Sam had finally met him and the guy hadn’t seemed so bad. Of course he hadn’t come right out and
asked
Derek if he was a drug dealer, but Sam suspected he was. Mel still looked lit most days when he saw her. The whole situation filled him with impending dread and he walked around on edge, waiting for the ax to fall.
Mel had promised to meet him at the school for Levi’s first-grade promotion and end of year program. The coming summer brought a new crop of problems for Sam, who hadn’t quite decided how he’d take care of Levi and manage to work, now that he was busier than ever.
He made his way toward the auditorium and looked around the crowd of parents in the hallway.
No Mel
. He spotted Travis and his mom, and weaved through the throng to join them. “Hey.”
Travis’ eyes lit up like they always did when he saw Sam. “Hey there!” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Sam’s cheek.
“Hi, honey.” Kim kissed him next.
Sam smiled. He was used to the affectionate family by now. “Glad you both could make it.”
“Dave sends his regrets, there was just no way. I have a planning period this hour, but I’ll have to skip out if this runs long.”
“I don’t have much more than that,” Travis agreed. “But we wanted to be here.”
Sam glanced around again. “Any sign of Mel?”
“Nope.” Travis picked a string from the sleeve of his shirt. “You really think she’ll show?”
Sam shrugged. “I guess we’ll see.”
“We should go in,” Travis suggested. “We don’t want to have to sit in back.”
“Okay, but I’m saving her a seat.” Sam moved toward the auditorium doors, where Levi’s teacher stood.
Colton Crawford smiled at them. “Well, hello. Good to see you. I was hoping you’d be here so I didn’t have to phone you.”
Sam gazed at him. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I just wanted to tell you that Levi’s turnaround the past few weeks has been amazing. He seems happy and outgoing. Physically, he appears to be thriving.”
“Good.” Sam breathed a sigh of relief. Travis might have fond memories of getting called out in front of teachers like his parents but Sam’s memories weren’t that humorous.
Travis spoke up. “I think we’ve got a good handle on things now. Thanks for your help.”
“Anytime. Did you get a chance to check out the summer camp program we talked about?”
Sam looked at Travis. “Summer camp?”
Travis cleared his throat. “I was going to mention it to you. Can we talk about it tonight?”
“Sure.” Sam wondered exactly what there was to talk about. Levi was too young to go away to camp. He’d never agree to it and neither would Mel.
“Enjoy the program,” Crawford said.
“Thanks.” Sam led the way in, choosing seats near the front on the outer aisle. If Mel arrived late, she could slip in that way. He sat next to the empty chair and Travis sat beside him, with his mother on his other side.
Travis leaned over and squeezed his hand. “Sorry, babe. It came up rather quickly and I hadn’t found time to mention it yet.”
“No problem. I’m not sending Levi away to camp, though. I don’t think he’s old enough, and Mel will never agree.”
“No one is sending him away. It’s a day camp. Monday through Friday from eight to two. He’d need to pack a lunch and a couple of snacks. The kids take swimming lessons daily, and get to experience a bunch of other activities and crafts. There’s even a trip to the zoo scheduled one day.”
Kim added, “I’ve heard it’s a great program.”
Sam nodded. “It sounds pretty good.”
The principal stepped on stage and welcomed the family members.
“We’ll talk more tonight,” Sam agreed.
Travis squeezed his hand and held it.
When the principal finished his welcome, the first-grade students filed on stage and stood in rows on bleachers. The music teacher stepped forward and the kids began to sing.
The song was nearly over when Mel breezed in and slipped into the chair next to Sam.
He glanced at her and was shocked at her appearance. Her hair was wild and unkempt. Her dirty jeans were shredded in several spots. The tank top she wore was not only stained, but it exposed too much cleavage and a butt-ugly shoulder tattoo he’d never seen before. Sam figured it was supposed to be a pixie or fairy of some kind, but it looked more like a blue toad.
“Hey,” he whispered.
“Hey.” She fidgeted nervously. “Where is he?”
“Second row, third from the left.”
She searched for him and nodded. “These things are so lame.”
“They mean a lot to little kids, though.” He remembered how excited Levi had been to invite them. He’d asked to call Kim and Dave himself, even though Travis had warned him they’d be working so not to get his hopes up. Sam had had to remind him to invite Mel. He’d felt guilty that night, realizing Levi was becoming less and less attached to her.
