The love story that is Josh and Harrison has taken a backseat lately as we explored the character history of Reid. Don’t get me wrong – Reid is probably one of my favorite characters, if not the favorite. But let’s not forget that this story is about Harrison, and this chapter sees a return to prominence of our intrepid hero (lol). But first, let’s find out what Josh’s surprise for his boyfriend was. 
~ Chapter 36 ~
From the Narrative of Joshua Spencer:
The look on Harry’s face as he surveyed the change to our bedroom was worth the exhaustion I was feeling after throwing together his party and arranging this surprise.
Not that it was a big deal or anything. I’d seen the candles while shopping the other day, and the idea formed in my mind as soon as I read the label. A cheesy idea, I admit, but one that I was sure would have him as thrilled as a kid in a candy-shop – which wasn’t that far from the truth, I thought fondly as I watched the expression on his face.
Chocolates and roses are ‘traditional’ gifts – proven time and time again to set the mood for romance. Tonight that was exactly what I hoped to achieve, and I’d decided to play it safe and do things traditionally, since I’d never gotten the chance to before.
The candles were scented to imitate the rich aroma of molten chocolate – even more appropriate given Harry’s lust for the sinfully sweet substance. I had placed these candles, together with some regular rose-scented ones, in strategic locations around the bedroom. The reason I hadn’t been able to watch him unwrap his presents was because I had to light these many candles (leaving them burning while the party was going on would have been a fire hazard!). They were the only source of light in the room, spreading their soft glow on the bed, which was sprinkled with petals of that other ingredient for romance – deep red roses.
Harry jumped on me and kissed me delightedly. “Oh, wow! I can’t believe you actually found the time to set this whole thing up. I mean, the party was great and all, but this … this is awesome!” He took a deep sniff and savored it before exhaling. “And the smell of chocolate is just … mouthwatering …” He smiled at me. “You know me so well.”
I couldn’t help grinning at his infectious enthusiasm. “Your love of chocolate is no big secret. How many times have I found you with chocolate smeared around your mouth, or your finger in Aunt Marcia’s bowl of frosting?”
He just grinned back at me and then pointed to the slender, crimson-wrapped box on the bed. “Is that for me?” he asked. He reached for it but I gently swatted the fingers of his outstretched hand.
“Uh-uh, not yet,” I said. “First, I have something waiting for you in the bathroom … but I’ll need to get you out of those clothes before that.”
He giggled. “I can see you’re in a horny mood tonight.”
He was right, but then so was he. While I unbuttoned his shirt, I kissed his neck, focusing on the spot right under his chin that always managed to produce an excited moan from him. As I knelt down to unbuckle his pants, I felt him run his hands frenziedly through my thick, curly hair. Not surprising, because my tongue was now lazily swirling around his lower chest. I knew for certain he was excited, because of the tent in his boxers. I gently freed his erection from his last shred of clothing and leaned backwards, still on my knees. I couldn’t speak a word even if I’d wanted to; I was too busy drinking in the sight of his beautiful, naked body, which was even more beautiful (if that were possible) in the candlelight.
I finally found my voice. “God, you’re beautiful.”
He sighed in mock exasperation. “How many times do I have to tell you, I prefer –”
I didn’t let him finish. I leapt up and kissed him fiercely. What I loved most was having my eyes aligned with his, so I could see them widen in surprise. Having caught him off-guard, I easily scooped him up into my arms. He yelped at the suddenness, but I continued nuzzling him.
“Sorry,” I said softly, into his ear. “But I’ve always wanted to do that.” I grinned because his hard-on was poking me in the stomach. “What were you saying earlier, about me being in a horny mood?”
He blushed, knowing he was hardly in any position to deny it. I carried him into the bathroom. This too was lit by candles. I carefully lowered Harry into the bath, which was filled with warm, foamy water. He squealed as he was submerged in the water.
“Is the water too hot?” I asked worriedly.
He shook his head and smiled up at me. “No, it’s just perfect.” He scooped a handful of bubbles and cautiously sniffed it. “Why do I keep smelling chocolate?” he demanded.
