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Keefe always hated hospitals.
He hated the way they always had overbearing sounds. The constant beeping coming from all directions. The hum of the air conditioning. Wheels rolling across the floor. Loud squeaky footsteps. Loud talking. Crying. Screaming.
He hated the lights. Hated the way the bright fluorescent lights bounced on the white flooring and walls. Always hurting his eyes. It was all too much.
Keefe had his fair share of being in the hospital.
When his Mamaw died when he was 10. After he was involved in a car wreck when he was 11. The first time he took too many random pills at 14 and had to have his stomach pumped. An overdose at 17. The time he was assaulted at 19… countless times in his early twenties… then his final overdose at 28; the one that ultimately led him to change his life when Kelvin Gemstone offered him forgiveness to change his life around with his help.
Since then he hasn’t been in the hospital himself, only as a visitor such as when Kelvin had gotten his thumbs broken by his father. He met him there after taking the God Squad home. Then the time after they were rescued by crazy Aunt May-May after being abducted by their estranged Uncle Peter and his militia.
He was hoping that was the last time he’d be in the hospital over Kelvin.
But here he was.
What was supposed to be a beautiful day at the lake house with friends and family turned into one of the most terrifying days of everyone’s lives. Kelvin was so excited to get Corey up to the lake house knowing that the passing of his Dad was really affecting him. Any story of Corey was nice that Kelvin had told Keefe. Telling him about the time Corey had protected him when Jesse had tried fighting him when he was twelve before Gideon was born. Then the times Corey would always make sure to bring Kelvin candy from his Dads Gator park that could only be purchased there. Kelvin always referred to him as the cooler brother he never had. Keefe thought he sounded nice.
But Corey was the reason he was looking at the love of his life laying in the hospital bed.
He toyed at the engagement ring that was resting once again on his left ring finger. He wasn’t wearing it earlier because he and Kelvin were going to announce their engagement at the lake house during Dinner so the whole family could hear. But it never happened.
Instead of preparing for dinner after a nice time out on the boat with his soon to be family, they all walked into a horrifying bloody scene.
Streaks of blood all over the house. Where individual streaks of blood eventually met together in three lines which lead the family to the gruesome scene.
Keefe will never forget the sight of Kelvin and his siblings slumped over on the ground. Blood surrounding them. Kelvin’s green shirt and beige pants stained dark red with his blood. Slumped over the legs of his former childhood friend, who was there on the ground with a bullet hole to the head.
Judy was the only one conscious when they discovered the horrific scene. Barely, but she explained what happened while BJ rocked her in his arms, applying pressure to her right shoulder wound .
“Core- Corey shot us.”
Keefe still shudders thinking of the blood curdling scream that Ms. Lori had let out as she dropped to her knees at the head of her son. Laying there lifeless with his hazel eyes still open. As much as he wanted to comfort her, he was busy on the floor pleading to God to let Kelvin and his siblings be okay.
Amber let out a gut wrenching scream, yelling for someone to call 911, which Pontius quickly pulled his phone out as he and Gideon tried to shield Abraham from the view of Jesse on the ground.
“Stay with me baby,” Keefe pleaded, keeping his hand firm against the gunshot wound on Kelvin’s stomach. “Please Kel, stay with me. You’re gonna be okay. I promise.” Tears burning down his cheeks as the sounds of the ambulance and police cars started getting closer and closer. Pontius had called as soon as they saw the blood and they were dispatched immediately once they found out it was at the Gemstone lake house. “We’re gonna get you help.”
Keefe hated that ambulance ride.
The way they quickly pulled Kelvin from his arms and loaded him on the stretcher. Along with the stretchers for Jesse and Judy then the crime scene unit coming in with the body bag for Corey. Eli had stood there in shock, not knowing which kid to go to. Bj was holding Judy. Amber and the boys surrounded Jesse. Keefe didn’t want to let go of Kelvin.
He had promised him that he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him.
