Chapter 68

The next minute Tyler and Ward were holding onto each other and jumping up and down. Eddie and Jack looked up. Little Addy began running around and barking.

“What’s going on?” Eddie asked.

“Christmas just came early,” Tyler said.

“It’s not Christmas,” Jack said. “It’s only almost Halloween.”

“Then a trick just turned into a treat,” Ward said smiling his biggest smile.

Eddie shook his head and laughed. “You grown-ups say some pretty dumb stuff sometimes.”Chapter 26

Tyler was making spaghetti for dinner, Jack was lying on the floor next to the dozing puppy, and Ward and Eddie were joking back and forth and laughing as they set the table.

Tyler smiled as he stirred the spaghetti sauce. He’d almost thrown this all away. Tyler silently blessed Joe for breaking the promise to Ward by telling him what Ward had planned to do. If he hadn’t, who knew whether Tyler would have come to his senses in time or not.

Tyler drained the spaghetti noodles, poured the sauce into a serving dish, and called everyone to the table. When they were all seated, they joined hands and said grace. Tyler and Ward exchanged glances. Without having to say anything, Tyler knew the two men were thankful for the same thing

As they began eating, Tyler asked, “What would you guys like to do tonight? Play a board game, make popcorn, and watch a movie?”

“Let’s take Addy for a walk!” Jack exclaimed.

“We can do that,” Ward said.

“That won’t take all night,” Eddie said. “We could find a movie to watch.”

“I want to play Sorry,” Jack complained.

“You always want to play that dumb game,” Eddie retorted.

“It’s not a dumb game,” Jack said indignantly. “Joe likes it!”

Tyler and Ward looked at each other and smiled. Life was back to normal.

“Guys, we can do both. Jack, since you picked the game, Eddie can choose the movie,” Tyler said.

That seemed to satisfy them.

After they finished eating, the boys cleared the table. Ward and Tyler did the dishes, while Jack and Eddie fed Addy and argued about which movie to watch.

“Reminds me of me and Joe,” Ward said as he watched the boys and listened to their debate.

“I never had a sibling,” Tyler said. “I always wanted one. I suppose we woulda done the same.”

Ward chuckled. “You bet. It’s been that way since Cain and Able.”

Tyler suddenly grabbed Ward and, despite Tyler’s hands being full of soap suds, pulled him into a bone crushing hug, and kissed him.

When they broke the kiss, Ward smiled and asked, “What’s that for?”

“Joy! Just pure fuckin’ happiness and joy,” Tyler said, hugging Ward again.

“You guys gonna just be doing that all the time now?” Eddie asked.

Eddie and Jack were standing at the kitchen door. They had their jackets on. Addy was leashed. She had it in her mouth and was yanking on it.

“Yeah, pretty much,” Tyler said, smiling at the boys before giving Ward a peck on the cheek

Eddie grinned.

“We’re ready to go!” Jack announced.

“So I see. Give us five more minutes.”

A while later the four of them were walking down the street in the late evening twilight with Addy romping, growling furiously, and shaking her head as she used the leash as a pull toy.

Jack laughed with delight at her antics. Eddie asked why she just didn’t walk and sniff like other dogs.

“Cuz she’s a pup,” Ward answered. “Right now everything’s a game. She’ll learn.”

Tyler slipped a hand into Ward’s.

“Whoa! You’re gonna scandalize the neighbors,” Ward said.

“It’s dark. They won’t see,” Tyler replied. “And even if they do—so what!”

Ward smiled and squeezed Tyler’s hand.

When they returned home, they set up the Sorry game on the kitchen table. In spite of Eddie’s earlier protests he was into the game and soundly beat the others in the first round. Jack complained that Eddie had cheated and demanded a rematch, which he won. Eddie then insisted on a championship game, which Ward refereed while Tyler made popcorn.

The phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Tyler.”

Tyler looked at Ward and made a face.

“Oh, hello, Mother Pierce.”

Ward rolled his eyes.

“I was calling to find out if the boys were still not feeling well. No one bothered to call this week and let us know how they were.”

“I’m sorry,” Tyler said. “Yes, they’re fine.”

“So we can expect you at church tomorrow and dinner as usual then,” she said in a tone that was more command than invitation.

Tyler grimaced.