"Funny, Mano." Easy looked from Mano to Benny and said, "He was wrongfully accused, and we had to go back to Tampa, where he's from, to prove it, but it's all good now. Officer Adams even came by and apologized when we got in."

"That sounds like Uncle Bert. He's a good guy."

"He's worried about you, I know that." Mano looked at Benny closely and continued, "I told him that if you ever needed help, to come to Mama Sasy. I'm glad you did. Are you going to stay?"

Benny looked around before saying, "I don't know. I don't even know why I'm here, but I didn't really have anywhere to go, and he said to come here. I don't even know what I want to do. I'm just tired, you know?"

"Trust me, I know," Mano said.

Benny hadn't even noticed that the really tall, skinny man had left, but he came back with a big gla.s.s of tea and a heaping plate of food, really delicious-smelling Take It Slow 40.food. His stomach growled loudly and he ducked his head, embarra.s.sed.

"You came to the right place. Come on, hon, sit with me and we'll work some things out. You all can finish your plan without me and fill me in later. I've got to find out about Benny Adams." Mama sat down in the booth across from Benny and the tall man, Boddy? Boddy? , set his plate down in front of him. People here had really weird names. , set his plate down in front of him. People here had really weird names.

In seconds, Benny didn't care about names. He had nearly cleaned his whole plate before he looked up and saw Mama Sasy looking at him and smiling, approvingly.

"I'm sorry. I'm acting like a pig, like..."

"Like you're hungry and you've been on your own for a while. Honey, don't you worry. I've heard it all before, and I would like nothing better than to help you. That's what I do here. We have a dorm in the back where you can stay. We have the basics there for you. No one will question you. Tell us what you want us to know and what you need, and we'll do our best to help you."

Mama reached across and patted his hand.

"Why? I mean, you don't know me at all. Why would you help me?"

"Lots of reasons, but the best one is that it makes me happy. I have a gay son. He had it easy, no pun intended, because his mother loves him unconditionally.

I know that is not the case with so many young men. I hate that there is prejudice and hate and meanness in the world and if I can help, I will. If you're hurt, you can take some time to rest up. If you want a job, we always have work here at the diner that needs doing, and we'll pay you. If you want a job somewhere else, we'll help you find one. Nick helps a lot with that. I think he Take It Slow 41.knows everyone in Nashville. He helped Mano get a job at a dance studio, and Mano's so happy there."

Benny just looked at her. "Wow." That was all he was capable of right then. This just didn't happen. He'd been so unhappy and lost after his father had kicked him out. His welcome was wearing thin at the few friends'

homes he'd been in through the summer. He'd even spent a few nights in shelters and other less-welcoming places.

He didn't have a cell phone anymore, so he had no way to get in touch with friends now. He didn't fit in their life like he did when they were in school together. Most had gone on to college now, and he knew that wasn't an option for him. How he'd wanted to, though.

"What are you interested in, Benny?" Mama asked quietly.

"Law. I know you'll laugh, but..."

"Honey, why would I laugh? That's wonderful. What do you want to do with it? Be a lawyer? That's what Nick is. I'm sure he'd help you get started."

"I want to work for human rights, but I don't have enough money to go to college. I graduated in May, but then, well, things went downhill at home." Benny ducked his head again.

Mano spoke up from the booth behind him, letting him know that they were all listening to his conversation with Mama Sasy. "All Officer Adams told me when I met him was that your father kicked you out when he learned you were gay and that sometimes you stay with him. He was worried about you, so I told him about how great Mama Sasy was and that you should come here."

"Yeah, my dad didn't take it so well when I told him I was gay, and he kicked me right out. It was like I was nothing to him. He never did, I mean, he never was all touchy-feely talking about love and stuff, but it was like Take It Slow 42.he hated me all of a sudden. He wasn't having a queer for a son."

Suddenly there was silence. Benny didn't know what he'd said that was wrong, but it was like a bomb had dropped. He was afraid to turn around and look at the other table, but the look on Mama Sasy's face when she looked over at the older man told him that it had something to do with Nick Webster.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what..." Benny didn't get any further.

