"And that werewolf is really creeping me out," Kenny said.
Evan covered his mouth and smiled. He even had Kenny calling Jeffery's assistant the werewolf now. "What does your father's assistant have to do with any of this?" Evan asked. He was still smiling, but he didn't want to refer to Jeffery's assistant in front of Kenny as the werewolf.
"He's always around, ready to please Dad," Kenny said. "I think he's trying to get into Dad's pants. If you ask me … "
"Kenny," Evan said. "I don't want to hear that kind of talk. You know your father never mixes business and pleasure." This was true about Jeffery. He would screw any man on the planet, but he always kept his business relationships uncomplicated.
Kenny rolled his eyes. "Look, I'm not a kid anymore. I know how things are. I know Dad's not a saint and that's one of the reasons you aren't living at home anymore. But seriously, the werewolf is like totally creeped out."
Evan had to fight to hide his smile this time. He thought the werewolf was, as Kenny had stated, totally creeped out, too. But he didn't want to say this in front of Kenny. "What happens between your dad and me is something personal that's just between us and you don't need to worry about it. We both love you, and we're both there for you, and that's all you have to worry about." One thing he and Jeffery had agreed upon was never to talk down about each other in front of Kenny.
"Well, I know that," Kenny said. He rolled his eyes again. "I'm not mad at either one of you, and I'm not like those kids who resent their parents getting divorced."
"We're not divorced," Evan said. He might have reacted too soon. He tended to be sensitive about this because he was still so much in love with his husband.
Kenny stopped walking and pulled Evan over to bench in one of those small parks that were cropping up all over Manhattan thanks to some group that wanted to make the city more appealing. When they were both seated, Kenny reached for Evan's hands, held them, and said, "I just want to spend some time with you right now. Why does it have to be more complicated than that? I'm not mad at Dad. I'm not all screwed up or anything like a lot of the kids I know who come from broken homes."
Evan shrugged. "You're not from a broken home. Your father and I love each other more now than we did the day we met. I've told you the story of how we met and fell in love a million times. It happened when we least expected it."
Kenny squeezed his hands tighter. "I know that story. Please spare me the mushy details. And tell me it's okay for me to move in."
Evan felt himself getting weaker. "And you're sure your dad is okay with this?"
"We've talked about it and he's fine."
"If I did agree, which I'm not sure I will yet, I still have to talk to your dad about it first."
Kenny laughed. "You know Dad would do anything for you. All you have to do is ask."
"Is it that obvious?" Evan asked. He'd never been able to depend on Jeffery emotionally. But he did know Jeffery would have done almost anything he asked. He'd always wondered if other people noticed the power they both had over each other.
"It's that obvious." Kenny frowned and shrugged his shoulders. "I know how Dad can be sometimes. I'm not stupid. But I also know he'd never say no to you."
Evan stood up and they started toward the avenue where he would hail a cab. When they reached the corner, he asked, "If I agree to you moving in with me, when is this going to take place?"
"I can move in tonight," Kenny said.
Evan had been thinking more along the lines of a month or two, just to give himself time to get used to being back in the real world again. "You're pushing me now."
"I know," Kenny said.
Evan saw an empty cab approach and he lifted his arm. When the driver stopped, he opened the door and said, "I'll talk to your dad tomorrow and we'll set a date." He knew this went against all his better judgment, but he couldn't say no to his son. And as frightened as he was about having Kenny live with him full time, he knew deep down he wanted to spend this time with his son while he was still young enough to enjoy him. Kenny would be a grown man in a few years and Evan would never get this time back again.
When he said this, Kenny grabbed him and hugged him so hard he almost took his breath away, which was not something Kenny did often. "This is so cool. I love you, Dad."
Evan climbed into the backseat and said, "I love you, too, kid. I'll call you tomorrow."
As the driver pulled away from the curb, Evan glanced back through the rear windshield and waved at his son. Kenny was standing on the sidewalk, with his long legs spread apart, waving with both arms in the air. But it was the smile on his son's face that caused a sting in his eyes. Evan had missed a few events in his son's life because of his drinking, and he knew he could never get them back again, but he could at least try to do the right thing now while he still had a chance.