Page 64 of After Midnight

I collapsed on a barstool in the kitchen and told them about the get-together.

Dad sat next to me, pulling me into a side hug. “That’s good, honey. Maybe you’ll figure something out when you’re all together. If nothing else, you can all offer each other some support.”

Papa K placed a plate of cookies in front of me. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’d had my fill of them. He’d always been a nervous baker. The bigger the problem, the more baked goods we had in the house.

Not wanting to hurt his feelings, I asked, “Papa K, can you bag me up some of this so I can take it over to Dominic’s family? I’m sure the girls would love some sweet treats.”

He smiled with tear-filled eyes, and nodded. “Of course, I should’ve thought of that myself.”

We stayed like that for a long time. Papa K busying himself around the kitchen and me cuddled against Dad. It reminded me of many times growing up when I’d been down or depressed. This was how we tended to end up. My dads had always been intensely supportive, of me and each other, and that’s what got me through my worst moments. This was one of those times.

Dad kissed the top of my head. “Son, go up and get a shower and change clothes. That boy is likely to be home any moment, and you don’t want him to come in and find you all grimy and stinky.”

I managed to laugh. “Thanks, Dad,” I said halfheartedly, being sarcastic, but he was right. I needed to clean up before I left.

By the time I finished getting ready, Papa K had stacks of baked goods packed for me to take. At any other time, I would’ve laughed at the amount of food, but the humor had seeped out of me. I was too broken, my world too desolate, to take joy in silly things. If something had happened to Dominic, I was sure I might never see humor in the world ever again. I shook my head as the darkness began to overwhelm me. I’d been asked to stay with Dominic’s family and that’s what I’d focus on. The dark hole of despair could wait to swallow me up later.

When I arrived at their house, it was dead quiet. It was past three, so the girls should be home, and I’d have thought there would be some activity with two preteens around.

I knocked on the door, and Ashton answered a moment later.

“Hey, come on in,” he said.

“I brought a lot of baked goods my dad sent over. Should I bring it in now? Some of it is still warm, but it won’t be for long in this cold.”

Ashton smiled and said he’d help.

After we’d taken all the food into the kitchen, I noticed the house still seemed empty. “Where is everyone?” I asked.

“Miss Rita took the girls to the supermarket to buy supplies for dinner. Jeffrey is in his room taking a nap.”

I nodded and began stripping off my winter coat and gloves.

“I won’t ask how they’re all doing. But, I do wanna know if I can do anything to help.”

“This’ll help some,” he said, gesturing to the desserts, “but you simply being here will help the most. I think we all want to hear from you what you know, since you were the last to see Dominic.”

I nodded. “I should’ve called earlier, it’s just…” My voice broke and I had to look away from him to stop from crying.

“It’s been hard on all of us,” he said, then focused on unpacking the treats. I think neither one of us wanted to getcaught in an emotional spiral, and continuing our conversation was a surefire way for that to happen.

A few minutes after Ashton fixed me a cup of coffee and got himself a piece of Papa K’s coffee cake, a tall, handsome man strode into the kitchen.

“Oh good, you’re here,” he said, walking up to me and extending a long, elegant hand. “I’m Jeffrey Galbraith, but you can call me Uncle Jeffrey. I’m Dominic’s godparent.”

I smiled and felt emotional all over again. “I’m Dillon Pearson, Dominic’s, um…” I was going to say friend, but I just couldn’t. We were so much more to each other than friends, certainly now. “I’m his boyfriend.”

I said it half expecting Ashton to correct me. When he didn’t, I sighed inwardly. Sure, I’d introduced Dominic as my boyfriend at the gala, but that’d been impulsive and to a roomful of strangers. Telling his family was different. It felt important to be allowed to label him that way, to claim him as mine.

Jeffrey smiled. “I heard you’ve really charmed my godson. Now I’ve got a good look at you myself, I understand why.”

I blushed at his compliment. “I assure you, he’s the charming one.”

A slightly awkward silence stretched across the kitchen then, and I went back to sipping my coffee. “Baby, the kid brought treats. Can I fix you some coffee and a piece of this delicious coffee cake?”

Jeffrey smiled over at Ashton, and I became aware of a sweet intimacy between the two men. “Yes, thanks, I’d like that.”

He took a seat beside me at the table and shook his head. “I don’t tend to eat when I get nervous. Ashton and Rita have been bugging me to death, though. I swear, if that boy don’t get home soon, I’m going to gain a hundred pounds.”

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