Page 92 of Smoky Mountain Dreams
“Because I like pussy. Your sister’s pussy.”
“Oh God!” Christopher slapped his hand over his mouth andshook his head violently. “Don’t! That’s disgusting!”
“See? We understand each other. Anyway, your goddamn dad.Jesus! I mean, he’s got balls, though. He confronted the stalking bastards,told them to leave the girl alone, and ended the whole thing with a big speechin the church during Sunday service before walking out. From what I hear, the speechcan be summed up as, ‘Fuck this noise, I’m outta here.’ Then he shacked up withhis little lady love over in the Fort, like he’s reliving his college years orsomething.”
“I’d be embarrassed but I don’t think I know how anymore.Not when it comes to him and his dick.”
“I hear ya. Anyway, this is the part I thought you’d findinteresting. Apparently his new young thing is all liberal and shit. Goes tothe Unitarian Church and has convinced your dad he’s been wrong all these yearsabout the ho-mo-sex-uals. Also known as you.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Like I need this shit?”
“I hear ya, dude. So, don’t be surprised if your daddycontacts you. He’s probably working up his nerve to do it. From what Jackiesays, making up with you would win him some big points with his pretty littlething. She’s been giving him trouble over his estrangement from you, says thatso long as he doesn’t make up with you then he hasn’t really embraced that Godis love.”
“Oh fuck. Seriously? I can’t deal with that right now. Or ever.”
“I know.”
“Maybe he won’t call.” Waves of conflicting emotions crashedin Christopher’s chest and made him feel a little nauseous underneath theSouthern Comfort.
“Maybe not. You can always hope anyway.” Joe leaned inclose like someone might overhear. “She’s younger than Jackie, you know.”
“I bet Jackie’s frothing at the mouth about it.”
“Hell, yeah. ‘Pedophile’ this, and ‘not around my kids’that. Even though they ain’t her kids and their mama isn’t about to let herforget it.” He chuckled, his eyes distant and half admiring, half pissed off.It was a look Christopher was familiar with since it came up during anydiscussion of his ex-wife. “Cold-hearted bitch that my ex is, she sure lovesher babies.”
Christopher wondered how Jackie felt about that. It seemedto him like she wanted to besomethingto thesekids. Maybe not their mama, butsomeoneimportant intheir lives.
“So, they aren’t Jackie’s kids at all? What would make themher kids?” Christopher was pretty sure it sounded like he was just asking forJackie’s sake—not because he might have some curiosity of his own about how youjoin someone else’s family.
Joe shrugged. “If their mama died, maybe. But I don’t know.Especially when it comes to Lee since she came so late in his growing up. GuessI better give the woman some kids of her own.”
“Oh.”
Joe narrowed his gaze. “Why do you ask?”
“The guy I’m seeing has kids.”
Joe’s eyebrows hit his hairline and he clapped a hand onChristopher’s shoulder. “Holy shit, Christopher, you got a boyfriend!”
“Yeah? Is that hard to believe?”
“You’ve never had one. I mean, I don’t think ya have. Jackiesays you just sleep around or something.”
“What?” He sputtered. “I don’t sleep around.”
“She doesn’t know, bro. She just sees stuff on the newsabout the gay lifestyle and makes assumptions.”
“The gay lifestyle of wanting equal marriage rights and tobe able to adopt and care for children?” Christopher asked. “I’m pretty surethat’s the main story about gays on the news these days.”
“We’re getting off track here, dude. You can be pissed atyour sister’s stereotypin’ later. Right now, I’m proud of you. You got yourselfa boyfriend. Let’s toast.” Joe opened the door to the shed again and pulled thewhiskey back out. He held the bottle aloft. “To Christopher’s boyfriend. May hesuck cock as well as Jackie.”
Laughing, Christopher shoved him when Joe put the bottle tohis mouth so that it sloshed the front of his shirt.
“Hey, hey. Now I’ll smell like liquor and Bob will pray formy soul all special-like while the turkey’s getting cold.”
“We’ll smell like liquor anyway,” Christopher said, tuggingthe bottle away from Joe and taking a big gulp to wash away the idea of hissister giving bjs to anyone, and definitely not to Joe, even though he wasbuilt and handsome. Joe might not be hugely successful, and he might not beperfect, but Christopher could admit his sister had scored big time with thisone in a lot of ways.
Joe took the bottle back and started another toast. “Mayyour relationship last longer than my first mar—”
