Stockroom Secrets Chapter 48 by Mark Peters

Stockroom Secrets

by

Mark 'Ponyboy' Peters

Chapter Forty-Eight

'Si . . . I do!’

The three weeks since our trip to Treetops passed by in the blink of an eye. Raffa and I helped our mothers prepare for the party, handing over money for the food that needed to be purchased, ordering the meat for the barbeque, hiring equipment for the day, like a decent barbeque, plastic chairs, fold-out tables, a canopy and shade sails to provide some shelter for guests.

Our fathers told us they would split the cost of the beers and drinks, but other than that, we didn't want our party to be a burden on our parents so Raffa and I covered most of the cost. We had kept them in the dark over our real plans, so the whole event was going to be a big enough shock as it was.

Raffa had arranged the purchase of our outfits for the day, with pink shirts, black jeans and bow ties, and grey waistcoat vests for the two of us. They had cost us a small fortune, but after we had tried everything on one night, I did have to admit that we looked pretty special. Leandro had received his shirt and tried it on to make sure it was a good fit, and I was fairly certain that Olly's outfit would be fine as well, after checking his sizes when I made a discreet visit home one day while everyone was out.

The plan was for a quick change just after everybody had arrived. Our clothes were now hanging in my old bedroom wardrobe, where most of my old clothes still were, after I had dropped them there during another quiet visit.

I think we were now ready.

On the morning of the party Raffa and I were up early, with the car already loaded with supplies and the hire shop set to deliver everything for us before they opened at seven-thirty, so we knew that we needed to get moving.

There was also another pit stop we needed to make before heading to mum and dad's, and that was to the local bakery for the cake that we had almost forgotten to order. It wasn't going to be anything fancy, but they said a wedding cake should be a fruit cake with special icing . . . so that's what we were getting. We'd even found some decorations for it, which included a groom and a groom, and that would be added at the last minute.

Not everything had gone smoothly, but we were almost there.

'Are you ready, my husband-to-be?' I asked Raffa just as we were about to head out the door.

'As ready as I possibly can be, my future-husband.'

Picking up our overnight bags, which contained our first change of clothes, we opened the door and headed out into the morning. In around five hours time we would be married.

How surreal was that?

*   *   *

The hire company truck was just backing into my parents’ driveway when I pulled in and parked in my usual spot beside the carport. My family had heard the vehicles arrive and came out the back door to see what was happening. After greeting them, Olly, Raffa and I all pitched in, having the truck unloaded in about ten minutes, carting everything straight through into the backyard so we could finish setting it all up.

Before doing anything else outside, however, we needed to unpack the car, which still contained much of the food supplies, so we ferried all that inside, being careful not to let anyone see the box that contained the cake. Once that was done we began setting up the yard, and an hour later we had tables and chairs all exactly where my mother wanted them, and were working on the canopy frames that would be covered with fabric, to provide shade for those who wanted it.

In all there would be about forty family and friends attending, so we had plenty of room to spread around the large yard.

'I don't know about you guys, but I need a drink,' I said to my companions. 'Olly, can you grab us some cans of something while we put the cover on this?'

'Sounds like a plan,' he replied, before jumping up the steps and heading inside.

'So, will you be okay helping dad with the barbeque, while I take Olly with me to pick up the meat and the rest of the drink and . . .' I asked Raffa.

'Yeah. You just get him onside and we're good to go.'

'Who's good to go where,' Olly asked, as he jumped down from the landing and handed each of us a Coke.

'You, me and a run to the shops to get the last of what we need, like the meat and some more drinks. Just give me a chance to down this Coke first.'

'Sure thing.'

Thankfully there was some shade being provided by the house, so we sat down for a few minutes to finish our drinks. I suspected there would be a fair few of these swallowed today, and even before the party had started.

As we were sitting there, mum and dad came outside to see what we were doing, finding us lazing in the shade.

'Turn my back for one minute and look at you three! Lazing around again!' dad teased us.

'Just catching our breath, Mr P,' Raffa replied. 'You and me good to get the barbeque all sorted? This pair need to go shopping and collect the meat.'

'And onions!' my mother exclaimed. 'Nobody has got any onions yet!'

'Right then . . . any other last minute items needed? Write them down and we'll hit the grocery store as well,' I said.

Mum ran back inside and a few moments later came out with a notepad, writing stuff down as she went, before tearing off a sheet of paper and handing it to me.

I glanced at the list, which was only short, then said, 'Righto, let's go shopping, Olly. Just call us if there's anything else needed, ma!'

