Even people who love travelling, hate one aspect of it: how to get where you're going, especially when planes are involved.
Our little clan had an early morning flight from Marco Polo airport. Richard had arranged for all of their luggage to go on ahead of them, which meant there was massive packing the day before they were leaving. It had to be done. They left their bags outside the hotel rooms, and the next morning, it was gone. They got their carry on, checked to make sure they had all thier papers, and headed for the water taxi, to take them there.
Paul was waving to the city as they left, practicing basic Italian. Given the sleepy moods and the sadness at the end of the trip , Paul was keeping everyone's spirits up as much as anyone could Carla even laughed as he tried to get out "arriverderci." She leaned over to Richard. "I think I'm going to talk to Gradisca. They'd be a good pair." Richard laughed. She was right. Gradisca's age was a mystery to all of them, but it was a very big number. She had more energy than all of them put together, and she seemed to have a special affinity for Paul.
So, they got to the airport. And as everyone knows, they encountered the dirty five letter word: lines. Even when things go smoothly, "the lines. the fucking lines.." You'll hear it again and again and again. NO ONE likes standing on airport lines. Then the wait to board. And then... it's over. And so it was.
Mike had spoken to Davey a few days earlier, and they had exchanged tickets. So Richard was surprised, pleasantly so, when Mike took the seat next to him. Davey and Paul were hanging out - that meant video games all the way back to NY, and probably back home , and Carla and Sam had their seats together. Of all of them, flying seemed to bother Carla the least. She was asleep in minutes, and would stay asleep on the whole flight back to NY - Richard had been fortunate in finding a rare non stop. Sam pulled out a few of the "bodice ripper mystery novels" he favored, and was perfectly content. Richard had no idea what game they were playing, but davey and Paul were very involved in something that showed a lot of explosions, and bright colors, and lines flashing across screens.
Mike squeezed his hand. "Dad, I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable the other day." "No. If anything, I'm glad it happened, son. It was an excellent talk, I was flattered that you chose to spend the day with me, and..." He squeezed Mike's hand back. "Ten minutes after I met you, there was no question. You were staying. If I had to lock you in a tower, you were staying." Mike smiled, trying not to tear up. "Do you still feel that way , Dad?" "MORE SO. WAY MORE SO. You know, Mike, when the two of you went off to Europe ahead of us, I suspected you'd get hitched. That didn't concern me. What DID concern me, was that you were going to decide to stay, and..." , now Richard got a little teary "I thought the only way I'd see you is via skype, or zoom, or whatever those things are that I don't understand."
Mike was silent for a minute. "I'll be honest dad. We thought about it. We thought about it a lot. Paul loved Europe way more than I thought he would. And, with those feelings in the air, I thought it might be better for me to be away from you. Then Paul and I talked about it. He made a good point. He asked if I was going to stop feeling the way I did, if I were thousands of miles away. The answer was no. So, he asked , would you rather be near your father, or away?"
