Challenges

Part XXIV

***Modern Day***

Once they got back to the hotel room they both decided to get to bed early. They had gotten little sleep over the last few nights, plus Jason had to be at the airport by nine in the morning. Jason had curled up next to Justin and had his head resting against his shoulder. Justin on the other hand was laying on his back looking at the ceiling.

He had fallen asleep quickly, but something had awoken him, or at least he thought something had. He looked over at the digital clock on the nightstand: 1:00 AM. The moon light was filtering through the curtains casting various shadows around the room. It was peaceful and quiet.

At first he thought it was a dream; that dream where the mystery man appeared. But it wasn't. He now knew who the mystery man was, and that man was lying next to him.

“What are you thinking about?” Jason asked groggily and with a half sleep voice.

“Sorry if I woke you.” Justin said, looking over at Jason. His eyes were still closed, but he had a smile on his face.

“I could hear you thinking.” Jason grinned. “Or maybe it's the smoke I smell from you thinking.”

“Ha, ha.” Justin said with a chuckle. “How mature of you.”

“Always.” Jason put his arm around Justin’s chest and snuggled closer in. “Are you okay?”

“Yea.” Justin said, closing his eyes as he felt that electric buzz run through him. “Just thinking about the last few days, and honestly this past week.”

“Oh?”

“I had a history teacher once tell me that history is an echo, or a shadow. It is always present, and sometimes it influences our present more than we would like, much like the shade of a tree can impact the surrounding plants.” Jason closed his eyes and took a deep breath, held it and let it out slowly. “My past is casting shadows right now.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Jason asked, pulling Justin in closer.

“No.” Justin smiled as he felt the warmth radiate from Jason.

“Your dad said you were happier then he has seen you in a long time.”

“I am. I think I am happy and content.” Justin rubbed Jason’s arm.

“Good.” Jason mumbled as he fell back asleep.  “I’m glad you are happy.”

Justin asked Jason what his dad had told him, but Jason just said it was a conversation they needed to have. Justin let it drop. This last week and a half spent at home had caused him to relive some happy moments, and some sad ones.

He kept going back to the thought of Lily. What were the chances that she was Jason’s therapist in California. That she was responsible for getting him put back together and that without her, most likely they would never have met. That Matt had met him on his mission, and been insightful enough for that letter.

Justin was not a fan of the ideas of fate, but maybe there was something to this. Maybe, just maybe, this was his happy- ever-after.

***13 years ago***

The wedding day had approached much quicker than Justin expected. The school year started, and senior year was everything that he believed it would be. The classes were semi easy, minus his math and English classes, and he had half the day off since he was caught up on credits. This meant more time to spend with Nate, but also more time working at home for his dad.

“Are you ready?” Justin asked, walking into Matt’s room.

“Yea.” Matt was adjusting the bow-tie on his tux. He had gone with a dark blue vest and tie and Justin was in a blood red vest and tie.

“Nervous?”

“No.” Matt grinned. “I have the easy part. Are you nervous?”

“No.” Justin lied. Matt had asked him to be the best man, and of course that included a speech. In front of everyone.

“Liar.” Matt laughed and grabbed his jacket as the doorbell went off. “I hope that is Eddie. He should have been here hours ago.”

They both made their way down the stairs where his mom had already opened the door.

“Hi.” a man in the same color tuxedo as Justin. “I’m Eddie. Are you Sister Leary?”

“Yes dear!” Justin’s mom said with a smile. “Come in. So nice to meet one of Matt’s companions. He told me how excited he was that you were able to come!”

Justin had to stifle a laugh. Matt was excited for many reasons that Eddie could come, but one of them was not the fact that he was his missionary companion.

“Eddie!” Matt yelled from the stairs. He bounded down the last few, crossed the room in a few steps and embraced him with a hug. Justin watched and could tell the hug was more than just for friendship. “I was getting worried.”

“Sorry.” Eddie said, pulling himself away from Matt. He still was holding on to his hand. “The plane was delayed in Dallas, and then when I got to Albuquerque the rental car was messed up. It was a nightmare.” He pointed to the suit. “Lucky for me I picked this up in Atlanta before I made it here.”

