Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2006 08:43:24 EST
From: RitchChristopher@cs.com
Subject: briarwood:chris-and-beyond-109

All rights reserved. Copyright held by the author. If you are underage or
are offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language,
please exit now.

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                                    "BRIARWOOD"
                              Copyright Ritchris, 2006

                                  A dramatic saga

                                        by

			         Ritch Christopher


                                    <><><><><>


		   	             BOOK TEN


                                "CHRIS AND BEYOND..."


                                     *  *  *  *


                                     Chapter 109

                       "I know a little bit about a lot of things,
                          but I don't know enough about you..."

                                  music and lyrics by
                                      Peggy Lee
                                    copyright 1943


<><><><><><><><><><><><>


	All Brad had to 'move in' from his car into his new bedroom at
Chris' house, was his clothes, a case containing toiletries and personal
effects and his laptop...not much to show for a lifetime and a world of
wealth accumulated from the residuals of his famous novels. His 'move' so
to speak, took one trip and all of five minutes.

	"That's it!" Brad said to Chris, after setting his meager
belongings on his new bed.

	"Oh, surely, Brad, you must have stored up keepsakes, pieces of
furniture, or mementos in a storage bin or locker some place!" Chris
replied.

	"Nope! Everything I own in the world...you're looking at!"

	"Haven't you updated your wardrobe from time to time?"

	"Just about every year, but as soon as I refurbish my wardrobe, I
find the nearest Goodwill and give last year's duds to them."

	"What about papers? Deeds? Documents?".

	"I don't have a deed to anything other than a safety deposit
box. Everything else is stored on the hard drive of my PC."

	"This is unbelievable. You must have zillions in the bank and own
NOTHING?"

	"I swore I'd never buy a house or any permanent dwelling until I
found you."

	"Well, if you're moving in with me in this mausoleum, you won't
have to buy any real estate."

	"I could always buy the bedroom you're setting me up in! You know,
some place to call my own!" Brad joked. "How much do you want for it?"

	"It's not for sale," Chris joked back. "Who knows, you might be
moving to a different room if things should work out between us..."

	"That's a ray of hope!"

	"You know, I never asked, but do you cook?"

	"DO I COOK? I need to show you my certificate of graduation from
the Fort Lauderdale School of Cuisine! I, my dear friend, am a master
chef!"

	"You stayed in Ft. Lauderdale long enough to graduate from a
cuisine institute?"

	"Yes, but don't get the wrong idea. I might have lived for a while
'where the boys are', but like a diabetic working in a candy factory, I
looked but didn't touch what I was looking at."

	"You didn't trick ONE time in Fort Lauderdale?"

	"I would have...IF you had been living there at the time."

	"Damn! You are something else...a whacko phenomenon. No wonder you
were so aggressive in the bedroom last night. You're probably the horniest
person on the planet."

	"I WAS...but no longer. I finally got what I've been looking for
all these years."

	"Should I feel guilty?"

	"No, it was by MY choice, not yours."

	"I suddenly feel as if I should call Cliff and tell him I won't be
in today and spend the entire day letting you catch up on some of the
thousands of orgasms you must have stored up inside you."

	"Oh, I've had PLENTY of orgasms...just not with another
person...besides, Chris, it wasn't sex that kept me on the quest looking
for you. Very frankly, if we NEVER had sex again, that would be all right,
too. I just want to be near you...to love you...and have the feeling that
you love me."

	"Brad, there's no doubt that I love you. I...I just...oh, hell, I
don't know what I mean!"

	"You mean, after losing Ed so soon, you're not ready to commit to
another longtime relationship..."

	"Exactly."

	"Then, I'll use some other wiles and talents to woo you."

	"Such as...?"

	"Oh, after a long hard session in the confessional, you can come
home to a nice Chateaubriand for two."

	"That's certainly a step in the right direction!"

	"When I'm not writing, I can clean house, rinse out your underwear,
iron your clerical collars...I can be your 'Jay'."

	"I think you'd better meet Jay before you decide if you want to be
like him."

	"Chris, I'll do ANYTHING for you. Even if we take sex out of the
picture, I can be satisfied just sitting on the couch in the den, listening
to Barbra or Broadway CD's, while holding hands or cuddling."

	"You know if you were one of my parishioners telling me this inside
the confessional, I'd say that you had it bad...for somebody."

	"I do...for you, Chris. I want this so bad."

	"Let me pray about it..."

	"Don't you mean talk to Cliff about it?"

	"I see you can still read my mind as you always could in college."

	"Tell Cliff if he'll side with me, I'll give a couple of
hundred-thousand dollars to his church."

	"Ha! That's like giving Charlie Goodyear a set of tires for
Christmas. Roger has more money than Bill Gates."

	"Jesus! Is there nothing I can do to plead my case?"

	"You could start by giving me one of those kisses like the ones you
gave me in bed last night. Let's see how they fare in the daytime while
we're standing."

	"You want me to kiss you?"

	"Yes, I do."

	"Then, for God's sake, DON'T MOVE!...One big, fat, sloppy, juicy
kiss coming up!" Brad took two steps toward Chris and carefully put his
arms around Chris' back to draw him close...just as the phone rang. "SHIT!"
Brad exclaimed.

