Reunions are Irresistible

He took a sip of his citrus soda before asking, "Since I'm the last one in the family who found out about this, I'd like to know how the two of you met, anyway."

Jeremy replied, "I'd like to say that it just happened and we went along with it, but it's much more complicated than that. We were friends the first time, and it just went on to become something more."

"I keep hearing that you married the wrong woman, and that's why you chose an alternate lifestyle."

"I'm still not convinced. This bond between Lonnie and I...it's something really special. I can't really explain it."

Francis raised his hand. "Maybe I can. Let's just say that you met someone who really cares about you, and loves you a whole lot. You love him back and the two of you are now together. Let's just leave it at that for now."

Jeremy brushed back his brown hair. "That's good enough."

Keith had just walked past them but had to stop for a moment to reflect on a slightly puzzling situation. "So let me see if I got this right, Jeremy. You marry this woman and she takes away half of your crap, takes away your son, and moves to the East Coast with who I'm presuming is a complete asshole. Cut to present day, and now you're having some fun with someone who's not only of the same sex, but is also still in college."

Jeremy nodded. "That's the most basic scenario, yes."

Keith let out a big sigh. "You are a lucky son of a bitch. I'd kill for a nineteen-year-old woman to satisfy my needs."

The man with the cigar bit through a huge chunk of roast beef as he tried to find another spot in the backyard to sit on.

Lonnie asked Kevin, "You're okay with this, aren't you?"

"Of course, I am. I was just caught off-guard for a few minutes. I mean, I thought Jeremy still had his thoughts on...you know...women. No offense, Jeremy."

Francis remarked, "It's his choice. Let him do what he wants. If it makes him happy, then it works."

Jeremy smiled. "Everyone should remember that."

"Besides, it's the 21st Century. Everyone should love whoever the hell they want."

That statement almost lit a spark in Kevin's psyche. "You really think so?"

"It's the honest truth. There's nothing wrong with loving the person who loves you just as much as you love him."

Francis's little grin, which emerged as quite a magnetic manifestation, almost gave Kevin the shivers. He always had an admiration for his uncle's positive attitude. His friends expressed the same philosophy, but not in a much smaller amount. Francis made him feel worthy of unremitting survival in the real world. Just another reason why Kevin sometimes imagined himself sleeping in the same bed as his uncle's.

Half an hour later, everyone finished their dinners and moved on to some more casual conversations. Carolyn still had a few more words for Donald, resulting in everyone else hightailing out of the living room to evade potential knockouts. Aunt Lorraine thought she spotted Seth behind the bushes somewhere, but it turned out to be a frightened chipmunk that ran off in top speed.

As for Keith, he began shuffling a deck of cards at the kitchen table. Kevin, Francis, and Lonnie joined him for a game of Texas Hold 'Em. Keith lit another cigar, which was the third one for tonight.

Francis remarked, "Maybe it's best you read the surgeon general's warning next time."

Keith narrowed his eyes at him. "Last time I checked, this is still a free country."

Lonnie waved away the incoming smoke. "He has a point. If he wants to give himself emphysema, let him do it."

"You still have a lot to learn about the bright side of life, buddy."

Francis raised a finger. "You better watch it, Keith. He's Jeremy's boyfriend now. There's no more room for heartbreak in this family."

Keith handed five cards to each of his opponents. "Lighten up, Francis. It's not like I'm waging a war. Now, just let me do what I want and everyone will be happy."

He coughed again, and this time, he spat out some unwanted phlegm on the grass.

Francis chuckled. "You have the freedom to use the grass for support."

"Thanks."

Kevin lost the first two rounds of Texas Hold 'Em, but he didn't care. With a little grin on his face, he enjoyed watching Uncle Francis earning a little more wealth thanks to his poker face.

Keith sighed. "That's the problem with big rich guys like you. You take our money and you spend it like it's something from off of your bucket list."

Francis flipped through the dollar bills with his fingers. "Don't judge me for doing something that I haven't even done yet. Besides, I'll donate all of this to charity if I'm careful with it."

"Yeah, you'll send it to the Rich Fucks Foundation."

Kevin laughed. "Stop it, will ya, Uncle Keith? Francis is a good guy."

"Try saying that when he's wearing one of his fancy suits while he's going to the opera."

