All because I liked a BOY?

Fear and Reassurance

The office buzzed with the muted hum of keyboards and low conversations as Jeff sat at his desk, staring blankly at the documents in front of him. His focus wavered, the words blurring together. The thought of Izzy’s departure for her short vacation with Megan left his heart heavy. She had been so excited, and he couldn’t say no to her gleaming eyes. Yet, now the silence in his life felt deafening.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Lunch break?" Bible’s familiar voice chimed, accompanied by his signature grin.

Jeff blinked, momentarily disoriented. "Yeah... sure," he murmured, standing and grabbing his wallet.

The two made their way to the cafeteria, settling in a quiet corner away from the noise. Bible ordered pasta, while Jeff picked at a simple salad.

"You’re awfully quiet today," Bible remarked, taking a hearty bite.

Jeff forced a weak smile. "Just a lot on my mind."

"Care to share?" Bible leaned closer, his voice filled with concern.

Jeff hesitated, his eyes darting to the table before meeting Bible's gaze. "It’s Izzy."

Bible set down his fork, his focus entirely on Jeff. "What about her?"

Jeff sighed deeply. "She’s with Megan for five days, and I already miss her. But it’s more than that, Bib. I’ve been thinking about... us. About how Izzy will react to this—to us."

Bible’s brow furrowed slightly. "Why wouldn’t she react positively? She loves you, Jeff."

Jeff shook his head, frustration mingling with fear in his expression. "She’s always asking about her mom. She wants to know why she doesn’t have one like her friends do. And now, I’m scared that she won’t accept me being with you. What if she feels like I’ve taken something away from her, something she’ll never get back?"

Bible reached across the table, gently taking Jeff’s hand in his. "Jeff, listen to me. You’ve given that little girl everything. You’ve been her dad, her mom, her entire world. She loves you unconditionally. Sure, she might have questions, but she won’t stop loving you for being happy."

Jeff’s voice wavered as he spoke. "But what if she doesn’t understand? What if she thinks I’m replacing her mom with something else? Someone else?"

"She’ll understand because you’ll explain it to her," Bible said, his tone steady. "You’ll tell her the truth—that you love her more than anything, and that love doesn’t change just because there’s someone new in your life. If anything, it grows."

Jeff swallowed hard, his emotions bubbling to the surface. "And what if she doesn’t see it that way?"

Bible squeezed his hand, his voice soft yet firm. "Then we’ll help her see it. Together. She’s smart, Jeff. She’s kind and full of love, just like you. And she’ll see how much I love you, and how much I want to be a part of your lives. That’s what matters."

Tears filled Jeff’s eyes as he whispered, "You always know the right thing to say."

Bible smiled, his thumb brushing over Jeff’s knuckles. "That’s because I love you. And I love Izzy too, even if she doesn’t know it yet."

Jeff let out a shaky laugh, wiping at his eyes. "Thank you, Bib. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

"You’ll never have to find out," Bible replied, leaning slightly across the table. "We’re a team, Jeff. Always."

Jeff nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. For the first time in days, he felt a flicker of hope.

Later that evening, as the two walked out of the office, Bible couldn't help but notice how drained Jeff looked. The weight of Izzy's absence and their earlier conversation still hung in the air between them.