Page 141 of Vespertine
“He follows direction really well,” Lizzie said admiringly. “Don’tyou think?”
Nicky wasn’t going to answer that. “Okay, Lucas is in chargeand so is Mr. Drummond,” he pointed at the volunteer engineer who’d helped drawup the plans. “Don’t give them back talk.”
“Shoo! Leave! You’re going to be late! You’ve got that bigphone appointment with Jasper, don’t you?”
Nicky rolled his eyes and stood back to look at what they’daccomplished. The fort was coming along nicely, no matter what Lizzie thought.It would be amazing when they were done. The kids would have a great timecamping out here in the summers, like Nicky and Jasper had when they wereyounger. It was a beautiful way to carry on the tradition and honor the placethat had meant so much to them.
“Be good,” he said once more and turned his back on the work.
The paddle back across the cove to his parents’ place wasslow, and he didn’t stay to say hello to his mom. He’d seen her that morningbefore heading out to the island. Instead, he drove home to the farmhouse, gaveDizzy a high-five hello and fed her an afternoon treat in hopes she’d leave thebaby rabbits he’d spotted in the garden alone. He showered and changed, and puton a fresh patch of his maintenance medication. Then he made sure to mess upJasper’s drawers like always before pulling fresh clothes from his own.
He drove past the Androscoggin and admired the way the lightflickered on the water. Music filled his mind—piano and guitar riffs, and lyricsthat made his face ache with a sweet smile. He’d get it down later that nightusing the digital multitrack recorder and load it up to the cloud for Sez andRamona. Additional lyrics came to mind, along with a fresh bridge.
“Yeah,” he whispered. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Jasper put down the phone and tried not to smile. Nickyhung over his desk, chewing his lips, his eyes wide with anticipation. Helooked so gorgeous. Over the past year, Miriam and Jasper’s cooking hadfattened him up a little, so the gauntness was gone, as were the dark circlesunder his eyes. Jasper knew Mick’s death still haunted him, but he was doing somuch better.
“Oh my God, will you tell me already?”
Jasper let the threatening grin break free. “It’s ours,” he said.
“Jesus! Jesus Christ, oh my fucking God!” He rounded thedesk and climbed into Jasper’s lap. He cast a quick look toward the officedoor, but he’d closed it and all the kids were on the island anyway. “Holycrap, Jazz, that’s awesome.”
“Mmm,” Jasper said under the kiss. “It is. Nicky, I know I’mnot a priest anymore, but would you mind your language? Especially here.”
Nicky sat back and gave Jasper his best “you’re shitting me”look. “Oh please. Like you weren’t swearing up a storm last night when I had mytongue up your—”
“Nicky!” Jasper clasped a hand over Nicky’s mouth. The kidsmight be gone, but Mrs. Wells was always around. Against his palm, Nickylaughed and licked him, so he let go.
“Now what?” Nicky asked.
“Well, this division of Blue Oasis stays the same. We have acontract with the Church, and they can’t retract the lease on the school forthe next ten years. Hopefully by then the archbishop will have kicked thebucket. I’ve heard his likely successor is alotmoreopen minded.”
Nicky guffawed. “And you’re worried about my swearing. You’reruthless.”
Jasper shrugged. When it came to the kids…yeah, he was. “Andnow we own that half-converted warehouse that’s been empty for the past fiveyears because the construction company went bankrupt. Our philanthropist JohnArlington signed the paperwork today, and we’re allowed to do with the buildingas we please. Most of the apartments are already built. We need to add thefinishing touches and then we’ll have a low-rent building available for any kidswho want to move on from Blue Oasis.”
“You’ll have to put some sort of system in place. No drugs, noalcohol, no hooking. And they need to be in college or actively searching forjobs. And once they earn over a certain wage, they need to move on and makeroom for the next person.”
“See?” Jasper squeezed him tight. “I knew you’d be useful.”
“Oh, I can be useful.” He gave Jasper a lecherous look.
“I’m pretty sure I saw Mrs. Wells walk by.”
With a small squeaky noise, Nicky jumped off Jasper’s lap,looking far too guilty. When Jasper laughed he threw him a dirty look, but wentto check the hallway anyway.
“You’re a liar, Jasper Hendricks. You need to go toconfession.”
“I don’t think I will be able to anytime soon, Nicky.” Hetried not to feel a stab of sadness, but it was inevitable. Immediately Nickywas by his side.
“I’m sorry,” he said, grabbing hold of Jasper’s hands. “Ididn’t mean to remind you.”
Jasper waved it away. They’d talked this to death alreadyand there was no way Nicky really thought Jasper regretted any of it. He missedit, sure. And he wished the congregation had reacted a little better than theyhad, but he thought it was understandable.
“Well, you know I still think it’s bullshit,” Nicky said,his face turning red with anger like it always did when reminded of the waycertain members of the congregation had turned on Jasper. “A gay celibatepriest? Oh yeah, bring it on. We’re open minded, we can accept you, look howforward thinking and modern we are! But as soon as you fall in love with a manand they have to see you—”
“I know,” Jasper said softly. “And it’s fine. The worst ofit has died out by now, and no one ever outright said anything.”
