Page 36 of The Burnt (The Declan Hunt Mysteries #3)

Charlie sat in Declan’s office. “So, I guess now that my missing persons case is solved, we need to find some more work.”

Declan nodded. He had a far-off look in his eyes.

“You’ve been quiet all weekend. What are you thinking about?” Charlie asked.

Declan shifted in his chair. “I’ve been trying to decide if I’d rather not know the truth about the past. Finding out that Freddy was still alive, that was… I’ve lived the last ten years based on a lie. Imagine, Freddy pretending to be someone else all that time.”

“I know a bit about that,” Charlie replied. “For the last ten years I haven’t exactly been honest about who I am, at least not with my parents.”

Declan was silent for a moment. “I don’t want to scare you, but if you’ve hidden things in the past, there’s always a price to pay when the truth comes out.

When my dad found out I was gay, a lot of things shifted, and not for the better.

And Freddy…he paid a much bigger price. I can’t even begin to imagine the effect it’ll have on him for the rest of his life. ”

Charlie got up and moved over to Declan.

“What Archie did was horrible, but in the end, his final thoughts were about Freddy. He used his last bit of strength to send a message to you so you could help him. I know that doesn’t erase what Archie had done, but there’s no way to go back and change the past. Maybe the best we can hope for is that by revealing the truth we open up the possibility for a better future. ”

“You’re a wise man, Charlie Watts,” Declan said, ruffling Charlie’s hair.

“What do you think’s going to happen to Freddy now?”

“I placed a called to Katherine O’Grady,” Declan said.

“Last time I saw her, she told me she was the executor of Archie’s will.

It seems to me that as his closest relative, Freddy may be entitled to the house, and if that’s the case, he can sell it and use the money to start fresh.

I doubt he’d want to live there. It must have a lot of bad memories. ”

There was a knock at the door and Mrs B walked into the office.

“I hope I’m not interrupting. I just got a call from a woman named Jasmine Robertson.

She wanted to pay the bill for Simon Griffin.

I told her she could e-transfer the money.

Funny thing, though, she said she was going to add a bonus of ten thousand dollars.

I’m not sure whose money it is, but she said given the nature of the incident on Friday, she felt you were owed a little recompense for the danger her boss put you in.

Exactly what did you get up to on Friday? ”

“It’s a long story, Mrs B,” Charlie replied.

Declan grinned at Charlie. “Well, I suppose maybe now we can afford to build that office wall I promised you.”

Charlie’s phone rang. “Excuse me for just a minute. I have to take this.”

He answered the call. A voice on the other end said, “Charlie, I need to see you. The birds have left the nest and won’t be home until later this evening.”

It was Gran. She was letting him know that his parents had gone out and it was safe to visit her.

“I’ll be right over,” Charlie said. He looked at Declan, “I mean…we’ll be right over. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

* * * *

Declan and Charlie pulled up to the house. It had been over six months since Charlie had moved out, but he swore that the pine tree on the front yard looked taller.

Charlie led Declan to the side entrance. “Mom hates a snowy mess on the front hall carpet,” he explained. He opened the door and called out, “Hey, Gran, it’s me!”

His grandmother appeared at the top of the stairs. She seemed much older than when he’d last seen her in the hospital. The cast on her wrist didn’t help. Charlie bounded up the steps and gave her a gentle hug. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

She grinned. “It’d take more than a fall to do me in, Charlie-boy. Now, are you just going to leave that handsome man down on the landing, or are you going to introduce us?”

“Gran,” Charlie started, then beckoned Declan to come upstairs. “Gran, this is Declan. He’s…” Charlie stumbled on the words. “He’s my boyfriend.” He just managed to squeak out the last word.

“Come on up here and give me a hug.”

Declan walked up the stairs and gently hugged her. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Come to the kitchen,” she said. “You can make me a cup of tea.”

Charlie looked at Declan and beamed. This was the first time he’d ever introduced a member of his family to a boyfriend. Not really surprising given that Declan was the only person he’d ever called ‘boyfriend’. He’d taken the first step, and it felt right.

