Dead to Me

Copyright © Pandora Pine 2018

All Rights Reserved

 

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, events, business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental.

First Digital Edition: May 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROLOGUE

September 2005…

 

Seventeen-year-old Tennyson Grimm’s palms were sweating. He wiped them against the thighs of his Sunday best pants and tried to take a deep breath. It didn’t help to calm his racing heart.

Today’s sermon at the Union Chapel Calvary Baptist Church had been about honoring thy mother and thy father, just like the fifth commandment bade. Tennyson had been keeping a secret from his parents. Two of them in fact. After listening to Pastor Greene preach about honoring your parents, Tennyson realized he had been breaking this commandment.

He’d been lying to his parents for some time now and that, for sure, was not honoring his mother or his father.

The problem with Tennyson’s secrets was that they were sins. According to Pastor Greene, sins were all the same in the eyes of the Lord, but he couldn’t help thinking they should be weighted differently.

He hadn’t killed anyone, which in his mind, was the big enchilada of all sins. Ditto for taking the name of the Lord in vain, having other gods, or worshipping false idols. He’d never understood those Catholics and their devotion to Mary or their pantheon of saints.

Tennyson kept the Sabbath, never stole anything, or committed adultery. Sure, he’d coveted things. Who hadn’t? He couldn’t imagine God sending him to the big bonfire down below for wishing he had Tim Miller’s killer ten-speed bike, but that was God’s call, not his own.

These sins of his weren’t listed in the commandments, but they were in the Bible. Technically, he hadn’t even committed one of them, but it would be a lifelong battle to keep it that way. The problem was, Tennyson didn’t want to fight that fight and wasn’t sure why he had to in this day and age.

The second secret, just like the first, wasn’t something he asked for or invited into his life. It was something he’d just gotten, like his dark eyes or his curly hair.

As he’d sat in the stifling hot church listening to the pastor rail against the evils of not honoring your mother and your father, Tennyson knew the time had come to tell his parents what he’d been keeping from them for so long.

The Grimms usual Sunday routine was the 10am service, the congregation picnic after church, where there was more witnessing and stories of how church members had come to find the Lord, Jesus Christ. Then there was Sunday School for the kids and Bible study for the adults, and then it was finally time to go home to do their weekly Bible reading. Cold sandwiches for supper followed, as even cooking a meal wasn’t allowed on the Lord’s day.

Tennyson was bouncing back and forth from foot to foot as he waited for his parents to come in the house. Their next-door neighbors, the Kearns family, had pulled into their driveway just as the Grimms had gotten home from church.  He could hear them all chatting through the open kitchen window.

The teenager’s nerves were in shreds. Every second that went by without him being able to tell his parents his secrets felt like an eternity. The secrets, lies, really, got heavier to hold by the second, which was ironic, as they hadn’t weighed very much this morning.  It was funny what a good dose of guilt could do for the soul. His inner Jiminy Cricket was screeching like the red alert siren from Star Trek.

Mercifully, the screen door opened and Tennyson’s parents came into the house. “Tennyson,” Kaye Grimm said, a frown on her face. “Why aren’t you reading your Bible? Today’s book is Romans.”

Tennyson should have known better. “Yes, mother. There’s something I wanted to talk to you and Dad about before we started our Bible study.”

Kaye raised an eyebrow. “You’re not ill, are you? That’s no excuse for skipping your Bible reading.”

It took all of Tennyson’s strength not to roll his eyes. “I’m not sick. I need to tell you two things. Pastor Greene’s sermon today inspired me to open up.”

David Grimm pulled out his usual chair at the head of the table. He loosened his plain blue tie and sat down. “Have a seat, son, and tell us what’s on your mind.”

Nodding, Tennyson walked around to his seat and sat down. He stared at his hands for a moment, taking a deep breath. When he looked up at his parents they were both staring at him with expectant looks on their faces. After all, he was keeping them both from the Book of Romans. He had a feeling the best way to do this was to just tell them both of his secrets and let the chips fall where they may from there. “Mom, Dad, I’m gay and psychic.”

The room was silent. No one spoke. No one breathed.

Tennyson wondered for a crazy moment if he’d said those words in his head and not out loud.

“What did you just say?” David Grimm asked. He was blinking so rapidly that it reminded Tennyson of a cheesy Rom-com and the moment just before the heroine dramatically fainted.

At least Tennyson knew now he’d said the words out loud. He wasn’t so sure he was brave enough to say them again. “I’m gay, Dad. I’ve known now for a couple of years. Same with being psychic. I know things about the future and I can also talk to spirits who’ve crossed over to the other side. I spoke to Mom’s Grammy last week. She told me that when Mom was little, she used to like to sit on the old porch swing and listen to crickets chirp after sundown. She thought they were singing to her.” Tennyson laughed nervously. Neither his mother nor his father laughed with him. Neither of them even smiled.

Tennyson expected to feel the weight of these secrets dropping from his shoulders like a one-ton barbell, but that didn’t happen. Instead, it felt like the weight had tripled. The burden of his parents’ wordless stares was crushing. He hoped one of them said something soon, otherwise, he might end up as flat as a pancake.

“You’ve known that you had the power of Satan in you for a few years now and you didn’t tell us?” Kaye asked. Her voice was soft, but filled with rage.

Tennyson opened his mouth to respond, but wasn’t given a chance.

“How many men have you lain with?” David’s voice wasn’t soft. It was harsh and filled with anger verging on fury.

“Dad, I’m seventeen years old. I haven’t lain with anyone! I’m following the Bible and saving myself for marriage.” Tennyson took a deep breath. This next bit was going to be harder to explain. “Mom, I don’t have the power of Satan in me. I have a gift. I can pass messages along to grieving families. Your grandmother died when you were only ten years old. You never got to say goodbye to her and you felt like she abandoned you. You carried that feeling around for years. How much better would you have felt if someone like me could have just told you that she was safe with God on the other side and that she would always be looking out for you. Every time you see a meadowlark, that’s her. She sends those birds to you as a sign of her love.”

Kaye Grimm pushed back out of her chair. She pointed a shaking finger at her son. “I cast you out, demon!” She rubbed her hands over her arms as if to warm herself. “There is no way you could know that my grandmother always told me those birds were little ‘I love yous’ from her to me.”

Tennyson did roll his eyes this time. It was obvious his mother was never going to understand his special gift. “I know because Grammy told me.”

Kaye looked shaken to her soul. She practically fell back into her chair. She looked to her husband, but did not say another word.

David’s dark eyes narrowed as he stared at his boy. He seemed to be considering his words very carefully. “You are my son, Tennyson. It is my job to raise you until you turn eighteen, which mercifully coincides with the day of your high school graduation.” His words were cold, without inflection or feeling, spoken as if to a stranger and not to his own flesh and blood. “I will continue to provide for your basic needs, food, shelter, and clothing, but nothing else. Once you have your diploma in hand, you will pack your things and leave my home forever. You will never again contact your mother or me. Lastly, you will not tell another living soul about the abominations you have confessed here today, nor will you speak to either of us about them again. As of this moment, you are dead to me.”

Tennyson felt frozen to the spot. If this were some corny After School Special, the dramatic music would have ramped up and the show would have cut to a commercial. This was no lesson-giving teen drama. This was his life and it just got real.

He stood up from the table, abandoning his well-worn Bible. Jesus had abandoned him in his greatest time of need. Why shouldn’t Tennyson abandon his Lord and Savior right back? From now on, the only person who could save him was himself.

 

 

1
Tennyson

October…

Psychic Tennyson Grimm’s eyes popped open. The bedroom he shared with his fiancé, Boston Police Cold Case Detective, Ronan O’Mara, was dark, but for the bathroom nightlight which provided enough illumination to navigate by. The room was silent, as was the street outside their bedroom windows, which had Ten wondering what could have possibly woken him up.

Sitting up in bed, the sheet pooled around his waist, coming to rest on his cotton pajama pants. With Ronan’s boss, Captain Kevin Fitzgibbon, and his teenage son, Greeley, living with them until they found a house of their own in Salem, Massachusetts, both Tennyson and Ronan had taken to sleeping in tee-shirts and pajama bottoms.

Ten was about to get up to use the bathroom when movement at the foot of the bed caught his attention. He could see a spirit sitting there. This was not an unusual occurrence for the psychic. He’d been getting nighttime visitations since he was thirteen years old.

“Hi there. I’m Tennyson,” he whispered, so as not to wake Ronan up.

The spirit turned and looked at him, but did not say a word. It seemed to be studying the psychic.

This sometimes happened. The dead, like the living, could sometimes be shy. Ten had learned to be patient over the years. He’d also learned that sometimes the recently dead had a hard time communicating with him. He had all night to wait for this ghost to find its voice.

The spirit stood and walked closer to Tennyson before sitting back down. It reached out a hand before pulling it back at the last minute. “Hello, son.”

“Dad?” Tennyson practically shouted.

Ronan startled next to him, coming fully awake in a heartbeat. “What is it, Ten? What’s wrong?” He flipped on the bedroom light. Ronan’s hand came up to shield his eyes against the bright light.

Ten mirrored the gesture. “You’re not going to believe this, but my father is here.”

Ronan looked stunned. He yawned, but the shock stayed in his eyes. “The father that kicked you out of his house on your eighteenth birthday because you were gay and psychic? The father who left a teenage boy alone in this world to fend for himself? The father who hasn’t been in contact with you for thirteen years? That father?”

Now that the room was brighter, Ten could see that the spirit sitting on his bed was indeed David Grimm. “Yes, Ronan, that father.”

“Well, excuse me if I don’t offer to shake his hand.” As if to prove his point, Ronan folded his arms over his faded Patriots tee-shirt.

Under any other set of circumstances, Tennyson would have laughed. Ronan looked so adorable with his blond bed head and grumpy disposition. Ten turned back to his father who was sitting patiently on the bed as if he had all the time in the world, which Ten supposed he did. “Hello, father.”

“Is there really a need to be that formal?” David Grimm raised an eyebrow in question.

“As my fiancé so eloquently pointed out, you kicked me out of our home to fend for myself on my eighteenth birthday without a penny to survive on, and you haven’t been in touch since that day. So yes, there is a need to be that formal. You’re lucky I’m even speaking to you at all.” All things being equal, Tennyson thought he was being damn charitable.

“Wait,” Ronan said, scratching his stomach. “If your father is here, that means he’s dead.”

“Well, give that man a prize. Some detective he must be. Master of the obvious…” David Grimm trialed off.

Tennyson’s dark eyes narrowed on his father. “Don’t you dare talk about him like that. Don’t you even look at him!”

“What? Is your old man dissing me?” Ronan laughed. “Don’t worry about me. I can take it. Detective Ronan O’Mara, sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Tennyson turned to Ronan. His mouth was hanging open in shock.

“What? He’s a guest in our house.” Ronan shrugged. “You don’t want me to be rude, do you?”

“Christ, the next thing you’ll be doing is asking for his permission to marry me.” Ten rolled his eyes. He supposed that was the only thing that could make this already strange encounter even more strange.

“How are Ronan’s injuries doing? Is he all healed from the shooting?” David asked.

“Healed from the shooting?” Ten was stunned. “How do you know Ronan was shot?”

