All That Glitters/Part 28
All That Glitters/Part 28
It took a while for Curt to realize what he was feeling. It had been such
a long time since he could put down the burden he carried day in and day
out. First, there was a massive sense of relief. Second, there was
tremendous power in finally being *heard*, being *validated*, even though
he'd have sworn that was never his intention.
But there were other things, too, things that surprised him. Like the fact
that the pain was still *there*. It just didn't hurt in the same way. His
pain was *shared* now, and it was tinged with *regret*. They should have
spoken sooner. They could have. But he was too stubborn.
But then he thought, maybe neither one of them had been ready before this.
Maybe his mother's death, as tragic as it was, was the catalyst that both
of them needed to put their lives back together.
Harold Wild regarded his youngest child with an oddly compassionate look.
"What are you thinking about so hard, Curt? You already trying to find
some new way to blame yourself?"
Curt shook his head, slowly, too, because all that drink was finally
making him woozy. "No, just wondering...you know, where we go from here."
"Where do you want it to go?"
Curt grinned suddenly. "You're not gonna, like, hug me, man, are you?
Cause I gotta tell you, my stomach's not feeling so good right now."
"Don't be silly," his father said grumpily. Then the older man broke into
a genuinely fond smile. "Unless...that's what you want."
They stared at one another, Curt's grin growing a trifle lopsided now,
before they both burst out laughing. "Nahhhh..."
Many was the time Curt had dreamed of reconciliation with his family. Many
was the time he dismissed that dream as unrealistic. But at last, he had
what he needed.
*Almost*.
In the absence of real family, he'd made his own. Forged bonds every bit
as strong. With someone he dared to share a life with.
His eyes must have reflected the change in his mood because his father
leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "He's here, you know."
"Huh?"
Against his will, Curt's heart started to beat faster. It wasn't
excitement or even anxiety. Nor was it fear.
He couldn't possibly mean *Brian*. Brian was gone. Left. Somewhere far
away where he didn't need Curt.
Curt's father couldn't help but see the tiny flicker of hope that lit up
his son's eyes. Maybe he couldn't understand just how different his son
was, but he was suddenly struck by how much the same some things were.
Like *love*. Because it *was* love, no mistake, he could read it in Curt's
conflicted expression.
"He's at the hotel. Says you two have a lot to talk about."
"I can't."
Harold Wild recognized that obstinate tone well. He heard it in his own
voice often enough. "I don't want to tell you what to do, but--"
"But you will."
"Would it hurt to listen? You listened to *me*, and God knows you didn't
want to do *that*," his father pointed out.
"I should go to the hospital," Curt said.
"It's taken care of, Curt." There was a kindness there that Curt had
trouble reconciling with what he knew of his father.
"Then--"
"Talk to him. You know your mother would want you to."
*That* got to Curt in a way nothing else could. It brought tears to his
eyes when the last thing he wanted to do was cry. He brushed the hair out
of his face before saying hoarsely, "She was a great believer in love. And
happy endings. I think...she really wanted me to find mine." Curt's eyes
crinkled at the edges as he struggled for control. "But I dunno if I've
got one, Dad."
"Do you realize that you haven't called me *Harold* once?"
Curt flushed dark red and started to turn away, but his father caught him
in a bear-like embrace. "Did I mention I'm okay with that?" the older man
whispered.
Curt's arms closed involuntarily over his father's back and he wondered
just how long he'd been waiting to do *exactly* this.
Could it really be this easy, even without complete forgiveness on either
side?
"I'm scared, Dad."
"You're braver than I gave you credit for, Curt."
"Not so much."
"She never let go, Curt. And you're just like her. Are you really going to
give up?"
*****