THIS WORK IS FULLY PROTECTED BY U.S. COPYRIGHT LAWS. NO PORTION OF THIS WORK MAY BE COPIED OR REDISTRIBUTED BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE EXPRESS CONSENT OF ITS AUTHOR.
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.
PLEASE HEED THE WARNINGS OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND USE CONDOMS, THEY MIGHT JUST SAVE YOUR LIFE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO PRACTICE UNSAFE SEX--PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS DECISION IF YOU HAVE CHOSEN THAT PATH.
ANY SIMILARITIES TO ANY PERSON LIVING OR DEAD ARE PURELY COINCIDENTAL. THIS WORK IS ENTIRELY FICTITIONAL.
*Dear Readers, first of all let me thank you for your kind responses over the past year. It is wonderful to know that the saga of Paul, Daniel, et al has had such a loyal following. It is only because of your letters that I have continued this series. Secondly, let me apologize for taking so long to get the latest chapter out. Briefly, it's been a weird few months, lots of things happening and finally I'm beginning to see the light again. With any luck I'll be a little more regular in updates in the future. Take care my friends, Michael
The saga continues...
DANIEL'S LOVE
Michael A. Raburn
Chapter 14
"Absolutely not. There is no way that you're inviting him here for the party." I overheard Daniel's voice rising. "Don't you think he's done enough already?"
"But, dad..."
"Don't you 'but, dad' me Jason. You cannot bring that boy in this house after everything that has happened. What do you think it would do to Kyle?"
"I just want them to be friends and for Kyle to see that Andy is not a threat. I don't want to hurt him again."
"Then I think the best thing would be to keep him away for now. Maybe you two can invite him over together, but you can't just surprise Kyle like this."
We were down to three days and counting until the kids' fifteenth birthday bash. What had originally been planned as a backyard barbecue swim party for a few friends had turned out to be the teenage social event of the year. Kyle and Jason had added to and added to the guest list until we finally had to call a halt or we would be feeding more than a hundred teenagers. Most of the members of Margaret Johnson's group were coming, the New York contingent was due to arrive tomorrow, and the Houston family would be here at any minute. With all the family and our friends the final count totaled one hundred twenty four people.
Daniel finally gave up on the idea of cooking for everybody and called Nina's caterer at my insistence. There's no way that he would be able to pull this off without totally exhausting himself and everyone else within reach. Finally he and the publisher came to an agreement about his touring and promoting the novel so he was away from Atlanta in three-day block and would then fly back to spend a day or two with us. Sales were good at the beginning and the publicity of the past couple of years seemed to have helped initially but once the first copies were sold and people started talking about the book the sales really took off. Several mornings the kids and I ate breakfast and watched Daniel on one morning show after another. We got the biggest kick when he finally made it to the major network morning shows. Yep, there was my lover, a national celebrity on television. I could not have imagined when I met that shy, insecure sandwich shop guy what would happen in our lives, least of it all, this.
We both still had several things to get accomplished before the party and did not need to be obsessing over the food. A quick call and they had the menu and delivery times set. Now all we had left to do was finish the gift preparation.
The only sticking point in the entire preparation for the party was Jason wanting Andy Bonner to attend. While we had both talked to Jase about what happened with Andy and what it meant for both him and Kyle, we never got a clear answer as to why he kissed the kid. Jason was not able to explain the urge but we both figured it was teenage hormone run amuck. I understood Jason's wish that they all become friends and even tried to encourage the healing that the meeting would bring about, but Daniel was adamant about it. That boy was not to be sprung on Kyle with no prior warning. God knows I did not want to hurt my son any more than he had already been hurt. He and Jason managed to reconcile their love for each other and get past the incident but I noticed that Kyle was keeping a watch, never letting Jason get far from him. I do not know if it was that he did not trust Jason or if he was still uneasy about what could happen.
"Hi, mom, dad, come on in." I greeted Cornelia and Robert as the limousine pulled up in the new circular driveway that bridged the newly expanded house.