I picked up the bottle and read the label aloud. “This particular foam bath is supposed to be
Cocoa Butter and Vanilla. Do you like it?”
“Like it? I love it!” He splashed happily in the water.
“I thought you might. I just wanted you to have the complete, relaxing experience.” I sat on the edge of the bath and massaged his neck.
He moaned as I worked the kinks out of the tensed muscles. “This is so good,” he murmured with his eyes closed. “I didn’t put a boyfriend who’s sensitive to my needs down on my Christmas wish list last year, but I seem to have gotten one anyway.”
“Well, I’m happy if you are. You just have to tell me what it is that you want.”
He opened his eyes and smiled. “Is this only for my birthday or –”
“Always,” I told him firmly, “and forever.” Then I grinned. “Is there anything missing? A rubber ducky, maybe?” I teased.
He splashed water at my face. I blinked it out of my eyes and glared at him. “Is that how you reward me?”
He shook his head meekly and in a small voice, said, “Sorry.”
“Hmph,” I snorted. “Well, I don’t have a rubber duck, though I do have these rose petals.” I tossed the ruby-red petals over his head and giggled. “You look so pretty with those in your hair.”
He looked torn between grinning and growling at me. Instead he chose to say, “Do you mind massaging my shoulder, here, with those strong fingers of yours?” He looked imploringly at me.
I shouldn’t have fallen for that, but I did. “Sure,” I said, leaning across the bath to reach the spot he indicated. Only when I was already in the precarious position above the bath did I notice the devilish glint in his blue eyes. By then it was too late. He pulled me in.
I rose from the water, spluttering, to find Harry laughing uncontrollably. “I’m sorry,” he said between chuckles, “I just couldn’t resist. You have to admit, though, it serves you right.”
I struggled into a more comfortable position. Harry pulled his knees up, allowing me to sit in the same position against the other end of the tub. I looked down at my wet clothes ruefully.
“You could have at least let me take my clothes off first,” I said, trying to appear annoyed, although I was amused at my sorry appearance.
“It wouldn’t have been as much fun,” replied Harry with a smirk. “This way, I get to peel those wet clothes off your body.”
“You’re lucky that it’s your birthday,” I said. “And that this tub is too small for me to maneuver myself in.”
“Why, what were you going to do to me? Fuck me hard?” He grinned widely.
I grinned back. “Is that what you want? Sounds more like a reward than a punishment to me.”
“Okay, how about I fuck you, then?”
“Even less of a punishment,” I commented. “But I might just take you up on that.” I brought my face closer to his and kissed him.
He suddenly giggled. I broke off the kiss and stared at him.
“You’ve got a bit of foam on your nose,” he explained.
“Oh.” I reached up to brush it off, but he caught my hand. “Let me,” he said.
He put out his tongue out and licked the foam off the tip of my nose. He made a face when he closed his mouth. “Yuck!” he exclaimed. “It tastes like soap.”
It was my turn to laugh. “You didn’t have to use your tongue!” I pointed out.
“Well, it wouldn’t have been as kinky otherwise,” he retorted.
I raised my eyebrows. Kinky? He had no idea what else I had planned for the night. I stood up and announced, “I’m going to get out of these wet clothes.” He made no move to get up but instead slid further down into the tub, so that only his head was above the water level.
“It’s so nice and warm,” he said apologetically. “Can’t I stay just a bit longer?”
“Sure, it’s your night. But you should probably know,” I added mischievously, “I’m wearing those Mickey Mouse boxers that you love.”
That got him practically leaping out of the tub. “Josh, you naughty boy! You knew I’d just have to peel those off you!”
I grinned and let him undress me. Then I held him as we washed ourselves under the shower. The best part, in my opinion, was when I toweled him dry. He looked so cute with his head poking out of the fluffy folds of the towel and his brown hair all wet and tousled.
“I need a picture of this,” I said, grabbing my cell phone and snapping a photo before he could protest.
