Last of the Summer Tomatoes (11 page)

“Wasn’t that like… weird? Knowing her your entire life and then having her give you a physical?”

“She’s a nurse, she’s professional. I trust her with my medical well-being.”

“I don’t know if I could trust anyone but a stranger. Someone who didn’t know me, someone who wouldn’t ask questions.”

“Questions?”

Kyle shrugged. “I guess I’d just like someone who wouldn’t pry.”

Sam slowed down a little, pulling off to the side of the road.

“Something wrong?”

Sam put the truck in park. He didn’t look anywhere but out on the road. Kyle could see he was grinding his teeth.

“I… I didn’t mean to upset you, whatever I said.”

Sam let his breath out. “Kyle, don’t take this the wrong way, but you don’t need to apologize every other sentence.”

“What?”

“You apologize for just about anything. I expect you to apologize for the storm this morning.” Sam unbuckled himself and turned to face Kyle. “Life happens. Sometimes good things, sometimes bad things. They aren’t all your fault. Actually, the need for the tetanus shot is my fault for not getting you gloves first. You seem to think one wrong move and you’ll be tossed on your ass.”

Kyle looked down. “I learned long ago to just apologize to make it hurt less.”

“Hurt less?”

“If I told Hank I was sorry right off the bat, he wouldn’t punish me as bad.”

“That fucking son of a bitch.” Sam started to mutter under his breath.

Kyle seemed to withdraw within himself, crossing his arms. He didn’t like to talk about Hank, but Hank had taught him well. How to be invisible and not cause trouble and the consequences if he did step out of line.

“My mom reminds me that Hank took us in, put food on the table. That was his job, and I needed to obey his rules.”

“And he’d hit you if you didn’t?”

“What else was he going to do? That’s the way you learn, right?”

Sam’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. “No, that’s not the way you learn.”

Kyle kept his arms crossed and gazed out the window, at the cows and horses he saw in a pasture. “I learned.”

Sam put the truck back in drive and pulled out onto the road. “Just know, you don’t need to apologize all the time. And that Hank was wrong, okay?”

“Yeah, okay.” An uncomfortable silence settled over them.

Sam cleared his throat. “So, you’re going to study art in the fall?”

“Yeah, I know I have to take all types of art classes, but I’m hoping to do a lot in sketching.”

“You been drawing stuff for a while?”

“Since I was a kid. My dad got me a little easel one Christmas. I made all sorts of drawings for him. He put them in his office. Probably looked a sight, a four-year-old’s renderings in a high-rise office.”

“Your dad sounds like he really loved you. You wanna talk about what happened?”

“Not much to tell. He was crossing the street, got hit by a drunk driver.”

“That’s awful.”

“That’s life in the city. They never caught the guy. One of many hit and runs… probably drunk.”

“Well maybe you can do something with your art to honor him.”

Kyle shrugged. “Maybe. Um, what are you studying?”

“Mechanical engineering.”

“How did you decide on that?”

It was Sam’s turn to shrug. “You’ll think it’s silly.”

“No, I won’t.”

“I want to engineer elevators and escalators. The way they work fascinates me.”

Kyle lifted an eyebrow. “Elevators and escalators?”

“Sure. How many tall buildings do you see around here?”

“I can’t think of any that I’ve seen that have been taller than the barn.”

“Which is why I want to study them. You’ve probably been in thousands of elevators, been on thousands of escalators living in a city. Before I went off to school, could probably count on both hands the number of elevators I’ve been in. A few more rides on escalators; they have them in the mall the next town over.”

“I really never thought about them. The doors open, you punch a button and yeah, you’re there.”

“You’d be surprised at all the redundant mechanics in them to make sure they don’t fall or if they do, they don’t fall far.”

“Okay, now I’m going to freak when I get on one next.”

“As I said, they are made to
not
fall.”

“Is there really enough stuff to develop in regards to elevators?”

“With buildings becoming taller and taller, they are always looking for different designs that move people faster, farther, and safer.”

