In Don't Look Back, we wrap up the Thanksgiving celebration with Marshall and Lee and Roy, and join them as they give thanks for what they have. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they're up to! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
Lee slid a reassuring arm about Marshall’s shoulder.
Marshall appreciated that he didn’t try to make light of his fears, or treat
him like a child, but as an equal. Neither did he sweep the unpleasant subject under
the rug and out of sight. Lee was one who faced things head on and dealt with
them.
“Keep looking,” he said to Roy, who nodded. “We don’t even
know we have a reason to worry. There’s no reason to think she even saw that
video, but we can’t be too careful, either. I’d feel a whole lot more
comfortable if we could get that thing pulled off the Internet. Is there a way
of finding out who posted it?”
“Probably, but I’m afraid we’ll draw more attention to
ourselves if we put up a fuss about it,” Roy replied, “then if we do nothing.”
“Well, one good thing,” Marshall spoke up.
“What’s that?”
“She can’t come to Burnham without sticking out like a sore
thumb.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” Roy agreed.
Lee hugged Marshall close before he kissed him, then rose to
his feet. “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I need to check on dinner.” He
headed toward the back of the house. Marshall rose too.
“Need to start the macaroni and cheese, get it done.”
“I’ll come with,” Roy said amiably, reaching for his bottle.
He followed Marshall into the kitchen and watched him start a pot of water to
boil.
“Roy, did you ever meet her?” Marshall found he couldn’t
seem to not think about her, so gave up the effort.
“No, we never did meet. I kept my distance once I found her.
There wasn’t any need. I had an operative who did. Said she was from the school
district, checking up on you because you weren’t registered for school.”
“Bet she said I was homeschooled, didn’t she?” Marshall’s
voice held more than a little contempt.
“Yep, that she did.” Roy took a long drink of his beer
before continuing. “We couldn’t press the point. Afraid we might spook her.
Couldn’t take the chance of losing you. Don’t know what Lee would have done if
we had. He was… I never saw anyone so intent and so lost at the same time. He
was like a man possessed. No way was he going to fail. He never gave up hope of
getting you back, and he made me believe too."
“That’s when you became friends, isn’t it?”
Roy nodded. “Yep. Spent a lot of time together, except when
he was in Burnham, getting your life ready. See what I mean? He had faith we’d find
you and bring you back. He loves you so very much, always has.”
“And I love him that much too,” Marshall said softly. He
turned his back to Roy for a moment. He poured salt into the boiling water as
he brought his roiling emotions under control then added a box of elbow
macaroni. “I knew she was lying when she told her boyfriends he was dead. I don’t
know why, but I knew he was out there somewhere, searching for me.” He fell
silent and stirred the pasta. Turning to the microwave, he put seven minutes on
the kitchen timer, then looked back at Roy.
“Do you ever miss being a PI?”
Roy shook his head. “Not really. I like being sheriff. And I
like being here with the two of you. What more could a man ask for?” He winked
at Marshall. Marshall couldn’t help but grin.
At that moment, he heard the back door, and then Lee entered
the kitchen. His face was flush from bending over the smoker. In one hand he
held a fistful of red blossoms. Marshall recognized them instantly. Oxblood lilies.
Sarah, from across the street, had brought them the bulbs as a gift, and
Marshall had watched her place them in both the front and back yards. She told
him they practically planted themselves, and he’d been fascinated by the
idea. Marshall wondered why Lee was
carrying them now.
Marshall heard Roy clear his throat. “Gotta see a man about
a horse,” he mumbled before he made a hasty exit.
Lee approached Marshall, held the flowers out to him.
“Are those for me?” Marshall asked, surprised.
“Absolutely. Want to put them into something and set them on
the table? Thought they’d look nice.”
Marshall had set the kitchen table for the occasion, with
their best dishes and silverware, and a tablecloth. “They’re beautiful, thank
you.”
Lee leaned toward him, and their lips met in a gentle kiss.
Marshall read the message in Lee’s beautiful dark eyes. Don’t worry. I’m here. Always.
Once everything was done, the turkey rested and carved and
everything set on the table, the three men took their places. For some people,
tradition demanded a grace be said before every meal. While they didn’t follow
that particular precept, on Thanksgiving, they had their own custom of giving
thanks for what they had.
“Okay, I’ll start,” Roy said, as they looked toward him
expectantly. “I’m thankful for my life here in Burnham, for being the sheriff,
and for the mostly beautiful weather we have.”Marshall chuckled. “Most of all,
I’m thankful for having the two best friends a man could ask for, the best men
I know.”
Marshall and Lee raised their beer bottles in
acknowledgement of Roy’s heartfelt words, and they each drank to him.
“Okay, I’ll go next,” Lee offered. “I’d like to give thanks
for how successful the business is, and for the good life we have here in
Burnham. For Roy, who helped me get my heart back and gave me back my life. And
Marshall, who is my heart.”
Choked with emotion, Marshall managed to say, “I’d like to
give thanks for my life, and for Roy, who’s an awesome friend and an incredible
person. And most of all, for Lee, my love, my heart and soul, for always.”
They lifted their bottles in unison. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
to be continued
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