Page 221 of The Liar's Reckoning

“Hello to you, too, Dad,” I say as I enter the formal dining room where a lunch spread ample enough to feed half a dozen men has been laid out. I assumed it would just be the two of us, but I should know better than to assume when it comes to him. “They don’t usually join me for meals.”

“I heard from Derrick. He said they haven’t seen you since yesterday afternoon.”

“I told you I was meeting a friend.”

“But you wouldn’t say who.”

As I sit, he pours me a glass of ice water from a carafe. With as much sex as I’ve had in the last twelve hours it looks as good as a million dollars. My stomach rumbles, and my salivary glands kick into gear. I try not to seem too eager as I sip the water. I wasn’t nervous on my way over, and I chalked it up to endorphins, but even sitting at the table with my father asking where I’ve been all night, I’m still calm and feeling confident about this conversation.

“I think you can probably guess who.”

His thin lips press into a grim line. He breaks eye contact withme, looking down at the untouched sandwich on his plate. “I was afraid you’d say that. I knew I should have kept eyes on him. How’d he get to you?”

“He was at the party in the Hamptons. I’m surprised you didn’t see him there.”

“What the hell was he doing there?”

“Working,” I say. Knowing my dad, he’ll probably assume he was part of the catering staff.

“Interesting. Do you have a stalker?”

I laugh. I can’t help it. If anyone’s stalking anyone, it’s been me stalking him for more than a year. “No,” I assure him.

“I appreciate that you find this amusing but thank you for at least being discreet. I had no idea until yesterday.”

It’s a little sad, admittedly, that I told my dad I was seeing a friend, and his mind automatically went to Silas. I guess that proves what a social butterfly I am. Still, so far, so good.

“He’s moving to Florida this month.”

A huge sigh of relief escapes my dad. “Thank God.” He emphasizes this by looking heavenward and making the sign of the cross.

“I’d like to keep seeing him.”

He shakes his head. “No, Graham. That’s ridiculous. It’s too risky. We’re not dealing with that again. I won’t.”

“I’m not asking you to go through anything. I’m not asking for permission either. If he’ll have me, I intend to be there whenever I can manage it.”

“Lord, give me strength,” he mutters before leveling his pale green gaze at me. “Son, I accept that you’re homosexual. I’m not thrilled about it, but I realize you don’t get a choice in the matter.”

“I appreciate that.” It’s actually validating to hear that from him.

“However, you do have a choice about whether to act on those…urges.”

“Yes, Dad. I do know the church’s prescription for being gay is to stay celibate forever or find a woman to accept my deviance and birth my children regardless. I’ve been dealing with this a long time, and if you’ll recall, I tried that.”

“It doesn’t sound like you’re as concerned about your eternal soul as you are about your earthly desires.” He says this with a hint of sarcasm that surprises me.

“Yeah, I guess I’m not. Can you blame me?”

“No,” he says quietly, contemplating his food again. “Does he know what you’ve done?”

“I take no credit for that, but yes. He knows everything.”

“I’m surprised he still wants anything to do with you.”

I let that go without comment. “Do you know of Miles Mayer?”

“From California? Yes, he’s on your committee now.”

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