Now here he is… laying in a hospital bed due to multiple gunshot wounds and blood loss.
Keefe blamed himself.
He should’ve stayed back. He had an odd feeling about the way Corey was acting but Kelvin assured him that he and his siblings were gonna talk to him. Just to go enjoy time on the boat.
So he did.
Now he’s sitting at a chair pulled up to the hospital bed, listening to the beeping of the monitors and the occasional air up of the blood pressure machine. His hand was resting over Kelvin’s blanket covered hand that was splayed on top of his bandaged stomach. Keefe had covered him up because it was getting quite cold in the room.
Kelvin looked peaceful.
Just sleeping.
Keefe watched the rise and fall of his chest, thanking God silently that he was able to see him do that. But he can’t lie that he wasn’t a perfect Christian at the time he saw his fiancé covered in blood. He couldn’t understand why God would let something happen to his most loyal followers? Everyone said God loves the Gemstone’s but if that’s the truth, then why did all three of them get rushed off to emergency surgery the minute they were off the ambulance.
On the ambulance ride over is when the paramedics required Judy to get to surgery as soon as they got there as well. Amber, Keefe, and BJ were frantically pacing the hallway waiting to hear some news of their lovers. Eli was making phone calls to Martin and Baby Billy and talking with the police while the spouses stayed together. They prayed together. They cried together. They hoped everyone would be okay. Having each other around helped the fears that were at stake but all three of them were trying to be in the best state possible. But they failed.
It was dark outside now and Keefe could hear the sound of thunder in the distance.
Kelvin said he wasn’t afraid of storms anymore.
But Keefe wishes that the brewing storm would hold off just a little bit. Just in case Kelvin was bothered during his sleep.
The Doctors had said the surgery was a success. Kelvin had to have a blood transfusion and they had to search for the bullet in his skin. It narrowly missed his liver, thankfully, or else there was a worse chance that Kelvin wouldn’t be here now. His and Jesse’s shots were lucky to not be fatal but from the time that it happened to when he and the family discovered the scene had caused both of them to pass out from slow blood loss.
They were on that boat for over two hours.
Gideon had pulled the ring footage from inside the house to give to the police and that’s when they found out that Corey had already been dead for over an hour and a half before they even made it back to the house. All of them had a grand time on the boat meanwhile a crime scene was in the house.
Keefe studied Kelvin’s face.
He looked peaceful. He was currently on extreme sedatives from the surgery. He had woken from anesthesia soon after the procedure but was in an immense amount of pain so they had to give him a sedative along with upping his dose of pain medication.
It hurts Keefe to think of Kelvin being in pain.
He wishes he could take all the pain from Kelvin.
He wishes that he had gotten shot and not him.
Keefe promised that he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him and it did anyway.
Why?
The door opened and in came one of the nurses with a clipboard, doing a routine checkup and looking at the computer and scribbling the vital signs.
“Do you need anything, Mr. Chambers?” She asked kindly, “You haven’t left the room since he’s been in here. Can I get you something to drink?”
He was quite thirsty but he was afraid that if he left for even a second that Kelvin would wake up and think he had abandoned him. Keefe couldn’t stand the thought of that so he just said, “No.”
“Are you sure? Mr. Gemstone is going to be out for a while.”
“He could wake while I’m gone.”
“Then I’ll bring you something.” She laid a hand on his shoulder, “He’s going to be okay. We will be coming to change his bandages in the next hour. He might wake up then.”
She returned fairly quickly with a cup of water and a soda, stating she didn’t know which one he would want. He thanked her and she left. Leaving them back to the darkening room as the thunder got louder.
Keefe sipped at the water, not taking his eyes off of Kelvin. “You’re going to be okay Kel,” He tells him as he sits his cup down on the rolling table beside Kelvin’s bed. “BJ came by earlier… he said Judy is doing okay. J-Jesse,” he took a deep breath, “He had some worse internal wounds so he’s sedated too…”
Keefe pulled the thin white blanket off of him, exposing his chest. His eyes immediately went to the white bandage around his stomach, seeing the tinges of red starting to seep through. His left arm was wrapped up in a bandage as well from being hit the first time. It hurts Keefe deeply to think about what had happened and what must’ve been going through Kelvin’s head the entire time.
