Something Beautiful (38 page)

Spencer said in a low voice, "Get out of my house."

"Dad, please don't be this way," Micah pleaded.

"Both of you. Get out. You come back when you've regained your senses, Micah Tobias Ferguson, and not a moment before. And you," he spat at Dune, "you -- you deviant --"

"Mr. Ferguson," Dune said, "please, don't do this. Don't toss Micah away. He's a good man and he loves you."

"I don't want your filth in my house!"

Micah looked down at his shoes, lips trembling, and then looked up again. "Dad," he said quietly, "Rebecca lives in Santa Cruz now."

"What?" Ivy whispered, moving for the first time since Micah started talking.

"Rebecca. Your daughter. The one you gave up on and threw away. She lives in Santa Cruz and she and Justin have a baby girl. She looks like you, Mom," Micah said. "She looks a lot like you."

"I told you to leave," Spencer said.

"I know. But I'm just saying, this is what you do. Something doesn't fit your vision and you get rid of it. Sometimes that's good, but when it includes your own children, don't you think you're being a little inflexible?" Micah swallowed. "If you're like this -- if you're inflexible -- you're going to lose us all."

"I said get out," Spencer repeated in nearly a whisper.

Micah sighed and nodded. He turned and took Dune's hand and led him out the front door. His hand was hot and shaking, and Dune squeezed it. Micah looked at him with a hesitant smile and then leaned against him as they walked down the drive to Micah's car.

"Here," Dune said, holding out his hand, "let me drive."

Micah nodded and handed over his keys, getting docilely into the passenger seat when Dune unlocked the door. He pulled up his legs and wrapped his hands around his knees as Dune pulled into the road and started the drive back to the city.

Finally Dune said, "Don't give up on them. It's a shock now, but things could change. And now that they know that Rebecca's closer -- well, anything could happen."

Micah's expression was somber. "I knew this is how it would go. I hoped I'd be wrong."

"Hey," Dune said and took his hand again, glancing away from the road a moment. "You've got me. You've got your sisters and you've got Leo and you've got all of us. You're not alone."

"I know." Micah smiled though his eyes were damp. He leaned back in the seat and looked out the window again. When he spoke again his voice was trembling: "Could we go to your dad's when we get back?"

"Of course," Dune said gently, and held onto his hand tight through the rest of the drive.

***

It must have been in Micah's face, what had happened, because the moment Leo opened the door he put his arms around Micah and held him close. "Oh, boys," he said softly and held out his arm to pull in Dune, too.

Dune leaned against him a moment, then said, "I'm fine, Dad," and patted Micah's back before moving into the apartment. Leo stayed in the doorway, holding Micah, and Micah was content to stay.

"I told them," Micah said and sniffled. "I told them everything. I told them about Jamie and Dune and me."

"I'm so proud of you," Leo said. "You did the right thing."

"Did I?" Micah said and wiped his face with the back of his hand. Over Leo's shoulder he could see Frances and Dune, Frances holding Dune’s face while he tried to reassure her. As Micah watched, Frances ran her thumb over Dune's lower lip, careful of the bandage, and Dune leaned their foreheads together and smiled.

"You did," Leo was saying. "No more lies, no more hiding. You can be who you are and not live in fear."

"Yeah," Micah whispered, then pulled out of Leo's arms. "I'm in love with your son."

Leo smiled and nodded. "I know. Come on. I'm making French toast. Does that sound good?"

"It sounds delicious," Micah said, following him into the apartment.

Frances held out her arms to him -- Dune was safe with Ocean now, looking a bit embarrassed at all the fuss -- and Micah went into them gladly. "Dunie told me what happened," she said. "Let me see your hand." Micah held up his injured hand and she made "tsk"ing noises as she gently patted it. "You shouldn't take risks like that! You should have gotten the bouncer right away."

"Some things are worth it," Micah said, looking at Dune. Dune smiled back at Micah and then went into the kitchen when Leo called to him. "Frances, I, that is, we --"

"I know, sweetheart." She smiled when Micah looked at her in surprise. "A mother knows these things. I keep meaning to talk to you," she said. "I keep thinking I need to tell you how to take care of Dune, but I don't, really, do I? You've got it figured out."

"I hope so."

She hugged him close again. "And don't worry about your parents. They'll come around. Where there's love there's forgiveness, so if you can find it in you to forgive them you'll be able to keep loving them."

Micah nodded and his eyes stung and he said, "Um, I have something in my eye," and escaped to the bathroom. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, feeling overwhelmed and drained by everything that had happened that day -- and it wasn't even noon yet. He ran some cold water and splashed it on his face and called, "Come in," when someone rapped on the door.

It was Dune, who put a hand on his back and rubbed it slowly. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm not," Micah said honestly and wrapped his arms around Dune's waist. "I feel like everything is just huge and heavy right now." He looked up at Dune. "How are you? Are you doing okay?"

"Yes," Dune said, sounding surprised at himself. "I feel pretty peaceful, all things considered. It doesn't mean I'll stop taking the antidepressants," he added.

"Good."

"But otherwise, I'm pretty good." He kissed Micah's hair. "I've got this crazy, wonderful family and friends who look after me, and I've got you. I feel like the luckiest man in the world."