	"Better get used to that. A priest's life is very similar to that
of a doctor's. We're on-call twenty-four-seven," Chris replied, going next
door to his bedroom to answer the phone. Brad followed closely on Chris'
heels. "Hello?" Chris said, answering the telephone.

	"Chris?"

	"Yes?"

	"It's me, Bill."

	"Oh, hello, Bill," Chris replied as Brad's heart sank, causing him
to collapse in the nearest chair next to Chris' bedroom phone. "How's
Carolyn?".

	"It's time, Chris. She's in a coma and the doctors don't expect her
to live the day through..."

	"Oh, God, Bill, I'm SO sorry."

	"Can you come...TODAY?"

	"Well, I don't...YES, OF COURSE I WILL. Let me give Cliff a call at
the church and I'll grab the next flight out."

	"I did as you asked. Yesterday, I had Father James from
St. Michael's to visit Carolyn and me while Carolyn was quite lucid. We
pledged our faith to his church and while he was here, he called his Bishop
to explain the special circumstances...and although it was a telephone
confirmation, Carolyn and I became members of St. Michael's. In other
words, both of us are now Anglicans and you can legally perform last
unction rites and then hold a funeral mass at our new church. Everything
was cleared by Father James and Bishop Matthews from the Arch-Diocese of
central Georgia."

	"Congratulations, Bill, although that doesn't really seem
appropriate just now with the news you've just told me about Carolyn."

	"But don't you see, Chris? Carolyn got her final wish and she can
pass happily now."

	"Yes, I suppose that is a good way of looking at it."

	"Today's Wednesday, Chris, and IF Carolyn should pass away today as
expected, then I suppose we can have her funeral on Friday. That way, you
can be back at St. Genesius on Sunday to perform your regular Sunday mass."

	"The time factor is no problem, Bill. I took care of St. Genesius
by myself for two weeks while Cliff and Roger were in New York. Cliff can
handle all four services Sunday if I don't make it back in time."

	"Oh, in that case, maybe you'll want to stay a few days here in
Riverwind...you know, see a few familiar faces...give us...you and
me...some time to talk and get reacquainted..."

	There was that word again. It rang out in Chris'
ears...'reacquainted'...the same word Brad has used the night before...and
look what happened! There was no way under the sun that Chris wanted to get
'reacquainted' with Bill in the same way as he had with Brad. That would
REALLY complicate his life...and Bill's...AND Brad's!

	"I...I'm not sure about staying longer than Carolyn's funeral,
Bill, but we'll just see. I'm making no promises. I...I have a new project
which recently came into my life and I need to devote a lot of attention to
it..."

	Brad got the message...'HE' was the project and he began, pointing
to himself, while excitedly whispering, "ME? ME? ME?"

	Chris gave Brad a slight shove and mouthed the words, "You
idiot!"...at which point, Brad walked around the back of Chris and began
nibbling on Chris' earlobe which was next to the telephone receiver. Chris
tried to get away, but Brad began spreading tiny kisses on the back of
Chris' neck.

	"Well, thanks Chris!" Bill continued. "I know how busy your
schedule at church must be. I've heard that your church is rather large
with a huge congregation."

	"Yes, it is, Bill. We have to hold three masses every Sunday to
accommodate all our parishioners."

	"I haven't heard of any other church's population growing as
yours. Is it you or your 'Father Cliff' who's the drawing attraction?"

	"Hopefully, it's the Almighty and NOT Father Cliff or me."

	"Ha! If I were a single young man, I know where I'd be on Sunday
morning if I lived in Briarwood."

	'Was Bill flirting while Carolyn, his wife, was dying?' Chris asked
himself.

	"I'm sure you'd be welcome to worship with us IF you live in
Briarwood, Bill," Chris said, trying to 'lighten' the conversation.

	"So, will you call me as soon as you find out your flight plans? I
can have someone meet you at the airport and bring you straight to the
hospital when you arrive."

	"I'll phone you at the hospital as soon as I know something, Bill."

	"Thanks, Buddy. I knew you wouldn't let me or Carolyn down. I
suppose that's why I've always loved you."

	'There he goes again!' Chris thought.

	"Go be with Carolyn, Bill, these could be the last moments you'll
ever spend with her. Make them count. I'll be there ASAP!"

	Chris and Bill ended their conversation.

	"So, you're going away?" Brad asked Chris.

	"Not by choice, but I promised Bill I would."

	"Want me to come with you?"

	"Heavens no! That would really complicate matters!"

	"Yes, but suppose you go down to see Bill...Carolyn dies...and you
have to spend the night at Bill's house. How do I know Bill won't rekindle
some old flame in your heart that you've kept glowing inside all the years
after high school?"

	"BRAD! What I felt for Bill was YEARS ago. I've kept no feelings
hidden in my heart for him. He left me for Carolyn and I got over him."

	"Yes, but you left me for God...and I NEVER got over you."

	"Damn! You're jealous!"

	"Bet your ass, I am! It took most of my adult life to find you and
I'm sure as hell not going to lose you again...not to some old high school
beau of yours."

	"That's all he was! A high school beau. When I fell in love with
Ed, I never gave Bill another thought."

	"Yes, and you never gave ME another thought while you were married
to Ed."

	"Why should I? I had ED! I needed no one else. If I married you, I
wouldn't need anyone else...and I'd expect you to feel the same way about
me."

	"I've ALWAYS felt the same way about you. That's why I've remained
celibate until I found you."

