Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

pulled the tractor into the equipment shed and turned off the engine.
    “Is that Len, or is there a dust monster driving my tractor?” Cliff approached and jumped onto the one of the wheel covers, leaning down to give him a kiss. “How’d it go?”

    “Okay. You seem happy.”

    “I am. Mari and I closed on her house today, the price of corn and beef are up, and it looks like we could have a very good year because of it.” Cliff couldn’t help looking at the sky. “As long as it doesn’t rain until we get the hay in.”
    “First you want rain, then you don’t. Could you make up your mind? I’m getting whiplash here.” Len smiled, and Cliff kissed him. “Are you ready to go?”
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“I still have a few more fields to go, and I thought I could cut them when we got back.”
“You could do it tomorrow.” Cliff’s hand on his thigh almost made him forget what he’d been thinking.
    Len shook his head. “Tomorrow I have to turn what I cut today so we can bail everything and start bringing it in next week. I don’t want to take any chances on rain spoiling the hay. It’s supposed to rain the middle of next week, if the weather report is to be believed, and I want this hay in before it does.” Len got up off the seat, and his legs buckled slightly beneath him.
    “Get down carefully; you’ve been sitting a long time.” Cliff helped him down, and he grabbed his things and put them in Cliff’s truck. A few minutes later, he saw Cliff and Geoff come out of the house, with Geoff skipping excitedly behind his dad, carrying a beach pail and shovel. Geoff raced to the truck, and after Cliff lifted him in, he settled in his seat and waited to be buckled in, talking and jabbering the entire time.
    “Is everybody ready?” Cliff called out.

    A small chorus of yes’s answered, and Cliff pulled out of the drive and sped off down the road toward the lake. “I thought we’d go the state park. The water will be warmer at Hamlin Lake than it will be in Lake Michigan.”
    “Sounds good. Is that okay with you, Geoffy?” Len tickled the boy’s tummy, and he giggled loudly. Geoff pointed out the highlights as they drove, his young eyes fascinated by everything he saw. “Ows, Daddy. Hos, Wen. Piddys, piddys.” Those little hands pointed out and named every farm animal they saw.
    As they pulled into the state park, Cliff bought a sticker, and they headed toward the lake. Geoff could barely contain himself when they pulled into the parking lot and he saw all the people and 160

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    kids gathered on the beach. Cliff carried all the things, and Len got Geoff out of his seat and carried him over the hot pavement and onto the beach. “Why is it that I have to carry everything?” Cliff groused teasingly as he dropped their things on the sand.

    “Ask Geoff. It was his idea.” Geoff had insisted that he wanted Len to carry him to the beach, which left Cliff to deal with all the stuff. Len set Geoff on the sand, and he immediately grabbed his bucket and shovel and began digging. “Go change, and I’ll stay here with Geoff.” “Okay, I’ll be right back, and then you can change.” Cliff leaned close. “I’m looking forward to seeing that butt of yours in a bathing suit.” Thanks, Cliff. There was no way Len could be seen in a bathing suit right now. Every time Cliff used that bedroom voice on him, Len got excited, fast.
    Cliff walked to the changing room, and Len began slathering Geoff with sunscreen after pulling off his shirt. Cliff returned and scooped Geoff into his arms. “You want to go in the water with Daddy?” Geoff nodded and squealed as Cliff walked them both toward the water, and Len grabbed his suit and headed off to change.
    Most of the buildings in Ludington State Park were built during the thirties and forties, and the changing room was no exception. One of the unique features was that the restrooms were vented to one another near the ceiling, so sound traveled from one restroom to the other. So while Len was in there changing, he could hear voices floating over from the ladies restroom. Normally, he wouldn’t pay attention, but one voice stuck out from the rest—it sounded familiar. Len slipped into a stall and quickly changed his clothes.
    He emerged from the bathroom, walking quickly back to where Cliff and Geoff were playing near the edge of the water. 161
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“Wen, pway wif us.”
Len knelt on the sand and began working on the monster