“He knows I was shot?” Ronan laughed. He reached for the hem of his tee. “Do you want to see the scars?”

Ten reached out for Ronan’s hand. “Ronan, no. No one wants to see your scars. Ever.” It had been a point of pride for Ronan since he’d been released from the hospital back in August with a clean bill of health. Whenever anyone asked him how he was doing, he’d ruck up his shirt and show off the three puckered bullet wounds.

“It was all over the national news broadcasts when Ronan was shot. After your reality show aired, your mother and I followed both of your careers.” David sounded a bit sheepish.

Ten shook his head. “You followed our careers?”

“What’s he saying?” Ronan asked. “Sorry, David, my only superpower is stopping bullets with my mortal flesh. I don’t have Tennyson’s gift of speaking to the dead.” Ronan blanched. “Oh, sorry that you’re dead. What happened?”

Tennyson turned to look at Ronan who was wearing an earnest look on his face. He remembered back to the first case they’d worked together and how uneasy Ronan had been around Michael Frye’s spirit. There was no sign of that uneasiness now. Hell, Ronan was downright cheeky. “Yeah, Dad. I’m sorry that you’re dead too. What did happen?” Talk about being the master of the obvious…

“Massive heart attack.” David shrugged. “Too much bacon and not enough salad.” David shrugged. 

“Heart attack,” Ten said turning to Ronan. “When did this happen?”

“A few minutes before you woke up. This kind woman was waiting for me. Belinda, I think she said her name was.” David didn’t look certain of that fact.

“Bertha?” Tennyson guessed. “Do you mean Bertha Craig? About five foot nothing, real bossy attitude?”

David nodded. “Yeah, I guess Bertha was her name. She was kind of bossy and I was pretty confused. It was quite a thing standing next to my own bed and looking down at my body.”

“Is your father saying Bertha was there to meet him when he bought the farm?” Ronan asked. “I would have thought a different welcoming committee would have been waiting for him. A pitchfork brigade, rather than our sweet Bertha.”

“Jesus Christ, Ronan,” Ten muttered.

“Well, after what he did to you, can you tell me I’m off base here?” Ronan sounded defensive.

Tennyson couldn’t say that at all, so he kept his mouth shut. He was going to have words with Bertha though the next time he saw her. Ten was sure it was no coincidence she wasn’t here now. How on earth did she know his father had passed on? Was she watching his family for him in case something like this happened?

“So, this is your boyfriend?” David asked. 

“Fiancé, Dad. I’m marrying Ronan in November.” Tennyson flashed his ring in triumph.

“Calm down, Ten. It’s okay.” Ronan set a hand on his shoulder. 

“I heard you people could get married now,” David said simply.

“You people?” Tennyson could feel the old anger churning in his gut. “You people?” he shouted.

Dixie started barking at Tennyson’s raised voice. He could hear her nails clicking on the stairs, seconds later, she was barking outside their closed door. He should have known better than to start yelling at a ghost. Fitzgibbon would be knocking on the door at any second now with his gun drawn.

“Which people?” Ronan asked.

“My father just said that he heard ‘you people’ could get married.” Ten rolled his eyes so hard he was sure he was going to give himself a stroke.

Ronan laughed. “What, you mean gays? Hell, David, we’ve been able to tie the knot in Massachusetts since 2004. It’s half the reason Tennyson came to Massachusetts when you turned your eighteen-year-old son out of your house!” Ronan was shouting now too. “In case you didn’t know, Salem, Massachusetts is known as The Witch City, thanks to the Salem Witch Trials. Religious zealots, such as yourself, used the Bible to murder people for being witches. Spoiler alert, they weren’t actually witches. Now, Salem is a haven for people with gifts like Tennyson, and members of the LGBTQ community, such as ourselves.”

“Wow, he really stands up for you, doesn’t he?” David said.

“We really stand up for each other. This is what unconditional love looks like, Dad.” Tennyson pinched the bridge of his nose. He felt a headache coming on.

“Actually, that’s why I’m here.” David sounded serious.

“You’re here because of unconditional love?” Ten sounded dubious.

His father nodded. “I am. Your mother is the love of my life. We have a lot of friends back in Union Chapel, but you’re the only member of her family left…”

“No!” Tennyson half-shouted. Dixie started barking again and pawing at the bedroom door. “Don’t you dare ask that of me. “You kicked me out of your home, my home, at eighteen and I hear nothing from either one of you for the last twelve years, until now.”

“Please, son,” David begged. “Your mother needs you.”

“What’s he saying, Ten?” Ronan asked.

“He wants me to go home and comfort my mother. Isn’t that right, Dad?”

David nodded. “She’s going to need you, Tennyson. She’s not going to be able to handle the stress of planning my funeral and planning for the rest of her life without me. You have to help her.”

Ten turned back to Ronan. “He says my mother won’t be able to plan the funeral or the rest of her life without me.” He could feel the anger churning in his gut. Tennyson didn’t want this. He sure as hell didn’t ask for this. “Why doesn’t she just put you out with the trash on Tuesday? That’s what she did with me.”

“Tennyson, be reasonable…”

“Reasonable?” Tennyson thundered. “I was a scared child who couldn’t control who he was attracted to or the fact that I could talk to dead people and you kicked me out of your house like you’d never loved me at all. You told me I was dead to you. Well guess what, Dad? You’re dead to me! Now get the hell out of our house and don’t ever come back!”

The second his father’s spirit was gone, Ten wrapped his arms around Ronan and started to cry.

 

 

2
Ronan

Ronan was about to fall asleep in his second cup of coffee. Neither he nor Tennyson had been able to fall back to sleep after his future father-in-law’s visit last night.

Now, he was sitting inside a cozy booth at West Side Sweets, the bake shop that was adjacent to West Side Magick, the psychic shop that Tennyson and the Craig brothers operated their business out of in downtown Salem.

The bakery was co-owned by Cassie Craig and Truman Wesley. Cassie and Truman had been best friends and colleagues for years. They’d worked together in the Human Resources department of a company called Gemtronics in Lawrence, Massachusetts, until an incident at a Christmas party two years ago made them both reconsider their career options.

Tennyson was busy with a client, which gave Ronan some time to explain to everyone what had happened last night.

“This had better be good, asshole!” Fitzgibbon grumped as he slid into the booth across from Ronan. “Tennyson’s shouting woke me out of a dead sleep and I’ve been awake ever since.”

“At least we didn’t wake you up making wild monkey love!” Ronan waggled his eyebrows before he took a sip from his cup.

Fitzgibbon rolled his eyes in return. “Why the hell do you think I didn’t charge into the room with my gun drawn?”

“Ohh, a threesome?” Carson Craig asked, as he sat down next to Ronan. Carson was Truman Wesley’s husband and Tennyson’s best friend. “I hope someone was running the video camera.”

“I meant my actual gun, Carson!” Fitzgibbon pushed out a heavy sigh. “Dumb and Dumber were shouting the walls down last night.” Ronan’s boss shook his head.

“What’s going on?” Cole Craig, Carson’s younger brother and Cassie’s husband asked.

“Tennyson had a visitor last night,” Ronan started.

“That’s what the shouting was over? A ghost?” Fitzgibbon looked confused.

“Wait! There was shouting?” Carson looked concerned. “Tennyson never yells at spirits.”

“Guys, let me tell the story.” Ronan took a deep breath. “The nighttime visitor was Tennyson’s father.” Ronan paused to let the news sink in.

“Well, that certainly explains the yelling.” Carson shook his head.

“You didn’t know about this?” Ronan turned to Cole. “Either of you? Your mother was the one who was there waiting for David when he passed. Actually, she was the one who brought his spirit to Tennyson.”

“I…” Carson shook his head. “Wow. No, I didn’t know David was dead.”

“Ding, fucking dong, the witch is dead,” Cole sneered. “What happened?”

“Heart attack.” Ronan shrugged. “The visit from Ten’s father isn’t the worst part of the story.”

“Shit, the homophobic prick wasn’t harassing you both from the other side, was he?” Fitzgibbon looked sorry for his earlier angry outburst.

Ronan shook his head. “He was a bit behind the times in the way he spoke to us, but nothing Ten and I couldn’t handle. The reason he came to see Ten wasn’t to apologize for kicking him out at eighteen or never reaching out once he knew where to find him.”

Carson shook his head. “Okay, well then, why did he show up last night?”

“He seems to think Ten’s Mom will need help planning the funeral. Actually, he also said she’s going to need help planning out the rest of her life too.”

“Oh my God. That bastard wants Ten to go back to Kansas, doesn’t he?” Cole’s mouth was hanging open.

Ronan nodded. He still couldn’t believe the nerve of the man, thinking Tennyson would drop everything to go back to Kansas.

“What did Ten say?” Fitzgibbon asked. “I hope that’s what part of the yelling was over?”

“Yeah, it was. When Ten came out, David told Ten he was dead to him, so Tennyson hit him with the same line in return.”

Carson burst out laughing. “Jesus Christ, it’s funny because it’s true.”

Ronan snorted and started laughing too. It was the first time he’d smiled since he’d woken up to hear Tennyson talking to his father’s spirit last night.

“What’s he going to do? Is he going?” Cole asked.

“He told his father to go screw, but I wonder…” Ronan didn’t need to be psychic to know a trip to the Midwest was most likely in their future.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Fitzgibbon chimed in.

Ronan narrowed his eyes at his boss. “If he goes, I go, Cap. I can’t let him go to that Midwestern backwater alone. I’m just about ready to come back to work after being shot in the chest three times. Do you really want to be without your best detective again, so soon after the last time?”

Fitzgibbon barked out a quick laugh. “My best detective? Please! What the hell mirror do you look in, Ronan? I’ve got socks that are better at solving crimes than you. I would miss the hell out of Tennyson, though.” Kevin elbowed Cole, who was howling with laughter.

“Funny, Cap.” Ronan fake-laughed.

“If you and Ten need to go to Kansas, then go. I’ll manage at work with my other subpar detectives. Greeley and I will be happy to look after Dixie and the house while you’re gone.”

“Gone where, babe? Our honeymoon?” Tennyson asked as he strode up to the table.

“Damn, I thought your session lasted an hour.” Guilt was written all over Ronan’s face.

“Shit, were you telling them all what happened last night?” Ten raised an eyebrow at his fiancé.

Ronan nodded sheepishly.

“Good, it saves me getting angry all over again by retelling the story.” Ten grabbed a chair from another table and pulled it up to the booth. “You don’t actually think we should go to Kansas, do you?” His full attention was on Ronan.

Ronan took a deep breath. It wasn’t like him to waffle like this. He and Tennyson always told each other the truth. “You know what, Ten? I do. I think we should go.” He held up a hand to keep his fiancé from interrupting. “I know the timing isn’t good here. We’re getting married in a month and there’s a lot to plan and get ready for. I also know that there are a lot of bad memories waiting for you there. But, what better way to start our married life out on the right foot than to exorcise those old demons and free your soul.”

Tennyson raised an eyebrow at Ronan, but stayed silent.

“Okay, it’s a little soon to use that particular metaphor, but it is accurate,” Fitzgibbon said. “I will hold down the fort at your house and at work.

“Truman, Cole, and I can work on wedding plans while you’re gone,” Carson chimed in with a smile.

