Spanish Bay (13 page)

There was a look on Chris’s face that could’ve melted steel. “But you think it would be perfectly all right for my sister to look after him, Sarah? How’s that? Is it because her life is already screwed up? Or is it because she is a woman? Is that it? Do you think I’m incapable of raising a child? Is it because I’m gay? Tell me? What makes me so different than anyone else who’s suddenly facing parenthood?”

He was really upset now, and Joe felt he had to step in. “Chris, please, let’s keep this civil. Sarah is not questioning your ability to be a father; quite the contrary. We both think you and Neil would make excellent parents one day, and not despite you being gay, but quite possibly because you are. Just think about it for a moment. You just took over a business, you’re building a life with Neil, he’s off to college. When would you have time to look after Frank?”

Chris’s shoulders sagged, and he felt deflated.

“He won’t be alone in this, you know?” came another voice from the table. “I won’t start college this fall, if that’s what it takes for us to look after Frank.”

Chris felt Neil squeeze his hand, while Sarah dropped her fork on the plate.

“This is
not
a laughing matter, young man. You are going to college and that’s the end of it.”

“Mom, I didn’t say I wouldn’t go to college, but what I
am
saying—and I ask you to respect the fact that I am grown-up and not a little child anymore—is that I love Chris, we are a couple, and as such, it is my responsibility to help him through the difficult as well as the good times. And if he needs to look after Frank, that means I look after Frank, too. Between the two of us, we’ll manage. Besides, Mom, remember what you did when I got sick?”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “That is not the same thing. You’re my son. Frank is not your responsibility.”

“See, Mom, that’s where you’re wrong. Frank is family. He’s Chris’s brother, and if that means we’ll have to raise him, then so be it. He is family, as much as you are. The only difference is that Chris and I aren’t married—
yet
.”

Another squeeze under the table. This time, though, Chris let go of Neil’s hand and said, “Babe, I can’t ask you to do this. This is my responsibility, not yours. I can’t ask you to sacrifice your future just to be with me.”

“Now you’re ganging up on me? Chris, seriously. I love you, from the bottom of my heart. Why do you think we’re all here? We all love you—my dad, my mom, and you know I do. We are here because you and I are one, and if Frank joins us to make our little family bigger, then it’s a blessing, not a curse, or a problem to be shoved aside. We knew there would be challenges—or did you seriously believe that the future would always be sunny and bright?

“Well, now we face our next challenge after Sally, and as far as I’m concerned, there is only one way to solve this. Together, as a couple, as a family. I don’t see that as a sacrifice on my part, I don’t see that I have to give up anything. All I see is another human being joining our family, adding to our lives, making our existence more diverse, more interesting. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but it’ll be a lot easier if we do this together, rather than me spending the rest of my life wondering how you are coping, alone. That, I could not live with. So what do you say, Chris? Are we ready to start a family together?”

Joe was fighting lump in his throat. “Sarah, honey? Did we really raise our son to be this responsible? This mature? Son, you have made me proud all your life, but this? Wow. I love you, and you have my full support.”

Sarah gave Joe a look but realized that Neil was right. The struggle between worrying about her son’s future and her love and pride for him were visible conflicts on her face, but in the end, she, too, nodded her blessing, unable to speak.

“So Frank will be moving to California with you guys?” Jessica asked.

“Looks like it.” Chris smiled proudly at her.

“But what about us? What about Jack and me?”

“I want to stay here, on the ranch,” Jack said. “I’ve wanted to be a farmer all my life, and you know as well as I do that I’ve been running this place with Dad for years. Do you think social services will let Jessica stay here for now? I mean, she’ll be eighteen soon enough, and she needs to finish high school anyway. Why pull her out now?”

“Jack,” Chris began, “I have no problem, personally. But we’ll need to see what Mom and Dad’s will stipulates. There are six of us, and depending on their decisions, we may have to sell the place. Maybe not over night, but eventually. We also need to weigh in Alexandra’s and Junior’s wishes. It’s not just the three of us here.”

Jack dropped his head. He knew that if Alexandra had any say, they’d sell the place, and she’d spend the money the next day. Nobody knew what Junior would say. Nobody had really seen or spoken to him since he joined the navy.

