Chapter Sixteen
By the time Wilkes got back to Bulford Camp, he was physically and mentally exhausted. Despite this, he was happy. Very happy. Coming out to his family had lifted a huge weight from his shoulders. On top of that, he’d had a fantastic weekend. Granted, he and Balkhi hadn’t had a great deal of alone time—except at bedtime, which, after Balkhi’s initial reticence, they’d made the most of—but he’d still had a great time socialising with his immediate and extended family, introducing them to Balkhi, and so on. His mother had also done him proud with his dad’s birthday present—so he was in good books, there, too. Always a bonus.
Seeing his family and Balkhi making the effort to get to know each other, and getting along, was hugely gratifying, and the fact that everyone had take
