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Thanks for all the emails. They really keep me motivated. Feel free to drop me a note at pnskid61@cox.net. Also check out my website at www.cruisense.com
Happy reading, Dan
Chapter 47
The response in the local press was overwhelming even making the front page of the Pensacola News Journal - " A New Day for Pensacola" - was the headline. The editorial for the day was centered around the theme of "it is about time." This was just the response Ethan was hoping for. He knew the people of Pensacola wanted more for their city. Perhaps the people that are elected to make decisions on behalf of the citizens would wake up now.
Sean was gearing up for the major work required to obtain the state and federal permits for the sinking of Quest off the coast of Pensacola. He was already having troubles - neither the shipyard in Mobile nor Pascagoula could carry out the work to ready Quest. Both had full workloads planned for the next few months - some of it work for Compass on Resolve, Aspire, and Liberty. He was going to contact a firm in Galveston that may be able to do the work.
Sean was excited to have a project he could sink his teeth into. After Project Phoenix, which resulted in the acquisition of the 3 new ships, he was ready for a new challenge. He could already tell that he was going to get what he wanted. After the last few weeks this would not be that hard.
The time since the horrible events in Devon had been difficult for both Sean and Kevin. Sean had never been in a situation before where his life was being threatened. Kevin had his military training which enabled him to quickly deal with the events and to process them psychologically. Simon was the enemy and once the enemy was identified and the threat understood he simply went about ensuring the safety of the civilians and then going after the enemy. Once the enemy had self destructed, the threat was over. The end. But it wasn't the end for Sean.
The first few nights back, Sean would awaken shouting and crying. His dreams were filled with images from Devon and the explosions. In some dreams he would watch as the people he loved were blown up before his eyes.
He was staying at his place under the guise of he had work to do. In reality he was withdrawing. If he distanced himself form Kevin and those he loved then he wouldn't be hurt if something happened to them. Other than Ethan's calls, he didn't answer the phone. He only went out to get groceries and even then he didn't get much. He wasn't eating like he should. He wasn't exercising. He had started smoking again. He had a brief smoking stint while he was in college but had quit a couple of years ago. All in all, he was a wreck.
Kevin called. And called. He went by to see Sean a couple of times but Sean was out or he didn't answer the door. Kevin was concerned and scared. He knew how depression can take a grip. He had been so distraught a few months back that he even tried to take his own life. But Sean rescued him, not just from the horrible scene following his suicide attempt, but also from the grips of depression. Kevin didn't know what to do. He called a helpline to get a referral for a therapist. He figured if he could explain to someone what had happened and what he thought Sean was experiencing that he could get some advice on what to do.
He met with a nice therapist for about 2 hours. She was in her early 30s and really seemed to listen. But she wasn't full of answers. Instead she would ask questions. What do you think you should do? Why do you think that? What do you think some of the possible outcomes of that would be? Why do you think that? If you were Sean, what would you be thinking? Why do you think that? How does that make you feel? What do you think you should do? Why do you think that? And on it went.
Kevin was ready to scream at times but soon the lightbulb was going off. As so often is the case, people often know the answers to their questions but just need a sounding board and someone to lead them down a path of self discovery. He realized that Sean was probably scared. That he was feeling vulnerable. That he was realizing that life was finite and could end quickly. Essentially he was going through what so many men do during "mid-life crisis". But with an exception - rather than going out and living life to the fullest he was cutting himself off. Kevin couldn't allow that. He loved Sean too much. He wanted Sean back. It was time for an intervention.
He waited outside Sean's apartment for hours. He had knocked on the door but there wasn't an answer. So he waited. Finally he saw Sean walking to the garbage bin with a bag of garbage. He quickly ran over to the apartment door and let himself in while Sean was out. Since he was just taking the garbage out and would be right back, Kevin had counted on the fact that Sean would not have locked the door.
Kevin couldn't believe how cluttered the apartment was. This was very unusual as Sean was a bit of a clean freak. He also noticed an ashtray on the patio and the smell of smoke, while not strong, was noticeable. He heard the door open and close and then Sean was walking into the kitchen.
"Hi Sean. I've missed you."
"Oh shit, what the fuck, oh shit," a clearly startled Sean yelled out. "Kevin you scared me half to death. You shouldn't be here. I don't want you to see me like this. Please go."
"I am not going anywhere. I don't care what you look like. Sean, I love you. I want to help with whatever is going on. Please don't cut me out of your life."
