Chapter 27
“Where’s Pop?” he asked her.
“In the barn with the other animals.” She said it good-naturedly.
“I guess the farmhouse didn’t fall in around me.” Gordon took a deep breath and met my gaze. “Should we go see him and get it over with?”
“It’s up to you.” I was quaking in my shoes at the thought, considering what I’d heard about Mr. O’Dooley and his thoughts on gay men.
“I think I can.”
The red-painted wood against a white winter wonderland and tall evergreens was a perfect picture of Christmas. Rod O’Dooley was just standing there beside a cow when we entered, gently stroking its…snout? I wasn’t sure of the terminology.
“Hey, Pop.”
“Gordon.”
“Merry Christmas.”
“You, too.” Mr. O’Dooley wore rust colored coveralls and rubber boots. His hair was more orange than Gordon’s, the color of carrots, but clipped really close to his scalp.
“What are you doing out here?”
“Enjoying the quiet.”
“This is Marty. He’s…my…”