"Young man," Benny heard from behind him, "you have nothing to be sorry about. Everyone is embarra.s.sed because of me. I told my son the same thing two years ago, and I lost him. He ran away and was gone before I came to my senses. I've looked for him since then. I will regret to my dying day that I wasn't the parent he was hoping for when he tried to talk to me that day."

Benny didn't know what to say. He had turned to look at the man talking and thought again how nice-looking he was, even with those tears in his eyes. Somehow he didn't think his father would have any tears to shed for Benny's absence.

"That sucks. I mean, for you and for him. Don't think my dad's lookin' for me." It was just a statement of fact.

"Well, you've got Mama Sasy in your corner now, so you'll be fine. I heard you say you were interested in the law. I'm a lawyer, and after I take care of some things, I'd be glad to talk to you and see if there's a way I can help."

"Um, what do I do now?" Benny asked, looking back at the lady across from him.

"Well, now that you've got that skinny belly full, maybe you'd like to go with Boddy and see the dorm we have in the back. You're welcome to stay here. We'll help you get started. You take a couple of days to clean Take It Slow 43.up, get some rest, and look around here. If you want to help out in the diner, we can always use it. Soon, we'll find you something better, huh? I'd say there's a lot of school in your future, if you're interested in law." Mama reached over again and patted his hand.

The tall guy, Boddy, was standing by the table now and when Benny looked up at him, he pointed to the back and asked, "You ready to check out your new digs?"

"I can't believe, just like that, you all are going to let me stay here, work here even, without knowing more about me." Benny wasn't used to being treated like he had worth, not in a long time, anyway.

"We know you're Officer Adams' nephew and that he cares about you. We know you need help. That's all it takes here," Mama Sasy said Benny refused to let the stinging he felt behind his eyes develop into tears. He just couldn't handle that, but he stood and put his hand out to Mama Sasy.

"Thank you, ma'am. I do need to clean up, but then I'll be glad to work for you if someone will show me what to do."

"Don't you worry about that yet. Go back, get a bunk, a shower, and then rest some. We'll get into the other later. Go on, now. You're safe here."

Those three words. .h.i.t Benny hard and he followed Boddy with his head down, hiding those d.a.m.n tears.

Safe.

Those left in the corner booth of the diner resumed their planning of the rescue of Daniel Webster. Nick was quiet, contemplative. He knew he was drowning in a sea of remorse again. It was a feeling that he'd grown used Take It Slow 44.to. He carried it like a burden, a cloak of shame.

Knowing that his son was with an older man and that he was not treated well, and indeed may have been abused, was almost enough to bring Nick to his knees.

"Nick! Stop it, right now. I know what you're doing, and you need to quit, you hear me?" Mama Sasy wasn't having it. She scooted back into the booth with Nick and tapped his arm, getting his attention as if her words hadn't done the job.

"Mo-om!" Easy said, the look on his face almost comical.

"Relax, Easy. She's right. I'm wallowing in it, thanks to that young man hitting the nail on the head. Those words seem to be ones that are used frequently in denying sons who are gay. How many more young men are out there because an idiot didn't have the sense, the grace, to shut his mouth and listen to his son, give him a chance? It didn't take me long to come to my senses, but it was too long for my Daniel. Look how he's suffered because of that." Despite Mama's words, Nick was feeling leaden, heavy with guilt.

"Old news, Nick. We're not making less of it, but we have to look forward now. We need to figure this out.

So, Mano has a good point. You don't want to scare Daniel away, and he might not be ready to just walk away from this man and go with Nick. I'm also wondering if he's likely to be willing to meet you, Mano, away from this man, Jack. Or maybe this Jack person won't let him go in by himself, and then where would you be?" Mama asked.

"What about seeing if the waitress, Diana, would slip him a note? If she spilled something near Jack, he would have to look to that, and she could give Daniel a short note that said something to the effect that help was waiting in the restroom. Then we could wait a few Take It Slow 45.minutes to see if he got up to go in and seek that help."

Easy said, leaning back and putting his arm on the back of the booth. Mano scooted over to fit into the s.p.a.ce that seemed to be left for him. Nick looked on, the sight almost bringing a smile. Daniel should have that. He should be able to lean into his love and know that his nearness was cherished as it was obvious that Mano's was by Easy.

