Chapter 26

 

Since he and Sam had made up, the two of them had been working diligently as volunteers. Now they were almost done with the last painting job for the festival. Early today they were putting the finishing touches on the last float, then they were going fishing with Mr. Jasper in the afternoon.

Unlike the boys, Wyatt wasn't excited about the fishing, but he was up for anything as long as Sam was going to be there. Things between them weren't a hundred percent settled though. Wyatt could sense Sam holding himself back, but at least he wasn't avoiding him. When it came to Sam, slow and steady seemed like the way to go. Too bad that wasn't Wyatt's style at all.

 

That morning, Noreen texted that she was dropping by for coffee and to grab a few tomatoes from the garden. She was at their door a few minutes later. "In exchange for the tomatoes, I brought three slices of this peach upside down cake my grandma made. She's testing out recipes for the baking contest." Noreen held out a plate covered in plastic wrap.

Wyatt took it from her and nodded. "Looks good and just in time for us to have it for breakfast."

"Cake for breakfast? That's healthy and nutritious," Noreen said as Wyatt poured her a cup of coffee.

"Don't blame me. You're the one who brought it over here," Wyatt said just as the boys came in ready for their breakfast. "Look who came over. Say good morning."

"Barney and Brownie want to say good morning too," Riley said as the dogs jumped around her.

"You dogs, go drink some water. You boys, go wash your hands. Noreen brought us cake for breakfast," Wyatt said as he led the dogs over to their water dishes.

"You look extra peppy and cheerful this morning," Noreen noticed.

"Things got a little shaky between me and Sam, but everything is pretty good now so I'm happy," Wyatt told her and saluted her with his coffee cup.

"What did you do?" she accused him.

"I wasn't the bad guy. I just had to convince Sam I was serious about us. That's not how I lived my life so far, but I do know how to be good," Wyatt insisted.

"If it will help, I can give you detention," Noreen offered.

"No, Uncle Wyatt is a good guy. Don't give him detention," Riley said running in so he could pout up at Noreen.

"Don't be mean to Uncle Wyatt, teacher," DJ said to her as he joined his little brother.

"Yeah, teacher," Wyatt said to add his voice to the clamor.

Noreen raised her arms in surrender. "OK, OK. No detention. Listen to them sticking up for you."

"Thanks guys you saved me," Wyatt told them and Riley reached up his arms for a hug.

"You get a hug too," Wyatt told DJ who smiled. "OK. It's breakfast time."

The boys sat down at the table while the dogs looked up at them like they wanted cake too. Wyatt started filling the cooler with drinks and a few ice packs.

"A cooler full of beverages. I guess you're ready to go and do some painting," Noreen said. "I heard you guys did good work. You're newcomers to town. It's nice of you to provide the free labor."

"I don't mind, but if you take Sam out of the equation, I'll mind a lot. He's coming over any minute now then we're going to go and finish painting that float. He's bringing a picnic lunch," Wyatt bragged.

"Do you know how lucky you are to have found someone like him in a small place like this. It's like you won the lottery," Noreen told him.

"I know it. Believe me. But finding someone like Sam anywhere would be amazing. He's incredible," Wyatt said with a smile.

"Stop that, you're making me want to say aww, and I don't say aww," she said. "But it is nice how you appreciate him, really nice. People who are giving and sweet like that tend to get taken for granted."

"I'll never do that," Wyatt said like he was making a promise. He knew he still had a long way to go before Sam felt secure in the strength of their relationship.

 

Their work at Lubbock's barn was done by midmorning, just in time to have their picnic lunch. After hiking through the wooded area south of the barn, they came out onto a small field.

The boys and the dogs ran into the sunshine and all that green. Following them out there, Wyatt saw that patches of white and yellow flowers were sprinkled over the grass.

The spot was inviting so they decided to have their picnic right there. Wyatt had stuffed a picnic blanket inside a canvas bag and now he was ready to spread it out and show it off.

Seeing it, Sam laughed. "You actually ordered one," he said on seeing the rainbow blanket spread out on the grass.

"So you remember." Wyatt was pleased. "I promised you a picnic on a rainbow, didn't I? I ordered it the same night I mentioned it, but it only arrived a few days ago. I was hoping you'd come on another picnic with us and I could show it off."

"It's nice," Sam said and kissed him on the cheek. The boys liked it too and they all sat down to eat the picnic lunch Sam made. The dogs looked on jealously, but they had to stick to their own food.

When the sandwiches were polished off, they went exploring through the countryside. The dogs and the kids were the real explorers. Wyatt and Sam strolled a yard or two behind them, walking with their arms around each other and enjoying the nature on a beautiful sunny day.

