Ring in Mine #3: Nephi & Jerome: Chapter 31
Thank you again for your well wishes and emails. I feel bad that I didn't get this posted last week when it was done. Chapter 32 and Chapter 33 are dependent upon each other and Chapter 33 went a direction I didn't feel good about. So, I scrapped half of 32 and all of 33. I am feeling better about where the story is going.
Thanks Zach for your editing skills.
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---------- Nephi & Jerome Chapter 31
It was still dark when four littles climbed into Jerome's bed. "Daddy Nephi is sleeping in our bed." Jerry announced.
"He sounds like a bear when he sleeps." Micah added.
"I think Daddy Nephi needed help with a bad dream." Jerome explained.
"We'll sleep in your bed." Jerry decided.
Jerome tucked them in and crawled into bed with his partner. Nephi did sound a lot like a bear. Jerome knew a solution for Nephi's snoring. Jerome rolled his sleeping prince onto his side and cuddled up behind him. The growling turned into the low rumble that was Nephi.
By noon the lawyer had finished the paperwork. By Friday the trust owned Hope's house. Benny paid the bank. Hope received a check to makeup full market value. It wasn't a lot, but $10,000 in the bank improved her feeling of self-worth. Hope had already integrated into life at the compound. She insisted on paying rent. Nephi had Benny invest it for Donny's education. Grace had put money away for Zeke and Rafe. It wouldn't send them out of state but Utah had good colleges.
The first day Sean brought the teens home for lunch. They were busy planning their afternoon off when Sean ushered them upstairs.
"Boys, please find a desk; school is in session." Mary announced. The boys groaned. "Nephi wants you ready for high school by fall."
Two days of testing led to individualized programs in reading, writing and math. Jared and Kenton worked with Rafe and Zeke, but they weren't exempt from their own lessons. After class you would find the boys in the pool. Nephi had arrived home one day with Speedo racing suits ending the daily skinny dipping. Even Kenton had given up wearing his baggy swim shorts. The kids anxiously waited for the teens every afternoon. They weren't allowed into the pool area without an adult. Nephi had also provided cute Speedo suits for the littles.
Mary often stayed at the compound. She found the feel of the evening sunshine pleasant. She kept the blue bikini in her rooms at the compound and often joined the boys for an afternoon swim.
"How is Paula settling in?" Mary jerked at the sound of Jerome's voice.
"They seem to get along." Mary paused deciding how honest she should be. "Marie is looking forward to having Paula move across the street. Even the best of friends can get on each other's nerves. That is why I stay here a couple nights a week."
Jerome nodded. He wouldn't admit that he had noticed but his mom looked good in her suit. Hope rang the dinner chime once giving everyone fifteen minutes notice. The daunting task of getting four squirming littles showered and dressed fell to Jerome.
"Thank you for helping." Sariah set the last serving platter on the table. "Will Nephi be joining us for dinner?"
Jerome shrugged his shoulders. Nephi hadn't sat with the family for dinner since Paula's rejection. Nephi left before breakfast and returned after dinner. He hadn't attended chapel nor had Jerome seen Nephi pray. They talked about work, about the farm, anything but what was going on in Nephi's head. Nephi hadn't had extra pounds to lose. He was looking gaunt. Nightmares haunted his sleep. Jerome would hold his soulmate close and cry, unsure how to help.
Jerome took a plate out to the office. Nephi sat at the drafting table pencil in hand. Jerome sat the dinner on the desk and, took the pencil from Nephi's hand. "You need to eat."
Jerome took Nephi's hand and pulled him into a hug. "Remember I love you."
"I love you too. It's the only reason I can hold things together."
At Jerome's insistence Nephi sat and let Jerome feed him bites of dinner between kisses. After a dozen bites, Nephi pulled Jerome to his lap to end the force feeding. "Thank you for believing in me."
"I need to put the kids to bed. Are you coming?" Jerome turned the work light over the table off and took Nephi's hand. "I promise you won't have to pray."
Hand in hand the couple walked to the main house. "Daddy will you read us a story." Four flying littles ambushed their AWOL daddy. With a little push from Jerome, Nephi fell back on the kid's bed. The four littles tickled their daddy.
"Jerome are you going to help me?" Nephi pleaded.