Gideon said the footage is brutal.
But the Police Department took it as crime scene evidence. Part of Keefe wants to see the video but he also knows he wouldn’t be able to handle it. Corey is long gone now but Keefe can help but hold hatred towards him. One of the people that his fiancé looked up to tried to murder him and his siblings.
Had Jesse not shot him, then Keefe wouldn’t be sitting here looking at Kelvin.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” Keefe sniffled, feeling the tears start to form. “I didn’t protect you. I’ve failed you again.” Tears splashed on the bed cover and the sound of the blood pressure monitor started back up, “I’m sorry for not protecting you… All I want in this life is you… I need you Kelvin. I can’t do life without you.”
He thinks back while sitting in the ambulance, watching as the paramedics started hooking Kelvin up to monitors and IV’s, putting an oxygen mask on him. It freaked Keefe out. Kelvin, one of the holiest men, looked so small as he watched them work on him and start administering medications.
Trying to look out the back of the ambulance made it worse. He felt like they were flying but barely moving. Everything in him wanted to jump in the driver's seat and floor it. Rushing to get his one love to the hospital fast enough. The paramedics cut open the expensive green shirt and threw it to the ground, along with his pants to examine for more injuries.
Keefe wanted to puke at seeing the open flesh wound on Kelvin’s stomach. Dark red, raw, and oozing blood. He felt like he was going to pass out. He wanted to scream at the paramedics as they pushed down on the wound. Yell at them that they’re hurting him. To leave him alone. But he sat back and watched, shaking in his seat.
Kelvin moaned as they moved him around, his head lolling to the side. Keefe watched as Kelvin’s eyes halfway opened, looking right at him, “ ‘eefe.” And then his eyes rolled back and eyelids shut.
“You’re gonna be okay baby.” Keefe had told him, trying not to get in the way of the emergency personnel but just wanting to pull Kelvin in his arms and hold him. “You’re gonna be okay. They’re going to help you. You’ll get better and we’ll get married. We’re gonna get married, okay?”
Keefe would be a liar if he said he didn’t think of the worst outcome possible rather than the good one. He thought instead of buying suits for their wedding that Eli would be picking out the burial outfits for his kids. No seeing him in white, probably an emerald green… It wouldn’t be colorful and happy but rather a gloomy and dark funeral.
More tears came as the image played over and over in his mind to the point he felt like the room was closing in on him. Even though the doctors and nurses have assured him that Kelvin and his siblings would be fine, he still freaked out.
Shooting up from his chair he made his way to the door, boots squeaking across the floor. He needed to get out. He needed to do something. As soon as he turned the handle ready to leave the room his body hit a solid figure.
Keefe looked up and saw Kelvin’s father standing in the doorway. “I-I’m sorry Dr. Gemstone.”
Eli saw the worry all over his face and he turned his concern to Keefe, “Don’t apologize.”
Running into Eli, literally, grounded Keefe to his spot. He could feel his heart racing. Eli had dark circles under his eyes. He had rode in the ambulance with BJ and Judy up to the hospital but Keefe hadn’t seen him since then.
Keefe stopped and looked down at his feet then back at Kelvin, “I don’t like this.” Eli hummed, “He shouldn’t be hurt… I failed.”
“What are you talking about, son?”
“I promise him I won't let anything bad happen to him.” Keefe says, “All I’ve wanted to do is protect him. He saved me so many times. I should have protected him… but I didn’t… and he almost d-d-died. He almost died.”
It was like the dam holding back the floor finally broke and Keefe dropped to his knees with his head in his hands, “I-I love him so much… I didn’t mean for him to get hurt like this… I should’ve protected him. I failed. I failed, I. Failed.”
