Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 03:13:58 EDT
From: RitchChristopher@cs.com
Subject: briarwood:the-clayton-clan-24

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.

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


                                  "BRIARWOOD"

                          aka "Whence Cometh My Help"

                                Revised Version


                                 A dramatic saga

                                      by

			        Ritch Christopher

                          with literary enhancement by

                                  Les Martin


                                  <><><><><>

                                   BOOK TWO

                              "The Clayton Clan"

                              Chapter Twenty-Four

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


	Walter arrived home just as the dinner Alex, Ted, and Ryan had
prepared was ready, He was extremely excited and enthused about retaining
Roger as his client. This was a very handsome, lucrative account for Walter
to land. Who wouldn't be excited, knowing that an extra million dollars
would be added to one's yearly income? Walter couldn't wait to share the
news with his boys and, as a bonus, he planned to share his new wealth,
hoping to make some of their dreams possible. However, when he took his
place at the head of the table, a gloomy atmosphere clouded the meal.

	"Is something wrong?" Walter asked. "I pray that Bruce didn't call
with bad news about Jane's pregnancy?"

	"No, Dad," Alex replied. 'Uncle' Bruce DID call but only to tell us
that 'Aunt' Jane is fine and she'll probably be discharged from the
hospital some time tomorrow."

	"Well, that's excellent news," Walter said. "So, if it isn't about
Jane, why are all of you looking so glum?"

	"Dad? You remember Kyle, the guy I told you about at Dr. Hughes
group?"

	"He was the one who was so helpful to you, wasn't he?"

	"Yes, he's the one."

	"Did something happen to him? Oh, please don't tell me he attempted
suicide again!"

	"No, Walt," Ryan interrupted. "I had lunch with him today and I
learned he's quite ill."

	"I'm sorry to hear that, Ryan."

	"Remember, Dad, I told you that Kyle had AIDS?" Alex asked.

	"Yes, I DO remember?"

	"Well, it seems he's going into the hospital tomorrow, and he's
feeling that he won't live to go home afterward."

	"My God! Has he become THAT ill?"

	"He says he is, Walt," Ryan added.

	"Surely to God, there are medicines to help him...?"

	"Dad, Ryan seems to think it's more his attitude than anything
else. He's very depressed."

	"I can see why! But doesn't he have a family or some close
friends?"

	"No, Dad, he's all alone. Ryan and Ted think we all should go visit
him and see if there's anything we can do to cheer him up."

	"There's no reason to ask. OF COURSE we will...ALL of us!"

	"I thought you'd say that, Dad. ALL of us did."

	"Alex, as I recall, you had several long talks with him. Can you
tell me more about him? How old is Kyle?"

	"Twenty-five or twenty-six.  He's one of the best-looking guys I've
ever seen! He was a regular for years on the soap, 'To This We've
Come'. He's done scads of commercials and magazine and billboard ads. But
as soon as word got around he had 'the disease', the agencies and the
network dropped him like an over-ripe grapefruit."

	"Idiots! How could his picture on a billboard or his image on
television infect anyone?"

	"He had a lover in New York that gave him 'AIDS', but the lover
left him for another guy and the lover later died. Kyle had a best friend
he went to junior high school with, right here in Briarwood, but the
ignoramus won't even talk with him over the phone. I guess he feels Kyle
can transmit his infection via the phone lines."

	"Dear God, when will the public get educated about HIV and AIDS?"
Walter said with a slight temper. "Where does Kyle live?"

	"He's got a room somewhere. He still gets residual checks from his
commercials, so he's got money to live on...just no friends to share his
problems with."

	"All right, what's your plan? I mean, we all shouldn't barge in on
him at once, should we?"

	"I'll probably take a cab and see him on my lunch hour tomorrow,"
Ryan said.

	"Then I'll go shortly after school is out. Ted, you can drop me off
while you go back and wait on Jeff."

	"Why wait on Jeff?" Walter asked.

	"Thanks, Alex! Thanks for NOT telling Dad about my ten detentions
like you promised!" Jeff scoffed.