I quickly kissed Raffa goodbye and said, 'See you soon,' then we headed for my car before anyone could add anything else to our list of chores.

With the streets starting to come alive, as Saturday sport would soon be in full swing, we had a few hold-ups as we crossed town, but it wasn't long before we were nearing the shopping centre.

'So, today is kind of a big deal for you guys, huh?' Olly asked out of the blue.

'Yeah, you could say that,' I answered. 'When we reach milestones in our lives I guess we like to mark them somehow. We’ll probably be having a party for your sixteenth that’ll be coming up.'

'I guess.'

Seeing Riverside Park looming, the same place where Uncle Bryan and I’d had our heart-to-heart about five years ago, I decided on a quick change of plans and put on the indicator, changing lanes and quickly entering the car park.

'What are you doing?' Olly asked, as I came to a stop facing the water.

'So, yeah, like I said, today really is an important day for me and Raffa,' I said to him.

'Yeah, your anniversary. I get it.'

'Well, it's actually going to be more than that . . . and there’s something that I really need you to do for me today please.'

'What do you mean by more than that? And what do you want?'

'Firstly, you need to promise to keep it to yourself until the time comes, okay?'

'Jesus . . . what the fuck are you going on about, Gray?'

'Well, we didn't want to say anything beforehand . . . ‘

'Will you just fucking spit it out!'

'Okay then . . . I want you to be my best man. Raffa and I are going to get married.'

'What? That’s awesome! So today's like, an engagement party as well as your anniversary?' he said, as he threw himself across the seat at me, hugging and kissing me.

'Not exactly.'

'I . . . don't think I understand.'

'We're actually getting married today. It's all arranged . . . all planned out . . .'

'You're doing what?' Olly exclaimed. 'You're getting married? Like . . . today . . . have you told anyone? And you want me as your best man! Holy shit!'

'No, it's been kept under wraps. We wanted it to be a surprise!'

'You know mum's gonna go apeshit over this!'

'Sshhh . . . keep your voice down. And yes, and I want you to be my best man . . . but you can't say anything until it's ready to start. Can you do that for me?'

'Of course I can . . . I'm your best man! This is fucking wild!'

'Yeah. That's one way of putting it,' I said, as I pulled him to me and hugged him. For a moment I thought he gave a little sob in my arms, and when we parted I could see his eyes were moist, just before he used the back of his hand to wipe them.

'I-I c-can't fucking believe this,'  he stammered. 'Did I say that mum's going to go apeshit?'

'Yeah, bro. You already said that,' I replied with a laugh. 'C'mon, we better pick up all this stuff and get back.'

On the subject of our mother, there was bound to be some kind of reaction, so I was prepared to get our parents together and fill them in just before the event if necessary.

While we finished our shopping, I explained to him how everything was going to play out, about the need to change clothes for the ceremony, and how I had his dress clothes stashed away in my wardrobe.

'You want me to wear a pink shirt?' he growled.

'You'll look sexy as fuck in it,' I promised him.

'But it's pink!'

When we arrived back at the house, we found dad and Raffa putting up another shade canopy, before Raffa saw us and came over to help with taking the shopping inside.

He looked at me with raised eyebrows and I gave a nod. What he wasn't prepared for, was for Olly to jump on him and hug him.

'You sly bastards,' was all Olly said, before letting Raffa go.

'So, we're good then?' Raffa asked him, as he picked up a box off the back seat of my car and handed it to him.

'Better than good,' Olly answered. 'I love you guys and I can't wait.'

*   *   *

The rest of the morning was a busy one as we finished the preparations, helping mum in the kitchen and doing whatever was needed. A bit before eleven o'clock I mentioned that it was about time we hit the showers, so we were looking respectable before the guests started to arrive. Olly quietly asked where his clothes were, but I told him just to dress in his normal dress clothes for now and we would do another quick change around twelve-thirty.

Ten minutes later he was showered and changed, in what must have been record time for him, then it was time for me and Raffa. We quickly showered together, enjoying some passionate kisses, but that was all, then once dressed in the clothes we had brought with us we joined the rest of my family in the kitchen. Just at that moment we noticed Raffa's family arriving, approaching the back steps of the house.

It was game on.

When I saw Leandro carrying a large esky, while wearing his new clothes I think my jaw must have hit the floor. He looked as sexy as fuck, which is what I had told Olly he would look like. When I glanced at my little brother, I could see his eyes just about bulging out of their sockets. He noticed me staring at him and quickly blushed and looked away.

