Page 152 of Still Bruised
“We can have a slice of pie when you boys get back,” Adeline said before she marched up the back stairs to the screened-in porch.
Jude slid into the passenger seat and waited for Foster to climb in beside him.
When he did, Foster paused before turning over the engine. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Jude replied, fighting another smile.
“I can’t believe you came.”
“Your mom didn’t leave me much choice. She demanded I come when she found out I was planning to spend Thanksgiving on my couch.”
“So she told me. After you arrived, of course. She said her guest was a secret. Why, I’m not sure.”
“Does she know about us?”
Foster shook his head. “No.”
“Does she know you’re gay?”
“I haven’t said anything yet—I’m still not sure myself what I am.”
“Well, you sure as shit aren’t straight,” Jude said. “You could start there.”
“I guess I haven’t felt like there was a reason to tell them yet. Not until there was someone in my life that I wanted to introducethem to.” He leaned a bit closer, over the console in the center. “Do I have a reason to tell them now?”
Yes.“Food’s getting cold,” Jude said instead.
Foster slid back toward his seat, disappointment clear on his face. “Yeah.” He started the SUV and backed out, looking over his shoulder.
They were midway to the first station before Foster said another word.
“You sure you’re okay being seen in public with me?”
“Don’t,”Jude warned.
He closed his eyes as soon as the word snapped out of his lips.
Avoidance.
He needed to stop fucking things up for himself.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“It’s okay,” Foster replied, his voice low.
Foster remained quiet for the rest of the trip to the first station. When they arrived, the firefighters seemed thrilled to see them, although a little worried when Adeline wasn’t there with them.
“She’s okay, isn’t she? And George?” One of the firefighters in the first house asked.
“They’re fine,” Foster said, smiling. “They’re just a bit tired, so we did the grunt work for them. They both thank you for all you do for the community.”
“Give them both big hugs from us,” another firefighter said. “God, I look forward to your mom’s pumpkin pieall year.”
“Same,”another firefighter said, grinning as she eyed them. “But don’t tell my mom that.”
Jude smiled as they left, happy to play a small part in what Foster’s family contributed. He was usually so tired by the time Thanksgiving rolled around that he wasn’t even conscious enough to think of giving back in any way.
It felt good to help.
