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The saga continues...
DANIEL'S LOVE
Michael A. Raburn
Chapter 17
I looked up from my desk and the paperwork I was finishing for the end of semester and grades to see the dean storming down the hallway in my direction. It was the last day of spring semester, three whole months off lay just ahead of me. Sometimes, like today I cursed the glass panels that separated my studio and the hall, nowhere to hide. And today of all days. Cornelia, Daniel and the boys were waiting for me to finish so we could get to the airport. Lots of things had to be done before our vacation could start.
He came to a halt just inside the door shaking a sheaf of papers at me. "How in the hell am I supposed to deal with this?"
"Barney, don't scream at me. What are you talking about?"
"That damned book!"
"Huh?"
"You've only got eight spots next year and I've got over a hundred applications to study with you. How do you propose to handle this? In my years here, we've never had this many." He groaned.
"Sounds to me like a good kind of problem, Barn." I said in a sneering voice.
"I've never had to turn back students."
"Well, let's see what we can do about that. Here, have a seat." I softened. Not that I had given much thought to what the publicity would do to the school after the book had been in circulation a couple of years. There was no way I could ever teach that many students, not and give them the attention they deserved.
He sat nervously looking back and forth from the papers to my face.
"How about we open two more studios? Do we have the space?" I asked.
"No!"
"Can we come up with some more space here or across the street?" I asked, knowing the building, an older warehouse, had been recently vacated. "See if you can rent some space over there and I'll move over."
"Paul, this isn't your goddamned school! I talked to the board today, they're not happy about his. I can't just go around renting space like that. I've got budgets to meet." He was getting riled up again. An old problem, both him and the blasted board of directors.
"Barney, look. Leave the applications here with me and let me see if I can figure out some way of weeding them down and making them fit." I answered, trying to maintain my cool and get him out of my hair.
He grunted, threw the stack of papers at me and huffed out of the studio. Old bastard never did get it. He had been a problem since the former dean retired.
I picked up the phone and punched in the number. "Amy, look I need you to do something for me."
"Sure Paul, what is it this time?" she giggled.
"Know anything about commercial space?"
I sat furiously making notes on the back of a watercolor drawing. About an hour before our scheduled meeting time my phone rang.
"Paul here."
"Hey honey, you gonna be able to leave there on time?"
"I hope so. Can we hold the plane if I'm not?" I asked.
"Sure, its her crazy pilot. I'm sure we can arrange something if you need to stay. What's up?"
"I'm not totally sure yet, but I've just about had it with old Barney-butt."
"Tell you what. I'll tell Cornelia and the boys to go on and fly up. They can get settled in, send the pilot back and go have a good dinner. You come on back home and we'll work on the problem and fly up tomorrow."
"Would that work?"
"Sure, we don't have to see the attorneys until Monday. We'll have plenty of time."
"Okay, let me turn in my grades and I'll see you in a few. Oh, call our attorney and see if you can get him. Oh, and call Bob too. See if they can all meet at the house tonight."
"You got it. Love you."
"I love you too, Baby Bear."
"Paula, how's your day been?" I asked my favorite school secretary.
"Well, you've certainly got balls to come in here after what you've stirred up." She was laughing.
"Oh, he'll get over it. Here are the final grade sheets. Can I use the copier?"
"Sure, can I help? What are you doing, by the way?"
"Just a little idea I had." I proceeded to tell her of my plans. "You interested?"
"You know it. Oh, this makes my whole weekend, hell, my whole year!"
"Great. We'll see you about seven?"
"I'll be there. Can I bring Tracey? You know she's in marketing."
"Sure the more the merrier."
"Lucy, I'm home!" I shouted as I came in the front door.
"Oh, Ricky!" Daniel rounded the corner and jumped into my arms. "I'm so glad you're home. If we didn't have this meeting we'd be all alone tonight. Just think what we could get into."
"Hmm, we'll get into that anyway. They won't be here all night, you know." I mumbled and pulled him into a major lip lock.
"I'm gonna hold you to that promise." He leered at me as I set his feet back on the floor.
"They should getting to Boston any time now. Cornelia was going to get everything arranged for next week. Almost forgot, Greenley called today."
"What'd he want?"
"They want a sequel to "Ralph's Journey." They want me to tell more of the group's stories.
"Baby, that's great. Can you work it in? You're already pretty deep in the new one."
"One day at a time, I guess. Anyway, they'll be time to finish up at the beach."
"Just leave a little time open for me. You can't work all the time."
"I know Daddy Bear, I know."
