Family Ties

Part 55

Sitting at the kitchen table, Raymond poured over all the information in front of him. He was nauseous reading through the report, unable to believe the extremes people would go to for money. But then, all the gangs, drug dealers and smugglers that he had met since he became the Inquisitor, would also go to extreme lengths to get what they wanted.

He knew that at some point he was going to have to explain this precarious web of lies to Jackson. Terrence Hartley was still on edge delaying his arrival several times, but more importantly, he needed to have another conversation with Beatrice Dealer.

As he packed up his laptop and files, his phone quietly buzzed.

"Hey." He answered immediately when he saw Jackson's profile popping up.

"Hey, do you mind if I pick Skye up from school tomorrow?" Jackson asked.

"What, no how are you?" He joked.

"Sorry, how are you since I saw you an hour ago?"

"Don't be a smart ass. It feels like you're dating Skye with the amount of time you spend together."

"Is Papa getting jealous because he's not getting enough attention?" He said in a child's voice.

"Moving swiftly along, before you dig yourself any deeper into your grave." He laughed. "Yes sure, it's not a problem, unless you're hiding something from me?"

"No, it's nothing like that" He chuckled, grateful that Raymond wasn't in front of him. He would see through his lie within a second, if that long and he would get all the answers he wanted, without even breaking a sweat.

"We wanted to go to the car exhibition before it closes. I couldn't get tickets over the weekend, so this is our last chance."

"But you're Jackson Dealer. Getting tickets would be a snap, by only dropping your name." With Jackson's money and connections, all doors were open to him and everybody treated him with deference. How was it possible he couldn't get any tickets?

"I wanted to get them myself, without using my name."

Ah, okay," he decided to let go of the questioning. Skye was safe with Jackson, even if they were keeping something from him. "I'll never understand your obsession," He laughed. "But sure, I hope you enjoy it."

Super! You're the best, you know that?" He sounded very excited.

"I know, it's a heavy burden to bear." Raymond sighed, while Jackson laughed on the other side.

"Anyway, I've got to go. Customers are calling. Chat tomorrow again?

"I'll be here waiting." He chuckled.

"Okay, it's a date then. Love you,"

Before Raymond could answer, the line was cut. Looking that the phone in surprise and shock, he sank into the kitchen chair.

He told me he loved me. Over the phone for the first time? Who does that, he thought still looking at his phone. But then again, Jackson never followed the rules when it came to their relationship. It wasn't the most romantic way to do it, but he'd said it.

"I love you too." Raymond quietly whispered to the phone, before turning in for the night.

--

A week later Raymond finally got to pin Jackson down long enough to have a proper conversation. Jackson seemed to be off doing something with Skye after school almost every afternoon, and by the time he'd tucked him in for the night, he would run off to some emergency.

Raymond didn't know what to make of the whole situation. Maybe he regretted saying 'I love you' so quickly. Jackson seemed to run for the hills every time it looked like they would be alone in the same room. Maybe he didn't really mean to say it.

"You've been avoiding me."

"Have I?" Jackson asked in surprise, trying to move away slightly. They were laying on the couch, with Raymond in his arms, watching a movie.

"You have." He listened as Jackson seemed to hold his breath. "What are you doing?" He asked as Jackson pulled his arms away from him.

"Nothing," he let out his breath slowly as Skye showed him. He wasn't very surprised that Skye often got into trouble at school, but with his innocent face and skill for lying, or at least his skill in making up believable stories, he got away with way too much. He had to admire how well his grandfathers taught him.

"If you haven't, then why is this the first time in a week that we are sitting down like two adults who are supposedly dating."

"I think you're imagining things. We've been seeing each other all week. I mean we eat together almost every night. Anyway, how could I ignore your pretty blue eyes and sweet, sweet smile?"

"What are the two of you hiding?"

"Hiding? We've got nothing to hide, we're only hanging out together. If I'm going to be his dad, then we have to bond."

"His dad?" Raymond looked up at Jackson, from where he was laying in his arms, with his back to him.

"Yes, his dad. Come on Cook, we've been dating for almost a year and we love each other, so it's only natural that Skye and I would develop a strong bond."

All Raymond heard was, 'We love each other', was this man for real? He suddenly started throwing the word around like confetti and now everything should fall in place?

"You say it as if we all knew that."

"Know what? That Skye and I would bond? Don't you think that's normal?" Raymond was being very odd this evening. Maybe he was trying to confuse the secret out of him.

"Not that you dope," he smiled at Jackson trying to pull the wool over his eyes. "The other thing."

That I love you? What's so weird about that? Don't you feel the same?" He was slightly worried that they'd gotten their signals mixed.

"Yes, I do feel the same, I just didn't expect it to come out like that, you know?" He was still stumped at how casually Jackson threw such a nuanced word around.

"Like what?"

"I didn't expect you to blurt it out like that, I was expecting something different, I  suppose." He was a bit disappointed. This was not the way he'd imagined how they would declare their love for each other.

But you'll forgive me, right?" With a grin, he wrapped his arms around Raymond.

"For some reason, I always forgive you, but this is your last chance."

"You said that last time as well!" He laughed giving Raymond a quick kiss. "But I wanted to ask you, would you and Skye move in with me?" When Raymond didn't respond, he continued. "Look, I know this is all of a sudden, but I've been thinking about it for a long time now."

"Eh, moving in is a big step." He hedged. Who was he kidding, if he were single, he'd be out of that door and into Jackson's house within seconds, but he still had Skye to think about. "It sounds nice, but I can't upend Skye without any warning."

"Then let's ask the little one what he thinks. It's not such a big deal Cook, we're almost living together as it is, the only difference is that I have to go home at the end of the night." He reasoned.

"But it's moving in Jackson. That's a big step..."

"It's the right step for us. Come one, I love both of you and like I promised Skye, I'd never hurt the two of you."

"Give me some time?" He sat up. "I would like to move in with you, but I have to think things through carefully."

"Okay, I'll give you three days to think about it." He bargained. He didn't want a long drawn-out period of waiting for Raymond to respond, while he was silently having a heart attack. When Raymond nodded, he leaned forward and pulled him in for a long, slow kiss.

"I think I deserve to have some special time, don't you?" He whispered against Raymond's lips.

"I think we both do." His husky voice was enough invitation for Jackson to pick him up and carry him to the bedroom.