Richard laughed. "Sometimes I think Paul is the most practical one of us all." "Me too Dad. Me too" Richard smiled. "Let me change subjects and ask you something , since we're being honest with each other. I want you to be honest with me. Do you REALLY want to work in the restaurant." There was a pause. "I want to help you open up successfully Dad. But... well, my heart's not there. I'm sorry." "It's ok, Mike, it's ok. Not to worry. You told me a story when we were walking, that broke my heart, and I haven't thought about it a lot, but I think we should talk about it when we get back. What do you think about a foundation to help those boys who are in the situation you were, but don't have Dads to bring them back?" Mike sat up straight, his face in a bit of shock. "You mean it? Some kind of foundation or something?' "Yeah, I do. It'll take some time to put together." He laughed. "And you're NOT excused from the restaurant for the immediate future, but after Jason is back up to speed and he can investigate the legal aspects, I think we might need to put together a foundation. Mikel Harris, CEO. " He flashed a big smile. "Dad, I can't do it on the plane, but I owe you a BIG hug, and a BIG kiss. You're really behind this?" "Mike, I'm behind anything you want to do." "I just got my birthday and Christmas presents dad." Richard laughed. "That may very well be true. We'll have two little girls in the house soon. And I'm not sure when the restaurant is gonna break even, so , but we've gotten through everything, we'll get through this. " If anyone were to think that Richard was crying poverty, they'd be wrong. Sasha's had been tremendously profitable, and Lawanda was paying a sizeable sum every month, since Richard financed her purchase. He also owned property he had bought early on, and of course , the land around the house was worth a tremendous amount of money. No, money was not an issue. He just knew that Jason would make sure that they didn't overspend. Holding hands, like father and son, Richard and Mike nodded off to sleep. As Richard slept, he dreamed that he didn't have a name for the restaurant yet. Melissa and Juliette were coming into their lives Using both names seemed too long, and the only combination that seemed to make sense (MJ's) didn't get across the feel he wanted. Serenissima. The nickname for Venice. The place where so much good had happened. Yes. There was the name. He and Carla had been talking, and decided that keeping a French theme, was too much of a link to the old restaurant. They were taking it in an Italian direction. Gradisca cooked southern Italian food, and now, they would be doing Northern Italian. It would work. That settled in his mind, Richard sunk into sleep, and dreamed about getting davey back in their own bed.
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New York was NOT their final destination , but it seemed to Richard that they had entered hell. First clearing customs took forever , and then, when they got to the gate for their connecting flight, they learned that, because of a prior storm, their flight was delayed for 3 hours. Sam volunteered to go and look for some food to tide them over. Richard looked at the time: 10 o'clock. It might wake up Sarah, but he needed to give Jason a call to look in on them.
"Jason, it's Richard. How are you and Sarah?" "Morning Sir... " Jason took a deep breath. "It's been a rough couple of weeks, but... I'm going to send you a picture of our son. His name is Kyle. Small, but as hot tempered as his hair." Richard took a look at a small baby with a veritable carrot top. "Jason, CONGRATULATIONS! Sons are wonderful. It may take a while to get to that point, but they are. " Jason laughed. "I just wonder how I'm gonna explain the red hair Sir. " "Well, two things. First, you don't have to. Period. Second, if I showed you the pictures of Mike over the years: he started with dark black hair, then he got my coloring - at the time, he didn't go grey, and then he became a true blonde." "Really? I didn't know it could be that stark." "I DON'T think he's dyeing his hair. Are you Mike?" He looked at a blushing young man. "Ok... I may have to revise my comments on that, but who cares? Remember Jason, you don't have to explain anything. " "Thank you Sir. I wish I could model my life on yours as much as I want to. But I'll remember this." "So , how is Sarah?" "She's coming back around. The birth was hard on her, and I think this may be it. One child. The doctor is worried about what would happen if she had more. " Richard smiled, and said "Then that boy is going to be the most spoiled child on the face of the earth." He heard Jason laugh, and then he asked "Jason, you have too much on your hands now, but when everything is back to normal, I wonder if you could take on a project for Mike and me." "Everything IS back to normal Sir. " He laughed. "At this point, my job is essentially bringing Sarah juice, and changing diapers. " "Ha ha. I did miss that, I'm not sure if I regret it. So, let me tell you about the project." Richard outlined the idea for a foundation, and why. "I got it Sir. FORMING the foundation will be tedious but not difficult. FUNDING it may be challenging. You, davey and Mike may have to hit the fundraising circuit for the LGBT groups. But I'll see what's out there." "There's no rush Jason. Mike is going to do most of this" He paused when he heard Jason laugh. "Excuse me Sir, but the thought of you NOT sticking your nose into this, is kind of not believable. And your no rush means 48 hours." "Europe mellowed me Sir. I don't mean 48 hours. I don't even mean 48 days." "Should I deal with Mike directly Sir?" "I think so. You guys can bring me in if you need me." Richard looked at the signs for the flight. "You know, we have enough time, and if Sarah is strong enough to talk to one person, Carla is sitting here, just DYING to speak to her." "I'll put her on."
