Page 19 of At His Wife’s Behest

“Sorry I couldn’t be the carbon copy you wanted but thank heavens I’m not. Goodbye, Dad.”

He escaped his parents’ home, hearing his father screaming his name behind him. Outside, he slid behind the wheel of his SUV and took a deep, shuddering breath. His hands shook on the steering wheel, but he couldn’t sit long. He needed distance between him and his father.

Nearly home, he got a call informing him that he was no longer employed. Smiling to himself, he knew he had no right to be happy. His entire world was on the edge of destruction.

What comes after destruction?

Rebirth.

Before he even realized it, he was sitting in the parking lot of Allton Academy.

He hadn’t considered how the news might impact Connor when he’d blasted his father.

After checking into the office, he made his way to Abigail’s class.

He peeked in, catching Connor’s gaze. Connor glared a moment before walking out into the hall.

“What is it, Mr. Rhodes? I have a class to teach.”

“I wanted you to hear this from me,” Kellan said, pulling one of the images he’d snatched from his father’s desk from his pocket. “My father was sent these with a demand for twenty million.”

Connor snatched the page, eyes wide. He lifted his gaze. “Is he paying it?”

“I don’t know. Dad demanded Emma or I come up with it, and I refused.”

Connor was silent.

“I told him I’m coming out. If the pictures end up in the media, so be it.” Kellan stiffened. “But then I realized after I left… they might hurt you. What can we do to make sure that doesn’t happen?”

Connor leaned up against the wall outside the door, staring at the photo in his hand.

A few seconds of silence passed before he looked up again.

“The principal’s aware I’m gay. Not all my kids’ parents do.

I don’t know how they’ll react, especially being caught with another parent.

” He sighed. “Plus, I lied and said my mother was sick last week so I could go to Italy. I’m not sure if it’s a fireable offense, but if parents push back, who knows if the board might not use it to let me go. ”

“I’m sorry. I never wanted this to happen.”

“There’s other jobs,” Connor said. “And who knows… I might just do more work with the agency for a while. The pay is better.”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t.”

Connor glared. “Oh? Why’s that?”

“I was hoping that we might be able to see one another. Maybe not now… maybe after the dust settles?”

“You’re forced out of the closet, so now you can have a relationship with me? I wasn’t worth it before that, though.”

“No,” Kellan said, gripping Connor’s elbow. “I wanted to as?—”

Connor wrenched away. “Save it. I have class.”

Before he could say another word, Connor was gone.

I wanted to ask you to be with me yesterday, but I lost the nerve. Kellan closed his eyes. If only he hadn’t waited. He exited the school and slipped behind the wheel, yearning to race back inside and drag Connor into his arms and kiss him in front of god and country.

He wouldn’t do that.

I’ll let him calm down. Try again later.

Hopefully, he’ll be willing to listen.

“Test time!” Connor announced as he slipped back into his room, shoving the folded page with the images into his pocket. Spelling wasn’t over, but he needed a little quiet after his conversation with Kellan. The Math test would give him a few beats to get his shit straight.

“Ahhh…” came the collective grousing.

“Put everything away except a pencil,” he instructed, pulling out the test sheets. He passed them out and returned to his desk.

Withdrawing the printed photos from his pocket, he stared at Kellan and him in an embrace, smiling at one another. Another of them kissing on the ferry. His own lips curled up at the memory. He’d wanted nothing more than to spend time with Kellan when they returned, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Connor wouldn’t be an afterthought.

He was saddened that Kellan was being forced out of the closet—especially considering it would be splashed all over the internet and media. He’d be splashed all over the internet and media, too. Memes would come. They’d be the butt of many a joke.

And he could lose his job.

Another with the agency might not come either, the more he thought about it. Who’d want to be seen in public with someone infamous? He’d have to go into hiding for who knew how long.

Fuck! He was royally screwed.

“Is that my daddy?”

Connor lowered the paper. He hadn’t realized anyone had approached his desk. He turned to find a very confused Abigail Rhodes standing beside him.

“No,” he fibbed. “Another man.”

“It looks like Daddy.”

“He just looks a little like your dad.”

“Oh.” She cocked her head to one side. “You kiss boys?”

Connor wasn’t sure what to say to that other than the truth. It would come out anyway, from the sound of things. “I do.”

“My pawpaw and grandpa say that’s wrong, but Mama says it’s okay. She says when grownups love one another, it’s not wrong.”

“Your mama is one smart lady.”

“Yep,” Abigail answered. She handed her test over. “My daddy’s pretty smart, too.”