He glanced at Mel’s shoulder again. “When’d you get the tat?”
“Isn’t it cool? A friend of Derek’s did it.”
“Toad?”
She swatted his leg. “Fairy.”
“You calling me a name?”
Mel laughed out loud and he grabbed her arm and squeezed to silence her.
“I’m getting one, too,” he said. “As soon as I decide on the design I want.”
His sister gazed at him skeptically. “You? I’m surprised the minister would allow you to do such a thing. Oh I’m sorry, I mean the
doctor
.”
Sam bit back a chuckle. “Yeah, he was pretty pissed when I told him I wanted one. But I stood my ground. I told him that I’m my own man, and if I want to get a tattoo then damn it, I’m going to.”
“Good for you.” She nodded.
Travis leaned forward and looked at them. “You’re missing a good program.”
“Sorry,” Sam whispered.
His lover glanced casually at Melanie. “Hey, Mel.”
“Travis,” she acknowledged, then turned her attention to the stage.
When the kids were finished they came down into the audience with a long-stemmed carnation for each of their parents. Levi’s face lit up when he spotted his family and approached them. He gave one flower to Travis and one to Sam, then smiled at Kim. “I told them I needed three.”
Sam gulped. He knew Levi hadn’t noticed Mel, but she sure as hell had seen what he’d done and was winding up to bitch.
Kim pressed a kiss to Levi’s forehead and said, “Thank you, sweetheart, but I’ll bet you didn’t see your mother sitting down there on the end. You should give this to her.” She handed the flower back.
Levi glanced at Mel and Sam saw honest-to-God fear in the boy’s eyes. He approached Mel and held the flower out. “Hi, Mommy.”
“Hey, little man!” Mel gave him a hug and accepted the carnation. “For me? Thank you!” Her voice was high pitched and exaggerated.
Sam wanted to sink under the floor and he suspected the rest of his family did, too. It dawned on him that for the first time ever, he’d lumped Travis, Levi and Kim under the ‘family’ category but excluded Mel. The realization made him more uncomfortable than his sister’s phony tone.
They exited to the back of the auditorium where the school had supplied refreshments. Levi had a cookie and Mel took three, wrapping them in a napkin and shoving it in her pocket. “You want to come home with me, little man?”
The frightened look appeared in his eyes again. “Uncle Sammy promised me we could get ice cream.”
She shot Sam a dirty look. “You can get ice cream any time, can’t you? I never get to spend time with him anymore.”
He shook his head. “Not my fault. I’ve offered to bring him by every day after school. You’re usually busy.”
Mel glared at him. “Well I’m not busy today. School is out soon, so I’ll be able to spend a lot more time with him.”
“Has your schedule changed?” Travis asked.
She looked at him. “Excuse me?”
“Has your schedule changed? We were under the impression that you worked evenings until late and slept all morning.”
“No it hasn’t changed,” she snapped at him. “But Sam’s will have to. Levi needs something to do all day.”
Sam spoke up. “We’re thinking about enrolling him in day camp. He’d go from eight to two each day. They offer swimming lessons and lots of other activities.”
“That can’t be cheap. I hope you’re not expecting me to pay for part of it.”
Sam could see Travis bristle at the remark. He set his jaw and replied, “When have we ever asked you to pay for anything? We’ve got it, Mel. We think it’ll be a great experience for him.”
“It might be.
If
I choose to allow it.”
Sam sighed. “Please, Mel. You’ll have to sign the permission forms, I’m sure.”
She smiled evilly. “Then I guess you’d better stay on my good side. Levi, are you sure you don’t want to come home with me? We could stop by the convenience store and load up on junk food for dinner. Anything you want.”
“Dr. Trav says eating too much junk food isn’t healthy.”
She rolled her eyes. “
Dr. Trav
is such a prig. Whatever, kid, it’s your loss. See you soon, little man.” She turned to walk away, tossing her carnation on the floor as she went.
“She is one piece of work,” Kim muttered softly.
“What’s a prig?” Levi repeated.
Travis squatted to face him. “Kind of like a goody two shoes. And you know what? That’s not the worst thing I’ve ever been called.” He grinned.
Levi laughed.
Travis continued, “That was an amazing program, Levi. Thanks so much for inviting us. I’ve got to go back to work for a couple of hours. I’m going to find a vase for my beautiful flower so all my patients can see it.”