"Hey, sweetie. How's everyone?" Cornelia stepped into my embrace.
"Great as usual. How are you Robert?"
"Damned crazy pilot..." he muttered as he shook my hand. "Almost broke my neck when he decided it was time to land that thing. I've really got to get somebody else in that cockpit." He laughed. "Where are my grandkids?"
"They're out back I think, trying to figure out where to put all the presents they think they're getting."
"Hmm, well I think I'll go help them. Tell the driver to take our bags over to the hotel for us, will you?"
"No need for that, your suite here is ready for you."
"Huh?"
"Didn't Cornelia tell you? There's a bedroom, sitting room and bath in the new wing with your name on it."
He looked back and forth between his wife and me trying to understand what I was saying.
"Dad, this is your home now, at least when you are in town. No more hotels in Atlanta for you."
"You didn't have to do that."
"Yeah, I did." I mused. "You're family and we love you. This is where you belong." His eyes softened and I thought I saw the glimmer of a tear in his eyes before he turned and lumbered off for the house.
Bob, the contractor, and his crew had finished the renovation and linkage that brought Ralph's former house together with ours. Thanks to Kyle's idea and my sketches they were able to build an enlarged studio space between the two houses. Ralph's and mine had the same floor plan and the same footprint and were on the same grade level so all that had to be done was remove the hedges between the properties and build a space to connect them. We had that area vaulted with lots of northern windows so there would be plenty of light. A new entry way was created in the area that was originally Ralph's driveway and we had closed off the other entrances. What had originally been two Midtown cottages was now one larger "family" home for our family. The master suite that Daniel and I used stayed the same and we had the mirror image created in the other wing. That was the space that Cornelia and Robert would have any time they were in town. The boys had taken over the old studio area as their "new" larger bedroom. Minor renovations there and some new closets were all that they really needed. They now had an area with their desks and bookshelves and could spread out some when they were doing homework.
Only a little landscape work and a new paint job were needed to tie the fronts together and we removed the driveways and replaced them with a circular drive and a new garage space for our cars. The back patios were also enlarged but we had intentionally installed some screening so that the Garland's patio would be more private and not exposed to the pool area much like Dan and mine was now. We spent a lot of time debating what to do about the duplicate kitchen. Daniel wanted a more formal dining room but it didn't seem to make sense to have the kitchen on one side of the studio and the dining room on the other. We talked it over for several days and finally decided to tear out the cabinets in the old kitchen and turn that area into the dining room but bridge across the back of the studio with a new butler's pantry. Probably not the right decision for everyone but it did give me a little more wall space in the studio area where I could house finished work. Usually I just leaned the finished painting up against the wall until Nina picked them up, but this would allow me a more controlled storage system.
Overall the renovation had been smoother than we all anticipated. We did not have to move out and Bob and his crews were incredibly efficient. We ended up with two more bedrooms for guests or if by chance one of us needed or wanted to sleep away from our partner. Something none of us ever expected to happen. But, then again, none of us had expected a lot of the things to happen that we lived through the last couple of years.
"Do they have any clue?" Cornelia asked as I poured her a cup of coffee.
"No, I don't think so."
"You both are sure that this is what they want?"
"No doubt about it." Daniel answered. "Won't they just shit themselves?"
"Nice, really nice mental picture there, sweetie." I jabbed him in the ribs.
"Sorry, been hanging around with the wrong crowd, I guess." He giggled.
"Well, we've got a little something for them too." Cornelia hinted.
"What now?" I asked.
"Nope, you'll find out when they do."
"Aww, maw..." Daniel started.
"I'd hate to have to spank you, young man." Cornelia tried to look stern in her reprimand, but failed miserably.
If you have never been in a crowd of seventy or so teenagers, let me tell you it is an experience that you will never forget. The noise level alone rivaled Hartsfield International Airport. I have never heard so much screaming or laughing in my life before the day of the party. It almost seemed that everyone was trying to outdo each other in how loud they could talk. But, the boys appeared to love it.
