***
“I loved him, Auntie Syl,” Chris said quietly.
“I knew that,” Sylvia responded, making Chris’ eyes widen.
“You did?” Chris whispered.
“Son, I’m older than the two of you. Go on.”
“Auntie, how well did you know my father?” Chris asked.
“Enough to know he could be an asshole.” Sylvia chuckled. “But he was a good man. Why?”
“He hated homosexuals,” Chris said simply.
Sylvia sighed. “I knew that too.”
“You… So…” Chris didn’t know what to say.
“Why do you think I left?” Sylvia took Chris’ hand in hers. “I knew there was going to be hell if your father got home and heard anything. I wasn’t going to let my son go through that. So I ran.” Sylvia patted the back of Chris’ hand. “I knew the two of you were in love but I didn’t think it was hurting anyone. Besides, your father wasn’t even around much to notice anyway. Shane had been so unhappy because of the death of his father and brother, I actually thought I was losing him too. Then you came along and everything changed. He was happy. At a point I thought he saw you as a brother…you know. But as the days went by, I realized it was more than that. But…” Sylvia shrugged. “I just didn’t think it would harm anyone. I mean you were only there on vacation right? You would have gone back home. The two of you would have probably stayed in touch for a while and then forgotten about the whole thing. You were just kids. So yes, I didn’t think you were hurting anyone so I let it go. Enough of my rambling. Tell me what happened.”
After what Sylvia had just revealed, Chris felt comfortable enough to tell her what had happened and how he’d felt, just as he’d explained to Damon and Shane himself. He didn’t leave out anything. He felt he owed the woman the truth at least. He left the part about his suicide attempt though.
“So that’s what happened and I’m so sorry I acted like a beast. I know it will be difficult but please find it in your heart to forgive me, Auntie Syl.” Chris pleaded.
Sylvia Lewis shook her head and pulled Chris into her arms. “I forgave you a long time ago, Chris.”
“Thank you very much.” Chris rasped as he pulled out of Sylvia’s embrace. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
“You said you loved my son…”
“I still love him, Auntie Syl,” Chris said quickly. “I’m so much in love with him, I can’t imagine life without him. I haven’t been able to tell him though.”
“And why’s that?”
“I just didn’t think it was right telling him that when I hadn’t asked for your forgiveness yet.”
“Do I take it coming here was your idea then?” Sylvia raised an eyebrow.
Chris nodded. “Yes.”
“Could have fooled me.” Sylvia laughed. “Because that scene out there…looked to me like he was talking you into it.”
“I was terrified,” Chris whispered.
Sylvia nodded her understanding. “Unlike my son, who was so devastated he never wanted to hear your name again, I made sure I knew what was happening to you, Chris.” She said softly.
“What… Really?” Chris looked shocked.
“Uh-huh.” Sylvia nodded. “I was even at your father’s funeral.” At Chris’ almost bulging eyes, Sylvia laughed. “I was so proud of the man you’d become. You did good.”
Chris was suddenly overwhelmed with so many emotions, he reached out and covered Sylvia’s ears with his hands and let out an ear-splitting scream.
“Oh my God, Chris you are crazy.” Sylvia started laughing just as Shane barged into the study.”
“What the fuck is…” Shane started but got cut off by his mother.
“Language son.” Sylvia admonished.
“Sorry, Ma. I heard you scream.” Shane addressed a grinning Chris.
“Err…didn’t your mother ever tell you it was rude to eavesdrop?” Chris drawled, making Sylvia Lewis laugh even harder.
“Dude, you screamed,” Shane growled. “Do I take it you guys are okay?” Shane asked softly, not missing how red Chris’ eyes were from crying so much. He’d heard Chris crying…had wanted to come to him, but hadn’t wanted to intrude.
“What did you expect?” Sylvia asked, getting to her feet. “That I would kill your man? Come here.” She drew Shane into her arms and hugged him fiercely. “Don’t you have something to tell him?” Sylvia asked Chris when she stepped away from Shane.
Chris smiled. “I sure do.” He said giving Shane a look that he felt all the way down to his toes.
“What did you want to tell me?” Shane was suddenly short of breath.
But before Chris could say anything, Sylvia was speaking. “Well, get on with it.” She said, heading for the door. “I’ll see to dinner.”
“What was that all about?” Shane asked when his mother closed the door.
“Come sit,” Chris said, patting the space beside him on the couch.
When Shane sat, Chris got off the couch, knelt between his legs, and rested his head on Shane’s lap. And he just stayed quiet, enjoying the feel of Shane’s fingers running through his hair.
“Shane?” Chris raised his head and looked up into Shane’s eyes.
“Uh-huh?” Somehow, Shane knew what Chris was about to say. It was all there in his eyes.
“I’m a hundred percent, massively…actually, annoyingly crazy in love with you,” Chris said softly. “I thought I should tell you.”
The breath left Shane in a rush, the shock of the intensely spoken words flowing through him like a wave of fiery heat. “I know,” Shane said, his voice hoarse.
“Fuck you,” Chris growled, and even through the emotions wreaking havoc on his thoughts and heart at that particular moment, Shane burst into laughter. “You’re spoiling my moment you asshole.”
“Sorry but it’s no secret. At least not to me.” Shane laughed, placing soft kisses on Chris’ eyelids. “Even with my legendary poker face, I couldn’t hide how I felt about you. How much more you?” Shane chuckled.
“Who else said anything about…”
“You don’t want me to go there, dude.” Shane pulled Chris onto the couch and shifted to rest his head on Chris’ thighs, facing up and looking into Chris’ love-filled eyes. “Even Adele knows you’re in love with me.”
“What?”
“Yes.” Shane chuckled. “Apparently we were looking at each other like the princesses and princes do when they’re in love. Oh and one more thing…we kissed.”
“Oh my God.” Chris groaned. “The cake place. She saw us after all.”
“Not just there. In fact, I even kissed your hand whilst I was driving. And remember that red-light kiss?”
“She was asleep then.” Chris groaned. That had happened when they were on their way to drop Adele. Chris remembered clearly when they’d stopped at a red light and just turned towards each other and kissed till the car behind then had honked when the light turned green. Adele had been asleep.
“So we both thought. She wasn’t.” Shane said dryly. “What’s the saying? ‘Out of the mouth of babes’. So you see? I’ve known for a while now that you’re hopelessly in love with me.” Shane grinned.