We were finishing dinner preparations when the doorbell rang. I took the kabobs off the grill and went to open the door. Amy, Nina and Bob stood there, all smiles. Good omen. I invited them in and was about to close the door when Bruce pulled up in his Lexus. Right behind him was Paula's van. I shook Bruce's hand ushered him into the house and turned to greet the next bunch. Paula and Tracey were not alone. With them were three of the instructors from the college and another of the administrative people. It was going to be an interesting evening.
Daniel had already set the table on the patio for dinner. I got everyone drinks and then went out to find another table. He met me with more dishes and in a few minutes we had plenty of space for the crew. Luckily neither of us could cook a little of anything so there would be plenty of food for everyone.
Over our dinner of chicken, salad and grilled veggies I brought out my ragged notes and the beginnings of a plan was formed. Amy had great news: the building was available, our offer had been accepted, and we could get it almost immediately. Bob would do the renovations over the next couple of months and it would be ready in time. Bruce signed on to the plan and was making notes as we all talked and bounced around ideas for a couple of hours.
Tracey and Paula presented their thoughts about the marketing and had a great grasp of what would be entailed. Now we just had to find someone to take the helm of our new venture. It was my idea, but I had not real interest in administering anything more than my own life. Nina agreed to take the ground floor for gallery space but had her plate full already. Daniel came to our rescue and nominated Mikey. Why we had not thought of him immediately? He had finished his MBA and was looking for something art related to do. I called their house, got Alan and pitched my idea. I had to hold the phone away from my ear to keep from being made deaf by the screaming coming over the line. Another item settled.
The trickiest part of the whole plan was how to handle the initial group of students. We had the applications but they actually belonged to the school. Paula decided that a mailer would handle the problem without us actually directly contacting anyone. She would get that going in the next few days and would let us know.
And thus was born "The Jamison Studio Institute," our newest baby and a shot across the bow of the behemoth that stood across Peachtree Street. Take that Barney.
I made sure everybody had our numbers on the island and my cell number and our little party broke up. I grabbed Daniel into my arms and swung him around. We were really going to do this. I almost could not believe it.
"Dad, we were worried you wouldn't get here." Jason stepped up to hug me as we deplaned. I was a little taken aback by he appearance, what had happened to my little boy? He had filled out over the years and stood over six feet tall. Not that I was not around for his growth spurt, but it was much more obvious here at the airport than him bouncing around the house.
"Okay, so we're a little late." I apologized. With all the planning we had done Friday night and sleeping in Saturday morning, Daniel and I had postponed our flight to early Monday. We arrived about eight that morning.
Kyle was in my arms only seconds after Jason moved to Daniel. "Daddy, I love you so much."
"I know baby. How's Boston? Did you have fun last night?"
"Yep. Cornelia called a few friends and we ended up having seafood at this great place they knew about. You'd have had a great time."
"Well, when we get you both settled in, maybe we can go back. Let's get going. We've got some news for you two."
"Oh, no. Here we go again..." Jace started.
"Oh shut up. It's a good thing." I said in my best media maven voice.
The attorneys we had contacted after our winter trip to Boston had been busy and it only took a few minutes for us to sign the papers that would purchase the townhouse for the kids. Since they'd both be up here at least four years at the same university, we'd decided to purchase rather than rent. What they did not know was that we had snuck behind their backs and had the home furnished for them. I kept making jokes about them having to sleep on the floor or scavenge furniture off the streets.
Cornelia of course had been involved and had her decorator from New York in to do the work. The trickiest part of the whole deal was getting permission to get into the house before we officially closed. As it turned out Cornelia knew the family of the previous owner so she solved that little problem.
Signing the last of the papers, I reflected back over the past three years. Life had settled down after we returned from New York. All of us had deadlines to deal with and had to squeeze working on the books in with the rest of daily life.
Jason, ever the athlete, continued to develop and played just about every sport he could get himself into. With his ever-present cheerleader, Kyle, around him there seemed to be nothing he could not do. We had been concerned that the sports would take time away from his studies, but he kept a balance in his life and had graduated near the top of his class. His new goal was to get through college and get himself into medical school. He intended to be the first doctor in the Jamison family.
Kyle blossomed with the love that he had been deprived of so much of his life. Having Jason with him constantly and living in the stability of our somewhat crazy household truly had grounded him for the first time in his life. He continued to study with me and was developing quickly into a mature artist. His interested lay more in the sculpture, three-dimensional arena, mostly in clay and mixed media constructions. With his trust funds and the support of a doctor husband he would be able to study with the best and in some way follow my footsteps into the art world.
