’ve had your rooms made.”

“Thanks, dad.” Damon says, embraced in his father’s arms and when he pulls back, Dr. Archer shakes my hand but still peeks over at his son from above my shoulder.

“Tabitha is finishing up dinner so we just have to reheat tomorrow.”

“Her family doing well?”

“I hope so. Her son just graduated and started his rotations at my hospital. Antionette got into-”

“Damon Beau Archer!” the holler comes from the archway at the end of the foyer from a petite black woman with an afro wearing a Chef’s coat and black pants. Her smile is radiant and her arms are set wide apart and he goes to her, collecting her into his arms and when he stands, she levitates a good foot off the ground.

“Tabi!”

“My boy, you have grown!” it’s now I can hear her Cajun accent.

Damon laughs as he settles her on the ground. “Tabi, it’s only been two months. And I stopped growing over a decade ago.”

She responds in French and I watch the exchange, feeling my lips turn up at the corners when she smacks his arm and then pulls hers up and flexes beneath the sleeve of her Chef’s coat. The exchange is odd but warm.

I hear the click of the door shut behind me and the older Doctor Archer stands beside me.

“Thank you for having me.” I say, nervously holding out a bottle of wine I picked up yesterday and had it chilling in my refrigerator until Damon picked me up this morning.

He grins. “No one should be alone on the holidays.” Oh, he has a British cadence in his words. I must’ve not heard it during my rush of anxiety when he opened the door but all in all, the home is comfortable even though it lacks… familiarity. He holds out his hand to take the wine. “I’m Henry Archer. Come.”

The next day around noon, we begin to eat Tabitha’s food; a grand Turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, mac-and-cheese, mashed potatoes, gravy, a green bean casserole, and finishoff with her pumpkin-pecan pie, which reminds me of home. To say I devoured an extra slice would be an understatement.

“So, off to see your mother then?”

“Come with us.” Damon pleads.

“Son… I-“

“Dad, I have news to tell you and when I tell maman, you’ll want to be there. For her. Plus, I want you to meet my girlfriend. Our girlfriend.”

“I don’t think I need to be there when you tell your mother you’re bisexual, son. Also, this is an awkward way for me to meet your boyfriend, had I known-“

“What? Dad, no.” Damon lets out an exasperated laugh. “She’sourgirlfriend but we’re not together. She’s with her other boyfriend, Jonas, in London with his family. She wanted to be here to meet you but it was his mother’s birthday.”

“She has three of you?”

“It’s more common than you think, polyamorous relationships-“

“What’s her name, son?”

Now Damon thumbs the condensation from his wine glass, avoiding his father’s gaze. “Raven Monroe.”

Henry’s eyes widen then narrow. “Son, if the medical board finds out you’re dating your patient-“

“Formerpatient. She’s no longer under my care. And it was a month or so after.” He lies. “I also no longer work at Lorne Wood. I work at Rayne-Moore.”

“What business do you have there?”

“I’m the psych counselor there.”

Henry drops his fork, not hiding his displeasure from his son. Shaking his head at Damon, the light in his eyes dimming. “So you took a pay-cut, a severe one, to follow her out there, didn’t you? And if the school board finds out?”

“They knew I was a doctor on her team but she doesn’t fall under my care.”

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