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“Damn it. I was the idiot.”
They burst out laughing, breaking the tension.
Good Lord, he was gay. Matt’s horizon lifted on a new world of hope.
“When her stepfather remarried, I took her to Chicago with me, took care of her when she went to college.”
“But you have a kid,” Matt blurted and wished he could retract the words.
“Come on, Dr. Winston. Remember your biology,” Tyrone shrugged and snickered. “A gay man is a man. There was nothing wrong with my organs. When she cuddled in my arms, I kissed her and did what she expected. She got pregnant. There was no way I could marry her, but I promised always to take care of her. Honestly, I did. Until that horrible night. I guess she didn’t tell you about it.”
“No. She’s never mentioned your name after the first time she told me she had a daughter.”
“For years, I was very careful, separating my official life at home from my secret life. Wednesday and Friday, I stayed late in townfor work.” He winked at Matt who froze. “Brenda traveled to a conference for a week. Mia was six at the time, a bit feverish. I didn’t want to leave her with her babysitter on Friday. My lover came to me.”
“Damn.”
Matt’s pulse raced, and he braced himself for the rest of the story that had broken Brenda’s heart. “Let me guess. She got home early.”
Tyron cradled his head between his hands, scratching his scalp. “She arrived at eleven at night. I was asleep with a guy.”
His eyes closed, Tyron seemed to relive the nightmare.
“She changed into her nightgown and slid under the covers, bent and kissed... My bedmate shrieked and jumped up. I turned on the lamp on the night table. Brenda screamed, her eyes wide with horror. My heart stopped.” His voice trembled.
Matt’s heart stopped, too, just imagining the scene.
“Brenda jumped off the bed, changed, grabbed Mia from her bed and ran to the car. For three days I didn’t hear from her. I went crazy with worry. On the third day, she called. She wanted me out of the house the next day. She was coming home to pick up her things and Mia’s. She’d moved to Cincinnati and didn’t want to hear from me again. I tried to explain. There was no way. She’d never forgive me for lying to her all these years, for cheating on her.”
Anger and pity warred in Matt’s heart. Despite himself he felt sorry for Tyron. “Eventually you made peace.”
“It took four years for her to calm down and allow me to see Mia. For Mia’s sake, I promised I would never have any partner around when our daughter visited, and Brenda promised she’d never get involved with anyone until Mia was in college.”
“A sad story.” Matt studied the man. “Where do we go from here?”
“We continue as we were. Go see the woman you love and take care of her. Just don’t shut me out of my daughter’s life.”
Tyron stood. He said what he’d come to say.
“I want to marry Brenda. Now I know why she insisted we wait till Mia goes to college.”
“I wish you all the happiness in the world together. I’ll be going back to Chicago tomorrow. I won’t tell her that I came to see you. I’m not an expert on proposals. You handle it your own way.”
“Thank you for coming, Tyron. You’ll always be welcome in our home.”
Matt held out a hand and Tyron shook it.