As if by magic, the phone rang. “That could be Junior, let me get it.” Chris ran out into the hallway, where their phone was standing on a small table. “Miller Ranch, this is Chris speaking.”

“Hey, faggot, so they let you back in the house?”

“Ha, Junior, not funny. Where are you?”

“Sorry, Chris, I know this isn’t the time for jokes, I just couldn’t resist. I’m good. I don’t care who you bang as long as you get to do it… Heard about Mom and Pop. I’m sorry. I mean, I wasn’t really close to them or anything, which you probably know. How are the little ones?”

“They’re holding up. I guess we all grew up before our time, didn’t we? All of us except Alex… Are you coming home?”

“Nah, don’t get me wrong, Chris, I would’ve, even though we weren’t really on speaking terms, but I’m in the middle of a major war exercise here. I can’t even tell you where we are, but with the tensions rising between us, the Chinese and the Russians, things are getting serious out here. Anything you need from me to make it easier?”

“Well, since you mention it. We were just talking about the ranch. Jack would like to keep it and run it. I don’t mind, neither does Jessica, and Frank’s too little to care. What’s your thinking?”

“Hell, I don’t want Pop’s money. Let Jack have it, if he wants it. I’m sure he’ll be a better farmer than Pop ever was. Listen, don’t worry about me. I’m happy here. I’ve made good friends, I feel needed, and I get to make a real difference. I’ll send you a power of attorney. They’re used to doing shit like this in the navy. You’ll have it in a day or so.”

“Thanks Andy. I appreciate it.”

“Hey, call me Junior. I hate that name… Oh, one more thing. What about Frank?”

“Junior it is…” Chris smiled into the receiver. He hadn’t spoken to his brother in years, but apparently he still knew more about the family than most, and even though he hadn’t seen Frank since he was just a baby, he cared. “We hope to be able to take him back to California with us. Provided social services agree… I’ll keep you posted.”

“We?” Junior seemed surprised.

“Yeah, Junior, I have a boyfriend, Neil, and he’s been a blessing, let me tell you.”

“So you are getting it. Good for you, bro. I’m so happy for you. Let me see if I can put some wording about Frank into that power of attorney, being the oldest and most responsible of you lot…”

Chris could hear Junior chuckling at his own joke. Junior had bailed out of the house the day after graduation, having signed up for the navy in secret on his eighteenth birthday; he’d never returned since. Frank had just been born when he left. Like Alexandra, Junior had been miserable growing up, but being a man, his options were different, and while there may have been children of his all over Lubbock, he didn’t stick around to find out…

“Thanks, Junior, I appreciate that. I know Alex doesn’t want him, I do. I’m mostly worried about the ranch.”

“Bro, listen, if she gives you any trouble, or if you need money or anything, I’ve saved up for six years now. I can help Jack if necessary, okay? I really don’t want any part of any inheritance. Let me make a note of this for our legal guys. Anyway, I’ve got to go. Another alarm just went off. I’ll come and see you guys in California next time I’ve got shore leave, okay?”

“That would be great. Thanks for calling, Junior.”

Chris heard the click on the other side and hung up, too. That was the weirdest phone call in a long time. When Junior moved out, they hadn’t exactly been close. Andrew Junior, or Junior as he’d always been called, was never his father’s favorite son. That was Jack, for some odd reason. Maybe because Jack, contrary to Andrew and Chris, actually shared his father’s love for farming and the animals. Not that their father was any good at it, mostly spending his time at the neck of a bottle. Chris had resented Junior for leaving when he had, just as he had resented Alex for getting knocked up when she had, leaving him in charge of the house, looking after three younger siblings, and their parents.

For what it was worth, Chris was happy for Junior, and a big problem was out of the way. With the power of attorney, it would be easier for him to handle Alex and social services. A plan was forming in Chris’s head, and it was the best for everyone if he got his way.

The next morning, the entire family got a visit from the funeral director, Mr. Jackson. They decided on a simple funeral, with only the immediate family. Nobody felt like involving their church, and even though the pastor had called numerous times, they never returned his calls. After three days, he finally got the message, or maybe Mr. Jackson had called him. Chris didn’t care, as long as they were left alone.