Their peaceful stroll was interrupted by a controversy as they approached a big mound of greenery. The boys had stopped in front of a thicket overgrown with bushes and vines. They were trying to figure out if what was at the center of it was a tree or a really big bush.

"It's a bush," Riley said.

"It's a tree," DJ insisted.

"You tell us, Sam and Uncle Wyatt," Riley said turning to them for the verdict.

With both boys looking at them expectantly, Sam and Wyatt regarded the tree closely. Wyatt was pretty sure it was a tree. He just needed a way to explain why.

Sam came up with an explanation first. "DJ is right. It's a tree. See how the branches are long and come from the same stem. It's also very tall, much taller than the bushes are. Does that make sense?" Sam asked Riley.

"Maybe." He was a little disappointed then he brightened up suddenly. "If it's a tree, I can climb it," Riley exclaimed.

"You have to ask your Uncle Wyatt," Sam told Riley, who seemed a little apprehensive now. At first he looked ready to get in there right that second, but then he started to hesitate seeing how shadowy and dense with creepers it was in there. It was a little scary to a small boy.

Turning to his brother, Riley asked, "If Uncle Wyatt says it's OK, you gonna go in there with me to climb the bush tree?"

"Yeah. If Uncle Wyatt says it's OK," DJ told him.

They both now looked at Wyatt, who got down to pet Barney as he thought about it. "You don't have to climb it, you know. You're not squirrels, are you?" he asked the boys.

"No. Can we climb it?" they asked again.

"Not by yourselves, but we can all climb it," Wyatt decided.

"We're climbing?" Sam said in disbelief, but the boys were thrilled at the idea. Riley was practically fearless now that Wyatt and Sam were coming with them.

"I can't believe we're doing this," Sam said as they made their way inside all that overgrown greenery.

"You told them it was a tree. If it was a bush, we wouldn't have to climb it," Wyatt pointed out.

Sam shook his head, but Wyatt could tell he was having fun.

The climbing went fine, though it was unnerving to watch the boys more than a few feet off the ground. While he was paying attention to them, Wyatt stepped on a dry branch and it snapped under him.

Wyatt didn't really fall as much as he let himself drop to the ground in such a way that he wouldn't hit any branches on the way down. Though he wasn't very high up, his fall still sent everyone into a panic. Even the dogs came running. While Wyatt landed on his ass and got the wind knocked out of him, he couldn't even say anything to reassure Sam and the kids.

That's when Sam took charge. In a loud, commanding voice that Wyatt had never heard him use before, he issued orders to the boys. "DJ and Riley, stay put. I'm gong to check on Wyatt. You just stay where you are and hold on. I'll be right back to get you."

Sam was already climbing down swiftly but not carelessly. Obviously he was perfectly aware that another fall was the last thing they needed.

"I'm fine guys," Wyatt finally managed to tell them, but Sam came over anyway.

"Can you move OK?" Sam asked even as Wyatt started to get up. Sam gave him a hand and helped him get to his feet with more support than he needed.

"I'm OK, really," Wyatt said loud enough for the boys to hear. He smiled up at them reassuringly. Still up in the tree, the boys looked scared as they stared back at him with worry.

"He isn't hurt, guys," Sam assured them. "Do you want to come down now?"

"I do," Riley said and Wyatt went back up into the tree to help him. Though Wyatt was only a little sore, his tumble out of that tree made him a lot more conscious of how easy it was to fall.

As Sam was going up to help DJ, Wyatt noticed how tightly the little guy held on and how pale he looked. Wyatt's fall must have really scared him.

Wyatt was about to ask Sam to switch with him and help Riley instead, when he noticed DJ's gaze move from Wyatt to Sam.

"Uncle Wyatt is OK?" he asked Sam.

"He is. You can check on him yourself in a minute," Sam told him in an easy, confident tone. "He's a lot bigger and heavier than you guys, that's why that branch broke. You're light and small. Now you're going to step on the same branches you climbed on already. We know those are safe."

"I don't remember which ones," DJ said in a trembling voice.

"I do. Don't worry," Sam assured him then he told him exactly where to step. DJ got down without too much trouble with Sam right there ready to catch him. Once he was down, he ran right over to where Wyatt was waiting with Riley. DJ threw himself into Wyatt's arms and gave him a tight hug.

Looking up at him with a scowl, DJ told him, "You scared Barney and Brownie."

The dogs had barked at Wyatt when he fell so maybe he was right about that.

"Sorry Barney and Brownie," Wyatt told them and got down on one knee to pet them. "I'm OK. My butt is just a little sore, that's all."

Wyatt got up and kissed Sam's face which wasn't as pale any more. "Now we go fishing."

That made the boys perk up and they cheered.

 

Loaded down with fishing equipment that Wyatt had no clue what to do with, they all went down toward the river cottages and to Mr. Jasper's. The kids and the dogs were in the lead with Wyatt and Sam following them.

