Maybe somehow this would turn out okay.

***

Cooper hated the guilt that churned in his gut. He shouldn’t put off visiting Uncle Vernon and Aunt Autumn like he did. Watching Vernon now, as he carried a plate of lunch in to Autumn, who sat in her favorite living room chair, he forgot why he did.

The graying man across from him put his hand on Autumn’s shoulder. “Is everything okay, dear? Do I need to get you any more of that no-salt seasoning?”

Autumn’s legs didn’t work as well as they used to. They swelled a lot and filled with fluid. Neither of them were incredibly old, but they hadn’t been blessed with the best health either.

“I’m fine, Vernon. Thanks,” she replied.

“What about your tea?”

She leaned over and kissed his hand. “I’m fine.”

Cooper respected Vernon for the way he loved Autumn. He’d never loved anyone like that. It wasn’t the only reason he had to respect the man. No, he wasn’t perfect. He had a bit of a temper and was strong-willed, and not very forgiving, but the man treated his woman better than anyone Cooper knew. He’d been a good cop, and he’d taken Cooper in and raised him as his own. It had always been important to Cooper, that he did the man proud.

Vernon sat on the opposite couch to Cooper. “It’s been too long, Cooper. We live in Fenton, not on the moon.” There was laugher in Autumn’s voice. He loved the woman. She had the kindest heart of anyone he knew.

“I know. I’m sorry, Aunt Autumn. Between work and then fixing up my house, things have been a little crazy.” No they haven’t been. Not with Noah’s help. He’s worked just as hard as me. You remember, Noah? My best friend from childhood who I haven’t told you moved back? The one you let practically live with us and then never wanted to talk about when he left?

Which made another healthy dose of guilt settle in his gut. It was wrong of Cooper to hide Noah. Hell, they’d spent almost all their time together for three years. But then, Noah hadn’t been gay then. Coop hadn’t been sucking his cock.

And Vernon and Autumn had both been strange about Noah and his family, after they had left. Who could blame them, though? His aunt had always complained about Noah’s parents dragging him around to a different state every few years.

“How’s it coming along?” Vernon asked.

“Good. We got a deck built, planted some trees out back. I’m thinking of putting a Jacuzzi in. I want to get the outdoor stuff going, before the weather gets cold. We can work inside the rest of the year.”

“Who is this ‘we’ you’re speaking of?” Vernon shoveled a forkful of potatoes into his mouth.

Fuck. He hadn’t even realized he’d said that. “People who help. Friends and guys from the firehouse.” Luckily, since they’d moved outside of Blackcreek, the chance of his aunt and uncle finding out he had a roommate were pretty small. Vernon kept up with the police force but he doubted they talked about Cooper very often.

He hated lying. Hated that he felt the need to. Mentioning Noah at all, made him raw. Like he opened a window inside himself and that his family would be able to see everything. That they’d somehow know.

“We’re so proud of your, Cooper. Even if you don’t come and see us enough.” His aunt smiled.

“Wasn’t always sure,” Vernon added. “You were an emotional thing when you were a kid.”

“Vernon.” Autumn warned.

“I’m not saying anything the boy doesn’t know, dear. He always was a little sensitive to things, and damn did you like trouble.” He smiled at Cooper. “A wild thing, you were.”

Coop didn’t know whether to smile, or be pissed. Was it wrong to be emotional about losing your parents? That he hadn’t been able to get over it quickly? That I’m still not over it. But then…he liked the comments about being wild. He’d always been that way. Just wanted to have fun and live life to the fullest. He and Noah did some crazy shit that they’d been much too young to do.

We’re doing crazy shit now…

Stuff that he loved.

“But your aunt is right. We’re proud of you. You grew into a good man. A damn good fire fighter as well.”

Pride pumped the length of Cooper’s body. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.” It meant everything to him.

They finished eating lunch, talking and visiting. Autumn showed Cooper a new quilt she was making and Vernon talked about fishing, and how bored he was now that he retired. He’d always kept busy. He used to take Cooper, and sometimes Noah on all sorts of camping trips when they were younger. Vernon always said a man belonged outside and he lived his life that way as well. Cooper knew it had to be tough for him, not to be able to do as much and to need to be here with Autumn.