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When You Least Expect By Josh Blake
Chapter 52
July Fourth had always been one of my favorite holidays to spend with family. I had always felt more alive during the summer months and loved spending time around the pool or cooking out with the family. The July Fourth holiday brought all that together, making it a truly magical time. As Jackson was getting older, he was really starting to enjoy the holiday as well.
Since Lucas was covering the weather in Chattanooga, the only way the whole family could be together was to go to the bed and breakfast and spend the holiday with our family there. Lucas and Austin were excited that we were coming, and Rose had already started preparing food a couple days before. We decided to host a huge celebration and invited all of our friends from Alabama and from Chattanooga. David and Robert were coming up along with David's grandson, Ryan. Ryan had been dating Chad for the last couple months, and he was coming along as well. Our new friends from Jackson's football team, Jamie and Aaron, were coming with their son Charlie. Added to that were me, Braden, Mom, Mark, and Bonnie along with Jackson and the twins. Our friends from my former high school, Devin and Stephen, planned to drive up for the long weekend. And of course, Rose and Dorothy were inviting some friends of theirs to join in the festivities. All in all, we were preparing for at least thirty to forty people to show up. It was going to be a huge party!
"I don't think I've had this much food in my kitchen at one time since your wedding," Rose said as I walked into the room. She was frosting cupcakes with Jackson's help.
"You have blue lips, buddy," I said.
"I know, Daddy. But it tastes good!" I picked up a wet towel and wiped the blue frosting off his face the best I could.
"I'm sure it does. Aunt Rosie really knows how to spoil you, doesn't she?" I said.
"Aww, a little frosting never hurt anyone!" Rose said. She stuck her finger in the blue frosting and put scooped some out, then put it on my nose! This sent Jackson into a fit of laughter.
"Your nose is blue, Daddy!"
"I'll take care of that," Braden said. I hadn't heard him come in. I turned to see him. He leaned in as if to kiss me, but instead licked the frosting off my nose. Then he kissed me.
"Ewww!" Jackson said. "That's gross!"
"No it's not," Braden said. "You'll do this someday, too."
"No I won't. I'm never kissing anybody," Jackson exclaimed.
"Babe, will you come look at something upstairs?" Braden asked.
"Sure, babe. Jackson, be sure to mind Aunt Rosie," I said.
"I will, Daddy."
Once upstairs in our room with the door closed, it became apparent what Braden wanted me to `look at.' He locked the door and then practically attacked me, his lips locking against mine and his tongue invading my mouth. He was fumbling with my belt and the button on my shorts. I grabbed his ass through his athletic shorts, then stuck my hands inside the waist band, cupping his firm cheeks.
"What's got you so horny?" I asked. "Not that I'm complaining."
"We were so tired last night we didn't even do anything," Braden said. "I need your dick and it can't wait until tonight." Braden had already pushed shorts and underwear down to my ankles. I kicked off my flip flops and stepped out of my shorts and underwear, leaving me naked from the waist down. I flung my t-shirt over my head and then pulled Braden's shorts and underwear down so he could kick them off his bare feet. He pulled off his t-shirt, leaving him fully nude as well. I embraced him, kissing him and caressing his back and his ass. I brought a hand around and ran my fingers through his thick pubic hair before stroking his cock. I walked him backward to the bed, pushing him down onto his back. I pushed his legs up, rubbing his feet and kissing them in the process. Once I had his knees back to his chest, his ass was open and accessible. I love eating Braden's ass, and I wasted no time in burying my face in his hairy trench and licking at his puckered hole.
"Oh God!" Braden moaned. "Eat my fucking hole!" I gave him exactly what he asked for, spending several minutes tongue fucking his opening. He was clean as he had showered shortly before coming downstairs, but his natural scent was still present, making my cock so hard I was sure I could cut glass with it.
"Fuck me, babe," Braden panted. He reached over to the nightstand and grabbed a tube of lube, handing it to me. I popped the cap open, squirting a generous amount into my hand and slathering my cock with it. I then squeezed out a generous amount onto my finger, which I used to lube Braden's ass. After years of taking my cock, Braden's ass wasn't quite as tight as it used to be, but it still did the job. I had no complaints. With my cock and his hole thoroughly lubed, I pressed the head of my cock against Braden's entrance and pushed. My head popped in with little resistance. I continued inserting myself into Braden's anus until my entire length was buried in his warm orifice.
"I love being inside you," I said.
"Not as much as I love you being inside me," Braden whispered. "Now fuck me hard!" And fuck him hard I did. After several minutes, Braden wanted to change positions. He had me lie down on my back. He then lowered himself back onto my cock. He rode my cock for the next few minutes while jerking his cock.
"Babe, I'm close," Braden said as he rode up and down on my cock. I could feel his anus start to pulse around my cock.
"Me too," I said. Braden moaned loudly then began to spray his load all over me. This sent me into an orgasm, causing me to flood Braden's insides with my seed. When both of us stopped cumming, Braden collapsed on top of me. Both of us were sweaty and covered in cum. We remained in the bed embracing each other for several minutes until Braden suggested we go shower together. Of course, showering together got both of us horny again. I fucked Braden again for the second time of the day, adding another, somewhat smaller load to the previous one in his ass.
After finally getting cleaned up and dressed again, Braden and I headed downstairs to join the rest of the family for lunch. Lucas had made it home and gave Braden and me a sly grin.
"It sounded like you guys were having fun," Lucas said.
"Oh stop it," Braden said. "We heard you guys going at it hot and heavy before you left for work this morning." Austin blushed and Lucas just grinned.
"Can we please not talk about this during lunch," Bonnie said. "I swear all you guys think about is sex."
"What's sex?" Jackson asked. We had forgotten his presence at the table.
"Ummm, something for you to learn about when you're older," Bonnie said.
"Oh. Okay," Jackson said. Apparently he was going to drop it for now. I breathed a little sigh of relief. I wasn't ready to start having these conversations with him. I was hoping it could wait a few more years.
Lunch was uneventful after that. Mom had whipped up a batch of chicken salad, and we enjoyed it with croissants and potato chips. We discussed our plans for the huge July Fourth celebration that we would be hosting later in the week.
"I hope no one has a heat stroke," Dorothy said. "It's supposed to be really hot Thursday, right Lucas?"
"Yes, highs tomorrow will top out at about 95 degrees, but the heat index will be well into the triple digits, making it feel much hotter than it actually is," Lucas said in his TV voice.
"Well, thanks for the forecast," Dorothy said.
"Damn, I didn't mean to actually give a forecast! I've repeated it so many times this morning I guess it just came out!" Lucas said, laughing.
"Thank goodness for the swimming pool," Austin added. Austin and Lucas had been wanting a pool at the bed and breakfast for a while. Dorothy and Rose had always been hesitant to add one, but they had finally been convinced that it would help with business and provide a great place to relax during the summer heat. They had always been concerned about the upkeep of a pool, but with the guys there to help out, they were persuaded to do it.
We spent the next few days preparing for the party. Braden and I were the designated grill masters, so we were going into town to pick up some of the meat: hamburgers, ribs, pork chops, sausages, chicken, and hot dogs. We wanted to make sure we had a big variety for all of our guests.
"Hey Asher," I yelled up the stairs. "Do you want to go with Braden and me to get the meat?"
"Yes sir," Asher called down. "I'll be right there!" Asher bounded down the steps and we loaded into my truck to head to the store. We had a butcher in town that we liked to use whenever possible, and we had given him a heads up that we needed a lot of meat. He had us covered!
"So, how have things been, Asher?" Braden asked as we headed down the mountain into town.
"Pretty good. I can't complain. The therapist has really been helping me with everything going on," he said.
"That's good to hear. Anything you want to share with us?" I asked.
"Nothing specific," he said. "She's just been helping me understand that being gay isn't something I can control. I blamed myself for a long time about how things happened with my parents. Mainly my dad. Like if I could have just been a better son none of this would have happened."
"Ash, you know that's not your fault. Your dad is an asshole," Braden said.
"I know, but still. If I could have just kept it hidden a few more years," he said.
"There's nothing you needed to hide," I said. "The therapist is right. You are just who you are."
"I know that now," he said. "She says it'll keep getting better as time goes on. Is that true?"
"I'd say so," Braden said, reaching over and grabbing my hand as it rested on the center console.
"Do you think gay people will ever be seen as normal?" Asher asked. "I mean, I know it's better than it was, but look what happened with Lucas on TV. People lost their minds. It's okay now, but he had to defend himself about it and it was a big thing. When's it going to be just normal?"
"Don't forget about England's gay prince," Braden said. "Prince Henry has caused a big uproar across the pond, but no one seems to care now."
"You'd think with all that's happened, we wouldn't still have to hide in the shadows so much. But let's be real. There are still gay people being attacked just for being gay. There are still kids getting kicked out of their homes just for being gay! As much as things have changed, they're still the same," Asher said.
"You're not wrong, Ash," I said. "But I choose to look at the good things. They outweigh the bad. It was only seven years ago that I was a lonely gay man. My parents, mainly my dad, did not approve of the `gay lifestyle,' as they called it, so I kept it hidden. I made up my mind that I would just be single and never look for a relationship. Then the next thing I knew, this hunk of a guy comes out of nowhere while I was outside washing my truck. He was all hot, sweaty, and sexy as hell." I squeezed Braden's hand, then brought his hand up and kissed the back of it. "He pulled me out of that funk I was in and the rest is history. Now here I am with a loving husband, four sons, a daughter, and more family than I could have ever imagined."
"Four sons?" Asher asked. "How do you come up with that number?"
"There's Lucas, who we adopted when he was a teenager, then of course Jack, John Luke, and you," Braden said.
"You count me as your son?" Asher asked as the pitch of his voice rasied quickly.
"Well, you are our son, aren't you?" I asked. "One thing you have to understand as a gay man is that your family isn't always blood. Chosen family is every bit as good as blood family, and in a lot of cases, it's even better. One day you will legally be our son. But that doesn't change how we feel about you now."
"I feel like a burden," Asher said quietly.
"Asher, you are never a burden!" I said. "We all love you and would do anything to protect you. I'll admit that the circumstances have made things challenging, but we will overcome that eventually. Rose and Dorothy are happy to have you in their lives, and so are Austin and Lucas. You are not a burden in the slightest."
"Your generation is changing things," Braden said. "Every generation gets a little better. Back in the 60s the police set up traps for gay men to catch them hooking up, then they hauled them away to jail and exposed them. It ruined their lives. And look at David and Robert. They couldn't be together back in the 1970s because of how society was. They would have lost everything. Then in the 80s and 90s the AIDS crisis was wiping out gay men left and right. But every decade seems to get a little better. Your generation and your kids' generation will change it all."
"Are you still talking to Brax?" I asked.
"Yeah," Asher said.
"And how is it going?" Braden asked. I looked in the rearview mirror to see Asher smiling.
"He makes me feel, I don't know, happy," Asher said.
"Do you think you like him like a boyfriend?" I asked.
"Yeah, I think I do," Asher said. "We haven't told anyone, but we are boyfriends." I took a deep breath. I was going to have to have a more serious talk with Asher about this.
"Just be careful," Braden said. "Take it slow. You're young. There's no reason to rush anything."
"We aren't," Asher said. "We are going slow and just having fun with it."
"Have you had sex with Brax?" Braden asked. Asher was silent.
"Asher? Braden asked you a question," I said. "Have you had sex with Brax?"
"We tried. But it didn't work," Asher said.
"What do you mean you tried?" Braden asked.
"We tried putting it in each other's butts. But it didn't work. So we just jerked off," Asher said.
"There's no need to try all that right now," I said. "Braden and I will have a more detailed conversation with you about how that works and we will also make sure you have condoms. So nothing needs to happen until we have that talk and get you the condoms. I still think you're too young to be having sex, but I'm also not so naïve to think you won't do it. So we want to make sure you do it safely."
"Yes sir," Asher said.
"We willll finish this conversation later," I said as we pulled up in front of the butcher. "You know we only want the best for you, right Ash?"
"Yes sir. I know," Asher said, reaching for the door handle and opening the door.
We entered the butcher shop and got a warm greeting from Roderick, the butcher.
"Fellas!" Roderick exclaimed. Roderick was a portly man of about 60 who had been friends with Dorothy and Rose for years. He always gave us a good discount and his meat was of the highest quality.
"I got you all packaged up," he said. "We got your ground beef, your chicken thighs, your chicken breasts, your sausages, your pork chops, your pork ribs, and your premium hot dogs. Man, you fellas must be throwing some party!"
"You should come join us," I said. "The more the merrier! We'll have plenty of food!"
"I might just do that," he said. "The family all went to the beach. They tried to get me to come. I said `Are you serious? If I get out on the beach they are gonna think there's a beached whale out there! They'll be trying to roll me into the ocean!' " Roderick howled with laughter. "No sir! I got all I need right here at home! I haven't lost nothing at the beach!"
"You know the way if you decide to come," I said, sliding my credit card. "We'll get going around 4:00, but come anytime."
We thanked Roderick and the three of us got all of the meat loaded into the truck and started the drive back up the mountain.
When we got home, Rose, Mom, and Bonnie were hard at work in the kitchen preparing side dishes. There was potato salad, baked beans, mac and cheese, coleslaw, and corn on the cob. One thing was for certain -- there would be plenty of food!
We spent the rest of the evening getting tables and chairs set up outside. It was a hot afternoon that turned into a hot evening. We were all drenched in sweat when we finished, but we had everything ready for the party the next day!
As we started to wrap up, the boys all jumped into the pool to cool off. But I snuck away to our room before Braden. There was something I had been thinking about all day. Braden was usually the bottom, but I was craving his cock in my ass. I only bottomed rarely, but I wanted it tonight!
I ran to the bathroom and prepped myself before jumping in the shower and getting good and clean. I even pre-lubed my ass so it would be ready to go. I then jumped in bed and pulled the covers over me like I was asleep. I few minutes later, I heard Braden come into the room.
"Well shit," he mumbled. I knew he'd be pissed that I was already asleep. I heard him go into the bathroom and shower and get ready for bed. He walked softly into the bedroom and crawled under the covers, spooning me from behind.
"Hey babe," I said.
"I thought you were asleep," he said. "Sorry if I woke you."
"Nah, I wasn't asleep. I was waiting for you. You have something I want," I said.
"Oh really. You want this ass?" Braden asked.
"Actually, I want that dick," I said, reaching down and wrapping my hand around Braden's hard cock. Since he was already behind me, I guided his cock toward my ass. Braden caught on quickly and lined his cock up with my hole. The generous amount of lube I had put inside my hole allowed him to slide right in.
"Ohhh," I grunted. "Easy. I'm tight."
"Yeah you are. You planned this, didn't you?" he asked.
"Yeah, it had been a while and I was thinking about this all day," I said. Braden began to withdraw from my ass then slowly pushed his cock back in. The angle was perfect for him to hit my prostate, sending waves of pleasure through my body and causing precum to ooze from my cock. Braden pulled me closer, still fucking me rapidly from behind. He kissed my neck and my shoulder as he drove into me.
"Yes babe!" I cried out. "Make me yours!"
Braden drove his cock deep inside me. I knew I wasn't going to last long, and neither was he. As Braden pummeled my ass, I suddenly began to cum. I had barely touched my cock! No sooner did I start to cum when I felt Braden's cock twitch inside me before he pumped me full of his cum. As soon as his orgasm ended, he pulled out and rolled me over, kissing me passionately on the lips and invading my mouth with his tongue.
"Thank you," Braden said. "I love getting fucked by you, but sometimes it is nice to switch it up."
"It was definitely special," I said, pulling him toward me in an embrace. We fell asleep like that in each other's arms.
The next day was July 4! Braden and I woke up early enough to catch Lucas's late morning weather forecast. It was looking like a hot but dry day was in store for us! There was some risk of a shower, but it was a slim chance and something Lucas didn't really expect.
We went downstairs and had some coffee and a light breakfast before getting started grilling. The ribs would take the longest, so I needed to get them going before noon. The ladies, mainly Mom and Rose with some assistance from Bonnie, had switched to dessert mode. There was banana pudding and a variety of cupcakes -- chocolate, lemon, strawberry, and vanilla with red, white and blue frosting. We had also purchased several watermelons that Dorothy was busy cutting up to put on ice later.
Our guests started arriving by mid-afternoon. David and Robert were the first to arrive around 3:00.
