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THIS WORK DEALS WITH A FICTIONAL 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 FICTIONAL.
THANKS GUYS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT...
DYLAN'S HOPE
Michael A. Raburn
Chapter 9
We arrived back in Atlanta after that crazy weekend to start the ball rolling in the transition that we planned. I was having a great time thinking about a future away from work but still had some twinges of something about leaving. It was probably the unknown that was daunting me.
Truthfully, I was ready to leave the business in the hands of someone else. I had worked hard for twenty years, made some money and now wanted to enjoy my life and my new partner. Dylan would have been quite capable to run the company in my stead but that would defeat the purpose of my leaving.
Andrea and Dylan decided to get some shopping out of the way when we got back. Andrea needed to decide on the look for their new bedroom suite and Dylan had a list of things to order for the cabin. I took Robert to the office so he could get a look around. He'd been there several times, but this would be his first look at the day-to-day operations.
During our quick tour of the building I asked Doug Anderson to meet us for lunch so he and Robert could get better acquainted. We met him at noon at the little cafe down the street. I was happy that my renovation of the old building had started the ball rolling in the area. By encouraging a couple of the other owners to do the same with their spaces, the neighborhood now looked completely different than it had years before. There had once been junked cars and garbage piles littering the streets. Now small shops, cafes, and artists had moved into the once rundown area.
Over sandwiches and sodas Robert and Doug got to know each other better. We discussed the direction the company was moving in and my desire to detach myself. Doug felt that the company would run just fine without me there at the helm every day. We laid out the plan for Doug. He listened carefully, adding his opinions and pointing out possibilities.
"Great then, guys. I'm retired." I laughed at them. "Ya'll handle it."
"You know we will Jon. You've done so much for me over the years that the least I can do is take care of the company as I always have. And you've got your hands full with Dylan, anyway. Any idea what you're both going to do?"
"Not sure Doug. He's talking about gardening. I can't wait to see the city boy digging in the dirt." I laughed.
"Yeah, and I can't wait to see what you're going to do up in the mountains with no company to worry about." Robert piped in.
"Ah, I'll find something to do." I replied, knowing exactly what the future held for me, loving Dylan. Okay, there were a few other things too.
"Daddy." He whispered in my ear. He tightened his muscles around me in a slow rhythm. I was having a hard time pulling the bits of my mind back together after the gut wrenching orgasm that we had shared. I was snuggled into his arms, my face buried in his neck trying to catch my breath. His legs held me tightly around the waist, keeping me from pulling away and sliding out of him.
"Baby." I whispered back. His warmth surrounding me kept me from wanting to be anywhere else in the world than wrapped in the love we shared. I groaned when he clinched his sphincter again. So tight, so warm, like a glove he caressed me. He turned my head to face him, his lips meeting mine in another passionate kiss. I felt feverous, lost in the moment. He caressed my back, pulling me even harder into him. Slowly I slid away from his bottom, only to ease back into his canal. We pushed against each other, establishing a lazy, loving grind. The goal was not orgasm, just to love each other and to give pleasure.
His hand guided my face back to that secret spot behind his ear. I nibbled and slowly licked along his neck and shoulder, savoring the taste of his sweat. His caresses slowed, his heels slid slowly down the back of my thighs. One deep breath and he was asleep in my arms. I tried to move, to get my weight off him but he resisted, tightening his grasp. Dylan's soft snore lulled me. Eventually, I dropped off.
"Doug's got the budgets worked out." I turned to face Dylan as I hung up the phone. "Looks like we can live on my savings." We were unloading the bags and boxes from Dylan's car. Andrea and Robert were already gone to the office and we had finished our leisurely breakfast.
"Jon, you know I've got that money from Mom and Dad." He started.
"Yes, and we'll keep it where it is, at least for now. We don't need it and I'd feel better if we didn't use it."
"Honey, what's mine is yours." He pulled me to him.
"I still don't feel right about it. What if you decide...?" His hand clamped over my mouth.
"Don't say that. Don't even think that. I'm in this for the long haul." He was adamant and a little pissed off at me.
"Okay, okay." I tried to apologize. "We'll use it if we need it. How's that."
"Well, a little better. Now what's on the agenda for today?"
"What is all this stuff?" I answered his question with one of my own as I sat the final bag on the table.
"Let's see." He rummaged through the bags. "Gardening books in this one." He grabbed another. "Hmm, pottery books in this one." He handed that one to me with a big smile on his face.
"Who are they for?" I asked.
"You, dummy." He elbowed me. "I've seen those bowls you made in that night class you took. You should do more."
"How did you know that's what I've always wanted to do?"
"A little hunch. And a little information from Andrea."
"I love you." Leaning over, I kissed him. "Oh, wow. Did you buy the store out?"
"Almost. New linens in this bag." He tossed it on the floor. "Seeds in this one." He handed me a smaller bag.
"You're serious about this garden business aren't you?"
"You bet. Gotta keep Poppa Bear well fed."
"Yeah, right." I patted my belly.
"Hey, no criticizing my husband, you."
"I can see it now. Poppa Bear and Farmer Dylan." I giggled.
