Epilogue

Six Weeks Later

“Come in, come in! It’s so good to meet you at last, Jean-Paul!”

Cam’s mother hugged Jean-Paul like he was her long lost son, and kissed his cheeks with such gusto that they all laughed. His father was thankfully somewhat calmer, though his wide smile said he was as happy to meet his son’s man as his wife was.

“Welcome to the family, Jean-Paul,” he said. “Anyone who can handle my son is automatically one of us.”

They all laughed again as Cam brought in the bags and returned to get the coolers with the side dishes he had been instructed to bring. The house smelled of cinnamon and spices, of seasoned meats and delicious desserts. Cam wondered how many people his mother had cooked for, but wasn’t worried that the food would go to waste, as any leftovers were always carefully packaged and donated to a local food charity.

His dad took Jean-Paul up the stairs to show him the room they’d be sharing while his mother grilled him about his new ‘boyfriend’.

“He’s not a boyfriend, Mom,” he said. We’re too old for that to be the word you use.”

“He’s your lover, then. And a very handsome one.”

“Thanks, Mom. I like him just fine.”

His mother gave him the side eye and chuckled knowingly. “I’d say it’s a damned sight more than liking that you’re doing. No one who isn’t blind could miss the sparks flying off you two. Not to mention those love bites…”

Cam interrupted her, color stealing up his cheekbones. “Mom! For Pete’s sake, keep it down! You don’t want Jean-Paul to think we’re a bunch of savages who speak without filters.”

She chuckled merrily again. “I’ll do my best son.” Then she sobered and remarked, “I can feel the happiness rolling off you in waves. Jean-Paul has been good for you, and I hope he won’t break your heart.”

There was no time to reply, as Cam could hear his dad coming down the hallway with Jean-Paul in tow. They had decided to drive down instead of taking the train, and Jean-Paul had shown his gratitude to Cam for agreeing to such a long drive earlier that morning before they had left his apartment. The memory of the way Jean-Paul had taken him stirred his blood now, and he looked up at the sound of his name on his lover’s lips.

“Camden has told me a lot about his growing up years,” he told Cam’s dad.

“Well, that’s more than he has done for us,” his mom chimed in as they walked into the kitchen. “He hasn’t told us anything about you except that you’re French and work in the embassy in Washington.”

Cam had deliberately not made any mention of Jean-Paul’s lost family. He figured that was a story best left untold, unless Jean-Paul chose to share it himself. He turned away, ostensibly to put the mashed sweet potatoes in a dish to be warmed up. He felt Jean-Paul’s heat before he saw him and turned into his one-armed embrace, reeling in his surprise when he leaned in and kissed his cheek.

“Camden is very protective of my privacy,” he told Cam’s parents. “It is one of the things I appreciate most about him.”

Cam saw the pleased look that passed between his parents, but neither said anything as Jean-Paul continued.

“I promise to reveal all after dinner, but now I think perhaps we should help to get things ready, no?”

The day turned out to be one of the happiest Thanksgivings on record in the Archer household. The food was delicious – Cam had to agree with his mom that her turkey was better than his! – and the company was delightful. And, afterwards, Jean-Paul helped to package the leftovers into two sets...one set to return to DC with them, the other to be taken to the local food bank as soon as it was packed up. His dad was all set to make the run but Cam stopped him.

“It’s fine, Dad. Just give me the address and I’ll run it down myself. Wanna come with me, Jean-Paul?”

Surprising him for the second time that afternoon, Jean-Paul shook his head. “You can show me around tomorrow, Camden, but today I would like to spend a little more time getting to know your parents.” He smiled slowly. “Besides, I did promise to bare my soul to them after dinner.”

“That you did. Well, I’ll be back soon. Don’t start dessert without me!”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, son!” his mother said with a wink.

As he drove to the address he had plugged into his GPS, Cam thought about the past six weeks. After his weekend tryst with Jean-Paul over the Columbus Day weekend, they had spoken via Skype every day before Jean-Paul had driven up to visit him for the week of Halloween. In many ways, that had been the hardest week of his life, bar none, because he was so distracted that it showed at work. And he was always half hard at work, which was a serious inconvenience. But no one seemed to notice anything too different about him, except for his students and the principal, who called him on it by the end of Jean-Paul’s second day there.

“Is something wrong, Mr. Archer?” she had asked as he hurried out to his truck after school the day before Halloween. “You’ve been very antsy since yesterday.”

“No, Mrs. Baxter, nothing’s wrong,” he had told her. Because nothing was wrong. In fact, for the first time, everything really was all right.

She had looked doubtfully at him before saying, “You do know that if anything is wrong you can tell me, don’t you?”

Cam slowed his steps then, surprised at the genuine concern in her gaze. “I know, Mrs. Baxter, and thank you for your concern. But I promise you, I’m fine.” He had been about to walk away when it occurred to him to ask, “Would it be okay if I brought a friend along on Friday evening for drinks?”

Her face cleared immediately as she smiled at him. “Absolutely! Might this friend be someone special, Mr. Archer?”

Cam laughed then, and nodded. “Yes, ma’am. He might be.”