“We’re all just a phone call or a plane flight away if you need any of us,” Cole added.

“This is just like that old fantasy of going back for your high school reunion with a date ten times hotter than the person you took to the prom.” Fitzgibbon laughed.

“Well, Ronan is a lot hotter than my original prom date.” Ten shrugged.

“Who was your original prom date?” Carson asked curiously.

“Our next-door neighbor’s black lab named Duke!” Tennyson burst out laughing.

“At least I’m better behaved. I go to the bathroom indoors and I don’t hump your leg, anymore.” Ronan burst out laughing. 

Inside his head, he started making a mental list of all the things that could possibly go wrong during Tennyson’s homecoming trip. Ronan wanted to be prepared with possible solutions so he could be the one wielding a Whack-A-Mole mallet when the time came.

 

 

3
Tennyson

Tennyson had never been on an airplane before. Ronan had been more than happy to let him have the window seat for the nearly four-hour flight from Boston’s Logan International Airport to the Kansas City International Airport.

The one thing that shocked Tennyson the most was how at ease Ronan was on the plane. He would have expected the big burly cop to be as fidgety as a virgin bride on her wedding night, but Ronan had settled into his seat and had been nearly asleep before the plane had taxied away from the gate.

He was the one having trouble being trapped inside the flying tin can at twenty-seven thousand feet, even though his spirit guides had told him there wasn’t going to be any issues with the flight or the landing.

“Are you okay?” Ronan asked without opening his eyes.

“I still can’t believe we’re doing this.” Ten sighed. He was waffling back and forth between feeling anxious about going home and wanting to turn around and go back to Boston.

Ronan opened his eyes and turned toward his future husband. “Doing what? Flying? Going on vacation to Kansas? Not joining the Mile-High Club? Can you be a bit more specific?”

Tennyson snorted. With everything going on, he hadn’t given the Mile-High Club a second thought. “How the hell is that possible anyway? I was in that bathroom. There’s barely enough room for me to turn around, never mind enough room in there for you and your giant dick too.”

“You always manage to make it fit somehow, babe.” Ronan waggled his eyebrows.

“You’re ridiculous. You know that?” Ten started to laugh.

“Yup, but you love me anyway.” Ronan pressed a kiss to Ten’s lips.

It was true. Ten couldn’t deny it. Who the hell else would make this crazy trip with him except someone who loved him to the moon and back? “Ronan, what’s our plan here? My mother doesn’t know that I know my father is dead. She doesn’t know we’re coming. Hell, she doesn’t even know we’re a we.”

Ronan snorted. “Are you suffering from altitude sickness? None of what you said made any sense.”

“Yes, it did!” Tennyson grumped. He leaned closer to his lover. “Ronan, I’m scared. I haven’t seen my mother in thirteen years. The last time I saw her, she reminded me to never call her or come home again.”

Ronan’s nostrils flared out like an enraged bull about to charge. “At the end of the day, we’re doing the right thing here, Ten. Come hell or high water you’re going to your father’s funeral. You’ll pay your last respects and you’ll hold your head high. No matter what else happens while we’re there, no one can ever take that away from you. I just don’t want you to wake up five years from now and regret not going.”

“You have no idea how backward these people can be.” Ten shook his head.

“Uh, hello?” Ronan stuck his hand up in the air as if he wanted to answer a question in class. “Gay since birth! I think I have a bit of an idea. As liberal as Massachusetts is, don’t forget I spent twelve years in Catholic school. We had priests molesting little boys all over the place, but admit you were gay, and Jesus Christ, it was right up there on the sin list next to murder. They would have kicked me out of school if anyone even so much as suspected the truth about me.”

“Another witch trial, huh?” Tennyson hadn’t really considered what it was like for Ronan growing up in the church for all of those years. He’d always figured Ronan was safer because he lived in a place where gay kids weren’t tied to a fence post and beaten to death because they liked to kiss boys instead of girls. There were unique challenges to spending twelve years at a parochial all-boys school where you could look but never touch. “I’m sorry. I never thought about it like that. I’m just completely out of sorts here.”

“You’ve got me, Ten. We’re together in this all the way. It doesn’t matter how your mother treats us or even how the whole damn town reacts to seeing you again after all these years. You’ve got me and nothing on Earth could ever change that.”

“No one’s ever said anything like that to me before.” Ronan was his hero in more ways than one.

Ronan laughed. “Well, you’ve never known anyone like me before.”

“That’s for damn sure. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like if we’d known each other back in high school.” Ten wondered if they would have even been friends back then. Would Ronan have been the all-star jock who never would have given him a second glance or the boy who protected him and stood by his side no matter what?

“No one would have fucked with you. I can guarantee that.” Ronan’s tone brooked no argument.

“Yeah, well we wouldn’t have been kissing at our lockers or have been holding hands in the hallway on the way to class either.” Ten sighed. He would have given anything to have been able to have done that with Ronan at Union Chapel High School.

“Times have changed. Maybe Union Chapel changed with them.” Ronan sounded hopeful as he squeezed their joined hands.

“Do you think so?” Tennyson might not have been able to walk the halls of his high school with Ronan hand in hand, but maybe now they could walk down Main Street that way. It was something he’d sure be interested in finding out about.

Ronan shrugged. “For you, that town is stuck in a 2005 time warp. Nothing’s changed for you since the day you left. I bet when we get there, you’ll notice a hundred cosmetic things that have changed, right off the bat. If the landscape can change, so can the people.”

“I hope you’re right, Ronan.” Tennyson had no idea what was waiting for him back in Union Chapel, but one thing was certain, he would face whatever it was with Ronan at his side. He was no longer the scared teenager who had to face life alone. He had Detective Ronan O’Mara on his team and by his side.

 

 

4
Ronan

The flight into Kansas City was smooth as silk, not that Ronan had any inkling that it wouldn’t be. Tennyson wouldn’t have let them board the plane if there was going to be a hint of trouble. 

Ditto for getting their bags and renting a car. Everything had gone perfectly so far, and now they were driving on 273 North toward Tennyson’s hometown. Any impressions Ronan had of what he thought Kansas would look like were dead on. He’d never seen land so flat before. When he’d spent time in his Florida rehab, he’d thought the Palm Beach area was pretty featureless, but Florida had nothing on the breadbasket of America.

“What do you think?” Ten asked. He had the window of their rented Ford truck rolled down and the breeze was sending his curls rioting all over the place.

“It’s wide open and peaceful.” Ronan grinned at Tennyson over the rims of his Ray-Bans. “The wheat fields look like they go on forever.”

Tennyson laughed. “Oh, they do. Trust me.”

“This land is amazing, Ten.” Ronan held out his hand, threading his fingers with Ten’s when his fiancé linked their hands. “Back home, you have to drive for an hour outside of Boston to get to this kind of peace. This really is God’s country.”

“Could you live here?” Ten asked curiously.

“I could live anywhere as long as you were with me, babe.” Ronan meant every word, but he wouldn’t live in Kansas if the rent were free.

“That’s such a crock of bullshit!” Ten laughed before pressing a kiss to the hot skin of Ronan’s neck. “Tell me how you really feel, Columbo.”

“You’re the psychic.” Ronan waggled his eyebrows.

“It’s more fun when you just tell me the truth.”

“I don’t like places where religion overrules common sense and common decency. So, no, I couldn’t live here. I’m sure there are people who have no problem with two men loving each other and sharing a life together, but this is a red state, Ten. I’d like to get the hell out of Dodge as soon as possible.” Ronan kissed the back of Tennyson’s hand. “Plus, there’s no ocean here. No fresh lobster, no eighteen-inch ice cream cones, no Fitzgibbon and Greeley. Dixie would hate it here.” It made Ronan’s heart ache thinking about their four-month-old Papillon puppy being home without him.

“Why, because her Daddy Ronan does?” Ten rolled his eyes dramatically.

“All this humidity would wreak havoc on her fur!” Ronan declared. “She’d look like a tumbleweed in no time.”

“Now that’s just ridiculous.” Ten folded his arms over his chest.

“Are you questioning my parenting skills?” Ronan had a hard time holding back his giggle. Thankfully he was saved by the GPS instructing him to turn left onto 20 West.

“Of course not,” Tennyson said and shivered.

“Hey, you okay?” It was eight-five degrees out and they had the windows rolled down. Why the hell was Tennyson shivering. “Is your father here?”

Ten shook his head. “This is Route 20. In a mile or two, it’s gonna turn left again and dump you onto the main street of Union Chapel. We’re close, Ronan.” There was a tremor of obvious nervousness in his voice.

“I’m ready to do this. How about you?” Ronan’s voice was calm and rock solid. “All anyone remembers is the boy you were when you caught that Greyhound bus out of town. This is your chance to change their perspective of you. It’s just like when you came to Salem. You got to show your new hometown exactly who Tennyson Grimm really was on the inside. You’re just doing it in reverse now. Show these Union Chapel fuckers the real you, babe. I love the real Tennyson Grimm and so will they.” Ronan’s grin was as bright as the sun. “And if they don’t, fuck them! They aren’t worth our time.”

Tennyson started to laugh. “Fuck them? I don’t know, Ronan. That could be a long list of people. I don’t think my ass could take the pounding.”

Ronan snorted. “You’re such a dork.”

“Yeah, but I’m your dork.” Tennyson batted his eyelashes.

“Thank Jesus for that!” Ronan laughed again. “Look, we’re gonna pay our respects to your mother, go to your father’s funeral, and do anything around the house that your mother needs done, and then haul ass out of town. We’ve got a puppy that I’m missing like hell and a wedding that’s less than a month away.”

“Not to mention squatters we need to find a home for.” Ten started to laugh again.

“Not that I mind so much having Greeley living with us, but my boss? Shit, man, that kind of sucks sometimes. I go to tell you a story about what a dick Fitzgibbon was today and the dick in question is standing behind me. It’s eerie, like he has bat radar or something.”

Ten nodded. “Here’s where 20 turns left and it becomes Main Street.”

Ronan put the truck into park at the stop sign since there was no one behind him. He couldn’t see another car for miles. “Never forget that you are the Tennyson Grimm I know and love from Salem, Massachusetts. The Tennyson Grimm you were here in Union Chapel died the day you crossed the county line. You hear me? You hold your head high and show these people the real you. That includes your mother. Don’t hide who you are to conform to these small-minded bigots.”

Ten nodded, burying his face in the crook of Ronan’s shoulder. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too. Now, I’ve gotta see this one-horse town for myself.” Ronan bounced his eyebrows and threw the truck into gear. He purposely drove slowly, not wanting Tennyson to miss any of the details. All of the buildings were brick faced and joined together in a row, with each building painted a different color. It kind of reminded Ronan of a quaint New England town with shopfronts below and apartments above.

“Chick’s Hardware is still in business. That store was here when I was a kid.” Ten was pointing to a building with a red brick top and a white storefront. There were sale signs for leaf blowers and bags hanging in the windows.

“Chick is the family’s name?” Ronan wondered how many times the man had been clucked at in his lifetime.

“No, Chick is the owner’s first name. Chick Huckabee. God, he was old when I was a kid. He probably farts dust now.” Ten snorted.