"Maybe I will someday."

It was Francis's turn to reshuffle the cards and hand them to his opponents. Kevin noticed an interesting hand right in front of him: three Kings and two Aces. He tried to act as patiently as possible as he asked for one more card before setting the Ace of Diamonds down on the table.

Francis handed him another card and said, "You always like to back me up when criticism, whether constructive or not, is on the loose to tear apart my reputation. Am I like a second father to you?"

Kevin's new hand consisted of all four Kings and the remaining Ace. He didn't want to spoil his opportunity by losing his blank stare. "I wouldn't say that. I'd say you're like a close friend...a VERY close friend."

Francis asked, "Care to elaborate?"

"Well, we care about each other, and we would do anything to help each other. I love ya, Uncle Francis. I really do."

Keith snuffed out his cigar with the ash tray. "Don't talk about feelings when we're playing cards. Remember that, Kevin."

Francis interrupted, "I thought you said this is a free country. Let him talk about how he loves his family as much as he wants to."

Kevin kept his eyes on his cards. "I really do."

"Tell me more."

The young man finally looked up to see Francis's enlightening little smile, which calmed his senses more rapidly than usual. "Whenever I'm feeling a little down, you're always there to cheer me up. I'd do the same thing for you, but you always refuse."

"Unfortunately, that's not how I deal with problems. I can take care of myself fine."

"I'd still do anything to help you out."

"And that's why you're a good person. You do care about your family members."

Lonnie pushed his cards aside. "I fold."

Keith did the same. "I think I'm losing my ability to win a few rounds. I blame it on you."

Francis ignored his older brother's finger-pointing. "You're responsible for your own actions. Deal with it."

Kevin looked down at his cards once again. He tried to ignore the drop of sweat that popped out of his forehead. Francis bet all of his chips for this round. Kevin kept his mouth shut as he began to lick his teeth.

Francis asked, "How long have you felt this way?"

That almost caught Kevin off-guard. "What do you mean?"

"When did you start caring about me?"

"Ever since childhood."

"But you're not as considerate for everyone else. What makes me so special?"

Kevin couldn't figure out where this was heading. "I guess...I'd like to be there for you because you're my favorite uncle. You know...the one who's helped me with dealing with the real world as much as Dad did."

Francis no longer set his eyes on his cards and told his nephew, "It feels good to hear that."

They looked at each other with delicate fondness before revealing their cards. Kevin showed his four-of-a-kind, which beat out Francis's straight hand.

Keith raised his hands in amusement. "Looks like your luck has finally run out."

Francis handed Kevin every dollar bill he had previously counted. "You win fair and square. Buy yourself an online subscription or something."

"I think I'll donate it, just like you said."

Keith laughed. "You can always tell when someone's telling a lie."

Several minutes passed, and family members showed some progress as time went by. Aunt Lorraine bumped into Kevin and asked if he had seen where Seth had run off to. Seeing as how Seth now hid himself in the powder room, Kevin couldn't keep the absolute truth concealed any longer. He whispered to Aunt Lorraine that he would pay her back once she would find him in the correct location.

Lorraine clapped her hands together. "It's about damn time!"

Once she walked off in silence, the young man had to see what happened to his brother-in-law. He found Donald in the living room, trying to have a chat with the Welsh-speaking grandparents.

And he did the exact same thing that Kevin did. When the grandmother asked him a question, he simply said, "Ydw."

And again, the grandparents gasped in complete and utter shock.

Donald's had the eyes of a frightened rodent as he tried to correct himself.

Kevin could only shake his head in amusement. Once he entered the kitchen, he spotted both Carolyn and his uncle Keith sitting at the table with nothing but frowns on their faces. Carolyn kept blabbering on about not finding the right man, all the while devouring her second chocolate bar. Keith, on the other hand, kept ranting on how not a single woman he has ever met found him attractive. The cigar smoke that caused his unforeseen coughing at the moment didn't give him a hint at all.

Kevin remarked, "People can be so obtuse these days."

Carolyn already finished her chocolate bar. "You said it."