Connor took her quiz. “Well, I wouldn’t expect less considering how smart their kiddo is.”

“Very smart.” Abigail glanced at the back of the sheet with a look that told him she knew who was in that photo. She walked back to her seat and took out a book to read while her classmates finished their test.

After school, Connor stopped into Mr. Harding’s office to own up to his lie. Best get ahead of it.

“Your mother wasn’t sick?”

“No, sir.” Connor sighed. “I had an opportunity to go for a last minute, all-expenses paid trip to Italy, and I took it.”

The principal frowned. “I will have to document this in your file.” He leaned across the desk. “In your shoes, I likely would’ve done the same. Just don’t do it again, okay?”

Connor nodded. “There’s more.”

Mr. Harding glanced up, frowning.

“The reason I’m telling you is… some photos with the man I went on the trip with… well, he’s the son of a US Senator and those photos are likely going to the press.”

His boss was quiet a moment. “Might it be Kellan Rhodes?”

Connor didn’t answer.

“A parent of one of your students.”

“He is.”

“You’re aware that’s against our code of conduct?”

Connor froze. “I did not.”

“You signed it when you were hired. You didn’t read it?”

“To be honest, no. I don’t know if it changes anything, but we were set up. I didn’t know it was him when I went to Italy. He didn’t know I would be there. And, once there… we shared a villa… and things happened.”

“You didn’t know who you were going to another country with?”

Connor didn’t want to bring up the agency. Hopefully that part wouldn’t end up in the media. “No.”

The principal sat back in his chair. “We’re going to have to wait and see how this plays out in the press. Once the board and parents see the news, my hands might be tied. You understand that, right?”

“I do.” He hedged. “Until then? Do I keep my job?”

“You’re a good teacher. Late, but good. Your test scores are wonderful.

Your students love you. Their parents do, too.

I’ve yet to have a complaint besides minor whining over inconsequential matters.

While I’m not pleased to hear there’s a scandal on the horizon or your involvement with a parent, I don’t see any reason to remove you from your position. For now.”

“Thank you,” Connor murmured. “I’d miss my kids.”

“The school year’s almost over. Maybe this doesn’t come out until the summer, and it can blow over before September, if we’re lucky.”

“I don’t have that kind of luck,” Connor said.

“Me, either,” his boss replied.

Connor rose to leave.

“This thing with Rhodes. Is it more than a fling?”

I want it to be. “I doubt it.”

“I’d say you best decide for sure before the shit hits the fan.”

“Yeah,” Connor said, nodding. “It’s likely not going any farther.”

Even though I wish it would…

“What’s the emergency?” Emma asked, blowing into the living room.

“Come with me,” Kellan said, leading her to the study and closing the door. He pulled a photo from his pocket and handed it over, spilling the beans.

“Oh shit, babe,” Emma said. “This is all my fault. I assumed you’d be free that far away.”

“Opposition research. I was being followed. No matter how far I went, I wouldn’t have been free.”

“I’m sorry, Kel. I never wanted this to happen. I wasn’t trying to force you out, I swear.” Tears swam in her eyes. “I just wanted you happy. I fucked that up.”

“No. You didn’t fuck up anything.”

“Why don’t we just pay the money? I’ll do it if it protects you and Mr. Q. Then you come out when you want… or you don’t.”

Kellan shook his head. “No.”

“I made the mess. Let me clean it up.”

“I’m coming out,” Kellan said.

Emma stared silently a moment. “Are you sure? You don’t have to do that.”

“You were right all along. I can’t live like this, especially after being with Connor and knowing how it feels to be real for once.

” He smiled, trailing his fingers over the images.

“To walk hand-in-hand with a man and not worry who was watching or what might happen.” He smiled, lifting his gaze.

“While this isn’t the way I wanted to come out, so be it.

Let’s rip off the bandage and be done with the lies. ”

Emma smiled, tears sliding down her face. “Okay.”

“And we need to step up the divorce announcement.”

Emma chuckled. “Yes, sir.”

“A joint announcement, where we tell the world why we married in the first place. I don’t want folks thinking I cheated on you and you’re left the scorned woman.”

“Oh, but I could rock that part. Play it up in the press.” Emma placed the back on her hand on her forehead. “Oh my, he’s destroyed my whole world. Whatever will I do?”

“Oh, and—I’ve also lost my job. So don’t forget to call me a deadbeat dad, too.”

“No child support? How will we survive?” she asked before falling back on the couch.

“Check the couch cushions while you’re over there? There might be some loose change.”