"That might be a good idea. I say we plan for two or three scenarios and use the one that looks like it will work best. It may depend on how Daniel looks when they come in. For all we know, he might walk right into the restroom as soon as they come in, or Jack will. We have to have a plan for any contingency." Nick was back in it now.

"We'll talk it to death and plan for all kinds of things.

Don't worry. We won't leave Valdosta without Daniel.

There are three of us against one old man. I don't think we'll have too big a problem. I still think that intimidation and a threat of the police being involved would do the trick."

"It may come to that. We'll talk more about it over the next few days. By then, we'll know exactly when we're leaving, what we're taking, and the different possibilities for bringing Daniel home." Nick thought it best to dismiss this group and let them get back to their lives.

Chapter Three.

Every breath he took hurt. Daniel was scared to death. He'd thrown up earlier, and there'd been blood in it. It was little wonder. He hadn't eaten enough recently, and there was little in the house that didn't cause his stomach to hurt. He found himself wanting only soft white food, comfort food. He wished for oatmeal, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, even plain bread, anything to take away from the gnawing pain in his stomach. Having no way of knowing exactly what was wrong, he was under even more stress.

Remembering health cla.s.ses in school, he suspected ulcers, obviously bleeding ones, now. It wasn't like he could just run out to the doctor.

There was no way he wanted to be beholden to Jack for anything. Living in fear, daily, that Jack would let go of that code he lived by, the one that had saved his a.s.s so far, Daniel didn't want to give him any reason to give up on that belief. It was the only thing that kept Daniel sane and safe. Jack didn't mind, more and more, letting him know that he would soon be letting that go. No, a trip to the doctor was out of the realm of possibility right now.

Tomorrow they would be heading up to Chattanooga again. Maybe he could order some oatmeal for breakfast, or a pancake. Jack insisted on everything being fried, and there was very little in the cupboards here or the refrigerator. His duffle was already in the back of Jack's truck. He'd snuck it in there earlier. He was going to look for a chance on this trip to get away Take It Slow 47.from Jack. He had to. Jack's l.u.s.t for him was becoming more evident all the time. The man wasn't even trying to hide it. Daniel shivered.

"Daniel! Where you at, boy? Where's supper?"

Daniel jumped up, taking his hand from his stomach, not wanting Jack to know he was hurting. He got bacon out to fry for supper. The smell was delicious, but he knew better than to put the grease in his stomach. He'd see about just eating a piece of toast if Jack didn't make him eat with him. Sometimes Jack got mad if Daniel wanted to skip a meal and go to his room. Spending time with Jack, knowing that the man wanted to screw him and was just biding his time, made Daniel more than nervous. It was making him sick.

It was Tuesday morning, and Daniel was thrilled that Jack hadn't found the duffle when they got the rig ready.

Maybe he could get away somewhere between here and Chattanooga. Maybe when they unloaded there, he could sneak away and hide from Jack somewhere that he could watch until Jack was gone. Hope lived in his heart right along with the constant pain in his stomach. He'd thrown up again last night after supper, and again there had been blood in it. It seemed it didn't matter what he ate.

"Boy, you're lookin' sick today," Jack said, as they drove through Georgia. "You're pale as a ghost. What's up with you, anyway?"

"I don't know, sir. Just don't feel too good. I'll be fine.

I can help." Daniel hoped that was enough to get Jack off the subject. The place they usually stopped for breakfast was just up ahead. Maybe he could get something soothing for his stomach.

48.Daniel tried to keep his secret hope hidden from Jack.

If the man thought Daniel was thinking of leaving him, Daniel didn't know what Jack would do. He was sure there would be pain involved, though, if he tried and failed.

"Come on, now, and you better eat a good breakfast. I don't want you gettin' too weak on me."

Daniel nodded as he watched Jack gear down to turn into the truck stop.

Nick, Mano, and Easy were already seated at a back booth in the diner by five-thirty, and the waitress that had given them the information before, Diana, had served them breakfast and was keeping their coffee cups filled. Nick was so nervous he thought he might be the one in the bathroom when Jack and Daniel showed up, but he'd be throwing up what he'd eaten for breakfast. So many things could go wrong.

