This is the third and last part of “Love in the Shadows of Willowmere”
To read the first part, click here.
To read the previous part, click here.
That night, after a long while, the boys went to Tom’s place, made love, and slept together.
When Eliot returned home after school next day, his parents tried to interrogate him. But!
“I was with five guys. You want details?”
And they stopped.
Even Eliot himself couldn’t believe he’d said that. But it was fun.
In the evening, he went to Tom’s place, taking a long detour. More than ever before he felt he needed to be careful. He didn’t want anything to go wrong now that there was some hope.
There is a coastal city, not too big, but much bigger than Willowmere, about two hours away by bus: Easthaven.
“I have a friend, there,” Tom said. “Lucy. We were classmates and pretty close back then, but she went to Easthaven right after high school. I called her to ask her to help us find a place. You don’t mind, do you? We can go elsewhere if you want.”
“Wherever you are is where I want to be, my love.”
“Eli… For me it will be a challenge, but for you…”
Eliot went and sat on Tom’s lap and kissed him.
“This Prince Carter isn’t quite the spoiled brat you may think.”
“I never–“
But Eliot silenced him with a kiss.
“I always had whatever I wanted, my love. That’s true. But what I want the most is you. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“I know I have no work experience, and I know I’ll be more of a burden–“
“Never!”
“Thank you, my love! I know I’ll be. But at least, I have some savings to help us with a start. It’s not much. Just a few thousands – maybe four – but it’ll be of some help?”
“You shouldn’t need to…”
“We are together on this, baby. I don’t want you to take care of me. We take care of each other. Yes?”
“Okay.” But his tone made it clear Tom wanted to be the only one shouldering everything.
“Were you to marry the heir of the Carters, he could have taken care of you, but you’re stuck with just me. I’m sorry!”
Tom kissed him. Then he smiled playfully.
“Don’t get angry, okay? I need to confess something to you.”
“Tell me!”
“I robbed your family from their most precious treasure.”
“Oh, you did?”
“Yes! And now it belongs to me… You are mine!”
Eliot’s face lit. “Thank you!”
“My own… my–“
“Shut up!” And they laughed.
And when the laughing and kissing eventually calmed, Eliot asked, “So tell me the plan.”
“We’ll wait for you to finish with your exams. By then, hopefully, Lucy will have found us a place we can afford. She is a manager at a café. Tourist season is starting and they’ll need some extra staff. She said she can say a word, for me, or us?”
“If it’s to wipe the floor or wash the dishes, I can do those. But carry a tray? I can’t.”
“Nonsense! Everyone would be happy having coffees and drinks spilled all over them by you!”
“I doubt that!”
“I would!” And Tom kissed Eliot. “Maybe… hopefully, you can do portraits in the street, or something like that? There are plenty of street artists in such places, you know.”
“Maybe…” Eliot knew that was a long shot. Tom knew, too. But who says “no” to their dreams? “Will you start writing, then?”
Tom blushed. “If that’s what you want…”
“It’s a command!”
“Yes, Sir!”
“It’s ‘Your Highness’!”
And once again, the boys laughed.
And in a pleasant atmosphere like this their plan was formed. Apparently, Lucy knew some bookshop owners, too. Just because they were regular clients, nothing more. But it was better than blindly searching for a long-term job. Regardless, they’ll be happy and follow their dreams.
“Tom… do you want us to cut ties with our families?” Tom didn’t reply. “Then take a leave from your job. Don’t quit yet.”
“You changed your mind?”
“No. But is it wrong to hope for the best? Take a leave, so that, if our families wake up, we can come back. Together.”
“You think this will actually happen?”
“I don’t know… And even more, I don’t know for you. My case is simpler. There are three possibilities for how they’ll react. Worst case scenario, they’ll disown me. But that’s unlikely. They aren’t really bad people, and they don’t have anyone to take my place. They care for public opinion, too. Best case scenario, they’ll come to their senses and give us their blessing and a wedding Willowmere will remember for generations to come. Not very likely, I know, but it’s not impossible… except for the grand wedding, that is. And the most possible scenario is half acceptance. Put up with us. And if they go for that, if your family does the same, then… who knows?”
A long pause.
“And if… If this never happens?” Tom asked.
“Then we continue with plan A! The return is plan B… only a plan B.”
*****
And the time passed. Eliot’s exams finished. And on a plain morning, before Willowmere had really woken up, the two boys took the first bus for Easthaven. A simple note, “Wish us well, as we do for you,” they left behind.
And, now, sitting on the bus – holding hands – they gaze out of the window, waiting for their bright future to come.
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