Their book, coauthored with Margaret Johnson, was widely received and had been included in several university reading lists as well as required reading for several Gay and Lesbian Studies programs. Scheduling got a little tight when they were asked to speak at GLBT groups across the country but we worked it out. They were approached by Marcie about a sequel or other projects, but had decided to put that off until after their degrees were finished.
Cornelia settled into the Atlanta social scene and was quickly among the movers and shakers. We were always getting invitations to openings, concerts and fundraisers. Some we took, most we declined. Several distinguished gentlemen were seen with her but either she was playing hard to get or was not interested. She never would tell us which.
The Averys were well and were enjoying their retirement and new grandchildren. Slowly they were easing out of the day-to-day running of the Foundation and spending more and more time in the country. We saw them regularly at board meetings and had dinner with them whenever we got north or they came to Atlanta.
Garland International was bumping along doing whatever it was that they did, make money mostly. Cornelia was offered a position with their board after Robert's death, but declined citing her grandkids and their needs. She was really into the grandmother stuff.
"Dads..." Jason started, his voice emotion laden. "We can never thank you enough for what you've done for us these last few years."
We were finishing dinner and savoring our desserts when Jason started his speech. The final tour of the house surprise both boys, but I could tell that Kyle suspected something was going on when we parked on the street. I think it was because I'd intensified the joking about sleeping bags. After the tour we'd gone back to their favorite restaurant for dinner.
"You don't have to..."
He cut me off. "Yes we 'have to.' I don't know where we would be now if it hadn't been for you. Margaret saved us from the immediate danger, but you both truly saved us. We never imagined I would be going to college, we never imagined that we would still be together, we never knew we could know this much love. And on top of that you brought a wonderful woman into our lives."
I looked to Daniel and then Cornelia and saw they both had tears in their eyes. Wiping my face I looked at both our sons and tried to smile. "What you don't know, or maybe you do, is how much you've brought to our lives. I thank the universe every night that our paths have crossed. You were both great children and you'll be great men."
"There's one more thing we need to ask you to do for us." Kyle started after he wiped his own eyes. "Let's finish here and walk back to the house."
We could not imagine what they were planning now as we walked back towards their neighborhood. My leg had finally healed as much as it ever would. Luckily the physical therapy paid off and now I was pain free and could walk without the cane. I'd always have the limp but even it seemed better with the exercise program.
It was only a couple of blocks from the restaurant to where we turned off to cut through the park that bordered their town home. As we neared the center fountain, Kyle and Jason stopped and turned to us.
Cornelia, Daniel and I had been walking arm-in-arm and stopped facing the boys.
"Dads and Grandmother, we knew that if we told you what we had planned that you'd want to get involved and would make a big production out of this." Kyle started, his grin matching Jason's. "So we thought we'd spring it on you."
I looked at Daniel and then to Cornelia. It seemed none of us had a clue. The boys reached into their pockets and retrieve matching gold rings then turned to each other. In a very simple, almost old-fashioned way they proceeded to exchange their vows of marriage to each other. Finishing up, they kissed and hugged then turned to us, tears evident in their eyes, but shining smiles on their faces.
If there were any other people in the park that night I am sure they did not understand the group hug that we all shared for several minutes. None of us wanted to let go of each other. The symbolism of this last night together on top of their marriage ceremony was almost too much for us all. Tomorrow we would be leaving and their life together would truly start. Our boys had grown up on us and now it was their turn to live their lives.
They would always have our support and love and they knew that. We would see each other frequently for holidays and school breaks and vacations, but this was the end of their childhood.
When the hug ended and we all started trying to put ourselves back together Daniel cracked us all up with his remark.
"Remember guys, we want grandchildren. But, not too soon."
Twenty years later Daniel would look back at those days as the happiest of his life. He had loved; he had been loved. The boys and their two adopted sons were in the cottage, asleep after the long flight. He stood facing the crashing waves, lit by the full moon and shining stars.
I was standing behind him as he followed the family tradition started by Cornelia and released my remains to the ocean.
"Daddy Bear..." he sobbed.
"Baby Bear, I'm here." I whispered, kissing his neck.
THE END
Dear Readers, thank you so much for your support and guidance over the past several months. If it weren't for you this story would never have continued. I appreciate every comment and every email that I've received. I've started work again on "Dylan's Hope" and think that the first chapter or two of it will be ready soon. My best wishes to you all in your journey.