Love & Loyalty (23 page)

The last lawyer he called was Ed's; he wanted whatever monies were being left to him put in a charitable trust with the projects, all in the Kelly's name, to be decided later. The man agreed. They considered putting the house on the market, but Jim had second thoughts. He paid the taxes for the year and had the handyman board it up against vandalism.

He wasn't ready to let that part of Ed go just yet.

When he was ready—truly ready—he sat Griffin down on the couch and took a deep breath.

“I'm retiring.”

“What?” Griffin was clearly stunned; then a scowl formed on his face. “Do not let that prick run you out of the department.”

“He's not. This isn't about the lawsuit. I'm just ready to move on. Next chapter of my life and shit like that.”

“Is this a midlife crisis?”

“No. Possibly slightly, but in a good way.” Jim put his hands on Griffin's shoulders. “I have to warn you, though, I am shit at relaxing. I'll probably be kind of an asshole when I get bored.”

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“Okay.” Griffin mulled this over. “I don't like getting up early.”

“I can work on sleeping in.”

“Deal.”

“Deal?”

“Are you asking me to stay here with you, retired guy? Because I'm saying yes.”

“Is this just because you're homeless?”

“No, it's because I love you. You moron.”

* * * * *

Jim went to Captain Trainer and let her know his final decision. She didn't seem surprised. He also urged her to help Terry Oh find another department—

because she didn't want the force to lose a great cop.

She promised to help.

He left her office feeling lighter and—dare he think it?—happier than he had in a long time.

“How much time you got?” Terry asked as he returned to his desk.

“Five weeks and I'm out. Need to wrap up some details—Dan Uria is probably coming over to help you out.”

“He's a good guy.” Terry swiveled his chair. “Man, this is weird.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“Never thought I'd see you retire on your own, Jim. I thought sure they'd be forcing you out of that chair.”

“Things change.” Jim shrugged. “Maybe I changed.”

“Okay, that's even weirder.” Terry tapped his feet. “So…Griffin.”

“Moved in. Is staying with me. Is my boyfriend.” Jim gave his partner a glare. “There, I said it, it's done. No innuendo or pushy questions.” Terry said nothing but broke into a ridiculous grin. Then disappeared behind his cubicle wall.

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“You're texting everyone, aren't you?”

Terry cackled.

* * * * *

When Jim got home, Griffin was lying on the couch watching a movie. He didn't look very pleased by his choice, but he didn't look up when Jim came in.

“That good, huh?” Jim asked as he joined his boyfriend on the couch.

It took only a second to recognize a very young Daisy Baylor on the screen.

“You wrote this?” Jim put his arm across Griffin's knees. He nodded.

“First movie. Hers and mine,” Griffin said morosely.

“Have you heard from her?”

He shook his head. “Jules thinks she might be in New York, but I don't know.”

“The paperwork is…”

“All taken care of. Ed's project is mine. Free and clear.” Griffin sighed as he sat up and switched off the DVD player. “She came through for me in the end.”

“I'm sorry.”

Griffin climbed over Jim, twining their bodies together. “Don't be. I got you out of the experience, not to mention I can keep my promise to Ed. That's nothing to sneeze over.”

“I'm nothing to sneeze over.”

“Not even a little.”

“In five weeks, we'll both be unemployed bums.”

“Awesome. I'm going to grow a beard.”

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Chapter Twenty-seven

“So I'm just supposed to pick someplace? Anyplace?” Jim looked at his lover over the kitchen counter, slightly intimidated by his bright smile.

“We can get a map and a blindfold if it would help.” Griffin leaned his elbows on the butcher block with a thoughtful gaze. “Or maybe just a blindfold.”

“That's not really going to help us pick somewhere…”

“Not
us, you
. You're the one who's retired and free to go wherever you want. Change of scenery for a few weeks, hide from pesky reporters and lawyers, order a lot of room service, sleep late…”

“But you're coming…right?”

“I love when you say that.”

Jim rolled his eyes.

