Disclaimers: Please see all disclaimers in Chapter one. Actually, read chapters 1-17 before you read this one. How can you know what's going on? If you don't belong here, please leave.
This is the concluding chapter of this story. Thank you for your time and attention.
Chapter 48
The alarm rattled on, waking the two men after just a few hours of sleep. Joey was developing a passionate hatred for the alarm clock on the nightstand just across the body of the man he loved. He swore he would replace that thing with a new one, and he wasn't going to wait until the next time he needed to buy a present. He would have the money he earned from the summer job he had where Stephen worked. As soon as he had time, the sadistic torturer would be gone.
He shut the alarm off and spooned next to Stephen. He looked toward the closet at the tuxedo hanging from the doorframe and smiled, remembering the madness of last night. There were several discussions of what to do with Tim. Some suggested finding a hooker for the boy, but Katie's dad put a quick stop to that suggestion. Others mentioned getting him drunk and putting him on a plane, only for him to wake up somewhere he had never been.
Joey had even whispered to Stephen about taking him home. "Let him wake up in bed between us. That would give him something to think about." Stephen was shocked Joey would suggest such a thing. But the light shining from Joey's eyes intimated that he wasn't looking for fun with Tim, just something to scare the crap out of him. Ultimately, as usual with bachelor's parties, nothing serious happened and Tim woke in his own bed on the morning of his wedding. The impossible would happen just as planned. Katie Parker would get married.
Joey climbed out of bed and headed to the shower. He turned on the water while he went through his regular morning routine, the one he had assimilated from Stephen. When he finished, he stepped under the warm spray and let it soak into his body. He stood for several minutes, mostly thinking about the wedding and his responsibilities as best man, but also occasionally flashing on how much his love for Stephen Andrews had grown. He remembered back to the first day at the Sandwich Shoppe, the smile on Stephen's face as he took his sandwich from Joey. He recalled watching Stephen leaning on the seawall as Joey rode up on his bike after he had quit his job, picturing the man calmly eyeing the boy, watching every move, even how Stephen's eyes wandered from Joey's face down to check out the basket in his shorts. He had never told Stephen he had caught him checking out the goods the first day because it had taken a while for him to figure out Stephen was interested in that part of the relationship. Stephen was never far from him, always just a thought in his mind away. He sighed, wishing he could show the world how great the love between the two men was, but that could never happen.
He finished his shower and shut the water off. He threw open the shower curtain to grab his towel from on the toilet seat. His eyes were still shut tight from some soap that had gotten in his eye. He groped for the toilet. He found it, but the towel was not on it. He brushed the water out of his face and he made tiny slits with his eyes to look. Stephen stood in the doorway holding the towel in both of his hands. Joey stretched his arms towards his lover standing a few feet away. "I'm all wet. Can you dry me?" Joey whimpered in a little voice. He couldn't hold back and broke out in laughter. Stephen walked over and wrapped his boy in the towel, running the corner over his hair and face, then kissing his lips as the towel proceeded down his body.
"I wish you had waited for me. I would have taken a shower with you and washed your back."
"Is that all you would have washed?" Joey asked hopefully.
"Un-uh. I would have washed anything you wanted washed."
"I could take another shower, you know."
"No you can't. It's the best man's job to make sure the groom shows up. You've got to get to Tim's house and make sure he's ready for Judgement Day." Stephen was sometimes too practical for Joey's tastes.
Joey laughed. "It was his choice to get married. Do you think we should have convinced him that the gay life style is better."
"The only way to do that is to have sex with him." For the second time in 24 hours, Joey had slyly suggested sex with another man. Was Stephen watching his boy growing up before his eyes? "Are you suggesting you would have been interested in a three-way?"
Joey wrapped his arms around Stephen. "Nope, I only want you. There will never be another man for me."
Joey searched in Stephen's eyes, looking at pure love radiating back at him.
