Capítulo 50: May-December | Chapter Twenty
There was something about the next few days that made Kyle's shoulders feel light and his face beam with a permanent smile. The night at the pub had been unfortunate, but the resulting events had made him, and Chaska grow closer.
For one thing, Chaska was a lot more open about his past. He talked about his parents, and Kyle let him vent, listening to his heartbreaking past and the moments of brief joy that dotted it. Kyle spoke about himself too, filling the moments of silence Chaska would leave behind with tales of him and his parents, and the few friends he had when he was in school.
"Daddy! Look!" Kyle looked up, smiling at the sight of his son hopping in the inflatable pool he and Chaska had set up earlier that afternoon. It was a Saturday afternoon, and Chaska had arrived at about eight in the morning. Kyle and him and made plans for the night, so he was going to be here all day.
"Daddy, look!" The toddler repeated, squatting in the pool until his head was below the water. It didn't last long, and soon the child was standing up straight and squealing in delight. The toddler took the few steps needed to meet Chaska who was sitting down on the other end.
Kyle laughed. The pool was too big for Chaska, but he had managed to sit in it to make Otis stop crying when the two adults had told him he would be the only person going swimming.
"What are you laughing at?" Chaska asked when Kyle made his way over to them. He hadn't been able to join in on the fun since he'd brought over an engine to work on at home. He kept crawling out from the garage to see what his son and Chaska was up to from time to time.
"I'm just looking," the blond man said, tucking his hands in the pockets of his trousers as he watched his son blow bubbles where the water met his mouth.
Kyle's chest grew tight when he locked eyes with Chaska. The man's hair was wet and clumps of it stuck to his chiseled face.
Chaska rolled his eyes before looking away. "Help me," the man said, reaching his hand out. Kyle took it, and the taller man got up, carrying Otis with him. Water spilled, and Chaska winched, feeling the effect of sitting still in the pool for more than an hour.
"I'm going to clean up after both of us. We just need to get towel dried first," Chaska announced as he climbed up the stairs and makes his way into the house.
"It's okay darling," Kyle's mother said from inside and Kyle smiled before returning to check up on his progress in the garage.
As Kyle turned screws in and out and rearranged wires, he couldn't help feeling excited about the upcoming night. He and Chaska were driving out of town to a gay bar. They were going to watch a drag show and dance a little—maybe get tipsy and a little handsy. Remembering the enthusiasm on Chaska's face as he described going there for the first time was enough for Kyle to set high expectations for the trip.
They had promised Kyle's mother that they would try and get back in the morning. Emphasis on try. Kyle wasn't against getting a nice motel room and cuddling into bed with Chaska.
"Ouch." Kyle groaned, looking down at his electrocuted finger. His mind had wandered, and he hadn't been paying attention.
He put his attention back on the work in front of him, and at six when the sun was retreating and the garage shed was getting dark, Kyle put away his tools for the day and went into the house.
At six, Kyle's mother and Chaska were cooking up an early dinner. Kyle spotted Otis babbling at the dining table, leaning his weight on a chair as he made two teddy bears share a kiss.
"What are you doing?" Kyle asked, coming up behind his son before lifting the boy up and holding him close. The toddler laughed, shaking his teddy bears as he stared into his father's blue eyes.
"Chaska and I aren't eating much, we're going out this evening," Kyle muttered, watching as his mother scooped a large portion of food onto one of the plates. He went over to take a sit by the dining table and put Otis on his lap as he watched Chaska pick up the plate his mother had set to half the quantity.
"That's too bad, it's tasty food too," she said, heading over to the dining table before sitting across from Chaska. "I'm sure there's nothing like it at the bar."
"I hope it's alright to leave you to finish on your own," she said, looking over at Chaska who was setting dishes and cleaning up after them. The closeness of the kitchen meant the dining area also smelled like spices—they pricked Kyle's nostrils. He noticed Chaska ate a lot of peppers.
Chaska didn't reply, he didn't seem to have caught that under the sound of stacking plates and running water.