Sean wanted to yell and kick Kevin out but instead something swelled inside him. The anger and fear he had been bottling up emerged in a deafening sob. He sunk down to the kitchen floor wracked with sobs. Kevin slowly went over to Sean, sat down on the floor next to him, gently placed his arms around Sean and pulled him close. He held Sean as he cried. He stroked his hair and let him cry. The two sat on the kitchen floor, and gently rocked. As the crying eased, Sean rested his head in Kevin's lap. Kevin didn't move for almost 2 hours. Sean had cried himself to sleep. Nothing would get Kevin to move. His sole purpose now was to be there for Sean.
Sean started to stir. "Jesus, do you think it is cold enough down here or what," Sean mumbled. "I am freezing my nuts off down here and with any luck I may be needing them again sometime soon."
Kevin thought about laughing but waited for a signal.
"Next time you come over here and have an intervention why don't you wait until I am at least on the carpet," Sean said now starting to chuckle. "Let me get in the shower and get cleaned up and then we can talk. Is that ok with you studly?"
Sean did just that. Kevin tidied up the kitchen and living room while Sean was taking his shower. And talk they did. About everything. Kevin had been a good pupil because he used the same tactic on Sean that the therapist has used with him. Asking probing open-ended questions causing Sean to reach deep for an understanding. Sean felt relieved and immensely better. He asked Kevin for the name of the therapist and said he would make a call to her for an appointment.
"I guess you can see I have started smoking. Guess you won't ever kiss me again now will you Mr. Men's Health," Sean said to Kevin.
"Sean, you are an adult and you are intelligent. We all have our crutches. I assume you aren't smoking 2 packs a day or anything like that. You have quit before and you will quit again when you are ready. Until then, just don't smoke in my car and my house and get some sugar free tic-tacs and we are good to go."
And indeed they were. Up to this point in the relationship, Sean had been the wise one. He had saved Kevin from his depression. But now something was different. They were equals. They had both been vulnerable with each other, shared fears and insecurities. They had broken down the last barrier. The love they both had for each other grew deeper. Two days later, Kevin came over for dinner and a movie. The dinner was eaten but the movie was never watched. They made love for the first time since returning from Devon. They shared themselves fully and with a level of emotional connection they had not achieved before. After two rounds of amazing love-making they fell asleep spooned together. The way they both wanted it to be forever.
Two days before Christmas, Rick came flying into the condo. He was obviously extremely pleased about something. He was so excited about the upcoming construction projects that he had gone and purchased several books on modern architecture, some software programs on architectural design, but there was something else that had him so excited.
"Ethan honey, come here," Rick yelled out.
Ethan came into the living room to see Rick excited like a school boy.
"I am so excited. You know honey, it is almost impossible to buy a Christmas present for a billionaire. I have been wracking my brain trying to think what to get you. Well, it hit me. I have been working on it for a few days now and now I have it. I know Christmas is two days away but I can't hide this from you and besides, I want it to be just us, you, me and Adam when you get your present. So how about, are you ready? Huh? Huh? Come on? Please? Are you ready?"
"Babe, you didn't have to get me anything, you know that. But you know what? I want it NOW !!! Gimmie gimmie gimmie. ADAM..." Ethan yelled out and shortly Adam was skipping down the hall. It seemed that the ability to skip had just descended upon Adam as it was his chosen way of movement these days.
Rick explained that he had a present for Ethan for Christmas and he was going to give it to him now. Rick went into the bedroom and came back with a pair of eyeshades (you know like the one's Mrs. Howell always wore on Gilligan's Island). Ethan put them on and the happy trio left the condo on their way to the surprise.
They exited the front of the condo building and walked a few hundred feet and stopped. Rick told Ethan on the count of three he could take them off. One. Two. Three.
In front of Ethan was a 1983 Pontiac Parisienne. It had once been dark blue but now was a variety of colors, the sun, oxidization, and dodgy repair jobs apparent. Where there was once a half vinyl roof there were now globs of vinyl held together with duct tape. The interior roof liner was sagging down. The tires were huge white walls complemented with chrome wire hubcaps. The hood ornament was leaning to the left as though it was hanging on for dear life but with a very weak will to live. The front bumper was askew obviously having bumped into several obstacles during it's life. As for the trunk, well the lock for the trunk was completely gone, now simply a hole. The back bumper had met a similar fate. It just wasn't there. The muffler was being held in place by a twisted up coat hanger. Back to the front and the once proud grill now a mere remnant of what once was. To Ethan, this car was simply brilliant.
