You always learn a lot about someone on a road trip. The road trip from Eureka Springs to Nashville had been great fun as I traded stories with Mack and learned more about him. I didn’t expect this ride to be as fun, as he was seriously stressed. For good reason, grant you.
I’d learned a lot about Mack over the past thirteen weeks of us living together. I’d learned he loved to read, would choose that over television every time. He was fascinated by gaming systems, having never tried one before he met me, and loved to play games with me whenever we got the chance. I’d learned other things, too, things that bothered me. Mack was very, very careful with what he had. Everything was always put in the right place, and handled so that it would last. Even when I’d ripped an old shirt, his first thought was to mend it, while I hadn’t hesitated to throw it out.
After so many years on the police force, I could always pick up the signs of a child who hadn’t grown up with enough. They ate carefully. Whatever was put in front of them, they finished and they were quick to catch any escaped crumb. I had to watch Mack because if someone put food into his hands that wasn’t safe to eat, he was likely to eat it anyway, partially out of manners, but mostly out of sheer habit. My cute Creole’s childhood had been rough in more ways than one.
With that thought in mind, I pondered what I was likely walking into. I didn’t want to be a burden to his family—and we would be, if they assumed the task of feeding us. Plus, Mack required special foods, things not found in most grocery stores. As we passed Murfreesboro, I asked him, “Should we pick up groceries on the way in?”
“Cher, that’s not a bad plan. We’ll pass through Baton Rouge on the way; that’s got a Whole Foods in it. Lafayette’s closer, but it means going the wrong way for a bit before turning around.”
“How far is Baton Rouge from Opelousas?”
“About an hour.”
“So any perishables we buy should be fine, as long as we put them in cold bags.” I nodded, as that decided it for me. “We’ll stop there.”
He eyed me sideways as he said, “I’d like to buy more than just what we’ll need.”
“That’s fine. Big vehicle, it can take it.” I’d half-expected him to do so. Mack had casually mentioned to me once that he was glad the FBI paid so well. It let him help his mother. Mediums started out making $60,000 a year. I made the same as him, as I functioned as his ‘anchor.’ I knew part of his paycheck had gone to his mom at some point, although I didn’t know all the finer details.
When he didn’t get an argument or any questions, Mack relaxed into his seat. “You expected that.”
“I know you’re worried about your mom. And everything you’ve told me said she’s not living a plush life. So yeah, I expect you’ll help her as much as you can while we’re in town.”
He leaned over in his seat, putting his forehead to my shoulder. “You are a blessing to me, Brandon Havili.”
“You can’t tell me stuff like that while I’m driving,” I informed him, mostly kidding. “It makes me want to jump you.”
At that, he laughed, finally lifting his head to grin at me. Mack’s got the most infectious smile. I was never sure if I wanted to kiss him or just smile helplessly back.
Driving. I’m driving. Can’t do either. Dammit.
Eyes back on the road, I tried to redirect us to practical matters. “Did you text everyone that we’re on our way?”
“Ah, let me do that now.” He pulled out his phone and started tapping away.
“Is there anything else you want to pick up in Baton Rouge?”
He pondered for a moment, thinking hard. “No, I can’t think of anything. I wish I could get a new water heater for my mom’s house. She said it’s kicking on and off, not always heating up properly.”
“Ouch, cold showers? It’s alright, we can do that.”
Mack blinked at me as if I’d said something strange. “We can? Cher, I don’t know how to fix that.”
“Yeah, it’s okay, I do. They’ve got hardware stores in Opelousas, right? It’s not much effort to switch them out. As long as it’s really the water heater that’s acting up and not something else.”
“The casual way you say that makes me wonder. Just how comfortable are you with tools?”
“Pretty comfortable. Don and I broke a lot while growing up—part us figuring out our own strength, part wrestling in places we shouldn’t have been. We got to fix whatever we broke. And Dad’s always been the type to buy a fixer upper for cheap, then do the fixing up himself. We learned with him. Don told you how he renovated our grandmother’s house, right? I did the same to my place in Colorado.”
Shaking his head in wonder, Mack teased, “A man of many talents.” He hesitated strongly. “But this isn’t your responsibility to fix.”
I’d expected resistance on this and sure enough, bam, here it was. This was the other thing I’d learned about him. Mack was truly uncomfortable asking for help. It had been drilled into his head that he was a burden, that he shouldn’t be such an imposition. Those notions were hard for him to let go of. Part of the reason why he’d believed he’d never have an anchor was because of that. I think he wouldn’t have accepted me so easily if it weren’t for the fact he’s strongly attracted to me.
And he only accepts my help because I like him, because of our relationship. Trust me, I was very grateful he allowed it. And still very mad anyone taught this amazing man he was ‘too much effort’ and thereby undesirable. When I found the people who’d told him that, I’d break their jaws so they couldn’t say anything else stupid.
My mom had advised patience on this. It would take time and consistent love and support to get it through to Mack that he was always worth the trouble. And that I didn’t think anything he did was troublesome.
Before I responded to him, I took a breath and phrased the words in my mind. “Sweetheart, I really, truly don’t mind.”
“But that’s a lot of work, isn’t it?”
Be patient, be patient, be patient. “You know, I’m fond of your mom, too, even though we haven’t met in person yet. I don’t like the idea of her having to suffer through cold showers on a regular basis. I swear to you, it really should only take a few hours, as long as it’s a simple swap. I’d rather do it and know it’s been done right. Okay?”
My logic seemed to sell him as nothing else I could say would. He understood me at least on this point, that I liked to have things done right. His unease died down, and he gave me that sweet smile of his. “Alright. If we have time, I’ll mention it to Mama.”
“Good.” I offered not only to give his mind some ease but also with the hopes I’d get in good with Mama Lafayette. So far she’d sounded happy Mack had found a reliable work partner/boyfriend. But sometimes it was also easier to like things when they were at a distance. When faced with the reality, she might change her mind.
He must have read the thought off my face, as Mack assured me, “She’ll like you.”
“You sound very sure of that.”
“She already likes you,” he pointed out, amused now. “You’re protecting her precious son, polite to her on the phone, and text her pictures of me. All of that has landed you in her good books.”