The sheriff also came by again, and Chris finally got the answer why his dad hadn’t seen the truck coming on at high speed. Both he and his mom had been drunk at the time of the accident.

“Your daddy had one point eight per thousand parts of alcohol in his blood, son. Some people die from alcohol poisoning at such levels. I can only assume your daddy was a friend of the bourbon?”

“Yes, sir, he was.”

“Well, your momma wasn’t much better, so I guess they were partners in this venture, too.” The sheriff looked down at the floor. “I’m just glad they didn’t take your brother with them. How is little Frank?”

“We’re actually on the way to town to bring him home. His injuries were mostly minor, just a couple of cuts and bruises.”

“Seems the good Lord was looking out for the little one then. Good to know there is still some justice in the world. Is your sister going to look after him?”

“No, sir, I’ll be taking him with me, back to California, provided we get the green light from social services.”

The sheriff examined Chris, from head to toe, then took a deep sigh. “You’re a good kid, Christopher Miller. I’ve seen you grow up in this house, and the Lord knows, you’ve never misbehaved. Now I may not understand that lifestyle of yours, what with that boy you seem to be living with, but I know that the Lord does not make mistakes, and if he put this boy in your path, it is for a reason. I wish you all the best of luck in California with your new family. And if Ms. Taylor from social services gives you any trouble, call me, I’ll straighten her out, okay?”

The sheriff stretched out his big hand; Chris took it, and they shook hands for a long time.

“Thank you, Sheriff. I’ll keep that in mind.”

The old sheriff even seemed to have a tear in his eye, but maybe it was just the hot wind blowing on the porch. He took off his hat in greeting and walked back to his patrol car, while Chris watched and wondered how people still managed to surprise him.

Once the sheriff had left, they were finally able to head back into town to pick up Frank. Sarah and Joe took Jessica and Jack to do some shopping; there were supplies needed at the ranch and in the kitchen, while Neil and Chris went straight to the hospital. The same nurse that had greeted them the other day was on duty and waved at them as they walked into the ward.

“Good morning, Chris. Are you here to pick up Frank? I’ve got the discharge papers all ready here. I even got Ms. Taylor to consent to you being his temporary guardian until she’s been out to the ranch to evaluate you properly.”

Chris smiled, with at least one tiny hurdle—one he hadn’t even considered—out of the way. Plenty left on the road back to Carmel, though.

Frank was up and playing with one of the toys provided by the hospital. He got very excited when he saw Chris, whom he hadn’t seen in months. While there was no apparent intellectual disability, due to the spasm and the limitations on him due to his CP damage, not to mention the lack of proper treatment and therapy, Frank was unable to walk or talk, and he mostly grunted and made noises that could be very disconcerting to people who didn’t know him. Chris could feel Neil tensing.

“Don’t worry, babe. He’s just happy to see us. He sounds very different when he’s sad or upset.” Chris walked up to the bed and hugged his brother affectionately. “Hey Frank, I’m so happy to see you. How have you been? This is Neil, he is my boyfriend.”

Pointing to Frank, he said, “Neil, this is my kid brother Frank.”

Neil wheeled up to the bed and extended his arm. Frank was unable to take it, so Chris took it and laid it in Neil’s open hand.

Neil gently squeezed Frank’s hand. “I’m so happy to finally meet you, Frank. Chris has told me so much about you. I wish I could get up and hug you, but as you can see, my legs won’t really carry me. I have a very rare muscle disease due to a spinal injury.”

Chris expertly lifted Frank out of the bed and sat him down in the waiting wheelchair. It was a special construction, very different from Neil’s. Frank’s wasn’t as wide, and it was higher, with a seat especially made for the young child, with restraints to make sure he wouldn’t fall out, and a special, softly padded headrest.

The three left the hospital room and made their way back to the nurses’ station for Chris to sign the release forms. Then they left the hospital and drove home. They had to take the family van, which was especially equipped to load Frank’s chair, and Chris had to lift Neil into the passenger seat. It took a lot of time, and for the first time, Chris wondered how on Earth they’d make it, with two wheelchairs in one family. How would they ever manage to get Frank’s chair up into the apartment? His heart sank, momentarily, but he knew they’d find a way. He just couldn’t let his brother down.