	"I...I still find that impossible to believe..." Chris said,
half-smiling. "OH! I've got to call Cliff...pack a few things and get to
the airport."

	"I'll help you, but there's one thing you've forgotten?"

	"WHAT?"

	"I was about to kiss you before the telephone or BILL interrupted
us!"

	"I can take time out for that kiss..." Chris replied.

	"Good! Now where were we?" Brad said, walking toward Chris. "I
think I had put my arms behind your back. You were ready to close your
eyes...and I was about to do this..."

	Brad swept Chris into his arms and pressed his lips to
Chris'. Chris opened his mouth to let Brad's tongue enter and Chris put his
arms around Brad. They kissed deeply and passionately for several
seconds...or until they both ran out of breath.

	"You certainly put up a strong argument of why we should be
together..." Chris sighed with a whisper.

	"I can't bear the thought of your going away for a few days. I
suppose I'll find out how lonely this house can be when one is alone."

	Chris pulled his face back just enough to look deeply into Brad's
eyes.

	"You'll have two whole days and maybe the weekend to redecorate
your room."

	"Can I redecorate your bedroom too?"

	"Ha! With two whole days, Roger, Cliff's other half, could
redecorate this whole museum."

	"I might just give him a call."

	"Tell you what! When I call Cliff, I'll ask him if you can come
over for dinner tonight and you can get to know both Cliff AND Roger. They
and their Briarwood Boys are all the family I have! But I warn you...Jay
will be there too, along with Troy, his lover. IF Jay gets a hint you're
redecorating, he'll be here at six in the morning to help you. The guy is a
BORN decorator. I swear, Jay will be the first person to redecorate his own
coffin before he dies. He LOVES to decorate."

	"Is he any good? Does he have good taste?"

	"EXQUISITE! He could work for Martha Stewart or decorate one of
Donald Trump's hotels, top to bottom!"

	"Is he cute?"

	"More than cute! He and Troy are both very handsome...BUT, neither
will cheat on the other...even if you DID have that in mind."

	"Please have them invite me for dinner. Tell them I can come early
and prepare the meal if they like."

	"HA! You'd NEVER get to prepare ANY meal in Jay's kitchen. If
ANYONE ever cooked a meal at Cliff's house besides Jay, Jay would be in
some psycho ward under sedation for clinical depression!" Brad heaved a big
sigh. "WHAT?"

	"I was just thinking how great it would be if I were a part of your
family. I mean, you make Cliff, Roger, Jay, and Troy so damned
attractive...I wish I could be one of them."

	"Oh, if Cliff and Roger like you...and I'm SURE they will, you'll
almost immediately become a Briarwood Boy."

	"That's a start!"

	"You have no idea how BIG a start that would be."

	"Well, go on and call Cliff. Ask him what time I should come over."

	"I wish now that I could be there when you meet them. It would be
nice to have a dinner partner once again."

	"I'd love to be your dinner partner...and your life partner...if
you'll just say the word."

	"Let me think it over while I'm gone. Who knows? Maybe you won't
have to wait as long as you expected..."

	"ONE MORE KISS! OKAY!"

	"Oh, all right."

	They kissed again, only longer and more romantically.

	"Chris?"

	"Uh huh?"

	"I DO love you."

	"I know."

	"Have you thought that maybe God sent me back into your life?"

	"I've been thinking that all morning..."

	They kissed a third and final time before Chris called Cliff to
tell him that he needed to make a quick trip to Riverwind, Georgia.

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

	Cliff was totally understanding about Chris' sudden need to go to
Riverwind. He was also very gracious to having Brad over for dinner that
evening. Chris had never mentioned Brad to Cliff and Cliff was eager to
learn about the mystery man who was staying with his assistant
priest. Actually, no one in Briarwood knew very much about Chris' past
before coming there to live from Atlanta. With Chris being gone for a few
days, perhaps, Brad, IF he were a former good friend of Chris', could
enlighten everyone at the Cole residence with a little more info on the
handsome young priest.

	Brad drove Chris to the airport for the less than two hour flight
to Riverwind, Georgia. Both Chris and Brad were apprehensive about Chris'
trip, but for different reasons. Brad wanted to be satisfied that Chris
wouldn't fall under a romantic spell cast by Bill after Carolyn's demise,
while Chris dreaded performing final unction and a funeral. He hated doing
both to ANYONE, not just a close friend's.

	The Briarwood air station wasn't overly crowded, but just enough
for Brad and Chris to hug 'goodbye' without a kiss...especially since Chris
had chosen to wear a gray suit and his clerical collar. He had felt if he
dressed as a priest, there would be less trouble getting to see Carolyn
once he arrived at the hospital in Riverwind. Therefore, it would have been
even more of a spectacle for people at the airport seeing a priest kissing
another good-looking man on the lips. The 'hug' would have to do...for now!

	Cliff had told Chris to have Brad arrive at the Cole manse around
six o'clock for cocktails. Jay was more than thrilled to have a new dinner
guest and was preparing a special meal which would probably not be ready to
serve until around eight-thirty. Brad was really not a drinker per se. He
could sip and nurse one drink for hours just by refreshing it with ice
cubes. Little did he know that he would have to hold the same glass of
Scotch for nearly two and one-half hours.