Wyatt was glad to get the chance to have a word with Sam. "You were really great back there. My fall scared the kids, especially DJ, but you kept them calm."

"The kids weren't the only ones you scared," Sam told him and fixed him with that pretty, gray-eyed glare.

"Sorry," Wyatt said and gave him a kiss on the cheek as they walked. "But you handled things really well."

"I had to. For the boys. I'm pretty sure I would do anything for them," Sam said very seriously.

 

They were in sight of the river cottages now. Wyatt could see a row of them lined up right where the riverbank started to slope down.

Mr. Jasper was already outside his little house, waiting for them. His fishing pole was leaning on the fence next to him. As soon as they saw Mr. Jasper, DJ gave him the news. "We climbed a tree and Uncle Wyatt fell."

"Don't tattle on me," Wyatt told him.

"He fell on his butt. I didn't fall," Riley boasted gleefully.

"That's because you're little," DJ told him.

"One day I'm gonna be the big brother like Uncle Wyatt," Riley said.

DJ didn't like hearing that. "You better not," DJ said and looked at his little brother sternly, like he thought Riley might try something sneaky.

Mr. Jasper smiled at them indulgently and Wyatt thanked him for letting them fish with him.

"I hope we aren't late," Sam said since Mr. Jasper had been waiting for them.

"Oh no. I'm just an eager beaver," Mr. Jasper said as they all headed toward the river's edge in one big, noisy group with all their stuff including a folding chair for Mr. Jasper to sit on.

The boys were arguing about who was going to catch more fish and Barney was barking like he wanted to have his say about it. Once they arrived both dogs drank right from the river. For the rest of them, they had a cooler with drinks.

Mr. Jasper seemed to be doing well. He moved slowly but with a smile on his face. "Going fishing with these boys is a treat," he said.

"It's a treat for them too. I really appreciate it," Wyatt told him.

"Neither one of us is a fisherman," Sam warned Mr. Jasper as they walked slowly so he wouldn't have to overexert himself.

"Oh how I used to love it as a boy. My favorite thing to do with my cousins. Then we would have us a fish fry," Mr. Jasper reminisced.

"Mr. Jasper, you're making my mouth water," Wyatt told him.

"Did you forget we're having grilled fish, not fried?" Sam asked him just as the boys started yelling about seeing some fish from the water's edge, and Mr. Jasper went to join them.

 

"Let's go check out Mr. Jasper's barbeque," Sam said after the kids had settled in next to Mr. Jasper, eagerly waiting for the fish to start biting.

In answer, Wyatt offered him his hand.

Sam took it and smiled. "We can make the fish together."

"Sure, but I got my barbequing gene from my dad. Lloyd always had to rescue whatever Dad was making before it got turned into a charcoal briquette. So I'm pretty sure I can reliably burn some fish. If you want it done right, you'll have to supervise me very closely." Wyatt tugged Sam closer to show him how close.

As they arrived by the side of Mr. Jasper's house where the fence hid them from sight, Sam turned in Wyatt's arms and kissed him. Too soon, Sam let him go with a regretful sigh then he frowned at him.

"You're not allowed to scare me ever again. You can't get hurt or sick and nothing bad can ever happen to you," Sam told him deadly serious.

"Only if you promise the same thing," Wyatt challenged him.

Sam grumbled, rolled his eyes then he quickly turned away and started inspecting the small barbeque. He found it in order and they went back to join Mr. Jasper and the kids.

On the way there, they stopped and took in the view. The river snaked through the countryside, its waters flowing in shades of deep green and sky blue. Below them on the slope, the boys were sitting on some rocks next to Mr. Jasper's folding chair.

As they went closer and waved to everybody, Sam stopped a few feet from them and asked Wyatt, "So this is the life for you, fishing and barbequing by the river?"

"What could be better? I like doing anything with you and the boys, but I do feel sorry for the poor fish that are about to be our dinner," Wyatt said to him.

"I don't think the fish are in much danger," Sam said and he was right. Riley was constantly pulling his line out of the water and checking to see if he caught anything.

"That kid is so impatient. Reminds me of me," Wyatt said.

DJ was more successful, but not at catching any fish. "I always catch a branch," he complained as he pulled it off his hook.

"That's more than I caught," Wyatt told him as he went over to help him.

Thanks to Mr. Jasper, they ended up with enough fish for dinner. Wyatt made the salad and Sam grilled the fish. It was delicious though Sam and DJ weren't big fans.

Done with after dinner clean up, they went to sit by the river and drink lemonade and eat some pound cake a neighbor brought to Mr. Jasper.

