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DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fiction and fantasy. No part of it is based on true events, and any similarity to any person, living or dead, is coincidental. It contains descriptions of homosexual activities between consenting adults. If you are not over 18 years of age, or if you find this type of story offensive, or viewing this material is illegal where you are, then please DO NOT READ IT! If you choose to read it, then - I hope you enjoy it!
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When You Least Expect By Josh Blake
Chapter 10
The rest of the summer was a blur. By late July, I was so deep into preparing for the next school year that I barely had time to think! Thankfully, Braden was right there with me the whole time. He was understanding and compassionate, and he really helped me with some ideas. The fact that he was going to be a teacher was a great asset to our relationship, because he understood a lot of what I was dealing with based on a few education classes he had already taken. He really helped me have a fresh perspective on things. I could easily see us helping each other professionally as our relationship progressed.
COVID-19 had turned education on its ear. I was forced to plan for regular school, virtual school, and some type of combination of the two. It was a nightmare. Teachers were already frustrated because they couldn't get answers. I was frustrated because I couldn't give them answers. Thankfully, Braden was there each night to help relieve my stress.
Ms. Jackson's cancer turned out to be more serious than she first thought. Sadly, she passed away in early July, just after starting treatment. This was a major blow to me, as she had been a mentor and somewhat of a friend. To make matters worse, no funeral would be held because of the ongoing health orders.
"I'm so tired of this fucking virus!" I screamed. I had just came in from work that evening. I had found out that morning that Ms. Jackson had died. All day I had been dealing with teachers calling, then parents started calling. The final straw was when this bitch of a parent, a typical Karen, called and demanded that I give her a definitive answer as to whether or not face masks would be required for students and teachers when class resumed in the fall.
"Anita, hold all of my calls," I said to my secretary. "I just need some time. I'm leaving early today. If anyone important calls, just tell them to call my cell phone."
"Yes, Mr. Patterson," Anita said. Anita was a wonderful secretary. She always looked out for Ms. Jackson, and she had been doing the same for me.
"Josh..."
"Yes, Anita?"
"Josh, I know how you feel. She was close to me, too. Why don't you go clear your head. We all need you, now more than ever."
"Thanks, Anita. You're awesome. Don't think I don't know that. I think I will go out for a little bit. Call if anything comes up."
I got in my truck and pulled out of the parking lot. I drove a few miles to a picnic area that joined a creek. There were walking trails and benches where people could sit and look at the water. I walked probably a hundred yards up the creek on the trail, and then sat down on a bench. I had walked far enough that I wouldn't be bothered by anyone. I needed quiet. It was July in Alabama, and the humidity was through the roof. I was sweating, but I didn't care. I sat on the bench and just watched the water. A few ducks swam by. Birds were chirping and singing. It's like I had escaped all of the bullshit of the virus, of school, of everything.
My phone rang, jarring me out of my almost meditation. I looked at the caller ID. It was Anita.
"Hey, Anita. What's up?"
"Josh, I'm sorry to bother you, but the superintendent called and wants to see you in his office immediately."
"Thanks Anita. Did he say why?"
"No, but I imagine it has something to do with Ms. Jackson."
"Alright, I'm headed that way. Thanks again."
I hung up and walked back to my truck, then drove to the Board of Education. Dr. Turner intercepted me as I walked in the door.
"Josh, thanks for coming in. Please, come right on back to my office."
Once we got in his office, Dr. Turner closed the door.
"Can I get you anything? Some water, maybe?"
"Yes, that would be nice. Thank you so much," I said as he handed me a cold bottle of water.
"I suppose you are wondering why I asked you to come in today, Josh. When we offered you the principal position, it was on an interim basis. We all hoped that Ms. Jackson would recover and return. Unfortunately, we now know that is not the case. But Josh, we all knew that you would be a principal someday somewhere. I don't want to lose you to another district. So here's what I am going to do. First, the principal position at Bruno is yours if you want it. You'll go on a 1 year probationary contract, which is the norm, then assuming everything goes well, you'll be offered a 3 year extension. Now before you say anything, I've already decided to transfer all of the assistant principals to other schools. The last thing you need is anyone on that team working against you. Especially Mr. Reynolds. I am moving him to the alternative school. Hopefully, he'll just retire and we'll be done with him. Is there anyone on the team you want to keep?"
