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-DurtyRiter
The Man with the Jeep
Chapter 54
As Andrew opened the door with that unmistakable familiarity of someone coming home, John first noticed the welcoming living room. It wasn't updated to the latest trends and none of the furniture seemed to be part of the same set, but they all went together more or less and exuded relaxing comfort. This was clearly a place to enjoy company. Lots of company even, as there were more chairs than he was used to. The end tables and coffee table were scuffed from lots of use, but also dust free and polished with care. To one side of the slightly faded rose-colored overstuffed couch was a dark green wingback chair with a tiny pattern to it that looked equally stuffed. On the other side was a smaller mint-colored velvet chair with a short back that scalloped into armrests. And so it went around the room with comfortable seating that each claimed a different hue from the Thomas Kincaid painting hanging behind the couch. There were no doilies to be seen, but they wouldn't look out of place here. Scattered among the chairs were a few small bookcases, and the remaining wall space was occupied by old family photos and a few decorative Bible verses. He almost didn't even see the small TV tucked away in an unobtrusive corner of the room.
"Mom, I'm home!" Andrew called out.
"Hi honey," John heard a voice say. "We're in the kitchen!"
Andrew led John through the adjacent dining room with its set of table and chairs that featured a carved edge and elegantly curved and tapered legs. A matching buffet hutch set against one wall displayed some pretty dishes with delicate rose designs. A small chandelier with multifaceted glass and gold trim hung in the middle, happily scattering its glittery golden light around the room.
They emerged into the bright kitchen next, where Andrew immediately got a big hug from his mom.
Gail was 5'5" and slightly overweight with light brown hair that had a wispy waviness to it, lending her a somewhat seventies vibe.
"I love you, honey," she said, giving Andrew an extra squeeze in the middle of her hug.
"And you must be John," she said after she was done with her hug.
"I am," he said with a smile.
She reached out to grab his nearest hand in both of hers and looked him directly in the eye.
"It's so nice to meet you," she said earnestly. "I'm Gail. Welcome to our home." Her warm manner was effervescent, and John liked her instantly.
"Thank you," he replied. "It's good to finally meet you! He talks about you all the time."
"He does, does he? Well, that's nice," she said, clearly pleased. "And this is Thomas, our birthday boy today," she added, turning to gesture toward the young man in the middle of getting off the bar stool he was sitting on at the kitchen counter.
Thomas came up extended hand first, which John gladly shook. He was shorter and stouter than Andrew, but the family resemblance was clear. Like most firefighters John knew, he obviously spent time working out, and his grip was accordingly firm.
"Nice to meet you," he said.
"Likewise," John replied. "Happy birthday!"
"Thanks."
"Where's Dad?" Andrew asked.
"He went out to get something to grille," Gail explained. "We were supposed to have lasagna, but I got a little behind from making the cake, so we changed the menu."
"Oh no, TomTom!" Andrew teased. "Will you survive?"
"Hardy har har," Thomas retorted.
"It's been a thing for him for years, but sometimes you just have to make the best of it," Gail explained to John with a shrug.
"It's fine, Mom, really. It's not that big a deal."
John could tell from her expression that she was disappointed in herself for not getting the lasagna done like she'd planned, and that Thomas's assurances weren't really enough to let herself off the hook for her "failure." John saw instantly where Andrew got that trait from.
"So what's the plan today?" John asked in an effort to help Gail change her train of thought.
"Rick is going to fire up the grille and get started on the meat as soon as he gets home, which should be any minute," said Gail. "I need to finish up the potato salad, but everything else is ready. Grace should be here soon too. After we eat, we usually play a game of cards while the kids play downstairs before we do cake and presents. That's pretty much it. It's a school night, so we won't be late."
"I have tomorrow off," said Thomas. "So I'll be meeting up with some buddies later on. You guys are welcome to join us if you want."
"We work tomorrow too," said John. "But if you don't mind us cutting out early, that could be fun."
"Great!"
The conversation was interrupted with a commotion at the front door.
"I guess Grace is here," chuckled Gail.
Whooping and running feet warned of an imminent barrage just before two little bodies rounded the corner and launched themselves at Gail.
"Grammy!" they cried with glee.
"Hello there, my munchkins! How are you?"
"Good," Taylor answered. "We're here for uncle TomTom's cake!"
"After lunch," Gail said firmly. "Not before."
"Okay, but I want the very second piece."
