Best Laid Plans Read online

  “Are you sure, Thaddeus?”

  Tad’s jaw dropped, and he stared at the man across from him. “Of course, I’m sure!” he burst out. “How could you doubt Rush?”

  “I’m not questioning Rush’s honor or fidelity. You’ll be turning twenty-two in a few months. Are you ready to commit for life? Because, yes, I do believe that if Rush agrees to this, it really will be until death do you part.”

  “I know. That is what I want.” Just to be certain, when he’d first got the idea, he’d made himself picture what his life would be like without Rush in it, and he hadn’t liked it at all. “If you’d never brought Rush home, if I’d never met him, I would have continued to play the field, probably for a long time. But you did and I did, and I love him and want to marry him.”

  “All right.” JT slid out of the booth, pulled Tad out as well, hugged him fiercely and kissed his cheek, in spite of the interested glances they received. When he drew back his eyes were misty. “My baby boy is getting married.”

  “Yeah.” Tad grinned so broadly it felt as if his face would split. “Well, as soon as Rush says yes.” They sat down again, and Tad reached for a fry, dipping it in the ranch dressing that came with it. “I don’t want to jump the gun, but you know someone who works down at City Hall, don’t you? Could you find out from him what we’d need?”

  “Of course. And I’ll ask Daniel about a ceremony.” The rabbi was an old friend of JT’s, just like Dr. Hal, who’d taken care of Tadder and Becca since they’d moved in with Daddy.

  Daddy.

  “Would you… would you mind telling Daddy?”

  “Don’t you know he’ll be thrilled for you?”

  “Yes, but… you and he never talked about getting married.” At least, not in front of Becca and him.

  “I see. And you think the fact that he never asked me to marry him will make him feel… what?”

  Tad swallowed and nodded to himself. So Daddy never had asked JT. “I don’t know, but at least upset that he didn’t?” Was that because he’d been straight for so many years, or… Tad didn’t want to think what other reason there might be.

  “All right, I’ll tell your father, but first I think you’d better ask Rush.” JT dipped one of his own fries into the ketchup.

  Tad sighed in relief. “I will. I have it all planned for tomorrow night. I’m gonna ask Miss Lizzie if we can borrow one of her boats, and we’ll go out to one of the salt islands for a picnic.” He’d tell Rush it was to watch shooting stars, which had kind of gotten to be their own secret code. Rush would blush but make sure they had plenty of lube and condoms with them. “I even have a ring for him” He unfastened a chain from around his neck and laid it on the table between them.

  “It’s….”

  “Hemp. Yeah, I know. But it’ll fit. I had to get sneaky to figure out his ring size.” Tad was really proud of himself for coming up with the idea on his own. “We went to the flea market last weekend, and I dragged him all over it, as a diversion, you know? Finally, we got to this booth that makes hemp jewelry—rings and bracelets and stuff. I tried on everything, and every once in a while I’d say, ‘Try this on, Rush. I want to see if I’m the only one it looks dorky on.’”

  JT choked on his laughter. “Only you. That was clever, Thaddeus.”

  “Well, I don’t know about clever. It got him to do what I wanted. This one fit perfectly. It’s nice too, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, I do.” JT’s expression became thoughtful, but Tad was too happy to pay it much mind.

  “I’ve been carrying it with me since I bought it. He’s gonna be so surprised.” Tadder put it back around his neck. “JT, would Miss Abby mind making something special for our dinner? She’s the best cook I know, and I want this to be perfect for Rush.”

  JT’s blue eyes warmed in a caring, loving smile, and Tad was happy that Daddy loved this man and had brought him into their lives. “I’ll call her as soon as we get home. Since we want to keep this a secret for the time being, I can tell her you and Rush are just planning a quiet evening alone together.”

  “Thanks, JT. This is so awesome.” He bounced in his seat. “I just hope Rush says yes.”

  “I have no doubt about it, Thaddeus. Now, try to contain your excitement or you’ll give the show away.”

  “I’ll try. Are you done eating yet? Can we get going?”

