This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Shakespeare (Hamlet)
Thanks to Chael for assistance in editing and proofing the story. This is wholly fictional with no reference intended to persons alive or dead.
Please do not distribute to other sites without permission of the author. Comments can be sent to firehosejoe@yahoo.com
From the previous chapter:
Not knowing what else to do, he had the service desk in the terminal call for a car. Settled in and heading for town, he decided to check Charles' apartment before heading home. He wasn't there but what caused Alejandro even more concern was the mess he found. Dirty dishes, an unmade bed with clothes scattered. Charles was far too anal retentive to leave his apartment like that. Something was wrong.
Chapter 37
Alejandro and the driver headed straight back for his condo. Alejandro grabbed his brief case.
"I'm going up now. Please collect the luggage. In the lobby you'll find a call button for the Penthouse. Press it and I'll send the lift down for you. Alejandro raced for the lobby and impatiently waited for the elevator to arrive. He keyed in the non-stop override and was soon in his private vestibule.
Quickly opening the door, Alejandro headed straight for the kitchen counter – the communication point that had proved to be the most effective for relaying messages when a written note was needed. He read, scrawled across a piece of paper, "Friday morning - Mother critically ill. Flying home immediately. Please call soonest. Chas"
Before he could react, he heard the soft ping of the call box. Alejandro keyed the over-ride and sent the lift to the lobby. When the chauffer arrived, Alejandro directed him to place the luggage in the master bedroom. He then pointed to the house phone and asked the driver to check with his dispatcher to see if he could wait to take Alejandro back to the airport.
While that call was being made, Alejandro went into his home office and called the number Charles had left. A lady answered the phone. Absent was the slow gentile drawl typical of a cultured Louisiana lady. Instead, what Alejandro heard was a tremulous voice though still colored by the deep south, "Thibodaux residence."
Alejandro introduced himself. The lady responded immediately with urgency, "Oh I am just so very glad you've called. Charles is in a state. I'm so worried about him. You will be able to come down won't you? He needs a friend in the very worst way." Her voice grew slightly stronger and, as she began her litany of panic, the stream of information poured out.
"Oh, of course you want to know about Charlotte. We don't expect here to last through the day. It was just awful. I was supposed to pick her up for bridge and when she wasn't waiting – you know she's always so very prompt – well, I was concerned.
"I hated to appear to be rushing her and of course I wasn't about to sound my car horn. So I went to the door and took my key – of course we've had each other's keys for years now, lookin' in on things when one or the other of us was gone.
"Well there she was! In her housecoat, breakfast dishes a mess where she'd fallen. I couldn't get her to rouse and called 9-1-1 and waited. They were here in just minutes, thank God!
"They say it was a massive stroke. Lots of brain damage and they don't expect her to last much longer. Her voice broke with a sob, "What am I going to do?"
Alejandro took advantage of the moment of silence, "Mrs., uh, I'm sorry I didn't catch your name."
Olivia launched in again, "Oh, I've just gone on and on. I'm so sorry. I'm Olivia Baxter, one of Charlotte's best friends. You know, I was born a Thibidaux; it's spelled differently but it's what drew us together in the beginning, years ago. Oh, what am I going to do!?"
Alejandro broke in firmly - he hoped not too forcefully, "Mrs. Baxter, please tell Charles I'll be flying in today."
"What airline are you flying?" Olivia asked. "I'll tell him to meet you."
"Don't worry about that, Mrs. Baxter. I'm flying a charter and will arrive as soon as possible. I'll rent a taxi if you'll tell me the address, I know I have it here somewhere but don't want to take time to find it. I'll call as soon as I land in Lafayette and let Charles know I've arrived," Alejandro finally got in.
After telling him the location, Olivia added "Any taxi company can find this neighborhood. It's one of the best areas in old Lafayette. I'll tell Charles. Thank you so very much for coming so quickly. He'll so appreciate it."
He said good-bye. Alejandro called his secretary at Algara Group, asking her to contact the charter company and arrange for an immediate flight to Lafayette, Louisiana.
