Page 66 of Up All Night
Oh, please no.I’d been pleasantly surprised so far by the reactions to my coming out. If this were an intervention or, worse, more matchmaking, I was going to lose the calm I was so known for.
Mom ushered us into the sunken living room of the split-level house. Three generations of Murphy family photos lined the mantel and the walls. Happy chaos reigned throughout the older home, with the sound of the kids filtering back from the kitchen and yard. My sisters and their husbands were in the living room, but my gaze went right to the couch centered by the front window.
“Declan.” My heart lifted as my son stood and crossed the room toward me. His auburn hair was shaggier and more styled than our last visit, and he looked to have lost a little weight. Probably training too hard. He gave me a fast hug and a back slap. He was taller than me—had been for years now—but I still wasn’t used to having to look up. “What are you doing here?”
His presence was indeed a surprise, and as happy as I was to see him, my head spun with a fresh new set of worries.
“I came in early for the race next week in Washington. Told Grandma not to tell. I figured I’d get a little extra practice at the track and cruise down here to see the fam. Introduce y’all to Stacey.” He returned to the couch and a model-perfect young woman in a tight black V-necked tee advertising an energy drink. The red can on her shirt matched her lips and manicured nails, while her blonde hair was almost longer than her tiny denim shorts. Declan threw an easy arm around her shoulders. “Stacey runs promo for one of our sponsors. And she’s why we’ve been playing text and phone tag lately.”
Declan had a smug smile, but my stomach clenched.
“Ah. That’s…awesome.” I nodded at both of them. Declan had a revolving door of girlfriends, going back to his middle school years, and had always been one to have a lot of female friends and dates. “Nice to meet you, Stacey.”
“Of course.” She gave a pageant-worthy smile as Declan looked expectantly at Denver, who was still by my side. Undoubtedly, awaiting introductions, which would have been far easier had Declan picked up the phone any of the dozen-plus times I’d tried to reach him over the last week.
“And uh…this is Denver. My…um…”
“Fr—” Denver’s mouth opened at the same time that three of my tween-aged nieces came running through the room.
“Uncle Sean’s boyfriend is here,” the oldest shrieked, red curly hair spilling down her back as the other two giggled. My sisters tried to quiet the trio, but I was actually a little relieved. Grateful even.
Denver had been ready with the save because I’d had an attack of nerves. But now the news was out, and I was strangely calm amid all the laughing and carrying on.
“That’s right. This is my boyfriend.” I grabbed Denver’s hand and held on tightly.
“Wow.” Declan went pale, classic Murphy freckles standing out in stark relief. He tilted his head, then shook it like he was testing reality.
“I wanted to tell you first.” Despite the crowded room, I directed my attention to Declan. “That’s why all the phone messages. Didn’t want to leave this news in a text or as a surprise.”
“Oh, I’m surprised.” His tone was flat, as hard to read as his expression.
“I’ll just go check on lunch.” My mother bustled off, my sisters fast on her heels, all of them likely in a hurry to give Declan and me privacy. We were Murphys. We didn’t yell or make scenes, but this was unchartered territory for all of us.
“I’m sorry you had to find out this way,” I said to Declan. Denver kept ahold of my hand, but his posture was rigid.
“Does Bridget know?” Declan asked, raking his hair, ruining its careful style.
“We talked on the phone last night. She said she was happy if I was happy. And I am.” I glanced at Denver, who was eyeing the door. “We both are.”
“Yep.” Returning his attention to the living room, Denver gave a sharp nod.
“Happy is good.” Stacey nodded enthusiastically. “Love is love.”
Declan shot her a look I couldn’t decipher before frowning at me. “Guess we know why Mom left for the Antarctic.”
“Declan.” I recovered my ability to use a stern parental tone. “My sexuality isn’t why your mother and I divorced.”
“I know.” He scrubbed at his smooth jaw. “Sorry. Bad joke. This is…gonna take some time. You and a dude. Wow. Never saw this coming.”
“Can’t say as I did either.” I offered what I hoped was an encouraging smile. “But what I told Bridget is right. I’m happy. Really happy.”
“And we’re Murphys.” My dad chose that moment to stride into the living room in a fire department polo shirt. “We stick together.”
“You’re okay with this, Grandpa?” Declan eyed my father closely. And I did too, especially when he took a moment to respond. He’d been warmer since our second talk at the station, but I wasn’t sureokaywould have been my word of choice.
But then my dad clapped both Denver and me on the shoulders. “I love your dad a lot, Declan. And I don’t know how many more years I have left to tell him that. None of us do. Like your sister said, if our Sean is happy, I’m happy.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Blinking hard to not tear up, I gave him a grateful smile. Next to me, Denver finally exhaled, grip losing tension and posture relaxing.