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THIS WORK DEALS WITH A FICTITIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO MEN. IF READING ABOUT HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS OR SEXUAL CONTACT BETWEEN TWO MEN IS EITHER ILLEGAL IN YOUR AREA OR OFFENDS YOU, PLEASE DO NOT READY ANY FURTHER.
ANY SIMILARITIES TO ANY PERSON LIVING OR DEAD ARE PURELY COINCIDENTAL. THIS WORK IS ENTIRELY FICTITIONAL.
The saga continues...
DANIEL'S LOVE
Michael A. Raburn
Chapter 11
"Daddy, what are you doing?" Kyle asked as he wandered out to the patio for breakfast, Jason right behind him.
"Hurry up kiddo and eat. You've got to get out of here if you're going to get to camp on time." Daniel said. The kids were in a summer enrichment program that the Avery Foundation helped Margaret Johnson launch. I kidded them both about it being Camp Activist because they were learning about the civil rights movement and the call for equal rights for everyone.
"What's all the papers for?" Jason asked as he sat down to breakfast.
On my end of the glass-topped table I had spread out the architectural drawings that Bob had dropped off the previous day. Daniel and I were up late last night and got up early this morning to further study the plans.
"We're going to expand the house." I replied.
"What?"
"Well guys, we decided that we can't keep throwing you out of your bedroom every time Cornelia or someone comes to visit. We need more space." I explained.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Jason jumped up to hug me.
"We've already made an offer on that little house next door and Bob's trying to figure out whether to demolish it or not." Daniel explained.
Ralph had lived in the house next door since it was built back in the forties and had recently moved to an assisted care facility because he was having trouble getting around by himself. He was always my favorite of the neighbors on Monroe Drive and I felt in many ways that he was more than just a neighbor. His longtime companion died the year I bought the house and I would find him regularly in the backyard crying from his grief and loss. We struck up a friendship that bordered on family.
When the bomb destroyed my house he was one of the first to contact the police and to call our shared insurance agent. His little house only had a few windows shattered by the blast. Thank goodness the bedroom where the bomb was placed was on the opposite side of my house and not closer or his house would have been demolished as well. When we settled back in he was always bringing over things he had baked and could spend hours discussing recipes with Daniel and Nina. He loved having the boys around, saying that they livened up the neighborhood so much.
Daniel helped him decide what furniture that he could take with him to the home and what had to be sold or donated. Jason and Kyle had helped move the boxes and tagged the furniture. It looked like the poor guy had never thrown away anything that he acquired. The house was filled to overflowing with antiques, china, crystal and fine textiles. Since they both had traveled extensively in their younger days their treasures were extensive. Nina called a few of her dealer friends to look at the collection and they had bought everything except a few of the most special pieces that would accompany him to Shady Grove.
One afternoon a few weeks before his move date I was puttering around the patio area trying to regain my strength when he summoned me to the rose bushes that separated our lots. He had been setting aside items that he wanted to give to us before he left and also wanted to talk to me about the property. On the spot I offered him what I thought the house was worth and was prepared to write him a check so no one else could get it. Everything was now in the hands of the attorneys and we just had to wait for their final approval before we closed the deal.
On moving day we were all surprised by the generousness of our neighbor. We found boxes and parcels labeled with our names waiting in the back bedroom. Several of the ones marked with Daniel's name contained his extensive collection of cookbooks gathered from around the world. Kyle and Jason had statues and trinket from his travels. There was one box marked with mine and Daniel's name but we were so busy moving the cookbooks that we never got around to opening it; we just put it into storage with the others.
I caught Daniel around the waist and pulled him into my lap. I nuzzled into his neck and started nibbling his earlobe. Bringing his hands up to rub my newly sprouted stubble he grasped my head and tilted it back for the kiss of a lifetime.
"Since they're so similar looking, why don't we just build something to connect the two?" Kyle popped in.
"Huh?" Daniel asked
"Wait a minute. That's a great idea. That way we keep both houses, but, ooh, I've got to call Bob." I almost dumped Daniel in the floor as I reached for the phone.
"Don't you two have that meeting this afternoon?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah at four. You are coming, aren't you?" Jason responded.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, kiddo." I laughed.
"It's a great idea you've got there."
"Bob, it wasn't my idea. It was Kyle that came up with it, but it makes perfect sense. When could you have me the new drawings?" I asked.
"You think he wants to be an architect when he grows up?"
"Don't know, he's already studying with me. You know, basic drawing and color theories."
"Tell him if he has any more great ideas to call me. I might find a place for him on staff here." He joked. "Give me a couple of days and I'll send over what I come up with. Still want the extra bedrooms?"
"Yeah, could we rip out the kitchen and..."
"Paul, how are you feeling?" I felt more than heard Daniel ask.
I was sitting on the bed trying to summon up enough energy to get in the shower. It had been three months since that crazy airplane ride that got me to the Garland's little party in the nick of time to dedicate the statue and I had made progress in healing. But, there were still mornings that I found it hard to get out of bed or to hold a thought for very long. Even with the physical therapy and walking regime I followed I was impatient to be able to do all the things I had done before. I wanted to paint again but could only manage a few minutes work before I had to sit down. I often wondered if I would ever get strong enough to go back fulltime.
"Answer me, are you okay?" I felt it again.