When Alejandro reemerged from the office, the driver told him he could stay. After getting some iced water for the driver and directing him to a chair to wait, Alejandro sped to his room and hurriedly emptied his gym bag, suitcase and suit bag. Quickly he repacked for the variety of contingencies he might encounter in Lafayette.
The office phone rang. Alejandro sprinted toward it and answered on the third ring. Yes, the plane would be ready with flight plans confirmed with both O'Hare and the Lafayette Municipal Airport. Alejandro thanked the woman and tore back to finish packing.
Within minutes he'd stuffed clothes, workout gear, several suits and various other sundries and secured the bags. Calling the driver, the two men carried the accumulated luggage to the limo and were off.
By the time the plane reached cruising altitude, Alejandro began to relax. He recalled the last visit to Lafayette. Charles' Father had died after an extended bout with cancer. He and Charles had been estranged for years. He had had gumption enough to follow his own dreams and pursue his interest in art. His father had suspected his sexual proclivities and finally had challenged Charles after his first year at college.
It had not gone well. Though not quite a homophobe, the senior Thibodaux threatened to cut him off entirely if he ever brought embarrassment and shame on the family. Charles kept his distance though he managed to maintain a close relationship with Charlotte, albeit a long distance one.
During the two years after his father's death, Charles visited his mother regularly. Mr. Thibodaux had been man who took his `head-of-house' role literally. He had not let Charlotte become involved with her parent's estate except with signatures, though she was the sole heir and executor. When his parents passed, she was nearly completely ignorant of the comings and goings of that settlement. He, too, was an only child and heir. It wasn't worth the fight to her. She let things lie.
Charlotte's family was long-lived. There were infrequent occasions of illness beyond the ordinary. The gene pool was strong and deep. Thus, Charles didn't press his mother on details of the combined estate for which she was now responsible since his father's passing. There would be time, he was sure.
Alejandro remembered Charles' continued frustration at his insistence that Charlotte get the art work and antiques appraised and update the home insurance. He'd complained that there were hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of `stuff' in the house with barely enough insurance to cover the building.
He dozed as the drone of the engines and the smooth flight lulled him to sleep. It had been a fun-filled, long weekend. He thought, just as he was drifting off, it was good that Charles had been at his apartment to receive the call from Mrs. Baxter to tell him of his Mother's stroke.
He startled as the steward gently called his name and touched his shoulder. He couldn't remember where he was - on a plane yes - but didn't he remember landing in O'Hare? Suddenly it all came back. He smiled his thanks and asked the captain to radio ahead and have a limo ready at the gate.
Five hours after Alejandro had taken off from Chicago, the limo glided smoothly to a stop in front of the house Alejandro so clearly remembered. Instructing the driver to bring the luggage, he walked to the door and as he was about to ring the bell the door suddenly opened and Charles grabbed him in a bear hug.
"Thank you for coming so quickly. It's been awful. I'll make it now that you're here."
Alejandro immediately asked, "And your mother, Charlotte - how is she?"
Charles held Alejandro at arm's length, his hand on his shoulders. "She died about three this afternoon," he said dully. It seemed to Alejandro that Charles was understandably distracted.
The driver approached with the bags and Charles drew himself together. "Come on in," he murmured to the driver. "Please follow me and I'll show you where the bags go."
Alejandro paid the tariff along with a substantial tip. He heard a woman's voice, Olivia he presumed, on the phone in a nearby room. The house was filled with flowers. The aromas of food competed with the floral perfume. He had nearly found his bearings when Olivia appeared and rushed toward him.
"Oh Mr. Algara. We are lost, lost!" she said with a curious sincerity and pathos that only a southern woman can express. She fell into his arms as he met her embrace. She sobbed a few times then gathered herself.
"I'm so sorry. You must think I'm a complete ninny. I'll be alright. Just give me a minute," she said in a rush as she daubed her eyes with a wrinkled hanky.
Straightening her skirt and smoothing her hair she faced Alejandro again, "Now, how was your flight? Did you have any trouble finding us? What can I get you? Something to eat, a glass of wine, something stronger? Please sit here." She fluffed a pillow and gestured somewhat grandly to a wing chair near the fireplace.
"Olivia, please try to relax," Charles said, gently taking her in his arms. She broke into fresh sobs.
