Title: Tastes of Home

Writer: Azure K Mello

Part: 18

NOTE: I haven't even watched Everwood since the middle of the third season because no one was acting like themselves.

NOTE 2: Post Blind Faith


He slid out of bed silently and went down stairs in only his pajama bottoms. He didn't want Jackson to go home. Their week had been perfect. But now it was Saturday and, with the twenty-seven hour trip in front of him, Jackson would have to leave if he wanted to get back in time to have a decent night's sleep before school. Ephram understood, logically, why it had to happen but he wasn't happy.

So he went downstairs to make breakfast. If he had to send his boy off he would feel better about it if Jackson at least left on a full stomach. Lighting a cigarette he pulled the eggs, milk, butter, and bacon out of the fridge. The bread was on the side by the toaster all ready and waiting. Pulling out the two pans made some noise and after a few minutes his sister came in wearing her pajamas too.

"Did I wake you?" he asked feeling badly.

But Delia shook her head, "I was awake. I was just waiting to hear someone else down here."

"Oh good. Do you want breakfast?"

The girl nodded and said, "Dad hates it when you smoke downstairs."

He laughed bitterly and snapped, "Yeah, but he hates it more when I smoke in the streets!" He sighed, "Sorry, I'm just tense. Jack's going home today."

"Why?"

"He has school on Monday."

"So you're not breaking up again?"

"No way."

"So you won't be all miserable again?"

That made him laugh a little feeling less tense at the sad note in Delia's voice. "No. But I probably won't be a barrel of laughs for the next few days."

"Right, because usually you're as fun as a petting zoo," she replied sarcastically.

"Yeah," he agreed. "I'm sorry, Delia. I know I suck at times."

"No," she said softly, "what sucks is that you're sad." She rounded the island to hug his around the waist. He stroked her hair and she tried to lighten the mood saying, "I'm gonna go wash my teeth and brush my face." Pulling back she said, "You smell like an ashtray," and ran out the room.

Shortly after he had started breaking eggs Andy walked in to the room. By now Ephram was on his second cigarette. "You know I hate it when you smoke in the kitchen?"

"Yes, do you want white toast or brown?"

"Brown." He said as he played with the coffee maker. "I'm still hoping you'll grow out of it. You've grown out of most of the stupid stuff you did when you were thirteen. "

"You smoked for years," He said pouring the egg and milk mixture into the pan.

"Yes, but I quit when Mom got pregnant with you. Maybe you'll stop when you have the prospect of children. I mean, you could get sick."

That hit a nerve because Ephram remembered all the stupid things he started doing when he was thirteen. And he remembered when he was thirteen and a half and started dating Jackson. And he knew that he was never going to have kids. Already upset by the day Ephram was suddenly livid. "Yeah, you're right I could get real sick. Sadly it didn't start when I was thirteen."

"How old were you?" asked his father looking shocked.

"I was five when I realized that girls smelled funny and were losers while boys were cool and did good stuff. And my friends always wanted to play rescue helicopter and they would fight to be the pilot and I always wanted to be the guy in the make-believe water who got pulled out by strong arms. There's never going to be kids so I guess I won't have to quit."

"What?"

On a roll he didn't stop and got angrier, "And as I won't quit my disgusting habit I'll get sick and die of AIDs. Right? That's what you're saying?" He shook the pan the bacon was cooking in and puffed at the comforting cigarette between his fingers.

"I was talking about Cancer and the fact that you started smoking when you were thirteen. At the same time as you started swimming while drunk. I'm not talking about being gay, Ephram, I know it's not some phase. I don't care who you're with so long as you respect each other and yourselves. What I care about is my sixteen year old son damaging his lungs and smoking in front of his little sister."

"Oh," said Ephram not looking at his dad but instead stirring the eggs. "I'm never having kids."

"You could," said Andy. "You could adopt, or have a female friend who was willing to help you. Being gay doesn't preclude children."

Ephram sagged. "Look, I'm sorry. I thought you were speaking in metaphors. And I'm just upset because Jackson has to leave." He took the last drag from the dog end of his cigarette and threw it into the sink.

Andy moved to hug his son and said, "He'll be back in three weeks."

"I know." Ephram returned the hug but didn't feel much better.

Andy was wearing the cologne Julia used to get him and Ephram remembered smelling it as she said, "This is what real men should smell of." And he'd thought it smelt good even at the time. All dignified and kind of sexy.

He pulled away and dished up the food while retrieving the toast from the toaster. Pouring the girl a glass of juice he called, "Delia, breakfast!" He handed his father a plate of food and left one on the counter while he tucked the carton of orange juice under his arm and picked up the remaining plates. "I'm going back up to bed. I'll see you later." He brushed by his sister and felt his father's eyes on his back.