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When Spencer pulled up in front of the house after picking up his family from the Albany airport, Ian and Norman were standing on the porch waiting like a goddamn Rockwell painting. His family had spent most of the hour-long drive in a tense sort of silence, but when Spencer made introductions and got their luggage out of the trunk to hand to Ian, they all visibly softened. Ian was at his best putting people at ease.

Spencer took his car around back to the carport and came up the basement stairs to find Ian in the kitchen making sandwiches for lunch. He’d taken the week off to be with Spencer, which seemed excessive, but Spencer was also grateful. Ian had transferred to Berkshire Medical Center after about six months of living in the house, tired of hour-long commutes at the strangest times of day, so putting in for that much PTO had been a sacrifice he’d made without listening to any of Spencer’s protests. Spencer kissed Ian’s cheek and went into the dining room to find his parents sitting at the table and Jenny lying on the floor with Norman.