“Hey, give me that!” He rushed at me and tried to snatch the phone. We both tumbled onto the bed. After much rolling about and giggling, he managed to straddle me and take the phone out of my grip.
“Hmm, it’s not a bad picture,” he remarked as he surveyed it. “Maybe I’ll let you keep it.”
“Maybe?” I used the towel, which I’d twisted into a thick rope to pull him closer to me. My hand brushed against the gift box that was still on the bed, unwrapped. I closed my hand around it.
“I almost forgot – I got you something.” I gave him the box. He rolled off me to unwrap it. He gave a little cry of delight when he opened the jewelry box and saw its contents for the first time. It was a silver pendant in the shape of a key, threaded onto a thin silver chain. The bow of the key was set with a tiny, glittering sapphire.
I watched him turn the key over to examine the engraving. I knew what it said, because I had given the instructions to the engravers. It had both our names, together with the year – 2006.
“The key to my heart,” I explained, a little sheepishly. “I know it’s cheesy but –”
I was interrupted by Harry throwing his arms around me. “It
is cheesy,” he acknowledged, “but it’s also very sweet. And so very characteristic of you. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” I replied. “Not that you needed to have the key, because you know my heart has always belonged to you anyway.”
Harry kissed me again and slipped the chain over his head. He looked down at the pendant hanging against his bare chest. “Why did you choose a sapphire?” he asked, fingering the blue gem. “It isn’t my birthstone.”
“Yeah, I know. The jeweler actually suggested a peridot, but I thought this was more … fitting. They reflect the color of your eyes … like Mr. Fernley said, they are the most striking part of you. Not the most beautiful, though.”
“What’s that, then? My cock?” he joked.
“No,” I said seriously, “your heart.”
He stopped playing with the pendant and looked at me. Those brilliant blue eyes sparkled in the candlelight; I realized they were filled with tears.
“Hey,” I said softly, “don’t cry now. It’s supposed to be happy day. In a few short hours, you’ll officially be twenty-three. And quite possibly the cutest 23-year-old in the whole, wide world.”
That elicited a small smile from him. He gazed up at me with the adoring expression that I had come to cherish. “Oh, Josh, I love you so much!” he blurted out and buried his face in my chest.
I smiled and whispered, “Me too, baby.” I reached out to the bowl standing beside the bed and dipped my finger in its contents. “Look here, there’s something that’ll cheer you up.”
I traced his lips with my finger, leaving a trail behind. He looked puzzled at first, and then he ran his tongue over his lips. His face lit up when he realized they were smeared with chocolate.
“You didn’t!” he whispered incredulously.
I grinned. “Yes I did. And there’s a lot more where it came from.” I presented the bowl to him. “So which part of your anatomy should I, uh, decorate first?”
“Oh, I don’t think it’s my anatomy that’s going to be covered in chocolate.” While he was speaking, he placed the palms of both hands in the bowl and removed them dripping with chocolate. Then he planted both hands on my chest and gently pushed me onto my back. He surveyed the palm-prints with glee and said, “I’ll relish licking that up.”
“Not the only thing you’ll be licking, I hope,” I replied deviously.
“Hmm, how does chocolate taste when it’s mixed with cum?” he wondered aloud.
“Well,” I gasped, “a lot better than bubbles, I’ll bet!”
He didn’t reply at first because he was busy lapping up the chocolate on my chest. He looked up and grinned. “I plan to find out before the night is over.” He briefly squeezed my cock with one hand, leaving a chocolatey streak on it. My cock immediately sprung to attention; he wasn’t the only one turned on by this sort of thing.
He paused mid-lick. “You know, this is not the best progression of things. The bath should have come
after we got all messy with chocolate.”
I glared at him. “Are you going to complain or …”
“Relax, I’m just pulling your leg.” He sighed happily and rolled over onto his back. “This is simply wonderful just as it is.” He licked his fingers clean.
