Page 46 of Jack of All Trades

Maltin knew one way to cure it all, and it was something he, himself, wanted too.

Children.

Maltin knew instinctually that Jack would be the most amazing father. His own parentage would make him want to show his children every bit of love he could. That hole hanging open in his heart would fill with children’s laughter and smiles.

As Jack sipped his cognac and stared out the window at the scenery rushing by, Maltin looked pointedly at Rodney. Without saying a word, Rodney nodded, knowing everything on Maltin’s mind.

Maltin knew Rodney could have made the trip much shorter. In a blink, Rodney could have shortened their trip by hours. That wasn’t what Jack needed, however. He needed that peace of drinking a strong, warm drink in the back of a comfortable car. Two people on his side completely, making him feel safe and loved, and they were with him.

In fact, Rodney put music on for them, a soothing melody of nature sounds and musical notes. Everything they could do to calm the thrumming pulse in his veins as they grew ever nearer to the family that had cast him aside for not having their powers.

After two drinks, the lull of the tires over pavement and the music put Jack to sleep, and he lay his head over Maltin’s lap, peacefully snoring. Maltin’s fingers played with Jack’s silky hair while Rodney watched the two of them, smiling a little wistfully.

“You deserve this, Malty.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Why do you do that? You’ve lived a long time and had some heartbreak, lost loves, lost friends, but you’re lucky. You do something you love in writing, and by some miracle, your fated mate shows up on your doorstep!”

Maltin hadn’t thought of it that way. Still…

“Rodney, I buried myself behind all those pretty cars and pretended that was how I wanted to live. Now, I’ve been thrown for a loop, and I’m in love again, only this feels like the first time, and I’m…”

“You’re doing well, whether you think you are or not. He’s crazy about you, and I don’t think it’s all about fate or whatever. I think this man finally sees you. No one has except maybe for me and your mother.”

“Mother’s never seen what she didn’t want to see.”

Rodney’s eyes rolled as he moaned, “You’ve never given my sister credit. What she had with your father? That defied fate, Maltin. Who’s to say that yours doesn’t? Just because you are supposed to be with him doesn’t mean that you can’t freely love him, and you do. And he loves you. It shows in his eyes whenever he looks your way. Stop fighting that.”

It was true. Rodney saw that. “I don’t…I don’t want it to be only fate that brought us together. I want to feel like my parents felt.”

Rodney leaned forward and stared into his eyes, unwilling to allow Maltin to look away from him. “Do you?”

Maltin’s eyes moved to the beautiful face of the man on his lap. His peace as he slept, his beauty so bright, almost hurt Maltin’s eyes. The love that washed through him was real; it was special. “Yes. Yes, I do.”

Rodney sat back, triumphant, and lorded his correctness over his nephew. “I really need to stop always being right!”

“Shut up,” Maltin said with a quiet laugh.

Rodney was right, and he’d never let Maltin live it down, but for once, he didn’t mind a bit. The way Jack felt lying on him, easily sleeping while in the middle of turmoil, it took away any worry that Jack only loved him because of fate.

Jack felt comfortable, trusting that Maltin would care for him. Maybe it was what they both needed most. If it was just fate, so be it. Maybe fate knew better than mere men who were stumbling through their lives, hiding behind cars or the need for money.

Throughout the drive, Jack woke and kissed him, smiling sleepily. “Are we there yet?”

“No, my darling.”

“We can be if we’re in a hurry.”

“You can do that?”

Puffing up proudly, Rodney proclaimed, “Easier than blinking one eye, my boy.”

Then Jack looked at Maltin, and again, he saw that trust all over his beautiful face. Maltin’s heart began to beat hard as he said, “A little longer, Jack. Get your mind and heart ready for the worst; that way, you can be pleasantly surprised if it’s not as bad as you thought.”

“Okay, Maltin. Thanks for coming with me,” he said then looked over to Rodney. “Both of you.”

“Oh, this will be fun. I’ve never liked the Pengroves. Awful snobs.”

---