Chapter Twelve

Time seemed to stay suspended forever, the silence stretching out far beyond the room, and Hayden still sat seated in the chair, a smug smile across his face, waiting for his father’s onslaught of abuse. Milus, however, said nothing, instead he simply stared his youngest son down, with a repulsive look. There was a slight movement as Daniel moved over to Hayden, “Dad is sure keeping his calm, hey? When do you think he’ll snap?”
“Maybe he won’t?” It was wishful thinking, his father’s history told them that much. Or so they all thought.

The intimidation of a man, taller than 6foot and capable of knocking you out cold, standing up and staring directly into your eyes, is frightening. Milus did exactly that to Lee. In his grunt voice, he asked Hayden, “And this kid here,” pointed at Lee, “He’s your, your...” He was struggling to accept the truth.
“My boyfriend, dad, yes.”

The process followed for Jarrod, whose fear was clear as crystal, “And this is your friend, Daniel?”
Daniel leant back, flashed his brilliant white teeth at his father, “Yes, he is my beautiful boyfriend.” Milus’ eye twitched. “And he makes me happy. That’s all that matters, isn’t it Dad? Your son’s happiness?”

The thought was contemplated, yet nothing was said. Everyone could tell, however; the uncomforting situation was easily read on his face. “I...” he started, but fell back into the same silence of previous minutes, “I am trying to understand this. I do not agree with it, I find it wrong, insulting and it goes against nature.” Even through the calm in the way in which he spoke, the anger lingered, hiding like a lion waiting to strike unsuspecting pray. “Where did I go wrong as a father, to have my two only sons choose to fuck other men?”

Lee leant towards Hayden, stared deep into his eyes and saw what he was looking for. Pity. Pity for his father. And also understanding. “Dad...this wasn’t a choice, nor is it a disease,” Hayden said.
“Then what is it? It sure as hell ‘aint genetic.” He replied.
“I don’t know. But this is how my life is. How it has been for the past few years. Daniel knows this too. It’s the same for both of us.”

Daniel nodded and shot his younger brother a proud smile, “We are gay, Dad. The sooner you accept it, the sooner life will be the same. We have come to accept this, and look at us. We are both happy with our lives, and in good relationships. Despite our sexuality, we have made good lives for ourselves. Being gay is not the end of the world, sure it may be a more difficult path than the others, but we can handle it. We’re big boys now.”

Linda, as Daniel had before, smiled the proudest smile you would expect from a mother. Their sexuality clearly didn’t concern her. “If that is how it is, and if it is what makes you happy then I accept it. Things may be a little strange at the start, but we’ll deal with it.”

Everything had gone too well. Nothing wrong had happened. No chairs had yet gone flying, no words of hate had been spat and no one had really moved from their places. Of course, like a predictable soap opera on television, the crisis always came at the end.

“We won’t be dealing with anything.” Milus burst out loudly, “You cannot sit there and agree with what our sons are doing? Are you crazy? Our only sons, our only way to continue our family lineage, gay!”
“Yes, darling. I agree with what our son’s are saying. And they have my unwavering support the whole way. Their sexuality doesn’t determine their personality, nor should it or will it change the way I look at them. Ever since we used to tuck them into their beds at night, my love for our children has never stopped. And them being gay will not change it.”
“I don’t believe it! They are gay! They would rather mount another man, than a woman! How can you see the justice?”

“That’s enough, Milus!” Linda screeched angrily at her husband. The force of her words pierced through her husband and he cowered slightly. “For God’s sake, they are our son’s. Just accept the difference!”

“How can I accept this, I have failed as a father. I have let my children down!” he roared back at her. Lee felt Hayden shiver at his side, and as he turned he saw his eyes filling with tears. Milus turned on Hayden, who stiffened, “You, nor your brother will lead normal lives. You will never know true love and you will never be able to have children!”

Daniel stood in, “Don’t be stupid Dad, we have our options. We have IVF and Adoptions. It’s what I plan to do,”
But Milus wasn’t paying attention, “Then that child is just a token. Born from your desire to have children. Not born out of love.”
“You’re pathetic.”Daniel stood up, and Jarred followed suit, “Dad, I feel sorry for you. When you want to talk civilly, man to man, I’ll listen.”

Linda had tears in her eyes, “Sweetheart,” she said to Daniel, “Please don’t go. Your father is in shock, it’s a huge thing for him.”
“I get it, Mum. But I’m not putting up with this crap, it isn’t why I came down. I will call you tonight.” And with those words, he hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, and left, nodding to Hayden. “I’ll see you later, bro.”

Now only Lee and Hayden were left, Linda sat herself back on the couch, and Milus retreated from the room, slamming his open palm against the wall as he did so.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that Lee,” she sympathised.
He didn’t know how to reply, he was still slightly shocked at the confrontation between Hayden, Daniel and their father. A smile in reply sufficed.