"Wow, Dr. Turner. I don't know what to say. This is all happening so fast. Of course, I want the job."
"That's great, Josh," Dr. Turner said. "But the school board meets tomorrow. I need your decision on the administrative team so I can have my secretary add them to the agenda for tomorrow's meeting."
"Yes, of course," I said. "Ummm...I really want to keep Mrs. Rogers. She is a good friend and she is an asset to the team. Otherwise, I want to start over."
"That sounds good, Josh. We will transfer the remaining administrators, then post the position for two new assistant principals. The school board will vote tomorrow to name you as principal in a non-interim capacity. You can start interviewing assistant principal candidates next week. The HR department can help you find some names, if you would like their assistance. Of course, we require a deputy superintendent to sit in on the interviews as well."
"Yes, of course I want their help," I said. "I do know a couple people in other districts that I would like to interview."
"Absolutely. We want you to build your own winning team, Josh. I have full confidence in you that you will do a great job!"
After again thanking Dr. Turner for the opportunity, I left his office and started my commute home. I was so glad to see Braden's face as I walked in the door. Despite the good news of my new job on a permanent basis, I was emotionally drained.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Braden asked.
I told him about Ms. Jackson's death, the phone call with the irate `Karen,' and my meeting with Dr. Turner.
"I'm so tired of this fucking virus!" I screamed.
"I know, baby. I know." Braden just held me. We had made our way to the couch in the den. We weren't talking. He had learned me enough to know that when I was emotionally drained, I just needed to be held. After what felt like hours but in reality was only about thirty minutes, I sat up again.
"I love you," I said to Braden. "You always know how to take care of me when I'm having a bad day."
"That's why I'm here," he said. "Well, for that and to be sexy." He grinned. Damn, that sexy grin.
"God, you do know how to make me feel better!" I leaned in for a kiss. Of course, a kiss wasn't enough. Pretty soon, all of our clothes were off and scattered on the floor.
"I need you, baby. I want you inside me," I said to Braden as he grinded his ass on my cock. Usually, he was the bottom. But right now, I wanted him inside of me. I wanted to feel as close to him as possible. I wanted a part of him inside me.
"Well, who am I to refuse my gorgeous boyfriend when he wants my dick up his ass," Braden said.
"You sure have a way with words," I said. "Now shut up and fuck me!"
Braden didn't waste any time getting lubed up and lining up his cock with my hole. As he pressed his cock against my hole, I realized that I hadn't been fucked in a while.
"Go slow, babe. It's been a while," I said.
Braden was a gentle lover and guided his cock into me as slowly as he could. Once he had it all inside of me, I realized how much I had missed this.
"Okay, I'm good. Now fuck me, you handsome stud!"
I didn't have to tell him twice. Braden was great at bottoming, but he was also great at being a top. Each time his cock rubbed my prostate, I could feel precum dripping out of my cock. I started stroking in rhythm with his thrusts.
"Oh yes, oh yes baby. Just like that. Fuck me harder, babe!"
Finally, Braden couldn't hold back any longer. With no warning, I felt his cum gushing into my bowels. This caused me to start cumming as well. I shot my load all over my chest and stomach. After we both finished, we just continued laying on the couch in each other's arms. Braden's cock finally shrunk to normal size and popped out of my hole.
"Okay, we have to get up carefully so we don't mess up the couch," I said.
We carefully untangled ourselves from each other's arms and managed to stand up without getting cum on the couch. I made a break for the bathroom and sat down on the toilet when I felt Braden's cum start to drip out of me. I sat on the toilet and let it drip out as much as possible.
"Do you want to shower with me, babe?" I asked Braden.
"Ummm, yeah that's probably a good idea. We have to be at my parents' house in about an hour," he said.
"Oh shit! I forgot we were going over there tonight," I said
"Do you want me to cancel? They will understand."
