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“I wondered where you two had disappeared to.”
Michael took the empty chair next to hers. “Mom... Bill... there’s something I need to tell you.”
Bill frowned. “There’s nothing wrong, is there?”
“No, sir.” Michael met Keith’s gaze, his eyes shining. “Far from it.”
On impulse, Keith held his hand out and Michael grabbed it.
Isabelle’s breathing hitched. “Oh my. Does this mean what I think it means?”
“If you think I’m about to tell you I’m gay, and that I love Keith, then yes, it does.” He glanced at Keith. “I’ve loved him for a while now.”
His look of naked adoration tightened Keith’s throat. Then the moment was lost when Isabelle let out a squeal.
The only word to describe her expression was joyful.
She sprang to her feet and enfolded Michael in her arms. “Oh sweetheart. I’m so happy for you.” She kissed his cheek, then let go with one hand to extend it to Keith. “And I’m so happy it’s you.”
He squeezed it. “Thanks, Isabelle.”
Bill rose slowly. “I suppose congratulations are in order.” He held his hand out to Michael, who shook it. “Though this is where I say I always had an inkling.”
The joy in Isabelle’s face and voice was nowhere to be seen in Bill’s, and Keith’s chest constricted a little.
Maybe Michael got it right after all.
Isabelle sat down, tugging Michael with her, and began asking questions, her eyes bright, her smile refusing to quit. Michael answered, and Keith wasn’t surprised to see glistening eyes as they talked. He glanced at Bill and stilled.
Bill was staring at Michael, a neutral expression fixed in place.
Keith suppressed a shiver.
What goes on behind that façade?
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
“So Michael was right about Bill?” Yuri asked.
“That night I thought it was possible. Later, when events took a different turn, it was the only explanation that made sense, although his decision was a little extreme.”
“What decision?”
Keith closed his eyes. “That’s for another night.”
The thing was he had no idea how many nights he had left.
“I dreamed we were dancing together at the wedding,” he murmured.
“That’s sweet.”
“Not that we could’ve. Not then.” He opened his eyes and peered at Yuri. “No one batted an eyelid when my sister Sandy married Laura.” He smiled. “There were so many LGBTQ couples at their reception, my dad said he felt as if he was in a minority.”
Yuri smiled. “I’ve been to a couple of same-sex weddings. I guess they would’ve been a dream come true back then.”
“I would have lived with Michael as his husband,” Keith blurted. “That was my dream.”
“You said you last saw him thirty-five years ago. What happened?”
