Chapter Thirteen
Wilkes had predicted the silence that followed as his statement sunk into the various pairs of ears. He’d have been more worried if there hadn’t been a silence.
But what he hadn’t predicted, and couldn’t possibly have done, not even in a month of Sundays, was what happened next. There was lots of glancing around, exchanging of meaningful looks, then his mother finally broke the silence.
“Oh, darling! We know. We’ve always known!” At that, she hurried over and swept Wilkes up into a hug, almost causing him to spill his tea.
She pulled away after a moment, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears. “Well,” she added with a smile over at Balkhi, “we didn’t know about Rustam here, of course, but we knew you were gay.”
“You did?” Wilkes’ tone was incredulous, and so high that St