Eli felt his eyes feel with tears listening to Keefe’s sobbing. Eli can’t lie that when Kelvin first told him that he was letting a satanist stay with him that he didn’t want to slap him and call it ridiculous. Keefe was odd, but not much more odd than Judy’s husband.
Keefe was loyal.
Eli knew way before Kelvin ever admitted it that Keefe was going to be his person. He had a spiritual calling one night that God had told him that all of his kids have found their path and partners to carry the legacy on once he exits this mortal plane.
Keefe’s sobs turned to sniffles and he finally pulled himself off the floor, “I’m sorry for failing your son, Dr. Gemstone. All I want is for him to be okay. I’d trade my being with any of your amazing kids if it meant they were okay.” Keefe looks back at Kelvin, “I love him so much.”
Eli couldn’t help it but he pulled Keefe into a hug. Tears escaping. He can’t lie. He thought his kids were goners. He thought he was going to die right then and there once he saw them all blooded and hurt. He didn’t see 4 adults on the ground. He saw his three young, beautiful babies and their best friend.
“Keefe,” Eli coughs, “You could not have stopped this from happening… no matter how- how fucked up a situation may be… it was supposed to happen for a reason.”
“Why would God want this to happen?”
“No one knows but the man himself.” Eli tells him, “I was angry too… when their Mama passed away. I cursed him. I yelled at him. I said things I never should have… but it was her time to go. Only God can decide when your time is up. Life is a cruel, unpredictable journey. But it seems that their service is still needed… that’s why God spared them.”
“I thought he was gone, Dr. Gemstone.” Keefe admits, “I thought our life together was over… before it even started. We-,” he looked down at his hand, “We are supposed to get married and I almost believed it would never happen.”
Eli looked surprised, looking for the sign of engagement and stopping at Keefe’s hand. Eli took his hand to look at the ring, “It may not be a useful talent, but I can’t deny that boy has taste in what he buys.”
For the first time in a while today Keefe actually chuckles, “I do think he has marvelous taste.”
“I’m glad you all found each other. I was starting to get worried I’d have to arrange a marriage for him.” Eli says, “I mean it, son. I’m glad God led you to our family.”
“I’m happy your son led me to God. I’d probably be dead if it weren’t for him.”
“How about we pray over him?”
“I’d like that.”
Keefe went to stand beside Kelvin and Eli walked to the other side of the bed. Taking each other's hands, they bowed their heads as Eli spoke, “Dear Heavenly Father, please watch over Kelvin through his healing time. Lord knows we didn’t want any of this to happen to him or his siblings, but you write our path and we walk it. Lord if you would send extra strength to Kelvin so that we can start this healing journey. Lay a hand on his fiancé Keefe as he is troubled with worry. For all your mighty power, grant us the help to get through this trying time. In God's name we ask- Amen.”
“Amen.”
Eli pressed a kiss to the top of his youngest son's head and then rounded to Keefe, “I just wanted to stop by and make sure you were okay.”
“I appreciate it, Dr. Gemstone.”
“Call me Eli.”
Keefe smiled, “Eli.”
“I’m going to check on Jesse, but if you need anything just let me know. I’m sure he’ll be up soon.” Eli says as he walks towards the door and opens it, “Also. Get something to eat. The nurses have complained you won’t leave.”
“I will when he wakes. Food can wait. Kelvin needs me.” Eli smiles at him, ready to leave but stops as Keefe added on, “Sorry for putting on your dead wife’s clothes… I still feel bad.”
Eli snorted, “Wasn’t the weirdest thing to happen, surprisingly. You were trying to make my son happy. Probably one of the dumbest ways to do so… but your heart meant well.”
Once Eli was out of the room and it was just Kelvin and Keefe with the beeping of the monitors, Keefe walked back to his chair next to Kelvin. Looking down at him, feeling his heart tugging. The rise and fall of Kelvin’s chest made Keefe feel better but he should be watching it at home. In their home. In their bed. Not some cold, blank hospital.