"I don't think so." The smile on Nephi's face made Jerome's heart soar. Jerome soon returned with `the book.' The littles settled in to hear the story. Jerry never tired of hearing Nephi's impression of Grover as he panics about the monster at the end of the book.
Nephi stood to leave. Jerome pulled him back to the bed. As each child prayed, tears flowed across Nephi's cheeks. Jerry was last.
"Heavenly Father, thank you for my daddies. Help daddy Nephi feel happy; he has been so sad. Let him sleep in God's love. Amen."
Jerome knelt to pray. "Daddy you need to kneel too." Jerry announced. Nephi realized that Jerry was omitting the `Nephi.' Nephi knelt with a little on each side.
Together they tucked the four into the king bed. Jerome had offered to get them bunk beds, so they could each have their own bed. "We like our big bed." Donny announced, and the others agreed.
"That has been Jerry's prayer for a week. We all want you to be happy." Jerome explained.
"How can I be happy? I've failed Paula. I've failed Peter, and I failed my God. If I have to choose between my love for you or God; God will have to wait. I can't imagine living without you and my family."
Jerome picked up the phone. "Sean, Nephi and I will be out of touch for a while. You are in charge. The boys should be fine on their own. Don't let the team at the Freed's house skimp on the concrete. The plans are on the desk." Jerome hung up and dialed again.
"Benny, is the cabin free?" Jerome looked disappointed. "It's what we feared. I need to spend some special time with Nephi."
"Give me an hour. I have an idea."
About 20 minutes later the front gate chimed. "Mario sent me." The voice on the intercom sounded familiar.
Nephi and Jerome met their guest at the gate. A guy in his mid-thirties wearing a polo shirt and jeans stepped through the gate. "Hi, I'm Dennis. Mario seems to think I can help."
Jerome went to shake hands and Dennis pulled him into a hug. Dennis gave Nephi the same treatment, "Mario said something about a swimming pool." Dennis produced a swimsuit from his front pocket.
It seemed odd, they were in the middle of a crisis and were going swimming. Dennis pulled his shirt over his head revealing rippled abs. He dropped his jeans revealing a lack of underwear. He stepped into the small black briefs covering his respectful package. His dive into the pool was flawless.
Jerome looked at Nephi. "Do we join him? I'd love to see you in the red briefs you have under those jeans." Nephi looked puzzled. "They were on top of the dresser last night and gone this morning. You never put your clean clothes in the drawer."
Jerome pulled his t-shirt over his head. He kicked off his shoes. His jeans soon followed. He looked good in the grey nylon briefs he was wearing.
Jerome pulled Nephi's shirt over his head and unbuckled his belt. He had been correct about the briefs.
Nephi's and Jerome's dives lacked the polish of Dennis's performance. After a few laps they paused near one of the underwater lights. The light revealed the crucifix tattoo on Dennis's chest and the Madonna on his arm.
"You are wondering about the tattoos. They were from a time in my life when I was reaching out to God and felt he had turned away from me. We all get that way now and then." Dennis looked at Nephi. "People felt it was their job to inform me I was an abomination in God's sight because I loved another of the same gender."
In the autumn I confessed my love to my best friend. He cursed me and called me hateful names. He beat me and left me on the street. It was only minutes before a man came out of his house to investigate the noise. He took me into his house, washed my wounds and put me in his spare room to sleep.
The next morning, I worried about how my parents would take the news their son was queer. Both of my parent's cars were in the driveway when I arrived. It was odd they should both have been at work. My mom and dad sat on the couch waiting for me. "Dennis you had us worried. I wish you had called." Mom began. The bruises were visible, but my parents behaved as if they weren't there.
"Do you have something to tell us?" Dad asked. I knew then that Tony had talked with my parents and I told them the truth.
"Your oldest son is a queer." I started. Mom stood up and slapped me.
"I will not have that word said in my house. It is demeaning. We both have known for years you had strong feelings for other guys. We have just been waiting for you to tell us." Mom pulled me into a heartfelt hug. "Tony came in so smug last night. Dad sent him packing with his tail between his legs."
"I fooled around with some of my friends in high school. I even thought I was in love once. Then I met your mother." Dad explained joining the hug.
"`I don't know if I could ever fall in love with a girl.' I answered.
"We aren't asking you to. We would like you to find someone to love and settle down. Life is better shared with a special someone." Dad finished.
