Date: Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:27:51 +0000
From: hankster1430@bellsouth.net
Subject: The Crew Chapter 14 (final)

The Crew
Chapter Fourteen

Sunday morning dawned to much warmer weather.  The sun felt comforting to
anyone who was outdoors early in the day.  Spring was definitely hiding
around the corner.

In the suburbs of Phoenix, Brian and Tucker were getting hard thinking that
it would soon be time for their spring fishing trip. Tuck was thinking that
now that the crew owned the house, maybe he and Brian could add a day or
two to the trip.  He would definitely see what he could work out.

In Lake Henry, Paul was in the shower.  He was both frightened and excited.
Today he was going to introduce his congregation to Doug.  So many people
already knew that he was gay that he was hoping the rumor had spread.  The
less shock there was in the church this morning the better.

Doug had already showered and was preparing bacon and eggs in the kitchen.
He planned on wearing a sport shirt, slacks and a sport jacket to church.
He had laid his clothes out on the bed, and was only wearing a pair of
boxer shorts which he had purchased the day before at Walmart.  He had also
raided Paul's part of the closet and laid out a light suit, shirt, tie,
socks and underwear.  He felt the light suit looked appropriate for the
premature spring like weather.

Paul came out of the shower drying himself, and in all his glory.

Doug said, `You've got to stop parading around naked or we will never get
anything done around here."  He went over to Paul, embraced him with one
arm and grabbed his cock with the other.  He kissed him and then released
him.  "Later," he said to Paul and winked at him.

"Better hurry.  Breakfast is almost ready," he let Paul know.

Before he left Flagstaff, Doug had called his two sisters and two brothers
and given them his new address and telephone number.  Just as he got back
to the kitchen the phone rang.  He hesitated to answer and Paul yelled from
the bedroom, "It's OK to answer the phone.  You live here you know."

Doug picked up the phone and barely whispered, "Hello."

"Doug is that you?" his sister Edie asked.

"Hi darling," Doug responded.  They spoke for two or three minutes and Doug
explained that his partner was a minister and they had to get ready for
church so he had to get off the phone.  To which Edie chided him that the
church would probably be struck by lightening this morning.  As soon as he
hung up, the phone rang again.  This time it was his sister, Ellie.  They
had a similar conversation.  Just as he hung up, Paul came into the
kitchen.  Doug wanted to cry again.  Paul was so dazzling handsome.

Before he could ask, Doug told Paul that his two sisters had called to wish
him a happy birthday, but he would be shocked if his brothers remembered to
call.

"Oh, sweetheart," Paul moaned, "we've got to really learn more about each
other.  If only I had known it was your birthday, I would have planned
something.  I didn't even get you a gift."

"I got a gift from you, sweetheart," Paul answered.  "The gift is you, and
if that's not enough, which it is, you bought me clothes and a car.  That's
beyond the call of duty for any birthday gift."

"Don't make me cry while I'm wearing my Sunday best," Paul said as he
embraced Doug.

Paul wanted to arrive early at the church, and go to his office in the rear
of the church.  The day was so beautiful he knew that his flock would all
be socializing outside before the service.  He didn't want to introduce
Doug until he said something in the church.  He went around to the back of
the church.  He sat Doug in a front pew, and he went to his office to wait
it out.

Fortunately everybody was so busy talking and socializing they really
didn't notice that Paul was not among them.  As it got close to starting
the service, they all began to mosey into the church and find seats.  Liz
decided that she wanted to sit with her Uncle Michael and he gladly obliged
her, leaving Michelle and Randy sitting so close to each other that they
only took up one space in the pew.

As usual the organist entered and took her place first.  She was followed
by the choir and then Pastor Paul.  Everyone in the church had one of two
thoughts when they saw him.  Some thought he looked radiant this morning
and the others thought he looked exceptionally handsome this morning.  Doug
thought that he looked like an angel.

The choir led the congregants in a lovely hymn.  Everyone had a feeling
something was afoot and waited expectantly for Paul to begin his service.
He started with the repetitive Sunday ritual of responsive reading.  Most
of the assembled read the words without giving them much thought, and Paul
could tell there was no passion in the reading.  He was used to it.

His sermon this day was about falling in love at first sight.  The crew,
Randy, Michelle, Dan, Warren, Jason and Josie, of course Doug, and a good
many other church members, sat up at attention.  They had been there and
done that and wanted to hear what Paul had to say.

His lesson was from the Old Testament.  He related the story of Jacob at
the well.  He lovingly described Rachel's outer and inner beauty, and how
Jacob was smitten at first sight.  He went on to explain that poor Jacob
had to work for his father in law for many years before he could claim
Rachel.

"In today's world," he went on, "we fall instantly in love, marry and then
we have to work for our happiness after the wedding.  We must never take
love for granted," he continued.  "Work hard for love.  It's worth every
obstacle you have to hurdle."

Couples throughout the church took each other's hands and squeezed it.
Michael squeezed Jerry's hand with his own left hand and Liz's with his
right hand. Doug just sat and cried.