He thought of all the characteristics of Stephen Andrews and how perfect the man standing with him was. Even his sense of humor was classically understated. He remembered something from last night that he hadn't gotten to ask about. "It was funny last night at the party when they played Elton John's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" while Tim and Katie were dancing. Did you put the DJ up to that one?" Stephen just raised one eyebrow. Joey laughed.
He left the bathroom to allow Stephen his turn to clean up for the ceremony.
He went to the kitchen wrapped only in his towel and grabbed a slice of toast. Then he went to the bedroom and began assembling the monkey suit he would wear for the day. If Stephen thought Joey was beautiful before, then the vision waiting for him as he exited the bathroom would take his breath away. Joey was standing in the middle of the room wearing only his boxers and the tuxedo pants, which were hanging from his hips, still unzipped and completely open. He was fumbling with a comb, trying to get his mop of hair to cooperate. He stared in the mirror, looking at the sudden appearance of a cowlick, thinking to himself this must be what it is like getting ready for a high school prom -- the morning of the party would wake up to the ugliest zits ever seen. Joey never experienced this problem himself. Not because he had a wonderful complexion, but because he never went to a single dance the entire time he was in high school. He didn't even go to the graduation dance his senior year. This would be his first time to wear a tuxedo.
Stephen walked out of the bathroom naked, still drying his hair with the towel. He turned the corner into the bedroom and froze in the doorway. He looked at the young man standing in front of him and was struck by how handsome he looked. Stephen's love and awe for the Adonis standing before him caused him to immediately become erect. Joey turned to see what Stephen couldn't hide and smiled quietly.
"I didn't think an old man like you could get it up that fast."
Stephen lowered his eyes, still fixated on the open fly of the pants now directly in front of him. "Given the right inspiration, even miracles can happen."
Joey stepped over to Stephen and gave him a couple of slow, long strokes. "God, I love you. I wish we had time this morning. I'd show you what you do to me. I can see what I do to you."
"Better not play with that too much. I don't know any one-hour cleaners on the way to the church where we could clean those pants. Don't want you to stand in front of everyone in the family with cum stains running down your leg."
Joey pulled his hand away quickly, but gave Stephen a quick kiss in place. "If it's your cum, I wouldn't care if it was dripping from my face." Stephen didn't know if he could get harder. He could.
Chapter 49
The church was filling up. It helped that the Parker clan was extensive, and since it was Katie, everyone in the family was there. And Tim's family was not little either. Add in the friends and business associates and the church was filled to capacity. This was going to be a memorable wedding.
Joey looked out from the vestibule at the crowd. Tim was standing in the middle of the room, reviewing with the minister what needed to be remembered for the ceremony, and as he listened with one ear to the final instructions, he watched as Joey's face reflected what he saw in the pews. Joey closed the door only to see Tim staring at him as he turned back into the room.
"What's going on out there?"
"Nothing, man. Everyone's just filing into the church and sitting down. I didn't realize how big the crowd was going to be. That's a lot of people. I'm glad it's you and not me who has to say those vows in front of everyone."
"Thanks. I really needed to hear that right now. I'm a nervous wreck. I'm sweating so much, I'm gonna need to change clothes before I go out there."
Joey could see the anxiety in Tim's face. He thought to himself, "What would Stephen say?"
"Hey, don't worry about them. Everyone will have their eyes on Katie. Today is her day." Then he smiled and whispered, "And tonight's your night."
Tim grinned, followed by outright laughter. The tension broke. He hugged Joey tightly.
"Thanks, my friend. I knew I made the right choice asking you to stand with me."
The minister walked over to them with a broad smile on his face. Had he overheard Joey's comment? "Gentlemen, are you ready to face the enemy?"
Tim let out one more long breath and nodded, "Let's rock and roll!"
The minister cracked the door slightly and stuck his head out. He made eye contact with someone in the back of the church to confirm that the bride was ready. He received his signal and looked to the organist in the choir loft.
