Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

the words were out and couldn’t be taken back, Len could see Cliff visibly relax. Now the ball was in their court.

    Both of them remained silent until Mari got to her feet and put her arms around Cliff’s neck, giving him a hug. “Good for you.” Len saw Vikki turn to Dan, who just shrugged like it was no big deal, before she turned back to her brother. “What about Ruby?

    Did you love her?”
    “Yes, I did. Very much. But I’ve always felt attracted to men, though I suppressed it for a long time. Len helped give me the courage to face who I really am.” Cliff’s words seemed to flow. Len glanced at Janelle, noticing the surprised look on her face, but to her credit, she kept her feelings to herself.
    “So is Len going to live here with you?” Mari asked excitedly.
“We haven’t discussed it yet.”
Vikki motioned for Cliff to move closer to her. “Do you love him? And does he make you happy?”
Cliff looked at Len as he answered. “Yes I do. I love him very much, and he makes me very happy.”
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Vikki sat back and began to remove the covers from the food.
“Can we eat now? I’m starved. This eating for two thing is absolutely true.” Mari got up and helped Cliff get the lunch on the table. “Is that it?” Janelle stood up. “Is that all you’re going to say?” Mari put the plates on the table. “What more is there to say?” “How about that it’s immoral and a sin? Or that it’s wrong?” Mari sat down and began passing the food. “Can it, Janelle. You were always so high and mighty, but you don’t know crap, so get over it.”
Vikki began filling her plate. “You can’t fight the wind, Janie.
    Besides, if they love each other, that’s all that matters. And when did you get so religious anyway?” Janelle just glared at them. “You can’t do anything about it, so you just need to accept it and move on.”
    Len could hardly believe his ears. He’d expected Mari to be supportive, but it didn’t seem to be a big deal to Vikki either. Janelle stood glaring at them before picking up her purse.
“We’ll just see if I can’t do something about it.” Then the back screen door slammed, and they heard her car start up and drive off.
    Mari patted his brother’s hand. “She’ll be fine. You just need to give her time.” Len wasn’t so sure, but he took the empty seat between Mari and Cliff.

    Vikki scoffed. “Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes and swished her fork as she spoke. “When have you ever known Janelle to change her mind about anything? The woman’s as stubborn as a mule.”
    “So what happened to bring on this revelation? It was obvious 187
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from her question about Geoff that Janelle already knew.” Len took some salad and stared down at his plate. This one was all Cliff’s. “She came by the house early this morning to ask why I sold you the Henderson house, because apparently she wanted it. Anyway, she walked into my bedroom and—” Cliff didn’t get to finish the sentence before Mari, Vikki, and Dan all started laughing. Geoff even got into the act, laughing and spraying food on his tray.
“That’s one morning wake-up call neither of us is likely to forget any time soon.”
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    “HAVE you heard anything from Janelle?” Len was shoveling out the soiled bedding from Thunder’s stall, peeking up at Cliff as he lifted Geoff so he could see what “Wen” was doing.

    “Not a word, and that’s so unlike her. We’ve had our disagreements over the years, and a few knock-down, drag-out fights, but usually when it’s over, we talk it through and go on.
    She’s such a talker, that to tell you the truth, I’m a little worried.” Cliff settled Geoff on his shoulders so he could watch.
“She’ll be fine, given time.”
    “It’s been two weeks. It’s not her hurt feelings I’m worried about. She can be as vindictive as hell when she wants to be, and the longer she’s quiet, the more I wonder what she’s going to pull.” Len could hear the concern ringing in Cliff’s voice.

    “Maybe I should try to talk to her.” Len finished loading the bedding wheelbarrow and wheeled it to the muck pile, with Cliff and Geoff walking along. When they got close to the pile, Geoff 189
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immediately held his nose.
“Stinky, Daddy.”
“Yes, it is.” Cliff returned to the conversation as they headed back inside. “Why would you do that?”
    Len leaned on his shovel. “Cliff, she’s hurting. In