"No, I love your family. It'll be a good distraction for me. Besides, I love your mom's lasagna!"
"Oh, she told me to tell you, she's not making that tonight."
"What?! No way. I was all in for Bonnie's lasagna!"
"Yeah, she's making liver and onions. I told her it was your favorite, so she wanted to make it for you."
"You fucker! You better be lying to me!"
"What if I am? What are you going to do about it?"
Suddenly, I lunged at Braden. He was quicker than me, though, and he took off into the bathroom. I followed behind him and chased him into the shower
"Oh, no! You caught me! Oh whatever will I do?" Braden cooed like a damsel in distress.
"Oh, you're going to pay for that. Just not right now. As much as I want to fuck you right here and now, we have to get ready to go to your parents' house. Let's get cleaned up," I said.
Of course, helping each other clean up turned into both of our cocks being hard again. We ended up sucking each other off in the shower. We finished up and got dressed just in time to leave.
As we walked into Bonnie and Mark's house, I was relieved and overjoyed to smell the delicious aroma of Bonnie's famous lasagna. We walked into the dining room to see the table set with the good china. Including the lasagna, there was Caesar salad and garlic bread.
"There's my boys!" Bonnie exclaimed as she walked into the dining room. She came over to hug us both.
"Hey, mom!" Both Braden and I said, almost in unison. Referring to Bonnie as mom was something I had started doing over the last couple weeks. It just felt natural. I had asked Braden if he minded, and he did not. Bonnie got a little teary eyed the first time I called her that. She took it as the ultimate compliment and was overjoyed that I considered myself part of their family. She also knew that it was something that I needed as well.
You see, I had decided a couple weeks earlier to come out to my own parents. I invited them over to my house for dinner one night. It did not go well.
I probably made a mistake by having Braden there. I realize in hindsight that it was too much too soon. But, hindsight is twenty-twenty.
Anyway, my parents came in and sat down at the table. I had already set the table and had salad fixed for everyone. I had also made meatloaf and mashed potatoes as a main course. I introduced Braden as my friend. Of course, my dad, who was always grumpy, was grumpy.
"Meatloaf needs more salt," he complained. "Ain't you got any salt in this place?"
"Sure, dad. Here you go," I said, passing him the salt shaker.
"I think you did a great job, baby," my mom said. Mom is a good woman. Unfortunately, she is usually eclipsed by dad's shadow, and rarely gives her own opinions. She doesn't say much throughout the meal.
"Well, it was pretty good," dad said. "But it's about time you get a woman in this house to do the cooking and cleaning. Ain't right a man having to do all this himself. You need a wife to come home to every day to have your supper ready and your clothes washed. Ain't that right, Patti?"
"Yes, dear," mom replied.
I glanced over at Braden. He nodded. It was time.
"Well, actually, the reason I asked y'all over, is I have something to tell you."
"Did you meet a woman? Dad asked. "Where is she? Why ain't she here?"
"No dad, I didn't meet a woman. But, I am in a relationship. And it's someone I care about deeply," I said.
I looked at Braden, and reached over and took his hand in mine.
"I told you that Braden is my friend. And that is true. But he's more than that. He's..."
I wasn't able to finish my sentence because dad started screaming.
"ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME THAT YOU ARE GOD DAMNED FAGGOT?" Dad screamed.
"Yes, I am gay. I've always been gay. You just didn't know it."
"NO SON OF MINE IS GOING TO BE A GOD DAMNED FAGGOT. YOU ARE GOING TO HELL! YOU AIN'T MY SON NO MORE!"
Mom started crying. Braden looked like he was about to experience PTSD from the initial experience with his own dad. I just stared at the floor. It was just like being a kid again and being scolded for misbehaving. I was being sent to timeout or something. Suddenly, something inside my head clicked. I stood up. Braden looked scared.
"Dad, I'm done being scared of you. I've known I was gay for over twenty years. I've hidden it because I knew how you would react. But I'm done with that. If you can't accept me for who I am and the man I love, then I don't want to be your son."
"Come on, Patti, we're leaving," dad said.