Braden and I rotated between manning the grill and mingling with the guests, as they meandered over to watch the meat and socialize together. It was turning out to be a great afternoon!
"Josh, there's someone I want you to meet," Dorothy said as she approached the smoker where I was tending to the racks of ribs. "This is one of our dear friends, Dr. Miles Webber. Miles, this is our friend Josh. I'll leave you two to talk," Dorothy said, before moving on to other guests.
"It's nice to meet you, Dr. Webber," I said, offering him my hand. He took it and gripped it firmly. Miles was an older gentleman of at least 70. He spoke in proper English with a hint of a British accent. I was suddenly aware of my Southern drawl.
"Call me Miles," he said. "You are Dr. Patterson, correct?"
"Yes, but you won't hear anyone calling me that here today," I said with a laugh.
"Of course not," he said. "I'm Dr. Webber, but you won't hear me called that today, either. My husband Randall is around here somewhere, no doubt boring some innocent bystander with his love of English literature."
I laughed. "My husband Braden is here somewhere, too. He is not a fan of English literature. He's a math brain. I, on the other hand, love English literature."
"Splendid!" Miles said. "Then you'll have to meet Randall. You two will get along famously. How are things in your school district?"
"They're going well," I said. "Test scores are up and funding is adequate. We can't complain."
"Yes, yes. Very well," Miles said. "Are you accepted for who you are? I know you've had quite a bit of drama and scandal with the shooting and all." I eyed Miles suspiciously. It was clear that he knew more about me than I knew about him.
"Well, yes, for the most part I believe I'm accepted," I said. "The shooting incident was several years ago, and I was fortunate to have an ally in the superintendent at the time. He was a wonderful mentor and he stood beside me through the entire ordeal. He's actually here today."
"Yes, yes. I know Dr. Turner," Miles said. "Although he seems to not remember me as well as he once did. Is he having some issues in his twilight years?"
"He does have dementia," I said. "But he still functions well most days. We are treasuring every day we have with him."
"Yes, yes, of course," Miles said. "I'm sorry if this seems like an interrogation. I don't mean for it to. I'm just happy to finally meet you. I've been following you for a while, and this finally gave us a chance to meet. I never realized how close you were with Dorothy and Rose or I would have insisted on meeting you sooner."
"Oh?" I said. "And what is so special about me?"
"Want me to take over with that babe?" Braden asked as he walked up and handed me a beer. I happily took it.
"Miles, this is my husband, Braden. Braden, this is Miles Webber, a friend of Dorothy and Rose."
"Delighted," Miles said, shaking Braden's hand. Braden took my spot at the smoker and I led Miles over to some chairs at a table under an umbrella in the shade.
As we sat down, Miles resumed his earlier line of conversation.
"Yes, I've been following you for quite a while. I was actually a superintendent myself some years ago in Massachusetts, in a suburban school system not far outside Boston. That was back before you could be openly gay and work in public education, even in Massachusetts. I retired from there in the early 90s. Since then, Randall and I have been all over the country. Minnesota for a while, Seattle, California. I've been an education consultant and helped turn around struggling districts. Now we want to settle here in Chattanooga. And that's where you come in."
"I'm not following," I said. "What does that have to do with me?"
"Randall and I are working on the plans to open a charter school. And not just any charter school. It'll be a school exclusively for LGBTQ students. Those kids who are struggling in their home schools because of their orientation or their gender identity. It'll be a safe place. We're calling it the Chattanooga Academy of Acceptance."
"I'm still not following. What does that have to do with me?" I asked.
"I want you to run it," Miles said. "You'd be perfect. You've been a principal and a superintendent, and you're gay. It'll be an easy gig. Cash in on your retirement and get paid to do this. Braden is a teacher, too, right? He can teach at the school."
"Wow," I said. "That's a lot to take in."
"I know," Miles said. "I just dropped a bombshell on you. You need time to process it. Talk to Braden and make a decision together. We can talk more about it after you've had some time to think. We plan to open up next summer and we want a leader in place at least by January 1. Think it over and give me a call. Here's my card." Miles handed me a business card, patted me on the shoulder, and walked off to socialize with other people at the party.
"That looked intense," Lucas said, walking up and taking the chair that Miles had just vacated. "What was that all about?"
