51) Sunday 22 Sept 2013 – A Pushed Luck

John Paul felt like he'd been standing with an outstretched hand for an eternity, ready to shake the hand of his future father-in-law. Johnno Dean, however, seemed frozen on the other side of the dining table, staring at his youngest son. John Paul didn't need to look at his partner to know that Craig was about to rub the back of his neck – or worse, storm out – so he decided to push his luck and walked around the table towards Johnno.

"Mr Dean, pleasure to finally meet you. Craig has told me so much about you." John Paul gave what he thought was his most winning smile, as he tried to keep his focus on Johnno Dean and not notice the fear he couldn't help seeing in Craig's eyes.

Johnno finally seemed to have recovered from his shock as he reacted to John Paul's words, and turned to shake his hand.

"Oh, yes, this is our John Paul," Frankie said lovingly, as she came over to John Paul's side and took him by the arm. "You know, of course it was a bit of a shock when we found out that Craig and him were, you know, … an item, but now, we couldn't be happier!" She beamed at her son's lover. "They're the perfect couple!"

John Paul felt like he had to physically stop himself from turning towards Frankie in shock, but recovered in time to finally shake Johnno's hand.

"Yes, John Paul… uh-hum… nice to meet you… are you from around here?" Johnno managed to say as he limply shook John Paul's hand.

"Well, my family's been living in the village for a few years now, but before we used to live in Chester," John Paul replied politely.

"Yes, we go way back, us and the McQueen's. Myra, his mum's a great mate of mine, and his sister, Mercedes, has been working in the pub for years now." Frankie added, still holding on to the young man's arm. "But what matters the most is that he's made my son the happiest man on earth."

John Paul couldn't believe his ears, but the way Frankie was holding his arm, patting it gently, made him thank that she was, surprisingly enough, expressing her real feelings.

"Well… yes… well… I'm glad to hear it," Johnno said hesitantly. "I just wouldn't have thought..." Turning to his son, he continued, "I just never would have thought you … that you were gay…"

'Oh, not now,' John Paul tried to force his fiancé to read his mind, 'this is not the time, please, Craig!' He looked pleadingly at his partner.

"Well, there you go. Guess you don't know me very well, dad," Craig shrugged his shoulders, not having looked at John Paul since his father turned towards him. "I love John Paul," he said matter-of-factly, "he's a man and I've been in love with him for almost seven years, and I intend to love him till the day I die. I guess that makes me a little gay!"

"Why didn't I know this?" Johnno Dean looked at Craig, and then from him to his other present children. "Jake?... Steph?..."

"Well, it's not like you've been in touch for years," Steph replied.

"Yes, you disappeared from our lives, dad!" Jake added.

"Jake… Steph…," Craig tried to stop his siblings starting the blame game. "Dad, it wasn't up to them to tell you. It's my fault and I'm sorry!" He paused for a second before continuing, "I'm not sorry for being with another man, but for not telling you. I guess I was,… no I know I was too scared in the beginning, too embarrassed, too afraid of what you might say… that you would try and stop me… that you might actually succeed in stopping me… that you would manage to make me break it up. I couldn't risk it." He walked over to John Paul and took the arm not held by his mother. "Dad, John Paul is the one that I want to be with, he's my best friend, and he is my lover. I want to have a relationship with you, but that has to include John Paul. If you can't handle that, then so be it! I'll survive. If you need time to digest this, then that's fine, but you must know, that unless you accept John Paul as a part of my life, you will not be a part of it."

"Okay, son, I'll think about it… Jack, I think I need a drink," Johnno turned towards his former wife's husband.

"Of course, whisky?" Jack replied with a question.

"Yes, by all means!" Johnno quickly accepted the offer.

"Oh, the quiche!" Frankie exclaimed, "it must be burning by now!" She ran to the kitchen, not noticing that she hadn't let go off John Paul's arm. He, in turn, managed to not drag Craig into the kitchen with them.

"Oh, John Paul dear, can you hand me the oven gloves in the bottom drawer there?" Frankie ordered as she tried to fan the smoke away from her face after opening the oven.

A minute later they were both standing at the sink.

"Do you think any of this is edible?" she asked.

"I don't think so, and in any case, there's plenty of food on the table. It's not like we're gonna starve." John Paul tried to joke.

"Yes, you're probably right, love," she said in a resigned voice. "Can you bin it? I hate throwing out food."

"Sure!" He took the dish and started emptying it into the bin. "Frankie?..." He hesitated.

"Yes, love," she replied as she closed the oven.

"Did … Did you …" He stuttered, "Did you mean what you just said?... I mean, what you said about me and … about me and Craig?"

"Why, of course I did, John Paul!" She turned towards him. "My dear, do you think I haven't seen what you mean to him?... I meant every word!" Noticing the tears forming in the young man's eyes, she continued, "No need for this now, love, let's go back, ay?" She took his arm, but before pulling him towards the door, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek.