Zack and Jay
Chapter 12
Author: Kevin
We spend the rest of our time at my parents' house getting caught up in our school work. I have a couple paintings I need to get done; in one I decide to use Shawn as my subject. I dress him up in the best looking outfit we have for him. It looks like he is wearing a suit, but he really isn't. I sit him on the floor and place toys around him. Then take a bunch of pictures of him to use for the painting. In one he had just picked up one of the toys and had looked at me, looking directly into the camera and smiled. I decide to use that one for the painting. He is such a beautiful baby boy.
The other I ask Jay to pose for. Professor Richards wants this one to be a nude in an unusual place, preferably a public place. I think about it for a while and decide on the perfect spot, my parents' home gym. He won't be able to tell if it truly is a public spot or not, but with all the equipment they have it could be. We go down to the basement, after explaining to Mom and Dad what we will be doing so they don't walk in on us. He strips then asks me what I want him to do. I explain I want to get a bunch of pictures of him working out on the different machines, and as many as I can from different angles. He moves through our workout while I take over two hundred pictures of him. I really like the ones of him towards the end when he is really sweating. His skin glistens from the over head lights and the flash of my camera. After about an hour and a half I finally tell him I should have enough pictures. I give him a very passionate thank you kiss and he gets redressed.
When he's done I tell him, "Jay, thank you for doing this for me. I can only imagine how it makes you feel; knowing that people will see you like that. Sometimes I don't know why you let me keep taking pictures of you naked."
"Zack, I love you and will do anything for you. Even with my self image problem it doesn't bother me knowing that people see me in your paintings and pictures like that. To me it is art, and I think your paintings and pictures are beautiful. I'm glad I can help you accomplish that beauty." He says.
We head back up stairs and I go to our room to decide on a shot for the painting. After about an hour Jay comes in and asks me if I have decided which one to use. I tell him I have it narrowed down to three, but can't make up my mind which one to use. I show him the three I have in mind and he looks at each one. He helps me pick one from when he was bench pressing and was struggling to finish the last one. You can see the determination on his face pushing the last bench press out. I also have an assignment due in photography so I print out a bunch of the pictures and make a portfolio for Professor Avery.
It takes about a week of intense painting to get them both done. But when they are finished Jay loves them and says when I get them back the one of Shawn is going to be hung in our living room at home. I think it turned out really good. You can almost see how smart and loving he is from the smile and the look on his face.
Two days before Thanksgiving Jay and I head out to get the fixings for the meal. We head to a farmers market in a neighboring town to get fresh vegetables. We want this year's meal to be extra special, John and his partner, Joe, will be joining us; as well as Tim and Lisa again. My parents offered to fly Jay's parents out, but they refused. We will see them again during Christmas break. I can tell Jay is starting to miss them, but he doesn't say anything to me about it. We get everything we need there, fresh squash, green beans, potatoes, and a few yams.
We stop at the store on our way home and get everything else for the meal. We buy the biggest turkey they have, twenty five pounds, bread for the stuffing, onions, celery, marshmallows, ingredients to make the pies, and a few odds and ends.
The next day Jay starts on the pies. He makes two pumpkin, a lemon meringue, and a pecan to include homemade crusts. He never once looks at a recipe; his grandmother taught him that well. I tell him he had better hide them if he expects to have any for tomorrow. He helps me get everything else ready, making the stuffing and peeling potatoes and the squash and yams.
Thanksgiving morning Jay and I are up early making the dressing and stuffing the turkey and getting it into the oven. I boil the yams for a few minutes then drain them. I put them into a casserole dish and put the marshmallows on top and put them into the oven to finish cooking. Jay boils the potatoes and squash and I make a German bean casserole called Snitzel Beans. They are beans that have been boiled with slices of onion, the water drained, and then I make rue from vinegar, flour, and the drained water in a paste like consistency. Add the rue to the beans along with pieces of over cooked bacon and mix it all together.
As things are done, we place them on large electric warming plates Mom has, keeping it piping hot. As the turkey comes out of the oven everyone is there and ready to eat. Jay and I take everything to the dining room table and we sit down and give thanks for everyone that has touched our lives in the last year. Especially those that can't be with us, we hope everyone is safe and happy today with their families. Dad carves the turkey and we all dig in.
Jay and Joe are instant friends. Joe is actually about half of Johns age and sometimes has an easier time relating to the younger crowd. Jay and he talk through the whole meal about what we went through over the last few months. He tells us both how sorry he is and that he is glad everything worked out for the best.