For just a second this fleeting thought crossed my mind, but now wasn't the time to say anything.

I opened the door for Leandro, and he came inside, followed by his wife Beth, and their son Curtis, along with their parents.

'Lookin' hot, bro,' I said to him as he placed the esky on the table, before we bumped fists.

'New threads,' he replied. 'You like?'

Raffa and Olly and I laughed, while Beth just smiled knowingly. I guessed she had been filled in on our plans. I think everyone else just thought we were mad.

Moments later I saw some more movement out in the yard and noticed George, our DJ, arriving, pushing a trolley stacked with black boxes.

'Our music has arrived,' I announced, and the four of us headed outside to help him.

'Where do you want me?' George asked. If that wasn't a loaded question, I don't think I've ever heard one.

'How about behind the carport?' I suggested. 'You'll get a bit of shade there.'

'Sweet as,' he replied. 'There are a couple more of these boxes on the back of the utility, if someone would like to grab them.'

'Consider it done,' Raffa answered, dragging Leandro with him.

Moments later Robbie, Meaghan and Dylan arrived, followed by some more people, who proved to be relatives of Raffa and Leandro. I think I had met them once before. Katherine came out to greet them as soon as she saw them.

Curtis and Dylan, who were about three and four and already best buds, teamed up and started running around the yard together. We would need to keep an eye on them, but they largely amused themselves these days, playing with some of Dylan's toys, which were always kept here for him.

As more and more people started coming into the yard, Dad and Antonio set themselves up at the makeshift bar and started handing out drinks. Mum and Beth started bring out trays of nibbles and passing them around.

Bryan and Chase were next to arrive, having driven from the city this morning, followed by Mrs Mack and her husband, Steve, then by mum's parents, my grandparents, then Hoppy and Nate, and a host of others.

We greeted them all warmly, sharing jokes and banter with those we were closest to. The yard was starting to fill and we mingled amongst everyone, thanking them for coming and telling them how much we appreciated them all being here. The drinks were flowing. The music had started. And it was almost twelve o'clock.

Raffa sidled up to me and placed a hand in mine. 'Almost showtime, babe. You ready for this?'

'I've never been more ready' I replied, before turning to face him and pulling him in for a kiss.

'Oi! Cut it out you two!' I heard Robbie say to us. As we turned and looked at him, everyone just laughed.

At exactly twelve-fifteen my phone pinged. I knew that it would be a message from Rose Pearson, our celebrant. I quickly texted her back.

< Will send someone out for you. We will just change clothes and then we'll be ready >

Seconds later I got a thumbs up.

Quickly scanning the crowd, I found Leandro talking to my grandparents and motioned for him to come over.

'The Rose has landed,' I said. 'You okay to bring her into the yard while we change? And remember, if anyone asks, she's just a friend of ours.'

'Too easy, bro.'

Olly noticed us talking and came over. 'Now?' he asked.

'Yeah, kiddo. You okay?'

'Pffft! Dude! As if you even need to ask that!'

'Let's go then,' I said as we headed for the steps that led into the house. Stopping at the door I glanced back out over the yard just before we went inside. I saw Leandro heading for the gate that led out the front. I also saw my mother watching us. She looked suspiciously like she knew something was up.

There was no time to do anything now. All we could do was keep going.

The three of us went into my old bedroom and I closed the door behind us, then opened my wardrobe door and pulled out three coat hangers, on which were our clothes, all covered in plastic.

'Okay boys. Time to strip,' I commanded, as I laid the clothes across my bed. In no time at all we were down to our jocks and socks and ready to pull on our new jeans and shirts, only to be interrupted by a knock at the door.

'Are you three in there?' mum demanded to know.

'Just give us a second, ma,' I answered.

'I have questions,' she added.

'Just give us a minute. But while you're doing that, you better go get dad . . . and Raffa's parents . . . but nobody else. Okay?'

'This better be good, Grayson!'

'I promise you. It will be!' I called back.

'So, what was that about it being showtime?' Raffa offered.

'It's now or never, babe.'

Hurriedly we pulled on our clothes and helped each other get tidied up. Olly looked just as I said he would, especially once we topped his outfit with a bow tie. Raffa looked very dapper in his jeans, shirt, vest and bow tie. And I thought I looked okay too.

'I could do you right now,' Raffa moaned as he came up behind me while I was checking myself out in the full-length mirror.

'Please, not in front of the children,' I replied.