	When seated on the plane, Chris took his Book of Common Prayer and
read over the rite of final unction as he had not performed one since
becoming an Anglican priest. In Atlanta, with so many of his friends and
members of the mission who were stricken with AIDS, he had performed
unction ceremonies several times a week. Since arriving in Briarwood, any
parishioner who had died, had always had Cliff perform the last
rites...since he was best known in the church and the church's rector.

	Chris looked over the pages and realized how similar the rites were
to that of the Roman Church since the mass was now being performed in
English vernacular. The text in the Anglican procedure was actually worded
better with a more beautiful tone of the language. Even the Roman Catholic
mass, to Chris, sounded as if it had been sloppily translated from the
Latin with the beautiful flow of words left out of the Roman syntax. The
airline attendant asked Chris if he would like a drink and Chris ordered a
bottle of water. The last thing he wanted was to arrive at the hospital
with some aroma of alcohol on his breath...although he did feel a good
stiff drink might steady his nerves and apprehensiveness about seeing Bill
and the dying Carolyn after all these years.

	The flight showed no signs of turbulence as the sky seemed quite
clear, so Chris thought he would try to nap until he reached his
destination...after all, he really didn't get THAT much sleep last night,
lying naked, next to Brad. 'Ah, dear Brad!' Chris thought. 'Do I love
him...probably...but, could I ever love him as much as he loves me or
pretends to love me? Could I ever love him the same way or as much as I had
loved Ed?'.  These thoughts kept rolling over and over in Chris' mind as he
drifted off asleep. He really slept harder and deeper than he realized
because the next thing he knew, the airline attendant was telling him to
fasten his seatbelt for the landing. 'Damn!', he thought. 'The pilot must
have been steered by a tailwind and we arrived much earlier than was
expected!'.

	Chris deboarded the plane. He knew that Bill wouldn't leave
Carolyn's side to come to the airport to pick him up, but when Chris called
him to tell him what flight number and the time of arrival, Bill assured
Chris that someone would be there to take him to the hospital. As a result,
Chris had no idea whom to expect...male or female, young or old as Bill had
not mentioned any name to Chris.

	Chris had only packed a shoulder-strap suitcase with a spare suit,
a pair of knockaround slacks, a sweater, two sport shirts, one dress shirt,
shoes, socks, underwear and shaving gear. If he were to wear vestments for
the funeral mass, he was certain he could borrow some from Father James. A
full set of vestments would have been a bit much to pack for a 'few-days'
jaunt.

	And so, Chris stood in the middle of the small rotunda waiting for
only God knows who? Surely, whomever it was, must have been told by Bill to
look for a passenger in a clerical collar. There couldn't be too many of
them in an airport in mid-afternoon in the tiny metropolis of Riverwind,
Georgia...unless there was a priest's conclave visiting there without
Chris' knowledge!

	Finally, Chris heard a voice calling, "FATHER CURTIS? FATHER
CURTIS!"

	"HERE!" Chris cried out.

	Chris turned to his right to see a young lad who appeared to be
twelve or thirteen years old. He was blonde and had a crew-cut, cute as a
button...just the kind that would catch Billy Cole's eye in Briarwood. He
was wearing jeans and sneakers with a bright red pullover sweater.

	"Father Curtis?" the boy asked.

	"Yes."

	"I'm Bucky Fry. I'm here to take you to the hospital!"

	"Are your parents in the car?"

	"No sir, just me."

	"You drive?"

	"Sure!"

	"If you don't mind, can I ask how old you are, Bucky?"

	"Sixteen!"

	"And you have your driver's license."

	"Oh, yeah. Bill took me to get them the day of my birthday!"

	"Then I presume you know Bill and Carolyn?"

	"Sure! They're my next door neighbors. I cut Bill's grass and trim
his hedges for him every week. I AM a good driver in case you're
worried. Bill taught me how to drive."

	"Well, if Bill trusts you to come to get me, who am I to question
his recommendation?"

	"Do you have more luggage?"

	"No, just what I'm carrying on my shoulder."

	"In that case, let's be off."

	Chris was still a bit stunned but followed Bucky to the car...a
Toyota Corona."

	"Is this your car, Bucky?"

	"Oh, no! It's Bill and Carolyn's," Bucky replied. "Do you want to
put your bag in the trunk or the back seat?"

	"The back seat will be fine."

	Bucky took the bag from Chris and placed it in the back seat while
Chris, to his dismay, got in the car's passenger's seat. Then Bucky got in,
started the motor, revved it several times, and sped off through the
airport parking lot as Chris reached for his seat belt and buckled
it. Bucky stopped the car almost instantly.

	"What's wrong?" Chris asked.

	"I forgot to buckle MY seat belt. I remembered when I saw you do
it!"

	"Don't you always use it?"

	"Only when Bill's in the car. When I'm by myself, I often forget
it."

	Luckily Bucky couldn't see Chris rolling his eyes and exhaling a
deep breath. 'GOD! Why didn't you insist I have a drink on the plane?'
Chris prayed, silently to heaven.

	Once the seat belts were fastened, the motor revved again and they
were off! Chris had grasped one hand on the arm rest on the passenger's
door while his left hand was clawing into the seat to brace his body...just
in case...

	"Bucky, did you leave the hospital before coming to pick me up?"

	"Yes, sir. I've spent a lot of time at the hospital since Carolyn
went there."

	"Do you live with your parents?"

