Mahogany and Teakwood

Epilogue: Rose

Painter's Pond glittered with fireflies in the stifling October air. Orange sunbeams made dark shadows under the trees; in a few minutes, the sunset would be truly spectacular.

Yellow streamers hung from tree branches; citronella tiki torches separated the party area from the rest of the park. A single long table had been set up off to one side, stacked with paper plates and utensils, ready to receive guest offerings. Several more round tables laid with navy cloths ringed the empty center space.

The setup was a mix of whimsical and practical, joyful and serene, as unconcerned with appearances as the eclectic couple it celebrated.

Virgil slid a plate of thumbprint jam cookies—Crofters, of course—onto the long table, and wrapped hoodie-clad arms around himself. He'd debated showing up to this party for so long that in the end he'd panicked about being late and, predictably, arrived way too early. Patton and Logan weren't even here yet.

He took a deep, careful breath, rubbing the raised scar under his purple dress shirt. It didn't ache, just now, but Virgil had learned not to push himself. He wandered, ghosting fingers over the dark tablecloths that reminded him of Logan's apartment, touching the hanging golden streamers that screamed Patton.

In another lifetime, Virgil thought wistfully, would they have been purple instead of gold? The thought didn't hurt as much as it would have, three months ago.

"Virge?" a sunny voice said.

Virgil turned to see Patton, wide-eyed and handsome in a turquoise button down and black slacks. His ginger curls were shorter and neater than when Virgil had last seen them, making him look older, but the bright blue eyes behind their round glasses were the same.

Virgil straightened his own tie, suddenly nervous. Maybe they didn't really want me to come, maybe Kate was wrong, what if they're still mad at me...

"Oh my gosh, Virgil, you're really here!"

And there was the bear hug, warm and soft and knocking Virgil's breath right out of him.

"Kate said she told you the date, but I wasn't sure you'd come," Patton rambled into his hoodie. "Did you fly in today? I'm just so glad to see you!"

Virgil huffed against Patton's hair. "Slowly, padre," he rasped. "Lungs aren't exactly what they used to be."

"Oh no, I'm sorry!" Patton stumbled back with raised hands. "Did I hurt you? How are you healing up?"

Virgil rubbed his chest again. "It's...well. Could have been a lot worse."

Patton nodded, his eyes solemn, and pulled a lighter from his pocket. "Walk with me? Gotta get the torches going, or the mosquitoes will eat us alive."

The two circled the grove in silence; Patton lighting torches, Virgil following at a distance. After maybe half the torches flickered merrily, and the sun lay heavy and low on the trees, Patton finally spoke.

"Everyone visited, you know, when you were in the hospital."

Virgil chuckled bitterly. "You mean when I was in a medically induced coma for two and a half weeks, after coding twice on the operating table. You can say it."

Patton smiled weakly.

"Seriously, though." Virgil laid a hand on the other's shoulder. "The nurses told me if you all hadn't stabilized me, I would have bled out on the way there."

"My two semesters of actual medical school actually came in handy." Patton's hand trembled as he lit another torch. "Between my knowledge, Logan's freezing powers, his mom's ability to manipulate flesh, and..."