Three Is Just Enough by Jon Keys Page B

corn stalks and pumpkins filled the entry. They all sat quietly and stared at the innocuous house. Dalton’s gut tied in knots, knowing tonight would be one of those events in a person’s life that changed everything. Cole popped his hands against the steering wheel.
    “Let’s get it over with. It can’t be worse than mine. Well, unless we’re dead.”
    Dalton’s stomach turned sour with dread. “I think they’ll be okay.”
    Tara patted Dalton’s arm and he felt a measure of comfort. “Let’s go. I’m completely with you, too. I was just concerned, but we’re there for each other.”
    They made their way to the door, hesitation in each step. Tara and Cole waited while Dalton opened the door and led the trio into the vestibule. A woman’s voice drifted from the back of the house. “Just leave your boots and coats in the entryway. Come on back. Dinner’s almost ready.”
    Cole and Tara looked concerned, but followed Dalton’s lead. Their winter gear was quickly stored away and Dalton led the way to the dining room. His mother bustled in with steaming dishes and prominently in the center of the table was a plate of lefse. The Norwegian potato flatbread was a favorite of Dalton’s. His dad appeared with glasses of tea and handed one to each of them.
    “Here you go. I’m sure you’re thirsty after the drive from St. Paul. Have a seat, dinner’s almost ready.”
    Dalton looked at the other two, raised his brows and shrugged. Not knowing what else to do, he motioned them to seats around the bulging table. Dalton’s parents sat down and smiled at everyone.
    “Dalton, why don’t you introduce us to your friends.”
    “Sure. Mom. Dad. This is Cole and Tara. Guys, these are my parents, Rachael and Blake.”
    “Nice to meet you both. Here, let’s start before everything gets cold.” She handed the first steaming bowl to Dalton, who stared at his parents. His mother glanced at him when he didn’t take the food.
    “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
    “Didn’t you get my message that we needed to talk when we got here?”
    “Well sure, but I thought that would be after we ate. That way we could be more relaxed. It sounded important.”
    Dalton’s stomach churned at the thought of trying to eat. “No, Mom. I’d really like to talk about it before we eat. It’s really important to me.”
    His mother sat the bowl on the table. “Go ahead, dear. What do you need to tell us?”
    Dalton froze—he’d been working on how to explain their relationship all week and never arrived at a brilliant explanation. Cole looked a little sick when Dalton glanced at him and Tara had a look of concern on her face.
    Knowing he just had to plunge forward, he took a deep breath, and started. “We’re in a relationship.”
    His parents sat silently for a few moments, then his dad asked, “With whom, son?”
    Dalton saw a glimmer of hope—they hadn’t assumed the relationship was with Tara. It still didn’t make the explanation much easier. “With both of them. Cole is my boyfriend, and Tara is my girlfriend.”
    Tara and Cole sat stone-faced. He did hear the tap of Cole’s foot. His dad sat back with a look that was disturbingly similar to Tara’s while his mother tried to form questions. “So, do I have too many rooms ready?”
    Dalton smiled at his ever-practical mother. “Probably, Mom. We only need one.”
    “Okay, well that’ll make it easier when your sister arrives with her kids tomorrow.”
    Dalton looked first at one parent, then the other, trying to work out what was happening. His mother seemed to find the matter settled, so Dalton turned to his father. “Dad, what are you thinking?”
    Blake chuckled and set his napkin on the table. “I think you never were one to take the easy way out, and I don’t think you have this time, either. There are also a lot of—logistical—questions that popped into my head. But they’re really none of our business. So then it comes down to one simple question…are you