Ronan rolled his eyes, but kept silent. He didn’t want to interrupt Tennyson’s trip down memory lane.

“Oh, Pop’s Store is gone,” Ten said sadly. “They sold greeting cards, over the counter meds, and candy. The Main Street Café is there instead.”

Ronan set a hand on Ten’s knee. “I love the bistro tables. Looks like a nice spot to have lunch.”

“Yeah,” Ten agreed, sounding a bit sad. “Ruth’s Market is still there. It’s the only grocery store in Union Chapel. Though now I assume there are larger chain stores in the area.” Ten pointed out his own window at a cute white-washed brick structure with a neon sign advertising Lotto America and Powerball. “Of course, this is also the spot for local gossip.”

“Everyone’s gotta eat,” Ronan agreed. He looked up ahead and saw a stop sign that looked like it heralded the end of Main Street. Wait, that couldn’t be it, could it? It was only half a mile or so long. Up ahead, on his side of the street, he could see what looked like a bicycle repair shop and a coffee shop. On Ten’s side of Main Street, he could see a striped barber pole and a hair salon and what he thought looked like a used bookstore. He didn’t think that store looked like it was in business any longer.

“Wow,” Ten sighed. “This is pretty sad.”

“You mean how much it’s changed?” Ronan squeezed Ten’s thigh.

“No.” Ten shook his head. “How much it’s all stayed the same. The barbershop and hair salon were here when I left, same with the coffee shop. The bike store is under new management, but it was here too. Same with the bookstore, but in this day and age of eBooks and Kindles, who really buys many physical books now anyway?” Ten shrugged. “This shop is a perfect example of Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution: evolve or die. Union Chapel hasn’t evolved, Ronan.” Sighing, Ten turned away to look back out the window.

Ronan couldn’t help thinking that a town smack dab in the middle of the Bible Belt wouldn’t have believed in Charles Darwin or his crackpot theory in the first place. Its bookstore had paid the price for not evolving with the times. He couldn’t help wondering if he and Tennyson would be the next victims of a town stuck in the past, whose ideas and ideals hadn’t bothered to evolve either.

 

 

5
Tennyson

Tennyson’s mind was spinning like a top in a tornado as he gave Ronan directions to his parents’ house. His mother’s house now, he supposed.

The butterflies in his stomach were in full riot mode by the time Ronan pulled up to the ranch-style home on Locust Street. It was painted the same plain light blue color it had been the last time he’d seen it as his father pulled out of the driveway to take him to the bus station in 2005. The shrubs were neatly trimmed and the welcome mat was out. Tennyson couldn’t imagine he or Ronan were going to be very welcome when they rang the doorbell.

“Maybe no one’s home,” Ronan said, breaking Ten out of his own head. “There’s only one car here.”

Tennyson shook his head. “No, she’s home.” He pointed to the light blue, late model Toyota sedan in the driveway. They only ever had one car. My father drove her everywhere.”

Ronan frowned. “Does she know how to drive? Christ, if she doesn’t, it’s gonna suck teaching her how before we go back home.”

“I’m not sure.” Ten shrugged. “If not, she’s gonna need to learn damn fast. I don’t think Ruth’s Market has a home delivery service like the supermarkets back home do.”

Ronan snorted. “Makes me miss Boston traffic already.”

“Me too.” Ten nodded. “Come on, City Slicker. Time to make a house call.”

“You sure about this?” Ronan cupped Tennyson’s face in his big hand.

“No, but I’m sure that you’ve got my back.” Ten didn’t want to get out of the truck. He wanted Ronan to turn it back around and hightail it out of Union Chapel as quickly as he could. If they drove like a bat out of hell, they could catch a dinnertime flight out of Kansas City and be back home in their bed by midnight.

“Damn straight I do.” Ronan kissed him on the lips.

Tennyson giggled like a schoolgirl. “That’s the first time a boy has ever kissed me in my driveway.”

“Stick around, there’s a lot of things we’re gonna do in Kansas you’ve never done before, Nostradamus.” Ronan dropped a sexy wink. “Don’t move.” He hopped out of the truck.

Ten watched in awe as Ronan walked around to his side of the truck and opened the door for him like he was a prince. Ronan did this for him a lot when they were back home, but he couldn’t help wondering if this was for show now. Maybe Ronan’s plans for him in Kansas might be worth sticking around to see them come to fruition.

Small towns in the Midwest were the same as small towns in the Northeast. Everyone was up in everyone else’s business. This was a strange truck parked in front of the Grimm’s house. He knew everyone that was home had their faces pressed against their front room windows and were on the phone with everyone else who wasn’t home. Hell, if this community had evolved with the iPhone revolution like the rest of the country, his mother’s neighbors were snapping pictures like private detectives and sharing them across town at the speed of Verizon.

“Sir,” Ronan said as he opened the door with a flourish of his arm.

“You know we’re being watched and probably filmed, right?” Tennyson couldn’t help feeling smug satisfaction over that small fact.

“Of course I do. I’ve seen curtains twitching up and down the street as we drove in. It’s creepy, huh?” The look on Ronan’s face was grim.

Ten nodded and looked up at the white front door. It looked innocuous sitting there like it always had, but his stomach was tied in knots nonetheless.

“It’s just a front door.” Ronan picked up his hand. “Let’s get this over with.”

Ten took the first step toward the door and found the second and third ones were easier to take especially with Ronan at his side and holding his hand. When they reached the door, Ten didn’t hesitate. With a shaking hand, he reached out and rang the bell.

He looked over at Ronan as they waited for Kaye Grimm to answer. It seemed to be taking longer than it should for her to come to the door. Maybe she was nervous too. Or maybe she knew it was him and wasn’t going to open the door for her disowned son and his gay lover.

Ronan was reaching out to ring the bell for the second time when the door opened. A well-put-together, older woman answered the door. “May I help you?” The glint in her sharp, dark eyes indicated she knew full well who was standing on her doorstep.

“Hello, Kaye. It’s Tennyson. This is my fiancé, Detective Ronan O’Mara, but you already know that. David sent us here.” Tennyson couldn’t keep the self-satisfied smirk off his face at throwing David’s visit in her face.

“David sent you here? That’s impossible. David is dead.” She turned her nose up at her son and didn’t bother to look Ronan’s way at all.

“I’m a psychic medium, remember? He visited me after he passed, asking me to come out here.”

“I don’t believe a word you’re saying, you charlatan!” Kaye’s voice was full of anger.

“Mrs. Grimm, I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. Perhaps it would be better if we held this discussion inside the house so that your neighbors don’t hear every word?” Ronan hooked his thumb over his shoulder to the gathering throng of neighbors milling around the end of the driveway with curious looks on their faces.

Kaye Grimm’s eyes seemed to search Ronan up and down as if she were looking for some kind of fault in him.

“I assure you I’m clean and housebroken, ma’am,” Ronan offered with a grin.

“Your kind of contamination is the kind you can’t see from the outside, now is it, Mr. O’Mara?” Her shrewd eyes narrowed to near slits like an owl.

Tennyson opened his mouth to defend Ronan, but stopped short of speaking when his fiancé squeezed his hand.

“Ten, why don’t you tell Kaye about David’s visit the other night when we were sleeping.”

“Sure thing, honey!” Tennyson practically yelled. He knew the pet name would have the neighbors drooling.

“In the name of all that’s holy, get inside. Both of you.” Kaye pulled the door back wide enough for both of them to walk into the house.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Ronan smiled, but it didn’t reach his cold blue eyes.

Tennyson tried hard not to gasp out loud when he saw that nothing much had really changed in the house since the last time he’d been inside. He was standing near the small tidy kitchen which still had the same dark wood cabinets he grew up with. The same white farmers sink was still directly across from him. The only difference he could see was that the fridge and stove were new, stainless-steel models.

“You can both sit at the table,” Kaye said from behind them.

Ten startled at the sound of her voice and moved toward the small table on the other side of the kitchen cabinets. It was the same round table for four he sat at when he came out to his parents all of those years ago. He deliberately sat in the “guest” chair rather than the one that had always been his own during meals and Bible study. He couldn’t help but notice his father’s well-worn Bible was sitting at David’s usual place at the table.

“Why are you here, Tennyson? And why did you bring this…” Kaye paused, she seemed to be searching for the right word to use. “This man here with you? Haven’t you disgraced this family enough already?” She sat at the table and folded her arms in front of her.

Instead of answering his mother right away, Ten took a moment to study her. In her early fifties now, Kaye Grimm certainly looked her age. She had age lines around her eyes and lips, and her hair color definitely came from a bottle. Never a drinker or a smoker, Ten would guess that she looked her age due to guilt. It could do awful things to a person over the years.

Doing the one thing he swore he wouldn’t do without his parents’ permission, he read his mother. She was afraid of him. That was interesting. She wasn’t afraid that he would do her physical harm. Oh no, the harm he could do her reputation here in Union Chapel was something she was terrified of. She also saw Ronan as a wildcard. Knowing he had a good reputation back in the land of the Yankees, she knew she had to watch her step where he was concerned.

“Yes, Kaye, Ronan does have a stellar reputation with the Cold Case Unit of the Boston Police Department.” He shut his mouth and waited for her reaction.

Her dark eyes popped open in shock before a mask of hate took over her features. “How dare you bring the devil’s gift into my home like that?”

“I’m rather well thought of in the BPD as well. Aren’t you proud of me, Mom?” Ten deliberately drawled out that last word just to goad her a bit. “This gay midwestern psychic making it big in Boston. Who would have known, huh?”

Kaye’s nostrils flared, but she stayed silent, glaring at her son.

Ten exchanged a wordless glance with Ronan. He knew Ronan was on his side no matter how he chose to play this situation with his mother. Rather than be a dick here, he just decided to go with just the facts, a la Joe Friday. “I was sound asleep in our bed the other night when a spirit woke me up. That’s been happening to me since I was thirteen years old. You never knew it was happening, because I never told you about those visitations. You always said you could sense the devil in other people, so I guess the devil isn’t in this gift, because I had it for four years before I even told you and Dad about it.” Ten shrugged.

Kaye gasped. Her mouth fell open and stayed that way.

“The Bible is just a book, Mom. Mortal men wrote it. I know you and Dad based your entire life around it, but you only chose to follow certain parts of it. We ate bacon for breakfast three or four times a week. We ate seafood too. Yeah, you followed the part about men not laying with other men and psychics being off the table too, but you forgot the most important words in the whole book.” Ten offered Ronan a smile.

“Oh, and what would those words be?” Sarcasm tinged Kaye’s voice.

“Love one another as I love you,” Tennyson said simply. “That was Jesus’ one commandment. You broke it. So did Dad. I forgive you both. I did a long time ago.”

Kaye’s face turned beat-red. Her hands balled into fists on the table. “How dare you come into my home after I barred you from ever coming back here and preach to me like this? I don’t need your forgiveness!” She was shouting now. Spittle flew from her lips to land on the table in front of her.

“You might not, but Dad did.” Ten shrugged. He wanted those words to sink in with his mother. After listening to his father say they’d watched his and Ronan’s reality show about the Frye case, he had no doubt they’d discussed him and if they should reach out to him at some point. “He said he had a massive heart attack in his sleep and that you were going to need help planning his funeral and the rest of your life without him. He begged me to come here and help you out, so here we are.”

