Photographing Love

Chapter 9

Andrew Ross

Duncan snakes an arm around my waist, his eyes still trained on the woman I assume is his mother. "I said things I regret. You have to believe me." she says. Duncan pulls me closer and I can feel the heat radiating off his body, rivaled only by the hate that comes in waves.

"I don't have to do anything. You disowned me, kicked me out of the only home I had ever known. Why? Because I find men attractive, because I'm gay." Duncan spits. The woman visibly winces, "Then come home. Let me talk. All you have to do is listen." she pleads.

His features soften, "One hour at the nearest cafe." he states. The woman smiles, her own features softening with relief. We follow her to a small silver cadillac, Duncan taking the back seat and pulling me into his side protectively. The little car zips down the street.

We get out a few moments later in front of a coffeehouse-bookstore combination. Duncan holds the door open for the woman and myself, entering the shop behind me. "I'll leave you two to talk while I get a coffee. Want anything?" I murmur as we take a seat at a table.

Duncan shakes his head, "I'm fine." he says. I leave the two at the table and walk up to the counter to place my order. "I'll have a tall green tea with a shot of honey." I say to the barista. She smiles and tells me my total. I hand her a ten dollar bill as my eyes land on Duncan.

The barista hands me my change and I step aside to wait for my order, my eyes straying to the bookshelves surrounding the shop and disappearing up the stairs. My eyes bounce my back to Duncan every few seconds, watching him talk quietly to his mother...

Duncan Lewis

"Your father never came back. The last time we spoke was at Kelsey's funeral. It took me a year to figure out that your father didn't love me anymore. We had been fighting months before you came out, and I refused to believe our marriage was over. Apparently all he needed was a reason, and he was gone." My mom says.

"He's got a new family now, a younger wife and a toddler." she adds. Her eyes skip over me as she takes in the shop, a smile forming on her lips. "The way that boy looks at you, your father never looked at me like that." she says. "I almost hit him with my car." I state.

"I'm sorry for what I said, for how I acted. I blamed you for your father's leaving." she adds. Andrew reclaims his seat next to me and I subconsciously lean closer to him. My mother smiles, "I'm not saying that you have to forgive me. I'm asking for a second chance." she says.

She stands and glances at Andrew, "Take care of my son." she says. She then turns back to me, "If you ever want to talk the address is the same and so is the phone number." she says. I stand, knowing the look on her face. Andrew watches us as I silently pull her into a hug.

She leaves and Andrew stands up, discarding his empty cup in a trash can. "I've never been to this part of the city before, want to do some exploring?" Andrew suggests. I shrug my shoulders, not being all too familiar with this area except for the cemetery...

*** *** *** *** ***

Andrew laughs, posing so that he hangs onto the lamp post with one hand and leans away into the street. I snap a picture my phone, regretting that I didn't bring my camera with me. He rejoins me and we continue our walk down the street, my eyes catching on a shop.

"Do you mind if we stop in one more place?" I ask. Andrew shakes his head, allowing me to lead him into the shop selling nothing but coffee. My fingers glide along the shelves, the colorful labels popping out at me. Andrew has disappeared to look at a small selection of tea.

I select two different bags from the shelves and walk over to where Andrew is staring at the shelf of tea. I bend just slightly so that my mouth is next to his ear, "Pick out whichever one you want." I murmur. His hands reach out and he hesitates before grabbing a bag of tea.

I smile and take the items to the register, paying for them before returning Andrew's tea to him. "Who's the third for?" Andrew asks. "A friend, she's a coffee enthusiast." I reply with a chuckle. The sun is nearly behind the horizon, "Ready to head back?" I ask.

Andrew nods and I flag down a taxi...