“I am glad you got here.” He pulled Eddie over to where Justin was standing on the bottom of the stairs. “This is Justin, my little brother I told you about.”

“Hey Justin.” Eddie extended his hand to Justin.

Justin looked Eddie up and down. He was a nice golden tan, and he was fit. His hair was also golden and it was combed back. Justin was shocked that his eyes were two different colors.

“Um…” Eddie lowered his hand when Justin didn’t respond.

“Oh!” Justin said, realizing he had been staring at Eddie. “I am so sorry.” He reached out and grabbed Eddie in a big hug.

Eddie was shocked at first and just stood frozen in place before he reached around and hugged Justin.

“Matt has told me ALL about you.” He emphasized all as he looked at Matt. Matt blushed.

Justin’s mom looked at Justin disapproving. “Really Justin?”

“It’s okay Sister Leary.” Eddie said, pulling back from Justin. “I feel like I know him as well. Justin was the number one topic of conversation during our mission.”

Justin’s mom just shook her head and headed into the kitchen.

“It is good to see you again Eddie.” Matt said, looking Eddie up and down. “You look really good.”

“Thanks.” Eddie blushed. “I got my act in order, and things have been going good.”

“That is awesome.” Matt gave Eddie another hug.

Eddie smiled. He turned his attention back to Justin. “So he told you everything huh?”

“Yea.” Justin grinned at Matt. Matt was still holding Eddie’s hand. “You might want to watch that.” He pointed to them holding hands.

“Why?” Matt asked innocently.

“Mom?” Justin said pointing at the kitchen.

“What she doesn't know won’t kill her.” Matt laughed. “She will live if she does find out.” Justin pulled Eddie towards the door. “Come on, I want you to meet some others.”

Justin had never seen Matt so excited like this before. He started to wonder if there wasn’t more to the story than Matt had told him.

A tent had been set up in the front area with chairs where the wedding was supposed to take place. While Matt had secretly stopped going to Church, he had allowed his mom to get the Bishop to officiate the wedding. Matt made it clear that he was to be accepting of everyone that was at his wedding, and this was not the place to make any grand statements about the sanctity of marriage.

Already milling around the tent were some of Matt’s high school friends. Nate was there as well, dressed in the same red vest and red tie.

“I just realized something.” Matt said as he started to laugh.

“What's that?” Eddie asked

“All my grooms men are gay!” He stopped and started to laugh harder. Justin had a hard time finding the humor in it, but Matt was laughing so hard he started to laugh as well. Eventually Eddie couldn’t handle it anymore and he started to laugh as well.

“What’s so funny?” Nate asked, walking up to three men laughing.

“All my grooms men…” Matt tried to speak while laughing so hard, ‘Are...gay!”

Nate had a confused look on his face and didn’t get the joke either, but because everyone was laughing, he couldn’t avoid doing it either.

“Behave yourselves!” a stern voice behind them caused them to snap out of it. “Behave your age!” It was Justin’s mom walking up.

“Sorry mom.” Matt said, trying to stifle his laughter. “Inside joke. You wouldn’t get it.”

“I am sure I wouldn’t.” She looked at Justin and then at Nate. “I am not sure why you had to ask Nate to be a groomsman. What message does that give Eddie here?”

“That I love my brother and his boyfriend?” He put his arm around Nate as he said it.

Justin turned red. He had never heard that word used before around his mother. Nate was always just a ‘friend.’ She just shook her head and walked away.

“Sorry Eddie.” Matt said. “She just won’t accept it.”

“At least she didn’t kick you out.” Eddie said, looking a bit sad.

“You always have me!” Matt said, pulling Eddie in with his other arm as he held on to Nate. “We know the best guys in the world Justin!”

***

The wedding itself was short, but good. Justin had more fun watching the people in the audience. His mother was in the front row trying not to cry. He wasn’t sure why people cried at weddings.

He couldn’t help but keep thinking back to all those times that his mom said that a woman required him to be happy. That this wedding was the ultimate ideal of that happiness. But then again, there was Matt, and he was genuinely happy around Eddie. He was in love with Lori, and that is who he was to be with, but he was also happy around Eddie, and he could see a love there.