There was a brief pause while he handed the phone over to his wife, and Richard to Carla. "Carla..." a weak, tired voice came out. "If I fall asleep in the middle of the call, don't take it personally. It's the percoset." "Tell me how you're feeling Sarah." Then Carla listened, asking a question every now and then. "As soon as I can get back to my kitchen, I'm going to make you some of my herb tea. I'll come over with Sam. Take that before you take those nasty percoset. I took it once: I saw a huge lunar moth come out of the closet and try to eat me. " Sarah managed a light chuckle. "Mine was a bumble bee." "Ok, so we'll meet up later this week. Congratulations MOM! I can't wait to see Kyle."
There was an announcement that the flight would begin boarding so, everyone realized, in their own way, that vacation was over, and with their own version of sighs, took their seats.
Davey was back sitting next to Richard on this leg of the flight. "I was jealous of Mike Sir. " davey grabbed Richard's hand. "I hate being separated from you." "Aw, davey. That's so sweet. I wish you had been there with us. I learned a lot about Mike. " "I learned a lot about Paul Sir. He also whooped my ass at those games." "Speaking of ass whooping..." Davey smiled. "You're speaking my language Sir. Tonight?" "Hopefully. If we get our wind back. Traveling is tiring. "It is Sir. But being with you..." He leaned his head on Richard's shoulder. "Notwithstanding everything, is very restful."
Two hours later, they were touching down at home. Travis was set to meet them at the luggage carrels, and off they went, waiting for the luggage. "Hmmm. Travis is a lot of things," Richard said to no one in particular, "but he's never late. Where IS he?" "RICHARD. OVER THERE. That debonair grey haired man!" Richard laughed, because there was no way Travis would ever allow his grey to show. But that was Travis! The smile, the jawline, the clothes ten years too young for him. 'TRAVIS YOU OLD GOAT..." Richard sprinted across the baggage area to embrace his old friend. "OH YOU FOX. WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?" Travis smiled. "Well, it's about two things. First, it's about this man here: Travis, meet Calvin." A big tall, man came over, smiling. Richard remembered: this was the truck driver Travis had dated a while ago "And... this..." He held out his hand to show Richard the wedding ring." "OH MY GOODNESS. YOU'RE MORE THAN AN OLD FOX. AND YOU LEARNED TO KEEP A SECRET." He turned to Calvin. "Calvin, so nice to meet you. I've heard about you, but.... did he DRUG you?" Calvin laughed. "Please call me Cal. I like it better. And he kinda did. But we'll talk about that more Richard. So, let me meet your family. I think I'm kinda part of it now." Cal and Travis walked over. Carla was fairly swooning about his hair. "OH, Travis. MY WORD. There are silver foxes and then, well, there are SILVER FOXES. I think you surpass all of that." "I agree" added Cal. He looked at Paul. "I heard the most about you. You're Paul, right?" "That's me. " He shook hands. "How did you hear about me?" "Well, from someone on my crew. Real badass named Otto. He told me you were more badass than he is." "He's right." "Well, badass Paul, if you're interested, after you settle in, come see me. I don't drive the truck anymore, but I've got a demolition business. If you like breaking things other than balls, I can use you." "You mean I can get paid for breaking things?" Paul forgot his manners "FUCK. I'd do that for free." "You DO do that for free," Mike added "I think you'll like the work. Now, if I may, it looks like enough luggage for a small country is heading out of that chute. Must be yours. Can I get it, and some of you, in my truck? Travis has his car too.
"The only person who's gonna be in the car with me is Richard," declared Travis. "We have tons to catch up on, and this'll be the start. And NO, none of you can hear it."