The moment was fast approaching, and in a trembling voice, Paul asked his
flock to join him in the social hall after services.  Today's libation was
to be sponsored by him in celebration of his union to Douglas Jones.  He
motioned to Doug to stand.  For a horrifying few seconds there was utter
silence in the church.  Then Michael stood up and began to applaud.
Immediately, half the congregation joined him.  Finally little by little
everyone in the church was standing, applauding and cheering.

Paul left the pulpit, took Doug's arm and marched him to the rear of the
church.  As the congregation piled out, they all stopped to wish the couple
well, and Paul introduced Doug to everyone by name.  Doug was much
impressed.

Paul anticipated a heavier than usual attendance at the social hour and
like Jerry, he had arranged for Rosie to handle it all for him.  Everyone
crowded around Doug for the opportunity to speak to this handsome guy the
pastor had snared.  They all wanted to know what he would be doing, and
when he told them that he would be working for Randy, they were all
delighted.  He was truly a member of the Lake Henry family.

At one point, Randy had an opportunity to speak to Doug.  He just wanted to
let Doug know that in addition to industrial construction which was
expanding daily in this area of Arizona, he had over a dozen contracts to
build summer homes along the lake for the city slickers who had fallen in
love with this little town.  He assured Doug that his future was secure.
Then he whispered in Doug's ear, "Now this is a secret.  I got a call from
Brian and Tuck.  They are a couple of years away from retirement, and they
bought a big lakefront lot about a quarter of a mile from the crew.  They
want me to build two small bungalows where they intend to retire.  I'll
show you the lot tomorrow.  Foster has already designed the houses for me
so that they will both be on the lake, but he has no idea who they are for.
It's a surprise, so keep it mum."

At that moment, Liz, who was holding Randy's hand, tugged on Doug's pants
and asked him if he was going to be her uncle too.

"I guess so," he replied and visions of more Christmas gifts danced in her
head.

Little by little, the social hall emptied out and Rosie's crew began their
cleanup.  She came over to Paul and Doug and gave them each a kiss.  Why
don't you two go home and enjoy the day.  I have the key to the church and
I'll secure the building before I leave.

They had no sooner gotten into Paul's car when his cell phone rang.  It was
Jeff.

"It's such a beautiful spring like day," he said.  "We'd like to break in
our new deck so we're making a barbeque.  Please join us at about 1 PM."

"Wonderful," Paul said.  "What can we bring?"

"There's never enough beer at these barbeques.  If you have any at home,
bring it along, but don't buy special."

Paul and Doug had enough time to change to more casual attire, but before
they got dressed again, they celebrated their union in their own special
way.  As he came in Paul's mouth, Doug said, "Thank you Paul.  I love you.
I'll always love you.  I swear we are for life."  Paul started to cry and
almost choked on Doug's cum.

There was quite a crowd at the barbeque.  Besides the crew, Doug and Paul,
there was Randy, Michelle, Liz, Dan, Warren, and Jason and Josie Fisher.
Everyone kept toasting Paul and Doug, and the beer was going fast.  Jason
had brought some wine so that started to go next.  Only Jeff refrained from
drinking.  He had drawn the short straw and was the designated driver back
to Phoenix.  Although the logic escaped him, he was also appointed chief
chef at the barbeque because he couldn't drink anyway.

Paul and Doug got two more surprises before the party was over.  First
Rosie joined them with a big cake which read "Love Always." Then the phone
rang and Jerry answered it.  He called Paul into the kitchen where it was a
little quieter and told him that Brian and Tuck were on the line and wanted
to talk to him.  They were on separate phones so he could talk to both of
them at the same time.  Tuck said that his sons had reported fully what
happened at the church that morning.  He and Brian were overjoyed, but they
expected nothing less from the fine people of Lake Henry.  Then Brian
wished them a long life of love and happiness before they hung up.

When they went back to the deck and joined the others, Randy began to tap a
knife on a beer glass.

"Quiet everyone," he said.  "I have an announcement to make."  He stopped
to give everyone a chance to quiet down and then he said, "My little Liz
here is going to be a big sister in the very near future."

Everyone screamed and yelled and embraced Michelle and Randy.  Ever the
joker, Michael said, "I'll bet it's a boy and he'll come out at least five
feet tall."  Everyone laughed politely at his lame joke.

While all this celebration was going on, nobody noticed that Paul had
walked down to the lake.  When he reached the calm waters he turned and
looked back at the house.  He was pleased to see that all of his dearest
friends and loved ones were happily partnered in love.  He was sure that
his own heart would burst from too much happiness.  He bowed his head and
said a little prayer:

"Thank you God for your greatest gift, the gift of love.  You have given
each of these fantastic people, just the right person to love, and spend
their lives with.  Thank you also, Patrick, for being God's emissary and
bringing Doug to me through Brian and Tucker.  They will always be my
friends for the rest of my life."

He felt Patrick's kiss on his cheek.  When he looked up, Doug was standing
beside him.  Doug threw his arms around Paul and pulled him close.  Tears
were streaming down both their cheeks as they tenderly kissed.

The End