Liam walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out the salads he planned to bring to the backyard. He put them on the counter, then headed to the linen closet where Mrs. Alston said she had put the extra napkins. He walked into the hall, and stopped short. Bending down on his knee, he tied his opened shoelace.

The sound of a deeply inhaled breath had him looking up. His body started to shake. Unable to hold his balance, he tipped over. “Chase.” The name was out of Liam’s mouth before he could stop.

The other man stood silently, looking almost like a mirage. Liam couldn’t break his stare.

Someone calling Liam’s name snapped him out of the fog surrounding him.

“Liam, are you in here?”

Before Liam could answer, Phil was standing behind him, bending down. “Are you okay? What the hell happened?”

Not giving Liam a chance to answer, Phil put his hands on Liam and pulled him up. “Did you fall?”

Again, before Liam could say a word, Phil looked at Chase with a scowl on his face. “Did you knock him over?”

Chase didn’t say a word. He stood where he was, his eyes going between Liam and the man who currently held him.

“Come on,” Phil said, as he turned Liam around and walked him back to the kitchen.

Still in shock, “Napkins,” was the only word that would come out of Liam’s mouth.

“Where are they, hon? I’ll get them for Sharon.”

Liam pointed toward the hall. Phil headed back that way. Liam heard him say, “Be careful where you’re walking,” to Chase as Phil passed him by. The tone of Phil’s voice sounded none to friendly. Liam couldn’t help, but smile. Phil, his little protector. If only Phil knew who Chase was, and what he’d done to Liam four years earlier, Chase wouldn’t have a chance.

Liam stood in the kitchen in somewhat of a daze when Mrs. Alston walked in. Why hadn’t she told me Chase was coming home? Then he realized maybe she didn’t know. Which meant at that moment she had no idea Chase was there.

Finding his voice, Liam said, “Mrs. Alston there’s a surprise for you and Mr. Alston in the hallway.”

As soon as the woman passed him, headed to the hall, on shaky limbs, Liam made himself scarce. He headed back outside; he wanted to avoid becoming part of the hug fest he knew would be taking place any second.

He made his way over to Mr. Alston. “Mrs. Alston needs your help inside,” he said, not wanting to spoil Chase’s surprise for the man. Mr. Alston turned around and walked into the house. Within seconds, Liam heard screams of happiness floating from inside.

Liam wanted nothing more than to leave, but taking off after all Mr. and Mrs. Alston had done for him was something he knew he couldn’t do. But knowing he’d have to face Chase again almost had him saying fuck it to doing the right thing.