	"No, just my mom. My dad left her when I was twelve. That's about
the same time that Bill became my 'dad' so to speak."

	"Oh...?"

	"Yes, Mom said every boy needs a male role model and Bill agreed to
be mine. He's been LIKE my dad ever since. Before Carolyn got sick, Bill
and I went EVERYWHERE together...fishing, swimming, horseback-riding. He's
taken me many times to Atlanta to see the Braves play. Sometimes we go for
a whole weekend together. I'd get off school early on Fridays and we'd
drive up to Atlanta, check into a hotel and see a Braves' game on Friday
night, Saturday night, and then Sunday afternoon before we drove back to
Riverwind Sunday night."

	"I...I suppose you've missed those games a lot since Carolyn got
sick."

	"Oh, I see Bill just about as much. He and I play National League
Baseball on the Playstation he bought. When he moved out of the bedroom so
that Carolyn could have more peace and quite...into the spare bedroom, I
stay with him on the weekends. Every night when Bill gets home from the
hospital, my mom sends me over to his house with his supper and he and I
watch TV or play games until it's bedtime."

	"Then you go back to your house to sleep?"

	"Not always. Bill wants me to stay with him a lot because he gets
lonesome and depressed staying in the house by himself."

	"So does Bill sleep in Carolyn's bed and you sleep in Bill's or do
you sleep on the couch?"

	"Oh, no! I usually sleep with Bill! He's SO lonesome. He just wants
someone to hold and cuddle...so I don't mind if he cuddles me. It's like
I'm doing him AND Carolyn a favor at the same time."

	"Uh...how was Carolyn when you left the hospital?" Chris asked,
trying to change a subject which he didn't want to delve into
further...just now.

	"She was about the same...no better...no worse...just lying there
asleep in the bed in a coma."

	"I probably shouldn't ask, but is she moaning or making sounds as
if she's in pain?"

	"No, she's breathing heavily though. Bill's watching her so
closely...like every breath is going to be her last one...A couple of
times, I thought she HAD breathed her last one because her breathing just
kinda stopped. Bill thought that was it...but she took another breath, then
another one."

	'Dear God, how much further can that hospital be?' Chris asked
himself. "How was Bill when you left him?" Chris asked Bucky.

	"Every time Carolyn holds her breath, Bill does too. It's
like...heck, I'm not ashamed to say it...I keep feeling that when Carolyn
DOES take her last breath, Bill will too."

	"Bucky, so far as I know, there's nothing wrong with Bill
physically, so I don't think he's going to pass away when she finally
does."

	"Oh, I know that, but I'm still scared. I mean, I'm really closer
to Bill than I am to my Mom or my real Dad...of course, I haven't seen my
real dad for four whole years."

	"You must be very important to Bill, right now in his hour of
need. I'm glad he has someone in his life to look after him."

	"Oh, I LOVE looking after him."

	"Your mom doesn't mind that you spend so much time with Bill?"

	"No, sir. I'm sure she's glad. My Dad was rule of the roost as long
as he lived with us, so mother really didn't know anything about raising a
boy on her own. Bill has taken that duty off her shoulders, I guess. I
wouldn't be surprised if she asks Bill to let me move in once Carolyn's
gone."

	"Would you like to move in with Bill?"

	"Heck, yes!"

	"Do you think Bill would let you move in permanently?"

	"Shoot, yes! He's always wanted a son, but he and Carolyn couldn't
have children, so I guess I'm like the son he'll never have!"

	"So, YOU and Bill are very close?"

	"VERY!"

	Chris was dying to ask the NEXT question, but he was trying to find
the words to put it gently without being an accusation.

	"Being so close to Bill, as you are, how does that affect your
social life in school? I mean, do you go to parties, go to the movies with
your friends? Do you have a girlfriend at high school?"

	"Ha! Not hardly!"

	"What do you mean?"

	"You're a priest and you're not suppose to tell anything that's
told to you in secret, right?"

	"Yes...I'm not allowed to reveal the contents of a confession to
anyone...not even the law."

	"Then, I guess it's okay if I tell you that I'm gay! You can't tell
anyone, can you?"

	"Well, no, I can't...but does Bill know?"

	"Who do you think help me find out that I WAS gay?"

	"Bill?"

	"Sure. Do you think I'd let him hug and cuddle me if I weren't
gay...especially when we sleep together in the nude?"

	"Are you saying that you and Bill...?"

	"Have sex?"

	"Well, yes, since you brought up the subject."

	"All the time...every way imaginable!"

	"Does or did Carolyn know?"

	"No way! She's been on morphine and oxycodone so long, she has had
no idea of what we've been doing in the spare bedroom."

	"How about your Mom? Does she know?"

	"Probably, but she's too afraid of getting Bill mad at her. Then
she'd have to be a full-time mother again...and that's the LAST thing she
wants. WELL. we're here!" Bucky exclaimed as he pulled into the hospital
parking lot. "The nurse at the desk is expecting you, so go on in. I'll be
up to Carolyn's room shortly!"

