Installment #5...

INSTALLMENT #5
Kevin
Kevin breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the big
American Airlines plane lift off headed west and then bank to
the left and disappear in the Eastern sky. It had been great
having mom here for the four days. It was especially nice to
have her to run with early in the morning. And the fact that a
piece of fruit, or a bowl of soup, or crackers and cheese could
constitute a meal was even better. She understood his current
passion for being a vegetarian and she could take meat or leave
it. He had tried to show her a good time in hopes that she might
sell the farm and move to California. They could afford a house
if it were the two of them. And it did not have to be California.
They could go back to Boston or back to Dallas or maybe up to
Seattle. There was really nothing holding her in Colorado
except memories. No family. Just the farm. Her sisters were in
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Kansas and he was just not comfortable with her being alone on
the farm.
It was a lot of work and while there was room for a hired
man and the chickens brought in enough to afford help, she still
refused. It was good that she was occupied with her little store
on eBay. He checked in from time to time and her merchandise
seemed to move well. Her descriptions were written like she was
talking to an old friend. Meg Parker was definitely a force to be
reckoned with in the technology department.
Kevin pulled his little Subaru into a parking place in
front of Your Little Pub. Guess it was all right to have a brew
since it was almost noon. And he wanted to see Greg. He had
not talked to him while mom was here. Not quite sure he was
ready for mom to meet a male friend. It could be awkward.
When Greg caught sight of Kevin walking across the floor and
up to the bar, he smiled and changed directions. He had been
taking a tub of dishes to the kitchen but that could wait. He
smiled shyly at Kevin. He had never met a man before that
could turn his knees to jelly and his insides to butterflies, but
this man did. Kevin was so sure. So aloof, but when he turned
his brown eyes on him, Greg was done. He felt like the man
looked into the very depths of his soul. Eyes of brown did that
to him. “Hey, Greg, how goes it?”
“Great Kevin. And how did your mom’s visit go? I guess
she is gone now?”
“Yeah, I just put her on the plane. It was all good. I
should have had you over, but ..”
“I know. You don’t need to say any more. You have not
met my mom either!” They both laughed uneasily. They had
discussed the mother thing before and were both sure they
needed more time to adjust and accept themselves as a couple
before holding each other out to the family. Greg was more sure
then Kevin, but then he had been out in San Francisco while
Kevin had never held hands in public with a man. It would take
some getting used to that was for sure.
“Hey, Kevin, I picked up that old Loretta Lynn movie
with Sissie Spacek, you know Coal Miners Daughter. Don’t
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know how good of shape it is in. Got it at the junk store.
Want to come by tonight and watch it? “ Kevin hesitated and
sat his brew back on the bar.
“Can I bring the eats? You do know I don‘t do the meat thing,
don’t you?”
“Hey man, I was there way before you! That is no
problem at all with me.”
“I’ll pick up a bottle of wine.” He turned back to his brew
and thought to himself, “This just gets better all the time!” No
one else would ever understand his deep love for country music.
It just did not fit in with his lifestyle, but here was Greg
understanding him so well. Not only understanding, but
accepting him just as he was. Life indeed was good. Maybe
Greg would get to meet his mom yet!