The Au Pair
Copyright© 2009 by RH Music
Chapter 14
But Ken wasn't out of the woods yet. There was one more person he had to tell.
"Tim, we have to talk."
"Okay ... out here?" Tim led Kathy out to the back patio and closed the door behind them. Muffled sounds of the party came through the glass. Most of the guests were around the TV watching a video of the recital.
Ken grabbed both of Tim's hands and took a deep breath.
"Okay, here goes..." he said.
"Wait!" Tim trotted over to the bushes, fiddled with something, and suddenly strings of Christmas lights blinked on, adding white twinkles to the warm spring evening.
"Oh!" Ken said in wonder. "They're beautiful!"
"Now, what was it you wanted to tell me?" Tim reached out and held both of Ken's hands in his.
"I..." thrown off stride, Ken took a second to gather his thoughts. "It's just that ... I mean..." Tim's hands felt wonderfully soft and warm, Ken realized.
"That you were born a man?" Tim asked, gently.
"WHAT??" Ken's eyes shot wide open. "How did you know?"
Tim shrugged his shoulders. "Sarah told me," he said simply, "a few days ago. I think she's known since you first danced for her."
"Really??"
"Yeah. And so, when I was helping out with the scenery, remember? She pulled me aside and told me. I think she could tell I was getting ... uh... 'attached' and wanted to warn me before my heart got broken, or yours. She said you had enough to deal with already."
"I feel just terrible!"
"Why?"
"Because! I should have had the guts to tell you when we first met. I almost did, so many times! But..."
"But what?"
" ... I was too afraid. I..." Ken hesitated, "I love you," he finally said, simply, staring down at the ground, suddenly so afraid that he started shivering.