Chapter 27

 

Going up to his room above the hardware store so he could change, Sam stopped in the doorway. He took in the small space with faded wood floors, cramped and furnished with castoffs.

He didn't feel like he belonged there. If he was honest with himself, he felt at home at Wyatt's. But he had to be realistic. That might not be his future. His future might me just this room or one very much like it. A room where discarded, unwanted, unloved things were his company.

The funny thing was he remembered when he first came to Peach Tree. Back then this small space was his haven, a true refuge. On finding the job at the cafe and this place, he had wanted to cry with relief. He wasn't homeless. He wasn't on the road. He found a place that was safe. For the first time in his life, he had a place of his own.

But the best thing about it was that night when he and Wyatt ended their date in his room. It was enough that Wyatt had been here, fucked him here.

Sam had made that one amazing memory right in this room. He relived it often and jerked off to it, though more and more he found himself staying over at Wyatt's. He felt so welcomed there, but he did have to be careful and remember that good things didn't last.

 

Going downstairs so he could head to work, Sam rounded a corner and took in how the town had been transformed. It was the day before the festival and lampposts were decorated and all the storefronts too. Booths had been set up. Colorful signs were everywhere.

Wyatt had invited some friends down to the festival, and his best friend was arriving today. Wyatt had already included Sam in his dinner plans.

"I'll be cooking for her for the very first time. You have to come over and supervise," Wyatt had told him.

Sam wasn't sure he should go though. "Don't you want to spend time with your friend?"

"Yes, and you too. If you're not there, I'll be bad company, missing you, pining for you the whole time," Wyatt claimed. He left Sam no choice but to laugh and agree to come.

At the prospect of meeting Wyatt's friends, Sam couldn't help but be nervous. What kind of impression was he going to make? Maybe the festival would distract them and they wouldn't pay any attention to him.

Sam would be busy too. The whole town was bustling with last minute preparations. The streets were crowded with people setting up and also with onlookers.

One of them was Rico, and he smiled when he saw Sam coming his way. "It's like the festival already started," Rico said pointing at all the people.

"I bet it's busy at the café. I better get going. Are you on your way there?" Sam asked.

"I am. It's going to be crazy for the next few days, isn't it?" Rico said, but Sam could tell he was already taking on the infectious vibe of excitement that was all around them.

What made this perfect for Sam was that he had Wyatt and the boys to share it with. All he had to do was think about DJ and Riley buzzing with anticipation and he smiled.

"I can see you're ready for the festival," Rico said to him and nudged him with his elbow. They were right at the door of the café. Rico held it open while teasing him for having a smile on his face for no reason.

"Things are..." Sam forgot what he was going to say. The smile was wiped from his face and he just stared. Did he really just see him? The sidewalk across the street was crowded. It was only a glimpse. Maybe he was wrong.

But his heart was hammering out of control and his hands were cold, going numb as he blindly followed Rico inside. Rico was saying something, but Sam couldn't hear him. He had just seem Brian disappear into the crowd on the other side of the sidewalk. Sam didn't know if he was breathing and he hardly knew where he was. A cold sweat was breaking out all over him.

This was just like his nightmares -- a glimpse of Brian nothing more and everything falls to pieces, everything he found here, and Sam most of all. He couldn't breathe. He was shaking and his vision was narrowing to a pinpoint. Everything around him went dark, disappearing out of existence until there was only Sam alone with his mind numbing fear.

He had to get out of there. He couldn't let anyone see him like this. As he stumbled out the back, he bumped into Rico. He barely managed to say, "Cover for me" before he staggered through the back door of the café. He didn't know where he was going. All he knew was that he had to run.

 

***

 

The kids were beside themselves when they saw the town already transformed for the festival. Bursting with the colors of spring, flower decorations were everywhere. The vibe was positive, and Wyatt couldn't wait to take it all in with Sam.

They were visiting him at the café, but Wyatt didn't expect Sam to be able to get away. Seeing all the people starting to crowd the sidewalks, he wasn't sure they could even get a table.

They were nearing the cafe when DJ stopped at the opening of the alley that led to the back of the cafe.

"I see Sam," he said.

Wyatt turned to look but couldn't catch sight of him. Before he could stop him, DJ ran ahead then he came right back yelling, "Uncle Wyatt, come quick. Sam is sick."

Not waiting even a second, DJ grabbed Wyatt's hand and dragged him down the alley. Holding his other hand, Riley followed.

Going around some crates that were stacked in the back, Wyatt saw Sam kneeling on the pavement. Hunched over, he was pale, struggling to breathe and clutching at his chest.

"He's sick. Help him, Uncle Wyatt," DJ pleaded while Riley looked like he would burst into tears.

"No, I'm Ok," Sam gasped like every word cost him what little bit of air he had in his lungs. "I just got scared," Sam said then he just focused on trying to breathe. Wyatt kneeled in front of him and put his arms around him gently in case he needed to pull away to get more breathing room.

