Love Means No Boundaries - Andrew Grey

time they’d parted was so hard, but this time was going to be worse. He knew how he felt about Robbie. There was no doubt this time. His heart was telling him with absolute clarity. “I just don’t know how to prevent it. I’d stay if I could, but….” He just couldn’t finish.
    He heard a splash as a pan dropped into the dishwater. “You’d never be accepted, not really.”
“I got that feeling from Claudine.” Robbie’s mother had been much more pleasant of late, talking to him and being quite nice.
Joey thought it was because she’d figured he was leaving soon anyway, and it didn’t hurt her to be hospitable. “It’s funny, but Robbie was accepted by everyone at the farm.”
    “How can that be? He was only there for two weeks.” She sounded extremely skeptical.
Joey laughed and explained. “We’re talking about a farm owned by two gay men, one of whom was raised by a gay father and his partner.” Adelle joined him, snickering at herself. “Good point, Mr.
Joey.” She got quiet and Joey got up to find Robbie. “Were you serious? The folks you know don’t really care where you come from?” Again there was that skeptical tone.
    “The folks I know don’t,” he said, adopting her phrase. “But I live on a farm. Who’s to mind, the horses? Personally, I find Robbie attractive because of where he comes from. It’s part of what makes him special.”
She scooted him out of the kitchen, and he walked through the hall to the music room where Robbie was practicing. As he approached he heard soft voices and saw Robbie and his mother talking. Robbie nodded his head and didn’t look too happy. His jaw was set and his body stiff.
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When she was done, she patted his knee and stood up, smiling at Joey as she passed on her way to the living room. It must be cocktail hour.
Joey walked in the room and saw Robbie’s expression brighten. Robbie always seemed to know when he was nearby. He really liked that. He knew Robbie’s senses were acute, but it still surprised him that Robbie knew him even when he stayed quiet.
     
“Did you and Adelle have a good chat?” Robbie patted the seat next to him.
     
“We did, actually. I really like her. She’s really a special person.” Joey didn’t know what it was. Maybe she was just a good listener, but he felt he could talk to her.
     
“Growing up, I spent more time with Adelle than I did with my parents. She practically raised me herself. When the blindness started, she’s the one who helped me learn Braille and made me stick with it, even when I threw my books at her.”
     
“Why would you do that?” Joey placed a hand on Robbie’s, hoping he’d go on.
     
“Frustration, I guess. I was twelve years old and went from wearing glasses to near complete blindness in less than a year. I was just mad at the world, and I took it out on her, but she patiently put up with all of it.” Robbie stopped and rubbed his big, sightless eyes.
    “I almost gave up the violin. Mama said it was probably for the best, but Adelle wouldn’t hear of it. She kept asking me to play, and eventually I gave in and that was that. She showed me I could still play.” Robbie sat back on the sofa. “You didn’t come in here to listen to that.” Robbie wiped his eyes and lowered his hands.
    “Sure I did. I want to know everything about you.” They grew quiet, and Joey screwed up his courage to ask. “Did Robert and Claudine treat you differently after the blindness?” Robbie let loose a troubled laugh. “You tell me. You’ve met them.” He continued snickering and not in a nice way. “The biggest 168
Love Means … NO Boundaries
    change was in my father. When I could see, we did things together, but afterward I don’t think he knew what to do. Mama began staying at home more so she could be with me. We didn’t do things together. She just tended to hover. Adelle told me once that she thought Mama was afraid of losing me altogether.” That explained a lot of what he’d seen: Claudine doting on Robbie and Robert working and staying away. Joey looked around the room and then got up and shut the large oak pocket doors, closing them into the room.
    “I think we need to talk, but I’m not sure how to start.” He stepped back to the sofa and sat next to Robbie. “When you left I realized that I loved you, and I was miserable without you. I have to go back to the farm in a few days, and I’d like you to go with me.” There, he’d said it. Robbie may