	NEVER had Chris been so glad to get out of an automobile. Why, in
God's Holy Name, was Bill having a romantic romp with a sixteen year old
while his wife, the love of his life, the person whom he jilted Chris for,
was lying on her death bed? Chris' empathy for the soon-to-be-widower had
suddenly turned to rage. Was he jealous of a young boy or was he just angry
at Bill's lack of good judgment? He only hoped that Bill had said his
confession to Father James before asserting his allegiance to the Anglican
faith...because, in the state of Georgia, Bill, Chris' best friend and
first lover, was legally a pedophile! God! What a fucking mess!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

	Before Chris and Brad had left for the airport, Chris took Brad
into Chris' bedroom and opened the huge double-door closet.

	"For dinner this evening at Cliff's, if you want to wear something
different than your usual wardrobe...take anything you see and wear
it. After having surveyed every inch of your body last night, I'm positive
that we wear the same size in everything...and that includes shoes."

	"Oh, you were checking sizes while you were going down on me, huh?"

	"Well, I happen to know that if you had a reason to wear one of my
jocks I wear playing tennis, it would be a perfect fit!"

	"You're sure I'm not just a half inch longer than you?"

	"Ha! If you were, I'd've thrown you out of the house instead of
offering you a place to live!" Chris joked.

	"WOW!" Brad said, looking at the massive array of shirts, sport
coats, slacks, and shoes in Chris' closet. "Why did you buy all these duds
when you mostly wear a clerical collar?"

	"Oh, Ed bought most of them. When we went out to dinner, he left
all his 'playing doctor' at home and insisted that 'I' leave all my
religion too. He wanted me to look spiffy and unlike a clergyman. You
should have seen all the clothes of his, I gave to the AIDS dischargees at
the Institute...thousands upon thousands of dollars of name-brand and
fashion-designer clothing."

	"Jesus Christ! Is that silk shirt Versace? Look at this one,
Armani!"

	"Don't be so impressed, Brad. You could afford to buy designer
labels if you chose to."

	"I don't know if I'd be comfortable in such elegance."

	"You would and you will! As I said, feel free to wear any or all of
them!"

	"Damn! In spite of all the money I've made and saved, suddenly you
make me feel indigent almost."

	"How so? Remember, I'm the one who came to Briarwood straight from
a charity mission! Little did I know that I would fall in love and tie up
with a straight rich doctor."

	"Ed was straight when you met him?"

	"Very much so! When he changed his life around one-eighty, that's
when I knew that God had something to do with his coming into my life."

	"You think that it was God who made Ed turn gay?"

	"That's what I choose to believe."

	"Hell, if I were straight, you'd turn me on!"

	"Bullshit!"

	"Don't be so fast to slough off my remark when I've spent the
better part of my adult life pursuing you. When you take off your backwards
collar, you are ONE HOT NUMBER! Remember, I never saw you in priest's
clothing until I saw you at St. Genesius, during confession and you were
wearing a monk's robe like it was Halloween or something!"

	"You know why I wear the monk garb occasionally?"

	"Why?"

	"So I don't have to wear anything under it. I'm totally naked as if
I were a Scotsman wearing a kilt."

	"No wonder so many priests are accused of molesting choir boys. You
dress for the occasion!". Brad joked. "God, if I had known that, I would
have tried to grab you under your skirt."

	"Then you didn't see the holster and gun I had attached to my
belt," Chris quipped back.

	"You would have shot me for ONE grab?"

	"Yep, pardner! I'd've shot your balls off!"

	"Oh, Chris, Chris, Chris, I SO don't want you to go to Riverwind! I
just love being near you and having fun as we are now. It'll seem like an
eternity until you get back."

	"Oh, you'll be entertained, but not sexually, when you meet Jay
tonight."

	"I'm really looking forward to it. I do feel strange, though."

	"Why?"

	"Oh, it's like being a boyfriend who's been invited to meet his
'intended's' parents while the 'intended' won't be present."

	"Oh, am I your 'intended' now?"

	"I intend for you to be my 'intended'."

	"Well, until I give you a positive answer, just pretend I'm your
'intended'!"

	"I've been pretending every night of my life since we've been
apart. I've built up my biceps and triceps on my right arm by 'pretending'
every night...sometimes two and three times a night."

	"Are you looking for sympathy?"

	"Just empathy, by trying to understand the way I feel about you!"

	"I think I do empathize a bit."

	"Can I ask a really personal question?"

	"Sure!"

	"When you left me to go into the priesthood, did you give up
masturbation completely?"

	"I was supposed to, but, I didn't."

	"Did...did you ever 'get off' while thinking about me?"

	"For a while...yes, I did."

	"Thank God for that! That helps my hope somewhat."

	"Brad, I can feel that you're shaking. Why are you so nervous?"

	"I'm scared as hell that I'm going to lose you to Bill this week!"

	"Brad, you are NOT going to lose me to Brad or ANYONE this week!"

	"I shouldn't ask, but I will. Do you keep a gun in the house?"

	"Yes, it's in Ed's bottom desk drawer in the study, why?"

	"Oh, in case I have to blow my brains out once I hear that you've
rekindled your love in Riverwind."

	"Then I should tell you that there are NO bullets in the gun OR in
the house!"

	"Shit! I can't even DIE for you to show you how much you mean to
me!"

	"Oops! Look at the time! We'd better head for the airport."

	"You WILL call me tonight, won't you?"

	"Tonight! Tomorrow morning! Tomorrow at noon! Tomorrow night! As
often as you need me to."

	"Good! At least I'll be able to tell you that I love you three
times a day while you're gone!"

