It had been the best workout of Mason’s life and he had smiled like an idiot all the way back to Roseview. He didn’t know he was capable of coming that hard and that many times in a night but the trip had finally confirmed that Mason was super gay and really liked doing things with his mouth. James said that Mason was too good at eating ass and a natural when it came to giving head. He had asked if they could exchangephone numbers and maybe go on a real date but backed off when Mason explained that his pregnantwifehad set up the weekend and had helped pick James for their encounter.
Sarina’s plan had worked like a charm, in ways she couldn’t fully understand. She thought she was helping Mason lose his virginity as a gay man and sow some oats before Sam was born. But for Mason, it was a relief to have someone else there, in that part of his psyche. He was no longer trapped with Sky and at the mercy of his own inexperienced imagination. Now, James was there too and Mason could imagine other men in that suite if he wanted to.
There had only been a few opportunities for Mason to go out of town after Sam was born but he made the most of those nights away, with Sarina’s hearty approval. Her only price was all the dirty details but Mason secretly enjoyed telling her about how wicked he had been while he was out of town. For Mason, it was a chance to be someone selfish and reckless for a night and to indulge in all the impulses he kept so carefully contained when he was at home in Roseview with Sarina and Sam.
Their arrangement worked for Mason and he didn’t feel guilty about hiding in an iron closet until he thought about Sky. It went without saying that he wouldn’t approve, but he was the only person who knew the scope of his and Sarina’s lies.
Not all of them.
“Your parents are the worst, Sam,” Mason said as he held his son and stared out at the waves. He pressed a long, lingering kiss to the top of Sam’s head, cherishing the smell of his downy-soft hair and baby lotion. “Lies on top of lies to hide even bigger lies… No wonder Sky doesn’t want anything to do with us.”
Chapter Four
Uncle Lance’s passing was a terribly shocking event for Sky. The death itself and the manner of his passing weren’t a shock because the man was seventy-eight and a notorious player. Lance had even warned Sky that he planned to go out in the arms of at least one beautiful woman and as naked as the day he was born. Lance had also been a health nut and loved his smoothies so the banana was apropos, as far as Sky was concerned.
He couldn’t blame a guy for walking on the wild side at Lance’s age.
And Lance’s motto had always been “Why not?”
“Don’t waste your time trying to please other people, Sky. Love whoever the hell you want and make love as often as you can,” Uncle Lance had said right after Sky told his parents he was gay.
Neither had seemed surprised. In fact, Sky’s father had sighed at his newspaper and said “Of course you are. You won’t go for a real major or help with the family practice. You wererunning out of ways to disappoint us so you might as well bethattoo.”
Adele had simply rolled her eyes and said “I’ve always known, darling. It hasn’t made you more interesting or a better dresser so why make a big thing out of it?”
Feeling alone, misunderstood, and rejected, Sky stormed out and went to Lance and Cora’s. They had comforted Sky and told him that everything was going to be okay, that he could never disappoint them.
Sky had expected to be sad when he heard about Lance’s passing as he had been when he heard about Cora’s. But the news had hit him like a sledgehammer and Sky was afraid to pay his last respects as he signed his name on the visitor’s log and stalled in the funeral home’s lobby.
The older woman who owned the funeral home had a nurturing and grandmotherly bearing and had taken pity on Sky. “It’s normal to think about your own mortality at a time like this, and all these caskets and urns can get overwhelming.”
He was probably the last to arrive. He’d been in Chicago for a conference and had caught an early flight but it had taken a while to track down a cab at the station.
“We have a small chapel we call the ‘Reflection Room’ where friends and family can step away and catch their breath or pray alone with a chaplain when we have one here. You’re welcome to sit in there until you’re ready.”
“I’ll be fine. Just need a few more minutes.” Sky clutched the chest pocket of his coat for comfort. The first lure Sky had ever made was there, wrapped in one of Lance’s monogrammed handkerchiefs. “I have something to deliver,” he murmured under his breath.
His feet didn’t want to carry him any further but Sky had to make it to the casket, at least. It didn’t matter what anyone had to say at the visitation or what hymns were sung at the service.Uncle Lance was less of a Protestant than Sky was and the two had spent many a Sunday sermon passing knock-knock jokes and notes about the other congregants to each other from the back pew.
There was a plaque by the doors with Lance’s picture and a comforting passage from the Bible.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled…”
Soft organ music played from the speakers overhead and Sky could hear his mother crying.
“You would have hated every bit of this.” Sky smirked wryly at Lance’s photo. “If anyone had asked me, I would have had you cremated and dumped your ashes on the beach at sunset. You loved the smell of the sea and the breeze on your face and to hear kids playing, and no one was a better bikini inspector.”
That’s probably what Sky would have said if he had agreed to give a eulogy but he wasn’t feeling up to it and anything else he’d have to say was between him and Uncle Lance.
“Let’s get this over with.”
Sky took a deep breath, then pushed open the door and strode straight to the casket. He didn’t make eye contact with anyone or acknowledge any of the waves or apologetic smiles, too focused on his target. The lure was clutched in his fist and Sky was shaking as he stood over Uncle Lance's corpse in the open casket. He looked as dashing as ever and like he had just nodded off in his best gray suit.
“Hang onto this until we see each other again.” Sky tucked the handkerchief and lure inside Lance’s coat and gave his hand one last, affectionate squeeze. “Find the best spots and don’t catch all the fish before I get there.” His voice crumbled and for a moment, Sky needed the side of the casket for support.
What was left?
So many of the pieces of Sky’s past were disappearing—for better or for worse—and he felt likehewas fading. Losing his father had felt like a missed chance and being robbed of closure. And he’d been in an emotional free fall since he cut ties with Sarina and Mason. But Sky waslostas he said his last goodbyes to Uncle Lance.
