Page 80 of Missile Tow
“I think you’re right, Van,” John replied.
I watched as the two of them instantly fell into a discussion about the Seattle chill the city’s residents are famous for. Van agreed that people weren’t always warm and easy to get to know in a city known as wonderful.
Observing them carrying on like long-lost friends warmed my insides. They were similar people in so many ways. Van perhaps was a bit more starry-eyed, while John was quieter, but there was no denying that both of them had personalities people were drawn to.
I swore right then and there I would heed the advice offered to me by John. His reasons for leaving Missile were understandable, and I had to do my best not to repeat them.
“So, I guess the three of us are going to Mrs. Hatfield’s this evening?” I asked.
Van grabbed John’s hand, appearing happier than a pig in stink. “I’m in,” he enthused.
“Me too, then,” John stated.
If you’d asked me twenty-four hours earlier about the odds of a reunion of this sort happening in my lifetime, I would’ve smacked someone. Van’s infectious ability to forgive and forget was intoxicating.
He was the only person, in my humble opinion, who could influence two people to move past their differences and rediscover the original reasons they’d loved one another in the first place.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: Van
Before leaving for dinner at Sadie’s house, John and Chip agreed with me that we should attend as a united front and disregard any past transgressions from Sadie. Mrs. Hatfield was elderly, set in her ways, and probably hated the idea of change in her world, so we decided to set the example.
“Even though you’re angry with her, I suppose you did all this,” I asked Chip when we pulled up to her house.
“I have every year since I was a teenager,” he confessed.
Sadie’s home sparkled with lights. Fresh wreaths hung in front of every window, with a larger one on the front door. The decoration was understated yet elegant and fitting for her Victorian-style home.
Sadie answered the door and exchanged looks with all three of us. I doubted this was what she’d expected to see.
“Do come in, gentlemen,” she said, giving me enough side eye to wilt a flower.
Her home smelled of cinnamon and holidays, taking me back to my grandmother and memories of childhood Christmases. A fantastically animated young man let out a squeal at seeing us enter.
Any questions I had concerning why John and Chip were positive that Sadie’s grandson was gay were put to rest the very moment we walked into her home and Sadie introduced him.
James jumped from the plastic-covered sofa, releasing several additional squeals. “Oh my gawd!” he trilled. “A bona fide trio of deliciousness.Hello,” he added, snapping his fingers in the air.
Sadie placed her hand through the space of Jame’s bent arm after he positioned his own hand on his hip, posing like the Grande dame he obviously believed he was.
“I told you these boys were all grown up, James,” Sadie said, stroking his arm. “Your choice will be a hard pick to make. Now, of course, Vance is just visiting, so that whittles your choice down a tiny bit.”
James ignored her commentary. He was too busy eye-banging the three of us. He exhibited zero inhibition as his eyes raked over each of us, paying particular attention to any possible bulge exposure.
“That’s quite the jacket,” Chip stated.
James separated from his grandmother and twirled around. “I do prefer the more subtle pieces,” he stated.
I immediately worried Chip would jump all over his ridiculous comment, but John beat him to it. “Hot pink is certainly subtle,” John observed.
James spun around again, beaming like a contestant on Toddlers and Tiaras. Hissubtlejacket was hot pink. The lapel was adorned with imitation diamond sequins. Well, I assumed they were imitations.
“I think you look amazing,” I said, holding out my hand. “And I’m very happy to meet you.”
James walked right past meandmy extended hand, landing directly in front of John. “My oh my, John. You’ve certainly grown into quite the man,” he complimented, holding a limp wrist to John.
For an instant, I wondered if John would bow and kiss his hand. I’d come to learn earlier in the day that John wasoutrageously funny and full of life. I was immediately drawn to him.
“How about a hug instead?” John offered, causing James to giggle.