	"YOU got ten detentions, Jeff?"

	"Yes, sir..."

	"All right, what did you break this time and how much is it going
to cost me?"

	Alex and Ted laughed. "Yeah, Jeff, tell Dad what you broke!"

	"Chuck Brindley's nuts!"

	"Oh, my God!" Walter's face dropped with a thud. "All right, you
might as well give me all the details if I'm going to have to defend you in
court."

	Jeff, Alex, and Ted took turns describing their day at school...the
way his classmates froze Alex out; the chides and insults Alex received
from the kids, led by Charlie Gross; ending with Jeff's episode with Chuck
and the consequence to it that Ms. Copenhaver and Mr. Bartolli bestowed on
him.

	"I hoped against my better judgment that news about Alex and Ted
wouldn't present a problem or create havoc, but it seems I need to go to
Briarwood High and have a talk with Principal Bartolli. Now whatever comes
from that meeting, Jeff, it doesn't mean I'm giving you my permission to
kick Chuck Brindley in the nuts!" Walter said, then wryly added, "unless,
of course, you make sure Ms. Copenhaver is nowhere in sight! Boys, I was
afraid something like this might happen, but it's only the beginning. It's
just as I was saying about the public not being educated on the topic of
AIDS and HIV. As long as the right-wing conservatives feel the power to
speak against gays...and they DO have that right, you can expect to hear
harsh words and to be called names by ignorant people...and they ARE
ignorant!"

	"Dad, Ted and I don't care. There's nothing anyone can say or do
that can interfere with the way we feel about each other. Jeff, you're just
going to have to turn a deaf ear, like us."

	"Heck, I've been wanting to kick Chuck Brindley long before he said
anything about you and Ted. Guys like him need a good kick, just for being
so stupid about everything."

	"Now is there anything else we need to discuss before we dive into
this delicious meal you boys have prepared?"

	Alex, Jeff, Ted, and Ryan all replied in the negative.

	"All right, then it's my turn to tell you some good news."

	All four boys looked at Walter and waited enthusiastically. "What,
Dad?"

	"As you've always known, I've never been able to reveal the names
of any of my clients, unless, of course, they were clients whom I had to
represent in court. But today I became adjudicator for a very wealthy
individual who wants me to oversee his rather large estate. Though I'm not
a Republican and didn't vote for him, President Reagan coined a phrase,
'trickle-down economics'...and that's what I intend to do. As a result of a
larger-than-life fee my new client bestowed on me, there's no reason why I
can't 'trickle down' some of my benefits down to you boys!"

	"Good Lord! Dad, how much did you receive?"

	"If I could buy you anything your heart desires...ANY of you---what
would it be...WITHIN REASON?"

	"Gosh, Dad!" Alex said. "What more could we want than what you've
already given us?"

	"Daddy Walt, my dad gave Alex and me a new car. There's nothing I
can think of either." Ted added.

	"What about you, Jeff?"

	"Maybe a Playstation to go along with my Nintendo."

	"That's sound reasonable," Walter said. Then he looked at
Ryan. "Ryan, you're part of our family now---what is your heart's desire?"

	"I...I'd just like Kyle to get well. I'd like him to have a home,
like the one I have now."

	A silence hovered over the dining room. Walter had always known his
sons were selfless, as they had hardly asked him for anything. Now,
unbeknownst to any of his sons, Walter had access to one million dollars
and had only heard two requests...one nominal and the other, perhaps
impossible---something even his new money couldn't buy.

	"I...I'll hold my offer in limbo, minus the Playstation which you
can purchase tomorrow, if you like, Jeff, until we can all take turns
visiting Kyle and see if there's anything we can do to make him
better...and see about finding him a home."

	"Thanks, Walt," Ryan said, followed by three echoes, "Thanks, Dad."

	"Now would someone please pass me the spinach?" Walter said.