"He offered me a job," I said. "He's starting up a charter school here in the city for LGBTQ students and he wants me to run it."
"Holy shit! So you and Braden are moving here?" Lucas exclaimed.
"Shh! I haven't even told Braden about it yet. It literally just happened. I don't even know if I want it or not. It's a lot to think about."
"What's a lot to think about?" Austin asked. He walked behind Lucas and put his arms around him from behind, then leaned down and kissed him on the cheek.
"I love you," he said to Lucas.
"I love you more," Lucas said, taking one of Austin's hands. "Josh just got a job offer here in the city. They might be moving."
"What? That's amazing!" Austin said.
"Who's moving?" Braden asked as he walked up to the table and handed me a soda. "Here, I figured you didn't want another beer this quick."
"Thanks," I said, popping open the soda. "Sit down, babe, I need to talk to you about something before these two blab it to everyone. How would you like to move here to Chattanooga?"
"Excuse me?" Braden asked. "Josh, what in the hell are you talking about?"
"That old dude just offered Josh a job," Austin said. I glared at him. Lucas elbowed him.
"Come on, baby," Lucas said, taking Austin's hand. "Let's go cook the burgers and give these two some privacy to talk."
"Go ahead, I'm listening," Braden said. "What kind of job?"
I recounted for Braden the conversation I'd had with Miles about the charter school. He listened patiently as I went over the details that Miles had given me about the school, few as they were at the moment. I couldn't read Braden's facial expression to get an idea of what he was thinking. He appeared in deep consideration.
"Burgers are done!" Austin yelled.
"Okay," Braden said. "We don't have to decide anything right now. Let's just enjoy the party and then we can talk about it more later. I love you." He put his arms around me and kissed me on the lips. "Now let's go eat. I'm hungry!" Braden took my hand and pulled me into the line where Austin and Lucas were serving up burgers.
We had so much food! We piled our plates high with burgers, ribs, and all the fixings. We spent the next few hours eating, socializing, and just enjoying the outdoors. The real fun, well, other than the fun that Braden and I had in our bedroom later, was the fireworks show that we put on just after dark. The sky was illuminated in all different colors in a grand display! The kids absolutely loved it!
After the fireworks show, our guests started to depart. As he and Randall were leaving, Miles stopped to shake my hand.
"Don't forget my offer," he said. "I'll give you a few days to think it over, but don't keep me waiting. I do have other people to look at if you decline."
"I'll let you know after I talk it over with my family," I said. I bid him and Randall good night.
"That was some party," Braden said a little while later in our room.
"Yes, it was." I walked up and put my arms around him and kissed him. "Let's jump in the shower. Then I want to do unspeakable things to you on this bed," I said.
Braden and enjoyed a relaxing shower together, and then dried each other off. We walked hand in hand, still naked, to the bed. We embraced and kissed, our hands all over each other's body.
"I want you to make love to me," Braden said. I grabbed the lube and slicked up my cock and Braden's hole. With his legs resting on my shoulders, I put my cock against his hole and pushed forward, popping inside. Braden winced a little, then exhaled. I slowly inserted my cock all the way inside him before withdrawing and pushing in again. It was a routine to which we had become accustomed.
"Yes babe," Braden moaned. "Fuck me!" I was happy to oblige. I picked up the pace and slammed my cock in and out of Braden's hole. The amount of precum he was leaking told me that I was hitting his prostate just right. Braden's hole had a firm grip on my cock each time I slid inside him. I wasn't going to be able to last long. Just as I was about to announce my orgasm, Braden's cock began to pump out shots of cum. His hole spasmed around my cock, causing me to hit the point of no return. I flooded Braden's rectum with my cum.
"That was incredible," I said, collapsing next to Braden. He grabbed a hand towel he had brought to bed with us and used it to mop the cum off his torso. He passed it to me, and I used it to clean up my cock.
We spent the next few minutes in silence, just enjoying our company. Braden grabbed my hand and held it.
"What are you thinking?" Braden asked.
"About what?"
"The job," he said.
"Oh. I don't know. What do you think?"
"It sounds like a great opportunity," he said. "And I can think of a big reason to do it."
"What's that?" I asked.