"Yep. Your granddad would have been proud."
"He would have. He would have loved you." I mused. "Oh, about that studio."
"I've already started. I called Sarah." I must have looked puzzled. "You remember the nice nurse at the hospital." I nodded. "One of her brothers is a contractor. He might be able to work us into his schedule. She said the winter was slow for him anyway. I told her we'd let her know when we would be back up there and maybe he could meet us and see what needs to be done."
"You're too good to me."
"Well, somebody's got to be. You deserve it." He wrapped me in his arms and kissed my beard.
"Thank you. About that agenda."
"Jon, we'll never get anything done if we stay in bed all day."
"Hey it's my honeymoon." I frowned but couldn't hold it and started laughing.
"Work first, young man."
"Yes, dad." I replied in my best whiney little boy voice.
Andrea and Robert got home from work about eleven that night. At first we'd held dinner for them, but when they had not showed up by seven thirty I'd called to see what the hold up was. They were still trying to get the hang of things and were still in conference with Doug and some other managers.
"Whew." She exclaimed as she sat on the sofa and kicked off her shoes. "I didn't think it would be this tough."
"You thought I played at the office?" I teased her.
"Now, father." She started. Oops. "You've been there all these years. We're coming in new. There's a difference."
"You're right. I was only kidding." I apologized.
"You guys hungry?" Dylan asked. He was lying on the sofa reading the third of his new books, his head in my lap. I had been skimming through the texts he found for me and was working on a list of equipment I'd need if I were going to pursue my pottery.
"Don't go to any trouble for us." Robert answered.
"I wasn't. It's in the oven on warm. Help yourselves." Dylan laughed.
Robert started for the kitchen. "Thank you." He threw over his shoulder.
Andrea launched into a new round of questions and observations. As always I tried to guide her through the maze and provided the answers that I could for her. Robert was back in a few minutes with two plates and beverages on a tray. He and Andrea settled in to eat.
"My parents are pissed." Robert stated between bites of roast beef.
"I kinda figured they would be."
"Jon, they're happy for us, but all their plans went out the window when we called them today."
"They can come visit, can't they?" Dylan asked.
"Baby, they just wanted their son nearby."
"I know. You weren't too happy when you thought Andrea was leaving either."
"Well, we're here now. They'll get used to it." Andrea piped in.
"Dad mentioned that they might come down here when he retires."
"That would solve a few problems. Oh, by the way, James will be here day after tomorrow. I talked to them today and they're not busy."
"Who's James?" Robert asked.
"The contractor, dear." Andrea answered.
"Oh, the bedroom. How long will it take?"
"He told me about three or four weeks from what I described."
He turned to Andrea. "Where will we...?"
"In our room. We're going back to the mountains in a couple of days anyway." I answered.
I was almost asleep when I felt him shaking in my arms and felt his tears wetting my chest.
"Baby, what's wrong?" I whispered.
"I miss them." He sobbed.
"Oh, honey." I caressed his face, wiping the tears. "I know."
"Don't leave me." He clutched me harder, sobs wracking his body.
"I won't." I promised. I kissed away the remainder of his tears and wrapped him in my arms. Eventually he quieted and drifted to sleep.
As for me, the protector, the father figure, I did not sleep as easily. Thoughts, images of his parents haunted my mind. Their untimely death and the sadness that Dylan experienced left so much undone, so many unanswered questions. The house he had not entered in three years was the biggest reminder. It pained him to even think about it. He tried for so long to convince himself that they were just away on vacation or at a meeting.
I caught a glimpse or a fragment of his parents standing in front of that house looking questioningly at us. Silently I thanked them for the wonderful man they had given birth to and had entrusted to me. I also assured them in my prayers that I would protect him for as long as I was alive and even after if I could. In my mind I saw them smile and nod back at my guarantee before their image faded away.
"Well, you made their day." Dylan laughed. "Probably their month."
We were headed north leaving Atlanta behind us. The Cherokee was packed to the hilt with our luggage, more clothes we'd retrieved from Dylan's apartment and my house, and all the purchases we'd made to stock the house.
Our last stop had been at the ceramic supply house to order the things on my list. Of course when I got in the place there were lots of other things to look at and to consider. Luckily it was a slow day so the proprietor was able to help me make some decisions about kilns, pottery wheels, glaze chemicals and additional reference books. He was also able to give me names of some people he sold materials to that lived in the vicinity of the cabin. We weighed pros and cons of electric kilns against gas and wood burning, this clay formulation over another, premixed glazes versus recipes. Dylan was trying to keep up but the conversation quickly was over his head and very shortly after, over mine.
Finally we fine-tuned the selection, only ordering what I would need to get started. They assured us we could order over the phone and get anything we needed shipped quickly to us in the mountains. The grand total when we checked out was not as bad as I expected but still took a good-sized chunk out of the checking account. Two hours later we left loaded down with information and a promise of delivery of the equipment and clays the next week.
Now I needed to get busy and find a place for all my new toys. Then would come the real test, did I have a clue about what I was doing?
TO BE CONTINUED