He relayed the signal to her and closed the door. Turning to Tim, he explained, "She'll wait two minutes and then begin the music. Follow me when I walk out and take your places."
As he promised, the music from the organ began. The rich deep vibrations filled the church and quieted the congregation. The organist played two short pieces as a prelude and then began "The Wedding March." As that piece began, the minister turned to Tim and said, "Katie is a lovely girl. I wish you every happiness." He then opened the door and the procession was underway.
The minister took his place at the altar. Tim walked out, his head slightly bowed, walking somewhat stiffly. Joey noticed that he was a little paler than he usually was, but didn't seem to be in serious distress. Tim stopped exactly on his mark, but Joey thought better of being too far away and stood almost shoulder to shoulder with Tim. Joey, standing on the groom's side, was looking towards the rows and rows of Parker clan. There, on the second row, on the end of the pew just behind Katie's parents, sat Stephen. Joey made eye contact with Stephen and then nodded in Tim's direction. Stephen looked at Tim, also noticing how pale he looked and remembered to his own day in this church as he stood at the altar, Jeff right by his side the same way Joey's was standing with Tim. He remembered Jeff telling him how scared he was that Stephen was going to keel over right there in the church. Stephen calmly mouthed "It's okay" to Joey to let him he thought that Tim was going to be fine.
The ring bearers led the way. Greg and Glenn made for an impressive sight. Their blonde hair was a stark contrast to their little black tuxes and their blue eyes shining with the excitement of being in the ceremony. Their smiles let everyone know it had been challenging to keep these two wild horses under control. Stephen was going to check with Jeff after the wedding to see who was more trouble now.
The bridesmaids had made their way down the aisle, and now it was Katie who appeared at the back of the church. Tim looked at her and saw the most beautiful woman in the world. His chest swelled with pride. She was positively glowing as she made her way down to the front of the church, to stand at the side of her man. All of the wedding party turned to face the altar and the congregation sat down.
The minister began, "Dearly Beloved..."
The ceremony was going off without a hitch. The prayers were said; the soloist was in excellent form, and Tim was holding together just fine. Then it was time for the rings.
At this point of the ceremony, the wedding party was instructed to face the bride and groom as witnesses. Joey stepped forward with the rings ready in his vest pocket, waiting for his cue from the minister. When the minister asked, Joey stepped to the altar side of the couple, presented the rings and stepped away, as rehearsed. This left him facing the Parker family, and directly on a line of sight through Tim and Katie's hands to meet eye to eye with Stephen.
The minister handed the ring to Tim. "Tim, please repeat after me. I, Timothy Richard..."
At this point, Joey was fixed on Tim holding Katie's hand and the fumbling going on because he couldn't stop shaking. Tim was so nervous the people in the last row could probably see what trouble he was having. But this was a wonderful opportunity for Stephen. This gave him the cover for what he had thought about doing, but wasn't sure if he could pull it off. As Tim began to repeat the phrases, Stephen squirmed in his seat enough to get Joey's attention on the altar. Joey eyes broke from his concentration on Tim to see that Stephen was trying to get his attention. Joey looked beyond what everyone else was watching and saw Stephen begin to speak.
As Joey heard "I, Timothy Richard," he saw Stephen's lips mouth something that looked like he was saying "I, Stephen Scott."
The minister said: "take you, Katherine Elizabeth, to be my lawful wedded wife..."
Joey heard "take you, Katherine Elizabeth, to be my lawful wedded wife...", but he could have sworn he saw "take you, Joseph Patrick, to be my lawful wedded husband..."
The minister said: "to have and to hold, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health..."
And every time he heard Tim's voice, he saw Stephen's lips move, echoing the words Tim was saying.
When Tim finished his speech, the minister instructed Tim, for all the audience to hear, "Tim would you place the ring on Katie's finger."
