Chapter 30

30

“They’ll be here any minute.” River put an arm around Kacey, who was studying a recipe. “You ready?”

Thomas and Sam were on their way over, Kacey was making dinner, and he could hardly believe any of that was happening.

“Uh-huh… come tell me this word again, Master?” That question proved how ready Kacey was for this supper. Once River had found that Kacey needed a little help with his reading, the world had opened up again, for both of them.

“Worcestershire sauce.”

“Lea and Perrins. Right. Cool. Thank you, Sir. I add that in the mix.”

“Of course.” He kissed his boy’s temple.

What a difference a few weeks and some cooking classes could make. He knew finding something for his boy to do was important, he would never have imagined how well Kacey would take to cooking. The confidence alone would have been worth any price, but he’d gotten breakfast in bed and surprise baked goods, and now, dinner.

He was so proud of his boy he could burst.

“Okay. Mini meatloaf dealies, mashed potatoes, and green beans.” Kacey took a deep breath. “Thank God I bought the pie.”

“Smart boy. And a good homemade meal too. It’s going to be wonderful.”

The buzzer went off and he pulled out his phone to let Thomas and Sam into the building. “They’re here. You’re okay? Settled?” He’d arranged a little session with his boy earlier in the day that was good for them both.

“Yes, Sir. They’re bringing Cokes and ice cream, so we should be solid.” His boy seemed a touch nervous, but mostly about the food. Kacey had made the phone call to arrange the food with Sam.

His boy had actually called Sam. The day was full of surprises.

“I do like ice cream.” He had little self-control when it came to ice cream.

“I’ll get the door. Your hands are busy.” He gave Kacey one more kiss, then got to the door just as Thomas knocked. “Good evening, gentlemen.” He held the door open for them both.

“Good evening,” Thomas replied, with a soft chuckle. “So formal.”

“Well, we’re having a home-cooked meal, so it seemed like an occasion.” He closed the door behind them.

“Hey, Sam. I hear you have ice cream—you can run it right into the kitchen.”

“Yes, Sir. Hey, Kace. It smells good. Do you have something incredibly simple I can do to help?”

River left the boys to talk and pulled Thomas toward the couch. “Thanks for coming.”

“Of course. How are things? Sam said they had a good talk on the phone.”

“We’re solid, and Kacey has grown so much in the last few weeks. He’s really come out of his shell. He’s found some confidence. I don’t think that envy piece is a factor anymore.” Kacey had everything Sam had, and he finally could see that for himself.

“He needed a place to land, to know he belonged.” Thomas shook his head. “So he’s cooking?” Then he lowered his voice. “Should I be frightened?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so. Kacey hasn’t made a bad meal yet.” They weren’t whoa fancy, but they were good. Homey. They tasted like love.

“I’m impressed. We can make spaghetti, chili, and queso. That’s really it.”

“Yes, I make a mean bowl of cereal.” He chuckled. “He’s been taking a cooking class. He loves it. Maybe Sam should try one.”

“We tried, but Sam is simply too busy, and there are other ways we need to spend our time.”

He nodded. That he understood. He and Sam both had busy jobs outside of each other, and their time together was probably sacred. “There is excellent takeout in this city.”

“Exceptional, but I am excited to share a homemade meal. It’s going to be a real treat.”

They stilled as they heard a commotion in the kitchen, a thunk and a clatter, but it was followed by hysterical laughter.

He glanced at Thomas. “No black eyes this time?”

“Not on purpose, surely.”

They shared a good laugh themselves. Patching up this friendship was important. Kacey needed friends, and Sam needed to stop feeling responsible for Kacey.

That was his job now, and Sam could see for himself how happy Kacey was these days.

Would there be bumps? Of course. But the emotional kind, not the physical ones.

A still-laughing Sam came out of the kitchen with a bowl of chips and dip carried carefully to the coffee table. “Kacey said he’ll be right out. He’s cleaning up my mess. I’m not kitchen-friendly.”

“Don’t worry, neither am I. But I am glad there are no bruises or scuff marks.” He gave Sam a wink.

“No. He didn’t even snarl. He looks good, Master River. Happy. He’s home.”

Sam’s words made him smile, because if anyone understood what Kacey had come from and where he belonged, it was Sam. “Thank you, boy. That’s good to hear. I think so too.”

Thomas put an arm around Sam’s waist and kissed Sam’s temple. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

“I made mocktails. I hope that’s cool…” Kacey brought out two glasses filled with a light green liquid.

“Mocktails? That’s wonderful. Look at those!” He took one and admired it. He really couldn’t be prouder of Kacey.

“They’re like margaritas. I—we don’t drink, me and my Master.”

Okay, so perhaps he could be.

“It’s good to be like-minded that way.” Thomas gave Kacey a nod.

Neither of them was an alcoholic, but they both understood a slippery slope when they saw one. They got their buzz in other ways.

He took a sip, surprised by the tart lime flavor and the little bit of a bite that was very much like a margarita. “Delicious.”

“Thank you. It’s a new idea from my teacher.”

Thomas gave River a nod this time, so slight the boys might not have seen it, but he understood what it meant. He didn’t need Thomas’s approval or his praise, but he appreciated it, and it made him happy.

Happier.

He’d found his boy, brought him home, and he was flourishing.

He waited for Kacey to kneel beside him, then pointed subtly where his boy couldn’t see to a painting on the wall near the fireplace. It was Kacey’s work, which his boy had finally allowed River to see, admire, and finally to frame on the condition that he not offer up that it was Kacey’s, but didn’t have to deny it if he was asked.

Pointing it out was probably cheating, but he could argue the point if pressed.

“Oh, that’s a lovely new painting, River. Who’s the artist?” Thomas was good at catching clues.

“Isn’t it wonderful? Kacey did that for me. We’re both fond of dragons.” He slid a hand over Kacey’s shoulders.

“It’s amazing. Genuinely. You’re very talented, boy.”

Kacey blushed dark, but he only tensed a bit. “Thank you, Sir. That’s kind of you to say.”

He hooked a finger under Kacey’s chin, then bent and took a kiss. He’d managed to convince Kacey to believe in him. That dragon on the wall was proof that his boy had found the courage to begin to believe in himself.

“It’s a wonderful outlet for him too… keeps him out of trouble.”

“And you have gorgeous artwork. It’s a win-win.”

Sam leaned close to Kacey, whispered something, and River’s boy’s eyes went wide, tongue stuck out at Sam as he winked.

He glanced at Sam, amused. “Something you wanted to say, boy?”

“No, Sir. I was just admiring the… tail on the dragon, is all.” Butter wouldn’t melt in Sam’s mouth.

“Oh?” he asked evenly, as if he hadn’t noticed himself. “What about it?”

Thomas peered at the painting, then chuckled knowingly.

“It’s very… anatomically impressive.”

Kacey was laughing hard now, almost howling with it.

“Indeed. Perhaps it’s modeled on someone’s impressive anatomy.” He didn’t even crack a smile. But he did give Kacey a light shove, tipping the boy right over.

“Evil!” Kacey snorted and reached for him. “So mean to me, Master.”

Sam cackled, resting against Thomas’s thigh. “How do you feel about drawing me a… nice unicorn, Kace? Something with an impressive horn?”

He was sure Kacey answered, but the words were lost in the laughter of the four of them.

Hopefully, no one had a timer set in the kitchen.