"Nick," Easy said, reaching across the table and touching his arm, "relax, man. It's going to be fine. It's three against one old man. We'll get Daniel back."

"What if it's three against two? What if he sees me and doesn't want to come back? What if you were wrong and he..." Nick stopped, and dropped his head to his hand. "I'm sorry. I'm just so nervous. This means the world to me."

"We know. It's going to be fine. It's almost eight now, and she said they're usually here by then." Easy jumped a little and Nick sucked in a breath. He wanted to turn around so badly.

"What?" His heart was racing, and it was all he could do not to turn and face the door. Both Easy and Mano were looking back and forth from the doorway to each Take It Slow 49.other, and Nick knew that his son had walked into the diner by the look on their faces.

"Shh," Easy said quietly. "Just relax now. Let them get in and find a place to sit. Maybe Daniel will go to the bathroom on his own, and then Mano can just go in after him. They're sitting down three booths back from you, Nick, and Daniel is facing away from you. Good.

There goes Diana. Let's just see what happens so we'll know which plan to follow."

It was all Nick could do to keep his face forward and not turn to look. They had to follow the plan. Oh my G.o.d! Daniel was a few feet from him. He was going to get a second chance with his son. Tears filled his eyes as he watched his friends take in the situation.

He heard Diana behind him now, talking to the two at the booth.

"Good morning, y'all. Hey, Danny, you look hungry this morning. Jack, what can I get you all today, the usual?" She sounded bright and sunny, and Nick knew her voice was a little loud to let him know that his son was behind him.

He heard a quiet mumble and then the older man's voice.

"Boy, that ain't no breakfast. Oatmeal! h.e.l.l, bring him some bacon and eggs and some orange juice. He needs meat on his bones. I'll have the same, 'cept add some hash browns and coffee to mine. What did you say, boy? Bring him a d.a.m.n pancake then. We ain't got time for this." Jack sounded p.i.s.sed that Daniel had asked for something else, and Nick worried that he would not be able to control himself if he heard anything more aggressive or ugly come from that booth. He felt totally helpless.

Nick watched as Easy and Mano both sat up straighter and heard Jack say, "Go on, then, but you got Take It Slow 50.two minutes and you better come straight back here, you got it? Don't make me come after you."

"Yes, sir." Nick heard. That was barely Daniel's voice. He sounded so cowed, so beaten down.

Easy touched Mano's arm and Nick watched as Mano left the booth, knowing he was headed for the men's room.

"I wanted him to go ahead of Daniel so Jack wouldn't think someone was following Daniel. I have to keep my head down since he saw me last week for a few seconds, but he talked to me so he might remember my face. If it looks like he's going to get up to go after Daniel, I'll go with plan number two and sit down with him. I'll tell him what's going to happen and we'll go from there."

Nick's hands were shaking, and he thought his heart would jump out of his throat as he sat there, afraid to do the wrong thing, but hating doing nothing.

"Easy," Easy said, and Nick almost grinned. He knew his friend was trying to calm him.

"Shut up; you just like the sound of your own name."

Easy laughed and nodded, "That's it. Normal as we can be. Let Mano do his magic."

In the restroom, Mano waited by the sink, glad that no one was in there right then. When the door opened and he saw Daniel come in, he smiled and said, "Hey."

"Uh, hey." Daniel headed for a stall, holding his stomach. Before Mano could say anything else, he watched as Daniel grabbed his mouth and hurried to the toilet, throwing up. Mano went over and saw that what came out of Daniel was bright red blood and very little else.

51."Man, you're sick, huh? Let me get you a wet towel."

Mano hurried back over to the sink and wet a towel, taking it back to Daniel and handing it to the boy. He watched as Daniel took it in a hand that was shaking and wiped his mouth.

"It's okay, go over and rinse your mouth." Mano followed Daniel over to the sink and couldn't help putting his hand on the boy's back as he bent to rinse his mouth. Daniel jerked away and looked at him with wide, scared eyes.