Mom and Lisa clean up the kitchen and take care of the leftovers refusing to let Jay and me help. They tell us to go sit down and relax. We made the meal; the least they can do is clean up. I am very tired from the late night and early morning so I lay down on the couch for a nap. Shawn curls up with me and we instantly fall asleep together.
When I wake up Jay is lying on the floor next to the couch sleeping. I reach down and play with his hair to wake him. Jay slowly opens his eyes and smiles up to me. He sits up and gives me a kiss. I hear Joe say, "Awe, instant that sweet?"
Embarrassed Jay turns to him and throws the pillow from the couch at him he was laying on. It hits him in the chest and everyone laughs. We sit around talking for a while then Mom checks to see what new release movies are on the satellite. She picks one that looks good and we sit and watch the movie. It is very good.
After the movie we get dinner ready, having leftovers and turkey sandwiches with the pies for desert. Everyone has a wonderful day. As our guests leave they tell us again how sorry they are about what happened and they are glad that everything worked out.
We return to school the next day; carefully backing the paintings so nothing happens to them. When we get home and after unloading the car, I notice there are a bunch of messages on the answering machine. Three of them are from Phil Richards for Jay. He gives his emergency phone number on the last. Jay calls his answering service and a few minutes later, Phil calls back.
They talk for about fifteen minutes and then Jay hangs up. He explains to me that Phil has been talking to a kid named Tony who won't open up to him. He wants Jay to talk to him and tells him that he will be paid for his time. He wants Jay to meet him at his office in the morning and they will set up a time to meet him.
Most of the other phone calls are from friends at school telling us they heard about the trials and wanted to tell us they are happy with the outcome. One is from a guy claiming to be with the Secret Service and wants to set up a meeting with me. Skeptically I call the number he left and get the White House switchboard. I ask for the gentleman and I am transferred to an extension. He answers on the second ring. I explain to him who I am and ask why he had contacted me.
He explains that he works directly with the President and she wants to know if I would consider painting her presidential portrait. He tells me that she has been following Jay's and my story in the news and through other channels, he won't explain that any further. She had a background check done on me after hearing that I was a student studying painting and even checked out some of the paintings I have already sold. He tells me she loved what she saw and as she still has not had her Presidential portrait done wants to know if I'll do it.
I ask him to hang on for a minute, and tell Jay what's going on.
He immediately tells me, "Do it! This could be a huge break for you."
"You really think so?" I ask.
"Yes!" He says.
I tell the secret service agent that I would be honored and he tells me he will talk to the president and get back to me with the details. About an hour later the phone rings and Jay answers it, "Just a minute Ma'am." He says and hands the phone to me saying, "It's the President."
"Madam President it is an honor to talk to you." I say into the phone.
"Mr. Miller it is my honor to talk with you. As you are aware I have taken an interest in your case and I am grateful it worked out the way it did. And just in case you are wondering, I did not have anything to do with it. Our legal system prevailed." She says.
"Ma'am thank you for your kindness and yes after your Secret Service Agent contacted me I did wonder if you had stepped in. What can I do for you?" I ask her.
"Well, I want to commission my presidential portrait and I want you to paint it. If you are willing there will be an escort at your door shortly after we hang up. He will take you to a nearby airstrip where there is a private jet waiting for you. It will bring you to Washington DC, where you will meet up with a car that will bring to the White House. I know you usually take pictures of your subject and paint from them. So I think we can set something up tomorrow morning. That would mean you would be staying the night in the White House. I think we can arrange for you and your family to spend the night in the Lincoln Bedroom. And of course you will be paid for you time and effort. How does fifty thousand dollars sound?" She asks.
As soon as she says the amount I drop the phone in shock, I am unable to speak. Jay quickly comes to me and picks the phone up and apologizes to the President. He shakes me back to reality and gives me back the phone. "I'm sorry Ma'am the amount surprised me and I dropped the phone." I say.
"That is very understandable. I'm sorry I surprised you like that. Are you willing?" She asks.
"Can I ask my husband or do you need an answer right this minute?" I ask.
"Of course not, go ahead and ask him, I'll wait." She says.
As fast as I can, I tell Jay what she wants us to do. He tells me it's an offer of a lifetime and I, we, should do it. "Ma'am the answer is yes. I'll do it."
"Good, your escort will be at your door about ten minutes after we hang up. I will see you in a little while. Good day to you." She says.
"Good day to you to Ma'am." I say and hang up; almost falling into Jay's arms, hugging him. I still can't believe this is happening. Jay says he will call Phil back and change the appointment. After a few minutes he ends the call and says Phil will wait and meet when we get back; even if it is early Monday morning. I quickly repack our bags, pulling out the dirty clothes and adding clean ones. I make sure we have enough things for Shawn and just as I am returning to the living room there is a knock on the door.
Jay answers it, there is a gentleman standing there wearing a dark blue suit and very dark glasses. He asks Jay, "Jay Miller?"
Surprised, Jay answers him, "Yes please come in."
"We don't have much time, is your family ready to go?" He asks very professionally.
"Yes we are." I say picking up our bag as Jay picks up Shawn and then he remembers King.
"What about the dog?" He asks the room in general.
Mr. 'Smith', the Secret Service Agent says, "Bring him. It won't be a problem. There have been many dogs in the White House over the years."
I grab King as we head out the door. Once outside Mr. 'Smith' says to me, "The President is really looking forward to meeting you. She can't wait."
"I can't believe this is happening." I tell him. He shows us into a waiting car and we speed off towards a privately owned local airport. There is a jet sitting there waiting for us. Mr. 'Smith' escorts us on and as soon as we have Shawn buckled into the infant seat already installed into one of the seats and take our seats we are under way.
After about an hour and a half; we land just outside of Washington DC and Mr. Smith escorts us to another waiting car. With a police escort we arrive at the White House in no time at all. We are shown through security, they never check our bags, and into the Oval Office. Mr. Smith stays with us and tells us the President will be with us shortly. After a few minutes she walks in and openly and warmly greets us both. She even spends a few minutes admiring Shawn and playing with King.
Then she gets right down to business. "Well young man your talent precedes you. I have taken the liberty to check out some of the paintings you have already done and love your work. I think you will do a much better job than your two predecessors did. They tried to do just about the same types of portraits that the other Presidents have had done. To me they are to dark, in some of them, you can only see the Presidents face and hands. I am looking for something different. As I am the first ever female president I think I deserve something different." She says.
"Well Ma'am I have been to the National Portraits Gallery a few years ago with my parents and I must agree with you, I don't like many of them either. There is one that sticks out in my mind to this day. It was of Jimmy Carter standing at the corner of the Resolute Desk, and was taken from about here." I tell her standing just to the right of the American Flag that would be behind her on her right if she were sitting at the desk.
"I have seen that one and like it, but don't like the way it looks." She says, almost questioning me.
"I understand, and I think that has to do with the color of the suit he was wearing. I really don't understand why they would have had him pose in that color. It's just not right for the background of the Oval Office. It's almost like he doesn't fit." I explain to her.
"Oh my God, I think you hit the nail right on the head. You really are talented." She tells me. "So what do you have in mind?" She asks.
"Well, I thought about this on the way here and think that we should have you sit at the Resolute Desk with papers in front of you like you are working. I will stand directly in front of you about at the center of the Presidential Seal on the floor. I will be getting both the American and Presidential Flags in the picture and a little of the garden through the windows. And as for the color you should be wearing, something dark, maybe navy blue." I tell her.
"You know what, I like that idea. It's never been done before. It's different and perfect. There's just one thing. Won't you get a lot of glare from the windows behind me?" She asks.
"Not if we wait until tomorrow. It's already starting to get dark outside. If we wait until, that's say, noon tomorrow there will be enough light outside and in here I won't need a flash, no flash no glare." I tell her.
"That sounds logical." She says.
"And Ma'am even if I have to, I can retouch the pictures with a computer program my mom designed that will get rid of the glare. And if the color of the suit you wear doesn't look right, I can change that too." I tell her.
"Ok, I'll have my calendar cleared for tomorrow at noon. How long do you think it will take you to get the photos you need?" She asks.
"Not long. I'll take a few from the middle of the room and then a few close ups for detail while painting your portrait." I explain to her. "Maybe a half hour tops."
"Good. Now Mr. Smith will show you to the Lincoln Bedroom and the staff will bring your dinner up shortly. If you will excuse me I need to get back to work." She shakes both of our hands and leaves us standing in the middle of the Oval Office.
Jay looks at me and says, "I can't believe this is happening. I can't believe I'm standing in the Oval Office."
Mr. Smith shows us to the Lincoln Bedroom and tells us were the 'facilities' are. After a few minutes a cart is brought into the room by a man wearing a white suit. He tells us he will be back in a while to remove it. If we need anything just pick up the phone and dial nine. "I will get you anything you may need. Do you need anything for the baby?" He asks.
"No, we brought everything we need for him. Thank you." Jay says to him. He bows his way backwards out the door.
Mr. Smith tells us if we need him to dial 5 and he will be here in a few minutes to assist us. He leaves and closes the door behind him.
I call Mom's cell and say, "Mom you'll never guess where we are."
"Where?" She asks. "I thought you guys were heading home." She says.
"We did. When we got there, there was a message on the answering machine from a Secret Service Agent. He had left a number and I skeptically called back, and sure enough I got the White House. The President wants me to paint her Presidential portrait and is going to pay me fifty thousand dollars." I tell her.
I hear a loud scream from my mother, and after a few moments she returns to the phone. "Oh my God, Zack, I can't believe that. So where are you calling from?" She asks.
"The Lincoln Bedroom in the White House, we're spending the night here and I will have a photo shoot with the President tomorrow around noon." I tell her. We talk for a few minutes then I tell her I love them and will talk to them soon.
Jay and I sit and eat our dinner. It is delicious; candied ham, baked potatoes, broccoli, and green beans. We sit and chat about what has happened in the last few hours. We can't get over how quickly this happened. Neither of us can believe we are eating a late dinner in the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House.
A few minutes after finishing up with the meal the gentleman in the white suit returns and removes the cart. Jay gets Shawn ready for bed and we turn in for the night. We spoon in the king sized bed and fall asleep in each others arms. Shawn sleeping, near by, in a crib that had been set up for him.
I awake in the morning confused as to where I am. Everything comes rushing back and I lay there letting the realization sink in for a few minutes. I slowly turn in Jay's arms so I can see his face. He is smiling at me and says, "Good morning."
"I still can't believe this is happening. I can't believe I spent the night in the Lincoln Bedroom." I tell him.
"I know. It's all a little overwhelming. Come on get up, I want to see if we can take a tour of this place." He says.
"What, you didn't see enough of it last night?" I ask him jokingly.
"No, I want to see everything. This is a dream come true for me. I've never been in the Capital before. I want to see as much as we can before we have to go home." He says getting up and heading into the bathroom. While he is gone I dial 5 on the phone and it is immediately answered by Mr. Smith. I explain to him that Jay has never seen the city and was wondering if he couldn't set up a little tour for us. He says that he will set something up. A few places this morning then a few more this afternoon after my shoot with the President.
Just as I hang up the phone Jay returns from the bathroom, "Who was on the phone?" He asks.
"Never mind, it's a surprise." I tell him. Just then the phone rings. It's Mr. Jones, the guy that had brought us dinner last night, asking what we would like for breakfast. We aren't that hungry after the dinner last night, so I tell him, a little fresh fruit and orange juice. He has it in our room even before I finish in the bathroom.
We eat and get Shawn up and ready for the day. About fifteen minutes later there is a knock on the door. Mr. Smith is there when I answer it. He shows us back through the White House and outside to a waiting car. He takes us to the Washington and Jefferson Memorials and The WW II and Vietnam Memorials. He gives us a quick tour of The Capital Building and then returns us to the White House just in time for my noon appointment with the President.
After she makes sure her makeup and hair are perfect I set about taking pictures of her. It takes a little longer than the half hour I had thought but she doesn't seem to mind. After words Mr. Smith takes us back out and shows us more of the city. When we return to the White House to get our belongings there is a hand written note from the President on the bed, which reads,
Zack,
I hope you and your family enjoyed your stay. I will be busy for the rest of day, so won't be able to see you before you leave. When you have finished with my portrait, just call the number that Mr. Smith will give you shortly. Someone will be at your home shortly after you call to pick it up and pay you for your time. There is no need to have it framed. That will be taken care of here. Again I thank you and your family for your time.
The President of the United States.
Mr. Smith escorts us out of the building and back home. Once there he hands me another note with a phone number on it. And he tells me, when the painting is ready to call that number and he will personally come and pick it up. I thank him and he leaves.
"Can you believe this?" I ask Jay. "Fifty thousand dollars just to paint a portrait of the President, oh my God, is this really happening?"
He comes to me, pulls me into a hug and holds me. Then he says, "Yeah, it's really happening. And thanks for the tour of the city. I know you had something to do with that." He gives me a very passionate kiss. Then he asks, "Are you hungry?"
I give him a very sensual look and answer, "I'm starving for your cock. I wanted you last night, but couldn't bring myself to do anything in that room."
"I know what you mean; I wanted you so bad too. But being there, I just couldn't do it. The place is just so full of history; I didn't want to 'soil' it." He says.
He quickly gets Shawn fed and ready for bed. He is almost asleep before I lay him in his crib. He must be exhausted from the last few days.
Jay and I strip as we head to our room. We're both rock hard before either one of us even touches the other. We stand next to the bed and kiss passionately, then almost fall into bed in each others arms. We lay there kissing for a few minutes before Jay turns in bed and we end up in a classic sixty-nine position with him on top. He licks and sucks my balls driving me insane with passion. I can only lay there occasionally sucking his dick because of the pleasure he is giving me. The only thing I can think about is his mouth on my cock and balls. Before I am even aware of it I am cumming like a fountain. I shoot shot after shot of cum. More than Jay can possibly swallow.
When I finish cumming I finally manage to suck him for a while before he rolls off me and moves back up beside me. He looks me in the eyes and gives me a kiss. I lick as much of my cum off his face as I can find. Then he says, "I want to make love to you."
"Come here." I tell him. He reaches into the bedside table and gets the bottle of lube and lubes himself up. Then adds more lube to his hand and gently pushes two fingers into my hole lubing my insides. He climbs on top of me and puts my legs onto his shoulders. Bracing his upper body with his arms he slides his cock to my hole and pushes gently. I easily stretch to him and he buries is cock inside me. He slides in and out of me for what seems like hours. The feeling of lust is so intense; I want him to fuck the shit out of me. "Fuck me harder." I moan as I suck and gently bite his neck.
He picks the pass and force up a little and is driving me crazy. I suck on his neck harder; he actually pulls away from me for a minute saying, "Stop that hurts."
"I'm sorry; I didn't realize how hard I was sucking on your neck." I look at the spot I was sucking and he can tell something is wrong.
"What?" He asks.
"Jay I'm sorry. I gave you a huge hickey." I say apologetically.
"That's all! So what; I don't care." He says and continues to fuck me even harder than before. With each thrust into me the feeling of lust and the need to cum again grows in me almost to the point where I can't stand it. I slide my hand between are hard abs and stroke my cock to the rhythm that Jay is fucking me. I match his pace perfectly. Before long we are both cumming. He fills my ass to the point I can feel it squishing out with each forcible thrust he makes into me. I cover both of our chests and stomachs with a sticky film of pearl white cum.
Spent from the love making Jay slides my legs from his shoulders and collapses on top of me. He lays there breathing heavily and trying to catch his breath. After a few minutes he picks his head up off my shoulder and looks into my eyes and says, "I love you more than I can tell you."
"I know. I feel the same way about you." We kiss and he rolls off me and lies next to me on the bed, holding me. We fall asleep in each others arms and sleep better than we have in months.
When we wake up in the morning we are stuck together from my dried cum. After prying ourselves apart we take a shower together, Jay washes me and I wash him. After eating breakfast together I disappear into my studio to start on the President's portrait.
About three hours later Jay walks into the room and scares the shit out of me. I didn't hear him walk in, until he walked up behind me and put his arms around my waist and held me. "Damn it Jay, don't do that. I could have fucked this up." I yell at him.
"Zack, calm down; I didn't mean to scare you. Why are you so edgy?" He asks me.
"Jay I have painted numerous portraits before knowing I would be paid for them. But, I have never been paid fifty thousand dollars for one. This painting has to be perfect; and not for the President, but for me." I explain to him.
"Zack, it will be. You don't have to worry about that. I know how good you are and know it will be perfect. Just relax and paint with your heart like you always do." He tells me and pulls me into a hug and holds me for a few minutes.
"Thanks. I needed that. I love you." I tell him and give him a kiss.
"I love you, too. What do you want for lunch?" He asks me.
"I don't care, something quick. You don't have to go overboard." I say.
"Ok. I'll make something and it will be ready in a while. And just so you know, Shawn is crawling around out there looking for you." He tells me as he walks out the door and closes it.
Feeling guilty for having ignored them all morning I clean up and head out to the living room and pick Shawn up off the floor. As soon as I do, he snuggles into my chest and gives me a hug. Then he looks up into my face and says, "Dada." Hearing that still brings tears to my eyes as I overwhelm with emotions. I walk with him into the kitchen and help Jay with lunch.
After eating we decide to go for a walk and just hang out as a family. Around four o'clock Jay asks me what's wrong. "Nothings wrong!" I tell him.
"Zack I know you good enough to be able to tell when something is bothering you." He says.
"Ok, I guess I'm just worrying about the President's portrait. I'm worried it won't be perfect and she won't like it. You have to remember this is the third time she has had someone paint it and she didn't like the first two. What if, I spend all the time on it and then she doesn't like it. I'm out my time and materials; our time together is so important to me. I would hate it if she didn't like it and knowing it took time away from you and Shawn to do it would tear me apart." I explain to him.
"Zack, I already told you, if you paint with your heart like you do when you paint me and Shawn, it will be perfect and she will love it. Now stop worrying about it." He says.
"I know, but I can't help it." I tell him. He tells me to go and work on the painting while he gets dinner ready. I work for about two hours, until he comes and tells me it's ready. He looks at what I have done so far and tells me it looks good. I can't see how he thinks so, because right now it just looks like a bunch of different colored blobs. But I can now see what it will look like when it is done and feel better about it.
Monday night Jay has a meeting with Phil and Tony. They talk for an hour just getting to know each other with Phil there as a buffer and guide/mentor for Jay. When they are done they set up an appointment for Tuesday afternoon, just after their last classes.
Hi, everyone Jay here. I just got home with my one on one meeting with Tony. Let's see what can I tell you about him? He is a freshman here at school and is eighteen. He wants to be a model and I think he has a very good chance of it. He is very good looking. We spent the hour talking, he opened up some to me, but I know he was holding back. He did mention to me that he has had sex with one guy and, from what I can gather, a couple girls. I think that is what his problem is. He is having a hard time accepting that he is bisexual. I think on our next appointment I will push him to open up about it more. Maybe have him tell me what he likes and doesn't like about guys and women. That way I can help him come to terms with who he is.
Zack again. I can't believe Jay got that much out of him. After weeks of Phil talking to him, he didn't tell Phil anything. Jay will be one hell of a consoler some day. Over the next few weeks I work on the painting when ever I can and finally finish it. I am very happy with it and Jay says he likes it. I call the number that Mr. Smith left me and he comes the next afternoon to pick it up. He tells me that a messenger will deliver the check tomorrow after the President has had time to look it over and decides if she likes it or not.
The following day a security company delivery guy shows up at the apartment just after I get home from my class. He has me sign a punch of papers and then hands me a large sealed envelope. I thank him and head back inside.
I sit on the couch and open it. The first page is a hand written letter from the President on her official letter head. It states that she loves the painting and can't believe that someone of my age has such a talent. Then there is an official looking document from a bank I have never heard of explaining that they have issued me a check in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars; I just about fall off the couch when I read the amount. I check the envelope one more time and find the check; sure enough it says one hundred thousand dollars.
I am still sitting there in shock when Jay comes in with Shawn. "What's wrong?" He asks as soon as he sees me.
I can't respond; I just hand him the check. He looks at it and flops down on the couch next to me. Confused he asks, "I thought you had agreed on fifty?"
"We did. I think I better call and find out what happened." I tell him.
I call the number Mr. Smith had left me, and he answers just as the first ring ends. I explain to him that the amount on the check is wrong. He tells me the President took it upon herself to change the amount. She said fifty thousand wasn't enough for what I did. I'm speechless again. I don't know how to respond to him. Finally after a few moments I manage a thank you and hang up.
"What?" Jay asks.
"She changed the amount. She liked it that much." I tell him. Shawn reaches out for me from Jay's arms and I take him. I give him a kiss on the top of his head as he gives me a hug. "I love you little man." I tell him.
"Zack, we need to talk." Jay says.
"What's wrong?" I ask concerned.
"Nothing's wrong. Phil told me today that he has talked to the board and they are offering me a part time job. I will be counseling kids that have a problem coming to terms with who and what they are. They eventually want me to handle all the students that are having trouble dealing with their sexual orientation. For right now, it will be part time, mostly evening and probably Saturday mornings. I'll be making about six hundred a week to start out. After graduation they are going to make it a permanent full time position. I'll be making around a thousand a week." He says.
