“All I do i-is for her. And… heh…” he smiled faintly, looking away. “She did s-say I’m in touch w-with my more sen-sensitive side. Maybe a bit too much, if, if you ask me but… I really do w-want to do better for her. I want to b-be a stronger man for her. She deserves all the b-best and I know she loves me…” Jack looks back at Grace, smiling still. “And I love her too, m-more than I ever thought I could love anyone because… w-well. I am shy. Terribly so. B… but because of her I’m getting out more. This, this alone…”
He gestures to them sitting here, meeting. “Three m-months ago I never would have d-done this. I used to b-be such a shut in…”
“Changes are good, Jack. I’m really glad she helped you to change. My boyfriend did exactly the same with me…”
Gracelyn could see the honesty on Jack’s eyes. She could see on them his honesty, his wish to become a better man for Katelynn. And that was something truly touching.
“Tell you what… Some months ago, I was an horrible person. I hated everything and everyone (the only one person I didn’t hate was my daughter Jess…). But the person I hated the most was my own brother. And why? I’ve told myself for years that it was because he’s gay, and those feelings of rejection and hate were projected also on other homosexuals I’ve met. But, was that the true reason why did I hate him? No. I was jealous. Jealous of the fact he had become a better person than me. A man who went to the university, who made his career… Bernie got a life, while I was stuck on my mother’s loss…”
Grace took a moment to take a deep breath, and continue. “But almost three months ago, I’ve met this man. Steve Campbell. His life hadn’t been exactly a path of roses. He had suffered a lot, but still, he was able to leave behind all his past to embrace a life with me and my daughter. We’re living together now. Even Jess began to call him ‘daddy’…” She stopped, blushing a little. “I’m rambling again… right?”
Jack shook his head. “No, n-not rambling. I find it in-interesting, listening to other people and-and how their live’s have changed. It’s… it’s good to change, but not too much. You can’t… really re-redo yourself. If you love someone, and they love you, it sh-should be for who you are. But improvements, i-if they’re needed, can be very good.”
He dug his hand against his chest, digging at the material of his shirt.
“I’ve g-gotten better… for me a-and for Katelynn… which is good. B-but I’m glad t-to hear that you have somebody who cares about you. A-and that you have a daughter! Th-tha’s wonderful. But.. have you made up wi-with your brother…?"
Jack Maple 