Chrysalis Part 3-Chapter 7
This story is about a young man's quest to fix a major birth defect--he was born without a penis. On his quest he meets challenges, his soul mate and many other soon to be friends.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and events are the product of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any real person is coincidental.
The story depicts procedures and practices common for gender reassignment; however, this story does not claim to be a medical treatise, and information is primarily for the purpose of the story and not medical advice. This story is written for adults with adult themes. If you are underage or live in a location where references to gay relationships or transgender people is forbidden, please log out of the story or move.
This work is copyrighted by Boethiuscell@gmail.com © 2023
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Chapter 7--An Interlude before the Storm
Chris and Tom needed to spend a couple of days in Chicago discussing the assignments for the fashion shows. Chris would be working with a new designer while Tom was coupled with an established designer he had worked with before. From New York to London, then Paris and finally Milan. Tom and Chris were flying to London three days earlier than needed to visit with Tom's grandfather, Sir Seymour Greenwood, the patriarch of the family and bastion of family tradition. Chris was already a wreck at the prospect of meeting the man, who Tom, Ceddrick and Ariel said was acerbic and domineering. Tom tried to minimize the importance of Grandda in Tom's life, but mostly failed.
The second night in Chicago, Chris arranged to meet his parents and Britney at the Alinae for supper. Chris knew that his mother always wanted to eat there but it was too expensive for them. He would also introduce Tom. Tom was a nervous wreck at the prospect. While he appreciated that Chris had reconciled with his family, he was very angry at them for how they had abandoned him.
Chris and Tom were at the table, with a bottle of champagne chilling when the rest of the Wentworth family arrived, escorted by the maître d, to the private dining room. Chris's sister wore the same dress as she did in New York, she was ravishing. His mother wore a cocktail dress that made her look younger and flirty. His dad wore a black suit, like he usually did for work, his hands twitched at his side in discomfort. Chris rose, elegant in a white dinner jacket and a yellow paisley silk shirt, to assist his mother in her chair. Tom, in a navy-blue silk morning coat, assisted Britney.
Once seated wait staff poured water, opened the champagne, and offered menus. The choices were limited to two or three items for each of the twelve courses. While champagne was poured for everyone but Britney, she was offered her choice of beverages. Helen, Chris's mother, was basking in an elite lifestyle heaven. Chris Sr. was studying Tom like he was a nudist at a church picnic.
"Mom, Dad and Britney, thank you for joining us tonight. I wanted to celebrate with you the news that I and this handsome gentleman next to me are to be wed. This is Tom Greenwood." Chris was feeling particularly vexatious. "His father is a Hollywood screenwriter and his mother is an attorney. He is also heir to the Greenwood estate in England."
Tom clamped Chris's thigh until Chris winced. "Chris overstates himself. My grandfather, Sir Seymour Greenwood, has not yet named an heir." Helen almost peed her pants thinking that her son was to marry royalty.
"Oh, that is so wonderful. I'm so happy for both of you. Do you have a date? Are you marrying in California or England?" She then frowned. "We will be invited?"
"When we decide the details, I will let you know Mom. And I expect you and Dad to walk me down the aisle." Chris Sr. choked on his champagne. Helen gushed over the prospect; Brittney, only in Chris's view stuck a finger down her throat in a fake gag.
"Tom, how did you and Chris meet?"
Now was Tom's chance to lambast the man for throwing Chris out of the house. Chris gripped Tom's painfully. "I met Chris outside of Macy's. He is attractive, and we struck up a conversation and then went for a late snack." Tom looked at Chris, his eyes crystal blue with love. "He was the most amazing person I have ever met. I was smitten. You may not believe in love at first sight, but I was hit with a thousand cupid arrows."
"Did you know at the time about Chris's issues." Chris Sr. was more curious than hurtful.
"Yes, I did immediately. My parents taught me that a person's worth is not measured in physical appearance but in the quality of the soul and mind. I must admit that I find Chris a very handsome man." Tom emphasized the word "man". "But he has one of the most beautiful souls I have ever encountered. Despite the hardships of his life, he is kind, considerate, and courteous." Tom leaned into Chris and kissed him on the lips. One reaction was horror at the social faux pas, a second confusion and the last delight.
"My son," Chris Sr. said, "is as taken with you as you are with him. I do not understand the relationship, but it has my blessing."
"Dad, tonight is not about your blessing. I do not need it. It is more to let you know that I am doing well and am in love with this wonderful man. How you react is in your control, not mine. I will not live in the past, with the pain each of us have suffered, when I can see a glorious future."
"Mr. Wentworth, Chris." Tom would not allow Chris's father to ruin the evening. "I think you still see Chris as the child you lost." Tom wanted to say "threw away". "You need to see Chris as the man he is today. Granted that I am biased, but Chris is a strong, competent adult with a firm sense of right and wrong. Almost everybody that meets him is better for the experience. You and Helen gave him a good foundation. From that he has built, by himself, a magnificent mansion."