He wondered if Lori had not been in the picture if Matt would have been happy being with Eddie. Everytime Justin looked at Eddie, Eddie was laser focused on Matt. Was Eddie jealous? Upset? Happy?

Of course Nate was standing up there as well, and Justin was happy they got to share this special day together with Matt. It made it all perfect.

“Hey!” Matt whispered. “I need the ring!”

“Oh!” Justin blushed, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulled out the ring. “Sorry.”

Several of the people in the audience laughed.

***

After the wedding they moved to another tent that we set up to serve a light dinner and have some music playing for people to dance too. Of course this was also the time for the best man to give his speech.

“Are you ready?” Matt leaned over and whispered to Justin.

They were seated at the head table, and it was time for the speeches.

“No.” Justin frowned. “Why do we do this?”

“Tradition!” Matt laughed.

“I am not traditional.” Justin stood up and grabbed the mic that had been placed on the table. He pulled out the little note card he had written on and stared at it for a moment. A silence fell over everyone as they waited for him to start.

 “You know,” he said, putting the cards down on the table. “I had one job earlier and I messed that up, so let's see if I can do it again.” Some people laughed, others just grinned. “The one thing I want Matt to know is he is my best friend. He has seen me through many rough seas, and without him, I am not sure where I would be.” He glanced over at Eddie. “I am not sure where many of us would be without him.” Eddie nodded his head. “Lori, you have been a big sister to me, and I know that Matt loves you all his being. You make him happy, when he is just thinking about you. We should be all so lucky.” Justin paused thinking of the right thing to say. “Matt, I love you, and I am glad that you are my brother.”

As people clapped, Matt got up and gave Justin a tight hug. “Thanks bro.”

After the Maid of Honor gave her speech, the music started up and Matt and Lori went to do their obligated first dance.

“Come on Eddie.” Justin said pointing to another table. “Let me introduce you to some more people.”

They made their way over to another table where his friends were sitting.

“Hey everyone.” Justin said with a smile. “I want you guys to meet Matt’s former companion Eddie.” He started to point at people. “That is Grayson and Cody. They are family.” Justin chuckled as he said that. “That is Kimbery and Neil, Scott and Lily, and Mark and Stephanie.” He pointed to each grouping as he went around the table. Mark had met Stephanie over the summer at his summer job and they had hit it off.

They sat down next to their friends.

“So,” Kimberly started looking at Eddie, “I am assuming that since Justin said ‘family’ that you are…”

“Yes.” Eddie said blushing.

“Nice!” Kimberly smiled. “Matt had all gay groomsmen.” She started laughing hard like Matt had done earlier, which became contagious and they all started laughing.

“What’s the joke?” Lori interrupted their laughing, and they all attempted to stop laughing.

“Nothing.” Justin said, choking down a laughter ball that was coming up. “Inside joke.” He looked at Matt and started to laugh again.  

“Matt?” Lori had that look that Justin knew meant that she wanted in on the joke.

“My grooms men are all gay.” Matt said, starting to laugh again.

“Oh.” Lori looked back at the three guys in blood red vests and ties. “I don’t see why that is funny.”

“Neither do we, but apparently Kimbery thought it was a riot.” Mark said, trying to compose himself. “Congratulations to you both.”

The rest of the table agreed and said the same thing.

“Thanks guys.” Lori said as she pulled a chair up next to Eddie. “So. You are this Eddie I was told all about?”

Eddie’s eyes went wide with fear. “Y...Yes.” He stammered out.

“Lori,” Matt started. “For crying out loud.”

“Hum.” She looked at him closely up and down squirting a bit, and then looked dead into his eyes. Justin put his hand on his forehead. “So.” She said with a smile. “Nice to meet you. Matt told me all about you, and I am so happy you could be here!” She leaned over and gave him a big hug.

Eddie was stiff as a board as she grabbed him, but slowly relaxed. She whispered something in his ear, which caused him to smile, and get a tear in his eye. He reached around her and returned the hug.

