“Guess what, Nana?”
“What, baby?” she replied as I handed her my plate.
“Mommy says I’m goin’ to preschool next year!”
“I know! You are such a big girl, I can’t even believe it!”
I thanked her as she handed my plate back full of spaghetti and toast. She nodded and then turned her attention to Jenna. “Have you decided which school you are gonna go with?”
“We narrowed it down to Brown Elementary or Westpeak. Both have gifted and accelerated programs and seem like they would be a great fit for Lindsey. We already know she’s ahead of her years with phonics and math just from the workbooks we do at home.”
“Oh, yes. She is so smart, I’m glad you are lookinginto programs that will nurture that. They are both excellent schools, but keep in mind that Brown is only two blocks from the church. They have a ton of after-school programs in the afternoons and evenings.” She paused long enough to eat a forkful of spaghetti before turning to me.
“Father McKinley is looking forward to seeing you on Sunday, James.”
I hesitated for a moment, trying to make sure she was actually speaking to me despite her having said my name. I wiped the corners of my mouth on a paper towel, “That’s very nice of him, Mom. But I have plans on Sunday. I promised someone I would help them with their car.”
Mom’s lips tightened into a small line like they had every time she ever got upset about something, but didn’t want to say so.
“Oh?” Jack interrupted, “Is this someone thesame someoneyou rushed out to see this afternoon? Marty said that you were hoggin’ up the bathroom for a half hour getting all fresh before you ran out the door.”
“I’ll have to thank Marty for his discretion.”
Jack laughed, “Come on… what’s her name?”
I cleared my throat and set my napkin down on the table next to my plate.
Now’s as good a time as any, I suppose….
“Hisname is Avery,” I replied. “I left early to meet aguy.” It took every bit of nerve I had inside of me to look my brother in the face after I said it.
He laughed and then blinked a few times as if he were waiting for me to declare it was all a joke. The room went cemetery-silent as Jack and I stared at each other. Jack chuckled again, and then his face completely changed and his eyes widened. He sat up straighter in his seat and leaned forward towards me.
“JR, are you saying…”
“I’m gay, Jack.”
My mother gasped and Jenna let out a surprisedoh, shitsimultaneously.
Jack looked away for what felt like an eternity, but it was probably no more than five or six seconds before he reached up, clasped my shoulder, and looked me square in the eye. “I love you, JR. You’re my brother no matter what, you understand?”
I was shocked. I’m not sure my brother had actually ever told me that he loved me before. I had imagined this conversation a thousand times, but it never went this well in my head.
“Really? You’re not mad or anything?”
Jack shook his head. "Absolutely not. There’s nothing to be mad about. I’m sorry if I said anything messed up to you when we were growing up or made you feellike you couldn’t tell me before.”
My mother huffed and stood up from the table. She was almost out of the room when she turned around with tears in her eyes and said, “Haven’t you embarrassed this family enough?”
“Mom!” Jack exclaimed, shocked. “Are you serious right now? That was a horrible thing to say!”
Lindsey began to fuss at all the arguing, and seeing my mother cry, so Jenna picked her up and carried her off into the kitchen, soothing her as she went. My mother turned and disappeared into the other room.
I reached over, picked Jack’s beer up off the table, and chugged the remaining two-thirds of cold, foamy liquid. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and got to my feet. “I think I’ll take the train home, I announced to the nearly-empty room.” I grabbed a piece of garlic toast off the plate and beat feet for the front door.
Chapter Six
Avery