"You are right, Tom, that I only see Chris as I last knew him. Through my ignorance and guilt, I lost him. And, while I do not fully understand, I am truly grateful that you found him and returned him to us. Chris, your mother and I will be proud to walk you down the aisle at your wedding."
Brit gave her parents a saccharine smile. "Since you are in a forgiving mood. Can I have Bret spend the night with me?" Both Helen and Chris, Sr. turned toward Britney and said "no." Britney only gave a satisfied smile to Chris. Somethings have not changed it said.
Helen looked at Chris as he looked at her. "Your eyes remind me of my grandmother, your great grandmother on the maternal side. She had the same, not color, but penetrating look like she could read souls. Many of her friends and relatives thought she was a witch or second sighted." Tom shifted his attention from Britney to Helen. "When I was twelve or so, she died a few years later, she invited, one did not refuse an invite from Nonna, to have tea with her. At the end she said she would read the tea leaves. I was skeptical and asked if the tea leaves really told the future." Helen paused at the memory. "She laughed and said, `NO! Nipotina, they are just soggy leaves, but they do help me focus. I could use a crystal ball or cards, but I prefer to enjoy tea with my granddaughter.' I felt so special. My mother swore that Nonna haunted her mother because Nonna did not like whom she married, your grandfather."
"What did the tea leaves say?" Britney was curiosity in a bundle of energy.
Helen thought. "It was many years ago. But she said I would marry a fine man who would love me always." She looked at Chris Sr. "She also said that I would have two children: A boy and a girl. That I would be blessed with gifted children only if I let them blossom in their own way. To love them as they are inside.' Then she said something in Italian puer solvit quae femina voverat. Never did discover what it meant."
"I think it is Latin , not Italian." Chris said. "I think it is from Ovid."
"Do you know your grandmother's maiden name?" Tom asked.
"Gloriosa Verdi. She was proud of her maiden name. She claimed she was a relative of Verdi the composer. I've never checked any genealogy."
"Verdi is Italian for Green." Tom looked at Chris like this was a significant revelation.
The remainder of the meal was family gossip, catching up on life, and renewing family bonds. The bill came, Chris blanched, over $3,000, but it was worth it as he handed the server his platinum card. His mother was twitterpated over eating at Alinea; his father was cordial and impressed, though he did not say so. And Britney just enjoyed time with her brother. So yes it was worth it.
The next day, after a conference call with Natalie, Blaise and Claret on the West Coast to discuss the new talent, the status of the video, and adding a video and sound editors so that those jobs would not need to be farmed out. Nat was sure that once Cecelie's video dropped, Dreamweavers would be adding more work.
Chris and Tom flew to New York. Beach greeted them as they dragged themselves through the door and into the bedroom with 13 new messages. One was a reminder for Chris to see his doctor about the hormones. Chris felt good so was not worried. Another was from Jazzabel begging Chris to do a show with him. Chris thought Saturday would be fun. He would see if a bunch of friends would like the night out. He needed the time to recharge. Playing at Jazzabel's was always that.
"Ms. Millie is at the door," Beach said. Chris told Beach to let her in. Both he and Tom were exhausted, but Millie was a force of nature not to be deterred, redirected, or ignored. For two hours they talked about L.A. and the building gossip. The wine and the steady drone of Millie's voice sent Chris into slumberland. The next he knew he was in bed cuddling with Tom, who was asleep.
The next day was meetings at Dreamweavers-East to discuss the New York Fashion shows that Tom and Chris were walking. In all, there were over twenty-five people present, 90% Chris did not know and 90% were female. He sat next to Boyd, who identified several. Most were on contract for the week. The afternoon was meeting with the designers, makeup and hair to discuss what each was wearing, the look, and the order of presentation. It was long and tiring. But this Chris was finding was most of modeling. During down time, he was looking at furniture that Chaz was recommending. While the New York place was mostly dark words and heavy fabrics, Chaz was recommending light woods like maple, birch and ash with more brightly colored fabrics. Chris liked several of the ash pieces.
Chris received a text that the entire security system was operational. He would have, from his phone or any Internet connection have access to both properties as if they were one big house. The major challenge and expense was security for the entire perimeter of the 4.5 acres. It was recommended and followed that there would be three levels of surveillance: perimeter, 500 feet from the house, and around the house. A special A/C unit was installed to cool the IT equipment. A generator building was put in the outbuilding with both natural gas and propane tanks, as backup. Solar and wind were in active discussion, since part of the property was mostly scrub. At the technician's suggestion, microphones and cameras were installed next to the spring and creek. The babbling brook could be piped throughout the property, which was the best feature of the security system, outside of Beach, because it would let the sounds of the water lull him to sleep in their bedroom.
