Love Means No Shame - Andrew Grey

there’s enough for an army.”
“Thanks. I just need to finish here first. Len asked me to clean up the tack room.”
Geoff remembered that same energy in himself when he was learning to ride and how his own world had revolved around Len.
    “Okay, but don’t be too long.” Geoff walked back to the house, the peace and quiet sinking back into his soul. Too bad Dad had to die for me to realize howmuch this place means to me. Geoff again pushed the grief aside as he climbed the steps to the porch and went inside. The house was in an uproar. His dad’s other two sisters, Janelle and Victoria, had arrived, and they were buzzing through the house. Len was sitting in his chair, obviously tired and definitely 21
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overwhelmed. “Geoff!” His Aunt Vicki gave him a dainty hug and then bustled back into the kitchen.
    His Aunt Janelle came down the stairs carrying a bag that was obviously quite full. “Geoff.” She continued down the stairs, putting the bag by the door before giving him a hug. Len wasn’t paying attention, and Geoff saw the look of grief on his face.
    “What’s in there?” Geoff pointed to the bag by the door.
“Nothing important.”
    Geoff sighed and walked to the door, picking up the bag and emptying the contents on the sofa. Just as he thought, it was his great-grandmother’s quilt. His aunt and his dad had had a running fight over that for as long as he could remember.

    He picked up the quilt and handed it to her. “Put it back.” Her eyes widened and then softened into tears. “Your father said that it was—”
    Geoff started to smile and then laugh. “Quit the crocodile tears and put it back.” He handed it back to her and watched as she marched up the stairs and came down a few minutes later empty-handed. “If you want something, ask, and I’ll consider it.” She actually opened her mouth to say something and then closed it again.
    Without another word, Geoff went into the kitchen and found his Aunt Mari making dinner. “Thank you.” He kissed her softly on the cheek. “How many are there for dinner?” He could see the hope in her eyes.
Geoff smirked. “Four. Joey will be joining us when he’s done in the tack room.”
22
Love Means … NO SHAME
    “What about them?” She motioned toward where her sisters were sitting in the living room. Geoff shook his head. He needed peace, and so did Len. They were enough to make him sell the farm and send him running back to Chicago with a look of glee on his face. His father had always tolerated his older sisters, but Geoff had never liked them.
    Mari smiled and started setting the table, and Geoff went into the living room, his two aunts glaring at him and Len sitting miserable in his chair. “Len, dinner will be ready in a few minutes.” Without waiting for a response, he went to the closet and got his aunts' jackets. “Thank you for coming,” He kissed each of them on the cheek.
“We’ll see you tomorrow.” He helped them into their jackets, and they left quietly.
    Len sat up and slapped his knee. “God damn it! I’ve been trying to figure out how to get those bitches to leave for twenty years.” Len then settled back in his chair, looking a little more at ease. “You know you haven’t heard the last of it.”
    “I know, but it felt good. She’s always….” Geoff could never put his finger on it, but his Aunt Janelle had always seemed false. Oh, she said and did the right things, but there was something cold behind those eyes.
    “I used to think she hated us for being gay, but now I’m not so sure. I think it may be that she couldn’t stand the fact that Cliff and I found happiness together, ’cause Lord knows, she never could.” Len shook his head. “Don’t know why your Aunt Vicki puts up with her, but they’ve always been thick as thieves.” Janelle had never married, and Geoff thought it was because no one could stand her that long. But his Aunt Vicki was generally a sweet person, and as long as Janelle wasn’t around, she was wonderful. However, the minute Janelle showed up, Vicki turned 23
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into a bitch. He couldn’t help wondering how Uncle Dan and his two cousins, Jill and Christopher, could stand it.
    Joey came in a few minutes later, breaking him out of thoughts about his family, thank God, and they washed up and got ready for dinner, talking about horses and everything else but Geoff’s dad as they ate.

    Len commented between bites, “So it sounds like you’ve