"Babe, it is perfect! I love it! Where did you find it? Can we look inside? Can we go for a drive?"
Rick was now beaming. It was obvious that Ethan loved the car. Rick handed Ethan the keys and the three piled in. The seats would have been once described a rich luxurious velour in the pastel blue that was so popular at the time. Now it had stains and tears and displayed them proudly as if they were badges of honor. The GM Delco AM/FM radio was still in place (and functional) but the digital clock had long since given up. The diamond shaped coat hanger antenna provided a good level of reception.
Ethan turned the key and after a series of grinds and sighs the engine came to life. The entire car seemed to rock and roll with the engine - even at idle. Ethan slipped the car in to reverse, a thud and a clunk and they were rolling. Ethan cut the wheel as the power steering cried out its disgust with a loud screech. Putting the car into drive the 3 adventurers set out. Adam looked lost in the cavernous back seat. Ethan and Rick seemed to be miles apart on the front bench seat. This thing was a behemoth.
As they cruised down the road and the car approached 40 miles an hour the sound could clearly be heard. Wanna wanna wanna. The tires and engine came together to make that sound that Ethan had described.
Rick recalled the day in St Thomas when he saw Ethan stop and look at Sojourn and comment about how beautiful she was. How proud he stood. Well, he had the same look now. Rick was bursting with emotion as he realized he had given a gift to Ethan that he so obviously loved.
Ethan drove to the toll plaza at the entrance to Pensacola Beach. He pulled the car right up to the front of the building and proudly stepped out and went in, ignoring the fact that the car continued to chug and cough and sputter even after he had turned off the ignition. He emerged about 10 minutes later with a sparkling new toll tag. He applied it to the rear driver's side window. I christen thee Bertha, Ethan said as he applied the sticker. The beach now had its newest permanent vehicle - a 1983 Pontiac Parisienne named Bertha owned by Mr. Ethan West - the man that had changed Pensacola forever.
Christmas Eve dinner was going to be a big affair - Alice and Mark would be flying in from Nashville, Sarah and Jane coming up from Ft Lauderdale, Dan coming from Crestview, Kevin and Sean, and Brent Connor - total of 11 for dinner. Ethan had enough food for an army and had insisted on cooking the main meal himself. He could afford to have help but he wouldn't hear of it. Ethan was up at the crack of dawn on Christmas Eve morning to start the cooking. Dinner would be at 6pm. Kevin and Sheila were flying R-1 up to Nashville, then to Ft Lauderdale, and then back to Pensacola. R-1 should be landing in Pensacola by 2pm so that allowed plenty of time.
And so it went. By 230pm, Sarah, Jane, Mark, and Alice arrived at the condo. Kevin and Sean would be coming over later. Dan had arrived early at 2pm and was a bundle of nerves. He had missed Sarah so much and couldn't wait for her to arrive. They greeted each other with a powerful hug and a kiss that caused several in the room to blush. It was going to be a special day.
Ethan had everything under control and after receiving a few dirty looks Rick got the message that the kitchen was off limits. He tip-toed into the kitchen and put his arms around his man. "Hun, I am going to run out for a bit, I have a few things I need to get. I'll be back in time for dinner. That is unless you need me to help you in here?"
That earned Rick a stern look that was immediately followed by a kiss. Rick excused himself from the crowd seeing that Adam was, as usual, the center of attention for Alice and Mark and that Sarah and Dan really didn't need entertaining!
By 5pm the final guests started to arrive. Kevin and Sean arrived with two casserole dishes. Sean had brought the required green bean casserole (no southern big meal is complete without it). Kevin brought a cauliflower dip and some chips that everyone could nibble on while dinner was finishing. Brent Connor arrived shortly afterwards with flowers and some wine. By 5:30pm everyone had arrived and was present and accounted for. Except for Rick.
Ethan called Rick's cell phone at 5:45pm asking him where he was. "I am pulling into the parking lot now. I will be up in less than 5 minutes," Rick replied.
As promised Rick was soon entering the condo. But dinner wouldn't be for eleven, another place would be needed at the table. Rick had someone with him. It wasn't clear who was surprised the most - the guest or Ethan, Sean, Dan, or Adam. This wasn't what the guest had expected for Christmas this year. It would be a Christmas Ruth would never forget.