“Yes, I'm coming,” Griffin said sincerely, shifting his glasses up his nose.

That little maneuver was like catnip to Jim; now he was the one distracted from the conversation. “Wherever you want, I'm going with you and taking my computer and I'll be working while you…chase polar bears or snorkel or whatever it is you decide. I have important work to do, and you need to learn how to relax.”

“I'm not good at vacations,” Jim said stubbornly, coming around to fill Griffin's space, his arms sliding around his boyfriend's waist. “You pick. I'll be happy with anything.”

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“Then I'm thinking a nudist colony in Hawaii.” Griffin slid his own hands into Jim's jean pockets with a squeeze. “I could really get behind you naked in paradise.”

Jim laughed, but as he leaned in to kiss Griffin's happy smile, he thought that Hawaii sounded like the perfect idea. Sun and quiet and ocean…

He was already making plans as Griffin's tongue gently touched his.

* * * * *

Jim cleaned out two accounts and called a real estate agent he found online, giving her very specific details for what he wanted for a monthlong rental as isolated as humanly possible. She promised to do her best, particularly after he included the part about money not being a barrier.

Griffin flew to Los Angeles to finish packing, and then he shipped everything to Seattle for storage at the loft. When they got back from Hawaii, they'd worry about settling in and setting up “home base”—for now, everything was about finding a piece of quiet.

* * * * *

Terry and Mimi insisted on throwing them a going-away party.

Jim wanted to fly out in the middle of the night like a ninja vacationer, but Griffin forced him into a pair of khakis and a nice polo shirt and hauled his ass to the Ohs' apartment.

Mimi tottered on her heels, the baby belly now grown to a perfectly formed basketball under her shirt. Griffin was fascinated by the pregnancy, hovering close for nearly the entire party to help where he could and ask questions.

“So you're going to adopt,” Terry said, pouring Jim a beer at the bar.

“You got happy—stop pushing it,” Jim growled.

“Time for toasts!” Nick called, and Jim sighed as he snaked through the small crowd to Griffin's side.

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“I hate this,” he said plaintively as Heather pushed a flute of champagne into his and Griffin's hands.

“Wah, people love you. Get over it and smile.” Griffin didn't have Jim's problems, clearly. He was all but beaming at Jim's side, hushing all Jim's further protestations.

Terry cleared his throat, Mimi at his side. The Heterosexual Power Cabal stood in a semicircle around them like some sort of royal court.

Jim realized he loved them terribly, and scowled to cover his sudden case of the sniffles.

“Jim, we're gonna miss you. I can't say I blame you for running off to Hawaii with Griffin—no offense, honey—but we're going to feel the loss of you here. Don't forget that your friends love you, we have your back and…well…”

“And we're so glad you're getting your happy ending,” Mimi added, raising her glass of milk. “You deserve it, don't forget that.” Everyone added a “hear, hear” and took sips of their champagne.

Jim downed his quickly, a burst of bubbles in his throat. He hoped that covered the dampness in his eyes for a moment.

“And we're not going to make you give a speech,” Ben called. There was a patter of laughter.

“Wait, he's not carrying anymore!” Nick said. “Now's the perfect time to demand a speech!”

“Have you seen the man in the gym? Don't be foolish, Nick—you can't outrun him.” Terry shook his head.

Liddy and Heather announced dinner was served in the kitchen, a table and counter full of potluck dishes their friends had contributed. There was even steak.

“Aw, Mimi—dead cow!” Jim wrapped one arm around Mimi's shoulders.

She sniffled damply.

“See? That's how much I love you. You're going to e-mail, right? And call?” 196

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“And come back when Baby Oh arrives—promise,” he swore as he rubbed a comforting circle onto her back.

“Okay, so long as you promise.”

Ben caught up with him at the end of the buffet line, elbowing him in the side as he gestured toward a quiet corner.

“Uh-oh. Listen, if it's about your Mariners hat, I told you that was a total paper-shredder accident,” Jim teased as Ben led him away from the milling crowd of diners.