Levi hugged him tightly.
“Love you, buddy.”
“I love you too, Dr. Trav.”
He stood up. “I’ll see you tonight. Don’t eat too much ice cream because we’ll probably go back out and get more later.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Okay!” Levi grinned from ear to ear.
Travis hugged his mom. “Thanks for coming. Maybe we’ll see you this weekend?”
“You bet. Take it easy.”
He moved in front of Sam and slipped one arm around his waist, then drew him close.
Sam grinned. “You think this little PDA is a good idea in front of a school full of potential patients and their parents?”
Travis shrugged. “It’s no secret that I’m gay. Anyone who has a problem with it can find another pediatrician. They won’t find one as happy as I am, though.” He pressed a kiss to Sam’s mouth.
Heart fluttering, Sam savored the kiss before it ended too soon. “Same goes, baby. Have a good afternoon.”
Travis winked at him, ruffled Levi’s hair, and left.
Kim smiled at Sam. “I raised a good one, didn’t I?”
Sam laughed. “Totally. I
so
owe you for that one.”
Levi piped up, “We could take you for ice cream.”
She crouched down to his level. “I wish I could, buddy. I have to go back to work, too. Your program was so good. I can’t wait to tell Dave all about it. He’ll be sorry he missed it. We’ll see you soon, though. Have fun on your last few days of school!”
He gave her a hug and she squeezed him tight.
Kim stood and hugged Sam. “See you soon.”
“Thanks. See you.” He smiled at her as she left. They’d become friends over the past six weeks and he respected Travis’ parents a lot. It was clear that Levi was smitten as well.
He reached down for the boy’s hand. “Do you need to get anything before we go?”
“My backpack is in my classroom. You can see our dinosaur bulletin board.”
“Dynamite! Let’s hit it.” They walked to the room and Sam checked out everything the child wanted to show him. It occurred to him how easy Levi was to please. All it took was a few moments of attention, speaking to him at his level, listening to what he had to say. Small things, sure, but they deeply impacted the child’s self-esteem. He wondered why Mel couldn’t see it.
Walking hand in hand from the room, they ran into the teacher again. Sam smiled. “Great program, Mr. Crawford. We enjoyed it.”
“Please, call me Colt. Most of the credit goes to Mrs. Weaver, the music teacher, but the kids were amazing, weren’t they? They all worked so hard.”
“You should be proud.” Sam squeezed Levi’s hand. “I know we are.”
“And I know Levi is a lucky young man. I’m sorry we’re just getting to know each other now that the year is coming to a close. I think you, the doctor and I have a lot in common.” He grinned.
Sam wasn’t sure how to respond.
Colt covered his mouth. “Oh good grief, I didn’t mean that like it sounded. I was talking about friendship, and an interest in ink. I believe we have a mutual friend, Eddie Ortega?”
Sam shook his head. He hadn’t heard the name.
“Oh, I figured you knew him. He’s the tattoo artist who’s done most of Travis’ ink. He’s done all of mine, too.”
Sam blinked. “You have tattoos?” He noticed for the first time that Colt was wearing long sleeves, like Travis always wore in public.
Colt nodded. “Almost as many as Travis, or so I’m given to understand from Eddie. I’ve never seen his of course, but I’d like to someday.”
“I’m sure he’d feel the same way. Maybe we can get together for a drink or dinner some night with you and your partner.” He glanced down at Levi, remembering that he and Trav had other obligations now. Yet full-time parents did it. Surely he and Travis could find a way to make it work. “Give me your number and we’ll see what we can work out this summer.”
They exchanged cell numbers and said goodbye. Sam walked Levi out, intrigued that Colt also had a body full of ink and he’d yet to get even one. The tattoo itch was niggling at him again. He’d have to choose a design soon.
Levi chatted as they walked. He changed subjects at least four times and finally asked, “Does Mr. Crawford really have chattoos?”
Sam chuckled as he unlocked the Escape. “I guess so. Cool, huh?”
“Yeah. Prolly not as cool as Dr. Trav’s, though.”
“Probably not, kiddo.” He tossed the backpack on the seat, buckled the boy in, then headed for ice cream.
* * * *
Travis clutched the bed sheets as his world was rocked. Face down, ass in the air, being pummeled effectively by the guy he loved, he couldn’t imagine being any more content.