Page 1 of Rainbows Over Cedarwood

Chapter One

“At least I know one person,” Ashley Willis murmured to himself and stood. “Hi. My name is Ashley, but people call me Ash. I’m the art teacher at the elementary school. My road to becoming a dad wasn’t really like yours.” He flattened his hands on his pant legs to hide the shaking. “I’m proud to be a dad. Best thing I’ve ever done, but like I said, it was different. My best friend, Danica, wanted a baby. Her relationships weren’t working out and she figured the only way she’d have a kid was to go with a donor. She asked me. We went the traditional route. I’m gay, but I slept with her because I wanted to give her what she wanted. Shortly after Wyatt was born, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Turns out the cancer was worse than the doctors realized and she passed pretty quickly.”

Colin Baker, the head of the support group, nodded. He didn’t say anything and no one seemed to be upset or even fazed by his admission that he had a kid. The guys he’d dated had been put off when he mentioned how he’d helped to create his son. They didn’t want to date a guy who’d slept with a woman, even if only to make a baby.

“Like I said, I’m proud to be a dad and I want to be an example to him. Right now that’s not happening the way I wanted. I’m not looking for a boyfriend, but a few friends would be great. That’s why I joined the group.” He blew out a long breath. “And because Steve said this was a good place to talk without judgment.”

Steve Moore, a former fellow teacher in the Cedarwood school district, grinned. He’d been in Ash’s shoes. The school year before, Steve had been encouraged to leave his position with the district because of his sexuality.

Ashley returned to his seat and stuffed his hands between his knees. He shouldn’t have been so nervous. The guys at the meeting weren’t scary or critical. All of them had been in situations that weren’t fun—Colin losing his partner to another man, Steve having to raise his sister and Don dealing with the death of his partner due to AIDS. He appreciated the pressure-free environment. No trying to date one another or get into one another’s pants. Little by little, he relaxed and thanked God he’d made the decision to join the group.

Half an hour later, after the rest of the men had shared stories and updates, the meeting adjourned. The dozen or so guys scattered about the room. Steve crossed to Ashley.

“So, you got tenure, didn’t you?” Steve plopped onto the chair beside Ash. “I wanted tenure, but not the hassle of the school district.”

“You’re at Hazelwood, aren’t you?” Ashley asked. “I’d heard they had a few teachers leave due to retirement.”

“I am. So far, things are looking good.” Steve nodded. “They’re planning to offer me tenure there if I last another year. I fully intend on doing so. My commute is twenty minutes. Farin can get Genie off the bus or she and Gage can go straight to the store. It’s perfect.”

“Plus you’re head over heels for Farin,” Ashley added. He’d watched the romance grow between the two men and couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. He wanted a love like Farin and Steve shared.

“There is that. But I asked about you. You’re safe with tenure, right?”

“I have a five-year contract. They didn’t go the tenure route with the teachers when I was hired. Our track involved longer contracts that aren’t exactly called tenure. You came in after me when the union got the situation returned, but about five other teachers and I fall into that gray area. I’m okay for now.”

“Well, if they start giving you trouble, you’re in a better position than I was.” Steve handed Ashley a business card. “This is my friend Dex. He specializes in discrimination cases. If it comes to needing help, then he’s the man you want in your corner.”

“Cool.” He stared at the card. He hadn’t thought about needing legal representation. He hadn’t been discriminated against, but then he’d kept his life on the down-low. People knew he was gay, but he didn’t advertise.

“We were going to go to the diner for supper. Farin loves the burgers and Genie can’t get enough of the fries. Want to come along?” Steve asked. He touched Colin’s shoulder, stopping the other man. “Colin, are you and Jordan coming?”

“Sure.” Colin stuffed the pamphlets and other papers from the small table into a shoulder bag. “Are you in, Ashley?”

“I need to get Wyatt from the sitter, but sure.” He’d been out on the town with friends a few times over the summer, but these were people who understood how to be in public with kids. His friends didn’t like when Wyatt tagged along or when Ashley couldn’t go out because he didn’t have a sitter.

“Meet us there in half an hour?” Steve clapped Ashley on the shoulder. “I know it seems like you’re all alone in this, but you’re not. I’ve been there. Colin’s been there. You’re in good company.”

“Thanks.” He grinned as he left the building and headed to his car. He’d known Steve from the district staff meetings but hadn’t spent much time with him otherwise. Part of him wished he’d made a move with Steve. Maybe he wouldn’t be lonely right now. Then again, Steve and Farin did make a cute couple.

He slid behind the wheel of his car and sighed. He wished he had a bigger car. Then he’d be able to better care for Wyatt. There’d be more room and less inconvenience. Less worry that the grocery bags would tumble over onto Wyatt, and the fear that they’d be crushed to death in the smaller car would go down. In a bigger vehicle, at least they’d have more bulk around them if they did crash.

He turned the key in the ignition.God. What am I doing? Complaining…again.He hadn’t said the words out loud, but he was wallowing in his supposed failure to care for his kid. He drove across town to the babysitter’s house and thought about his life along the way.Danica. Now, there’s a raw deal in life.Cancer fucking sucked. Wyatt wouldn’t have his mother because of a goddamn disease without a cure. He pounded the steering wheel with his fist. She shouldn’t have died.

Ashley pulled into the driveway at the Learner house and switched off the engine. He dragged a couple of deep breaths into his lungs to compose himself. Wyatt didn’t need to see his father upset.

He climbed out of the car and headed up to the front door. Mrs. Learner met him on the porch. “Wyatt’s helping pick up the playroom. You look worried. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Just got caught up in my thoughts.” He leaned against the banister on the porch. Mrs. Learner knew about Danica but never seemed to push him to talk.

“Danica?” She gathered him in a hug and rubbed his back. “You’ve got to get the words out of your head sooner or later. I know you’re not ready now, but one day you will be. Don’t be afraid to talk.”

He hugged her back and sighed. “I’m tired of being mopey, if that’s what you mean.”

“Then don’t be.” She let go of him and folded her arms. “You’ve got a lot to offer a guy. Get out there and try. You don’t have to introduce Wyatt to him right away. Make sure you trust him first, but give romance a shot.”

“You sound like those movies on the cable channel.”

A squeal echoed in the house and a moment later, Wyatt bounded up to the screen door. “Hi, Dad.” He fumbled with the latch then eased open the aluminum door. Unlike most kids his age, Wyatt sounded loud and boisterous, but he also acted very reserved. He wasn’t the type to slam doors or to stomp his feet, but he loved to whoop and holler. He shoved his book bag into Ashley’s hands.

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