'Oh, don't let me stop you guys,' Olly remarked. 'I'll watch. It might be educational.'

'What the fuck!' I exclaimed.

'Haha. I thought that would get your motor running.'

Just then we heard footsteps inside the house.

'You go first,' I said to Olly. 'We'll be right behind you.'

Olly opened the door and headed out into the hallway, as I took Raffa's hand.

'Love you,' I whispered.

'Not as much as I love you,' he whispered back.

I led him out of the room to find our parents all waiting at the entrance to our lounge room. Mum was standing there with her arms crossed, dad was looking slightly worried and Raffa's parents were smiling. But when they caught sight of us, all dressed up, the lot of them just fell to pieces.

'I know who that woman is,' mum said. 'Are you doing what I think you're doing? This whole anniversary thing was just a set up?'

'Don't be mad at us, mum.'

'Oh, honey, how can we be mad? Maybe a bit disappointed that you thought you couldn't trust us, but not mad. A bit of a heads up would have been nice though,' she said, as she came to me and hugged me, only to quickly be joined by my father.

Raffa's parents, still smiling but with tears beginning to flow, embraced him also. I looked at Olly and could see him crying and laughing, and not sure exactly what he should be doing. I motioned for him to come to us and he quickly came and joined in the family hug.

When we all separated, Raffa came to me and took my hand once more.

'We're sorry we didn't let you in on our plans, but we didn't want the whole thing to be blown out of proportion,' I said to them. 'We just wanted close family and friends to be here to share this with us and not have it become a big deal. The only person we told was Leandro, because Raffa wanted him to be his best man.'

'And Gray only told me this morning,' Olly added.

'And we want you to know,' Raffa added, 'that we've talked it through, and we know it's the right thing to do. We might still be young, but we truly love each other, as you already know. We’ve been together for five years, but I want to spend the rest of my life with this guy, and it starts right here and now.'

'No, sweetheart, it started five years ago,' Katherine said. 'We all felt from the time we met Grayson that this would be what would happen eventually, so we want you to know, and I know I speak for Pamela and Richard as well, that we are truly happy for you both . . . but it just would have been nice if we could have had the big wedding I always thought my kids deserved.'

'And I have to say . . .' mum added, 'you all look so handsome. I love these shirts, they are so, you! Whoever picked out your clothes did a great job.'

Raffa and I both laughed, then Olly added, 'Yeah, I even kinda like my pink shirt.'

'Told you that you'd look sexy in it!' I teased.

It was just at that moment that Uncle Bryan came through the kitchen door and found us there, stopping in his tracks as soon as he saw us.

'You've got to be fucking kidding me!' he exclaimed. 'Are you guys serious?'

'Never been more serious, Unc! It's happening. And right bloody now,' I replied, as I went to him and hugged him.

'Leandro sent me to see what you were up to, so now I guess I know.'

'Come on, let's get this party started,' Raffa urged. 'You lot better get out there and start gathering everyone together, and send Leandro and Rose inside please.'

'And we want lots of photos, okay?' I suggested.

'You've got it,' said Antonio.

*   *   *

When we walked outside onto the small landing at the top of the steps a few minutes later, with Leandro and Olly leading the way and with Rose following them, just ahead of us. Everybody clapped and cheered, much to our embarrassment. There were a few wolf-whistles thrown in as well, which didn't help. Hoppy and Nathan would pay for that later.

As phones were pointed in our direction, recording the day for us, Raffa and I clung to each other, nervous, excited, and just a little bit scared. But seeing the laughing and smiling faces of all the people we cared about quickly put us at ease.

Right on queue George started playing the wedding march, or just a few bars of it, before switching to something a little more upbeat . . . something about 'everybody dance now' I think.

Leandro used his hands to try and get everyone to quieten down, then George faded the music out to let him speak.

'Hi folks,' he began. 'So, by now you've probably cottoned on to what's really happening here today.'

Everyone laughed. I felt Raffa's hand grip mine just a little tighter as I looked down on the smiling faces of my grandparents, Uncle Bryan and Chase, Hoppy and Nathan, Mrs Mack and a host of other people whom we loved dearly.

'These guys came up with a plan and kept us all in the dark, but we won't hold that against them. They wanted to share this day with their nearest and dearest and I think I speak for everybody when I say that we are all honoured to be involved, and none more so than myself and young Oliver here,' he said, while placing an arm around Olly's shoulders and pulling him close to him. 'We love our brothers, and will do anything for them . . .'