"It's alright," Kyle muttered to his mother and the woman smiled back at him.
"Sometimes I forget he can't hear that well," she muttered eyeing her son that was in many ways a mirror of her with his light blonde hair and Icey blue eyes. He had sharp features like his deceased father, and the thought made Kyle's mother's eyes soften a bit from sadness.
"Speaking of Chaska," she started, remembering a bit about the boy she caught sight of from time to time over the years. "Did he ever tell you about his parents?" she asked and Kyle frowned a bit before nodding.
"Yes." They both knew what they were referring to so they didn't say it out loud. One parent dying from drug abuse and the other in the state prison.
"He turned out to be a nice boy, I'm happy for him," Kyle's mother went on, smiling a bit. "You know. I already told you that I wouldn't mind if the two of you made things a bit more official."
Kyle's face warmed up. He had told Chaska about his mother's suggestion before, but he never brought it up again. They both didn't have fantastic pay, and living together might be bothersome.
"Of course, the two of you would have to save up a bit first to move out on your own, but I would like that," she went on despite the lack of response from her son. "Also, I would like it if you lived close. I'll get to meet Otis every day, and I'll be happy to look after him if you're both busy."
"I got divorced less than two years ago," Kyle said feeling a bit stiff. Otis would look up from time to time, but for the most part, his focus was on the beaded eyes of one of the teddy bears he had seated on his lap.
Kyle's mother sighed, resting her head on her raised palm. "I didn't know Anastasia very well. I never even met her, so I'm sorry if I forget about her easily."
Kyle felt a lump form in his throat, remembering how he hadn't come home for years. He didn't say anything in reply to his mother, so the dining table fell into an awkward silence.
"I know your business and your wife meant a lot to you, but when you called me and told me that you were coming home, I got so excited," Kyle's mother said. "Yes, the big city must have been great, but I've always wanted you to stay here. I've always wanted quick access to you, my future grandchildren and your partner—"
Kyle's mother didn't finish her sentence because Chaska dropped a tray of food at the center of the table, ending the conversation.
He took a seat beside Kyle, before taking the toddler out of his lap and giving the small boy sweet Eskimo kisses.
Kyle and his mother relaxed and took their own plates of food when they realized Chaska must have not heard much from the conversation. The group and talked, and when dinner was over Kyle washed the dishes while Kyle's mother gave Otis a bath.
At ten, the boy was in bed with his grandmother and the men were alone by themselves.
Chaska followed Kyle up to his room in the attic, and the two talked as they waited for time to pass.
"This is a very cute bedroom," Chaska hummed letting Kyle hold is hand as the two men looked up at the slanted ceiling. They were both lying down on Kyle's bed, humming and letting out sighs as it got darker with the passing minutes.
"Yeah, I guess so," Kyle said, squeezing Chaska's hand. He couldn't say much of anything. His mind was occupied with thoughts of what his mother had said.
"Chaska."
"Hmm?"
"I really hurt my parents when I moved," Kyle muttered, feeling his chest squeeze as anxiety washed over him. He knew Chaska wasn't the best with words, but he needed someone to talk to.
The younger man didn't say anything, but he gave Kyle's hand an encouraging squeeze, so the man kept talking.
"I called rarely, and they never met Anastasia. My father never met Otis, and my mum only saw him when I asked to come back home," Kyle muttered. "I don't know why I didn't think to talk to them or visit. I guess when I left home I wanted to leave everything behind, and my parents were part of the little town I wanted to escape—" Kyle paused, feeling tears stung his eyes.
"You know, they never complained, so I never changed even though I knew I was being a shit son," Kyle muttered as Chaska turned his head. The younger man's dark hair prickled Kyle's chin and neck.
"Well, you're here now," the younger man muttered, reaching out to touch Kyle's cheek. "You can't do anything about the past, but you can be good to your mum now."
Kyle sighed, shutting his eyes. "You're right," he said, hearing Chaska hum before pressing a cold kiss on his forehead. Kyle felt calmer after airing his thoughts. He made a promise to himself to change, and apologize to his mother.
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