Lying in the back seat, Theodore covered his eyes with his forearm swallowing anguish and the urge to cry. He wouldn't allow himself to be vulnerable right under your father's nose.
Not when he was afraid of what might come next.
The path was silent and hurried, and Maggie released her own pheromones to calm the two men. After the pickup truck was parked outside the driveway of the woody house, Maggie hurried out of the car to help the blonde get off.
― Can you move? Are you hurt somewhere else?
― I can walk, thank you.
Theodore had managed to get out of the truck with difficulties, his back hurt as well as his face. Yet he had gone into the house as if he had endured the pain of the world. Without saying a word to the adults he had gone to his room.
Still standing at the door watching the teenager lock himself in the room, the couple sighed and closed the door.
― I didn't realize that was gonna happen, Bill. I'm sorry, I just wanted to...
― I cannot control the tongue of others when I cannot control mine.
Maggie looked tearfully at the groom, getting her hug tight and comfortable. She wanted to cry and apologize to the boy Theodore too, since it was she who had invited him to the party with the intention of spending more time with him. All she was looking forward to was getting to know him better.
But the plans seemed to have gone down the drain.
Breathing deeply and wiping her tears, the woman gave a trembling smile to the groom.
― I should go talk to him.
Looking up, Bill had made a grimace.
― I'm the last person the kid wants to see right now.
― If you don't go now, it'll add to the problem. He'll go home and his mother will think it was you who did it to the boy again.
― Just tell him what happened, I don't have to go to him.
— Bill, you spent an entire year listening to people say mean things about your son. You carried the blame for hitting him, and yet saw that people can be worse than you imagined.
― I know what I did, you don't have to remind me.
— I need to remind you that the boy in that room is your son. ― Maggie held the groom's face, without averting her eyes from his. ― You weren't the only one to hear that kind of stuff, he went through that too.
Somewhat reticent, Bill averted his eyes for a moment and relaxed his shoulders before again holding the bride's gaze.
― What did he say to you?
― It seems that this kind of thing happens in school as well.
Bill had taken a deep breath and looked up as if asking for help from some saint to give him strength.
― I still think you better go. He seems to have liked you.
Smiling slightly, Maggie walked away from the groom going to the dark wooden bookcase where she kept a small first aid box. Returning to the groom, she had extended the box along with her bright eyes.
― He's your only son. Go.
Holding the offered box, Bill had once again faced the doors of the upper rooms. Swallowing hard he took a deep breath and climbed step by step going to the second door of the corridor where he had given light knocks before turning the handle.
Opening a crack in the door, he had peeked enough to find the son sitting on the edge of the bed holding pieces of toilet paper to wipe the blood from his mouth. Theodore raised his head to see who was entering the room, surprised by the father figure holding the old kit.
― Can I?
Theodore nods his head, lowering his eyes to the crumpled paper in his hands. Bill had closed the door and sat next to his son leaving the kit on his lap. For a moment neither of them had dared to say anything, but the alpha had taken a deep breath, clearing his throat to break the silence.
― How are you doing?
The blond kept his head down and shook his head.
― I will survive.
― Right.
Theodore had looked at his father from the corner, noticing the gun stuck in his pants belt.
― I didn't know you had a gun.
― I learned from your grandfather ― Bill had opened the box trying to get rid of his shame ― In my time if someone dared to invade our homes we could put a bullet in the head.
― What if you had really hit?
Bill had ripped off a piece of cotton and soaked it in saline.
― I'd be arrested, we're not in my time anymore.
The father held his son's chin with a strange delicacy. His fingers were stiff even though he took every care not to hurt Theodore further. Sliding the cotton over the boy's lips, he realized how injured his face was.
― Your mother will kill me when she sees your face.
― I'll explain to her what happened.
― Leave it. I'll call later ― Bill was mumbling focused on his little task. ― I have to take over my problems.
― Why?
Bill had stared into Theodore's eyes, seeming to see his young ex-wife in front of him. He was still haunted by the boy's resemblance to his mother, which was somewhat enviable.
Taking another piece of cotton and wetting him to continue cleaning the wounds, Bill had once again cleared his throat before whispering.
― Because I am your father.
― My father did something like that before.
Bill had frozen his hand dropping it in his lap.
― That's right, I was the one who beat you up for finding out that my son was not a man.
— I am a man, though still young, but I am a man. ― The blue pearls watered when the words came out of his chest to gain freedom. ― Or will you tell me that it makes me less man? That I'm a pervert who will seduce any other man for his pleasure? Don't you think I'm the one who started all this? That I seduced your pawn into doing this to me because I like it?
Bill swallowed hard at seeing Theodore angry. Certainly not for being afraid of him, but for finally realizing that was no longer the child who used to run between the plantation and have fun climbing trees. Time had made sure to show him that something changed in his life, but a father is never prepared to accept that a child had grown up.
Because it is lonely.
― I know you didn't do anything with Beto. But that doesn't mean it's easy to accept that you're like that.
— What way? Say! ― Asked Theodore clenching his fists over his knees. Just as he had avoided opening his mouth to be kissed, the blonde would not allow tears to fall on his face. ― It is not like that. I'm your son, I'm an omega man and I'm gay.
Taking a deep breath, Bill left his hand on Theodore's closed fist.
— You're right. You're my son, since you're being stubborn like your old father. Do you really think that night I didn't regret it? What father would rather slap his own son without feeling remorse?
Theodore had swallowed his tears and averted his gaze to the ground, with no courage to sustain Bill's melancholy eyes.
— Listen, Theodore, I'm not going to tell you that what I did was right. God knows how sorry I was to get to that level. Just don't ask me to accept everything so quickly either, because I can't keep up with you anymore. I need some time to get used to it.
— I only ask for the minimum of respect. If you prefer that I never come here again, that's fine. It's better than getting a beating every time I'm set foot on these lands.
Bill then took an ointment from the rescue kit and opened it by taking a small amount on his indicator. Again he held his son's chin making him look at him, and then spread the white ointment over the bruises.
— I don't want you to stay away, Theodore. Seeing you grow up away from me is punishment enough for this old man. But it doesn't hurt more than the pain I felt that night.
Shrugging with burning wounds, Theodore pressed his lips trying not to grimace. Not when he realized his father was being honest for the first time since the fight.
It was a rare opportunity he couldn't miss.
― What pain? ― Dare to question.
— Watching him get hurt by someone else. ― Moving his hand away from his son's face, Bill lowered his head while arranging the kit in his lap ― Maggie told me that school has been difficult for you.
Holding his breath by the subject being brought up, Theodore shook his head swallowing hard.
― People just avoid me, no big deal.
― I'll know more when I talk to your mother. Anyway, I just want to ask your forgiveness for what I did.
Facing his father with surprise, Theodore felt his eyes burn once again in that conversation. Bill looked at him with serenity and patience, even if his presence remained intimidating. Nothing you didn't expect from your father, who had always seemed like a big, strong man.
It was the first time he apologized for anything.
Moistening his lips, Theodore agreed with his head several times before lowering his head hiding the tears that flowed from his eyes. Bill sighed and hugged the blonde's head, making him touch his chest.
Watching from the small crack that had opened, Maggie looked at the ceiling containing the emotion. Unfortunately she could not wipe her own tears, as she held a tray of hot milk and chocolate cookies.