Love Means No Boundaries - Andrew Grey

you?”
     
“Of course not, but think about what I said.” Robbie felt a light pat on his shoulder and heard Joey walk into the room. “Joey, would you run out to the barn and tell Geoff that dinner will be ready in a few minutes?”
    Robbie’s phone rang, the now very familiar ringtone signaling another call from his mother. “Hi, Mama.” He really didn’t feel like talking to her now. What he really wanted was some alone time to think. What he wanted more than anything was some time with his violin. Maybe after dinner he could ask where he could rehearse.
    “Everything’s fine.”
“I’m glad, honey. Your father and I are just about to go out, and I wanted to call and make sure you knew where we’d be if you needed us.” “I’m fine, and if I need anything, the people I’m staying with will help me. They’re really nice, Mama.” He purposely avoided 32 Love Means … NO Boundaries
telling her about the farm and Geoff, Eli, and Joey. He knew she’d freak on so many levels. “You don’t need to call all the time. I’m fine.”
“I don’t mind, dear.” The woman could be completely oblivious sometimes. “I want to know you’re okay.” Fine, but calling three times a day is a bit excessive.
     
“I know, Mama, but I need to go. It’s almost time for dinner.” He said his goodbyes and hung up the phone as the back door opened.
    Dinner was fascinating for Robbie, with everyone talking about what they’d done that day. Joey went on and on about how much help he’d been in the garden, and after dinner, he’d actually taken everyone outside to show them. Robbie loved Joey’s enthusiasm. When they came back inside, Robbie asked if there was a place he could rehearse, and Geoff had led him into what he called his office. “You can use this room any time you want. Just close the door and no one will bother you.”
    Robbie lost track of how long he practiced. Time always seemed to fly when he was playing his violin. His mind filled with music, and he just let it out, let all his emotions, cares, and troubles flow down his arms to his fingers and along the bow until they became part of the instrument, part of the music. When he was exhausted emotionally, he put the wooden extension of himself back in the case along with the bow and gently clasped it shut. Shuffling to the door, he opened it, expecting to hear the television, but he was met with near silence, just the sound of soft breathing.
“That was beautiful, Robbie.” Joey’s voice seemed choked with emotion, and Robbie wondered if he’d been a little too expressive with his playing, a little too open about his feelings.
    “Would you like to join us?”
“I think I need to go upstairs. Good night.” Robbie thought he knew where he was, but his head was still spinning a little. He felt 33 Andrew Grey
Joey’s hand on his arm, leading him reassuringly through the house and up the stairs to his room. Robbie put his things away and got ready for bed, climbing between the sheets. As soon as he did, he felt what he thought was a dog jump on the bed.
     
“Rex, get down from there.” Joey’s voice scolded the dog lightly from the hallway.
    “It’s okay. I like it.” The dog curled up next to his legs and settled on the covers. He heard Joey say good night and then groan softly, “Lucky dog.” Well, that seemed to answer one question for him, but did he have the courage to do anything about it? Did he dare? Did he really want to? In some ways the thought scared him to death, but the more he thought about Joey touching him intimately, the way he touched his arm when he helped him, made him excited and very curious about how it would feel. Lying back in the bed with the dog against his legs, Robbie let his mind wander. If he could see, he’d have been staring at the ceiling, but as it was, he let his mind ponder what Eli had said and eventually fell asleep without any real answers.
    34
    Love Means … NO O Boundaries
“ROBBIE, ar
a e
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y u re
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y fo
f r yo
y ur
r re
r h
e ear
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a ?”
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y fi
f nished
e his
co
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a ch
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a the
e objec
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c of
f his fas
a ci
c nat
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w y
y fi
f nished
e a
a
piece of toast. “I just nee
e d
e to ge
g t
e my
y violin.”
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I l
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g t
e it fo
f r
r yo
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I ’s
’ al
a most nine, e an
a d I
I don’t
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a t yo
y u to be lat
a e.
e ”
” Th
T e
e house e wa
w s
a empty y ex
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c p
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f r
r them
e . Ev
E er
e