“I had no idea.”

“It’s the simplest of things that can require the most reengineering.”

“That’s cool. Hey, um, if you are ever in the city to do some research or something, we could meet up, do lunch or coffee or something.” Kyle felt like an idiot, but the words just kept coming out.

“That would be nice. I do have to do an internship. Would be nice to know someone if I get one in New York.”

All too soon, they rounded the drive to the house. “Well, back home, safe and sound. Just about time for dinner. Wanna show off our battle wounds to Mom?”

Kyle gave him a wry smile. “Won’t she think it’s juvenile to show off cartoon Band-Aids?”

“Nah, she expects it. You know, she has some Transformers Band-Aids in the first aid kit, if you ever want one.”

“Transformers?”

“She doesn’t want her baby to grow up. Sometimes it’s nice, other times it drives me crazy. But it shows she loves me, ya know?”

“She’s been cool.”

“She’s the coolest mother around. Let’s go in and see what grub she’s whipped up.”

After a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, Kyle excused himself to go soak in the tub. Two days into this gig, and Glenda was right. He was feeling muscles in places he didn’t know he had muscles. The hot water felt good against his skin, the steamy air warmed his face and hands that weren’t in the water. He closed his eyes, suddenly seeing Sam’s face. He knew he shouldn’t entertain any thoughts, but his mind refused to behave. The dream came back to him, and before he knew it, his body had responded in its usual way, and he took care of it in the usual way. But instead of feeling sated, he felt emptier than ever.

He padded back to his room and shut himself in, keeping a fragile hold on his emotions. His mind kept flashing back to the scene in the barn, in the truck, how Sam seemed to care for him. He needed a quick dose of reality; he booted up the laptop, logged in, and sent an e-mail off to Billy, telling him how much he was learning, that the family he was staying with was awesome. Nothing like where they had come from. Nothing like Hank.

Eight

T
HE
two weeks ended with no more events or accidents. Kyle had become more proficient in getting the cows milked each morning, to the point Walt let him do it on his own. While Kyle was with the cows, Sam and Walt had a greenhouse project they were working on so Glenda could have fresh vegetables and herbs year-round. The frame was up. It was amazing to watch a building being built from the ground up.

Sam had him ride Bess a couple more times, teaching him how to canter, which Kyle thought was just a slow run. But it was much more comfortable than the trot and much easier on the balls, that was for certain. They hadn’t had much time to be alone and talk, which in retrospect was fine with Kyle. He couldn’t be pining for someone unattainable, especially for another three months.

And now it was Sunday, a day of rest. Sure, they still had to milk the cows, but other than that and watering the garden, everyone was given the day off. Walt had settled in the living room to watch a baseball game, and Glenda was reading in the little nook they called the library. Kyle had settled down on his bed to do some drawing when Sam knocked on his door.

“Yo, Kyle. You know how to swim?”

“Yeah, my high school had a pool. All of us had to learn.”

“Good. You bring trunks?”

“Um, no. Didn’t think I’d need them.”

“Hang on.” Sam retreated to his room. Kyle could hear drawers opening and closing, then footsteps back to his room. A pair of red swim trunks landed on his lap. “These are an old pair of mine, they should fit ya. Let’s go down to the creek for a swim.”

“The creek?”

“No pools around here. The creek is clean. It’s where we all learned how to swim. It’s not too deep, I think only six feet at the deepest.”

“Oh… um, okay.” Kyle had to admit, swimming sounded nice. It had been a hotter-than-normal couple of days. Cool water sounded good. “Give me a minute, ’kay?”

“Downstairs in five. I’ll get some old towels from the closet.”

Kyle closed the door as Sam went to his room to change. The trunks fit okay, a little big, but with the drawstring they weren’t going to fall off. And it wasn’t like they were going to be doing any high dives in only six feet of water. He put on an old black t-shirt he’d brought to complete the look. He met Sam down at the front door.

“Looks like they fit okay.”