The kids started arriving about one o'clock and soon were on the patio scarfing up food at an incredible rate. At least the caterers had been warned that it was teenagers and that they had better stock tons of burgers, hotdogs, and soda, all essential food groups for this bunch. There was an endless parade of young people jumping in the pool, splashing their friends and meeting new people.
I got my first shock of the day when I opened the front door to find a frightened looking Andy Bonner on our doorstep.
"Andy, good to see you again. I didn't expect to see you here."
"Hi, Mr. Jamison. I know what you mean, but Kyle called me this morning to make sure I was coming." He looked up at me with his bright eyes. "I guess he's forgiven me."
"Well, well. Looks like it." I stepped back to invite him in.
"They're all out of the patio. Go, have fun. Did you bring a swimsuit?"
He just grinned and pulled up the leg of his khaki shorts to show me a glimpse of his suit. "Got it." He laughed and scampered out back.
"Will wonders never cease?" I muttered to myself.
Us old folks pretty much congregated in the studio area away from the kids. We were taking turns roaming out to check on everyone and returning before we lost any more of our hearing. Everyone appreciated the youthful enthusiasm but we could not stand it for long. Living with two teenagers was interesting to say the least. Hosting seventy of them was a bit overboard, even for the younger of us.
Young love is amazing to watch. It seemed to my eyes that Kyle had indeed forgiven not only Andy but also Jason. He greeted Andy warmly like he did all their friends and then introduced Andy to Scott, his studio buddy from art class. If the fireworks going off in those two young men's eyes were any indication, it would be an interesting ride. Kyle watched as the two strayed away obviously interested in each other. He glanced back and caught my eye and winked. That little monster. He had figured out the way to get Andy out of the picture permanently. I could only grin back at him and stifle the laugh that I am sure would not have been appreciated. I nodded and turned back to the safety of the studio and our older guests.
Daniel was standing behind me when I turned. "What is he doing here?" he asked with a bit of grit in his voice. "I told him..."
"Honey, calm down. Kyle invited him. And from the looks of it he just fixed him up with an admirer." I answered as I wrapped him in my arms.
"Smart little bugger isn't he?" I heard against my chest.
"Must have learned it from you." I giggled.
"Why, you..."
"Any time, any place." I laughed and leaned down to kiss him.
Finally, and I say that with a grateful sigh, the teenagers started leaving about six o'clock. They move in packs, you know. They all seemed to arrive in a fifteen or twenty minute period and now they all flocked out together and waited on the front lawn for parents to parade by and pick them up. Kyle, Jase, Daniel and I waited around thanking everybody for coming and waving at parents as they pulled in the driveway. In about thirty minutes two very tired looking but totally off-the-wall hyperactive teens and their fatigued fathers closed the front door and made our way back to the den/kitchen area.
The kids had asked their friends to not give them gifts and to just join them for a great afternoon. That would be gift enough. But now it was gift time in their minds.
"Dads, don't you have any presents for your considerate, sweet, adorable children?" Jason asked in the voice only appropriate for a toddler, not a fifteen year old.
I could only giggle at him and the shocked expression on his face when I asked him what he was talking about. It only took a beat or two before he figured out I was kidding. That and the boxes that I pulled out from the pantry. When he turned around to look at Kyle they both gasped when they noticed that all the adults had brightly wrapped gift boxes in their laps.
"Oh wow!" Kyle exclaimed.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" everyone screamed.
The kids both had grins that could light up any room and quickly went around the room hugging everyone and thanking them for their yet unwrapped gifts. When they had all the loot they sat in the middle of the floor in the pile and looked unsure as to where to start. After a brief discussion they finally decided that they would both open the gift from the same person at the same time, that way it would be more organized, at least to them.
Nina and Robb had pooled their gifts and gave the boys several new CDs and a new hand-bound journal for Jason and a new hand-bound sketchbook for Kyle. Mikey and Alan's gifts were clothes, new polo shirts and sweaters for the coming fall. The Avery's gave them matching personal CD players and new rollerblades. Marcie and Monica had picked out brightly colored shirts and some yet unreleased books for them.