“I think the season tickets you got us as a wedding present let you off that hook,” Ben said, all ducking head and shy smiles. Jim tried to remember when he was in love with that, the illusion of Ben as his perfect partner. It didn't affect him anymore, wasn't a constant ache in his middle.

He was glad he never said anything. He was glad they were parting as friends.

“What's up, man; everything okay?” Jim asked, suddenly worried about Ben's need for privacy and his inability to look him in the eye.

“Oh, yeah. I just wanted…I just wanted to say thank you, Jim. You were a terrific roommate and friend, and I know after I got married there was some distance…”

“Ben, man—married, okay? That's more important…”

“No, I mean, yeah, it's important. But so are your friends. And I want you to know I'm there for you no matter what the distance. You helped me grow up, man. You made it possible for me to hook someone like Liddy.” He laughed. “I know you don't need me for much, but whatever it is, I'm here.” Jim was stunned. Jaw-dropped stunned, his hands tight on the filled plate in his hands.

For all those years he pined for Ben, all that time he wanted
more
—this was a thousand times better.

Ben as his friend and appreciating that…

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“Thank you,” he murmured, sincere and heartfelt. “I don't think I've ever realized what an amazing family I have until this moment.” Ben lit up at the mention of family. His pale skin flushed pink as he reached over to give Jim a one-armed hug.

“Not saying it's in the cards this year, but you
will
have godfather duty at some point. Just don't let your adventures take you too far away.”

“Uncle…godfather…I'm going to have to get a paper route to afford Christmas,” he faux groused. “Now let's go eat this before Mimi comes to her senses and realizes there's a dead cow on her good plates.”

* * * * *

A few hours later it was just the Power Cabal, the eight couples sitting in the living room among the strewn cups and plates.

“We need to clean up,” Terry said, but he made no moves at all. Mimi was curled up against his side, half-asleep but still following the conversation.

“We will. Soon.”

“We're cleaning up, Mimi; you are staying off your feet,” Liddy said from her spot on the floor.

“Okay,” Mimi said, closing her eyes.

Griffin and Jim had commandeered the love seat near the wide windows overlooking the city. In less than twenty-four hours, their skyline was going to be changing for an unknown amount of time. Jim wanted to be close for a little while longer.

“How about me and Griffin do the cleanup? You all have lives to get back to on Monday—while we're on the beach,” he said drily.

Griffin gave him an elbow in the side. “Now, Jim, no need to rub paradise in their faces…”

In the end, they all cleaned up except Mimi, who slept away on the sofa, covered with a blanket.

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As they put their jackets on and collected the gifts and cards friends had showered them with, Jim made everyone solemnly swear that he would get a call or text as soon as the baby was on its way—and monthly reports from the Cabal's dinners.

“Now he cares!” Heather sighed, pulling him close for a hug.

They exchanged embraces, and no one teased anyone else for coming away with wet eyes.

“Take care, partner,” Jim said to Terry; his voice cracked. The other man nodded, blinking away his own tears.

Griffin took him by the arm and led him down to the truck; he didn't even fight when his boyfriend took the keys and drove them home.

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Epilogue

Six weeks later

“So how's Hawaii?”

“Fantastic. Jim looks great in a Speedo. We added a few weeks to our vacation, and honestly, I'm considering keeping him in tropical climes forever.” They shared a laugh, and Griffin swallowed back a swell of emotion. He was still a little mad at her, but mostly, he missed his Daisy. And he deeply missed Griffin and Daisy, who seemed to have run their course.

It made him sad.

“How's New York?”

“Oh, you know. Rehearsals are keeping me busy.” He knew she was lying, but it wasn't his place to jump in anymore, to save her from herself.

“How's Bennet?”

“Dramatic and fabulous and never letting anyone forget who the boss is.

He's doing a great job with the production. Me on Broadway—it's all very exciting.”

Silence lingered for a moment. Griffin watched the perfect blue waves lap at the sandy white beach from the porch of their rental house. Jim was a tanned bronze dot playing in the foamy water.