Page 62 of Something Like Hail

“Not even Christmas? Oryour birthday?”

Noah set down his fork and sighed. “Theytold me I wasn’t welcome in their home. Not if I wasn’t willing toget better.”

“The gay thing,” Haroldsaid, as if it was easy to forget.

Maybe it was forgettable for him. Ifeveryone had accepted Noah for who he was, he’d have spent a lotless time thinking about his sexuality and all it had cost him. No.That wasn’t right. His sexuality hadn’t cost him a thing. Hisparents’ small-mindedness had cast him out on the street. That, andtheir religion.

“Sorry,” Harold said.“Maybe it’s a little early to talk about this.”

Noah resumed eating, but he remained tense,knowing it wasn’t over. Sure enough…

“I’m sure if you saw themagain—” Harold began.

“—that they’ll welcome meback with open arms?” Noah spat. “You have no idea what they’relike.”

“Then maybe you should showme.”

“What?”

“Things have changed inrecent years. A lot of churches accept gay people now. Maybe theirsdoes too.”

“Then why didn’t they callme to say so?”

Harold leaned back. “Do they have yournumber? You didn’t have a phone until you started working for theGAC. Or does the shelter have one?”

“Yeah,” Noah replied. “I’vecalled them from there, but they’ve never asked for my number whenI call. Not once.”

“Why would they when itshows up automatically on the screen?”

“I don’t think they havecell phones. When I lived there, they didn’t even have CallerID.”

Harold stared. Then he snorted. “Come on,man. They’ve got cell phones. Everyone does! When’s the last timeyou visited?”

“Not since Ileft.”

That sobered Harold up. “When you weresixteen?”

Noah was impressed, and a little flattered,that he remembered. “Yeah. It’s been awhile.”

“Six years!” Haroldsaid.

That gave him pause. Six years? Could thatbe right? The math was simple. He didn’t need to think long toverify it. “Maybe they do have cell phones. I don’t know.”

Harold laughed, but not cruelly. “Forget anysort of phone. You need to go home again!”

“No thanks.”

“Don’t you want to seethem?”

“Yes, but…” He hesitated,wanting to avoid the subject, but he knew that this was tooimportant. If he and Harold were going to be anything to eachother, Noah would have to be more open. “I’ll just end up gettinghurt again. I know it.”

“It’s worth a try,” Haroldsaid gently. “These are your parents. Your family! It’s normal thatyou don’t agree with them. Past the philosophical differences… man,your mom will be thrilled to see you! I promise.”

“Forget about it,” Noahsaid. “I’m fine.”

“You looked like you wereabout to cry when you saw those eggs.” Harold moved aside hisplate. “Listen, I don’t know everything about your family, but Ithink it’s worth a shot. If it helps, I’d go with you.”

“To Fort Stockton? It’s afive-hour drive!”