“You’re lying!” Kaye’s dark eyes blazed with rage.

“Why, Kaye?” Ronan asked. His voice was cool and controlled. No hint of his emotions played over his face.  “Tennyson and I have lives of our own back in Boston. We bought a house a few months back. I’m still recovering from being shot in the chest in August. We have a four-month-old puppy we miss more than our next breaths and Monday is supposed to be my first day back at work in the Cold Case Squad. Not to mention that Ten had a booked schedule full of readings with clients this week that his other partners in the business are now having to take on or reschedule. We don’t follow your lives here in Kansas. Unless David had visited us the other night, we would never have known he’d passed on.”

“Dad was wearing grey pajamas pinstriped with red and dark blue piping. He said the reason for his heart attack was too much bacon and not enough salad. He also said you both watched our reality show and followed our careers in the months after that show aired. You both knew Ronan had been shot.” Ten gave Ronan a knowing look. He wasn’t ashamed to use his gift to prove to his mother that he was, in fact, telling the truth about David’s visit. “You’re not angry that Ronan and I are here, Kaye. You’re terrified that we’re going to do or say something that’s going to bring your perfectly orchestrated life crumbling down around you.”

Kaye’s mouth dropped open. Only a squeak came out.

Tennyson pushed on, “You didn’t tell anyone the real reason why I ended up on that Greyhound bus. You told them all that leaving Union Chapel was my idea; that I had my sights set on something bigger than this piss-ant town. They all believed you because you fanned the gossip with stories about me always having been too big for my britches and lies about me having been corrupted by the people I’d met; that they’d turned me gay. That these friends infected me with the devil and that’s where I got my psychic abilities from. Now, you’re just plain scared that I’m going to blow up your perfectly crafted fairy tale and everyone will know you for the liar that you are.” He folded his arms in front of him on the table and just waited for his mother’s response.

Tears dripped from Kaye’s perfectly made up eyes. Her mascara ran down her ruddy cheeks, but she made no move to wipe the tears away. “I always knew somehow that you’d be back here to ruin my life.”

Ronan got up from the table and walked into the kitchen.

Tennyson sat at the table in shock as he listened to his fiancé rummage first through fridge and then through the cabinets.

“Your husband’s been dead for two days, Kaye, and there’s barely any food in the house. I see two casserole dishes that concerned neighbors have dropped off to you to keep you going in your time of need. Where are all of your friends? Your congregation?” Ronan strode over to the table and sat back down.

Kaye didn’t look at him.

“Hey!” Ronan slapped a hand down on the table, making everything on it jump. Kaye’s bloodshot eyes jumped to him. “By the looks of things, we’re all you’ve got here. Do you even know how to drive? Have you started planning his funeral yet? Do you know if David took care of you financially? Is the house even yours or did he leave it to your church?”

Kaye’s eyes popped wide open at that question.

“See, you don’t even know, do you?” Ronan stood up and pulled out his wallet. He took out one of his business cards and set it down on the table in front of her. “My cell number is on here. When you decide to get off your high horse and ask for help, I’ll answer your call. If not, Tennyson and I will take care of your husband’s funeral arrangements ourselves.” Ronan looked at Tennyson. “You hungry, babe? I could use some lunch.” Ronan grinned at his lover.

“I’m starved and tired from the plane flight.” Ten held his hand up to Ronan. He couldn’t resist being dramatic.

“We’re going to grab lunch at that lovely little café downtown and then we need to find a place to stay for the night. If you need anything or decide to help us plan David’s funeral. You know how to reach out to us.” Ronan dragged Tennyson toward the front door, before pausing. “I’m very sorry for your loss, Kaye.” With that, Ronan walked Tennyson out the front door.

 

 

6
Tennyson

 Tennyson was quiet as Ronan drove back toward Main Street. Even though he’d given his mother a piece of his mind, there was no joy in it for him. He’d seen genuine fear in her eyes when Ronan was asking her questions about the house and if David had provided for her future.

“We’re here,” Ronan said as he shut the rented Ford off. “You okay?”

Ten shrugged. “Let’s talk over lunch. I’m starving.”

Ronan leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You got it.”

Ten hopped out of the truck and looked up the Main Street Café sign. It was white with black calligraphy. It looked like a nice place to have lunch and figure out what their next step would be.

“Ready?” Ronan grabbed his hand and led Ten to the door, which he opened for him.

When they walked in hand in hand, Ten couldn’t help but notice everyone in the place stopping to look at them. “Have a seat anywhere. Someone will be right with you, honey,” a harried looking waitress called out as she walked past with a tray of sandwiches.

Ronan led them to a booth in the middle of the place and took the seat facing the door. He grabbed two of the plastic-cased menus and handed one to Ten.

Instead of reading his, Ten was looking at all of the faces in the café. Thirteen years was a long time to be away from a town, but he figured he should be able to recognize someone here, shouldn’t he?

“Hey, boys, I’m Pamela, can I start you off with something to drink?” Pamela was blond with blue eyes and was wearing a white and black café tee-shirt that matched the sign out front, and a pair of tight fitting black jeans. She looked like she was about nineteen years old.

“We’ll both have sweetened iced tea, please.” Ronan answered.

“Cat got his tongue?” Pamela hooked her thumb at Tennyson.

Ronan shook his head. “We just flew in from out of town for a funeral and he’s dead tired.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, sugar. Is the person someone from Union Chapel?” She batted her eyes at Tennyson.

Ten had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. Pamela had obviously missed them holding hands with each other when they’d walked in the door. “David Grimm. Do you know him?” Tennyson wasn’t ready to spill the beans just yet about David being his father.

“Oh sure! I know David. He and his lovely wife, Kaye, are regulars here. Come in a couple times a week for lunch and on Friday nights for dinner. He was always a big tipper. I’m so sorry that he died.” Pamela looked sorrier to lose the regular tips than she was that David was dead. “I’ll be back with your drinks.”

“His lovely wife?” Ronan shook his head in seeming disbelief.

“When you’re straight, I’m sure my mother is quite lovely to be around.” Ten shrugged and picked up his menu. He wasn’t much interested anymore in who was in the café. He just wanted to eat and find a place to lay his weary head.

“Here we are guys, two sweetened teas.” Pamela set the drinks down and gave them straws. “Any idea what you’d like to eat?”

“I’d like the turkey avocado club and the broccoli cheese soup.” Ronan offered the waitress a smile.

“I’ll have the same thing.” There was no use reading through the menu. What Ronan was getting was fine with him.

“Pamela, are there any hotels or Bed and Breakfasts here in Union Chapel? We booked our flight here last minute and didn’t have a chance to book a room before the flight left Boston.” Ronan offered the waitress another charming smile.

“Don’t you mean rooms?” She offered Ronan a wicked grin.

“No, honey, he meant room.” Tennyson flashed his engagement ring at the presumptuous bitch.

Pamela looked back and forth between Tennyson and Ronan for a few seconds before what Tennyson said seemed to sink in. “Oh,” she said, taking a step back. “I think there’s a Best Western over in Denton, but you might want to call ahead. I don’t think they like your kind over there.”

“What kind would that be, Pamela? Paying customers?” Ronan’s sunny look darkened. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his badge which he held up for her to see. “I’m Detective Ronan O’Mara of the Boston Police Department. Is there going to be a problem with my kind getting prompt, courteous service, ma’am?”

“Is there a problem here?” a gentleman dressed dark jeans and café tee-shirt asked. “I’m Cal Farmer, I’m the owner.”

“Cal Farmer?” Ten asked. “From the class of ’05?”

“Do I know you?” Cal asked curious.

“Tennyson Grimm.” Ten smiled at his old high school classmate. He had no idea Cal was the kind of man who would stay in Union Chapel or the kind of man who liked to cook.

“Tennyson! I can’t believe it’s really you! I heard a rumor you were in town and with a handsome man to boot.” Cal winked at Ronan.

Ten’s gaydar was sending out a red alert. He had no idea back in high school that Cal Farmer was just like him. Damn, that would have been good information to have back then. “It’s me all right. This is my fiancé, Ronan O’Mara.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ronan.” Cal shook his hand. “Pamela, put their orders in and put them on my account, please.” He watched her walk away before sitting down in the booth next to Tennyson. “I swear, that girl is pretty enough to look at if you’re into that sort of thing, but her soul is blacker that a West Virginia coal mine.”

Ronan burst out laughing. “Well, it’s nice to see that we’ve got family here in the great state of Kansas. I was worried that it was going to be me and Ten against the whole damn town.”

“We aren’t as freewheeling as you guys are back in New England but we aren’t hiding out at the one gay club in Kansas City anymore, either.” Cal grinned at Tennyson.

“There’s a gay club in KC?” Ten’s mouth dropped open.

“Honey, there’s a shitload of them now, but back when we graduated from high school, there was just one, The Trojan Horse, over on 16th Street. Cowboy up!”

Ten couldn’t help himself. He started to laugh. “How long have you known?” He pitched his voice low.

“What? That I was a butt pirate? Since I was about thirteen. I was smart enough to wait to come out though until I graduated from Kansas State with all of my tuition paid in full. My mama didn’t raise no fool. I didn’t want to end up like you…” Cal gasped and quickly slapped both hands over his mouth.

“How do you mean, you didn’t want to end up like me?” This should be good. Ten focused all of his attention on Cal.

“Well,” Cal yanked at the white collar of his tee-shirt as if it were suddenly cutting off his oxygen. “Your mother told everyone you were off to conquer the world, that Union Chapel was just too small for you, but I knew the real reason you left on that bus and that it wasn’t your idea to leave.”

“Tell me what you mean.” Ronan’s tone brooked no argument.

Cal turned to Ronan. “I knew Tennyson was gay, just like me. I was so scared about what would happen if I told him about me that I kept my mouth shut and stayed in the closet. After I finally came out and word got out around town about what I really was, Kaye started treating me differently. She started turning her nose up at me, wouldn’t say hello when we met at Ruth’s Market or at church. I knew that if she was treating me that way, then she and David put you on that bus out of town on graduation day.”

“Jesus Christ,” Ronan muttered under his breath.

“I mean, she and David have been good customers of mine over the years, but I’m not shedding a tear over your father’s death, if you’ll excuse my saying so, Tennyson.” Cal looked around the café before turning back to Tennyson. “I think you’ll find other people in town who feel the same way I do about their attitudes.”

Ronan nodded. “David’s been dead for two days and the Baptist casserole brigade hasn’t paid a visit yet. All I saw were a couple of dishes from Kaye’s friends.”

“What does that tell you?” Cal shrugged. “Usually people in small towns bring by dishes to be neighborly or to get the latest gossip. People around Union Chapel aren’t even interested in that with Kaye anymore. Although I suppose Butch and Sundance showing up might bring out a token tuna casserole or two.” Cal’s green eyes sparkled.

“Butch and Sundance?” Ronan snorted.

“I get to be Butch.” Tennyson pointed at himself.

“The hell you do, Sundance!” Ronan laughed.

“Damn,” Cal sighed. “The two of you make one hell of a pair.”

“We’ve been through a lot together.” Ronan pulled down the collar of his battered Celtics tee to show off the three puckered bullet holes in his chest.