Mom just sat there, crying. She didn't know what to say or do.
"I SAID MOVE, WOMAN!" Dad yelled.
Like a trained dog, mom got up, got her purse, and followed dad out the door. She never said a word. Just like that, I was an orphan. It may have been shock, or maybe I was just finally liberated, but I didn't know what to feel. I felt hollow. I looked at Braden, who still had not spoken.
"Well, that went well," I said sarcastically.
I turned and walked into the den. Many thoughts were going through my head. The reality of the situation was starting to register with me. I had lost my parents, but not in the way most people do. Mine were still alive and well, but I had effectively been disowned. Braden walked in and sat down beside me.
"Josh, we need to talk about what just happened," Braden said. He reached out and took my hand. I could tell he was upset and concerned at the same time.
"What do you mean, dear? You mean the way my dad just disowned me and then basically lead my mom out of my house on a leash like a dog?"
"Josh...I don't know what to say. I wasn't expecting it to go that way."
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
"Who could that be?" I asked to no one in particular.
"It's my mom," Braden said. "I texted her to come over. I didn't know what else to do."
Braden got up and went to let Bonnie in the house. By the time he got back with his mom in tow, something in my brain had clicked again. I was certainly in shock now.
"Josh, Braden told me what happened. I'm so sorry. They will come around. You've just got to give it time," Bonnie said. She reached out and took my hand. I did not respond.
"Josh, talk to me. Talk to us," she said.
Nothing.
"Josh, you're scaring me," Braden said. His voice was trembling with fear and concern.
Nothing.
"I've seen this before," Bonnie said. "He's in shock. Just let him be. He'll talk to us when he's ready."
As it turns out, I wasn't ready that night. I stayed in one place on the couch all night. I never even moved to go to the bathroom. I don't remember much of that night. Braden and Bonnie sat up with me all night. The next morning, Braden used my phone to text Anita pretending to be me. He told her that I was at home sick and would not be coming in, and asked her to take messages from anyone who needed to talk to me. He then turned off the phone.
Finally, I looked up and made eye contact with Bonnie.
"Mom?"
"Yes, sweetheart, it's mom," Bonnie said with tears in her eyes. She came over and threw her arms around me in a hug.
"Where's Braden?" I asked.
"I sent him to bed a couple hours ago. He could barely hold his eyes open. Do you want to talk about what happened?"
"Not really. I just can't wrap my head around the fact that my parents aren't in my life anymore," I said.
"Honey, it's their loss, not yours. You can't control how other folks react. Now, they may come around and they may not. You just have to give them time and see what happens. But I want you to understand one thing. You have a family. We love you, Josh. Me, Mark, Austin, we all love you and I can't imagine not having you in our lives. I love you, son," Bonnie said.
"I love you, mom," I said.
"Josh! You're talking!"
Braden had walked into the den without either of us hearing him. We were so caught up in our moment and were still hugging it out.
"Josh, I was so worried about you!" Braden yelled as he practically tackled me on the couch. He pulled me first into a hug, then planted a huge kiss on my lips.
"I'm sorry I scared you, baby," I said. "Thank you for being here for me, and for asking Mom to come over. I needed that."
"You called her mom. I like that!" Braden said.
"Oh my God, I'm late for work!" I suddenly exclaimed. I moved to jump up off the couch, but Braden caught me.
"Not so fast! You aren't going to work today. You are in no shape to drive an hour, plus you need a day to relax and process what happened. I already texted Anita and told her you're sick. Well, you did it. But I did it. What I'm trying to say is I used your phone and acted like you."
"You're the greatest," I said. I planted another big kiss on his lips.
"Well, since you boys are alright now, I'm going to head on home," Bonnie said.
"Thank you again for staying up with me. I love you, mom!" I said.
"I love you both. Both of my sons!" Bonnie started to tear up again. She hugged us both, then left. Braden and I spent the rest of that day just relaxing and enjoying each other's company.
---------- "Mom, this lasagna is outstanding," Braden said.
"Yes it is!" Austin exclaimed.