Time flew as Gran peppered Declan with questions about his work and how it compared to the detective shows on TV. They had been talking for about an hour when Charlie heard car doors slamming. He glanced out of the kitchen window.

“No. It can’t be. They’re home early. We have to go. Now!”

“Charlie,” Gran said, “you don’t have to run.”

The side door opened.

“We’re home, Mom,” his dad called out. “The ring road is closed. Some idiot—”

He turned the corner, looked into the kitchen and saw Charlie and Declan. He stood at the door and stared.

“Mom, would you like a cup of tea?” Charlie’s mother called out as she tried to get past his father. “Ted, you’re in the…”

Charlie gave up hope that either he and Declan, or his parents would disappear.

“Mom. Dad. We just dropped by to see how Gran was doing.”

Declan stood, extending his hand. “Mr and Mrs Watts, so nice to finally meet you. I’m Declan Hunt.”

Ted Watts looked at Declan’s hand for a moment, then shook it. Charlie took a deep breath.

“Charlie, it’s so nice to see you!” his mother chirped out, running around the table to hug him. Charlie grabbed onto her.

“So…you’re the one my son works for?” his dad asked Declan.

“Yes. He’s changed the way the company works. His computer knowledge has dragged us into the modern age. I just don’t know what I’d do without him, and now that he’s just about ready to get his private investigator’s licence, I can see him making full partner in the near future.”

Ted folded his arms. “That sounds like a serious commitment. That’s not what he went to university for.”

“Maybe not, but Charlie’s good at his job. I’ll have you know,” Declan continued, “that in the past week, your son has solved a cold case that’s baffled the police for the past ten years, and then rescued a young man who had been in hiding for half his life. You should be very proud of him.”

Ted Watts looked back and forth from Declan to Charlie.

“Declan is exaggerating my role in those cases just a little,” Charlie said.

“Actually, I’m not. I don’t even think your son knows how important he is in the running of the company.

It’s hard to admit, but until he came into my life, I was just stumbling along.

You must know what that’s like, Mr Watts—to not feel complete until you find that one person to make up everything that’s missing in your life. ”

Charlie’s mother tilted her head and her face flushed.

“I’m not sure exactly what you’re saying,” Ted replied as he started to take short, rapid breaths.

Now was the time to say what Charlie needed to say. “Dad… Declan and I are seeing each other…like a couple. That’s because I’m gay.”

Charlie’s father said nothing. He appeared to be processing Charlie’s words.

“Did you hear that, Ted?” Gran said. “They’re dating. Isn’t it nice that Charlie has a special friend, and one who runs his own business?”

Declan interjected. “I promise you—your son is one of the most important things in my life, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”

“But what about Carrie?” Charlie’s mom asked.

Gran shook her head. “Oh, for crying out loud, Maggie. She’s always known he’s gay and they’re nothing more than good friends.”

Charlie turned back toward his father. “Dad… I love him, and he loves me and I hope that you and Mom can accept us.” Charlie reached out and took Declan’s hand.

Ted walked out of the room, then left the house, got in the car and drove away. Charlie tried to fight back his tears.

“He’ll be fine.” Gran said. “He just needs time to think about things. It’ll take him a while to come around, but I know him, and he will. He’s never been good with change.”

Charlie faced his mother. “Are you all right?”

She smiled, then pointed to Declan. “Well, at least you’ve got a good-looking boyfriend. I guess I always suspected that you were different, Charlie, and if this is who you are, and this is what you want, I’m behind you. I love you no matter what.” She paused. “And let me deal with your father.”

Charlie hugged his mother. “Well, we should be going. I promise I’ll come back soon.”

Declan and Charlie each kissed Maggie and Gran on the cheek, then made their way back to the car.

The drive home began in silence but eventually Declan said, “I really admire what you did back there. That took real courage. Watching you come out to your folks like that, that got me thinking…”

They pulled up to a stoplight. Declan looked at Charlie and asked, “Do you think you might want to take this relationship to the next level and maybe move in with me full-time? I think I’m ready to commit…one hundred percent.”

Charlie turned to Declan and kissed him full on the lips, then replied, “Yes!”