Pain thrummed in my heart.
“Son,” I said, firmly. “I love you no matter who you’re attracted to. Your sexuality doesn’t even come into play. It never has, and it never will.”
“I knew that,” Kailen stated. “I did, but there was a fear in the back of me head that ye’ wouldn’t.”
“I hate that you’ve been thinking about and worrying about this for a long time.”
“It’s cool.” He one-shoulder shrugged.
“It’s not,” I pressed. “I don’t want you being afraid to be yourself especially around me or our family.”
Kailen cringed. “I don’t want the lads to treat me differently.”
“Your brothers?”
“And me cousins,” he added. “Georgie knows, but I don’t exactly know how because I never told ‘er. She just started talkin’ to me one day about who she fancied and said if I got with ‘im, she’d kick me arse.”
I snorted. “That girl is a clever one.”
“Yeah.” He nodded in agreement.
“Is this why you’ve been so out of character the past few months?” I asked.
“I guess,” he said tentatively. “I get mad when I can’t talk about who I liked in the way Leland or me cousins do because I was worried they’ll laugh at me or not want to be close to me anymore. I think I started to pull into meself, and that’s when I started gettin’ angry with everyone. Then Rome joined me footie team, and he told me one day after we hit the showers that he fancied me and me heart nearly stopped. Apparently, he was bisexual, and everyone knew it. I started textin’ him, and then we’ve got together in secret because he knew I hadn’t told anyone that I was bi.”
“This Rome is your boyfriend?”
Kailen blushed again as he nodded.
“Are you happy that you’re dating him?”
“Yes,” he answered. “I am.”
“Then I’m happy that you are happy, but you’re only twelve, and that’s extremely young to be in a relationship. I’m warning you that you’re not to enter into anything physical until you’re old enough. You may not have to worry about pregnancy when dating Rome, but there are other things that can give you a surprise.”
Kailen’s face was crimson red. “We’ve just kissed a few times, and that’s it. I swear.”
“Good.” I nodded. “I want to meet him.”
My son’s eyes widened. “Jesus, why?”
“Because you’re my son, and I want to make sure this dude you’re dating is good enough for you. Have you got a problem with that?”
He ducked his head and smiled. “No, I don’t.”
“Good.”
Kailen exhaled a deep breath, and said, “Da, I feel so ... light after tellin’ ye’ this. I love ye’ so much for still lovin’ me even though I’m different.”
“Different?” I repeated. “Everyone likes their cup of tea their own unique way, so in that sense, we are all different.”
“Ye’ sounded exactly like Auntie Branna just then.”
I laughed. “Don’t tell your uncle Ryder. He’ll rag on my ass if he knows.”
Kailen grinned and shook his head.
“Is Rome the only boy, you know, you’ve kissed?”
“The only person,” Kailen corrected. “I’ve never kissed anyone else.”
“Why not?” I asked, feeling offended on his behalf. “You’re a handsome kid. You look like me and have your mama’s smile. Girls and guys would be crazy not to crush on you.”
Kailen sunk lower in the chair as he groaned.
“Please, stop,” he said. “This is mortifying.”
I laughed. “My bad.”
Kailen snickered. “Will ye’ come into the kitchen so I can tell Ma? I’d rather ye’ were with me.”
“I heard everythin’!” Alannah suddenly barrelled into the sitting room, taking us both by surprise as she dived over my body and landed onto top of our child. I shook my head and smiled when she started crying, and Kailen looked over her shoulder at me in a panic. He hugged her and comforted her, but she was a complete mess by the time she got to her feet.
“Me precious boy,” she cried and kissed Kailen’s face. “You’re so perfect, and so handsome, and you’re gonna be the best boyfriend that Rome or anyone could ever ask for. I love ye’ so much.”
I laughed at Kailen’s deer in the headlights expression. He looked at me and playfully glared as Alannah tackled him with another hug. She didn’t let him go for a long time, and when they finally did separate, he tugged her into the kitchen so he could help her with the dinner as he was originally asked to do. I followed them and silently watched them interact. The difference with Kailen was incredible; it was like I could see a weight had been lifted off his shoulders now that he’d revealed his secret to us.
I was proud of him, so damn proud. I walked out into the hallway when one of my other sons ran down the stairs.
“Leland.” I sighed when he jumped the last three steps and landed on the floor with a thud. “You’re going to break your damn neck. Walk down the stairs like a regular person.”
“Da,” he beamed, turning to face me. “Just the man I wanted to see.”
The boy was thirteen, but he acted sixty.
“What’s up?”
“I’ve a question.”
“Shoot.”
“Have ye’ ever seen a girl so beautiful that she made your heart stop beatin’ in your chest with one glance at ‘er face?”
I looked at my eldest son and wondered what girl turned my child into a poet.
“Yeah, Leland,” I said. “I have, and she is your mom.”
“This girl is like Ma.” He smiled. “I’m gonna marry ‘er.”
“Hold your horses.” I chuckled. “You’re only thirteen.”
Leland flicked his grey eyes to mine, and said, “I’ll marry ‘er when I’m eighteen then. I’m not being stupid and marryin’ her after spendin’ loads of years in love with her like you did with Ma.”
My lips parted. “Things were complicated with me and your mom. It wasn’t that easy.”
“Love is always easy, Da. Once ye’ find the right girl, it’ll figure itself out.”
I watched him walk into the living room, and as I stared after him, I pondered if he was really my son or Alec’s.
“Who is this girl that has you madly in love with one glance?”
Leland fell into the couch, and said, “I’ve no idea, but I still love her.”
God, give me patience.
“Start from the beginning.”
“I saw ‘er on the sidelines durin’ me match today.” Leland sighed. “She’s one of me mate’s cousins, I know that much, but they left before I could ask ‘im what ‘er name was. She’s from Japan, and holy crap, she’s beautiful. She has hair as dark as night, skin like caramel, and she’s itty bitty. I’m gonna marry her, I know it.”
“You’re spending too much time around your uncle Alec.”
“Da,” Leland groaned as he rolled off the couch and onto the floor. “I’m in love, and I don’t even know ‘er name.”
I smiled, shook my head, and said, “Text your friend and ask him her name.”
“I already did that,” he grunted. “Akio says he won’t tell me because I’m not sniffin’ around his cousin. He said she doesn’t speak English very good either. He’s standin’ between me and the girl I’m goin’ to marry, the shitehead.”
I laughed. “Love always finds a way, don’t worry.”
“I guess,” he said just as Alannah hollered, “Dinner’s done.”
“Thank God,” Leland said as he got to his feet. “Bein’ in love makes me hungry.”
I playfully swiped at him as he ducked out of the room. My remaining three sons, Noble who was ten, Soren who was eight, and Heath who was six, all descended the stairs, talking at once. They walked by me without a word, but when they entered the kitchen, each of them hugged and kissed their mom. I glared after the little turds before I followed them and joined them all at the table as my wife, and Kailen, served us dinner. Once everyone was seated and eating away, conversation about the soccer games earlier in the day became the main topic of discussion.