Page 71 of A Case of You
“It’s not that much money. Are you willing to have that trade-off for your energy and pain levels?”
“I thought I could put it in our retirement account, or toward paying off the mortgage principal. I know it’s not a lot, but I figure every little bit helps, right? And if we’re paying our bills now, that would probably be the best place for it.”
Ed had set up a trust for all of them. Even though the house and mortgage were in Brandon’s name, they all were partners in it. That way, if something happened to Brandon, they wouldn’t be left unable to access anything. As Brandon’s legal husband, Jeff wouldn’t have as difficult a time, but Brandon wanted to make sure Stuart was protected, too.
Brandon slowly nodded. “Let’s put it toward the mortgage principal. Anything we pay early saves us interest in the long run.”
Jeff grinned, for the first time in nearly a year feeling like he was actuallycontributingagain.
And understanding that comment meant Brandon was going to say yes.
“When do you start?” Brandon asked, confirming Jeff’s suspicion.
“I can start as soon as I want to. I told them I’d call them in the morning.”
“Okay, then.” He reached over and patted Jeff’s hand. “One condition you must agree to before I say yes.”
His smile faded. “Yes, Sir?”
Brandon’s blue gaze bore into his. “If, atanytime, I feel your health is being negatively impacted, I have the right to tell you to quit. I don’t mean if you have a bad day here or there. I mean if you start on another downward trend like you were before, and it’s not getting better. If your health chronically sinks. No arguments, either. Deal?”
Jeff’s grin returned. “Yes, Sir. Deal.”
Although Jeff couldn’t imagine how this would possibly hurt his health. It literally wouldn’t be doing much more than he already did in a given day. Sure, he’d be driving back and forth to work every day, but driving wasn’t hard work. And he’d feel useful, get to be around people all day long. No more isolation.
This is going to be great!
* * * *
From the blatant hope painted on Jeff’s features, Brandon knew he couldn’t say no.
Not yet.
Not this time.
He’d wait and see. Hopefully, Jeff’s health had taken a turn for the better and would hold. If so, he’d loosen the tight grip he’d held on his man and let him once again take control of his life in that way.
Because if Jeff had proven one thing to him and Stuart both, it was that Jeff was never the best barometer of his overall health. He would push himself past the point of no return, repeatedly, to the detriment of his body and soul.
Brandon and Stuart had watched this pattern repeat itself, both before his Lyme diagnosis, but especially after.
Jeff would feel better, push himself, crash himself, and sink into a depressive funk, hating on himself.
Which only made the pain worse.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Yet Brandon knew if he forbade Jeff from taking the job, it could lead to resentment from him. An unanswered what-if.
Should Brandon have taken the conversation private, just the three of them? Maybe, but he wanted Emma and Grace to hear it, because they spent more time with Jeff during the day than he and Stuart did.
They were his willing spies.
They wouldn’t hesitate to rat Jeff out if he wasn’t feeling good, or if he was pushing too hard, so Brandon wanted them to hear the full conversation. Witnesses for when he had to put his foot down.
And his early-warning defense system if Jeff’s health spiraled downward.
Once dinner ended, Jeff stood to help the girls clear the table while Brandon headed toward their bedroom. Stuart hurried after Brandon, and once they were alone, he pounced.