"Asher," he said. "We'd be in state. We could more easily adopt him. We could get our own place up here and make a family for him."
"I'd thought about that already," I said. "I do have the years in to retire and draw my pension. That would supplement our income since I'm guessing I'd take a little bit of a pay cut. And we could sell the house. We wouldn't need anything that big here. We could downsize. Or, hell, we could live here. You know Dorothy and Rose would let us. It's going to be ours anyway."
"That's true," Braden said. "But living here with Austin and Lucas. I don't know. It would be a lot for us to all be under one roof."
"We don't have to decide tonight," I said. "And even if we do it, we can live here then figure out our next move."
"I love you, Josh Patterson. More than you'll ever know," Braden said.
"I love you, Braden Patterson," I said.
--- Epilogue
With the full support of our entire family, I retired from my position as superintendent back home and accepted the job as the headmaster and superintendent of the Chattanooga Academy of Acceptance (CAA). We opened our doors the following August to much fanfare and some threats. While there were many who were unhappy with such a school opening in the city, there were no serious issues. We started off with 15 teachers and about 240 students. Braden was one of those teachers. The number of students quickly grew. Within five years, we had to expand the campus to accommodate nearly 1,000 students in grades 9-12! We were drawing students from all over the country! I worked at CAA for nearly 20 years before I retired. They were the best years of my career. I still get emails from former students with updates on their lives and careers.
As we expected, adopting Asher was much easier as residents in the same state. With the full support of his mother and no contest from his father, the adoption was finalized shortly after Asher's 16th birthday. We threw a huge birthday celebration for him. He even got a car, which was a gift from Dorothy and Rose. Asher made us proud, graduating as valedictorian of his class at CAA two years later. Against all odds, Asher and Brax remained a couple throughout high school and college. They live in North Carolina and have a son of their own! Braden and I first got to experience being grandparents thanks to them! We are proud of Asher and his family.
Jackson grew up to be quite a handsome young man. During his teenage years, Braden and I had our hands full with all the girls and boys he brought home. He was trying to figure out who he was. At some point, he decided he was gay and liked older men. I guess he got that from his dad. That would be Braden, not me. I guess we were all a little shocked when he fell in love with David's grandson, Ryan. By then, Ryan was in his early thirties and Jackson was 20. There were about 13 years between them, much like the age difference between Braden and me. We loved Ryan dearly and couldn't be upset at all by this news. They are married now and have two children, a girl and a boy. They live back in Alabama on the property that David and Robert lived on in their final years. I believe David would be happy with how things turned out with Ryan and Jackson. One of them might decide to write about their story one day. You never know.
David lived into his early 80s. The dementia quickly took over his life with a vengeance. The twins were just a few years old and Jackson was in middle school when he passed away with Robert by his side. Robert was a trooper and took care of him as long as he could. When it got to be too much, they moved into an assisted living facility together. To everyone's shock, Robert, who was in good health, passed away suddenly two weeks after David. I guess it's true that you can die from a broken heart.
When we moved to Chattanooga, Dorothy and Rose begged us to stay with them. We were afraid that there would simply be too many people under one roof, no matter how big the place was. It wasn't like that for too long, though. Austin and Lucas had their wedding on the property the following spring. It was a lovely wedding. Those two were madly in love and still are all these years later. Lucas was a huge ratings success on the morning news. It wasn't long before the major networks were calling with offers that just couldn't be refused. With some trepidation, the two of them set off for the Big Apple! Yes, Austin and Lucas live in New York City. Austin manages a five-star hotel and Lucas gets to tell America "Good Morning, America!" every day in his big time TV gig. It's fun to watch him with all the people who hold up signs trying to be seen on TV! They have a son who was the product of a sad situation. Maybe they will tell their story someday.
Savanna was a part of the twins' lives as they grew up, and we wouldn't have changed that for the world. They both turned out to be successful as well. Charlotte is a successful real estate broker with a husband and children of her own. John Luke followed in his dads' footsteps and went into education. He and his husband have four children. He's carried on my legacy by taking over at CAA upon my retirement several years ago.
As for Braden and me, we ramble about in this big, old house now. We still run it as a bed and breakfast, and we get a few guests each month. Savanna is still around, too. She's a much better cook than Braden or me, and we enjoy her company. With the kids all grown up and moved away, she's great company and a big help to us.