Micah leaned against Dune with a sigh and closed his eyes. He smiled when Dune kissed him and rubbed his back. "Let's go eat," he whispered against Dune's lips. "I want to get you home soon."

Dune laughed, took Micah by the hand, and led him out into the apartment where breakfast was ready and people were starting to gather at the table. Micah took his usual chair and smiled when Ocean leaned over and kissed his forehead.

"How are you holding up, sweetheart?" she asked softly.

"I'm okay," he said with a look at Dune, across the table from him. "Not the best day ever, but it's only one day."

She squeezed his shoulder. "We carry on," she said and let him go.

***

After breakfast Dune and Micah went back to their apartment. Micah made phone calls: first to Shiloh, who said, "Mom called in hysterics, I couldn't understand half of what she said, she's panicking and Dad's furious and I told her I already knew so she's upset with me, too. She seems to think I could have talked you out of it or something."

"I'm sorry," Micah said.

"It's not your fault," Shiloh said with a sigh. "It's just a mess. Do you want me to go over later and smooth things over with them?"

Micah thought about it. "No," he said finally. "It's not for you to make them understand, you know? It's entirely up to them. I think we should just leave them alone for a while."

"Okay," Shiloh said. "If you need anything at all, let me know."

He called Rebecca next, and when he'd told her everything that had happened she said, "Do you need me to come over, mini-bro? We could keep you company for a while."

"No, I'm okay. Dune's with me. I'd like to see you soon, though. How's next weekend?"

"Okay," Rebecca said. "Next weekend will be fine. I love you, honey. We all do."

"I love you, too," Micah said softly. "Give everybody kisses from me." He hung up the phone and joined Dune on the couch. Dune put aside the magazine he'd been flipping through and pulled Micah to him.

"Are we as much of a mess as I think we are?" Micah said quietly, and Dune held him even tighter.

"I don't think we're a mess. Sure, I've got a new scar and may have to face Gavin again in court, and you've had one of the worst coming-out experiences I've ever witnessed." By now Micah was chuckling dryly, and Dune said, "But we're not a mess. I think we've got a real shot at this happiness thing." He paused and kissed Micah's forehead. "You're my hero, you know."

"How do you figure that?" Micah traced his fingers over the backs of Dune's hands.

"It was brave of you to take on Gavin and it was brave of you tell your parents the truth."

"I don't feel brave."

"You are." He tilted Micah's face back and kissed him. "You're brave and strong and beautiful."

Micah pulled Dune's arms tighter around his chest. "I love you."

"I love you, too. We're going to have that life you wanted. I want to give it to you." He kissed Micah's neck . "Though we'll have to talk about adopting. That threw me a little."

"Sorry," Micah muttered, but he smiled to himself. It had thrown him, too, to even have the idea, but it had felt right.

"It's okay. We'll figure it out." He rested his chin on Micah's shoulder. "It's all part of making a family."

Micah closed his eyes and relaxed completely into Dune's arms. "I couldn't have done that without you," he said softly. "I wouldn't have had the strength. If I'm your hero, you're mine, just as much." He pulled himself upright and twisted around to face Dune. "You've made me everything I am, Dune."

"I can't take credit for it all," Dune said, cupping his jaw. "I think you did a lot of it on your own."

Micah kissed him, hands on Dune's chest. "Let's take Stuart up on his offer of the place in London this summer," he said softly. "I want to show you Europe, and you need to get out of the city."

"I think I'd like that," Dune said, smiling as he added, "I won't beg you to marry me."

"That's okay," Micah said.

"Not yet, anyway." He smiled more deeply, and Micah had to kiss him again.

"With you? I'll probably say yes." And even if he didn't, it wouldn't change anything. They didn't need a ceremony or a piece of paper to bind them together: they were bound by blood and friendship and understanding, far more substantial things. "I'm in this, you know. I'm in this for real."

"I know," Dune said softly. "I am, too." He hugged Micah close and kissed his hair, and Micah lay on his chest, listening to his heart beating.

Eventually Dune said, "I've been thinking about what I'm going to do next. I think I'm going to try doing the novel again. I threw out all my notes, but they're still up here." Dune tapped his temple. "I think I know how to do it right, now."

"Good. Writing makes you happy. I've been hoping you'd get back to it. Is it still the story of little Johnny's heartbreak?"

"No," Dune said slowly. "I don't want to write about heartbreak. Not exclusively about heartbreak, anyway. There's enough heartbreak in the world -- I don't want to add to it."

"You should write about explosions and spies. That's what people want to read."

Dune smiled, his arms tight around Micah. "Sure. Explosions and spies. Or bravery and being true to yourself."

"I think you'd have more fun writing about explosions and spies. Or dragons! People like dragons."

"You like dragons," Dune said affectionately.

"I love dragons," Micah admitted. "You could write a great story about bravery if there are dragons."

"Okay," Dune said and kissed his forehead.

"And then I can make a game about it," Micah went on before kissing him back. "And then when they make a movie about it --"

Dune started laughing. "That's really planning ahead."

"May as well dream big. Think of it, Dunie, a video game tie-in to your book!"

They were both laughing now, holding each other close, and Dune leaned their foreheads together. "You're a geek," he said softly. "You dance like a spaz, your eating habits are terrible, you're still much too young to settle down and I may have to hide the first time you have a Dungeons and Dragons game here, and I don't want to live without you."