Looking over to Alejandro, he rolled his eyes then shook his head in understanding and pity. "Olivia, we'll make it. Together, we'll all get through this. Be strong. You know that's what she'd want." Quietly they stood together, Olivia's shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
After a short while, she excused herself and left the room. Alejandro looked at Charles with both questions and pity in his eyes. He mouthed and barely whispered, "Is she okay?"
"She'll be alright. Mother was her closest friend," Charles simply said.
A moment later, red-eyed but with her hair combed and blouse straightened, Olivia entered the room. "Now Boys, what can I do before I head home? Fix you a plate? There's lots of food in the kitchen. Maybe you want to go and tell me what you want so I can take care of it before I go."
Charles walked over to her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. "You go home. We're big boys now and can take care of warming a plate. Olivia, you've done enough today. You need your rest."
Alejandro stood and nodded his good-byes fearful of saying anything that might start another flood of tears.
"You're sure, Honey?" Olivia asked as she neared the door.
"Yes Ma'am. We'll be fine. With all the work you've done today, why, I just don't know what I would have done without you," Charles said.
For a moment Olivia screwed up her face as if to cry, but took a deep breath and added as she reached for the handle, "Only if you're sure." She saw Charles nod and took her leave.
"Whew! What a godsend she's been. As long as there's something to do she's fine but given a moment to think about the situation she dissolves into tears," Charles said with empathy.
"She's going to crash when this is over but for now as long as she stays busy she'll manage. Is it cold to you in here?" Charles asked as a surprising non-sequitur.
"It's the rain, I imagine," Alejandro replied. Likely, the chill was part of the stress Charles was enduring.
"Is there stuff for a fire?" Alejandro asked.
"Yes, I'll get some wood. Use the paper that's beside the chair and open the fire doors. Alejandro looked at the fireplace as Charles left the room. There was a pair of heavily wrought blackened steel doors with what appeared to be family crests on them. He tugged on the handle in the middle and they folded back on themselves revealing a large, deep fireplace.
He took a shovel from the nearby set of fire tools and moving the long-dead coals about he made a place for the makings of a fire. As he was balling up the last of several pieces of newsprint, Charles appeared with several small pieces of split wood and a bundle of kindling.
"Do you remember where the liquor is stored?" he asked. Seeing Alejandro nod, he instructed, "Fix us a drink. I'll have some Laphroag, neat. You get what you want. I need to be busy and a fire will be just the thing for the moment."
The fire sparked and popped comfortingly as they pulled up wing chairs closer to it to enjoy the warmth.
"When did you last eat, Charles" Alejandro asked.
"Some coffee and a Danish early this morning, I think," Charles replied wearily.
"You're going to eat some dinner, as am I. We've got very full days ahead of us and we need to keep up our strength. No discussion, no disagreement. We'll enjoy a civilized moment here then go fix plates. Understood?" Alejandro asked with a tone that brooked no disagreement.
Charles met his gaze with eyes that were pools of sorrow and fatigue and nodded. They sat quietly for the most part. Charles related bits and pieces of the events since he'd arrived. Quietly Alejandro said a quiet prayer of thanks for Olivia. She had been the anchor for Charles, no matter how frenetic she'd appeared to Alejandro.
With quiet rejoinders that let Charles know he was listening, Alejandro let his friend talk and process the events of the past twenty-four hours. The comments became shorter and at last a silence built between them. Alejandro saw Charles staring into the fire and knew it was time to eat and draw the day to a close.
Together they fixed plates from the bounty that southern women provide at time of death. While the plates warmed in the oven, they finished their drinks. As Charles arranged portable trays before the fire, Alejandro brought the plates and some good wine in for both of them. Keeping the wine close by, Alejandro determined to help Charles relax as much as possible.
Charles began to enumerate the tasks to be done the next day. Alejandro let him talk, making mental notes for himself so he could assist, and if needed take over as many as possible. Finally the wine was gone, the plates were empty and Charles, head leaning back into the comfort of the wing chair, seemed to be nodding off to sleep.
Stirring his friend with instructions to care for the fire, Alejandro took their plates, cutlery and glassware to the kitchen. When he returned, the doors for the fireplace were closed and Charles was stretching and yawning.