I rolled on top and grinned down at him. “Now don’t waste time. I have a whole list of things we could try out and we won’t get through all of them if we don’t start now …”
“I’m game if you are!” He shivered as I gently prodded his tight asshole. It was just begging for a good fuck. Just thinking about it made my cock ache with longing.
He must have seen in my face what I was thinking. “Go ahead, do it,” he whispered. “Fuck me.”
As much as I would have loved to do just that, I had other plans. “Not yet, baby,” I whispered back. Gently turning him over onto his stomach, I drizzled chocolate down his back. Some of it pooled in the small of his back, and I lapped it up like a dog. Then I shared it in a kiss with him. He raised his head to meet my kiss, and in doing so, arched his back. The chocolate trickled further down his back, and between his ass cheeks. I was more than happy to oblige. As my tongue dove into his hole, he let out a low moan.
I informed him in a seductive whisper, “That’s only the beginning …”
From the Narrative of Harrison Ridgeway IV:
I groaned when the alarm went off the next morning. I was all sticky from last night’s fuck-fest, and despite Josh’s enthusiastic efforts to lick me clean, there were still dried streaks of chocolate and cum on my body. It was a miracle that we’d managed to keep the bedclothes devoid of any chocolate smears.
“Wake up,” I whispered to Josh, who’d managed to stay asleep through the alarm. I ran my fingers through the sprinkling of curly black hair on his chest, matted as it was with chocolate and cum. My fingers got caught in a tangle and Josh woke up with a yelp. “Ow!”
“Sorry.” I followed up my apology by kissing the tender spot on his chest.
He was smiling. “It doesn’t matter, ‘cause being woken up by you is the best way to start a day.”
I laughed. “You still remember what today is, I hope.”
“How could I forget? My sore ass will remind me even if you don’t.”
For a moment I was concerned. “Does it really hurt? You were the one who told me to –”
“I’m kidding. You know I love to have your cock inside me.” He added, with a wink, “I especially love it when you’re so cutely aggressive.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Aggressive?”
“You know what I mean.” He kissed me deeply. “Your second birthday kiss,” he explained when we broke apart. His hands lazily wandered down my body, stopping to squeeze my nuts. I snuggled closer to him, feeling his morning hard-on fit perfectly against my ass-crack. It was almost like they were made for each other.
“Fancy a morning fuck?” I asked him, not quite seriously. I had other things on my mind.
“God, you’re insatiable!” he laughed. “Personally I thought of relieving this” – his hands cupped my own swollen cock and toyed with it – “in the shower.”
“Get moving then,” I said, and smacked him on the butt.
Once our morning ritual was complete, we both got dressed for work – me formally, Josh casually. I know Mr. Fernley had said he was giving me the day off, but I was pretty sure that was a joke. A pity, because I wouldn’t have minded having the day free. I pulled my tie tight and sighed as I checked my reflection in the mirror.
I was startled by the sound of Josh’s voice. “The tie’s perfectly knotted, if that’s what you were wondering. If it was yourself you were checking out in the mirror, you’re totally gorgeous.”
I grinned. “Idiot! You don’t look half bad yourself.” I turned around and kissed him. My eyes fell on the photograph behind him and my smile faded.
I was certain Josh couldn’t have seen the look on my face but he seemed to sense something was wrong. “Baby?” he asked in concern.
I knew there was no way I could escape his grilling. He wasn’t going to let up until I spilled the beans. I sat down on the edge of the bed and rubbed my eyes wearily. “I’ve been plagued by these thoughts for some time now.”
His forehead creased in worry. “What kind of thoughts?”
I reached out and grabbed the framed photograph on the bedside table. I handed it to him by way of explanation. He took it but didn’t have to look at it. He knew who it depicted – John and Carol Spencer. Instead he stared at me in confusion. “My parents?”
I exhaled loudly. “I know I’ve been really selfish, Josh. I’ve never asked you how you felt about your parents’ passing. I didn’t even attend their funeral …”
“That was before,” he interrupted.
“Yes, I know. But I never talked to you about it after, either.”