“Yeah, they’ll do. Thanks.”

“Mom, Pops, Kyle and I are heading to the creek.”

Kyle heard Glenda’s voice from the back of the house. “Have fun. Be back before dark.”

“Of course, Mom. Love ya!” Sam opened the door for Kyle. They headed down the drive.

“I don’t know if I could get used to what you guys do.”

Sam met Kyle’s gaze. “What do you mean?”

“The ‘love yas’ and hugs, kisses.”

“You don’t say that to your mom? She doesn’t give you a hug now and then?”

“Not really. She hugged me good-bye when I left to come out here. Hank says public displays of affection aren’t manly.”

Sam snorted. “You know my opinion of Hank.”

“And I’m beginning to see his opinion isn’t right.”

“Good.”

They reached the creek. Kyle got to the edge, squatting down to feel the water. It was still pretty cold.

“Best way is to just jump in. Otherwise you’ll never get wet.”

“Easing my way in sounds much better.”

Sam shook his head and laughed. Next thing Kyle knew, he was being tackled and tossed right into the water, Sam next to him. He came up, sputtering.

“Wha… what’d you do that for?”

Sam shook the water from his head. “I told you, best to just jump in. Feels great, doesn’t it?”

Kyle had to admit, the cool water did feel pretty good. He swam out to the middle, then back to near the bank, his lean body slicing through the slight current. “It’s different than a pool, that’s for sure.”

“You should see this place after the spring thaw. It floods a good three to four feet up the bank, the current gets real strong.” Sam sent a splash toward Kyle. Kyle reciprocated.

After a few minutes splashing each other, Sam ducked under the water. Kyle didn’t see him for a few seconds, and then he felt hands on his waist, and he was pulled backward. He came up with his hair all in his face. He wiped away the water. “You are asking for it!” He playfully jumped up and pushed Sam back into the water. They lightheartedly tackled each other for a few minutes, wrestling in the water until they were breathless. They both emerged at the same time, facing each other.

Kyle would ponder that moment in the creek the rest of his life. That life-changing moment. He grasped Sam’s face and kissed him.

And when he pulled back, he raced for the bank, grabbing a towel and keeping his distance from Sam, who was walking up the bank.

“Look, I’m sorry, I… I didn’t mean it. You can go ahead and hit me, and I swear I won’t do it again. I… I don’t know what came over me, I….”

Sam stood in front of him, impossibly close, too close to really hit him. Sam’s hands came up to his face, and Kyle flinched. He thought he saw a moment of pain on Sam’s face, but that’s all he saw as Sam leaned in. Cool wet lips met his while warm hands held his face. It was a fairly chaste kiss, as kisses go, but he could tell Sam was holding back. Then Sam stepped back.

“I would never hit you.”

“Wha….”

“I would never hit you. Even if I wasn’t gay, giving someone a kiss isn’t something you hit them over.”

“You’re….”

Sam smiled and nodded. “Gay. I was pretty sure about you, but after all you’ve been through, thought I’d better keep my distance.”

“But….”

“You ever going to be able to finish a sentence?”

“No… yes… I….”

“Here, sit down.” Sam took Kyle’s hand and led him to a spot underneath a tree. “Why did you kiss me?”

“I… I don’t know. It seemed so natural, so right, after all the wrestling. You… you really aren’t mad?”

Sam grinned. “Not mad at all. I have a confession to make.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve wanted to kiss you since that day in the barn, when I bandaged your thumb. I wanted to take some of that hurt away.”

“It didn’t hurt that bad.”

“Not the physical pain. You… you’ve never had much physical affection, have you?”

Kyle shrugged. “Not that important, I guess.”

“Yes it is.” Sam placed his hand over Kyle’s. “Physical contact is very important for your emotional health.”

“You… you’re really gay? I… I thought you were straight. I was ready to be beat.”

“I don’t go around announcing my sexuality, but yeah, I’m gay. And as I said, a kiss is nothing to get hit over.”