	"Come on, Little Boy Lost! Let's go get into the car!"

	Brad gave Chris a quick kiss and Chris picked up his shoulder bag
and headed toward the car on the way to the airport.

<><><><><><><><><><><>

	At 6:15pm, Brad rang the doorbell at the Cole Estate. Chris' and
Ed's house was enormous but compared to Cliff's mansion, Chris' looked more
like a tiny New York apartment. Brad waited, nervously, until the door
opened. Jay and Troy were standing there to greet him.

	"Oh, my Lord!" Jay exclaimed. "Don't tell me that you're Brad."

	"All right, I won't!" Brad answered.

	"But...what I mean...you're not at all what I expected!"

	"I'd hate to ask what you WERE expecting," Brad joked.

	"It's just that you're so young and handsome!"

	"You're Jay, aren't you?"

	"Why, yes! How did you ever guess?"

	Troy, who had been standing slightly behind Jay, nudged Jay out of
the way and extended his hand to Brad.

	"Hello, Brad. I'm Troy...and you're correct, this star-gazer is my
other half, Jay."

	"Pleased to meet you, Troy...and you, too, Jay!" Brad said, taking
Troy's warm hand and friendly gesture.

	"Please come in," Troy invited.

	"Yes, DO come in," Jay echoed.

	"This is a lovely place. The grounds are quite impressive!" Brad
said.

	"You should see the woods and meadows in back of the
house...especially, this time of day. Cliff and Roger are in the living
room. They're expecting you."

	"Thanks," Brad said, entering the marbled-floor foyer.

	Troy led Brad into the living room, followed by Jay, who was still
in awe of Brad's good looks and manliness. Cliff and Roger were seated
until Brad entered and the two of them arose to meet Chris' old college
mate.

	"Father Cliff?" Brad said, putting out his hand toward Cliff.

	"In church you can call me that, but in my home, it's just
'Cliff'. Hello, Brad. This is the other half of my lifelong partnership,
Roger."

	"How do you do, Roger...or should I call you 'Mister Cole'?"

	"Don't be ridiculous!" Roger replied. "I hate formal
informalities. Like Cliff, I'm just plain, 'Roger'!"

	"It is indeed a pleasure to meet you. Your reputation precedes the
informalities."

	"I hear that you've got quite a reputation in the world of
literature," Roger replied.

	"Oh, I manage to write a little, on occasion."

	"Please sit and let Jay bring you a drink."

	"What would you like, Brad?" Cliff asked.

	"Scotch and water, please...with lots of ice."

	"Do you have a particular brand of Scotch which you prefer?" Jay
asked.

	"I've never been asked that before. I'd usually say, 'house Scotch'
if I were in a bar."

	"Then it's Johnny Walker Gold, coming up!" Jay replied. "That's
Roger's 'house Scotch'!"

	Brad, Cliff, Roger, and Troy all sat down on the nearest couch or
chair so that they would be in semi-circle to converse.

	"Your house is quite outstanding and beautiful," Brad said, looking
around at the ornate fixtures.

	"I'll ask Troy to give you a tour before you leave. He LOVES giving
tours!" Cliff replied.

	"That would be nice."

	"So, did Chris get off all right?" Roger asked.

	Roger's phrase of 'get off' amused Brad for a second.

	"Yes, his flight left right on time."

	"I don't envy him," Troy interjected. "Going to see an old friend
pass away is very difficult."

	"I'm sure he was dreading it, Troy," Brad said. "He showed more
guilt about leaving St. Genesius in the lurch."

	"Oh, the church is always in a lurch," Roger said, smiling at his
small pun.

	"Do you know Bill and Carolyn, Brad?" Cliff asked.

	"No. I didn't meet Chris until we entered college. Bill was Chris'
boyfr...I mean BEST friend while growing up and in high school."

	"And were you his boyfr...I mean, BEST friend in college?" Roger
mused.

	"Yes. We were close...well, as close as roommates are supposed to
be."

	"Did you and Cliff keep in touch after college?" Cliff asked.

	"...uh, no. I...I haven't seen or heard from him since graduation."

	"Oh? Did you two have some kind of 'falling out'?" Roger inquired.

	"No. Our interests seemed to diversify after college. Chris went on
to Divinity School while I branched out into my writing."

	"Chris told us about your best-sellers," Cliff said.

	"Oh?"

	"Yes," Roger replied, "and I think you'll find EVERY ONE of them in
my library. I've read ALL your novels, Brad."

	"That's very nice to hear," Brad said, a bit embarrassed.

	"You're quite talented and have an excellent gift for dialogue, not
to mention your descriptive passages," Roger added.

	"Chris said that Brad Pitt is going to make a couple of them into
movies!" Troy said.

	"Well, he's optioned them...whether they get made into movies,
remains to be seen."

	"What's that about Brad Pitt?" Jay asked, entering the living room
with tray full of drinks.

	The conversation ceased while Jay distributed everyone's favorite
beverage around the room. Then he sat down next to Troy.

	"Brad Pitt has optioned three of Brad's novels for future
productions," Troy explained.

	"Well, all I can say," Jay blurted, "IF you're still in Briarwood
when Brad calls and you need someone to accompany you while you meet with
Brad...I'll be MORE than happy to act as your executive assistant."

	"I'll keep that in mind, Jay," Brad said, smiling.