"I just love that I can cook a meal for all of my boys! Speaking of my boys, I thought Hunter was coming over," Bonnie said.
"He was going to, but he decided he needed to have dinner with his grandmother. She gets so lonely out there by herself," Austin said.
"Poor woman, we need to invite her over here sometime," Bonnie said.
"Well, that might be a problem. She doesn't exactly know about Hunter and me," Austin said. "Hunter is afraid to tell her. Her health isn't great, and he doesn't want to cause her any stress."
"We sure don't want a repeat of my situation," I said.
"Still no word from your parents, huh?" Mark asked.
"Nope. Not a word. Tammy across the street told me she's pretty sure she's seen mom drive by the house a few times since the big blow up, but she hasn't stopped."
"That poor woman," Bonnie said. "I guarantee you she wants you back in her life. She's just scared because of your dad. A mother can't be away from her children. She'll figure out a way. You just wait and see."
"Well, that's on her and dad. Not on me. I've had to just accept it for what it is and move on with my life," I said.
"You know you have a family right here with us, son," Mark said.
"I know, dad. That means a lot," I said with a smile.
Shortly after I started calling Bonnie `mom,' Mark stopped by the house one day. Braden was out with some friends, and I was just lounging around since it was a Saturday. I heard the doorbell ring and was surprised to see Mark there. He wasn't one to visit very often.
"Mark, what a surprise. Come in!"
"I was driving by and thought I would stop in and check on you. You got any beer?"
"Yeah, I do. I'll grab us one. You want to go sit on the deck?" I asked.
"Yeah, that would be great," he said.
We went out on the deck and sat in almost total silence drinking our beer. Mark was a man of few words, but I was enjoying his company. While it was hot, Mother Nature had seen fit to give us a little break from the humidity. Finally, he broke the silence.
"You know Josh, I really am sorry about your parents. I've been thinking a lot about how I reacted when I found out Braden was gay. You know the whole story on that one. It was all guilt. And I was scared for him. I was scared because I know what his world does to anyone who is different. I was scared for him to have to deal with that kind of stuff. Then I met you, and I saw what a beautiful thing you two have. And then there's Austin. I know he's having fun with Hunter right now, but I don't know for sure if he's really gay, or if he's just trying to be like his brother. If he is, that's fine with me. Maybe he's bi, who knows. But anyway, my point is that no matter what, a father should always love his son. I'm sorry that your dad doesn't feel that way."
"It's okay, Mark. I'm a grown man. I will be okay."
"No, it's not okay. I just don't understand how a man can look at his son and disown him. It's not right. My dad did the same thing. Josh, we have to stop this. This has to end. I've been doing some research, and I think I want to join PFLAG. I want to help other people come to terms with having a gay child."
"Mark, I think that's great! Have you talked to Bonnie about this?"
"Yes, and she's on board too. Of course, all the rallies are pretty much on hold right now because of the virus, but when all this is over, I want to go to a Pride rally and let the world see how proud I am of my gay sons!"
Mark continued "And, I know you've been calling Bonnie mom.' She loves it. I wish you'd call me dad."
By that point, I had tears rolling down my cheeks, and so did Mark. I stood up, and so did he. I walked over to him and embraced him.
"I love you too, dad," I said.
"I'm so proud of you, Josh. I'm proud of your career and for the man you are. And for taking care of and being such a good partner for Braden. I know the two of you are going to be together forever."
We finished our meal, and as if everyone wasn't already full enough, Bonnie brought out a peach cobbler for dessert.
"If we keep coming over here for dinner, I'm going to need a bigger tux," Braden said.
I looked over at him. He realized what he had said as soon as he said it.
"A tux for what, dear?" Bonnie asked.
Braden looked at me and shrugged as if telling me to go ahead.
"Well, I guess we now have an announcement to make. This may not come as a surprise to you, but Braden and I have decided to get married!"
The next chapter in this series will be published soon!
I got my inspiration back to do some writing! I'm not getting much feedback on this story anymore, so if you are still reading, please let me know! Email your feedback to whenyouleastexpect2020@gmail.com.