Love Means No Shame - Andrew Grey

Then he hugged him close. “I want to kiss you, and I would if I could.” He made a note to himself to be sure they talked after his aunts were gone.
    Eli got up and gave Geoff a small smile. Aunt Mari stood too, smiling brightly. “Let’s get you something to eat and have a little chat.” Mari winked at Geoff as she and Eli left the room.

    “So are you going to answer my question? Are you and that boy… together?” Janelle made a face like she’d just smelled rotten fish. Geoff rolled his head against the pillow and looked at the ceiling, deciding how he wanted to answer. “Well?” Her voice was starting to get shrill.
    “The answer to that question and any question that deals with my personal life is none of your business.”
“As your father’s sister it certainly is my business.” That haughty tone was trying Geoff’s patience.
“No, it’s not. My personal life is none of your business, the farm is none of your business, and Eli is certainly none of your 102 Love Means … NO SHAME
    business.” Geoff turned to his Aunt Vicki. “I haven’t had a chance to see Jill and Chris. How are they doing?” Vicki’s face lit up. “I think Jill’s getting engaged soon, but I expect you know that, and Chris will be a sophomore in college.”
    “Tell them to come out to the farm sometime. I’ll take them riding. You too—I remember you were quite a good rider.” That got him a smile from one aunt and a scowl from the other, but Geoff ignored Janelle, concentrating on his Aunt Vicki. Geoff rested back on his pillow as his aunt told him some of the exploits she and Geoff’s dad had gotten into when they were kids. Mari and Eli returned and Geoff patted the edge of the bed. Eli sat down, a huge smile on his face. Geoff guessed that Eli and his aunt had had a good talk. They continued to visit for the next half hour, and Janelle even let go after a while and joined in the conversation.
    Geoff began to tire, and his aunts got up to leave. His Aunt Janelle said a quick good-bye and left while Mari and Vicki took more time. His Aunt Vicki gave him a hug and promised him she’d bring the family to the farm. Mari told him the same and gave him a hug too. “You know this isn’t over as far as Janelle is concerned.
    She’s just biding her time. She can be extremely spiteful.”
“I know.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.” They said their final farewells and left the room.
    The doctor came in a few minutes later. “Mr. Laughton, I’m Dr. North. It seems you’re doing much better.” He checked his patient’s chart and then pulled the curtain around the bed, leaving Eli outside. He listened to Geoff’s chest and felt around a little.

    “You’re doing very well. We’ll have the IV removed and some dinner sent up. You should be able to go home tomorrow, provided you don’t do any strenuous activity for the next week.” 103
    Andrew Grey
“Can I go riding?” Geoff was anxious to restart their morning rides.
“Riding in a car shouldn’t be a problem.” He never looked up from the chart.
“No, horses.”
    That took the doctor by surprise. “As long as it’s not too strenuous, and definitely not for a few days.” Geoff nodded, and the doctor pulled the blankets back around him and pushed the curtain back against the wall. “I should be in tomorrow morning, and I’ll decide then if you can go home.”
    “Thank you.” The doctor left, and a while later they brought him a lunch tray. He was starved, and to his surprise, the food wasn’t too bad. “What did you and Aunt Mari talk about?” Eli sat back in the chair. “You, mostly, and your Aunt Janelle.
Mari told me to not pay any attention to her, that she’s just a bitter person.”
    “She is.” Geoff continued eating, suddenly famished. “I didn’t mean to sound like I was sending you away, but I didn’t want her to be mean to you. She tried, but I wouldn’t hear any of it.” He ran his hand down Eli’s arm. “She can be a spiteful, vindictive person.”

    “I don’t doubt it. She has the same look that Papa gets when he wants to show us who’s in charge.”

    “That’s it exactly. Janelle is used to being in charge, and if people fight her, she schemes or bullies you into going along with her.” In the back of his mind, he wondered what she’d do next.

    Geoff finished his lunch, and the nurse returned to remove the IV and bring him some more water. Once she was gone, Geoff had Eli close