Page 40 of Smoky Mountain Dreams
Will and Brigid, Christopherremembered, and he halted mid-step, hesitation tempering his excitement. Jessepushed his sunglasses on top of his beanie before reaching to take a plasticbag of yellow and brown candied popcorn from a slim older lady with long grayhair as an older man with a gray braid paid for the popcorn at the cart.
It’s a family outing.Christopherlooked at the children more closely, trying to decide if he should walk over ornot. Obviously Jesse hadn’t come here to see him, but would he mind runninginto him? And how would he introduce himself? They weren’t really friends. Werethey?
Christopher licked his lips and studied the family longer.The older man slung his arm around the woman—the parents-in-law, Christophersupposed—and all of them focused on the children. Both of whom were stilltalking.
Will looked like a sturdy boy with his light brown hair andwhat seemed to be an easy smile on his face. He bounced on his toes and had hisfather’s physical confidence, holding himself loosely. He wore a long sleeveUniversity of Tennessee Volunteers jersey and no coat, though Christopherrealized the older woman was carrying one that must surely be his.
Brigid had long dark hair that was held off heradolescent-awkward face with a well-placed and very sparkly barrette. She worea silver and purple puffy jacket, and in her stance and movements, she gave theimpression of being somehow more contained than Will, less confident.Christopher watched as Brigid shook her head, sighed dramatically and pulledwhat looked like a moderately crushed origami paper crane from her pocket. Sheshook it at her father and held up seven fingers.
Jesse nodded at whatever she was saying as he opened theplastic bag of popcorn and handed it to Will, who took a handful and crammed itinto his face. Jesse chuckled and ran his hand over his son’s head, the fadedautumn light catching in the waves of his hair and lighting up the angle of hisdarkly stubbled jaw. Christopher swallowed and his heart warmed in his chest.How had he managed to sleep with someone that sexy not once, buttwice?
Jesse’s head turned slightly and his dark eyes landed onChristopher. The smile that cracked over Christopher’s face was instinctual. Hehadn’t planned it but now that he’d been caught looking, he fell into thepolite social behaviors ingrained in him from childhood.
When you see someone you know,Christopher, smile, stick a hand out and say hello.
But Christopher didn’t make it to step number two becauseJesse turned his back and said something to the man with long hair. The familystarted walking away.
Christopher swallowed hard, humiliation a slap of heat inhis cheeks. He turned awkwardly toward the jam shop and went inside, tightnesswarring with something hot and unpleasant in his chest. So what if Jesse didn’twant to introduce him to his family? Why should he?
You got nothing to be ashamed of, baby.Nothing at all.
“I know that, Gran,” he muttered to himself.
And on the heels of his conversation with Holly, it smackedtoo strongly of the rejection after his hook-up with Gareth.
It was the wrong place, wrong time, isall, young’un. Chin up. Give ‘im a chance to explain.
Christopher wondered that the Gran in his head was already aJesse apologist. Just what did that say about him and his self-esteem? Helifted his hand absently to Sherrilyn behind the counter, and moved down theaisles toward the back of the store where the blackberry jam was stacked neatlyon shelves by an unlit fireplace.
As he stared at the jam labels, he tried to focus his mindby making up a choice—would Gran like a blend better than just plain blackberrythis time? He rolled his shoulders and rubbed at his tense jaw, the ache in thepit of his gut all too reminiscent of being called a fag back in high school.He blinked, shook his head, and brought his attention back to the jam jars. He’dhad sex with the guy twice, had a few conversations, and some flirty texts. Sowhat if he wasn’t ready to introduce him to his kids? Kids were seriousbusiness.
And the in-laws were there too. How awkward would that havebeen? “Parents of my dead wife, allow me to present Christopher Ryder, the guyI screwed while you took care of my kids the other night.” Christopher rolledhis eyes at himself. Time to put on his big-boy pants and get over it.
Like you would’ve called him on over tomeet your mama? Who do you think you’re foolin,’ boy?
He would have, though. He’d have introduced Jesse to hismother and Bob had the situation been reversed, if only to see Bob’s head spinaround and Bible quotes start spewing from his mouth like vomit. A situationlike that would be the only time Christopher thought he might actually enjoyseeing Bob lose his religious mind. It was an untested theory, since he’d neverhad a guy to introduce to the family. He’d had to endure Bob’s lectures on sinand redemption alone, armed only with disdain and the shreds of self-respectGran had managed to instill in him.
Jesse’s relationship with his in-laws was probably nothinglike that.
Just as Christopher picked up a jam jar at random and startedtoward the front to pay, his phone vibrated in his pocket. It could only beJesse. No one else had his number yet. He returned to the back corner of thestore before pulling up the text.
Jesus, I’m sorry about that.
Christopher glanced up at Sherrilyn, who was busy tyinglittle ribbons around some jam jar lids to dress them up a bit for the fronttables. He toyed with sending a playful, “Jesus forgives you, my son. Say twoHail Marys and sin no more,” when Jesse sent another message.
I panicked. It was stupid. I’d like youto let me make it up to you. We’re at the blacksmith’s shop. Come join us? Iwant to introduce you to my in-laws if that’s okay?
Christopher responded.
Don’t worry about it. I understand.
Jesse replied with a frowny face and:
Well, I don’t understand. I’m notusually an asshole and I like you. So let me introduce you? Come join us,please. Or I can come to you?
Christopher hesitated, his hands shaking a little. Hischeeks heated. Who knew why this already meant so much to him?
Are you sure you really want me to comeover there? I understand. Really it’s okay.
