Writer: Azure K Mello
Part: 16
NOTE: I haven't even watched Everwood this season because no one is acting like themselves.
Other notes in prior parts.
The mini-golf range was packed. Delia was picking between a gem green ball and a forest green ball as the boys raided the snack machine. "Kidtastic, do you want peanut butter or caramel accenting your chocolate?" asked Jackson.
"Peanut butter," she replied as she finally picked her ball, "why are you guys getting all that junk food?"
"Provisions," her brother answered, "we have eighteen holes to get through: that might take some time."
Giving him an idiot look, she sneered, "You only hit the ball seven times at each hole."
"That's if you play by the rules." Ephram picked up a score sheet, "Are we gonna keep track?"
"No," Jackson looked disgusted at the idea of it. Throwing a bag of chips to Delia he said, "Let's hit the fake grass."
In the course of the game they got through four bags of chips, six sodas, three large bars of chocolate, and a bag of marshmallows. Jackson had to get a second golf ball when the security guards wouldn't let him retrieve his original one from the blue waterfall. Delia constantly got the ball into the hole in under fourteen strokes. The boys faired less well.
As they walked home Jackson announced that he had won the game. Laughing, Ephram asked him he'd figured that out.
"Well," said Jackson, "I hit the ball the most so I won."
Ephram laughed again and squeezed the older boy's shoulder gently.
Madison was about to leave. After the kids went to the mini-golf park she cleaned up the mess of the morning. Having finished up all she could do she left Andy a note and picked up her coat.
Andy came in and was surprised, "Oh, you're going?"
"Jackson and Ephram took Delia out." She was about to go when she thought of what Jackson had said to her that morning, "Do you know what's going on in your house? Do you know who Jackson is?"
Not looking at the girl he said, "I'm not an idiot, Madison, I know what's going on."
"Oh," the revelation took the wind out of her sail, "so why don't you say something?"
"What can I say? There's nothing to say. He told me when he was fourteen. There's nothing to add."
"He told you?" she asked disbelievingly.
"Of course, I feign forgetfulness because it seems politest."
"You need to acknowledge what's going on. You need to tell him everything's ok."
"He knows that. I don't want to make him uncomfortable."
"He's sixteen: he's an idiot," she laughed when she realized Andy was a bigger idiot than his son but didn't say that. "He's not a mind reader, Dr. Brown. He needs you to let him know that everything's alright." Picking up her purse she resolutely announced, "I'm going home."
The kids walked up the steps laughing as it got dark. Delia walked into the house ahead of them but Jackson grabbed Ephram's hand so that he would hang back. The boy gave him a questioning look which could only be answered with a soft kiss, "The pinnacle of culture?" he said in reference to the mini-golf range. "It wasn't too lame with you there." He paused and saw that Ephram was thinking about something, "What?"
"It's gonna suck when you go home and mini-golf reverts back to being lame. People follow the rules when they play here. You know I'm not good with rules," Ephram said softly with a self-deprecating smile.
"I'll be back so soon," promised Jackson. He half leaned against, half sat upon, the porch railing and pulled the boy to him, "I hate being away from you for any period of time. Love you. Don't want to go home; I want to stay with you. You're so beautiful."
Ephram rested his head against Jack's shoulder, "You have to go home. We both have school."
Nodding, Jackson stroked the younger boy's hair and said, "But next year I'll be at Denver. And I'll see you all the time."
"Don't choose the school just to be near me. We'll make it work: even if you go to college in Norway."
With a shake of his head Jackson said, "Denver's got an amazing music program. You're a huge plus: not the complete reason."
"But what will happen when I want to go to Julliard?"
Standing and pushing his boy towards the door Jack said, "I'll call you nightly, and I'll play music with you over the phone."
Inside Delia was filling her dad in on the afternoon's activities. The kitchen was warmed by the heat of cooking. Andy smiled as he adjusted the oven's temperature. Turning to the boys he said, "I'm making meatloaf. Don't worry: Gino Chang's is on speed dial." Jackson laughed politely as Andy smiled and addressed the redhead, "Would you mind helping Delia wash up for dinner, upstairs?"
Before agreeing he checked to see what Ephram thought. The redhead saw the younger boy nod and said, "Of course. C'mon, Kidtastic."
Once the pair was out of sight Ephram said, "What's up?"
The boy could see his father was trying to be causal when he said, "Is everything ok?"
"Yeah," Ephram didn't want to make it easier for his dad.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm good. I'm awesome." He felt horribly uncomfortable with his dad looking at him.
With a smile Andy said, "When I saw him here I wasn't sure if I was supposed to know him so I pretended that I didn't know him."
"It wasn't convincing and it was horribly embarrassing as it was so obviously calculated," Ephram couldn't bring himself to be angry and just smirked.
"Really?" Andy paused and asked confusedly, "I really wasn't believable?"
"Not in the least."
Andy was still smiling in an uncertain, bemused way, "But everything's alright now? He really hurt you before."
That made Ephram smile. He hadn't thought his dad had noticed. "We're back together. I'm happy."
"Have we had the safe sex talk?"
Ephram's smile widened in spite of himself, "Several times. Plus, I know he's clean."
"Good."
"Is this touching but horribly embarrassing moment over?"
"Absolutely."
The boy walked upstairs still smiling as he listened to his boyfriend and sister laughing in the bathroom. The older boy was helping the girl to fill the large sink with bubbles. Jackson turned to say hi but paused when he saw Ephram's expression. He studied his lover with his unnerving eyes before he was greeted with a slow, lingering kiss. Delia made a gagging noise but they ignored her and Jack reached out to hold Ephram's face with his soapy hands. Ephram wound his fingers into warm curls of hair .
Breaking apart Ephram said, "Whatever you said to my dad: thank you. I don't know what you said but it worked. And you're awesome."
"I didn't say anything," Jackson laughed in shock.
"But-" Ephram didn't know what to say.
"Maybe he just woke up, Phram, maybe he finally realized that you needed a little approval."
After a moment of thought Ephram agreed, "Yeah." Kissing Jack he spoke against the boy's lips as he whispered, "You're still awesome."
With a second gagging noise Delia said, "If you were anymore sweet, you'd be sticky."
Ephram soaped up his hands and nudged his sister gently with his hip so that he could reach the running water to rinse them as he said, "You're just jealous," and stuck his tongue out at her.
"So much to be jealous of," she said sarcastically and turned off the taps.
As she strutted out of the bathroom Jackson spoke with wonder, "We just got burned. . . by Kidtastic."
In the hall she passed her father who was standing frozen on the landing. He could see through the ajar door to the bathroom. He'd followed Ephram upstairs to find his old Kiss the Chief apron because he thought it would be funny. And because of following him he had heard every word and felt ashamed. As he watched he saw Ephram sit up on the bathroom counter and pull the taller boy to stand between his legs. They kissed slowly and he saw his son smile for the umpteenth that day and he realized how long it had been since he had seen Ephram smile.