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


	True to his word, Ryan took a cab from the music store to Kimbrough
Hospital on his lunch hour the following day. Kyle had been admitted to the
fourth floor at eight o'clock earlier that morning. By the time Ryan
arrived, Kyle had been seen by two doctors and a half dozen ampoules of
blood had been drawn from his arms. In his hand was a TV remote which he
was using, surfing the channels, avoiding the 'To This We've Come' soap and
trying to decide which court show was the least boring but had the best
looking bailiff. A nurse's aide had brought his lunch, consisting of a
sliver of steak, boiled rice, and steamed broccoli...yuck! Kyle's face lit
up when he saw Ryan enter his room.

	"Hey, big guy!" Kyle greeted Ryan.

	"I told you I'd be here..."

	"I was hoping you would."

	"How's it going, I mean what have they been doing to you since you
got here?"

	"Peeked at, poked, and prodded! How's that for alliteration?"

	"Pretty proficient!"

	"God, it's good to see you, Ryan! I...I thought about you all
night!"

	"Good thoughts, I hope?"

	"Thank goodness you're not a telepathist! Your face might be redder
than that transfusion above me."

	"Oh?"

	"Yeah, I was a little melancholy when I left you at the restaurant
yesterday. I went home, packed up what little I had to pack, turned on the
new Streisand CD which you gave me and I let my imagination flow
freely---feeling things that might have been or..or could have been under
different circumstances."

	"Like what?"

	"Oh, what might have happened if I weren't sick...if I had met you
a long time ago...what things I could have taught you about enjoying
life...and how nice it would've been if we could have spent more time
together. How's that for starters?"

	"Maybe I do have telepathy. Your thoughts were almost identical to
mine."

	"Sincerely?"

	"Most sincerely."

	"If that's so, then we both didn't get much sleep, either of us."

	"I...I did tell Alex about your coming to the hospital today."

	"Oh, and how is the newly wed?"

	"He and Ted are an enigma, I've heard of two people living together
where they actually become one entity, but I'd never seen it until I
observed the two of them together. Needless to say, it made me jealous and
caused me to examine what I've never known or NEVER will know."

	"You know yesterday at the restaurant when I joked about that being
my last meal--as I lay in bed last night, I asked myself what I would want
if some genie offered me a last wish."

	"Did you come up with a last wish?"

	"Yes, but I don't know if I'm brave enough to tell you."

	"I'll give you moral support...be brave!"

	"I...I...ah, fuck! I didn't really get to know you at all really
until we had lunch together and I...my wish was that you were lying in my
bed beside me..and I was holding you in my arms...and then you put your
head on my chest and fell asleep. I--I hope that doesn't upset you."

	"Kyle, that's just about the nicest thing anyone has ever said to
me. I've never lain in bed with anyone, but I've dreamed about it for
years. God, how I wish I could make your dream come true...it would be my
dream coming true at the same time!"

	"Ryan, please come sit beside me and hold my hand."

	"Sure. I'd like that."

	Ryan did as Kyle asked and as HE himself had hoped. He pulled up
the metal chair next to the bed and reached out, taking Kyle's hand in his.

	With his free hand, Kyle pointed to a beeping monitor, just left of
Ryan's head. "See that little bouncing light? Hear it beep? Now watch it go
faster since your hand touched mine." It was no joke, Kyle's pulse rate and
blood pressure did rise a few notches.

	"Is that bad for you?"

	"Hell, no! You're bringing me back to life!"

	"I wish..."

	"Damn, I'd like to take you into my arms right now."

	"What would happen to the monitor if you did?"

	"The way I feel, more than likely it would explode...and I wouldn't
give a damn!"

	Just then, a nurse walked into Kyle's room to bring him a cupful of
pills. Kyle held Ryan's hand tighter so Ryan couldn't pull back from
embarrassment.

	"Nurse?"

	"Yes?"

	"I'm wondering if you could do me a little old favor?"

	"What would you like, Mr. Andrews?"

	"I would like you to move a few of these wires and tubes, just
enough for my friend to lie down here beside me."

	"Are you serious, sir?"

	"Very much so!"

	"All righty! Let's see what we can do," she replied, smiling.

