The Visit

Chapter 3

“Luke, what are you doing here?  I thought you’d be home with your family.”  Noah sat behind his desk tossing script pages around, obviously not concentrating on any one page in particular.  Luke was convinced he was avoiding eye contact.

“Reid is home policing Ethan and Andy and keeping the twins clean, fed, and as calm as possible.  Miri has just started teething and she’s not being a good sport.”

“Are you sure he can handle it?”  Noah huffed.

“We both know Reid’s much more family focused than he likes to let on.”  Luke decided not to press Noah to talk about the visit immediately, resigning himself to endure the small talk they would apparently have to go through first.

“So are Ethan and Andy becoming an item, or are they just best buddies?”

“Reid prefers to think they’re just friends, but it’s pretty evident from their behavior that they’re much more.  However, to ensure his theory, Reid is determined to never leave them alone.  I just hope Casey and Jason are as diligent about keeping watch over them.”  Luke sat in a chair opposite Noah.

“I just hope Ethan feels comfortable talking to both you and Reid.  I know what it’s like to feel isolated even with a parent in the next room.”  Noah focused on one specific sheet of paper.  Reading upside down, Luke noticed it was a print-out of the email from Mason.

“Fortunately, Ethan, Reid, and I have a very open line of communication.  Ever since Ethan started going to meetings with me, he seems to have developed an ease with confessing any of his feelings.  Reid and I don’t always like what we hear, or how Ethan phrases things, but we don’t cut him off.”  Luke chuckled.  “My little brother seems to have acquired a bit of a foul mouth, but at least he’s not drinking or drugging.”

“Sounds like you all have a great life.  You definitely made the right choice to marry Reid and have a family with him.”  Noah still hadn’t lifted his head to look at Luke.

“Noah, you made the right choices too.”

Noah snorted.  “Yeah, came back to Oakdale, giving up dreams of Hollywood stardom.”

“No.  Finding a place where your work was truly appreciated and valued.  You didn’t win those Emmy’s for shitty projects or because you’re a failure.”  Luke pointed to the two statuettes on Noah’s bookshelf.  “You married a man who loves and respects you, as much as you love and respect him, and you’re planning to start your own family with him.”

“Except we had a false start.”

“The miscarriage was very sad.  More than that -- it was heartbreaking.  I can’t imagine what it felt like; I just know it must have been terrible for both of you.”  Luke reached out and lifted Noah’s chin so they were looking directly at one another.  “Mark told Reid it was time to try again.  You will have your family, Noah.  You will be the amazing father I know you can be.”

“But now there’s this damn wrench in the works.”  Noah flung the email print-out across the desk toward Luke.

“Mason’s come to town.  Reid told me.  Mark is really worried about you.”

“He’s worried I don’t love him enough.”

“I think he’s worried about Mason trying to sabotage your life... again.”

Noah stood up and walked toward the bookshelf the Emmy’s stood on.  Rather than examining them, Luke was pleased to see him pick up his wedding portrait.  “No one could ever take Mark’s place.”

Hearing those words was a relief rather than a sting to Luke’s heart.  “I’m familiar with that feeling.”

“You were right all those years ago.”

“Glad to hear it, but what exactly are you referring to?”  Luke stood next to Noah, resting what he hoped was a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Noah chuckled.  “So many things, but mostly that while we loved each other, we weren’t right for each other.  You were also right about Mason, but I guess he was the catalyst for my blindness in more than one way back then.”

“Reid is who I’m meant to spend my life with and from what I can see looking in, you’re meant to be with Mark.  Do you have any reason to question that?  If you do, you shouldn’t be trying to have a baby.”

Turning to face Luke, Noah shook his head.  “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.  Mark is everything to me.  I just don’t understand why Mason has come here.”

“It’s not like he has anyone here who misses him.  No offense, Noah, but he made more enemies during his brief tenure as a professor at Oakdale than most, and we both know that’s saying a lot in this town.”

“If he wants me to go back to Hollywood or work on one of his projects he could’ve just sent a script or a proposal.  Hell, if he needs a decent director the pool is filled with them out there.  Why come here?”

“I have no idea.  He must realize how angry you were with him when he left you.”

Noah snorted.  “You know me, Luke.  When have I ever kept my anger to myself?  I’ll never be able to remain thoughtfully even tempered and reasonable, like you.”

“You should have heard me yesterday with Reid.  I recited more four letter words in just a few sentences than I probably have the entire time we’ve been together.  The babies were screaming and Ethan was acting like I was a tyrant because I wanted Andy to leave so I could have some peace and quiet.  The two of them kept playing their guitars and it wasn’t sounding much like music.”

“Are we getting old, Luke?”

“No, Noah, we’re getting smarter, and maybe a little more responsible with ourselves and the people around us.”

“I really admire you for taking Ethan to meetings and never once letting him wallow in his pain.  I hope I can be as good a father as you are.”

“Of course you will.  Besides, he’s my brother and the twins are my children.  The unconditional love thing takes over when all else seems to be failing.  It even works when Reid has to cover for doctors who don’t respond to pagers soon enough and he ends up in surgery missing important moments at home.”

“I want that, Luke.  I want to have a life with Mark where we sometimes get angry with each other or our kid and still know we love each other.”  Noah’s eyes were moist.  The sight shook Luke a bit, but he tried not to let on.

“You already have that with Mark.  Soon you’ll have it with your kid too.”

Noah closed his eyes, still holding his framed wedding photo.  “Mason is coming to WOAK tomorrow.  How would you like to come by for a visit with Bobby and Miri while he’s here?”

“Moral support from an old friend?”  Luke smiled.

“And seeing my two godchildren.  They really do brighten any day.”

It was refreshing to listen to Noah.  The young man who used to be unable to express his feelings became more and more comfortable and honest the longer he was with Mark.  Luke hoped Mason wouldn’t send any of them off an unexpected cliff and damage the happy lives they had developed.

[TBC]

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