  JT glanced ruefully at his half-finished cheeseburger, and then laughed. “I guess so.”

  Tad looked around for their waiter, and waved him over.

  “Yes?”

  “We’d like the check, please—”

  The waiter’s eyes widened as he took in their barely-touched lunches. “Was there a problem with your meals?”

  “Nope. We just have to head on home. Could we have a couple of doggie bags and a container for the ranch dressing?”

  “You bet.” He hurried off.

  “How long should Rush and I be engaged, JT?”

  “How long do you want to be engaged?”

  “Answering a question with a question isn’t helping.” Tad crossed his eyes at JT, making him laugh. “Maybe this is something I should talk over with my groom?”

  “That sounds like a smart idea.”

  Someone approached the table, and they both looked up. Tad was startled to realize the man holding the takeout containers was Tim Reddy, one of the owners of the pub, which actually took its name from his last name.

  “Tom, can I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Tim? Everything okay?”

  “I’m not sure. Mind if I sit down?”

  Tadder looked from one man to the other. “Do you need me to make myself scarce?”

  “No. Scoot over, Tom.”

  JT gave him some room to sit beside him. “Okay, so what’s going on?”

  “I’ve got a favor to ask you.”

  “Spill.”

  He chewed on his lower lip, then began speaking. “A friend from DC sent a young woman and her little boy to me. An abusive ex is involved, and Babe needed to get out of town fast. Cris and I would have no problem with having them stay with us, but the authorities won’t take it well if the neighbors get too nosey and spill the beans that a child is staying in the bar.”

  JT tipped his head to the side. “You want them to come to us, Tim?”

  “If it wouldn’t inconvenience you too much? I know the ranch is huge.”

  “That it is. The last batch of students we housed have gone home for the summer, so we do have the room.” Every school year they invited young men and women who needed a place to stay for the next ten months.

  “Let me introduce you to them.” Tim slid out of the booth. He looked over his shoulder, and waved, drawing the attention of a young woman, who joined them. “This is Babe.”

  JT was always a gentleman. He got out of the booth and offered her his hand. “I’m Tom Weber. This is my son, Thaddeus—”

  Tad was smiling as he started to rise. It always made him feel ten feet tall when JT called him that.

  And then Babe said, “I’ll be honest with you, Mr. Weber. It could be dangerous for you to take in me and my son.”

  Thaddeus?”

  Tad unfolded his length out of the booth, revealing his full height of six foot four.

  “His father is six foot three.”

  “And Mr. Tom might look short, but he’s a mean motor scooter.” Tad thought of the time Daddy and JT had gone out to a gay bar and one of the men there wouldn’t accept it when JT said no. JT had knocked him down, breaking his own thumb in the process, and since JT loathed the emergency room, Daddy had wound up taking him to Dr. Hal’s house.

  It was good to have a doctor friend who didn’t mind patching you up when things… happened.

  JT gave a spurt of laugher, but he quickly sobered. He leaned back against the table. “A few
years back…” He glanced at Tad. “This was before your daddy and I got together. I went fishing out by the salt islands with a couple of friends, one of whom happened to be blind and brought his Seeing Eye dog with him.”

  Tad stared at him. “I never heard this story.”

  “It’s not something I like to talk about. Four rednecks decided they wanted our boat, and they figured taking it from a blind man, a scruffy mutt, and two fags would be a breeze.”

  Babe was intrigued. Well, so was Tad. “What happened to them?”

  “Jasper, the German shepherd, tore off a chunk of butt. Dan, who had brought his cane with him, almost blinded one of the rednecks with it. Jim dislocated the third one’s shoulder and broke his nose, and I shot the fourth one.”

  “Mr. Tom! Does Daddy know this?”

  “No. It’s not something I’m necessarily proud of.” He turned to the young woman. “So you see, we can take care of ourselves and you and your son.”

  “Tim?”

  “I’ve known Tom a long time, Babe, and I’d trust him with my life. You and Denny will be safe. And I’ll see you get the checks when Del sends them.”