	The nurse walked to the side of the bed next to where Ryan was
seated and released a clamp which held the excess clear tubing and repeated
the procedure on the cord leading to the BP monitor, just so there was
enough room for Ryan to slide under and lie next to Kyle.

	"How's that, sir?"

	"It's wonderful--and YOU'RE wonderful."

	"Anything else, sir?"

	"Perhaps you could leave the two of us alone for a while...?"

	"Only if you'll take your pills and drink a full glass of water."

	"Sounds like a fair trade...Poke 'em down me or stick 'em up
me...whichever is more convenient for you!"

	"And haven't you perked up! I don't seem to recall that your orders
call for meds by anal administration, so I suppose you'd better take these
by mouth."
	Kyle gladly took eleven pills of various size and colors and downed
them with a full glass of water.

	"Now will those make me well?"

	"They'll do their best, sir, but, speaking off the record, I think
the gentleman lying beside you might help you just as much, if not more
so."

	"I think you're right, nurse. What's your name?"

	"Jamison, Marie Jamison."

	"Then, Nurse Jamison, I'm gonna nominate you for the Nobel Prize in
Medicine. You just MIGHT have found the cure for AIDS."

	"Thank you, sir!" She smiled politely, winked at the two and left.

	"Now that she's got us in position, how about my holding you?"

	"I'll call work and ask for the rest of the day off, if you like."

	"Oh, Ryan, don't say another word! Just let me hold you. Let me get
my wish!" His voice was choked.

	"And mine, Kyle..."

	Through the wires, tubes, catheters, meters. monitors, and every
other goddamned piece of medical equipment, Kyle raised both arms and put
them around Ryan and pulled him close to his chest, holding as tightly as
he could.

	Ryan got a chill when he felt Kyle's arms, for what he had longed
for, for so many nights, had finally become a reality. Maybe it was only
for a moment, but it was a moment he would treasure forever.

	"Ryan, I hardly know you, but, God, how I wish I could love you!
Christ! Life can be so cruel! It's so unfair! I have no time left!"

	"Hush, Kyle. Life isn't being cruel right now! Enjoy the moment,
just as I am!"

	"I can't help it. You are so wonderful...such a great person...such
a great guy!"

	Ryan whispered..."Kyle, you said you wish you could love me...well,
love me now! Take me! I'm yours!"

	Being careful not to open his mouth, Kyle placed his lips on Ryan's
and kissed him gently. Ryan seemed to melt, physically and
emotionally. Maybe it was only for a moment, but Ryan finally knew what it
was like to love someone. There HAD to be more moments like this...there
just HAD to be!

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

	Three days passed and Kyle remained in the hospital. He had had six
visits from Ryan, three each from Alex and Ted, two from Walter, and one
from Jeff. Kyle felt as if he were almost a member of the Clayton
Clan. Although Ted and Alex had each other, both were still in awe of
Kyle's movie-star good looks. Jeff had felt an instant attraction to the
former television star. In fact, Jeff hoped that Kyle would get well and
become Ryan's 'boyfriend' since the love between Ryan and Kyle was so
obvious. Walter felt an immediate connection with Kyle and had had several
discussions with Kyle's attending physicians, making sure that everything
possible was being done for Kyle. Privately, he had told one of Kyle's
doctors that money was no object and to give Kyle the best medicine and
treatments that money could buy.

	On the fourth day of Kyle's stay at Kimbrough, a miracle of modern
medicine occurred. Kyle's t-cell count had risen to 349! Actually, none of
his medications had been changed nor their dosages, but somehow, the drugs
took a dramatic effect on Kyle's condition. Kyle's appetite improved. He
was almost ravenous for food...even HOSPITAL food! Kyle even got out of bed
and took strolls down the long halls while holding on to Ryan's arm. The
doctors, nurses, and immediate medical staff were more than amazed at his
sudden 'temporary' recovery.

	When asked, Kyle's primary physician could see no reason why Kyle
shouldn't be discharged by Wednesday or Thursday of the following
week...just one day before Ryan's birthday. Of course, if he returned to
his apartment, he would need a private duty nurse to stay with him for at
least another week or two.