"Hey, that's not fair!" complained Dalton.
"So?" retorted Taylor.
"Guys, knock it off and leave Grammy alone," said Grace as she walked in with Emma beside her. "We talked about this, right?"
"Yeah," admitted Taylor.
Dalton looked up at Andrew.
"Uncle Andrew, are you going downstairs?"
"Yeah, bud; I'll be down in a little bit."
"Cool!"
And with that, the two whirlwinds were off. Emma gave her grandma a hug before following them down.
Damage control done, Grace noticed John.
"Are you the infamous John?"
"Infamous?"
"Well, all the talk was about you last time once Andrew finally fessed up he had a boyfriend."
"Guilty as charged then," John laughed.
A dark-haired man carrying a bunch of bags came in behind her.
"Roger, this is John, Andrew's boyfriend," Grace said.
"Hold on a sec," Roger said as he put the bags down on the counter and then offered his hand to John.
"Nice to meet you, John."
"Likewise," he said, taking the proffered hand. "Now, how can I help?"
"Honestly, there's not much to do yet," Gail said. "We're just waiting for Rick."
"You said he would get here anytime, right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Is the grille gas or charcoal?"
"Charcoal."
"I can get that started at least so it's ready to go when he gets here."
"Sounds good," Gail decided. "Roger, could you show him where the stuff is?"
"Sure."
Roger led him out the back door where there was a paved patio with a pergola overhead. To one side was a typical stainless steel grille, and on the other was a wall with a door that turned out to lead into the garage. They found the briquets and got them started in the grille.
"I hope I'm not disrupting things by being here," John confided to Roger.
"Why would you think that?" Roger asked him.
"I just know Andrew grew up pretty conservatively, so I don't want to muck things up with his family."
"You mean about being gay and all that?"
"Yeah. My family isn't like that at all, so this is kind of new territory for me."
"I think you're fine," Roger assured him. "They really are a good family. They may be a little old school in some ways, but they respect people, which is better than most, sad to say. Even if they have reservations, they wouldn't take it out on you or Andrew."
"That's reassuring. I kind of got that impression from how Andrew talked about them, but I did want to get your take on it."
"I get that. Not a problem."
They went back inside to find the party had moved out to the living room. John was a little surprised to see Andrew still among them.
A tall Scandinavian-looking man with white hair was there as well.
John stepped forward.
"Mr. Olsen, I presume?"
"Yes," the man confirmed. "But please call me Rick. You must be John."
"Yes sir."
"Nice to meet you," Rick replied with a brief handshake.
He turned to Gail.
"I'm going to get this stuff going."
"Sounds good, dear. John started the grille for you."
"Did he?" he said, turning to look at John again with no change in his expression before he made his way to the back door.
John looked quizzically at Andrew, who shrugged.
"He's just like that. Don't worry, you'll get used to it."
"I see," John replied slowly before the glimmer of a grin formed around his mouth. "I thought you would be down with the Legos by now," he teased.
"I normally would, but I didn't want to leave you up here all alone when you met Dad for the first time."
"You're so thoughtful," John said. "But I'm pretty sure I heard you promise Dalton you'd be down there. Go have fun. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Andrew asked, looking uncertain.
"Yes," answered Gail. "I promise we won't tear his head off, honey."
"Besides," Grace added. "You know your Lego races are the highlight of visiting Grammy's house."
Andrew smiled a little at that.
"Okay," he finally said. "I'll be down there if you need me." And headed downstairs.
"Have fun," John called after him.
"So," began Gail. "What do you do?"
"I'm a paper pusher for an insurance agency."
"Oh really? Sounds important."
"Definitely important, if not very exciting."
"Yes, well, excitement doesn't usually put a lot of food on the table, does it?"
"Not usually, no," John agreed. "That's why we pay for excitement on the weekends, right?"
"I think I get more than my fair share of excitement every day without paying a cent, thank you!" Grace declared.
"I imagine you do," laughed John. "But thank you for what you do. Without good mothers, this world would be in a bigger pickle than it is."
"I know I'm lucky," Thomas chimed in. "I found a paying job with excitement built in."
"That you did," acknowledged John. "Apparently it's just me who missed the boat."
"It's not just you," Roger said. "Mechanics don't get much excitement unless we forget to connect the brake line or set something on fire."
Grace gave him a look to which Roger put both hands up.
