Time and Tide by E.M. Lindsey

Author:E.M. Lindsey [Lindsey, E.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-07-21T05:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

Will refused to discuss the funeral for a week. It was nontraditional, but he wanted the time to mourn, and the one time he spoke to his mother after the morgue he simply told her, “If you cannot wait, have it without me.”

She had a short argument which he refused to engage, and after realizing he would not budge, she left in a flurry. He supposed she expected him to be sorry for the cruel things he’d said, and perhaps one day he would be. But for now all he could think was that he finally found the courage to stand up to her.

If only it hadn’t been too late. But no amount of wishing and mourning would bring back Etta or his child, so Will took that full week to seek comfort both in the arms of Teddy, and with himself. He spent the time reading some of Teddy’s stories aloud to the both of them, eating only a little, and resting a lot. By the weekend, his emotions started to settle and while he realized he would never stop being sad over the loss, he could feel like himself again. Forever changed, but still whole.

One evening just after dinner, he was lying on the sofa with his head in Teddy’s lap, and he looked up at his lover. “Before the funeral, I think I should give my child a name.”

Teddy smiled, his gaze pointed at the wall in front of him, and his head inclined a little. “I think your child deserves it.”

Will shifted onto his side, letting his cheek press against Teddy’s thigh, and he let out a long breath of air. “I didn’t know if the child was a boy or girl. I suppose it doesn’t matter, truly, but…”

“I heard my maman telling my sister if she carried her child all in the front, very round and low, it was a boy.” Teddy let his hand come to rest on the side of Will’s neck, tickling the soft skin there with the tips of his fingers. “Do you recall how she looked?”

Will closed his eyes and tried to envision her on the night he last saw her. His hands had been on her belly, feeling the tiny life kick at him as he pressed against her skin. His heart clenched as he remembered wondering what it would be like to finally hold the creature in his arms. To have its wide, blinking eyes fix on his face and know he was its father. “Low and in front, I think. So perhaps a boy.”

“Ah and he would have looked just like you, I’m sure.”

Will smiled as tears formed in his eyes. “Perhaps he would have.” He took in a shaking breath and gripped the side of Teddy’s leg. “What do you think of Louis?”

“Ah, it’s French like me. So of course I like it.” Teddy let out a small laugh when Will groaned, and he started petting Will’s hair once more. “I think it’s a strong name. Fitting for your son as it was also fit for a king.

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