Joey was mesmerized by the words that had poured from Stephen's mouth. And as he watched Tim slide the ring down Katie's finger in the foreground, his eyes were glued as Stephen reached in his vest pocket to pull out a shiny gold band, which he held just outside the pocket where no one could see what he was holding. He nodded his head at Joey, hoping that Joey could give him some form of confirmation of acceptance. A tear rolled down Joey's face, which Stephen took to mean yes. Stephen placed the ring back in his pocket.
The minister continued: "Katie, would you repeat after me. I, Katherine Elizabeth..."
The words Joey heard were from Katie. But he felt something moving him to repeat with her. He heard Katie loud and clearly repeat "I, Katherine Elizabeth,..." but at the same time he felt his lips beginning to move almost involuntarily, his eyes frozen on Stephen, as he mouthed "I Joseph Patrick..."
The words continued, and Joey followed them religiously. When Katie was done, Stephen reached into his other vest pocket and pulled out another ring. This was a ring Joey had seen laying around the house. It was the same ring Susan had placed on Stephen's hand over ten years ago. This time, as the minister asked Katie to place a ring on Tim, Stephen slowly slid his ring back onto his left ring finger.
The minister concluded. "I now pronounce you man and wife. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Williams." The congregation broke out in polite applause for the new couple. They stopped for hugs from their parents and their new in-laws before proceeding up the aisle. Joey and the maid of honor followed behind them, with the rest of the party. They walked out into bright suylight and around to the side door to return to the church for pictures. When they came around, Stephen had managed to slip out the side door and was waiting for them.
Joey led the group as Katie and Tim had stayed back to greet some of the guests. So as Stephen stepped out into the courtyard, Joey flew into his arms, hugging him ferociously. "I do."
Chapter 50 - Epilogue
Hey Guys,
Many of you have written saying that you can identify with the predicament I was in. I had no friends, no future, and felt there was nothing out there waiting for me. I want you to remember there is a future out there for you, but you have to believe that one day it will happen. It may take time until you find it, but please never give up hope that it will come true. Many of you might be impatient at times, as I was, but if you continue to believe, good things will come to you one day. If I could, I would give you one piece of advice. Life is nothing more than getting from point A to point B.
Before you take that first step however, you need to know what point B really is. I was fortunate enough to find my point B.
I have a wonderful man to love and a lifetime ahead of me. I am on schedule to graduate, and one day I hope to take my place working along side of Stephen, helping to make a future for us. If I'm really lucky, one day I will be able to take care of the man I love the same way he took care of me when I needed him the most.
My hope is that you find what you truly need. My thoughts are with you all.
Joey
** Dear Friends,
I read what Joey had written and once again realize how blessed I am to have this young man. He shows me every day how to find pleasure in simple things.
I will never be able to thank him enough for restoring life to me. The hope and enthusiasm he shows makes it impossible for me to fall back to the dark, bleak days after the death of Susan and Scott. When I thought my life was over, when there was nothing let for me in this world, Joey opened my heart to the idea that you can never know what is waiting for you over the next hill. Always keep your mind open to the opportunities that present themselves. As I told Danny that night, you have to accept love however it presents itself, because it's so rare. Hang on to it when you get the chance.
Stephen
** To the Readers,
In business, you are taught that the greater the risk the greater the reward. But I never translated that lesson into my personal life. This story demonstrated to me that principal and, luckily for me, the reward was a million times greater than the risk. To all of you, I can only wish that one day you can find the strength in you to take that risk.
Thanks to all of you who have read this story. Also, thank you for all your comments, criticisms, and suggestions, especially to those of you who were there when I really needed a friend. That is the best part of this story, not Stephen and Joey, Katie and Tim, or Jeff and Donna, but Cy, Terry, Bill, Michelle, Brad, Scott (you are so awesome) and Dave, among others. You are the stars of this story because in you I have found true friends that were lacking in my life. Thank you for your time and patience and, most of all, your love. I would never have wished my life on anyone before, but now I can truly say that I wish everyone could have friends as great as you all are.
Wayne Patrick
THE END