“Holy shit, Tennyson! You shot your fiancé?” Cal’s eyes were so wide, they were practically popping out of their head. “I mean, I heard that Boston was a tough city, but man, I had no idea it was that tough!”

Ten rolled his eyes heavenward. “Jesus, Cal! I didn’t shoot Ronan! Although there are days when he sorely tries my patience.”

“Thanks, Petunia. A serial killer did this to me back in August. Ten’s been there by my side for every step of my recovery.” Ronan beamed at Ten from across the table.

“Wow, I can’t even get a man to stay by my side until the sun comes up.” Cal threw his hand up with a flourish.

Tennyson had no witty comeback for that, aside from suggesting handcuffs and he knew that was wildly inappropriate. Besides, Ronan had left his at home. “We need a place to stay while we’re in town. Pamela mention the Best Western in Denton. Is it any good?”

Cal rolled his eyes dramatically. “Only if you want a raging case of gonorrhea or some heroin.”

Ronan snorted and started to laugh. “Pass on both. Thanks, for the kind offer though.”

“That goes double for me,” Ten chimed in.

“Try the Inn at Hawthorne Lake. It’s over in Fairmont Springs, about half an hour out of Union Chapel. You’ll be able to share a room without word of it getting back to people here. Plus, it’s a gorgeous old mansion. You’ll both love it there.”

“Oh, it is gorgeous!” Ronan turned his phone around to show Ten.

“Wow!” It was a red brick building with four white marble Doric columns gracing the façade. “I love it. Book it!”

“Does it matter which room?” Ronan looked pretty excited too.

“Which ever one has the best view and the biggest bed!” Ten waggled his eyebrows at Ronan.

“Here are your lunches.” Pamela set the soup and sandwiches down in front of Tennyson and Ronan. Tennyson’s soup bowl bounced and some of the soup puddled in the saucer.

“Pamela,” Cal warned in a low voice.

“I’m sorry, Cal, but these two are those kinds of people. I didn’t want to get too close.”

“What kinds of people would that be?” Cal stood up from the booth, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Well, they’re together.” Her brows furrowed when her boss didn’t seem to be catching on.

“Yes, I can see they’re sitting in the booth together. What does that have to do with your awful customer service?”

“They’re a couple,” she deadpanned, as if that explained it all.

“Oh!” Cal slapped a hand against his forehead. “You mean they’re gay, right? And you think it’s okay to give gay customers subpar service in my restaurant? Did I ever tell you I’m gay, Pamela? Hmm, no, I didn’t, because I know what a rude Bible thumping bitch your mother is and she raised you with her homophobic views. So, as far as I see it, you’ve got two choices here, apologize to my friends for you appalling behavior or hand in your apron.”

The waitress’s mouth dropped open, but no sound came out.

Tennyson almost felt bad for the young girl. Almost. From what little he’d seen of Union Chapel there didn’t seem to be a lot of jobs around here for someone of her age and limited skill set. It was either this or the McDonalds he’d worked at when he was a teenager.

“I’m sorry I was so rude.” Pamela ducked her head.

“Good choice. Now get back to work.” Cal waved her away with his right hand before turning back to Tennyson and Ronan. “Guess I’m going to need to hold a class in sensitivity training.” Cal rolled his eyes. “Enjoy your lunch and let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you while you’re in town.”

“Cal,” Ten said, “if it’s not too much to ask, can you come to the funeral? I’d hate for it to be just me, Ronan, Kaye, and the coffin.”

Cal frowned. “It is asking too much, but I’ll be there. I’ll see who else I can round up too. Are you gonna publish the notice in the UC Bugle?”

Ten nodded. “I’m sure the funeral home will know all about getting obituary and funeral notices in the town paper.”

“I’m sure they will. If that’s all, I’ll let the two of you eat.” Cal turned to walk away.

“Uh, Cal? One more thing?” Ronan pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. “Do y’all deliver?”

“Jesus, Ronan! This is Kansas, not Texas.”

“Same difference, right? We’re close to Texas, aren’t we?” Ronan looked confused.

“Sure, man. Texas is only a seven-hour drive south of here.” Cal bit his lip in an obvious attempt to keep from laughing. “Anyway, we don’t deliver as a general rule, but I have been known to make an exception from time to time under the right circumstance. What did you have in mind?”

Ronan pulled two crisp twenty dollar bills out of his wallet. “Send over Kaye Grimm’s usual lunch order and Friday night supper. All she had in the refrigerator aside from two questionable casseroles, was bottled water and ketchup.”

“So, you want me to be the tuna casserole brigade?” Cal asked, sounding skeptical.

Ronan nodded. “It has to start somewhere. Make Pamela deliver it. That can be her penance. Although after what I just saw, those two will get on like a house on fire.”

 

 

7
Ronan

The thirty-minute ride out to the Inn at Hawthorne Lake was a balm on Ronan’s soul. He hadn’t been sure how this trip was going to go once he had a chance to meet Kaye, but now he was certain he and Tennyson were doing the right thing by being here, even if their welcome hadn’t been a warm one.

“That was really nice, what you did back there,” Ten said, resting his head on Ronan’s shoulder, just like he did when they were driving around in the Mustang back home.

“What, making sure your mother didn’t starve to death?” Ronan pressed a kiss to Ten’s head.

“Yeah, I guess you could say I wasn’t feeling as charitable toward the old trout as you were.” Ten picked his head up as Ronan pulled into a parking spot in front of the inn.

Ronan stared up at the large Georgian-style brick mansion. It was impressive to look at. “Why don’t we check in and get settled, okay? Maybe grab a nap and then we can talk about your mother and Cal and everything else that happened. We also need to check in with Fitzgibbon and Greeley to see how they are and how Dixie’s doing without both of us.”

“That sounds like a plan. Do you think the people here are gonna give us shit about there being two men and one bed?” Ten’s voice sounded small.

“As long as you’re spending the night curled up in my arms, Ten, I couldn’t give a fuck what these narrow-minded peckerwoods think about who sleeps where.”

Tennyson started to laugh. “Again, Ronan, this is Kansas, not Georgia. We don’t have peckerwoods here. Just religious bigots.”

“Fine, then I don’t give a fuck what narrow-minded religious bigots think about who sleeps where.” Ronan winked at him. “Happy now?” Without waiting for an answer, Ronan hopped out of the rented truck and grabbed their luggage out of the back seat of the Ford.

As Ronan tugged his suitcase behind him, he couldn’t help but stare up at the three-story soaring façade of the building. “This is a hell of a place, huh?”

Ten nodded. He held the front door open for Ronan. He was only carrying their garment bag and their rolling carry-on, while Ronan was lugging their giant suitcase.

The front desk was at the end of a short hallway. Behind the check-in desk was the grand staircase. To the left was a richly appointed sitting room with a stone fireplace and several burgundy couches artfully arranged. “I’m Ronan O’Mara. I booked The Garden Room for my fiancé and myself.”

The man behind the desk smiled at Ronan. “Ah, yes, Detective O’Mara and Mr. Grimm, welcome to the Inn at Hawthorne Lake. We’re so pleased to have you with us for the next six nights.”

“Six nights?” Tennyson whispered.

“Well, I wasn’t sure how long we’d be here with the funeral and all…” Ronan squeezed Tennyson’s hand, hoping he’d get the message to play along.

“Mom was such a wreck today. I’m sure she’ll be glad we’re staying at least that long.” Tennyson sighed.

“You’re here because of a death in your family? I was such a big fan of your reality show. I can’t believe you’re going to be guests here at the Inn. Are you able to speak to that person like you are with other spirits?”

Tennyson grinned at the desk clerk, whose name badge read “Aaron.” “That’s how I knew my father had passed on. He showed up in our bedroom and was sitting on my bed when I woke up.”

Aaron gasped. A hand fluttered to his chin. “No! How awful.”

Nodding, Ten looked up at Ronan, who patted his shoulder.

“I think we have some kind of bereavement package available.” Aaron’s fingers flew over his keyboard.

“Do you also offer a discount for law enforcement officers?” Ronan flashed his badge at the star-struck young man.

“Ohh, may I?” Without waiting for an answer, Aaron took Ronan’s badge and started running his fingers over the City of Boston seal and Ronan’s raised badge number. He handed it back to Ronan and went back to typing again. “Okay, so after adding in the bereavement and law enforcement discounts and giving you the breakfast package, on the house, that brings the room rate down to eighty-five dollars per night, plus tax. I’ll need a credit card on file for incidentals.”

Ronan almost burst out laughing as he dug his wallet out of his back pocket. When he’d looked up The Garden Room on the internet it was the prettiest room available with views of the private back garden. It was also the most expensive room with a hefty $170 per night price tag. He was nearly giddy at the thought of paying only $85 per night.

“Okay, you two are all set.” Aaron handed the card back to Ronan. “Now, if you’ll follow me, it will be my pleasure to show you to The Garden Room, your home away from home for the next six nights.”

Ronan took Tennyson’s hand as they followed Aaron down the hall. He was going to have to make sure they tipped the young man generously at the end of their stay.

Aaron opened the door with the key card and swept the door open wide onto a beautiful sitting room done in shades of forest green. “Here’s your little living room. It’s nice and cozy for watching a little television or reading.  In here is the bedroom.” Aaron led them into an adjoining room with a king-sized bed with a striped comforter done in shades of green and gold. “Lastly, the bathroom with a jacuzzi built for two. If you like, I can send in a romantic snack tray for you later on.” Aaron winked at the two of them.

“I’d like that.” Tennyson smiled. “Something naughty with fresh fruit juice?”

“Ohh, I have just the thing!” Aaron was all smiles. “Here are your room keys. Dialing 1 on the phone gets you the front desk. The restaurant serves dinner until 10pm or you can order a room service tray. The menu is on the table in the sitting room. If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave you to settle in.”

“I’ll walk you out, Aaron.” Ronan led the young man to the door, pulling out his wallet as he moved. “Brownies on the naughty snack tray if you can.” Ronan handed him a twenty.

“Sure thing Detective O’Mara.”

“Just call me, Ronan.” He smiled at the young man and shut the door behind him.

Over the last two years, Ronan had been divorced, shot four times, attended an exorcism, chased a serial killer, and arrested a child rapist, but he could honestly say that today was the longest day in his entire life.

All he wanted to do now was take a shower and sleep for a week. He walked back into the bedroom to tell Tennyson that very thing, but it was too late. His fiancé was laying across their bed, fast asleep.

 

 

8
Tennyson

When Tennyson woke up, the room was lit only by the light of the bathroom. He was alone on the bed, but he could hear Ronan’s soft snores. When he sat up and looked around, he saw the reason for being alone. He was lying across the middle of the bed, rather than at the head of it.

Shit, Ronan must be sleeping on the small sofa in the sitting room. Stretching his still tired muscles, Ten stood up and headed toward the other room. Sure enough, Ronan was asleep on the couch. His long body was pulled into the fetal position.

As much as Tennyson hated to do it, he shook Ronan’s shoulder. If he didn’t wake his fiancé up, he was going to end up sore as hell come morning. “Ronan?” he asked gently.

“Hmm?” Ronan cracked an eyeball open. “Is it morning?”