Chaz and Boyd stopped over that night to visit. Chris was ticked at Chaz when he sent back the bedroom set Tom and he had bought until he saw the design. Slim designed it and it was being fabricated in California. It was a stained glass headboard that went to the ceiling with lighting behind it. At first it looked abstract earth tones with pops of yellows, reds, and blues, but upon careful inspection it was a giant tree with birds sitting on swirling branches and baroque shaped leaves. The duvet Chaz designed and had custom made, matched the colors but in greens with abstract butterflies in a field of flowers. Slim also designed four abstract stained glass panels for the four arched windows above the windows and doors to the patio. Each panel flowed into the next that Chris decided was the seasons or the flow of time.
"What do you think of the plans for your bedroom?" Chaz sipped bourbon neat while snuggling against Boyd. Just too damn cute, thought Chris.
"At first I was upset because I liked the bedroom set we bought, but Slim's design is so us."
"Thought so too. Going to remove the carpet and put flooring to match the rest of the house. We'll use rugs to create warmth. Revamping the fireplace will be easy. I also want to totally redo the master bathroom. White marble on white cabinets is soooo boring. And then there is the window over the tub and in the shower that needs to be opaqued when in use. They make a window that electrically opaques a window with the flick of a switch. Also, the tub is being removed to something that can accommodate both of you, The shower will be redone with multiple heads and new tile."
"I do have a limit to my budget," Chris weakly whined. He knew that Chaz was economical--except when it came to his vision.
"I am not doing as much with the rest of the house." Chaz's comment did not convince Chris. "Minor work in the dining room. Nothing in the kitchen. Major work in the family room and office. Media room will be upgraded, although it is in good shape, if you want to wait."
"No, do everything you can now. Tom and I will not be back to L.A. for at least a month. Get everything done before then so we will not have any construction or tradespeople traipsing through the house while we try to restore ourselves after being away."
"Makes sense." Boyd uncurled from Chaz to stretch and join the conversation.
"Could you put a tea house or meditation gazebo by the little stream?"
"What about a tree house?" Boyd contributed. "I would be happy to scout the perfect tree or trees around the stream, since I will be spending a few weeks in L.A.."
"We have not found the spring and stream on the property yet. Have not had time to explore, so I would appreciate that and send pictures. I want to put in a garden; look for a place for that, Boyd."
"Remodeling here was so much easier than the place in L.A.." Chris was overwhelmed with the number of details that Chaz was throwing at him. Tom was little help with `whatever you like hon'.
"Chris, you must understand that your home in L.A. is four times larger than this place. If you trust me, I can make most of the decisions. From working with you on this place and being friends, I have a good feel for your tastes and for Tom's. I promise I will use little of Tom's taste because frankly he has none unless it is lecherous and debauched." Tom groaned but agreed. "You have made a good man out of Tom, Chris."
"Fucking right," Tom said as he raised his fourth glass of wine. He found interior design boring, right up there with clipping toenails, which he noticed that he needed to do.
"I trust you Chaz, you did an amazing job here. You have my blessing unless you are buying art work. At least send pictures, I consider my artwork like public underwear. I don't want holes in it."
"Never heard that comparison before," Chaz laughed. "If art is well chosen, it reflects the collector and hence the collector's deepest emotions. I get it and will give you approval for anything I purchase." The room was quiet for a little. "Where do you want the Turners. Here or California."
"Don't know. I thought of one here and on out West, but I don't want to split the two. Your thoughts."
"Where will you spend most of your time?"
"In bed with me." Tom pipped up, "which is where we need to be. We have a long day tomorrow." Chaz and Boyd, who was sleeping, left.
"Thanks Tom." Chris and Tom, holding hands went off to dream of vernal forests.
Friday night Juan and Zack stopped by and then Millie and Liam. Saturday during the day the rest of the condo members stopped in to see Chris.
Chet and Hector called and said they would see Chris and Tom for supper at his parents, where Chet updated Chris and Tom about Toby and how he was denied bail. Neither Chris or Tom felt like they could say no. And after super everybody, including Chet's parents went to Jazzabel's, which Chris had agreed to participate on stage. Although Chris had fun, and more friends showed up than he knew he had, it was still exhausting. And there were still events with Cordelia Duncan for the Men's Fashion Week on Sunday. Monday Chris had no events planned, but Tom was busy. However, Natalia, wanted a video chat to discuss the talent Chris had vetted and about what direction Claret should direct the media campaign. Claret was proving a creative genius with marketing and publicity on social media. Chris's follow-up doctor's appointment with Dr. Sturgeon was a thumbs up--no problems. Chris's ovaries were starting to shrink, and his clitoris was growing. Tuesday night was an exclusive party at a penthouse in Manhattan where Chris drank one glass too many of Champagne and was climbing all over Tom, hornier than rabbits in March. Tom found it amusing, but he took Chris home early for a little relief. Wednesday both Tom and Chris had catwalks in the afternoon and the evening with an after party.
So went August and September by like squirrels running around for acorns. Too soon, it would be to Europe and the three fashion weeks there. They did not scare Chris much, or as much as the prospect of meeting Tom's grandfather, which all the entire family feared.