"Neither of which has happened to me. Well, maybe a little fire here or there, but quickly dealt with and so there's not much adventure to it."
"As I was saying, John," interjected Gail. "It sounds like a nice stable job with a future."
"True, but I'm kind of wanting to try something new."
"Like what?"
"I'm working to become a realtor."
"I suppose that's a good field too," Gail said with less confidence.
"It can be a little more volatile, for sure," John admitted. "But I like meeting people and helping them, so I think it would be good. I get kind of bored if I spend too much time behind a desk."
"Me too," said Thomas.
"I figure if I can get some property that I can rent out, it could help stabilize my income during the lulls."
"It sounds like you have a plan," Gail conceded. "I hope it works out well for you."
"It should, knock on wood."
"Did you grow up here in town, John?"
"Yeah, I went to Lincoln High."
"Ah, so across town then."
"Yes, ma'am. Until I graduated high school and then went away for a while before I came back."
"Oh really? Where did you go?"
"I joined the military, so all over the place."
"Well thank you for your service. I know that can be a huge sacrifice."
"Thank you, ma'am. It was an honor."
"And forgive me for asking, but are you a Christian?"
This was the one question John knew would come up. He was able to gloss over other things easily enough, but this was probably The Big Question for Andrew's family, and he was getting it on day one. Knowing it was imminent, John was somewhat prepared for it, but he still had to take a pause before answering.
"I have to admit I wouldn't say I am," he replied. "I grew up without any religion at all. And honestly, I've always viewed religions with a healthy dose of wariness because of how I see religious people treat other people, whether they agree with them or not. Andrew has been completely different from what I expected when he told me he was. He has told me about his faith, and he lives his life that way without any hypocrisy at all. I respect that immensely. He has certainly given me food for thought, but as of now, I'd have to say no."
Gail looked a little disappointed, but not judgmental as John expected.
"Fair enough," she said after a pause. "I can't fathom life without my faith, but I also know we are all on our own journey. I just pray we all end up in truth while we still have the time to get there."
"I agree," John said graciously.
He could still feel tension in the room as always happened when religion was discussed, though he wasn't sure if it was just him or not, so he changed the subject as was his habit.
"How about them Cowboys?" he asked.
Thomas chuckled, but all he got were blank stares from everyone else.
"Sorry, old school sports joke."
Still nothing. Oh well.
"What kind of cards do you generally play?"
"It depends on how many play," replied Grace. "If four or less, usually Spite and Malice. If four or more, Canasta. We'll also sometimes play Settlers of Catan or Uno if the kids want to play too."
"Ah!" said John. "So that's why he taught me those ones!"
"That would make sense," Grace agreed. "What does your family do for fun?"
"Tackle football."
Grace looked slightly aghast, Thomas and Roger both perked up, and Gail clearly couldn't decide how to react.
"Really?"
"I'm exaggerating a little, but I have a big family, so we usually do something active outdoors. It just depends on where we are and how big a field or yard we have. Anything from croquet to volleyball to tag to football. Of course, if there's a pool, that always wins."
"Wow," exclaimed Thomas. "That sounds fun."
"Always," confirmed John. "We tend to be a rowdy bunch. We can usually avoid injuries though."
"I think I'd better see how Rick is doing," Gail said as she got up from her chair.
"Let us know if it's time to set up, Mom," said Grace.
"Okay."
"Do you really play sports with your family or are you just pulling our leg?" asked Thomas.
"We really do things outside," John assured him. "If we were at the camp, we'd even get into Capture the Flag or paint ball or something."
"That sounds like summer camp," laughed Thomas.
"I mean, if you're there, why not?"
"True!"
"My family doesn't even play board games," chuckled Roger ruefully.
"Okay guys," called Gail from the kitchen. "Meat is almost ready!"
They all got up and headed to the kitchen to help set up for lunch.
Once the table was set, Grace went down to collect Andrew and the kids while Roger and Gail stepped outside to help bring in the meat.
No sooner had the back door closed when Thomas spun around to face John.
"What?" asked the surprised John.
"You're coming tonight, right?"
"For the after party?" John joked.
"Yeah," Thomas confirmed in all seriousness. "It's going to be at a bar."
"Okay."
"That's still cool?"
"Yeah, we'll be there."
"Great! I really want to askÑ-"
Just then, the back door opened and the kids came bounding into the room, and Thomas abruptly cut himself short.
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DurtyRiter@protonmail.com