“No, it’s dinnertime. I didn’t want you to sleep all folded up like a pretzel.”

Ronan’s long legs shot out in front of him as he stretched. “I wouldn’t have had to sleep like this if you hadn’t fallen asleep in the middle of the bed.”

“Ohh, someone woke up on the bitchy side of the bed, didn’t they?” Ten laughed and hopped out of the way as Ronan’s orangutan-like arms grabbed for him. “Tell you what? Why don’t I go start the jacuzzi for us? Maybe that will make you feel less grumpy?”

“Maybe.” Ronan grumped as he sat up.

“I think I packed the waterproof lube. Should I check my bag for it or not?” Ten teased as he left the room. He knew he packed it. They’d bought it on their trip to Sand Dollar Shoal. The walk-in shower at that place was big enough for six. After a few days of marathon shower sex sessions Ten was sick of farting peppermint from Ronan using the minty shampoo as lube. The waterproof and fragrance-free lube they’d found at the local Walgreens really did the trick. Best of all, his farts went back to smelling like farts.

Ten was busy stripping off his boxer briefs when he felt Ronan’s eyes on him from behind. He knew even a tired Ronan couldn’t resist the lure of jacuzzi sex. “Like what you see?”

“Oh, yeah.” Ronan’s voice, still thick with sleep, sounded more like a growl.

When Ten was gloriously naked, he looked over his shoulder at Ronan who was still completely dressed, but on the plus side, was drooling. “You gonna get naked and join me or am I gonna have the whole tub to myself?” Ten turned around and sat on the edge of the jacuzzi. He trailed his fingers through the bubbling water. “The water is perfect. Why don’t you hit the middle light switch, Romeo?”

Ronan gave Ten a strange look, but did as he asked and flipped the middle switch. It dimmed the lights to a romantic setting instantly. “Nice. Is there another switch for the Barry White?”

Ten shook his head. “If the mood lighting and me naked in a hot tub aren’t enough to make Huge Jackman stand up and salute, then I got nothing else for you.” Ten slid into the tub, turning around so he could watch Ronan strip.

Ronan snorted. “Why don’t we see what happens, huh? I’m still recovering from getting my ass shot.”

“It wasn’t your ass that got shot,” Ten reminded him as Ronan stripped off his shirt. He tried not to gasp when the three puckered scars came into view. Every time Tennyson saw them, he said a silent prayer thanking God that Ronan had survived.

While Tennyson was praying, Ronan had managed to get his pants off. He was stalking toward the hot tub like he was a hungry lion and Tennyson was his prey. “You look amazing in the low light, babe.”

Ronan grinned. He ran his hands down his abs and gave his cock a few quick strokes. “Wet your hair for me and slick it back. I love that look on you.”

Ten smoothed his hair back with his wet hands. He did it several times while Ronan watched. He couldn’t help noticing the way Ronan’s breath sped up as he licked his lips.

“God, you’re beautiful, Ten.” Ronan sauntered the rest of the way to the jacuzzi. He leaned over the edge, cupping Tennyson’s face in his hands. When their lips finally met, Ronan growled low in his throat like an animal about to take possession of his mate. “Mine,” Ronan declared.

Tennyson felt his cock jerk against his stomach. He loved it when Ronan went all caveman on him like this. He had a feeling sore knees and fingerprint bruises on his hips were in his near future. “All yours,” Ten agreed, licking his lips.

Ronan sat down on the edge of the tub, spreading his legs wide. He leaned back on his arms and shot Ten an expectant look. “Suck me.”

“Your wish is my command.” Ten grinned. He floated across to Ronan. Tiny waves broke against his calves as Ten captured his prize. He moaned when the flavor of Ronan’s nectar burst across his tongue.

Ronan had only been out of the hospital for about six weeks. They hadn’t had a lot of sex in that time. Most of it included hand jobs or oral. When they did get in on like Donkey Kong, it was with Tennyson riding Ronan. He had a feeling that was all going to change tonight.

Ten used his tongue and moaned the way he knew drove Ronan the craziest. That combined with the slicked back hair was gonna get him fucked in no time flat. The last weapon in his arsenal was his eyes. He gazed up at Ronan with what he hoped was his most sultry look.

Ronan’s eyes rolled back in his head and he roared like a beast. Tennyson popped off his dick and moved out of the way. Ronan slid off the side of the tub and into the water with a splash. He grabbed Ten and pulled his lover into his arms.

Ten wrapped his arms around Ronan’s shoulders and did his best to hold on.  Ronan was biting and nibbling his way up Ten’s neck. He only had a second to hope his lover wasn’t leaving marks. They needed to see the funeral director tomorrow and he didn’t want to do it wearing a turtleneck in eighty-degree heat.

“Love you so much, babe,” Ronan whispered before capturing Ten’s lips in a searing kiss.

Holding on tighter, Ten met Ronan’s kiss with all the love in his heart. Ronan’s tongue pushed into his mouth and he rubbed his own against his lover’s eagerly.

Without warning, Ronan pulled away. “Up against the edge of the tub, now!”

As Ten moved into position, he saw Ronan reaching for the waterproof lube. He heard the cap snap open and he hoisted his ass out of the water far enough for Ronan to get him ready. A few sloppy pokes later and Ronan’s finger was gone. Instead, Ten heard the squishy sound of Ronan lubing his cock. “You ready for this?”

“Fuck, yeah,” Ten panted. “Just don’t drown the both of us.”

“You got it, Ahab.” Ronan snorted.

“Shit, if I’m Ahab, that makes you…”

“Moby Dick!” Ronan crowed, just as he surged into Tennyson’s body.

Both men moaned when Ronan bottomed out. Ronan wrapped an arm around Tennyson’s shoulders and used the other arm to hold on to the edge of the tub to keep them both above water. Ronan set a quick pace. Every thrust of his powerful hips sent a wave of water crashing over the edge of the tub to splash on the floor.

“Jesus, Ronan!” Ten moaned, closing his eyes and focusing on what Ronan was doing to his body.  He loved the feeling of his lover holding him so tight that he felt small and overpowered. At the same time, he’d never felt more loved or protected.

“Ten…” Ronan panted. “Please, God!”

Tennyson knew Ronan was close. He was too, just a couple more thrusts and he’d be there.

“Ten!” Ronan roared, holding his lover even tighter.

Ronan’s climax triggered Ten’s own. His dick twitched and started to pulse against his stomach. His own release burst out of the water like geyser. Ten was mesmerized by it. He could feel Ronan’s grasp on him loosening and knew his lover was floating back down to earth.

“So cool,” Ronan panted.

“What? Jacuzzi sex?” Ten laughed.

“No, Old Faithful come!” Ronan giggled and fell back into the tub with a small splash.

Before Tennyson knew it, he was laughing hysterically too. As he was falling asleep tonight, he was going to thank God again for putting Ronan O’Mara in his life.

 

 

9
Ronan

Ronan was sitting quietly in the private garden reading the morning edition of the Kansas City Star when his phone rang. Figuring it was Truman or Fitzgibbon, he picked up the phone instantly without bothering to look at the caller ID. “O’Mara.”

“Hello, Ronan. This is Kaye Grimm.”

“Ah…” Ronan’s brain stopped dead in its tracks. He had no comeback for that.

“I see I’ve shocked you speechless. I was just phoning to thank you for sending me over lunch and dinner from the Main Street Café. Cal Farmer sent over a delightful girl to deliver the meals she said you and Tennyson ordered.”

“Yes, well, you’re welcome. I hope you enjoyed the food. Ten and I had a nice lunch there yesterday.” Ronan still felt like he was behind the eight ball here in this conversation.

“Did you enjoy your night at the Best Western over in Denton. Pamela said she told you that was a nice place to stay.” Kaye sounded pleased by the recommendation.

“Well, no. Actually, we stayed at a different place that Cal Farmer recommended. It’s a bit further outside of town than Denton.”

“Oh, are you at the Days Inn over in Severance?” Kaye sounded even more pleased by that idea.

“No, Ma’am. We’re staying at the Inn at Hawthorne Lake.” Ronan held his breath waiting for Kaye’s reaction to that little revelation.

“Oh. Isn’t that place a bit pricey for a cop and a charlatan?” Kaye asked, her voice thick with snark.

Rather than explain that he was a detective and that Tennyson was a practicing medium and a consultant to the Boston Police Department, Ronan decided to be Elsa and just let it go. “No, Mrs. Grimm, the rates here are actually quite reasonable. If you’d like to speak to your son, he’s still in bed, but I can wake him up for you.”

“You shared a room with Tennyson?” The outrage in her voice was nearly volcanic.

Ronan swore he could hear the vein in Kaye’s forehead bulging. He took a deep breath to keep from laughing out loud. “Kaye, let’s be adults here for a moment. Tennyson and I have been together for ten months now. We got engaged in July and bought a house together in August. We share a bed just like you and David did.”

“You and my son fornicated in the hotel bed last night?”

Ronan was about to tell the nosy old bag that what he and Tennyson did in the bedroom was none of her damn business, but Tennyson had stepped out into the garden, looking adorable with his messy bed head. “No, Mrs. Grimm, your son and I did not fornicate in the hotel bed last night. I give you my word as an officer of the law.” We fucked in the bathtub twice… Ronan mouthed to Tennyson, holding up two fingers in case Ten couldn’t read his lips.

Ten slapped his hands over his mouth and doubled over with laughter.

“Well, Mrs. Grimm, thank you so much for calling…”

“I was hoping we could go to the funeral home today.” Kaye’s voice had turned calmer. All traces of her being outraged over Tennyson and Ronan sharing a bed was gone.

Ronan took a deep breath. This was, after all, the reason he and Ten were here in Kansas. “How about if Tennyson and I pick you up at 10am?” That would give them plenty of time to go back to bed for a bit and have time to refuel before they had to face the dragon lady again.

“Yes, Ronan. That will be acceptable. I do, however, have some rules.” Kaye’s voice had taken on a cautious tone.

“Rules?” Ronan hit the speakerphone button and held a finger up to his lips, indicating that Tennyson not speak.

“Several rules, in fact. While we are in public, you and my son are not to refer to each other by any kind of special names. Am I understood?”

“Special names? You mean like detective and psychic?” Ronan rolled his eyes.

“No, Ronan. I mean like sweetheart or dear.”

“Ohhh, no pet names. Got it. Any other rules, Mrs. Grimm?” This ought to be good.

“No hand holding, opening doors for each other, no putting your arms around each other, and no kissing or other forms of public affection I may have left out.”

It was a good thing Ronan packed his patience on this trip. “Yes, ma’am. Ten and I will see you soon.” Ronan hit the end button before Kaye could tell him they weren’t allowed to look at or speak to each other.

“I have no words for that.” Ten shook his head and sat down next to Ronan, looking out over the garden.

Ronan didn’t either. “How’d you sleep, babe?”

“Uh, oh. No pet names, Ronan. You heard the dragon mistress.” Ten rolled his eyes. “I slept like a dream after round two.”

“Well, fornication will do that to a person. I’m just glad I could pop your Kansas cherry.” Ronan burst out laughing.

“Is cherry popping one of those forms of public affection that my mother left out?” Ten laughed along with his future husband.

