This is a work of fiction - names and places are elements of fiction.
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Card in the Deck - Adam and Ben 23
The Last Brevard
The week was flying by. The press conference on Tuesday went well with the public but the plant staff had some issues. Many were unclear how the merger was going to affect their jobs. I had to have a small town hall, so to speak, to go over the finer points. Jobs were safe for a short term - under three years. The gossip shop was very clear on the new relationship status between Quinn and me. However, he was working in the house now so it didn't matter. There was no conflict of interest. He was very busy. His project ideas were quickly turning into notes and charts on the study wall. The scheduled visit with Jane Blevins from Christie's was the following Monday. In the meantime, there was the cook with Julia Haig and her family on Sunday. Time was no friend, it was moving at lightning pace.
I awoke Sunday morning very early, like 5 am or something. I heard Quinn breathing beside me. He was laying on his back breathing gently. I watched his chest rise and fall. His natural facial expression was so peaceful. His lips were slightly parted. He was so gorgeous. I reached over and lightly brushed one of his nipples. Feeling frisky I bent down and took his left nipple into my mouth. I grabbed it gently with teeth then swirled my tongue around it. I didn't know Quinn was awake and he surprised me by saying, "Ok, that felt good."
I had to laugh. It was such a surprise. Then he said, "Ok what next?" I reached my hand into his underwear and found he was hard. I pushed a finger into his hole. Then he said, "ok, if you're going there, just do it!" I went back up and gave him a kiss and rolled on top of him.
Its rather amusing when you fuck in the middle of the night or early morning. We were so quiet as if there was a reverence to be observed like we might wake someone. I liked this time, maybe because after sleeping I was refreshed. I was about exhausted at night these days so my second winds were not easy to come by.
I got up after we finished lovin' it up. I pulled the steaks and shrimp out and the veggies. Quinn came down in his underwear. He was swinging very generously which kind of made me laugh.
"You need to put that thing away," I said.
"You the one that got it all wound up this morning." He grabbed some bread and made some toast for us.
Julia and family arrived around 1 pm. She was accompanied by her husband Charles who was an investment broker and big golfer, her son Jack and daughter Molly. Now, Jack was a fit boy. He had the true baseball physique. Thin, lean, short cut hair, poker face. I couldn't tell what he was thinking when we were introduced. He was lighter with Quinn, maybe because of age or athleticism. Molly was a beautiful girl with long dark hair. She was not shy at all.
"Hi Mr. Brevard!" she shouted from the car while they got their things. When she came up on the porch she stuck her hand out and smiled. I told her any more of that "Mr. Brevard" stuff and she would be eating on the side porch of the east wing.
"Where is that?" she asked.
"Way over there," and I pointed to the far side of the house.
"Ok Ben. I got it!"
Charles and I greeted then came Jack.
"Hey there Jack, I'm Ben."
"Nice to meet ya," he said with a straight look and stood by his dad. Ok, so he was either in the throws of teenage hormones or he just had an attitude.
Julie turned the conversation with how excited they ALL were to be here. I ushered them in. Molly was all over the place. She bounced from the living room to the dining room then took a long look up the staircase.
"Molly, would you like the grand tour?" Quinn asked.
"Oh yes. So cool!"
I told him to do it. He knew the place inside and out by now. Julia and Charles and I made our way to the family room where I had the wet bar open. I made us a cocktail and we headed back through the solarium and walked up onto the portico where we had a table and chairs. Julie was still wound up about the press conference and the positive report in the newspaper. Charles wanted to talk about the upcoming tournament and just as we were about to finish our drinks, Quinn showed with teens in tow. I went in and got the `youth' raspberry tea and made another round of drinks for the adults. Two whiskey sours, on bourbon and ginger, and one glass of red wine. I needed Cook here to help me.
I took the tray outside with all the drinks. Quinn had grabbed the crab dip and chips. There was a light breeze and it was a good day.
I asked Jack, Captain Sulky, about the baseball team and his position. He commented on being the short stop but really preferred his batting. Julia was just suggesting how the baseball team should take up community projects like the football team had done for the past several years. She said seeing the kids working around town was a great community feature. But Jack had other things on his mind.
"So, Ben, Quinn is your boyfriend." Blanketed statement. No question or specific direction.
"Yes, he is, Jack. What about that?"
Molly chided Jack and told him to behave. Typical little bossy sister. "Mom told you to be nice in the car, Jack"
"Julia," I said, "is that the guidance you gave him?'
"Well yes," she replied, "it's about the best I can do these days. I'm so sorry."
"No, never apologize for your kid when he is just opening the door to probing discussions," I told her.
"I"m not probing anything," Jack said. "I just don't see how guys like you two can be like that." He went on further to say that there were a couple of guys at school who said they were gay and that he couldn't like them becaue of it.
Charles took a sip from his drink and told Jack he had gone far enough.
Jack said, "Well Quinn was a big football player. He was an athlete. There are pictures of him in the gym and in the locker room. I don't mean any offense, but Ben is an older guy. I just don't get it." He crossed his arms and looked out into the garden. "They tell us at school that we need to be nice and inclusive. I guess we're all supposed to hug and hold hands. I don't know about all that."
"Listen Jack, first of all, not every gay kid wants to be your friend. They just don't want you kicking dirt in their faces and making fun of them." He started to interrupt and I knew he was going down the "choices" rabbit hole. I said, "Jack, what if Molly lost an eye and you found people at school making fun of her. What would you do with that?"
