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TK looks over from where he’s sitting on the floor, building another tower of blocks, with Charlie poised and ready to knock it down, as the door to Grace and Judd’s house opens. The crash of the tower falling is accompanied by a smiling Judd entering.
“Hey brother,” Judd greets him, holding the door open for Grace to follow through.
“Hey! How was your dinner?” TK asks as he starts gathering the blocks into a pile to put them back in their box. Charlie abandoning him in favor of toddling unsteadily over to her mom. He watches fondly as Grace sweeps the girl up into her arms dramatically and a giggle follows. Judd pauses to tickle Charlie’s stomach before joining TK in the living room.
“Dinner was wonderful, thank you TK.” Grace responds kindly, before turning her attention to her daughter, “Wave bye-bye to TK sweetie. It’s bedtime for you.”
Charlie turns towards TK moving her hand around in some approximation of a wave. “Bye-Bye Char” TK calls out. He’s finished cleaning up the blocks and is looking around to make sure he didn’t leave a mess out anywhere else when he’s stopped by Judd’s hand on his shoulder.
“Seriously TK, thanks again for babysitting Charlie for us. It means a lot to be able to take Gracie out for her birthday.”
“Of course,” TK answers easily as he stands up stretching out legs sore from sitting in one place too long.
“You’ve always been a good friend.” Judd comments, confusing TK a bit.
“Not that I mind the compliment, and you know I love Charlie and am happy to help, but anyone at the 126 would do the same.” TK responds.
Judd nods his head, glancing off in the direction Grace and Charlie went to the bedrooms. “Yeah, absolutely,” Judd pauses again, rubbing his hands together, and TK knows it means he’s thinking about what he is going to say next.
Judd blows out a long breath. “Listen TK, do you have a little bit, there’s something I would love to talk to you about.”
Worry spikes in TK’s heart, his mind racing over any recent interactions he’s had with Judd for any signs of what this could be about, but he comes up blank. Honestly, things have been pretty good lately.
TK checks the time on his phone, “Sure, I mean Carlos isn’t off for a while and I don’t have any other plans.” he answers with a shrug.
“Great.” Judd claps his hands together while standing up fully, “Can I get you anything to drink or eat.”
TK wants to laugh at the absurdity of the nervousness that Judd is currently displaying, but he just motions to his water and answers, “I’m good.”
Judd nods and then moves out to the back patio, taking a seat on one of the chairs. TK follows sinking into the chair next to him and looking up to take in the clear night sky.
“It will never get old being able to see so many stars here.” He murmurs.
“Sure is pretty.” Judd agrees.
They sit quietly side-by-side for a few long moments. Long enough for TK to feel Judd’s discomfort crackling through the space.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been as good a friend as I coulda been.” Judd’s words break the silence, but only build the weird feeling growing in the air.
TK turns in the chair so he can face Judd better and pulls one of his legs up underneath him. He doesn’t say anything though, just patiently waits for Judd to gather his thoughts and get out whatever it is he apparently needs to. TK for his part is just confused.
“Gracie and I were talking, after all the stuff we been seeing on the news. We feel like we need to be doing better.” Judd glances over at him, and while TK is still confused he thinks he might be starting to see the picture a bit more clearly. He just cocks his head to the side to tell Judd he should go on.
“We, well.” Judd clears his throat. “Well first I just think I need to apologize. For not doing more.”
TK immediately goes to shake his head, because to him this apology really isn’t necessary. Judd has been nothing but accepting of him and who he is and especially his and Carlos’ relationship right from the beginning. “No Judd, you have nothing to apologize for. I know you accept that I’m gay. You always have. You’ve never made me feel uncomfortable about it or anything.”
Judd nods, “I’m glad to hear you say that, but I feel like it’s not enough.”
That stops TK in his tracks because he’s always just been grateful to be surrounded by people that accept him for who he is and sure he’d love it if people also stood up for him and the whole queer community, but it’s not necessarily anything he expects.
“Grace and I, we’d like to know how best to do somethin’, be active. Grace has done some reading, but I also thought you might have some wisdom. If you wanna share of course. You don’t have to, we can keep doing the work.”
“No, of course, I’d love to give you some ideas. Carlos and I have talked about getting more active, maybe volunteering with some LGBTQIA+ youth groups downtown.” TK nods getting excited about the idea again, and excited about the idea of having others support them in such a tangible way.
Now that he’s getting excited and he can see that Judd really is open to hearing what he has to say TK finds himself talking. Mentioning all the different organizations he’s looked up in Austin, all the organization throughout the US who are working to combat laws designed to target the Queer community. Judd asks if he’d be willing to send him some information and he agrees readily. At one point Grace comes out to join them, asking if TK’s okay with it and of course he is. He’s surprised when Grace asks specifically about their church and how they can make sure that they build a safe space for all people to feel welcome to celebrate their faith.
The conversation winds down at one point and TK glances at his watch to realize with surprise that they’ve been sitting out here for over an hour. Grace is sitting quietly writing out ideas in a notebook that she grabbed at one point, while Judd looks over her shoulder nodding. TK finds himself a little overcome with it all.
Judd looks up at him and then glances at his own watch, “Shit, man sorry we kept you so long, we didn’t mean to take all your time.”
TK just shakes his head, “No this was great. I should probably get going though. Carlos is going to be home soon.”
Grace looks up at him with one of her bright smiles as she reaches out her hand to grab his. “Thank you TK. We are really grateful to have you in our lives and Charlie's life.”
TK feels his eyes get a little misty at the genuine emotion in her voice and he squeezes her hand before standing up.
“I’ll walk you out.” Judd says standing up with him. As they walk slowly to the front door TK can tell there is something else on Judd’s mind and he’s proven right as he goes to open the door.
“Thank you TK. For always trusting me with your truth.” Judd’s voice is thick with emotion as he continues, “Having kids, having Charlie, it changes something in you, you know. We just want to make sure that the world she grows up in and lives in is filled with people like you. Good people. And we know we need to be a part of shaping that. I’m sorry it took us so long to see that.”
TK feels himself getting emotional also and he doesn’t really have the words so he just pulls just into a hug, holding on tight for a moment, before clapping him on the back and stepping away.
“Drive safe.” Judd calls as TK steps out of the house and TK nods and waves back.
The whole drive home TK’s thoughts are running through everything that Judd said tonight. He’s surprised to realize that here in Texas of all places is the first time he really feels like he found his place and his people to be with. Sure meeting Carlos has a lot to do with that, but also his found family with the 126 and tonight just made him even more certain that these are good people who he’s happy to build a life with also.