"You had the driver put my bags in the guest room?" Alejandro asked simply.
Charles regarded him for a moment with a familiar smile that was a welcome change. "That was for Olivia's sake. What did you think, Alex?"
"That's better. Let's get these clothes off and get a shower. Want to share?" Alejandro clasped Charles' shoulder and headed him toward the stair. "I'll lock up. Are the codes still the same?"
"Yes and thanks. I'd forgotten that," Charles said, the fatigue evident in his voice.
Soon they were both in the oversized shower. Alejandro soaped Charles' hair and rinsed it. He then soaped his back, kneading the knotted shoulder muscles deeply. He was rewarded with deep groans of pleasure as Charles moved his back occasionally tacitly directing Alejandro's massaging. All the while, Alejandro kept reminding Charles that things would be okay. He'd not have to face any of this alone.
Finally he turned Charles to rinse off his soapy back. Charles' organ was tumescent. Alejandro didn't know what Charles wanted but ventured a gentle tug with a soapy hand. It thickened steadily.
"You alright with this?" Alejandro asked tentatively.
"Oh, yeah. Didn't know I had any life left down there today," Charles chuckled.
"Well, I had no doubt about that. Just didn't want to know if you wanted me to help in any way," Alejandro quietly answered.
"Yes please, but not here. Let's get dried off and get in bed," Charles said.
After taking care of brushing and other needs, they climbed naked into Charles' bed. Alejandro reached over and let the back of his fingers rub gently across the muscled pecs and hardening nubs as Charles quietly sighed. Rolling to his side, Alejandro was still gentle but more direct in his attention, wanting to help his friend climax and get the rest he so desperately needed.
Knowing all of Charles' erogenous places, Alejandro began a tender assault with lips, teeth and tongue. He slid between Charles' legs working his way down to the now throbbing, leaking cock.
"Feels so good. Oh, oh," muttered Charles.
He tongued Charles' balls and perineum alternately probing with a stiffened tip and laving the intimate space. Lifting Charles' legs so that his crack and pucker were exposed, Alejandro began a more insistent treatment of licking and probing, making sure the hole was thoroughly lubed.
He gently inserted a finger tip and started massaging the opening.
"Unnnnngg, yeah. Oh fuck, yeah," Charles moaned.
It winked with desire. It was such a familiar sight it made Alejandro smile. Fleetingly he thought of himself and how he'd like to mount and ride Charles. This time was for Charles, he reminded himself.
Continuing to finger the hole, Alejandro moved his oral attention to the throbbing shaft.
"Oh shit. Oh Fuck!" Charles nearly shouted.
Licking the underside he let his hardened tongue tip graze against the corona. He was rewarded with a fresh flow of precum. His finger moved deeper with its circling motion as Alejandro began to work on Charles' cock in earnest.
"Unggg, ungggg, aw, uh, awww," Charles panted.
Soon Charles' groaning was continuous as his legs gently writhed against Alejandro's weight. Waiting until he knew Charles was close, Alejandro stayed away from the pleasure bud buried in Charles' ass. Finally he began the final movements toward his orgasm.
Circling the pleasure bud with the gentle pressure, Alejandro took Charles' cock deep in his mouth lashing the corona and head with his tongue. Alejandro could feel Charles' muscles begin to contract and shudder and his orgasm approached. He felt the balls retreat steadily as Charles' cock began to swell and throb. Suddenly it was there.
"Goddam, Fuck, Oh Shit, Oh, Oh, Oh!" Charles yelled.
With a pitched heave, Charles almost threw Alejandro off the bed. He writhed as he cried out in the power of the moment. Alejandro stayed with him knowing just when to begin to let his finger and mouth release their prizes.
He slid up beside Charles and held him as he came down from the peak he'd achieved.
"Damn, Alex, damn. That was wonderful," Charles muttered. "Oh shit," he whispered as he began to quieten.
Alejandro slid from the bed with whispered instructions, "You lie still. I'll take care of the mess. Just rest."
He was back seconds later with a warm wash cloth and a towel. Cleaning up the residue of saliva and cum he soon returned to bed to spoon against Charles who had dozed off. Tucking in the covers, he soon slept.
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