He said he wouldn't let anyone make fun of his sister but what did losing an eye have to do with anything. I explained that gay kids trying to turn back straight was no more possible than Molly growing a new eye. Being made fun of for things you cannot help or change is not acceptable. Molly and her Dad chuckled. Molly was used to diverse lifestyles. She told us about the dancer on her team that just took the prizes in competitions. Jack had feelings about that too which they bantered about.
I apologized to Julia and Charles for "schooling" their son and Charles said it was so hard to have these conversations. He thought I had done well so far.
I pointed out to Jack a few truths. Using the scenario, your best friend likes the same video games, he likes sports, he likes cool cars. He likes everything you like. He comes to you one day and says I'm gay. Do you dislike him for one thing or do you like him because of all the other things. Well that stumped him. I also pointed out some of those kids already had hard lives and some get thrown out of their homes because of it. He was surprised at that. I told about the charity in Atlanta that Erin supports that picks up kids and helps them with stability after such traumatic events. I explained to Jack that by the time he gets to college, there will be gay people in sports and in fraternities that will be cooler than him and he needs to get on board with acceptance. He was very interested in the college scenario. Quinn gave him some hard facts on that topic. Gay professors, friends in the dorms, and yes, all very cool, very popular, and persuasive. In other words, try making fun and you will be run off.
Of course, we all acknowledged that Jack should have to change his mind on things in a minute. But he agreed to give it some thought. I told him if he had any issues eating with gay guys, I would set up him a place over on the side porch of the east wing or in the garage court. Would not be an inconvenience to me at all. Everyone laughed. He said there would be no need.
He did have one other point to ponder on his mind. The fact that Quinn was black and I was white was of interest. Obviously, in our community the interracial thing was not so common. Fathers of little blond girls were not about to let their daughters go out with black boys. That was an issue Quinn faced when he was trying to explore identity and sexuality. However, Quinn and I were grown men, we found each other attractive and we loved spending time together. That was the basis of any good relationship. I used sarcasm and said that while not everyone may think Quinn is goodlooking, like I do, I was rich and that would always make me good looking! Molly thought that was a great punchline. Jack laughed too.
In short, it was a discussion filled afternoon. Captain Sulky wasn't so sulky after eating and looking at the gun collection. He and Quinn and Molly played pool. Well Charles joined eventually. It turned out to be quite a fun evening.
Julia was nearly in tears when it was time to go. She told me I had opened the doors to some good, but needed, conversations. She wanted her son to become more open minded. She whispered to me there was a day coming soon, she felt, where he was going to have to deal with it and it was a close cousin.
"I may need to call you on that one, if you don't mind," and she gave me a grimace. Apparently it was going to be a family thing. I told her I did not mind at all.
Quinn's response to the whole thing was surprising. He said the kid made him a bit angry. It took a lot for Quinn to come to his realization and having a high school kid opine on it was ridiculous. I had to remind him that of that struggle where he really didn't want to be gay back in high school and how it was determined to come out. Nature will not be stopped. In the end, if we convinced Jack to consider the topic differently, then we may have fostered good. Never shy away from a conversation, as hard as it may be, if the end result leads to progress.
Truth be told, as you will find in all the previous chapters of this story, I have never explained my lifestyle or choices to anyone. Margo figured it out on her own and she never challenged me. She challenged the notion and Ian and me being together but that was a view based on family, which he was not. I never explained it to my high school or college friends. I was fortunate that I could get away with the "take it or leave it" directive. I have become more aware, however, that so many kids still do not have it so good. Obviously, there are conditions which make your choices much easier - when you are super good looking or when you're rich. Adam never had to explain his situation to anyone because he had my protection - so I guessed. He didn't seem to be held back now that he was on his own. Quinn had to work for his acceptance. His mother took it hard. His boyhood friends weren't so involved anymore. But he faced it all like a man and is awesome because of it.
The conversation with Jack was enlightening though. Between that and all the information Erin had shared with me, youth are still having a hard time of it. There will come a point where I have free time and will have to decide in what ways I will spend my time. This will not include, for obvious reasons, raising someone else's kid again, getting involved with someone so young.
Ah, but back to business. The estate agent will be here in the morning. Quinn and I got the back portico cleaned up and relaxed in the family room for the evening. Sunday's always end so quickly.
And, on Monday morning, at 9:30 sharp, a rather elegant Lincoln Continental pulled up to the front portico after being let in the gates. A very stylish lady, Jane Blevins, stepped out. She had straight hair with crisp, straight bangs, a blue pinstripe suit jacket and grey skirt, and smiled and waved. And her young counterpart stepped out of the passenger side. Now, this was going to be interesting. He was a gorgeous guy, with brown hair pushed back behind his ears. He had a dark blue suit that fit like a glove. He waved - "Good morning, Mr. Brevaad!" he shouted as he grabbed computer bags from the back seat. He had a very charming southern accent. But it was more Charleston - East Coast, not country like Alabama.
Jane came up to the portico and shook my hand. Firm grip. The younger guy trailed up behind her.
"Ben," said Jane, "I would like you to meet Brett Carter. Brett has been with us two years now and is a great travel partner."
I shook Brett's hand and asked where that accent came from, although I already knew.
"I'm from Charleston, Mr. Brevard. It is so great to meet you. Jane has filled me in. This is going to be a great project."
"Yep, I agree," I said.
Jane asked, "Where is Quinn? I cannot wait to meet him."
We walked in and Quinn came down the stairs in a stylish tan sportcoat and dark grey dress pants. Yes, he looked quite amazing. I introduced him to Brett and he smiled at me, knowing what I was already thinking.
Brett was not one of the skinny twinks. He had a little more meat on his bones. He was short in stature but was very fine, almost lushous. I do believe both Quinn and I were going to have a time with this. This was going to be a fun week, indeed!