 

Two hours and mutual blow jobs later, Tennyson and Ronan were driving down Route 20 back into Union Chapel.

“How sad is it that we’ve been here for less than twenty-four hours and I already know my way around without the help of the GPS?” Ronan frowned. “Back home, I’d barely known how to find the closest Dunkin Donuts in only a day’s time.”

“Don’t remind me of Dunkin’s. I’m suffering withdrawal already,” Ten whined.

“Where’s the closest one to Union Chapel?” The last one Ronan remembered seeing was back at the airport in Boston.

“Kansas City.” Tennyson deadpanned.

Ronan sighed and turned into Kaye’s driveway. “Why don’t you hop in the back seat, babe. Err, Tennyson. I wouldn’t want to lose control of myself and kiss you or accidently swallow your dick in front of your mother.”

Ten burst out laughing. He hopped out of the truck just as Kaye came out of the house dressed all in black.

“Christ, we’re not going to Johnny Cash karaoke after the funeral home, are we?” Ronan asked before Kaye got to the passenger side door.

“Once again, Ronan, this is Kansas, not Arkansas.” Tennyson rolled his eyes before turning to Kaye. “Good morning, Mother. Do you need a hand getting into the truck?”

“No thank you. I can manage.” Kaye squared her shoulders and reached up for door the handle while trying to step up onto the running board. She slipped the first time, but managed to get the hang of it on the second try.

Ronan felt his gut clench over the fact that Kaye would rather risk falling and breaking a hip than allowing her gay son to help her into the truck. He shook his head. There was nothing he could do about it now. If Kaye wanted to be as stubborn as a pack of mules, then let her.

Tennyson called out directions from the back seat to help Ronan navigate to Union Chapel’s only mortuary. Locke and Bright Funeral Home was located on the opposite end of town out by the Calvary Baptist Church.

“One of the undertakers is named Bright?” Ronan chuckled at Ten in the rearview mirror. I would have thought Grimm would have been a better name for that job.”

“Are you always so jovial, Ronan? We are about to discuss my husband’s funeral. I would appreciate it if you could can the levity.” Kaye popped the door open and struggled to get out of the truck unassisted. He turned away when her black dress rode up in the back revealing her black slip.

Ronan said a quick prayer for patience, otherwise, he and Ten were going to need to pick out two coffins today.

 

 

10
Ronan

Ronan hadn’t needed to buy a second coffin but it had been a near thing on two separate occasions. The first was when Kaye insisted that David have the top of the line coffin which would have cost nearly as much as Ronan and Tennyson’s new house and then the second time when Kaye insisted that Tennyson not be allowed to sit in the front pew during the service.

Up until that moment in time, Ronan hadn’t minded playing peacemaker. He’d even had a spot of fun at Kaye’s expense, but he’d had a hard time not losing his temper when she’d asked both of them to sit at the back of the church like second-class citizens, rather than family.

Now that he and Tennyson were back at the Inn, Ronan could vent and try to relax. Tennyson had decided to go for a hot stone massage at the spa and wouldn’t be back for at least an hour. He grabbed his laptop and headed out to the private garden just outside their room.

Opening up Skype, he hit Truman’s name in his contact list and prayed his friend was available to chat.

“Hello, hello!” Truman greeted. His green eyes were filled with happiness. “Hey, Cap! Get in here! I’ve got Lewis! Where the hell is Clark? Is he out walking the Oregon Trail?”

“Ha, ha! Very funny!” Ronan rolled his eyes at his best friend. He’d known that the famous explorers had trekked through Kansas. It appeared that Truman did as well. “Tennyson is off having a hot stone massage.”

“Christ, it’s that bad, huh?” Fitzgibbon’s face filled the computer screen.

“Hey, boss.” Ronan waved.

“It’s just us, Ronan. Cole and Carson are out taking the babies for a walk. So. spill it. On a scale of one to ten, how bad is Tennyson’s mother?”

“On a scale of one to ten?” Ronan tilted his head and considered it. “Nine hundred and twelve!” he announced.

“Jesus Christ,” Kevin muttered.

Truman just sat there with his mouth hanging open. “It’s really that bad?”

“We took the old bat to the funeral home today to plan David’s funeral and after we told her several times that his life insurance plan wouldn’t pay for the twenty-five-thousand-dollar casket that she wanted, Kaye told Tennyson and I that we couldn’t sit up front in the family pew, we’d have to sit in the back.”

“In the back of the church?” Truman gasped. “I can’t believe it.”

“She also has rules that Ten and I need to follow.” Ronan pinched the bridge of his nose. He felt a migraine coming on.

“What kind of rules?” Fitzgibbon’s eyes narrowed.

“No kissing, hugging, touching, hand holding, or public displays of affection.” Kaye didn’t mind if they paid for lunch but he didn’t want to sound bitchy by telling his friends about that.

Truman rolled his eyes so hard, Ronan was surprised he didn’t give himself a concussion. “I just feel lucky we’re allowed to speak to each other in her exalted presence.”

“That’s it.” Fitzgibbon slapped his hand down on the desk in front of Truman’s laptop. “We’re coming out there. You need people at that funeral who love you and who are on your side.”

Ronan shook his head. “You can’t do that, Kevin. Someone needs to be at the helm in Cold Case since your best detective is on the bench, and besides, isn’t Greeley’s GED test tomorrow?”

“Your best detective is on the bench?” Truman asked, turning to Fitzgibbon. “You didn’t tell me Ortiz was out.”

“Funny, asshole. Real funny.” Ronan could see both of his friends laughing on screen. Okay, maybe it was a little funny. It would have been hilarious if he’d been the one to make the joke.

“Yes, Greeley’s GED test is tomorrow. He’s gonna ace that damn thing. He’s been studying his ass off for weeks.”

“I know he has. I want to do something big for him when you get the test results.” Ronan was so damned proud of that kid.

“What, you mean like take us all out to dinner?” Fitzgibbon was grinning.

“Well, yeah, that too, but I was thinking of buying him a car.”

“What?” Fitzgibbon practically roared. “A car?”

“Not a Mercedes or anything too extravagant. He’s gonna need something reliable to get back and forth to class with and you’re gonna be busy paying his tuition.” Ronan shrugged. “Ten and I talked about it. We have some cash from the royalties of the reality show and there wouldn’t have been a show if you didn’t agree to the crazy idea. Think about it?” Ronan suggested.

Fitzgibbon nodded. “I will, on one condition.” He raised an eyebrow at Ronan.

Oh shit… Ronan’s goose was cooked now. “What’s the condition?”

“That you consider letting me and Greeley come out for the funeral. When is it anyway?”

“Thursday.” Ronan sighed. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”

“Good!” Fitzgibbon clapped his hands together. “So will I.”

“It’s good seeing friendly faces. I miss you guys.”

“We miss you too.” Truman nodded.

“How’s Dixie, Cap?” Ronan missed that puppy like crazy.

“Sleeping off one hell of a hangover.” Fitzgibbon grinned like a fool.

“What?” Ronan wanted to dive through the screen and choke his boss.

“Kidding, Ronan. Calm down. She and Greeley are studying.”

“Damn, he’s really determined to pass this test, huh?”

“There’s a little more to it than that.” Fitzgibbon’s green eyes sparkled.

“What do you mean?” Ronan asked.

“I told him that if he got a 95% or higher on the test, I’d get him a puppy. Rumor has it that one of Dixie’s sisters is still available at the animal shelter.”

“What?” Ronan shrieked. “What are you doing sitting there! Go get her before someone else adopts her!”

Truman bent down and when he sat back up in his chair he was holding a tiny ball of fur that on first blush, Ronan would have sworn was Dixie. “Tah Dah!”

“There’s no way that my kid isn’t going to ace that test, Ronan. We got the dog yesterday. I’m gonna let Greeley name her, but I’m kind of partial to calling her Lola.”

“Lola was a showgirl, you know.” Truman laughed.

Ronan groaned. “That’s it! I’m out of here before this call turns into Barry Manilow karaoke. Bye, Lola! Uncle Ronan loves you! Don’t piddle on my living room rug! Bye guys! Don’t piddle on my living room rug!” Ronan hit the disconnect button before anyone could argue or offer to come to Kansas.

He had to admit that Skype call made him feel a little homesick. Greeley had his big test in the morning and here he was half the country away. His life and his friends were back in Salem. All he had to do was get through the next few days and then he and Tennyson could put Union Chapel, Kansas in their rearview for good.

 

 

11
Tennyson

Thursday dawned grey with threatening skies. Even though Tennyson had been living outside of Kansas for thirteen years now, he still knew to pay attention to the weather when the skies turned steely-grey like this. Kansas was smack dab in the middle of Tornado Alley.

“Hey, are you ready to go in yet?” Ronan asked from behind him.

Ten turned his attention from the sky just as thunder rumbled past. “Almost.” They’d picked Kaye up at her house and driven out to the Union Chapel Calvary Baptist Church about forty-five minutes ago. Kaye had wanted to go over the service with the Reverend Greene. Tennyson had decided to stay out in the parking lot. He was still shocked that after all of these years Pastor Greene was still leading the flock.

“Is it because you don’t want to face your old minister? Or because you’re afraid of getting struck by lightning when you walk into the church?” Ronan snorted at his own joke.

“I’ve been in plenty of churches, Ronan. I’ve never once been afraid of being struck by lightning. I guess seeing the rev is part of it. I mean, today is when this Magical Mystery Tour gets real, you know?” Ten shook his head and looked back up at the gathering storm clouds. They were the perfect metaphor to describe how he was feeling. “Up until now, the only person from my past I’ve seen, aside from my mother is Cal Farmer. Today is going to be the mother lode.”

“Not everyone is going to be as fabulous as Cal,” Ronan agreed. “All we can do is hold our heads high.”

“Ronan,” Ten turned back around to face his love. “What are we going to do about mother’s decree that we sit in the back of the church? I mean, how ridiculous is that?”

Sighing heavily, Ronan picked up Tennyson’s left hand and kissed his engagement ring. “I was thinking a lot about that last night. The best thing to do is appeal to your mother’s vanity. If she really is afraid of people gossiping behind her back, then nothing is going to start that faster than the two of us sitting in the back of the church.”

“I’ll mention that to her.” Ten wrapped his arms around Ronan and held on tight.

“I hate to break up this amazing hug, but there are a line of cars heading down Route 20. Is that the funeral crowd?” Ronan kissed the top of Tennyson’s head.

“Yeah, we’d better head on in there.” Ten pulled away from Ronan. He looked up at the white-washed wooden façade of the church and shivered, despite the warmth of the October day. He’d spent some of the worst days of his life confined inside the walls of this building.

“It’s only four walls and a roof, Ten. It can’t hurt you. Neither can the man preaching inside it. I’ve got you. Hear me? I’m at your side through all of this. We’re gonna get through this day and we’re gonna go back to the hotel and get dirty in that jacuzzi together. Then we’ll curl up in the fluffy hotel robes and watch old reruns of The Odd Couple. The original one. Not that rebooted shit with that douche from Friends, okay?”

“I like those fluffy hotel robes.” Ten sighed.

“I’ll see if I can get Aaron to comp us two when we check out.”

“Ronan,” Ten rolled his eyes. “Don’t take advantage of the fact that he’s enamored of you.”