	"Like hell, you're going to Hollywood to see Brad Pitt!" Troy
exclaimed, chidingly. "Now if you want to meet with Billy Bob Thornton, I
might reconsider."

	"Ha! You know, I still can't believe that he had Angelina Jolie's
name tattooed on his poh poh! I bet it hurt like hell when they removed it!
A-N-G-E-L-I-N-A! That's eight letters. One for each inch!"

	"JAY! We have a guest!" Troy said, loudly. Brad, Roger, and Cliff
broke out loud in laughter.  "Thank your lucky stars that 'Troy' is only
FOUR letters if you ever decide to do a 'Billy Bob' on yourself!"

	"Ha! You'd have a helluva time trying to fit MY name on your you
know what!"

	"WHAT? Three measly letters?" Troy joked.

	"You're right! A tattoo artist could probably write 'Mississippi'
on you when you're excited." Jay quipped.

	"...and STILL have room for your name!" Troy joked back.

	Whether it was the drink or the comical banter, Brad felt suddenly
relaxed around his hosts. Jay was just as Chris had described...and then
some. Brad could tell that Troy loved Jay very much...and Brad could also
see, that under his humorous façade, Jay was a very loving and caring
partner for Troy. These two were the first of the Briarwood Boys which Brad
had met and somehow, he knew that the others must be just as endearing.

	When the laughter subsided, Jay looked at Brad and said, "So you
were Chris' lover in college?"

	Cliff turned red and coughed while Roger spewed his drink back into
the glass. Troy looked up at the chandelier and Brad was momentarily,
speechless.

	"We...we were close...like brothers..." Brad said, quietly.

	Jay looked at everyone around the room and muttered, "WHAT? Did I
say something wrong?"

	"Slightly," Troy replied.

	"Look, I wasn't born yesterday. We all know that Chris is gay and
taking one look at his handsome former roommate...there's no way that
something romantic wouldn't have come between them!"

	The room was silent until Brad looked at Jay and said, "Well,
you're quite observant, Jay...somewhat blatant, but observant all the
same. Yes, Chris and I WERE lovers during college."

	"THERE! What did I tell you?" Jay blurted out. "I'm no fool! I see
what I see."

	"Yes, and you always tell the world what you see at the same time!"
Troy added.

	"So, did you part as friends?" Jay pushed onward.

	"I was just explaining before you brought us our drinks that after
college, Chris went into the Roman Catholic ministry where there was no
room for me or ANY lover."

	"In other words, Chris jilted you for God?"

	Brad grinned. "That's one way of looking at it."

	"But now that he's Anglican, he's free to have a lover! Right?"

	"I suppose."

	"Then, he's crazy if he lets you get away for a second time. It's
one thing to know and have God, but after Ed's death, Chris needs a man!"

	"I...I couldn't agree with you more, Jay..." Brad replied, taking a
huge swallow of Scotch.

	Brad's remark interested Roger very much. "Is there anything we can
do to help you?" Roger asked.

	This time, Roger's remark surprised Brad. "Well, he's asked me to
move in with him on a trial basis...although we WON'T be sharing the same
bedroom...at least, not just yet. I...I told Chris that I would try to
redecorate MY bedroom while he was gone to Riverwind...and maybe his, too."

	"That huge dungeon needs a coat of bright yellow paint on every
wall in every room!" Jay spoke up. "I would simply LOVE to redecorate that
entire House of Gotham City!"

	Chris mentioned that you might be willing to help, Jay. But I don't
know how much that could be done in three or four days."

	Roger sat up and said, "Brad, do you watch much TV?"

	"Very little, Roger."

	"There's a show on Sunday nights called, 'Extreme Makeovers', where
a group of contractors and designers tear down and rebuild an entire house
in seven days! I'd be willing to bet that my contractors at the Institute
could do EVERYTHING which they do on TV in less than half a week!"

	"Are you kidding?" Brad asked, excitedly.

	"I'm SURE of it!"

	"Oh my God! If I could just pick out the colors, the drapes, the
carpeting, the furniture, I'd be way over the rainbow!" Jay exclaimed.

	"If you think it's possible, Roger, I'd foot the bill for
everything!" Brad replied.

	"Like hell you would! I've never given a dime to Chris. I've made
all our Briarwood Boys millionaires and that's the very LEAST I could do
for Chris AND YOU...if things work out between you two!"

	"I...I don't know what to say..." Brad said.

	"You don't have to say anything. Just let me get on the phone
tomorrow morning and the rest is taken care of!" Roger replied.

	"Christmas is gonna come early for Father Christopher Curtis, this
year," Jay sang.  "Come on, Brad, let me show you around the Cole Estate
and give you some ideas I have in mind for Chris' refurbishing! He's gonna
just DIE!"

	"I hope not!" Brad said.

	"Oh, silly! You know what I mean!" Jay grabbed Brad's hand and all
but yanked him up out of the chair and led him up the staircase to the
second floor.

	After they had gone, Troy, Cliff, and Roger sat there enjoying
their drinks until Roger looked at Cliff to ask, "Do you think he's the guy
for Chris?"

	"He's perfect!" Cliff replied..."Almost as if Brad had been sent
from God..."

	Roger lifted his glass to toast from across the room.

<><><><><><><><><><><>

(To be continued in "Briarwood"--Book Ten--'Chris and beyond..."---chapter
110).