Next, the young man tried to find his uncle Jeremy. None of the others could find him, either. After wandering around the house for a full minute, Kevin discovered the hallway that led to the garage. The front door had been sealed shut. He tiptoed towards it and pressed his ear against the door. He recognized the two muffled voices on the other side. Jeremy and Lonnie gave each other brief banters before making light smacking noises, most likely kisses on the lips. It sounded like Lonnie was the one who did the zealous moaning. Kevin kept quiet when walking away and giving them their well-intended privacy. He had heard from other family members how Jeremy and Lonnie loved each other. He let out a deep sigh. He wished he had the same feeling for his uncle.

He met everyone else in the living room. In a frantic manner, Seth had just finished writing an I.O.U. for a disenchanted Aunt Lorraine. The other members (including Carolyn, Keith, Brad, and Donald) had a wonderful time chatting in the living room. Every single word ranged from soft mumbles to joyous cries. Keith and Kevin's father continually told bad jokes to each other, while the kids stayed in the corner concentrating on what happened on their smartphones. Kevin couldn't help but feel content. Despite a few eccentricities, and several obstacles that he had to face with these people, he had no problems with every one of them for being themselves. At the age of twenty-one, those who stayed with him the most would be the ones he admired the most.

Amidst the discussions continuing in the living room, Kevin asked his father where Francis had gone.

To which his father replied, "He's upstairs. The last time I checked, he was in his study room."

"So he's alone?"

"Don't feel so suspicious. It's not like he's stealing something from his own home."

"I'm not."

Kevin hurried on upstairs to find his uncle in the study room. The room itself looked quite spacious, complete with bookshelves and picture frames hung on the wall featuring awards and certificates in music. Francis sat at his desk, staring at an upright picture frame on the surface.

The young man asked, "Who's in the picture?"

Francis sighed. "It's just a picture of you, me, and your parents at Lake Tahoe from two years ago."

"We had a fun time up there."

"Well, at least you did. I had an uneasy feeling that the women I talked to in that ski lodge never had an interest in me."

"I'm sure they were. Good guys like you are growing rare in this country. But I guess not a lot of people realize that."

"Still, it would have been nice to have someone to talk to in those long late evenings. It's been a long time since I've had a relationship."

Kevin drew closer towards him. "How long has it been?"

"I don't know. I can't remember. But what does it matter? I love my career, and I love where it's taken me. I don't have time for relationships anymore. It would be nice, though, to have someone in this house other than regular visitors."

"It can still happen."

"I doubt it."

"I'm serious, Francis. I mean, if I was a woman, I'd be happy to be your wife."

"Say that again."

"I said that I'd be happy to be your wife if I was a woman."

"What would you do to entice me?"

After a few seconds of slight hesitation, Kevin replied, "I'd give you what every man would want in a partner. We'd help each other, support each other, and sometimes challenge each other. But I'd do something a bit more old-fashioned than what's regarded as a normal tendency these days. I'd fix you a hot and delicious dinner when you come home after a hard day's work. I'd give you your slippers and fix you a bath."

Francis straightened up in his chair. "That sure sounds enticing."

Kevin tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. He eyed the picture frame, which did indeed show a picture of the two of them at Lake Tahoe. "Furthermore, I'd make you feel a lot better by...never mind."

"Oh, please continue. I like the sound of this."

Kevin's smile grew larger. "This may sound a little peculiar, but I'd make you feel better by taking you to your bedroom and give you an evening that you would always remember."

Francis stood up fro his chair and drew a little closer. "How long have you felt this way?"

Kevin wanted to take a few steps back, but at the sight of his curious relative, he decided to stay still. "I don't think I should say it."

"Oh, please do. I need a little bit of assurance right about now."

Kevin didn't hesitate at all. He just expressed his well-kept sincerity as he stated, "I've felt this way for a few years."

"And you didn't have the courage to tell me sooner?"

"Why would I? I was afraid of destroying our loyalty to each other."

"It's not loyalty unless you tell the absolute truth. At least that's the way I see it."

"Well, I'm sorry about my strange feelings."

Francis chuckled. "Don't apologize. This sort of thing would have cropped up in your head sooner or later."

"You're not uncomfortable with this?"

"I never said I'd see you in a more negative light."

