Love Means No Shame - Andrew Grey

downstairs interrupted their fun.
    Geoff pulled on his pants, kissed Eli quickly, and grabbed his shirt, buttoning it as he raced down the stairs. “Just a minute!” He reached the door to see Frank Winters standing on his back step, looking worried. “Frank, come in.”
    Slowly, the older man climbed the steps and walked into the kitchen, looking nervous and very uncomfortable.
“What is it? You look upset,” Geoff said.
    Frank looked at the floor. “You know that we’ve been friends with your dad and Len for years.” Geoff nodded. “But I don’t think I can sell you the farm. It wouldn’t be right.” 144
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“Wouldn’t be right? I don’t understand.” Geoff pulled out a chair. “Sit down and tell me what’s going on.”
“I….” Frank’s discomfort increased before his eyes.
“Frank, just tell me what’s going on.” Geoff sat down and waited for Frank to do the same.
    “I got a call yesterday from Penny’s sister, who told us we were selling the farm to….” Frank swallowed hard. “I can’t even say it. She said were selling the farm to someone who was sleeping with a child.”
    It took a second for the words to sink in. “ What ?” Geoff’s mouth hung open. “And you think I’m….” Geoff stood up so fast the chair tipped over backward. “That you’d believe such nonsense is disgusting.” Geoff could barely control his temper. Frank looked down at the table, immensely uncomfortable. Geoff took a deep breath to calm his nerves, and he heard Eli enter the kitchen.
    “Is everything okay? I heard raised voices,” Eli said.
“Yes, I just got excited. Frank, I want you to meet Eli.” Geoff watched as Frank’s eyes went wide for a second before shaking hands with Eli. “Good to meet you, Frank.” Then Eli turned to Geoff.
“There’re some things I need to finish. It was nice to meet you.” Eli shook hands with Frank one last time before heading out toward the barn. Frank had the grace to look embarrassed. “Is he the…?”
“What, Frank? The man I’m involved with? Yes, and he’s no child. He’s almost twenty.” Geoff couldn’t keep the agitation out of his voice. Frank stood, looking extremely contrite. “I’m sorry, Geoff. I should have talked to you to find out if what I heard was true. I 145 Andrew Grey
    really should have known better than to take idle gossip at face value, and for that I’m sorry.” Frank got ready to leave. “Before Penny’s sister called, we’d decided to accept your offer on the farm; that is, if you’re still willing to buy the land. And for the record, I’d be happy to work with for you as your crop manager.” Frank extended his hand, and Geoff shook it, sealing their deal. “Don’t worry about it. If I’d heard something like that about someone, I’d have thought twice about doing business with them too. I’m just glad we got it cleared up.”
    “Me too.” Frank got up to go. “I’m sorry. I should have known better than to listen to Penny’s sister. She always had a big mouth.” Frank thanked Geoff again for understanding and then said his good-byes.

    Geoff watched him go, wondering how that rumor had gotten started. Living outside a small town did have its advantages.
    Everyone tended to help one another, and everyone knew everyone else. But that was also the root of the problem: everyone knew or thought they knew what was going on, and people tended to talk. An innocent comment could easily get blown out of proportion and twisted with each retelling. He was just glad Eli hadn’t heard the ridiculous rumor.
    Getting up from the table, he went outside and down to the barn. There was plenty to do in order to make sure they could take time off for Raine’s visit. Geoff had promised Len that the barn would be organized and the stalls cleaned.

    He found Eli already hard at work. Half the stalls had been cleaned, and he was working on one when Geoff found him. “Want me to help?” Eli smiled. “I won’t turn you down, but the tack room needs organizing, and I’m not sure how you want it done.” He scooped soiled straw into a wheelbarrow.
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    “Then I’ll get busy in there and help you with the stalls when I’m done.” Geoff headed to the tack room, spending the next few hours making sure all the tack was organized and put away properly.

    When he was through, he looked for Eli and found him finishing up the last of the stalls. He couldn’t help himself; he