He felt like he’d found not one, but two uncles. If Edwin and Neil were together today, he would probably have both as his uncles. “Cedarwood is an interesting community.”
“It is,” Neil said. “Eddie used to get teased. He was beaten for being gay. That’s why I never visited her and never tried to come to Cedarwood before now. I couldn’t bring myself to visit the town that was so rotten to him, even if Martha lived here. I should’ve, though. I missed out.” He nodded. “I’ll bet you didn’t know your uncle had a tattoo, too.”
“He did?” Evan chuckled. He was learning so much about the man he’d thought he’d never get to know. “Where?”
“On his hip.” Neil laughed. “He got it because the tattoo artist said he was too chicken to get one. He wanted something where only I’d see it.”
“What’d he get?”
“The letters E-M-N-R.” Neil’s grin widened.
“Your initials, together.” Sweet. “What if you split up?”
This time, Neil laughed again and folded his arms. “Your uncle seemed like he was a free spirit. He was, but he also wanted to be in a relationship. Not with anyone. When we met, we hated each other. He talked too loud and too much. He spilled coffee on me. I smoked and didn’t talk much at all. I made him dry clean my shirt. Then there was a fireworks show and we ended up locked on the roof. Neither of us remembered to put the wedge in the door, so it locked and we were stranded. That night, we got to know each other and clicked.”
Like him and Mick.
“We were inseparable until he died. I hated him for getting shot and beaten with that brick, but it wasn’t his fault. We were gay in a time when being gay wasn’t good,” Neil said. “We fought back and paid the price.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. We had to fight because it helped you have a better life. Eddie would be thrilled you’re out and not being persecuted,” Neil said.
“We still are at times,” Evan said. “My career trajectory changed since I came out.”
“You’ve got a whole new group of fans who are thrilled you represent them.” Neil patted Evan’s thigh. “Don’t give up.”
“I won’t. I’m just settled down a little for now.” He sat up when Mick arrived with the tray, glasses and pitcher. “My uncle sounds like he was a good guy.”
“When he loved, he loved hard. When he disliked someone or something, everyone knew it.” Neil accepted one of the glasses. “Thank you.” He turned to Evan. “Eddie came out to California to be free. Martha didn’t care he was gay, but everyone else seemed to and it brought him down. We all need a place to belong. I’m glad I knew him and I miss him every day. I loved Eddie.”
“Did you move on?” Mick leaned against the railing and crossed his ankles. “After…”
“After he died?” Neil asked.
Mick nodded. “Sorry if it’s too personal.”
Evan wondered what Neil would say. When Evan and Mick had been thrown together to begin with, Mick had driven him crazy, but now he couldn’t see his life without him. “If we’re being too pushy or asking things that upset you, let us know.”
“I will, but you’re not.” Neil sipped his drink. “I’ve had a couple other lovers since Eddie passed, but none compared to him. We’d have been able to marry and I don’t want to marry anyone but him.” His voice caught. “I want Eddie back.”
The catch in Neil’s voice got to Evan. He understood. Neil had his one person and that person was gone.
“I miss him.” Neil sighed. “I’ll be you don’t want to hear an old man going on about his former lover.”
“I don’t mind.” He tipped his head to meet Neil’s gaze. “I wished I’d have known my uncle, but I’m glad I met you. You’re family.”
“Evan.” Neil nodded.
“You are.” He hugged Neil. “We Conleys aren’t easy to love. We’re moody, emotional, clingy at times and gruff, but we’re loyal.”
“That was Eddie to a T.” Neil’s voice caught again. He sighed. “I have his ashes with me. I couldn’t part with him like Martha did. She was always stronger than me.”
“You weren’t wrong to keep him. I think he’d have wanted it that way,” Mick said.
“I understand,” Evan said. Mick meant a lot to him. One day, he wanted to marry him. Mick would be the feature in lots of songs because he owned Evan’s heart.
“I have Eddie on the passenger seat. I told him I’d bring him home one day.” Neil’s hand trembled. “We’ll scatter him in a little bit. I’m not ready to say goodbye just yet.”
“You’re welcome to stay with us as long as you’d like,” Evan said. “Or come around whenever.”
“Thank you,” Neil said. “We had good times, big fights and the best makeup sex. I loved him.”
Evan sat with Mick and Neil, chatting until the sun went down. He wouldn’t have changed a moment of their conversation. He was happy to have met Neil and thrilled to get to know his uncle.
“Would you like to visit Martha? The stone hasn’t been installed yet,” Evan said. “We can go there.”
“I’d like to scatter Eddie’s ashes here, then we can.” Neil walked over to his car. He returned with a silver urn. “Let’s visit the pond.”
Evan smiled and bittersweet tears burned at the corners of his eyes. He needed to say goodbye, too. It was time.
Chapter Ten
Mick watched Evan and Neil chat. The sun set low in the sky. Brilliant streams of blue, purple and red streaked across the heavens. He’d accompanied them to visit Martha, despite Neil initially wanting to wait to visit her grave. He’d wanted to be there as Neil and Evan scattered the ashes, but had chosen to give them privacy instead. This moment belonged to Evan and Neil.
A few minutes later, Neil hugged Evan then headed over to his car.
Mick hurried up to Evan, but Neil drove away