He sat down beside me and said quietly, “I can deal with it, Harry. I learnt how to a long time ago.”
“But it’s not easy … not to have a family.”
“No, it isn’t,” he agreed. “But now I’ve got you.”
“Still, I’m not your family … and of late I feel increasingly that way. Orphaned.”
“But you have a family,” he protested. “Aunt Marcia, Phoebe …” His voice trailed off as he realized what I was referring to. “Oh.”
“As much I want them to be, they’re not my real family. Don’t get me wrong; I love them a lot. Even if I were to meet my birth-mother, I could never truly consider her my mother, not after everything Mom’s done for me. But I can’t stand not knowing. I’ve resisted asking Mom this past two months but I just … can’t anymore. It’s bugging me … every time I see a father with his kid, I wonder what he might have been like … yesterday it was Reid and his Dad …”
A look of understanding passed over his face. He put a comforting arm around my shoulder. “You needed a father figure … that’s why you desperately tried to cling onto the Congressman … but he never treated you like his son.”
I nodded slowly. “Because I wasn’t.” I felt the sorrow well up inside me and I burst out, “Why didn’t they want me? I know what Dad – the congressman – said about me being a bastard was probably true, but still … you don’t just give your child up for adoption because it was born out of wedlock … I must’ve done something wrong …”
“Harry, no. You mustn’t think like that. There are dozens of reasons why they couldn’t keep you, and I’m sure it wasn’t because of anything you did. For God’s sake, you were a baby. What could you have possibly done? It’s because you’ve been blamed by the congressman for so long that you believe everything is your fault, but trust me, Harry, this is in no way your fault.”
I looked at him tearfully. “I guess you’re right … but I still need answers. You understand that, don’t you?”
He nodded. “Of course I do. I mean, not that I’ve ever been in the same position, but I can imagine how you feel. Frankly I’m amazed you waited so long to ask.”
I looked down at the floor. “I wasn’t sure if Mom was strong enough to take it. And there was one other thing … I couldn’t be content until I knew, but at the same time I was terrified of knowing.”
“You want to ask her now?” he asked.
I looked up. “It’s my birthday. I thought it would be … I don’t know, appropriate? To learn the story behind my birth …”
Josh smiled sadly. “Yes, I suppose it is.” He paused and then added, “I think I hear Aunt Marcia moving around the kitchen.”
“No time like the present, right?” I joked weakly, getting off the bed. He followed suit. As I was about to go through the door, he stopped me by putting both hands on my shoulders.
He gazed deep into my eyes. “Harry … you know that I’m always here for you, no matter what.”
“I know,” I replied.
We walked together into the kitchen. Mom was busy making pancakes. She beamed at us. “Good morning, dears. Pancakes for the birthday boy!” she announced, placing a plate piled high with my favorite breakfast in front of us. Then she noticed the serious looks on our faces.
“Is something the matter?”
I took a deep breath. Josh squeezed my hand in encouragement.
“Mom … you know I love you more than anything. And I don’t want to hurt you in any way, but I really need to know … about my biological parents.”
Her shoulders sagged as she realized the implication of my words. “Oh … I’ve been wondering when you would want to know.” She smiled weakly at me.
“Mom,” I said anxiously, “I don’t want to upset you or –”
“You have a right to know, Harrison. I’m not upset. I have enough trust in the bond we share to know that we’ll always have that special relationship, even if you weren’t born to me.”
I was hugely relieved, but I still sought assurance. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
Mom looked closely at me. “Harrison, if you recall, I offered to tell you this information two months ago, but you were the one who didn’t want to know at the time.”
I realized she was right. I had been too afraid, after what had happened that night, to actually hear something that might be worse than Mom having a heart attack.
Mom said gently, “Harrison, I can tell you what I know. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing. Once you have something to start on, you can go on to find out the rest … if you still want to.”
I gazed at her and choked out, “How did …” I swallowed and tried again. “How did you adopt me?”