We had some great years in the bed and breakfast as a big, happy family. However, as Smash Mouth sang years ago, "the years start coming and they don't stop coming." My own sweet mother left us first, before Dorothy and Rose. One morning she didn't come to breakfast, and we found her in her bed. She was 80 years old. She always said she wanted to go like that, and she got her wish -- peacefully with no fuss. It was hard for all of us, but I was heartbroken. Mom left notes written in places all over the house. To this day, I will open a random book and find a note from my mother. It's always something like `Love you all, Momma Patti.'
Then, Rose had a stroke one day while she was making dinner. She never recovered. It was a shock to us all. I swear if I go into the kitchen early in the morning as the sun is just starting to shine through the window, I can hear her humming like she used to do when she made breakfast.
Dorothy was never herself again after Rose passed away. We took care of her until her last breath. She was almost 90 and had outlived Rose by about five years. She had been battling pneumonia. I knew she was tired. Braden and I were by her side and holding her hands. I asked her if she was ready to go, and she nodded that she was. We prayed with her and held her hands until she passed away. I took Dorothy's passing especially hard. She was the closest thing to a mother I had left by that point, and she and I had always been close. I still feel her here with us, especially late at night when I sit out back in her favorite chair.
Braden's parents have passed away now, too. They never made the move up from Alabama, deciding that they had moved enough. They visited frequently, though, and we did as well. They were happy to have Ryan and Jackson living close to them in their final years.
Braden and I are old men now. We've seen a lot and been through a lot. And you know what? I wouldn't change a thing. As I sit here, in the back yard of the house up on Lookout Mountain, I am looking out over the spot where Braden and I were married all those years ago. It's calm here. A cool, Autumn breeze is blowing through the trees. It carries with it voices from the past. I think about all the people who celebrated with us who are gone now. Don't call me crazy, but I know they are here with us. Whether it's Rose's humming, the sound of the back door slamming at exactly the time Dorothy took her morning walk, or a whiff of Mom's perfume when Braden and I are watching TV in the parlor at night, I know they are here. It brings a smile to my face and makes my heart happy.
"Josh, it's almost time to come home, dear," I hear a voice say. It sounds just like Mom's voice. I look around, but no one is there. It's just the wind, I suppose. "Mom?" I say, my voice thick and gravely. A tear escapes my eye and trickles down my face. I wipe it away with the back of my hand just as I hear the back door open. I close the notebook I am writing in and tuck my pen into the front pocket of my flannel shirt.
"Josh, come in, dear," Braden yells from the back door. "Joshua and Steffen are on their way over with the kids." Joshua is our grandson and Steffen is his husband. They are bringing our great grandchildren over for a visit! I love when they come because it fills the house with laughter and the sounds of children running around! I missed that after our kids were grown up.
"I'm coming, babe," I said. I grabbed my cane and hoisted myself up. I hate this thing, but it's necessary these days.
"I think I've finished it," I said, walking in the back door.
"Your memoir? Oh, that's great, babe," Braden said, kissing me on the lips. His hair is gray now instead of brown, but he's still cute. And his ass is still great. "What are you going to do with it?"
"Hell if I know," I said. "I just needed to get all of it on paper, you know? Someone might care someday."
"Well, maybe you'll finally let me read it," Braden said.
"Maybe. Just maybe," I said. "When you least expect."
The End ---
And that, dear reader, is the end of this tale. I hope you have enjoyed this journey with Josh and Braden. What a journey it has been! I know some of you have laughed and cried along the way with the ups and downs that they faced. While I could have kept going, I knew it was time to wrap up their story.
If you would like to hear the stories of other characters in this universe, let me know. Austin and Lucas, Asher, Jackson, and John Luke all provide possible story arcs that could be followed.
I want to sincerely thank all of you who have read my work. I'll undoubtedly write more, but it was feedback from you all who kept me going this long. I hope you'll drop me a note when you read this, whether it's in 2024, 2034, or 2044. For now, I'll bid you farewell.
Your feedback is always appreciated! Send it to whenyouleastexpect2020@gmail.com. Let me know if you want to be added to my mailing list to be informed when new chapters are published.