"Yes, love. Just tired." I thought.
"I'll be there in a minute."
Daniel and I realized during the weeks that we spent with Cornelia and Robert after the opening that what we thought were dreams were actually something more unusual. I could hear him in my head and he could hear me. I experienced all the dreams that Daniel had when I was unconscious, even describing the beach he created for us to play on. He understood the dark void that I was caught in and brought those wonderful images of sun and waves to my mind. Again, it was his intense love that pulled me back from the brink.
Luckily Cornelia was familiar with the islands and knew which one we were talking about when we described it to her. I'm not sure whether she believed us, but she was amazed at the level of detail we could offer her. She finally broke down and convinced Robert to get that crazy pilot to take us over for a week. Daniel and I led the way from our hotel to that secluded inlet the first afternoon we were there.
The boys loved the island and were forever climbing the rocky slopes while Daniel and I lounged on the beach soaking up the sun. Playing in the waves and walking on the sand had been the beginning of my healing, my recovery from the bullet George Tollson had put in my head. I still limped from the neurological damage and had to use a cane or lean on Daniel to get around. And I probably always would, but other than that and some nagging headaches I was improving. The doctors were furious that I left the hospital but could not do anything to stop me from going to Houston with Arthur Avery. They were equally incensed when I refused to return to Atlanta for them to rehospitalize me, but they did not understand that I would heal quicker away from everything except my family.
During the week we frolicked on the island, well actually they frolicked, we saw a side of Robert Garland that no one had ever seen before. He was more loving, more open to conversation and more attentive to Cornelia and her wishes. Everyone could see how this week away from work and worry was good for him. Even Cornelia looked several years younger and she and Robert played with the kids in the surf like they were teenagers. Finally the kids had another grandfather. He was forever running off with them for ice cream or some kind of non-alcoholic tropical drink. We even caught him one night teaching them to play poker. Something told me that he would never return to Houston as the big time businessman again.
On our second day at the beach Daniel encouraged me to remove the bandages and check on the sutures in my head. We found a local doctor that pronounced them ready to remove. After they were snipped and pulled out he applied a salve that he promised would hasten the process and minimize scaring. When he was all done Daniel finished cutting back my overgrown hair. For some reason the nurses had only shaved the side of my head that was injured so I was half bald and half shaggy.
"Daddy Bear, what can I help you do?" Daniel asked when he reached the bedroom. I was still seated on the bed, reminiscing about the past few weeks.
"This leg is bothering me. I think maybe I'm trying to do too much."
"Yeah, buddy. I told you to take it easy, but Mr. Paul Jamison, media star, does as he likes, right?" He snarled playfully at me.
"You got that right, cutie. Now help me in the shower."
"Baby Bear, make love to me." I turned in the spray of the shower. Daniel was rinsing the shampoo from that incredible dark hair that I loved so much, his penis at full erection from our rubbing against each other.
"Huh?"
"You heard me. I want so much for you to make love to me, now, here in the shower like I do you."
"Paul, I don't think I can hold you up." He laughed.
"Okay then, how about we get out of here and I can stretch out on the bed. That way there'll be no pressure on my bad leg. Then you just slide in. Think you can handle that?"
"I'm not sure I can."
"Sure you can. Just remember what I do to you and do the same thing for me. I can't wait to feel you inside me." I was almost pleading.
We finally got me situated, draped over a couple of pillows and Daniel lubed his fingers and started loosening me up. It had been years since I last experienced this, but somehow now I needed it again. I needed to be possessed in the most intimate way by my soulmate, by the only person I could imagine ever doing this to me again.
We made love slowly and gently for a long while then Daniel sped up and finished us both off. I knew I would be a little tender for the next day or two but it would be a soreness I could think of fondly. My ever-attentive lover relaxed my muscles enough so I felt no pain only the fullness of being completely filled with him.
"Baby, we're going to be late if we don't get a move on. You know how upset the kids will be if we're not right on time." I shook Daniel's shoulder. We were curled up together on the bed resting from our lovemaking and we had dozed off.
"I'm moving. Do you need help?"
"No, I'm fine. Thanks for the physical therapy." I giggled.
"Anytime, my good man, anytime." He laughed back in his best British accent.
The summer organizational meeting of the Gay Student's League was scheduled to take place at the high school library. Margaret Johnson had been diligent about getting the administration and staff of the school involved with the group and had signed everybody she could find as volunteers and sponsors. The Board of Education was not happy about losing one of their best counselors but understood the importance of her undertaking.
The crowd gathered outside the school was milling around the grassy area near the building. Daniel dropped me off on the sidewalk out front then joined me a few minutes later after he parked the car. As we made our way towards the building I got a good look at what was quickly becoming opposing sides. One group, clearly the ones invited to the meeting, was standing their ground staring down the other more vocal bunch. A few of the protestors had those stupid signs that you always see at rallies telling us how evil we were and how God was going to condemn all of us to Hell.
Kyle, Jason and a few of the other kids from the camp were out in front trying to keep the groups separated. Walking up to the assembly, I noticed the frantic look on Margaret's face.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I began, turning to face the hecklers, "If you would all join us we can try to work this out."
One stubby older lady stepped forward from the group. "We don't want to work out nothing. You're all going to die, God's gonna get you for being perverts. We won't let you change out children into faggots."