'Yeah, even wearing pink shirts,' Olly added, which earned another laugh.

'But bow ties? C'mon guys, that's stretching the friendship a little, isn't it?' Leandro teased us, while putting a finger between his shirt collar and his neck and making a motion like it was uncomfortable. 'Anyhow, none of us here would have wanted to miss this day for quids, so before we do the official bit, I just want to say to you guys, we all love you and we're all grateful that you wanted us to be a part of this day!'

'Hear, hear,' came from the small crowd.

'So now, I'll hand you over to our celebrant, Rose, who will do the official honours.'

'Welcome family and friends,' Rose began. 'I think perhaps the garden is the place to mark this occasion, so if our wedding party would like to join me in front of the beautiful flowering shrubs, we will commence.'

Stepping down off the landing Rose crossed the short distance to the garden located along one wall of the house, where a climbing rose with pale yellow flowers spread itself on a wire trellis.

From there the ground sloped away slightly, so we would be standing slightly above all our guests. Once we were all in position with the four of us all facing her, Rose began again.

'Thank you all for indulging me,' she said. 'So, once again, welcome family and friends. We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the marriage of Rafael Philip de Silva and Grayson Richard Porter, who have come together to begin the next phase of their lives.

'You have all come to know and love Rafael and Grayson and shared in their growth as a couple. And we now bear witness to what their relationship has become. Today, they will affirm this bond formally and publicly. Rafael and Grayson will mark their transition as a couple not only by celebrating the love between themselves, but by also celebrating the love between all of us — including the love of their parents, siblings, extended family, and best friends. Without that love, today would be far less joyous.

'And if the couple would now please face each other, we come to the Declaration of Intent.  Do you Rafael take Grayson to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and not so good times, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?'

'Si. I do,' Raffa replied.

'And do you Grayson take Rafael to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and not so good times, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?'

'Si. I do,' I replied.

'And now, if your best men have the rings please.'

Leandro and Olly both retrieved the gold bands from their shirt pockets, which we had entrusted them with just before coming outside for the ceremony, and held them on their open palms for us.

'A ring is an unbroken circle, with ends that have been joined together, and it represents your union. It is a symbol of infinity, and of your infinite love. When you look at these rings on your hands, be reminded of this moment, your commitment, and the love you now feel for each other.

'Rafael, please place the ring on Grayson's finger and repeat after me: Grayson, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with my pledge to love you today, tomorrow, always, and forever.’

I held out my hand and Raffa slid the ring onto my finger as he repeated the words given to him.

'And now...Grayson, please place the ring on Rafael's finger and repeat after me: Rafael, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with my pledge to love you today, tomorrow, always, and forever.’

I then did the same for him, sliding the ring onto his finger and repeating those words.

'Before these witnesses, you have pledged to be joined in marriage. You have now sealed this pledge with your exchange of wedding rings. By the authority vested in me by the great State of New South Wales, I now pronounce you husband and husband! You each may now kiss your husband. Congratulations!'

As our family and friends clapped and cheered, and as George played the traditional wedding celebration song that I had heard a thousand times before, complete with church bells, we looked into each other's eyes. We had done it. We were now one. Each of us reached up and cupped the cheek of his husband with one hand, then we leaned in and kissed, and kissed, and kissed, neither wanting to stop.

'Kissie, kissie, kissie,' I heard Olly say, repeating what he used to tease me with five years ago, while Leandro said, 'C'mon you two, save that for later won't ya, we need to light the barbeque!'

We broke apart, laughing and looked at our siblings, each of them grinning from ear to ear. We looked at our parents and family members, who were all crying tears of joy. We looked at friends, laughing and clapping for us.

The deed was done. Nothing was going to tear us apart. Ever.

And now it was time to party.

El Fin

Authors Note:

_Hi folks.Well, that wraps up this story. I sure hope you have enjoyed Grayson's and Rafael's adventures.
It has certainly been a fun story to write, even if the finished result is somewhat different to what I had
originally planned. You can thank my editor, Michael, for that. I guess that's just the journey that writing
can sometimes take you on. :)

Thank you to everyone who has commented or sent emails about the story.
Your encouragement has been greatly appreciated.

You will see these guys again at some time in the future, but for now though, I have other projects to turn
my attention to. Thanks again for reading. I hope you will check out some of my other stories (if you haven't already)._

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Your support of Nifty is what helps ensure that stories like this are available for people like you to enjoy! :)

Oh, hey, you might also like to check out my websites, where all my fiction, real life stories, reviews, books
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