Chapter 102: Johnson
*Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to. – John Ed Pearce*
Bunny squeezed Ty’s hand as he reached out and knocked on his parents’ door. His sister had checked and then texted him letting him know that they were home. He reached back and Jaxon grabbed his other hand letting him know that he was not alone.
It felt like hours but was probably only a minute or more before the door opened. James Johnson stood in the open doorway with his smile falling from his face.
“If you’re still *that* way, you’re not welcome.”
“We just came to tell you that you’re going to have a grandbaby.” Ty said.
“Are you sure it’s yours? It could be his.” He sneered and lifted his chin towards Jaxon. “Or whoever else your slut wife has been with.”
“As much as I would love to stand here and be insulted,” Bunny said shifting from one foot to the other and back again, “I really need to pee. Can I use the little girl’s room?”
He begrudgingly moved out of the way and let them enter. Bunny headed straight for where the bathroom was. She had used it as an excuse to get inside the house, but once the idea was there, so was the need.
Cherise entered the front room carrying two glasses of tea. She smiled at her son and then glanced at her husband. Any hope for reconciliation died in his cold glare.
Ty looked at his father and thought that he no longer looked as large and intimidating as he once had. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was looking at the man as his equal or if it was because James was no longer scary.
They were now equal in height and Ty had more bulk on him. He spent a few hours on his off days at the gym and running with the crew around the station when they were on shift. His father, however, was still recovering from COVID and a mild stroke.
As they stood in the uncomfortable silence of the consevative living room, Ty compared their casual dress to the more formal casual slothes that his parents always wore.
He himself wore khaki slacks and a blue polo shirt. He was pretty sure that the shirt was Jaxon’s, but really didn’t care. Jaxon wore black slacks and a cream-colored oxford shirt. He refused to wear anything white since his hands always seemed to be stained from work. Bunny was in a light purple sundress and sandals. In the last few days, her hormones had kicked on a radiator and she couldn’t seem to turn it off.
Ty always thought that the only thing that his mother was missing was a 1950’s bouffant and string of pearls. She wore a pink tea-length dress and black kitten heels. His father was dressed in what he considered a relaxed outfit of pressed jeans and an equally starched short sleeve oxford shirt.
“Tyrus.” Cherise said behind a tight smile.
“Mom. You remember Jaxon?”
Her smile faltered for only a moment. “Yes. Nice to see you again.”
“Ma’am.” Jaxon smiled back as Ty linked their fingers again.
“Where’s Bunny?”
“She had to use the bathroom. The baby sits on her bladder most of the time.” Ty answered with a proud smile.
“Oh.” She gave a genuine smile. “I’m going to be a grandma?”
“Yes.” Jaxon and Ty answered as James said, “No. It might not be his.”
“The baby is ours.” Ty corrected. “It doesn’t matter who the biological father is, all three of us are the parents.”
“It goes against *everything* you were taught growing up.” James bellowed.
“Your blood pressure.” Cherise gently reminded her husband.
“A new commandment I give to you.” Jaxon quoted. “Love one another as I have loved you so all men will know that you are of my people.”
“You think that I don’t know the scriptures?” the older man demanded.
“I am sure that you know them well. You spent eighteen years shoving them down my throat.” Ty growled out as he squeezed Jaxon’s hand three times. The subtle message told him to back down.
Jaxon returned the squeezes letting his partner know that he would respect the command. But he did not like it.
“Should have sent you to one of those camps when we found you kissing a boy.”
Ty took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He had reached out with an olive branch. He told his parents that they were going to have a grandchild. There was nothing more that he could do.
Opening his eyes, he saw Bunny in the hall doorway. “Come on,” he held a hand out to her, “we’re leaving.”
Bunny shook her head and shrugged when he gave a warning hand signal. She made her own signal letting him know that the Doctor and not the Dom was now in charge.
“If you’re talking about conversion therapy, let me tell you what happens to people who are subjected to that.” Bunny said angrily. “Victims are eight times more likely to attempt to kill themselves. What does your bible say about that? I believe it says not to kill. So, you would have been responsible for your son’s death.”
“You don’t know that.” James countered.
“Believe me, I do. I see them all the damned time.” She walked towards the older man. “They are three times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. Pretty *that* is also against your scripture. And six times as likely suffer from depression.”
“You just-.”
“Shut up!” Bunny ordered her father-in-law. “We came here to tell you that we are having a baby. That you are going to have a grandchild. On valentine’s day, we are having a gender reveal at the house. If you want to be a part of your son and grandchild’s life, be there at noon. If not, fuck off!”
She turned and took her husband’s hand. “Now we’re leaving.”
Both men followed her out, a little afraid of her at the moment. She got into the driver’s seat and held her hand out for the keys. Ty handed them over as he buckled his seatbelt. They rode in silence as Bunny drove to Wendy’s. after getting her Frosty and French fries, she pulled over into a nearby parking lot.
Waiting until she was halfway through her snack, Ty cleared his throat before speaking. “So, um, we’re having a gender reveal?”
“I was mad.” She replied around her fries.
“Valentine’s Day?” Jaxon asked from the backseat.
“And hungry.”
“Makes sense. You’re mad and hungry so let’s do something you didn’t want to do on a holiday that you think the best part of is the chocolate sale on the day after.” Ty was trying not to laugh.
“Shut up.” She demanded as she finished off her fries.
“Bunny.” Ty said and she knew she had pushed her luck too far.
Sighing, she turned to him, and he saw the unshed tears. “I see victims of those damned programs all the time. They’re horrible. So many of them end up in abusive relationships and miserable because they believe that’s the best that they deserve.”
Ty reached up and used his thumb to wipe away some Frosty on her lip. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She reached back for Jaxon’s hand. “And you.”
“I love you both.” Jaxon told her. “But I think we need to look at your contract.”
“Whatever. I did not break any rules.” She grinned. “Maybe bent a few.”
“You know that if you feel like someone is in danger, you have every right to protect them. And the PhD always overrules us.” Ty said as he slipped his hand into her hair. “But the way you handled it, leaves a little to be desired.”
“I know.” She admitted softly.
“And your punishments are suspended while you’re pregnant.” He continued huskily and she nodded. “But I’m sure we can find something.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