Cam loved that Jean-Paul had not stayed in the house waiting for him to come home to take him out. He had Googled things to do, and every day by the time he got home, and sometimes after he had, Jean-Paul had some story to share of his day’s adventures. He had met the neighbors’ children, and announced that Emily was the prettiest little girl he had ever met.

“Did you tell her that?” Cam had asked.

“She could not stop blushing,” he had replied with a smirk. “I think she is no longer in love with her hunky neighbor. The Frenchman has won!”

Life with Jean-Paul was definitely going to be filled with more laughter than it had been since Cam was a kid. He couldn’t be happier if he tried. And the sex was off the chain. Turning the last corner, he saw the place, and stopped his thoughts immediately. He was not sporting a woody while delivering food from his mother. He didn’t need to be gossiped about by strangers.

Back at home, he found Jean-Paul sitting on the back patio with a drink in his hand. His parents were nowhere to be seen. He walked over and leaned down to kiss him on the top of his head.

“Where are the parents?” he asked.

“They just stepped next door to say hi to their neighbors. They’ll be back in a few. How was the drive?”

“Not bad. There were a lot of people there. The food won’t last long at all.”

“Your parents want to know if we’d like to go to the beach tomorrow. I told them we would. They said you liked Daytona Beach, so that’s where we’re going. Saturday, your mom wants to take me to Old Town in Kissimmee, and maybe afterwards we can take in a show at Disney World, if you’re up for that?”

“Whatever you want to do is fine by me, babe.”

The hum of their mutual attraction was always on a simmer between them, but this was his parents’ back yard, and Cam wasn’t going to give them or anyone else any free entertainment. So, he stayed where he was instead of going to pull Jean-Paul out of his chair and kissing the hell out of him.

“So, did you tell them about your family?” A safe topic was best to keep the simmer low.

“I did, and they both said what you did.”

Cam looked over at him. “What was that?”

“That it sounds like I am suffering from PTSD and I should see a psychiatrist.” Cam stayed quiet, knowing he wasn’t done speaking. “I think I may take your advice after all.”

He couldn’t keep his seat after that. He got out of his chair and pulled Jean-Paul out of his and into his kiss, wrapping his arms around him and hugging him tightly.

“I’m sure you already have someone in mind whom you would recommend,” Jean-Paul added when Cam let him up for air. “Give me the information and I will make the call next week.”

“I love you, babe. You know that, right?”

“Yes, I know. I love you, too. And I am thankful for you, more than I can say.”

They kissed each other again, only letting go when someone cleared his throat. Cam pulled away, heat washing his cheeks, and looked at Jean-Paul. He was also blushing, but they didn’t let go of each other.

“Sorry to disturb you boys, but it’s time for dessert,” his father said.

The rest of their stay was happy and full of laughter and love. Jean-Paul fit in like a second son, and Cam could see that his parents’ affectionate acceptance of him was overwhelming for his lover. On Sunday, after they had packed the truck and were saying their goodbyes, Cam watched his mother wipe a tear from her eye as she embraced him.

“Don’t you be a stranger now, y’hear? Call us any time, or come by for a visit. You’ll always find a welcome here, son.”

The word hit Cam in the gut, and he could tell it had a similar effect on Jean-Paul, who swallowed and nodded, unable to speak. His dad had enveloped him in a bear hug and echoed his wife’s sentiments.

“I meant what I said before. You’re family now. We may not be able to make up for the one you lost, but we’ll give it our best shot!”

“Your parents are wonderful people,” Jean-Paul said into the silence of the truck as they drove away. “Thank you for sharing them with me.”

Cam reached for his hand and squeezed it gently. “What’s mine is yours, babe. Anytime.”

They had already decided that since Jean-Paul’s return to France had been moved up by a month, to coincide with the return of his predecessor, Cam would go back home to France with him, and they’d spend Christmas and New Year’s in Paris. He hoped by then the psychiatrist would have Jean-Paul working on strategies to help him with his fear. But whatever happened, he’d be there for him.

They had the rest of their lives to figure out where they wanted to live, and to help Jean-Paul learn to live fully again. And Cam would be by his side this time. Jean-Paul would never feel lonely again, even when he was alone. That’s what lovers were for. He realized, as they drove, that he would go anywhere with the man at his side. And he’d do anything to make him happy.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Jean-Paul’s voice interrupted his musing. He had been drowsily quiet for most of the drive, but now, as they came into the outskirts of the capital, he bestirred himself.

“I was just thinking about how happy you make me, and how I can return the favor.”

Jean-Paul reached for his hand and pulled it over the growing bulge in his pants. “I can think of one way,” he said, his voice growly with desire. “The sooner we can get home, the sooner you can do it.”

Life was going to be an adventure with Jean-Paul, and Cam was all on board for the ride. He grinned and shifted in his seat to ease his own plumping dick. Jean-Paul reached for the radio controls, searching for a station to listen to, no doubt to ease the sexual tension that had crept in between them. He, like Cam, wanted the pleasure to last, when they finally made love. He stopped at the first station that wasn’t scratchy with static, and Cam laughed at the lyrics being sung by a popular singer from the 80’s.

“Together forever” sounded like a really good idea. Cam couldn’t wait to spend forever with his French lover.