Keefe sat down and started running his fingers through Kelvin’s hair. He leans down and presses a kiss to the backside of Kelvin’s hand and closes his eyes, taking a deep breath,
“Dear Heavenly Father, it’s me, Keefe Chambers. I’ve talked to you a lot today. Probably the most I ever have. I know I haven’t said the perfect Christian things when talking to you, but as Kelvin has taught me is that you don’t pay mind to the hurt as long as there's healing and teaching to follow. I pray you bring healing and nurture to my fiancé and his siblings. I pray they make fast recoveries to come back home and share your word. I pray you stand by Ms. Lori and Ms. Jana as they go through this grief period; Corey may have done something wrong and only you know the reason, but he was Kelvin’s friend. I’m angry at him. I don’t know if I should be or not… but I can’t lie that everything’s okay. I hope you keep watch over these three amazing beings in their recovery period. I hope that you, God, and your son Jesus find peace to help Mr. Corey through the afterlife. Please tell Kelvin’s Mama that I’m sorry I couldn’t protect him… I hope she knows I would have had I been there. I honestly don’t know if I’m making sense, I’ve never been good at prayer… but please, please God, keep Kelvin, Jesse, and Judy safe. All these things I ask in your name… amen.”
Keefe opens his eyes and sniffles, pulling the hand from Kelvin’s hair and wiping his eyes. He spent the next thirty minutes running his fingers through Kelvin’s hair and tracing his skin. Soon after he finally pulls his hand away he feels Kelvin start to stir under his touch so he pulls his hand back. “Kel?”
Kelvin’s head slowly shifted and Keefe looked back down to see Kelvin’s brown eyes staring at him, “I luh you.” He whispers, “K’ me.”
Keefe didn’t waste a minute before he pressed his mouth to Kelvin’s, “Oh baby, I love you so much.” He kissed him again, and again, and again. “Oh Kel- I should tell the nurse you’re awake-,”
“Shhh,” Kelvin shook his head, wincing in pain as he tried to move. “Not yet. Jus’ you.” His voice was hoarse so Keefe grabbed his water cup and pressed it to Kelvin’s lips, letting him drink til the cup was empty. “I didn’ know if I sees you ‘gain.”
“I know hun, but you’re okay… I told you you’d be okay.” Keefe smiles through tears, still running his fingers through his hair. “How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve been shot.”
Keefe didn’t know whether to laugh or cry but seeing Kelvin smiling made his heart burst. “Only you would make a joke.”
“Nah,” Kelvin disagrees, “Jess’ an Judy will do worse.” His eyes fully shot open now, “are they?”
“They’re okay.” Keefe sniffles, “Your bro had to be taken back again for another surgery but he’s out now. Judy is fine.”
“Daddy? Has he been by?”
“Just left actually.”
“Oh.”
“We prayed together. It was nice.”
Kelvin was trying to look around at all he was hooked up to, “What’s doctors say?”
“The bullet could’ve fractured your ribs but you didn’t have an exit wound so they had to search for it. Pull out what metal was left. As for your arm, just stitches.” Keefe was starting to feel the tears start back in his eyes, wondering how he even had tears left to cry. “They said had it been just a bit to the left it would’ve punctured your liver… and you would’ve bled out instantly.”
“Guess I got lucky.”
“You got shot.”
“Doy.”
“I failed you again. I promised that I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to you… and it did… again.”
Kelvin turned his head to face his fiancé, “ s’not your fault.”
“I told you I had an odd feeling. It- It felt like God was telling me to stay back, but I didn’t. Had I been there… none of this would’ve happened.” Keefe rubbed his thumb over the back of Kelvin’s hand, carefully to avoid the IV. “I was so scared you were gone… that you had left me… and I didn’t save you.”
Kelvin coughed, “ s’not your fault Keefey. We didn’t know.” He turned his hand so that Keefe could entwine their fingers, “can’t die yet… haven’t married you.”