***

After the wedding was over, Justin, Matt, Lori, and Eddie decided to build a pit fire and just sit around. Since there was school on Monday for everyone, Matt and Lori were just going to stay at the house for the weekend. They had decided to take Thanksgiving break as their honeymoon.

“So when are you heading back to Atlanta?” Lori asked Eddie as she snuggled up to Matt.

“Tomorrow.” Eddie was playing with a stick he had found on the ground. Justin wasn’t sure if Eddie was uncomfortable with the situation, or just uncomfortable.

“What are your plans once you get back?”

“I don’t know. I was going to college, but it was too hard to keep up studies and a job for survival.” He looked over at Matt, and then blushed. “I am sorry. I don’t need to dump your problems on you guys. You were both kind enough to pay for me to come out here.”

“Of course man.” Matt said with a smile.

“Why don’t you stick around here for a few days?” Lori asked, her eyes had a glint in them.

“I couldn’t do that.” Eddie said. “I don’t want to be a burden.”

“No burden!” She said with a smile. “I know Matt would like to have you around for a bit.”

“Are you sure?” Eddie asked Matt. “It won’t be awkward?”

“Why would it be awkward?” Matt asked.

“Okay. But just for a little while okay?” Eddie smiled. He seemed to relax a bit.

Maybe he was worried about going back to Atlanta, Justin thought to himself.

“I think I am going to bed.” Eddie said, yawning. “I think the time change is catching up to me.”

He got up and started making his way back to the house. Lori leaned over to whisper something into Matt’s ear.

“Are you sure?” Matt asked with a frown on his face. “It’s our first night married.”

“Go.” She said, “He needs you more than I need you.”

Matt leaned over and gave Lori a kiss. “I love you.”

She laughed as he jumped up and chased after Eddie. “Hey Eddie, wait up. I will walk back with you.”

Eddie turned around and smiled. The fire light showed off his eyes, and it looked like he was crying. As Matt reached Eddie he draped an arm around his shoulder and they walked back to the house together.

“Was that the big talk he wanted to have?” Justin asked, watching them disappear into the house.

“Yes.” Lori said, looking into the fire pit. “He was so worried that I would hate him, and leave him. But he knew he had to be honest with me.”

“I was shocked.” Justin said.

“I was too.” She laughed. “I am not sure exactly what it means for Matt. I don’t know what it means for us. I asked Matt if he was bi.”

“I don’t think he is.” Justin looked back at the house. “I think this is one of those things where people click in some way.”

“Me too.” She looked at Justin. “I asked if they had sex. He said no, they just cuddled and made out. Basically the same things you and Nate do.”

“Yea.” Justin blushed. He was glad it was dark. Talking to Lori had always been easy, but this was a different topic. This was his brother, and now she was married to him.

“So why marry him?” Justin knew the answer, but he wanted to know for sure.

“I love him.” She said, closing her eyes. “He told me that he would never see Eddie again if that was what I wanted.” She took a deep breath. “I always loved the smell of wood burning.”

They sat in silence again. The logs snapped and popped as they were burned away. The night air was cool, and Justin closed his eyes. It was a nice night.

“How could I do that to him?” Lori said bring Justin out of his inner thoughts. “He loves Eddie. Maybe as much as he loves me.” She looked back at the house. “Who knows where this will go, but I do love Matt, and I know he loves me.”

“That he does.” Justin simply responded.

***

***

Note to the Reader:

As I wrote this particular chapter I didn’t want to focus on Matt, as Justin is the hero of this story. Well, the hero may be an odd word to us, but to me, he is. When something odd happens in our life how do we respond? Most likely if you have been reading this story you fall into the membership of LGBT+ and you have experienced the emotion of at least coming out to yourself and accepting that. But, what happens when, as Lily has said, the dreams die and something happens to someone else? How do you respond to that? Are you just as supportive as they were to you? Do you return that?

If you have any comments please send them to me at sockingsaw@hotmail.com I always read and respond to comments. Also there is a mailing list (I forget to put that in these new ones).

Thank you for reading!

Matt