It wasn't long though before the old guy dozed off in his folding chair. All that fishing must have been tiring for him. He looked happy though, and Wyatt imagined him dreaming of his boyhood days fishing with his cousins.

 

Looking past him, Wyatt noticed that DJ kept peering down the river. He and Sam went to join him and Riley where they were sitting so they could leave Mr. Jasper to his nap. Wyatt was about to ask DJ what he was looking for when Riley piped up with his own question.

"Is he there?" he asked DJ.

DJ shook his head and looked sad.

"Who are you talking about?" Wyatt asked.

DJ didn't say anything just looked down at the water splashing a few inches from his feet. Riley answered instead. "Frogman is out there. He's DJ's friend and he's green, but he wasn't allowed to keep him."

"You had a pet frog?" Sam said.

DJ shook his head then spoke in a sad, mournful voice. "He wasn't real. He was just imaginary, and Dad said I'm not supposed to like things that aren't real, like imaginary friends."

"So Frogman was your imaginary friend?" Sam said while Wyatt went to sit closer to DJ.

"Yeah, but I had to send him away. I put him on a boat," DJ said.

"A boat?" Wyatt said to prompt him to keep talking.

"I made him a boat and put the boat in the water. Then I waved to him," DJ said and his voice cracked.

Wyatt put his arm around him. "So he's traveling the world on a boat. That sounds like fun." He wanted to make sure DJ didn't get too sad about it.

"Gloria has an imaginary friend who's a purple pony, but she's allowed," Riley said.

"I see," Wyatt said vaguely. He didn't want to contradict what Lloyd had told the boys so he looked for a loophole. "You can have an imaginary friend if you want, but they have to go to school or have a job, no slacking off."

"Spider-Man works. He has a job, and Superman too," DJ said getting a little excited about those high caliber candidates.

"Then they can be your friends," Wyatt said and he saw Sam grin at him over the boys' heads.

After the boys went off to let Barney and Brownie know that Spider-man and Superman were going to be their friends, Wyatt sighed and leaned his head on Sam's shoulder.

"Lloyd had all these rules I'm not crazy about, but I can't tell the boys that their dad was wrong and they can just toss those rules out the window," Wyatt said.

"I thought you handled that well," Sam told him and put his arms around him giving him a squeeze. He was wonderful.

"How did I ever find you?" Wyatt asked idly.

"As I remember it, Barney needed to pee."

"Now that's romance," Wyatt told him and gave him a kiss.

 

When they went home and it was the boys' bedtime, Sam had an idea. "Why doesn't DJ tell us a story about Frogman." He was sitting on the floor, leaning his back against DJ's bed while Wyatt sat across from him leaning on Riley's bed.

DJ hesitated though. "Dad said not to," he said and reached out to pet Brownie who had settled herself on top of his covers.

Once again when DJ became quiet and sad, Riley spoke up for him. "Dad told DJ, 'No fibbing, young man.' But DJ isn't a fibber. He was sad. And I did this." Riley then showed them how he put his arm around DJ. He leaned from his bed and tried to put his arm around Wyatt but of course he couldn't even come close. Riley's faith in his big brother was so touching to Wyatt.

"You're a good brother, and DJ is an honest kid," Wyatt said to the boys. He kissed Riley on the cheek and then went over and kissed DJ too. "You're good boys. I'm proud of you both." He saw that his words put a sweet little smile on DJ's face.

More than anything Wyatt wanted the little guy to know that he would always be on his side, no matter what.

 

As he and Sam left the boys to go to sleep, Wyatt was still preoccupied. He felt Sam rub his back and then lead him to sit on the couch and lean against him.

"You kind of amaze me," Sam said.

"Me?" Wyatt said and raised his head so he could look at him.

"You know just what to say. That means everything, having faith in someone, especially when they're little and so impressionable," Sam said. He was smiling but there was an unmistakable sadness in his eyes.

"Were you ever accused of lying when you were a kid?" Wyatt said, and judging by the way Sam's smile turned bitter, he had hit the nail on the head.

"All the time," Sam said. "There was always some accusation coming at me. I was every one of my relatives' favorite scapegoat. Then it was Brian accusing me of lying and cheating on him. My great-grandmother was the only one who knew better. When her boyfriend said I was the one who took money from her purse, she told me she knew it wasn't me. 'I know he did it, honey. But we'll let him think I believe him. It's better to let him get his way.' That was her way of dealing with him."

"I wish I had known about all this. I'm sorry," Wyatt said and he held him tight and kissed him. "Now you're staying over tonight so I can be extra nice to you, right?"

Sam let out a small chuckle and said, "I know I shouldn't but I will."

Wyatt could tell that he was still reluctant to give himself over to what they had, but every night and day spent together brought them closer. Wyatt hoped that one day Sam would wake up in his arms, open his eyes and know he was home.