  “Okay, then. I… thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Why don’t you get your boy and your things? Thaddeus and I will be waiting for you in the parking lot.”

  She nodded and hurried off.

  The waiter came with the check. “I’ve got this, JT,” Tad said as he reached for his wallet. He didn’t bother asking if taking in this woman and her son was a good idea. This was what Jacksons did—help out in the community in any way they could.

  “Thanks, Tom,” the pub owner said. “You’re doing a good thing for a couple of good people.”

  JT patted Tim’s shoulder and picked up the Styrofoam containers. “I’ll keep you posted as to how Babe and her son work out.”

  Out in the parking lot, JT and Tad both cast glances at the sky. It was darkening ominously.

  “Shoot. It looks like we’re maybe gonna get that rain.” Tadder had been hoping that an atmospheric hiccup would cause the system to spin out into the Atlantic and avoid Savannah completely, but now he guessed not.

  “What will you do, Thaddeus? You’re a decent sailor, but neither I nor your father would let you take a boat out in bad weather, and while you can usually wrap my sister around your little finger, in this instance, she won’t allow it either.”

  “I know, JT. Don’t worry.” He was too happy to let an impending storm bother him, and he tapped the side of his nose, trying to look mysterious. “I have a contingency plan!”

  JT squeezed his shoulder. “That’s my boy.”

  In a few minutes Babe and her little boy came jogging around the corner of the pub. A large backpack, the sort used for serious camping, covered her back from her head to her backside. The boy also had a backpack hanging from one shoulder. It was smaller, but only relative to the one his mom carried. A battered teddy bear was tucked under his arm.

  Tad opened the passenger door. “You’ll like it at the ranch,” he murmured. He pushed back the front seat, and Babe and her son climbed in.

  ***

  THE RAIN WAS coming down in buckets by the time they got back to the ranch. Tad parked the Cougar under the carport by the side door, and he and JT hustled their guests into the house.

  Becca and Jan fussed over the little boy. Even Ragg Mopp, Jan’s current—but most likely not for long—boyfriend, seemed taken with him.

  Jan scowled when Mopp smiled shyly at Babe and shook her hand.

  “Let’s go, Mopp. We have to stock up before the roads flood.”

  “They don’t flood in this section of Savannah.”

  “Never mind. We’re going shopping. Now.” She closed long-nailed fingers around his arm and yanked him toward the door.

  Tad exchanged glances with his sister, but she just shrugged.

  “Come on, Babe,” Becca said. “I’ll show you where you and Denny can sleep. Once you’re settled, come to the kitchen—just turn left when you leave this room and follow your nose. I’ll go make some cocoa.” She smiled at JT.

  “I’ll get the whipped cream,” he said, and in seconds Tad stood alone in the hallway.

  Well, he had a lot of things to get sorted out, and if he wanted to surprise his future husband, he’d better get hopping.

  ***

  THE RAIN HAD finally eased to an intermittent drizzle, and Tad slipped out to the pool house with the large wicker picnic basket.

  The pool house had already been there when Daddy and JT bought the ranch, but it had been small and rundown, the shower drain clogged, and the walls covered with mildew. Daddy had hired some of his crew to work on it, and now it contained not only a full bathroom, but a kitchenette, living room, and bedroom.

  Tad had fond memories of that bedroom, especially since he and Rush had almost wrecked the bed one afternoon when everyone else had been away from the ranch and he’d introduced Rush to rimming.

  Smiling as he opened the door, he abruptly set down the picnic basket and blinked rapidly a few times.

  JT had already been here getting the living room ready, and Tad’s eyes burned at the thought of the effort it had taken.

  Vases filled with roses from their own garden, red, pink, white, coral, yellow. Yankee Candle jars with MidSummer’s Night-scented candles were on every flat surface. In a corner was a CD player, loaded with the CDs Tad had selected, and soft, romantic music filled the room.

  A couple of large pillows on the floor took the place of chairs. In front of them was the cocktail table from the ranch’s family room; JT had covered it with a snowy white cloth. Candlesticks were on either end of the table, and beside it was a wine bucket filled with ice and holding Rush’s favorite wine, which was too sweet for Tad’s taste, so also in the bucket was his beverage of choice, a liter bottle of Coke.

