behind that,” Megan said with a smile.
“Grammy once took a broom to my behind when she caught me stealing apples from her tree. I couldn’t sit down for a whole day.”
Everyone around the table laughed.
“Have you got much more to do out there?” Joel asked, inclining his head toward the back yard.
“Nope, I’m done. I’ll just straighten up before I go. Nothing to do now until the concrete cures. Next weekend I can start putting the deck together.”
“I think you’re going to need a party when it’s finished, Dad.” Laura grinned. “Like when they launch a new ship? I saw it on TV once. Only, it’d be more like, ‘God bless this deck and all who step on it.’”
Joel chuckled. “Any excuse for a party.” He peered into the dish. “My God, Laura’s left some. Quick, Finn, grab it before she notices.” Laura gave him a mock glare as laughter rippled through them.
Finn looked at the people seated around the table. Joel has a great family. His gaze lingered on Nate, and Finn’s stomach clenched.
Joel needs to tell Nate the truth.
Finn knew the divorce had nothing to do with Joel’s sexuality, but maybe if Nate knew, he’d understand better why his parents had grown apart in the first place.
Joel stood by the window, watching as Finn packed up his tools and generally cleaned up the yard. As Finn bent over to pick up what remained of the roll of landscape fabric, Joel’s gaze was drawn to his butt, the denim stretched tight over it.
Oh my.
“Now that is one gorgeous ass,” Megan murmured from beside him.
Joel almost jumped out of his skin. “Christ, give a guy some warning before you sneak up on him.”
Megan smirked. “If I gave you warning, it would hardly be sneaking, would it?”
Joel glared at her. “And what are you doing, ogling Finn’s ass?” he said in a quiet voice.
Megan widened her eyes. “What am I doing? What about you? And why shouldn’t I look at that gorgeous butt? I may be a lesbian, but I’m not dead.” She leaned in. “Tell me you’re at least going to make a move on him.”
“No, I am not.” Joel watched Finn moving around out there. “For one thing, it wouldn’t be appropriate. I’m paying him to build a deck. That makes me a client. And for another, he’s not interested in me.” When Megan didn’t react, he turned toward her. “What?”
Megan bit her lip. “Honey, he was checking you out.”
“When?”
“While Lynne was getting the lunch ready.” Her eyes sparkled. “You think I can’t tell when someone is checking out my brother? We are talking definite interest there.”
Joel checked over his shoulder to make sure the kids weren’t in earshot. “I’m not saying you’re seeing things… but it doesn’t matter anyhow.”
Megan put her arm around his shoulders. “Tell them? Please? Because maybe then Nate will get back to being the great kid he used to be, and you can find a little happiness. God knows you deserve it. You’ve denied yourself for so long. It’s time to live, Joel.” She nodded toward Finn. “And he could be a part of that new life.”
Joel couldn’t say a word. He’d had the same idea, but every time he thought about Nate and Laura, his stomach tied itself up in knots. He knew exactly what had gone through Finn’s mind during lunch, when the kids had talked so casually.
He thinks they’ll be okay with it, and maybe he’s right.
But Finn wasn’t the one who had to tell them, and Joel hadn’t found enough courage to accomplish that task.
“I still say we should’ve watched all the Toy Story movies, instead of just number four,” Laura complained as she helped Joel make up the futons.
Joel chuckled. “Do you have any idea how long that would’ve taken? Maybe if we’d started watching a bit earlier…” He looked at the bed. “You got enough pillows?”
She nodded before smiling at the comforter. “This is pretty.” Red, vibrant poppies stood out against a white background.
“It’s new. I bought it just for you.”
Laura walked around the futon and seized Joel in a tight hug. “Love you, Dad.”
Joel kissed the top of her head. “Love you too, munchkin.”
She turned her face up toward his, her eyes shining. “You haven’t called me that in ages.” Then she gave him a mock glare. “Except munchkins are small, and I’ve grown a couple inches since last year.” She tightened her arms around him and pressed her face to his chest.
“You okay, sweetheart?”
Laura nodded against