"Don't be scared," DJ told him. He was calmer now that he knew Sam wasn't in danger. "Uncle Wyatt is here."

"That's right, I got him," Wyatt said into Sam's hair and let him lean on his shoulder. DJ got down next to Sam and hugged his arm. Then Riley got down too and hugged his other arm. Wyatt was worried they might be crowding him, but Sam's breathing was evening out, not getting worse.

"Are you still scared?" Riley asked and leaned his head on Sam's shoulder while looking up at him.

"No, I'm better," Sam told him while Wyatt rubbed his back lightly.

"You should come home with us then you can hug Barney and Brownie too," DJ said to Sam and peered at him, his eyes big and still worried.

Sam was now laughing through tears and breathing easier as he assured all of them, "I'm OK. Much better. Thank you, guys."

"We made him better," Riley said.

"What scared you, Sam?" DJ asked.

Sam looked at Wyatt like there was something he didn't want to say in front of the boys. He then looked at DJ. "I just sometimes get scared inside," Sam said and touched his chest. DJ looked like he almost understood that.

"Let's get up off the ground," Sam told the kids.

They all stood up and Sam gave Wyatt a heartbreakingly grateful look.

"Hey, are you guys ready for lunch?" Wyatt asked the boys.

"It's packed in there," Sam said and then they heard the back door open.

It was Rico. He poked his head out and said hi to everyone before eyeing Sam with concern. "I came to check on you. You feeling OK?"

"I'm OK," Sam told him. "Could you do me a favor and take the kids inside and help them order lunch to go?" Rico nodded and Sam turned to the boys. "I'm just going to stay out here and talk to Wyatt for a minute. Order your uncle something good."

The boys looked like they didn't want to leave Sam just yet, but he smiled at them and they went to Rico.

"Thanks," Sam said to him.

Wyatt thanked Rico too as he took the boys inside. After they were gone and the door had closed behind them, Wyatt watched Sam slump against the wall. He was still shaken and pale, and Wyatt went to him and took his hand.

"I was so afraid this would happen and I would scare the boys," Sam said.

Now Wyatt took both his hands and assured him, "They're fine. But what set you off?"

"I... I thought I saw Brian," Sam said and he squeezed Wyatt's hands in a tight, desperate grip.

"You don't seem sure," Wyatt noted.

"I didn't see him properly. I saw a man from the back that might have been him. I don't know. I probably flipped out for nothing." Sam was doubting himself now.

"But you don't know," Wyatt said. He wasn't ready to assume Sam was wrong and let his guard down.

"I thought I saw him before, and it turned out not to be him. My eyes can't be trusted," Sam said and he let out a shuddering breath. "New people in town always made me nervous, and now there are more of them all the time for the festival."

"Still it's better to be cautious. Do you have any pictures of him?" Wyatt asked.

Sam shook his head. "I hardly ever took pictures of anyone except my great-grandmother."

"We might be able to find pictures of him online," Wyatt said.

Sam looked, but didn't come up with anything. "Brian wasn't much for social media."

"Let's have a description then," Wyatt said though he could tell Sam hated to think or talk about his ex.

"Same height as me but bulkier. The last time I saw him, he had a buzz cut. Light brown hair. Blue eyes. Mean but good-looking. He has a dagger tattoo on his hip, but I don't think that's something you can recognize him by," Sam said and rolled his eyes.

"Right. You should come home with us," Wyatt told him. He didn't want to let Sam out of his sight.

"To hug the dogs?" Sam asked with a half smile on his lips.

"Sure, and me too," Wyatt said and put his arms around him. "I want you where you'll be safe."

"I have to work. The cafe is at full capacity. And with so many people around, I'll be fine," Sam said.

Wyatt didn't want to leave him, but he saw his point. He should be safe at the café. "OK, but after that I'll come to pick you up," Wyatt decided. Sam had already agreed to come over for dinner with Raquel.

Sam wouldn't let him do that either. "No, I'll come on my own. I'm fine now."

"Sam..." Wyatt said, ready to insist.

But Sam locked eyes with him as he said, "Let me do this. I don't want to feel helpless."

When he put it like that, Wyatt couldn't push him. Plus it would still be light out when he got off work. "OK, but I'll be texting you every two minutes to make sure you're OK."

"Wyatt, I'll be working. I'll text you when my hands are free," Sam said sternly, but Wyatt still planned to text him constantly. He knew he wouldn't be able to help himself.

"You're definitely staying over at the house tonight."

"I'm not even sure I saw..." Sam started to object, but when it came to this, Wyatt wasn't backing down.

"Doesn't matter. We should be cautious. And I might have ulterior motives."

"If you put it like that," Sam said with a grin and leaned in to kiss Wyatt.

Though he hated to leave Sam, he ended up collecting the kids and their lunch and going home. The whole way home, he couldn't stop seeing Sam huddled on the ground, unable to breathe, shaking and so pale. He recovered pretty fast, but what if they hadn't been there? Wyatt never wanted him to feel alone. He wanted to be there to put his arms around Sam any time he might need him.