“It was a long process. We – Alistair and I – had known for about a year that I wouldn’t be able to have any more children after my hysterectomy. I was the one who wanted to adopt a child. We already had a daughter of our own, so it was only logical for us to adopt a boy.”
“Alistair had a friend who knew of a couple in Silver Springs who were urgently trying to find foster parents for their teenaged daughter’s baby. They’d sent the girl to have the baby here in Corona Beach.”
I interrupted. “When you say teenaged …”
Mom looked at me sympathetically. “She was, I believe, a month shy of seventeen. They were good Catholics, so they didn’t want to abort the baby, but at the same time they didn’t want to …” She struggled to complete the sentence with words that wouldn’t wound me.
“It’s okay, Mom,” I told her. “You can be frank. It can’t be worse than the things I’ve imagined.”
Mom said slowly, “Alright. The girl was not married –”
I winced, although I’d already known that I was illegitimate. “What’s her name?” I asked.
“Sandra,” replied Mom. “Short for Alexandra Cross.”
“And my father?”
It was Mom’s turn to wince. “I … I don’t know about that.”
Josh asked softly, “Do you know anything else about Sandra Cross?”
Mom glanced at him. “Yes, I did ask our attorney, Jack, to update the information, in case … in case Harrison ever wanted to know.” She looked back at me. “Sandra still lives in Silver Springs, but she’s married now, to a lawyer. I think his name is Ryan Sheldon.” Mom paused. “They might even have kids by now.”
My eyes widened. I hadn’t thought about that. But of course she would have had other kids in the twenty-three years that had passed since my birth. Other kids who would be my half-siblings – siblings I’d never met.
“Has she … has she ever contacted you? To ask about me?”
Mom’s reluctance to answer told me that she hadn’t. I felt my heart sink, and then immediately scolded myself for being stupid enough to have even the slightest hope. Had I really expected the mother who gave me up for adoption at birth to keep tabs on my life?
Josh squeezed my hand more tightly. “It’s her loss,” he whispered.
“Yes, it is,” said Mom in a stronger voice. “Harrison, anyone who doesn’t realize your value doesn’t deserve to have you as their son.”
I rested my head on the countertop. When I spoke my voice sounded muffled but I was sure they could both hear me clearly. “That doesn’t mean she isn’t my biological mother.”
“Harrison …”
I raised my head. “Do you where she lives?”
Mom looked torn. She said hesitantly, “Well … no, not exactly …”
“But it can’t be difficult to find out. Silver Springs is a small town.”
“I need to see her,” I said suddenly.
Josh looked at me worriedly. “Harry, that may not be a good idea.”
I brushed aside his concern. “This is the only way I’ll get closure, Josh. I need the closure.” I looked pleadingly at him. “I need to know who my dad is. She’s bound to know.”
Josh saw that I would not be swayed from my decision. “We’ll both come with you, then.”
“No,” I said firmly. “I suppose I have to take Mom, to convince her that I’m really her son, but I can’t take you with me.”
“Why not?” he argued.
“How am I going to explain your presence, Josh? It’s bad enough for her long-lost son to turn up at her doorstep, without him bringing his boyfriend along as well. She might freak out.”
“Harry, if she’s going to freak out at the fact that you’re gay, she’s no better than the congressman! Why would you want to hurt yourself by going to see someone like that?” he cried.
“I thought you understood!” I said irritably. I didn’t mean to snap at him, but his words planted the seed of doubt in my mind as to whether I was doing the right thing.
Mom interrupted gently. “Harrison, I’m sure Josh understands.” She looked at him and pleaded, “Josh, please?”
He didn’t look too happy about it but he didn’t argue. He looked wounded; he must have felt that I hadn’t taken him seriously when he’d said he was always there for me.
I immediately felt guilty. “Josh, I didn’t mean to get angry at you. I’m sorry. But there are some things I have to do alone. You do understand, don’t you?”