  He could just picture it: the crystal goblets and silverware sparkling in the candlelight, and Rush lounging next to him, obediently opening his mouth to accept bites of the dinner Tadder would offer to hand-feed him.

  Perfect. He sighed happily and lit the candles. Absolutely perfect.

  All that was left to do was to put the chocolate cheesecake in the tiny fridge in the kitchenette, go round up Rush, and get this show on the road.

  Tad tracked him down in the office.

  “C’mon, babe. It’s the weekend. Let’s get wild and crazy.”

  “I was just logging out.” Rush smiled up at him, and Tad was tempted to kiss him.

  “Hurry up!” God, he loved him so much!

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “Um… A little stargazing.”

  “Stargazing. Right. It’s raining, Tadder.” Rush turned off his computer and rolled his chair away from the desk.

  “Don’t be a spoilsport, Rushboy.”

  “God knows that’s the last thing I want to be, but y’know, we could always do this tomorrow evening.”

  “Nah. Has to be tonight.” He grabbed Rush’s hand and towed him along after him, and they made a dash for the pool house. “The Net said tonight is the only time we’ll be able to see Mars this close to the Earth in our lifetime.”

  Rush gave him a puzzled look as they hopped over puddles. “Tadder, it’s cloudy. We won’t be able to see anything. Besides, that Mars sighting thing is an urban legend.”

  “Humor me, okay, babe?” Tad didn’t realize how nervous he’d become until Rush bumped his shoulder and smiled at him again. He let out a silent phew and opened the door to the pool house. “After you,” he said with a little bow.

  “Ahh. You’re so… Oh!”

  Tad watched as Rush’s eyes rounded, taking in the flickering candlelight, breathing in the scented air.

  “Grab a seat and take a load off.”

  “Tadder?”

  “I
wanted to have a….” He nearly said “romantic dinner,” but caught himself just in time. “To have dinner with you.”

  “Why? Not that I’d ever turn down dinner with you, but what’s the occasion? It’s not your birthday, and it isn’t mine. What’s so special about today?”

  “Well….” Tad scrambled for an explanation that wouldn’t let the cat out of the bag. “It’s… uh… it’s Friday the seventeenth!”

  “Thaddeus, you know how much I… how fond I am of you.”

  “Yes?” Tad knew Rush liked him, but that little slip gave him hope that maybe Rush cared for him enough to marry him.

  “But even for you, that’s downright weird.”

  Tad brushed a kiss over his lips. “Can’t I want to have dinner alone with my boyfriend?”

  Rush sighed into his mouth. “I’m… If you say so, Tadder.”

  “I say so. And after dinner I thought we could blow up the big pool float and see if we can spot any shooting stars.”

  “Ah hah! So that’s your nefarious plan! Tadder, if you just want to make out with me, all you had to do was say so.” Rush offered a hesitant smile and rubbed his nose against Tad’s.

  “Well, yes, but I want to have a nice dinner with you too.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay. So sit.”

  Rush sat, and Tad set about emptying the picnic basket. The odors rising from it made his mouth water.

  Prime rib with small containers of horseradish sauce and au jus, twice-baked potatoes, stuffed mushrooms, and challah with honey butter.

  “And for dessert, we’ll have chocolate cheesecake. Miss Abby made this for us.”

  “I’ll have to thank her.”

  “Yeah.” Tad settled himself on the cushion beside Rush’s, poured wine into a goblet, and handed it to him, then filled his own with Coke. He wanted to touch their glasses together and toast, “To us!” but he was afraid that would spill the beans, so he just smiled at Rush and said, “Let’s dig in.”

  Rush kept shooting little glances around the room, and as the meal progressed, he got quieter and quieter.

  “Is something wrong, Rush? Isn’t your prime rib the way you like it?” Mostly he seemed to be pushing the pieces he’d sliced off the bone from one side of his plate to the other.