On the way back home, Travis caught Richard up on the dating, the courtship, and the marriage. "It was a little sudden when he proposed to me, love, but... well, at my age... I'm not going to wait." "Do you love him Travis?" "WHAT THE HELL KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?" Richard laughed. "Yeah, you do." "I do. He caught me dyeing my hair once, and he took the stuff out of my hands. He told me that he wanted to see my real color. " Travis smiled. "So I went and saw Rene, and had her wash out the color that was there. When I got home." He blushed. "we had the best sex we've ever had. " "OH, Trav. you know, it took us a while, but karma came around didn't she?" She did Richard, she did. So, what's the story on the girls?" "I had to essentially steal davey's phone from him so he didn't text the agency every day. I keep on telling him 'no news is good news, " but, well... "Juliette and Melissa?" "Yup. He picked them. Melissa was his mom's name, and Juliette is Carla's middle name. " Richard paused "Trav, do you believe in reincarnation?" "OH HELL YEAH. Anything that says I was a princess in a prior life too, I'm with that. Why do you ask?" "Well, it seems that davey and Clara may have been brother and sister in another lifetime. In Italy. And davey loves Italy." "And the Italians love him, I bet. When are you moving?" Richard sighed. "No, that's not in the cards, I don't think. We had that talk. You can't get rid of us. " "Well, at least temporarily, we are. Cal is gonna help you unload, and then we're heading off, because, well.... tonight is fantasy night and it's his turn." "I guess it's not yours. You're not in costume."
They got the luggage out, shook hands with Cal, and Sam, who had bonded with him on the ride home, gave him a big hug. "We'll talk next week Cal. I think I might know something about that motor." Cal smiled "Appreciate it much." He shook Paul's hand again. "Listen young man ball buster. 11 o'clock, two days from now. Bring something you can get dirty because this interview's gonna be quick, and I'm on deadline."
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The last one into the house was davey. He had recently read "The Lord of the Rings," and as he walked in he said, softly, so no one could hear him 'Well. I'm back." Everyone needed a nap that afternoon, and the house went quiet. After about three hours, davey felt Harris' fingers on his nip, beginning to play. "You got rowdy fast, Sir." "How could I not? I've been feeling that sweet ass up against me..." Harris reached around, and took davey's cock. "Seems someone else is rowdy too." "Flip me over sir. Climb on me, please. I missed feeling you on top of me." A big sigh came out of davey when Richard did, and when his flight stubble found the lamb tattoo. "Ain't gonna be no Ralph today davey boy. Just Lupo.. " "AAAAAAHHHH" davey screamed a little as Harris dug into his neck. He didn't realize just how much stubble he had, but davey was loving it. He rolled his face so that he could grab Harris' lips with his own, and he opened his mouth to entice Harris' tongue into it. It didn't take much. Harris reached down to play with davey's balls, and his husband moaned as he did so, his mouth covered by Harris' . He was trying to say 'fuck me. please fuck me," and he couldn't. It didn't matter. It was what Harris had in mind. He pushed off the covers, and pulled davey's tanned legs up over his shoulders. "That is the most beautiful ass in the world davey. THE. MOST. BEAUTIFUL ASS IN THE WORLD. " "About to be taken by the most amazing cock, Sir? OOOF" He didn't get to finish ,because Harris came in, hard. "Something about being in my own bed, davey. I am SO roused." "Yes you are Sir. GOD you're so big right now." "Am I hurting you davey boy?" "Yes, but keep doing it. OH SHIT. OH FUCK. OH.. " Harris was pumping, faster and faster. It was their first fuck at home in a long long time. And it was a good one. Richard held off as long as he could, so that they could climax together. In the afterglow, before they got up to get back to life, davey told Richard "Sir, do you know about emojis?" "I do, but I have NO IDEA what they mean. Even Carla doesn't speak that language." "Well, Paul and Mike do. On the flight back, Paul showed me a cute one." He reached over and got his phone, and he pulled up an emoji. A sperm whale , smiling, shooting through his blow hole." "I don't understand davey." "REALLY SIR?" "Davey, I work with adults, not kids." "Harumph Sir. I'm gonna start texting this one to you. That's a universal emoji for a successful orgasm." Richard was silent. "I see. I know about the eggplant and the peach, but... ok... I now feel very old." Davey rolled on top of Harris. "And I LOVE old men..Hug me gramps."