When they got to the Garland's gifts they were both surprised to open the big boxes and find a single envelop in each box. They looked at us quizzically and unfolded the documents inside. Neither said anything and just looked down at the papers in their hands and looked back at each other. Daniel not I had any clue what was in the envelopes and were as curious as everyone else. I looked at him then back at the boys and realized they had tears running down their faces. We moved in tandem to comfort them and to find out what was going on. When I got to Kyle he hugged me then handed me the paper and almost ran to the Garlands. He and Jason grabbed them and hung on like their life depended on it.
I looked down at the paper in my hand and the up at Daniel. His shocked gaze matched the one I was sure was on my face.
"I don't believe it..." he muttered.
"Believe it." I heard Robert say.
The documents were legal papers announcing trust funds for the boys' college educations. They both had one million dollars that would be used for them to attend any university they chose. Daniel and I were named to oversee the trusts and the disposition of the money when it was time. I was speechless as the tears slid down my own face. Daniel seemed to be in the same condition. Everyone else was curious so rather than reading the papers, which would have been impossible at that time, I passed them to the nearest person and rose to hug Cornelia and Robert.
As we all calmed down I mimicked Daniel and muttered: "I don't believe it."
"Well, they are our grandkids, what did you expect?" Cornelia jabbed me in the ribs.
"Not this, definitely not this." I stated still stunned. I heard the doorbell ring and turned to the kids. "That will be for you."
"Huh?" Kyle asked.
"Go answer the door."
A few minutes later the boys came back with Judge Nelson in tow. They both were crying again and ran across the studio floor to jump in our arms.
"Daddy!" Kyle and Jason both yelled as the same time.
"Son!" Daniel and I echoed.
"Hi everybody. Sorry to barge in here like this." The judge said.
"Well if it's what I think it is, I'm so glad to see you again." Mr. Avery stepped forward to shake his hand. "Is this what I think it is?"
"Yep, those streaks that you saw run by here are the new Jason Alexander Scott-Jamison and James Kyle Scott-Jamison." He beamed. "Seems it had the intended effect after all."
"Yep, it did." I grinned back at him.
Finally after lots of hugs and tears we all settled down and finished off the birthday cake and everyone wound down. The judge was the first to leave and everyone else followed shortly until the only ones left were the Garlands and the four of us. I sent the kids off to get ready for bed and knew by their eyes that they were totally wiped out, even if they did protest. The four of us followed a few minutes later to tuck in the kids and then after hugs of our own we parted. Cornelia had her head on Roberts shoulder and his arm around her as they shuffled down the hallway towards their suite.
I pulled Daniel to me and we headed towards our bedroom. I leaned my cane against the bedside table and sat down to slip out of my shoes. Once I was seated I realized how tired I truly was. I heard Daniel yawn behind me; it had been a long day and it appeared to be catching up with both of us.
We undressed and met in the middle of the bed. Daniel leaned up to kiss me then lay his head on my shoulder, my arm around him. I think he was asleep before I managed to pull the sheet up over us. I kissed his forehead and felt myself slipping towards dreamland as I thanked the universe for all the love that had entered my life.
In my dream Daniel and I were on our beach again, walking hand-in-hand barefoot in the sand. The wind was blowing through my lover's wonderful hair. His blue eyes were sparkling in the sunshine. I could hear the kids laughing in the background as they played at building sandcastles. I felt a shiver run up my spine and goose pimples broke out on Daniel's arm. Something was not right.
"I love you both so much, you've brought so much into my life. Thank you." I felt more than heard the words. "Never would I have guessed I could feel this much love. I'll see you two again, but now it's time."
Daniel and I sat upright in bed at the same time, tears streaming down our faces. I hugged him to me then we both reached for our robes. I grabbed my cane, straightened up and clutched Daniel's arm. Together we moved from the room to offer what comfort we could.
TO BE CONTINUED