He nodded, a little begrudgingly. I knew how much he wanted to share my life with me, and it never ceased to amaze me that he would want to do that with someone as messed-up as myself. Josh would probably protest that I wasn’t selfish, but that was only him being loyal. I certainly
felt selfish, always so absorbed in my own problems and being distracted half the time when I was with him. And he bore it, without a single grumble or complaint. That was why I’d decided that, only by putting together the missing pieces, by finding the answers to the questions that would otherwise haunt me for the rest of my life, could I move on with my life and have something worth sharing with him.
***
I was restless for the rest of the day. I’d wanted to go that very day but Mom had wisely pointed out that waiting one more day wouldn’t make much of a difference after 23 years. Besides, the next day was a Saturday, and we were more likely to find Sandra Sheldon at home.
I was still a little afraid that Josh would not let me go, but he seemed resigned to it. He and Reid (who had to be told) both gave me a hug and told me to take care of myself. Reid didn’t argue with my decision – I knew he understood the need for closure with one’s parents. That didn’t mean he wasn’t concerned.
Silver Springs was three hours’ north of Corona Beach. It hadn’t been difficult to find out where Sandra Sheldon lived. As I drove up the wide palm-lined avenue, Mom told me the additional information she’d found out about the Sheldons. Ryan Sheldon, Senior was a prominent lawyer. He and his wife had two kids, both below the age of ten. My half-siblings were at least a dozen years younger than me. I couldn’t describe my emotions when I found out about them. I’d always wanted younger siblings, and now it turned out I had two whom I’d never known about until today.
I brought the car to a halt outside 33 Argent Avenue. “This must be the house,” I said as calmly as I could muster. House was a bit of an understatement. It was more of a mansion, like the one I’d grown up in. It didn’t help make things any easier. I had a strong sense of déjà vu.
“Yes,” agreed Mom, checking the address against the one she’d scribbled down on a sheet of notepaper.
I got out of the car and slowly walked up the sloping driveway towards the house. Mom followed close behind. The palms of my hands were sweaty and I wondered, foolishly, whether she would be able to recognize me. Was it such a foolish thought? Maybe I resembled one of my parents. That was possible, wasn’t it?
I came to a start when Mom lightly touched my hand. I realized I was standing vacantly in front of the door without ringing the doorbell. I reached up, almost mechanically, to press the button. I could hear the chimes inside the house.
It seemed like an endless wait. In reality it couldn’t have been more than a few seconds, a minute at the most.
Finally the door was opened by a woman who looked to be in her thirties. My mind had already calculated that my mother would be a month short of forty, so I wasn’t quite sure if this was her. She certainly didn’t look like me. She had shoulder-length blonde hair and hazel eyes – as far removed as possible from my own brown hair and deep blue eyes.
“Mrs. Sheldon?” I said. My voice sounded alien even to me. I realized my throat was suddenly very dry.
The woman smiled politely, betraying only the slightest hint of curiosity. “Yes, that’s me. Can I help you with something?”
This was my mother, I realized. And she didn’t recognize me.
“I – I –” The words were stuck in my throat.
Mom stepped forward. “Sandra? You may not remember me well, but I’m Marcia Ridgeway.”
There was a brief flash of recognition in Sandra Sheldon’s face. Her smile faltered. She looked from Mom to me. As her eyes met mine, her smile disappeared completely, to be replaced by an expression of shock.
“Oh my God,” she said faintly.
Mom, realizing that I was quite unable to introduce myself, said, “And this is Harrison.” She paused, before adding, in a matter-of-fact tone that I could never have managed in those trying circumstances, “Your son.”
To be continued …
I’m not at all pleased with how this chapter turned out. It’s just awful! I’ve been over it a dozen times (that explains the delay in posting, for which I deeply apologize) and done quite a bit of improvising, but I still can’t seem to get it quite right. I wanted to portray Josh and Harrison’s relationship in a more ‘normal’ light instead of the drama they’re usually surrounded by. Of course the final scene had to revert to the predetermined cliffhanger. Well, I can’t do anything further for this chapter, and I can only hope that the next one will make up for it. Your feedback is appreciated, as always. Thank you.