“I was so scared we weren’t going to be able to.”
Kelvin puckered his lips out so Keefe could kiss them, “We are.”
“I love you so, so much Kelvin.”
“I love you.”
Just then the nurses came in, ecstatic that Kelvin was up and talking. They upped his pain meds and changed his bandages. Keefe finally left the room to go to the waiting room to tell Eli that Kelvin was awake. They both thanked God together. Keefe quickly made his way back to Kelvin’s room because just being away for a few minutes was too much. He’s glad Kelvin is up.
Now to the road of recovery.
Keefe is thankful God loves the Gemstone’s.
He doesn’t know where he’d be without them.
•••
Weeks passed by and all three of the Gemstones were back home and recovering. The celebration for the return of the Gemstone children at church was almost as big as Easter Sunday. Cheering from every direction as Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin walked out on the stage.
Keefe stood with BJ and Amber alongside his soon to be nephews in the front row, tears in his eyes as he clapped seeing Kelvin do a weird little turn on his feet as they approached. BJ jumped up and down cheering for his wife. All three of the boys whistled at Jesse as Amber held her hand over her heart.
Eli was standing to the side of them, letting them have their moment on stage. Smiling brightly at them as almost immediately Judy started shoving both of her siblings. The whole crowd laughed at them bickering quietly so it wasn’t picked up on the mics.
“Praise be to He!” Jesse boomed and the whole church repeated.
“Praise be to He indeed, my friends.” Kelvin added, “Thank the Lord for allowing us back on this stage so we can worship with every single one of you.”
“We took a bullet to be here!” Judy yells which quiets down the crowd, “What? We can make jokes about it.”
Kelvin cleared his throat, “Today we would like to speak about the power that God gives us to forgive the ones who do us wrong in life. Whether that be a family member…”
“A Partner.” Judy interrupts.
“Or a friend.” Jesse ends, looking down at the crowd where Jana sat, tears in her eyes. “We dealt with something extremely difficult that no one should ever have to experience… without going too deep into it, we just want to thank God for allowing us to be here. Even if it meant losing people on the way. It doesn’t matter what happened, all that matters is forgiveness.”
“My favorite quote comes from Colossians 3:13, for which reads, ‘Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.’”
“That’s a good point. It doesn’t matter if you were the best person on Earth your entire life. Anything can change in the matter of seconds. Life’s too short to hold grudges even if they’ve done you wrong.” Judy says.
“Everyone struggles. It’s normal. It makes us human. God puts our path for us and we just walk it. He throws curveballs of challenges through us, it’s up to us to decide how we go through them.”
Keefe, Amber, and BJ still couldn’t understand how they forgave the person who tried to murder them as he was dying but they did. Their spouses still talked highly of their late friend, even giving a little speech at Corey’s small funeral.
“We wouldn’t be here today without the help of the first responders that got to the house as quickly as they did once my son Pontius had called them.” Jesse announced. “A big thank you to all the paramedics, the police officers, and the doctors and nurses that helped us get back here today.”
“But also, a huge thank you to our families… my lovely husband BJ stayed by my side the entire time. Making sure I was comfortable and bringing me all kinds of stuff to make me feel better.”
“My wife and sons are the reason I pushed myself to get better. Along with God in my ear telling me everything was okay.”
The two siblings looked over at their baby brother and Kelvin smiled, looking down to make eye contact with Keefe. “My amazing fiancé Keefe,” there were gasps around the church, “He kept me going. Held me. Comforted me. Prayed with me… I was pretty messed up over this, but he calmed me. He always does. Thank you for all you do for me. I can’t wait to make you my husband.”
BJ clapped Keefe’s shoulder and Amber gave him a smile. Keefe couldn’t help but let the tears roll down his cheeks as he beamed up at his fiancé. He had just told an entire crowd of over thirteen thousand people that they were going to be getting married.
