Page 39 of In the Name of the Father

The rain chose that moment to make a reappearance.

“Oh, sweetheart.” Malcolm pressed a kiss to Seth’s temple. “Let’s get inside the truck where it’s dry and I can warm you up.” He framed Seth’s face with his strong hands. “When we get home, I want to hear everything you have to say.” The hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “And I believe it’s time I was honest with you, too.”

Seth’s heart beat high in his chest. “Home?”

“Yes. Our home.” Malcolm draped an arm around his shoulders then began leading him to the truck. “For as long as you want it.”

Seth leaned into Malcolm as they walked in silence. He wasn’t sure if he’d dozed off on the bench and was actually dreaming, but he’d enjoy the magic of the moment for as long as he could.

Could he be about to tell me what I want to tell him?

* * * *

Having Seth back with him was like being able to breathe again. He’d have to find a way to adequately thank Nate for the idea of checking the train and bus stations.

Malcolm had hated having to let go of Seth’s hand while he drove. But he wasn’t about to take any chances on the rainy road. More than ever, he believed he finally had a boy to protect once more, a boy who was his very own. Not getting ahead of himself was next to impossible. Not when Seth had come to him so easily, had apologized before Malcolm had been able to get one word out.

He needed this.

Seth had needed proof that he was worth fighting for. Maybe he hadn’t realized that was what he’d been doing, and it could’ve gone horribly wrong if Malcolm hadn’t found him in time before he’d taken off. He’d like to think that Seth would’ve come to his senses and called him at some point, but then again, his past might’ve kept him from making that leap. Unconsciously or not, the test had been to discover what lengths Malcolm would go to in order to get him back.

He’d have to make it clear to Seth going forward that scaring Daddy wasn’t a good way to get his attention.

Malcolm gripped the steering wheel tighter. So much for not getting ahead of himself. So far, they’d been driving mostly in silence, as if the big reveal they were about to make to each other wasn’t meant to be shared when they were unable to touch or look each other in the eyes. And truthfully, Malcolm didn’t think it was.

“Are you warming enough?” Malcolm was not pleased that Seth had allowed himself to be out in the elements for so long.

“Yes, this is much better. I did go inside a fast food place for a bit, but it was getting weird that I was in there for so long.”

Malcolm shifted in his seat. He wanted to get the more unpleasant things out of the way first. Then as soon as they made it back to the house, it could be all about the good.

“Please don’t ever do that to me again, Seth. It was very upsetting. I thought something bad had happened or that you were angry with me for some reason. If you don’t want to live with me anymore, or if something I say or do makes you mad—then tell me. That’s all. You don’t have to be afraid of how I’ll react.” Malcolm sighed. “I can understand that your past relationships have taught you otherwise, but I guarantee you that you’re safe with me. I think I’ve proven myself so far by my actions.” He glanced sideways at Seth. “Can you give me that respect?”

“I’m so sorry, Malcolm. I know you said not to apologize, but I want you to know how serious I am. You haveallmy respect and I promise to always talk to you first. And…” In his peripheral vision, Malcolm caught Seth wringing his hands. “I feel like I’m the one who has to prove myself to you.”

Poor baby. “This is why we need to have a long talk tonight, or as soon as you feel rested enough. It might be too late to get into anything too heavy at this point, so we could always save it for tomorrow.”

The hand wringing continued. “I don’t think I can sleep. If you’re not too tired, would you mind if we did talk about things tonight?”

Malcolm ached to reach over and grab Seth’s hand. “I doubt I’ll be able to sleep either, so no, I don’t mind at all.”

They reached the house about ten minutes later, and after they’d made their way inside, Malcolm insisted that Seth go change into a T-shirt and the pair of flannel sleep pants he’d given him. Before he went into his bedroom to also change, he raised the thermostat up a few degrees. If it wasn’t already past nine, he would’ve gotten the fireplace going in the den.

When Malcolm returned to the living room, Seth was already there. However, it appeared as if he was about to jump out of his skin. He was perched at the edge of the couch cushion with his feet flat on the floor—with no socks—back straight and his hands folded on his knees.

“Hold on.” Malcolm held up a finger. “I’ll be right back.”

He returned to his bedroom then dug in his closet for a pair of slippers his mom had sent him the previous Christmas. There wasn’t anything wrong with them, he just already had a pair that was worn in in all the right places. He gathered up the moccasin-style footwear then carried them back to the living room.

Malcolm offered them to Seth. “Here, put these on and see if they fit.” He’d given up all pretenses of not behaving like Seth was his boy. “I don’t want you going barefoot in the house anymore now that we’re headed toward winter.”

Seth accepted the house shoes. “Okay.” He dutifully put them on. “They fit fine. Thank you.” He chewed on his lip. “Um, can I ask about paying you back, and all that? Besides the rent, you’ve given me a lot of other things. I feel bad.”

Instead of responding to Seth’s query directly, Malcolm sat next to him on the cushion and took his hands. This time, he made no effort not to sit too close, didn’t care that their legs were touching. As a matter of fact, he’d made sure they did.

“All right. Let’s put those concerns to rest—at least for now. We’ll come up with a schedule for you, tasks that you’ll be in charge of here in the house. It can be adjusted as we go along if you get another job. While it’s not necessary for you to give me money to stay here, if it makes you feel better, we can decide on that if and when the time comes. How does that sound?”

Seth had appeared to be deep in thought with a creased brow while Malcolm had been speaking. He lifted his eyes. “You don’t think I can get another job?”

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