"You scared the shit out of me. I thought something was wrong the way you started out. I'm happy for you. I know that is what you want to do with your life. You will be perfect for them. Look what you did for Tony in such a short time. After only a few sessions with him, he has told you his entire life story. Phil spent weeks with him and he wouldn't tell him anything. Maybe kids will be more apt to open up to you knowing that you are a married gay man. You know pretty much what they are going through and can relate." I tell him. I pull him into a hug and give him a kiss. "I love you." I tell him.
"I love you, too. And I am sorry I scared you. I shouldn't have started out like that." He says. "Ok, now that's out of the way. What do you think of us buying a house? King is going to be too big for this apartment soon. And if we have our own place, we can get some things for Shawn and won't always have to take him to the park." He says.
"God, I don't know what to think. Everything seems to happen so fast for us. What the hell, why not? We really need a bigger place. And now we should be able to afford it. Between us, we will have enough money coming in every week to pay the bills, and buy the things we will need. And with this check we will have a very good down payment. The monthly mortgage payments shouldn't be that bad. Yes, let's do it." I tell him.
"I figured you would say that, so I called a realtor this morning. She said she will look for a few places close to the school for us to look at and will get back to me tomorrow." He says.
"And what would you have done if I had said no?" I ask.
"I would have talked you into it." He says with a shit eating grin on his face.
"You think you know me so well. I love you." I tell him grinning back.
We head over to the bank and deposit the check. I get a very strange look from the teller but she doesn't ask any questions. We go back home and hang out as a family. I put off starting my next assignment for my painting class and we eat dinner together. I can feel our love for each other grow stronger every day.
The following morning, Saturday, the realtor Jay called calls back and she thinks she has a couple houses for us to look at. Jay and I talked about it and want my parents there when we look at them so Dad can check them out. We called them last night and they will be here this afternoon and will spend the night. So we set a time for Sunday mid morning to view the houses.
We spend the morning and early afternoon at the park. Letting Shawn swing and letting King run off some of his energy. I can't believe the dog never seems to get tired. He just runs and runs. Jay spends almost an hour throwing a tennis ball for him and he brings it right back every time. He has already doubled in size, at this rate he is going to be one huge dog. He looks to be the perfect picture of a rott. His markings are all clear and his form and posture are exquisite. It's almost like he has been trained for the show ring by the way he struts around and carries himself.
We get back home just as my parents get there. We hug each other and show them into the apartment. As it is the first time they have been here since we get everything settled and arranged the way we want it, Mom looks around the place; typical woman. She comments about all the paintings of Shawn and Jay and asks, "Your two favorite subjects?"
"Of course, Mom; who else would I paint?" I ask her sarcastically. Thank God I remembered to hide all the paintings of Jay naked in our closet. I really don't want my parents looking at him naked.
"So how are you guys planning on paying a mortgage?" Dad asks. Jay explains about the job offer that the school has made to him. And what will happen after graduation. Gary and I are still teaching the self defense class every other week, so there is that, I tell them. Then I tell them what the President did about the payment of her portrait. My parents are both dumbfounded. It's a few minutes before either of them can say anything. Finally Dad says, "I can't believe my son has sold a painting for that much money. And to the President of the United States none the less. Zack, I am so proud of you." He pulls me into a hug and when he pulls away I notice he is crying.
When we break apart Mom comes and gives me a hug too and tells me how proud of me she is. We talk for a while and then start making diner. Mom and Dad sit at the kitchen table playing with Shawn as we make dinner. After we eat and everything is clean up, Mom and Dad head over to a motel close by to spend the night. After they are gone I tell Jay that we have to make sure that there is a guestroom in the house so they can come and stay without paying for a motel room for the night.
Around eleven we head to bed and curl up next to each other. Jay spooning me and holding me, one arm is under my neck the other laying over my side and his hand on my chest. We sleep in that same position all night, neither of us moving once.
Author's Note: You may have noticed that I have started using my first name. I have told my wife about my story and I feel comfortable enough to use it now. Comments or questions can be sent to kk.lonewolf.37@gmail.com or to my thread on www.justusboys.com/forum Gay Stories section, thread The real Zack and Jay.
Thanks for reading and hope to hear from you all soon. And thank you every one for your emails, and chats. They have been a life line for me through a rough time in my life.
Kevin