The siblings did what they did best and continued on with an amazing church service. Talking more about the importance of forgiveness and that if anyone felt like they were struggling with the devil in them that Gemstone Salvation Center would be opening up more access to get the help needed at no cost, dedicating the service named as The Corey Project.
After service everyone met up as usual at Jason’s Steakhouse which they were met with cheering and whistling as they all made their way in.
Everyone loves the Gemstone’s.
“That was a wonderful service.” Martin spoke as he cut into his steak, “It was moving! Powerful!”
“Thank you Martin, I agree.” Jesse says.
“It was an amazing service. I’m proud of you kids. You show the faith and importance of relying on family.” Eli adds from the head of the table.
“Yeah, you kinda get closer with your siblings after being abducted and then shot at by your friend.” Jesse retorts, shoveling his mouth with cream corn. “I almost died. Almost wasn’t here.”
“Be grateful all that fat you have on your body saved your life.” Kelvin snorted.
“Yeah boy, that thick layer was no match for literal ass bullets.”
“Hey! I’m not that fat. I lived because God spared me. Okay?”
“Sure boy.” Judy rolled her eyes, “Doctors were probably like ‘oh my god, a medical marvel. His life was spared because he’s a fat ass’, psh, don’t be acting like you are some Bradley Cooper. ‘Cus guess what? You ain’t, son.”
“I know I’m not no damn Bradley Cooper, bitch.” Jesse points his fork towards her then turns his head towards Kelvin, “If this little shit didn’t scream before trying to hit Corey with a damn fire poker I wouldn’t have gotten shot again.”
Kelvin gasped, “‘cuse me, sorry I was fearing for my life.”
“Dumbass.”
“Asshole.”
“Bitch.”
Jesse cut his fork towards Judy, “Hey. At least I didn’t drop like a fuckin’ sack of potatoes for getting shot in the shoulder.”
“It. Hurt. You dick head!”
“Yeah but then he kept shooting at us. I got hit in the arm.” Kelvin raised his left arm to show where his stitches were.
“I got shot in the asshole a few years ago and didn’t even drop like that.”
“Yeah because your wife shot you, bitch.”
“Enough!” Eli’s voice boomed.
All three siblings pulled ridiculous faces, mocking each other. Amber just shook her head while BJ sipped from his wine glass of milk. Keefe squeezed Kelvin’s inner thigh to try and help dissolve their mocking.
Once church lunch was over and goodbyes were said, everyone loaded up in their own respectful vehicles and headed back towards the compound for a much needed Post Church - Post Lunch nap.
Keefe looked out the window, watching the trees pass. Kelvin’s hand rested on his thigh and Keefe had his hand placed over it. Some Christian music played low on the radio. Kelvin was humming along to it but Keefe didn’t know what song it was. He still prefers his metal music.
“What you thinkin’ bout over there, handsome?” Kelvin’s voice broke his thoughts.
“Just lookin out is all. No thoughts.”
“I know you’re lying. You’ve been making a face when you’re thinking about something that upsets you.”
Keefe sighed, “I don’t know… you and your siblings rippin’ each other… but it just reminded me how hurt you all were. I don’t know if I could joke about it.”
“I’m sorry Keefey,” Kelvin squeezed his thigh, “Gotta laugh about some things, even if they’re bad. I’d rather laugh than be upset over it. Plus Jesse and Judy are dumbasses so I gotta put them in their place.”
Keefe looked at him, “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Me too.” Kelvin looks ahead at the road, getting ready to turn down the street to the compound, “I couldn’t die without marrying you first.”
“Me too.”
“Keefe?”
“Yeah?”
“Why don’t we get married soon… I know we talked about waiting til Spring, but before the weather turns I think we should go ahead. I want you to be my husband now.”
Keefe’s face turned bright red, “I- uh, I- yeah… I’d, I’d like that.”
Kelvin gave a big smile and squeezed his thigh again, “I love you Keefe soon to be Gemstone.”
“I love you too, Kelvin has always been a Gemstone.”