Page 12 of Rainbows Over Cedarwood

Chapter Five

The next night, Ashley hurried through Cedarwood to the grocery store. He’d sworn he’d bought milk the last time he’d gone to the store. But no. The second he poured cereal for Wyatt, he remembered having walked past the cooler and thinking he had plenty of milk. Wrong.

So here he was, pulling into the store parking lot at nine-thirty in the evening to buy milk. Good thing his mother was available to come over and stay with Wyatt while Ashley ran his errand. He didn’t want to take his son out so late, in the rain and on a school night. Then again, he’d rather be home, too.

He left his car and tugged his hoodie over his head. He didn’t care if he got wet or if his hair looked like shit, but he had the hood, so why not use it? Maybe he could slip in, get the milk, pay for it and leave before anyone saw him.

“Ash?” Bella Norwood hurried up to him as he ventured into the store. “I thought I saw you.”

“Yeah.” He removed his hood. So much for being incognito.

“This is crazy. I thought you didn’t come out after dark,” she said. “You’re like a reverse vampire or something. You’re only out and about in the sunshine.” She grabbed a cart, then gestured to him. “Need one?”

“No. I’m here on a milk trip.” He’d known Bella for a few years but hadn’t spent much time around her outside the parent teacher organization meetings. She was an acquaintance, nothing more.

“My kids go through milk like you wouldn’t believe.” She stayed beside him as he headed down the first aisle. “I’ve heard good things about your teaching. You’re popular.”

“I do my job.” He wasn’t going to shake her.Drat.“I should get moving. Mom’s with Wyatt.”

“Oh, sure.” She touched his arm. “But…I wanted to ask you if you’re worried.” She tipped her head. “I mean, in this environment…”

“What are you talking about?” He stopped. “You’re making no sense.”

“I’m asking about you being gay, hon. You’re not worried about it? You’re in the school system and out in public,” Bella said. “That’s pretty exposed.”

This time he tipped his head.What the hell?“No, I’m not. I do my job and the students seem to be flourishing.” He nodded to the end of the aisle. “I should go. See you.”

“Ash.”

She wasn’t close enough to him as a friend to use that name and he didn’t appreciate her calling him by that. “It’s Ashley or Mr. Willis.”

She urged him forward. “Honey, you should be careful. I heard the coalition is trying to chase gays out of Cedarwood. The whispers among the parents are rampant. You should be worried about being forced out. How would Wyatt feel?”

His irritation grew the deeper down the aisle he went. Why’d she have to bring Wyatt into the equation? His son wasn’t in danger. He had his grandmother and his father and his friends. Ashley gritted his teeth. This was supposed to be a quick run.Walk in, buy the milk, pay for it, then go home. Simple.“I’m in a hurry.”

“You don’t care about how this will affect Wyatt?” Bella grasped his arm. “I’m concerned.”

“I am, too.” He stopped in his tracks. “My son is the most important thing in my life. I think of him first. If the coalition doesn’t like me because I’m gay, then that’s on them. I’m comfortable in my own skin and how I’m raising my son. I don’t try to imprint my students with my views on life. I teach. That’s it.”

“You should slow down and lower your voice,” she said. “Really think about what you’re doing and how it might look to others.”

He hadn’t realized he was shouting. Was he? He shook his head. “I conduct myself with decorum.” He spotted Colt.Fuck.Was everyone at the store at this hour? He wanted to hide—after he got the damn milk.

“Hi.” Colt strode up to Ashley. “Hey, Bella, are you here for groceries?”

“Why else would I be at a grocery store?” she asked. She narrowed her eyes. “Huh?”

Good question, but Ashley appreciated the diversion.

“Well, you’re doing a great job of annoying Ashley and making a scene in the salad dressing aisle.” Colt folded his arms. “So, I’ll ask…are you done?”

“We were just talking,” she said. “It’s nothing.”

“You keep bringing up my son,” Ashley said. He sighed. “I need to go.” He wasn’t going to be able to hide his embarrassment and irritation for much longer.

“I see.” Colt nodded to Ashley. “I’ll catch up to you. I wanted to discuss food options for the fest.”

“Sure.” He had nothing better to do. “I’ll be somewhere in here.” Ashley shook his head and ventured to the back of the store. He didn’t understand what was going on, but when he spotted the milk coolers, he focused on his errand. He selected one of the jugs, then closed the cooler. His thoughts turned to the interaction with Bella. She didn’t have his or Wyatt’s best interest at heart. She wanted to be nosy. Someone at the most recent meeting probably mentioned the coalition. Had they mentioned to her that he’d come out? Possible. Knowing Bella, she’d simply targeted him as one of the few gays she knew.Whatever.He hadn’t done anything wrong.

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