The Professor (McMurtrie and Drake Legal Thrillers #1)(84)

She had turned the damn thing off and left it at the hotel. Good riddance, she thought, watching her boys. The only people in the world she cared about were right here with her, and the only person who would be wanting to reach her this week was Jack Willistone.

Faith bit into the chocolate Mickey Mouse ear and closed her eyes, relishing the sweet, comfortable taste. It was Wednesday afternoon. They had two more days in New York, and then it was back to reality.

“Hey, Mom,” Junior, said, pointing at a couple that were walking towards them. Junior was snickering and Faith looked at the couple, noticing that they were both men and were holding hands. Their T-shirts read “Celebrate Pride Weekend”.

“Look, Danny. Queers.”

The words hit Faith like a punch to the gut.

Both boys continued to giggle as the two men walked past the bench. Faith tried not to watch, but she couldn’t help herself. Her husband had been like these men, and she hadn’t known it. They’d been married for twenty-five years.

“Can you believe those rope suckers?” Junior said, walking over to Faith, his brother right behind him.

Again, Faith’s stomach tightened as if she’d been punched. Rope sucker ... She’d only heard that term used once before in her life: “Unless you want your boys to know their daddy was a rope sucker, I suggest you never, ever talk with the lawyers you just met with again.”

“They really flaunt it here,” Junior continued. “Like being a rope sucker was just as natural as–”

“Don’t you ever call them that again,” Faith said, surprising herself with the anger she felt. She was shaking. “You can call them gay or homosexual, but do not make fun of them, do you understand, young man?”

“Mom, what’s the–”

“Don’t you ‘mom’ me. You promise me you’ll never make fun of another homosexual person, male or female, again.” When Junior didn’t say anything, Faith pointed her finger at him. “Promise me, now.”

“OK, jeez, I promise. What’s got into you?”

“I’m your mother,” Faith said, still shaking. Her ice-cream was dripping down her closed fist, but she didn’t care. She was going to make this point if she had to beat it into them with a sledgehammer. “When you act like an ignorant brat, I’m going to tell you. Homosexuals are people too, and the Bulyards don’t make fun of people, do both of you understand?” She peeked around Junior to Danny, who was staring back wide-eyed.

“Yes, ma’am,” both said at the same time.

“Good,” she said, feeling lightheaded. She plopped back down on the bench, opened her fist, and gazed at the remains of her melted ice-cream, which had dripped onto her shorts.

“Mom, are you OK?” Danny asked.

Faith looked up into the boy’s innocent eyes. Behind him, Junior’s face blushed crimson with shame. Faith hadn’t yelled at either boy at all since their father’s death. Lip trembling, Faith tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. All she could think about was the text that Jack Willistone had sent her at the airport.

It’s never gonna stop, she thought. I can turn my phone off and pretend it will be over soon,, but it won’t be. Jack Willistone will never turn loose of an advantage. Buck knew that. That’s why Buck...

Faith wiped her eyes, but the tears came anyway. She had long suspected that Buck might have taken his own life. That Jack had threatened Buck with the same evidence he’d shown Faith, and Buck had decided to walk into an inferno rather than have to deal with the repercussions. She had listened to Buck’s 911 call a million times, and it just didn’t sound right to her. Buck was smart. He wouldn’t just barrel into a fire to save a building. He didn’t love Ultron that much.

But he loved his boys... She could still remember the photographs Buck kept of Junior and Danny in his car, which she now kept in her own. The boys worshipped him, and he them. He took his own life, so they wouldn’t have to be ashamed of him.

“Mom, why are you crying?” Danny asked, sitting beside her. Junior continued to stand, but moved closer and put his hand on her shoulder.

If Buck died to protect their memory of him, don’t I owe it to him and them to keep his secret? she thought. She pictured Jack Willistone’s arrogant face. That’s what he’s counting on.

“Mom, I’ll never make fun of another gay person as long as I live,” Junior said. His eyes were blue like his father, but his voice carried more command.

He is so strong, Faith thought. He’s basically raised his brother for me these last seven months, while I...

“Danny never will either, right, Danny?”

“Right,” Danny said.

Faith looked at both her boys. Her strong boys, whom she was trying to protect. And then she thought of Jack Willistone, holding Buck’s sexuality over her head for the rest of her life. He thinks he can control me. He thinks he has me checkmated.

“What’s wrong, momma?” Danny asked. Faith looked at him. Danny had her own brown eyes, and he was a good-natured, happy-go-lucky boy. He was also very concerned about always looking “cool”. He hadn’t called her “momma” in five years.

Hearing the words seemed to break Faith out of her spell. She stood up from the bench and felt the sun burn into her back. For seven months, she had been numb, feeling nothing. Now, she felt everything. She was hung over, sunburned and sticky from ice cream and sweat. She felt uncomfortable to the point of misery and yet...