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Chapter Six

One Month Later

Ben stood under one of the larger trees in the park and watched Adam move around the crowd. Planning a company picnic had been Adam’s idea, and it had come to him at three in the morning a few weeks earlier. Ben hadn’t been happy about being woken up so abruptly, but he had liked the idea. And Adam had made it up to him by waking him, several hours later, in a very pleasant way.

Ben smiled and leaned against the tree as he observed Adam slowly loosening up. Most of the employees who had shown up seemed open to Adam’s efforts, though some still looked a little unsure. Ben hadn’t imagined Adam would really put so much thought into changing his image within the company, but again, Ben found he had been too quick to judge. He’d given Adam such a hard time about earning forgiveness, but maybe that was something he needed to work on doing himself.

Chloe came over to him and followed his gaze to Adam. “I knew you had a thing for him.” She held up the paper plate in her hand. “Chip?”

“Thanks,” Ben said, snagging a couple.

“How did you find out he was gay? I had no idea. And everyone I’ve asked said the same thing. I thought he was just like his uncle. Married to work and just no time. Or interest.”

“Saw him in Club Status. Big coincidence we both happened to be there. He said he rarely goes out. I recognized him first, though.” He gazed over at Adam then, overwhelmed by how glad he was the other man hadn’t given up, hadn’t allowed Ben to dismiss him and his apology. Watching Adam reconcile with his mother over the past weeks, painful as it was some days, proved to Ben that forgiveness was something worth working on in his own life.

“Oh, I love that place. I used to go there with my friends. It was easier to dance and cut loose because most of the guys were gay and wouldn’t get handsy and start dry humping you.”

“Thanks for that image,” Ben said, laughing as two children dashed by them.

“Hey, it’s the truth.” She laughed, too.

“Oh, I know.”

“You guys getting serious? He seems pretty intense.” She paused. “Hmmm. Or maybe I mean focused. He tries not to at work, I can tell, but he is always looking at you if you guys are in the same room. Very honed in.”

“All those words work. He’s an all-in person. No nonsense, straightforward.” Ben smiled as Adam came their way. “Which is a breath of fresh air. He’s wonderful.”

“He certainly is wonderful,” Chloe said loudly, smiling as Adam joined them. “Great boss and good party planner.” She gestured to the food tents. “I can’t believe you got all of this together in just a few weeks.”

“Eric knows all the right people to call, and I let him make his own budget. All the credit goes to him,” Adam said.

Chloe nodded slowly, grinning at them. “I think I’ll go let him know what a great job he did.” She gave a little wave as she walked off.

“Talking about me with other employees? We’ll have to have a private meeting about that,” Adam said.

“Will you write it up in my personnel file?”

“Oh no. It’ll be confidential.”

Ben smiled and leaned closer, kissing Adam on the cheek. “You’re doing a great job.”

“Am I?”

“Yeah. Everyone’s having fun. The food’s great. And the park is perfect for the kids.”

Adam smiled as he looked around. “I think a lot of people are a little surprised. Probably all speculating about how you’re changing me.”

“You’re changing you. I just had some ideas.”

Adam turned to the left and eyed the buildings across from the park. “What do you think of brownstones?”

“They’re fine, I guess. You mean the ones over there specifically, or in general?”

“Those. Particularly the one on the end.”

“It’s nice,” Ben said, suspicion filling him.

Adam turned to him. “I have an appointment to look at it tomorrow afternoon. I’m going to give my house to the community theater. The space they have downtown is much too cramped. Limits them sometimes. They’ll use it as lodging when needed and as a rehearsal and audition space. And they may even start dinner theater and murder mystery parties.”