Chapter 228: When you just want the best for someone
"What? Last night?" Luis repeated, horror painted on her face as Andrew said it. Andrew nodded.
"There were some strange things about it. I woke up thinking that maybe he had gone to the bathroom, but then when I checked he was pressed against the backyard window and door, he’d turned on the light in the backyard, and had taken a pile of my clothes and placed them in the middle of the floor." Andrew told them and Thomas and Luis shared a look. Maxwell looked really embarrassed at having this aired, but Andrew was here to support him.
"What were you doing by the back door, Maxwell? Do you have any idea?" Thomas asked and Maxwell met his Father’s gaze for a moment, before he darted his gaze away.
"I...was making sure that if Andrew came home he knew that the lights were on for him." Maxwell muttered. Andrew felt his heart breaking at hearing it again, and unable to stop himself, he reached out with his hand and pulled the man into his arms, tucking his head against his shoulder and he held him. He sighed, Maxwell’s body shaking slightly.
Maxwell was doing his best to hold himself together. Andrew understood that part of it was because he was at work, and he didn’t want to look weak here. The other part had to be because Maxwell never showed this kind of vulnerability to anyone. He’d had a hard time showing this to Andrew, and now he was having to do it again so soon.
"Oh my son." Luis said, before she moved and Andrew felt a hesitant set of arms wrap around him, before another set did the same. Maxwell was shaking beneath them. "It’s okay. We’ll figure this out. There isn’t anything wrong with you." Luis whispered. It was more in Andrew’s ear, but Maxwell understood. He let out a shaky exhale.
"There is something wrong with me." He whispered and Luis shook her head.
"Not in the way you are thinking, Maxwell. You’re just different. That’s okay. This is..." Luis exhaled.
"It’s okay, Maxwell." Thomas said as well, his voice tight. It sounded like the man was trying not to cry. "I’m sorry you feel like you couldn’t rely on us for so long, and whatever behaviour we exhibited for you to feel that way, we’ll fix. You are our family. If anyone tried to take you away from us completely..." Thomas made a sound in the back of his throat while Luis let out a tiny gasp.