“Come with me,” Hayden whispered to Lee, and the two stood up before heading into Hayden’s bedroom. Hayden lay across his bed, and beckoned Lee towards him and for what seemed like hours, the two lay there as still as statues. “I wonder who is coming?” he thought aloud. “I wouldn’t be surprised if mum has called it off. Not after what has happened today.”

There came a knock at the door, and the creaking hinge as it opened was met by Linda declaring loudly, “I’m so glad you’re here. Hayden is in his room!” The reply was deep and toned, definitely a male’s, yet it was indistinguishable.

Hayden stiffened beside Lee, “That voice...I know it.”
“Who is it?”

Slowly, but suddenly, Hayden’s bedroom door opened, revealing a tall, attractive, dark haired male. Lee stared in confusion. He didn’t recognise the stranger. But turning to Hayden, whose eyes were displaying both shock and happiness, he obviously did.

“Ash?!”

---

Days previous, Sara had visited Mel and presented her with an object, of which she claimed to be of great importance. A diary. However, it was only until Mel held the diary between her fingers, did she open the first pages. Eyes scrolling down the lines, reading about Felicity’s exploits as a journalist, did she find herself becoming sidetracked. “Help me, Felicity. What am I looking for?” she mumbled turning the pages endlessly, feeling the stories and truth being left behind.

Minutes turned into hours, but just before she had given up hope of finding information, she found a date that rung bells in her head. August 7th 1991. Written in a few simple words.

I know who did it.

---

Lee was confused. Was it the same Ash, who was Hayden’s first boyfriend? Or another Ash, that Hayden had forgotten to mention? Either way, he was confused. Ash, on the other hand, looked more shocked than Hayden, his sapphire eyes widening in an array of mixed emotions. It was Ash’s first move that irritated Lee, he leapt at Hayden, pulling him into a very inappropriate hug. “Introduction?” coughed Lee, edging close to Hayden.

“Oh, Lee, this is Ash. We were best friends when I lived in California.” Lee knew what he meant, there was no need for any other words. This was Hayden’s ex-boyfriend.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” Hayden exclaimed, “I had no idea that you were coming. What’s the occasion? We have so much to catch up on!”

“Well, it is a really long story. There is time for that later on,” he gave Lee a jealous look, “In short though, I moved in with my boyfriend about three years ago, we’ve only just broken up but I can’t stand to be anywhere near him, so I am looking for a new place and well...I am thinking of moving here. You’re still here, so it can’t be all that bad.”

Without speaking, Lee gave Hayden a nod and left the room. ‘Who does this guy think he is?’ the voice in his head asked. He sat down on the living room couch next to Linda who was deep in conversation with Milus.

“Uh, Linda, I might head home. I’ll let Hayden and Ash catch up. Could you tell him to call me later on tonight?”
“I can do that for you Lee, thank you very much for coming. Do you need me to give you a lift home?”
“No thanks, I had a nice afternoon today. See you later.” And Lee walked out the front door towards the bus stop, where the bus had just pulled up. He stepped inside and gazed towards Hayden’s home, a surge of jealousy racing through his body.

‘They are just friends...’

---

By the time Lee reached his home, it was dusk, and a cooling wind had begun to sweep through the air. He walked down the pavement to his front door to notice that the door was already open, swung ajar and hanging from its hinges. “That can’t be good,” he muttered, as he walked inside.

The scene which revealed itself to him as he paced down the hallway was disturbing, glass lined the carpet and bits of furniture that had been obviously tossed now lay in broken heaps throughout the lounge. “Mum? Dad?” he called, but he was met with silence. A sigh of relief filled him, his parent’s hadn’t been home. Lee got out his phone and begun to dial the police, until a small line of red caught his attention, he hadn’t noticed it before. He closed his phone. Blood. It trailed from the front door, down the hallway and into the study, where the door was tightly closed.

A thousand different thoughts filled Lee’s mind; whose blood was it? Where were his parents? What had happened? And then a different thought caught his mind, one that lingered around the death of his two best friends, was he about to meet the same end as they had?

Inhaling deeply, and letting the cool air fill his lungs, he pushed open the door to his study, unaware and unready of what lay beyond. The scene revealed to him was not one he was expecting, nor willing to believe. His father lay eagle spread on the floor, surrounded in a pool of his own blood, and his mother, slumped against the computer desk, with a bullet wound to the back of her head. Her blood, sprayed across the computer screen and along the desk. It was like a scene from a horror film, except Lee was living it, and the reality hit him hard.

Both his parents were dead.

Lee screamed in horror, and tried calling for help but no voice came to him. Tears filled rapidly at the base of his eyes and gushed out like torrential rain. “Mum! Dad!” he cried at the lifeless bodies. He ran outside the front of the house, fell to his knees, screaming, “Help! Someone please help!”

It was too much for him, within moments of calling, Lee felt his body grow weak, the scene around him begun to dissolve and then he closed his eyes, falling into unconsciousness.