Page 39 of The Attercop

“Oh, I have something for you,” Declan said, handing her a bottle of wine.

“Oh, aren’t you a dear. You can definitely come over anytime you want. Now both of you into the living room. Your father and Carrie are waiting for you.”

“Carrie’s here, too?” Charlie asked. “I thought she was out of town.”

Maggie smiled. “That’s what she wanted you to think. Now go say hello.”

When Charlie got to the other room, his father was in his usual chair. Carrie sat opposite him on the love seat.

“Well, it took you long enough to get here,” she said, standing to give him a big hug and a kiss. “Happy birthday.”

“You knew all about this?” he asked her.

She just shrugged.

Charlie held on for a few seconds longer, then turned to his father. “Hey, Dad.”

Ted nodded, then stood, extending his hand. Charlie shook it, remembering a time when he was a kid and his dad would give him a hug. But later, things had changed. Handshakes were always what grown-ups gave other grown-ups.

“Happy birthday, son.”

Declan’s voice interrupted Charlie’s moment with his father. “Thank you for inviting me into your home, Mr Watts. I brought you this.” Declan handed him a bottle of Highland Park Cask Strength Whisky.

Charlie’s father’s eyebrows rose, just a touch. He nodded his approval.

“Thank you,” his father said, staring at the bottle.

Charlie felt that he’d witnessed a strange ritual—the modern-day gay version of a dowry payment. And his father’s reaction seemed to suggest that payment had been accepted. Either his mother, the passage of time, or a combination of the two seemed to have had a positive effect on Ted Watts’ opinion of Charlie’s relationship with Declan Hunt.

Charlie’s mother poked her head into the living room. “Dinner’s ready.”

Carrie and Ted headed off, arm-in-arm. Charlie looked at Declan, smiled and took a deep breath before following. They walked into the dining room. Charlie saw the sideboard mounded high with food. He leaned toward Declan and whispered, “Prepare to be stuffed.”

The meal went smoothly and conversation flowed as Carrie and Gran told countless embarrassing stories about things Charlie had done when he was younger.

After dinner, everyone except Charlie and his mother retired to the living room. Charlie insisted on helping her tidy up.

“Thank you so much for tonight. It was perfect,” he said.

“Believe it or not, it was as much your father’s idea as it was mine.”

“You’re kidding?”

“He’ll never admit it, but he’s been moping around here like a schoolboy who’s lost his best friend.”

Don’t cry. Just don’t cry.

“He and Declan…they seem to be getting along. Don’t they?” Charlie commented.

Maggie nodded. “Oh, yes.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Don’t tell him I told you this, but I caught your father looking that man of yours up online. He seemed quite impressed. Your dad came into the kitchen this morning and said that I should be proud of my son, winding up with a real hero like him. Then he said ‘and to think they drummed him out of the police service for being different.’”

“Dad said that?” Charlie asked.

Maggie laughed. “Well, I may be paraphrasing a bit.”

“So, he’s okay with the fact I’m gay?”

Charlie’s grandmother came into the room. “Well, I don’t think he’s quite there yet,” she said. “Your dad’s a dear man, Charlie, but I can tell there’s still a bit of a jump between being open to the idea that his son is in a relationship with a man, and accepting that his son is gay. For now, he can accept that you’re living with a male friend. At least that’s what he says when people ask about you.”