Page 95 of Our Elliana

My tears had continued, but for him rather than myself. I’d known at the time that something had been upsetting him but hearing the specifics had just wrecked me. I was equal parts appalled, furious on his behalf, and heartbroken.

Him opening up like that made me realize that we all walk around with burdens no one else knows about, stuff no one else can see. Tristan had been naked with me in a figurative rather than literal sense, and it let us come to an even greater depth of understanding with each other.

Much like the time I’d received that blood-stained card, we’d huddled together for the remainder of that night, neither of us once leaving the other’s arms.

Something about his demonstration of trust in me felt healing. I think both our wounds became less raw after that.

Now, I know to not ask him to strip for me unless he initiates it, and he’s aware that he can talk to me about anything without hesitation. It’s like we leveled up in our relationship and erased any barriers or distance between us.

As awful as going through recent events has been, it’s brought the four of us to where we are now, which is a much more peaceful and integrated place. And though I’d never wish such trauma on anybody else, I have to say that I’m far more grateful for small everyday blessings than I used to be.

One not so small blessing is in action today since Noah’s parents and brothers are ranged behind us.

Tristan, Jackson and I visited them with Noah to explain our admittedly unorthodox bond a couple of months ago. It was important to him to come clean, and we all agreed to disclose the truth about us together.

It went relatively well all things considered.

His twin brothers made more than a few unflinching inquiries even though they turned as beet red as their brother when they did. His middle brother—again with a pinkening complexion—seemed more intrigued than anything else.

His father Josiah proved astonishingly supportive. His mom, on the other hand, has taken longer to come around. That first day Amelia Canter had thundered off and didn’t speak to Noah for a month.

Ultimately though, maybe due to her husband talking her down or because she had some time to grow more accustomed to the idea, she eased up. Amelia seems to have tentatively accepted who her son is as well as his relationship with the rest of us.

She’s here with her family at any rate, even if she’s more reserved than they are.

Still, to me, this is a win.

Several weeks back, Jackson met up with a local band in search of a lead singer and guitarist. They’ve recorded some stuff and have now built up a decent following on YouTube for their music videos. This garnered them some attention from a producer in Nashville who’s talking to them about submitting some tracks to the big record companies.

They’re working on it, so we’ll see how that goes.

Jackson also regaled us with all these stories about his grandfather, the only member of his family he’s remained close to. He even explained the complex nature of our relationship to him over speakerphone, then paused, awaiting his response.

“Gramps, you there?” Jackson grimaced at the phone, then over at us as I clasped his shoulder.

“Sure, sure.”

“Do you get what I just said?”

“Yeah. I did something similar back in my hippy days. Lived in a commune. Had some orgies. This was all before your grandmother, of course.”

I gaped at my musician who stared wide-eyed at me and the others.

“You never told me about any orgies,” Jackson muttered.

“Well, didn’t seem appropriate until now. Never tried it long-term like you are, but hell, if it works, it works. Speaking of relationships, I’m getting married.”

“You’re what?” Jackson straight-up squawked.

“Finally proposed to Brenda. She said yes.”

The four of us will be attending their wedding next month.

The crack of a bat smacking into a baseball draws my focus back to the game as the police close the gap in this last inning, evening the score. Then, two batters strike out on the firefighters’ team while a pair of others fill the bases, leaving the game hanging on the cusp of a possible draw.

But as Noah comes to bat and smiles at us here in the stands, I get a hunch that he’s about to do something interesting.

He does.

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