Page 20 of Solid Foundation
He emerged from the stacks with a huge book in his hands. “I found the land deeds.”
“And I’ve got the census. Let’s cross-reference.”
He flipped through until he found deeds tracking the house in question and started reading off names while I scrolled through census records to check for the same names.
“Wait a second. Did you say Ruth Wilson?” He looked at me sharply.
I double-checked the record before nodding. “Yeah. Why? Do you have something there?”
“I just… Ruth Wilson is my grandmother.”
Looking at the census record one more time, I took a deep breath. “Well, it looks like her father was named Frederick. Maybe he’s our Freddie?”
Jake shook his head. “Probably just a coincidence.”
“I don’t know. It lines up. Check the previous deed for the property.”
He flipped a few pages before finding what he was looking for and ran his finger along the page as he read. “Frederick Thompson.”
Turning to the computer again, I looked back at the census records. “Frederick Thompson, children Ruth and John.”
“John… Thompson?” Jake’s face went from confusion to wide-eyed clarity, his furrowed brow relaxing as it sank in. “My grandmother’s brother is John Thompson.”
“Oh. So you think Freddie was your—”
“My great-grandfather. Yeah.” We were quiet for a few moments, just looking at one another, holding each other’s gaze. When Jake spoke again, his voice was soft. “My great-grandfather was gay.”
“We don’t know that. We can’t assume his sexuality.”
He huffed out a breath. “Maybe not, but hewasin love with a man.”
“That much wedoknow.” I moved from the computer desk to sit next to Jake, peering at the deed he had open. “We need to keep digging to find out more.”
“So, who was Nathan?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out.” A beat passed. “I have something I want to tell you.”
His brow furrowed and he tipped his head to the side a tiny bit. “Okay.”
“I’m not sorry about our kiss.”
“Oh.”
I took a deep breath, turned to face him, and looked directly at Jake. “I’d like to do it again.”
Chapter Eleven
Jake
Icould hardly believe what I was doing. I swallowed hard, leaned in close to Max, and let him kiss me. As our lips met, heat flared in my body, pulling me toward him. Max inhaled sharply and leaned in, sliding a hand along my jaw. For a moment, everything disappeared except the two of us. It felt right.
Then, without warning, Max pulled away, his gaze dropping to stare at his lap. When he looked up at me again, uncertainty flickered in his eyes, a furrow between his eyebrows. A silent question hung between us in the dusty library air.
When I spoke, my voice was barely a whisper. “Are you sure?”
Max closed his eyes for a second before looking back at me and nodding. “I’m sure I want this.”
I moved in and kissed him once again, this time parting my lips and coaxing his tongue into my mouth. The kiss was slow and unhurried, and I let myself slide my fingers along his neck, resting at the nape, and holding him close.