At that moment, the first notes of a string instrument could be heard from downstairs. Kevin and Francis recognized the motive of a lifelong musician. Kevin's grandfather had just decided to bring out his fiddle and play a traditional Welsh folk song to everyone who had gathered in the living room. Those who settled in the kitchen and elsewhere were kids who had no intention of moving their eyes away from their smartphones. The tune the grandfather had chosen sounded dramatic with its slow speed and almost otherworldly melodies.

Back in the study room, Francis whispered to his favorite nephew, "Do you know which one this is?"

Kevin shook his head. "I don't have a clue, but whatever it is, it's superb."

"It's a classic folk song."

Kevin's ears had already been delighted by such delicate music. Once more, a strange sensation grew from within his entire body. The gentle sound of the fiddle provided primary encouragement for nonstop movement.

"Shall we dance?"

Francis took his hand, a gleam in his eye resurrected from provisional slumber. "As long as you have the right moves."

"Oh, I think I do."

"Show me."

While the folk song continued on, Kevin and Francis moved away from the desk and experienced a meditative state with a traditional Welsh dance. The original sequence of steps involved a man and a woman, but in this case, uncle and nephew took part in a more radical contribution. Both men held each other's hands and relied on their feet for correct correlation. Kevin didn't feel awkward at all that such a romantic dance had been taken over by a modern revision. As a matter of fact, he accepted the change, mostly because of how his uncle took part in it as well. The two went on with their unhurried and meditative dance in the study room, their modern attire appearing quite incongruous with what was required for such an old composition.

Downstairs, Jeremy and Lonnie had returned from the garage (fully clothed) to hear the grandfather's fiddle produce the sound of nocturnal bliss. The family members took a liking to the old man's long-lasting musical skills, save for a certain cousin.

Brad almost yawned. "This is boring. We need some drums!"

With rapid speed, he took off his shoes and banged them on the coffee table, which almost caught the grandfather off-guard. Brad kept a steady rhythm to keep the fiddle on-track. Both instruments quickened pace in a matter of seconds.

Brad shouted, "This is more like it!"

Keith appeared impressed. "Three can play this game."

He opened up his duffel bag and brought out his Welsh bagpipes. "Let's do this!"

The three men performed a faster and more upbeat composition in unison. People started to tap their feet and pat their thighs to the tune of an adrenaline-pumping folk song.

Aunt Lorraine yelled, "Let's dance, everybody!"

Donald asked, "But what about Francis? Is he going to agree with this?"

Brad didn't stop with his pounding rhythms to make a statement. "Who the hell cares? He'll pay for the damages. He's a rich guy for God's sake! Come on, let's have fun!"

Aunt Lorraine clapped her hands. "Ladies and gentlemen, show your stuff!"

The people in the living room set the recliner and coffee table aside to assemble as a group of vivacious dancers. Husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, even cousins of all kinds joined together and followed the beat of the energetic melody provided by the three musicians.

The two dancers upstairs changed their routine with no complaints. This time, Kevin and Francis hurried their steps to catch up with the frantic beats. At one point, Francis watched his nephew swirl around for several seconds. The older man drew him closer towards him to achieve a circular spin together. Absolute vivaciousness surpassed dizziness as Kevin wanted a firm grip on an increasingly powerful relationship. When the musicians sped up, so did the dancers. Kevin and Francis's rhythmic movements grew faster and more rugged. Kevin enjoyed these moments of pure dynamism. It seemed to feel like the equivalent of a steamier encounter that he longed for.

When the song stopped all of a sudden, everyone in the living room cheered at both the musicians and themselves. Brad and Keith took a bow. Grandmother gave her husband a big hug. And up above, Kevin and Francis congratulated each other on memorizing such frenetic performances. Francis brought his nephew closer to him.

Kevin whispered, "I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did."

Francis almost touched his nephew's nose with his own. "I call it heaven."

The two embraced, with Kevin giving Francis a slight peck on the cheek. He didn't mean to do it, but he just couldn't resist after a few years of bottling up his true imagination.

Once the festivities ended in the living room, it was time for everyone to leave. Just thirty minutes before midnight, the family members took their coats or jackets and left the house in sporadic numbers. The grandparents departed first and said goodbyes in their native language. Keith struck a match and lit his fifth cigar for the night before leaving the front porch, taking his duffel bag with him. Donald quickened his pace to steer clear of any more mishaps with Carolyn.