My parents still loved me. I would survive this. I was attending the local community college. Tony must have purchased a billboard somewhere. Everyone seemed to know. My first teacher of the day changed his sacred seating chart moving me away from the rest of the class. In the second class, students I had sat next to all semester found somewhere else to sit. "Were they afraid it was catching?" I wondered.
With each day my self-worth eroded away. I used money from my weekend job for one tattoo and then the other. I used the symbols of my church to convince myself and God I was worth loving.
Just before spring finals some guys from high school roughed me up. I had gotten off the bus by the Catholic Church. It was the closest stop to my home. I hadn't attended Sunday Mass often. My family only made the important ones every year. The guys dragged me behind the church and hit me until I fell to the ground. Tony grabbed a metal bar out of the dumpster. That was when Father Jonathan appeared and threatened to call the police.
Nephi reached out and pulled Dennis into a hug. Even in the dark it was obvious Dennis had trouble telling his story.
Father Jonathan cleaned my wounds and sat next to me. "Is there something you need to tell me?"
I struggled to my knees. I had never confessed outside the confessional. "Forgive me father for I have sinned. It has been 6 months since my last confession." Kneeling at the priest's feet, he put his hand on my head as I told him about loving Tony and being gay. I confided in him I felt God had turned away from me.
I leaned my head against his leg. "For doubting your Lord's love, I want you to stop every night this week and spend 15 minutes in prayer. Be sure to spend half of that time listening for an answer." Father Jonathan suggested. "That starts tonight. I lit a candle and prayed and knelt in silence waiting for an answer."
Every night I got off the bus and visited the chapel for my fifteen minutes of prayer. Each night became easier. I figured that I must be asking the wrong question because I wasn't getting any answers. Thursday whenever I had time to think, I pondered about the question that should be asked.
I lit a candle and knelt. "Lord, how may I regain your approval?" A warm feeling filled my soul. I knew I was a loved child of my Heavenly Father. That He had forgiven my sins. It was now my job to forgive myself.
Friday, I did the same thing. I spent the day wondering what to ask in Friday's final prayer. Instead of dreading my time on my knees I was looking forward with anticipation. "Father, please help me find the love that will fill my life with joy." I knelt in silence. I felt the same spirit as I had the previous day. With one addition, I had found the love that has filled my life with joy since.
"Who was it?" Nephi asked.
"Do the black clothes and collar really make that much difference?" Dennis asked. Now Nephi recognized the younger priest. Dennis had blessed him numerous times at the communion rail.
"Nephi, you are making the mistake I made. When I felt my God had abandoned me, I stopped praying. I know that you are a chosen child of God. If you need evidence, look at the blessings he has given you. Look at the souls he has entrusted into your care." Dennis paused.
"But..." Nephi began.
Dennis interrupted. "I challenge you to spend 15 minutes on your knees every night for a week. Spend half the time listening for an answer. For now, let's swim." Dennis dived under the water. Soon Nephi disappeared under the surface with Dennis's arms around his knees. That began the horseplay. It had been a week since Nephi had felt the joy of playing. His heart filled with joy.
Nephi was at breakfast the next morning. Jerome helped him write his morning message.
"Jesus loved the perfect faith found in children. He found joy in their presence and blessed each of them. We need to be like a child, loving and believing, so we to can receive his blessings."
Nephi then prayed for his family. After a minute or two he felt Jerome's shoe impact his shin and Nephi realized he needed to wrap it up. He wasn't convinced that he was forgiven, but it felt good to be with his family.
Benny arrived before Nephi could go out with his design team. "Nephi and Jerome please hop in the car." At Salt Lake's private airport, they joined four businessmen next to a small six-seater plane. Benny made the introductions. "These are clients of mine. They had two open seats today and are coming home Monday evening. Enjoy the flight."
Neither of the boys had flown before. The little plane wasn't the best first experience, but they were like children looking out the window. When they were above the clouds, there was little to see. Nephi and Jerome watched the other passengers. The businessmen were couples. There was handholding and soft whispering.
"Have you been to the Hidden Oasis before?" The youngest asked.
"Is that where we are going?" Jerome replied.
"Didn't Benny tell you..." His partner playfully punched him in the arm.
"I apologize Simon never could keep a secret."
Jerome leaned into Nephi's shoulder and fell asleep. Nephi joined his partner in slumber.