	When this announcement was heard by Walter, hell or high water
couldn't stop him from having the room over the garage at his house
converted into an efficiency apartment. Kyle WOULD have a home to go
to...and Ryan would be there with him...but this was Walter's secret. Only
Alex, Ted, and Jeff knew. It would be a birthday surprise for Ryan. During
the day while Ryan was working at the music store, Ryan wouldn't see the
carpenters, plumbers, decorators, or whoever it took to complete the
project. In between school and visits to the hospital, Alex and Jeff acted
as overseers to the construction and were given carte blanche permission
from Walter to buy whatever was needed to make the place a home.

	Jeff, though a bit upset, knowing he had 'lost' Ryan to Kyle, once
again turned his focus of attention to Earl. Earl's mother had received
news she had won some kind of 'sweepstakes' and had begun remodeling her
house as well. Ellen Freeman, against her better judgment, had given a Visa
card to Jeff, provided that he would take Earl to the mall and buy him a
complete new wardrobe similar to Jeff's. Jeff had also taken Earl to a
barbershop to get a chopped off haircut like his. With Earl's new clothes
and his hair styled the same as Jeff's, one would almost believe they were
twin brothers. Ellen was as proud of Earl as she was proud of the way Jeff
had transformed him. Ellen, however, still had no idea of what Earl and
Jeff were doing behind Earl's locked bedroom door. As for Sally and Alice?
Ellen took them to the mall, herself, and had a lady at Macy's give her two
young daughters a complete makeover...clothes, hair, nails, et al. They not
only looked like princesses, they felt like Cinderella at the ball!

	The only thing Ellen couldn't accomplish was remembering WHEN she
had bought a ticket to a sweepstakes. Looking at her bank statement, she
didn't want to question it, especially when she bought all new furniture
and appliances for her home, including a large freezer and then filled it
with all kinds of frozen food.


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


	Not a word was spoken to Ryan at breakfast the morning of his
twenty-first birthday, but then why should there have been, when most of
his birthdays had passed unnoticed. Going to see Kyle at the hospital was
enough for Ryan, although it was expected that Kyle should have been
discharged within the past couple of days. Kyle had spiked a slight fever
on Wednesday and his doctor wanted him to remain in bed at least until the
weekend.

	Ryan still had no hint of the construction being done above the
Clayton garage. Walter was nice enough to suggest that Kyle could come to
his house and share the den with Ryan until a more permanent living
arrangement was made, due to Kyle's 'iffy' prognosis. The den 'arrangement'
was actually a white lie that Alex, Ted, and Walter had arranged in order
to keep the new garage-apartment a secret from both Ryan and Kyle.

	As soon as Alex, Ted, and Jeff got home from school Friday
afternoon, they began putting up birthday decorations. To keep from feeling
like a 'fifth wheel' Jeff had invited Earl to be his 'guest' at the
party. Walter spared no expense by having Gould's Delicatessen cater the
party with a variety of hors d'oeuvres, meats, cheeses, salads, breads,
sauces, and wines, plus a double-tiered cake with twenty-one candles.

	Gould's delivery truck with two caterers arrived at the Clayton
house at four o'clock. They supplied everything, including 'set-up' tables,
linen tablecloths and napkins, candles, plates, cups, glass and
silverware. Walter spared nothing to make this a memorable occasion for the
'birthday boy'. Earlier in the week, Alex, Ted, and Jeff had gone to the
mall to buy gifts. Walter had told Ryan he would pick him up at the music
store at the regular time, five-thirty, but at four o'clock, Walter called
Ryan to tell him that he had an 'unexpected' client to deal with and he
would ask Ted or Alex to pick up Ryan. Walter said, with luck, he would be
home around six or six-thirty.

	Miraculously, Gould's had performed their magic and the house,
specifically the living and dining rooms, was decorated in a festive manner
by five o'clock. Alex was more than pleased with the way everything looked
and called Walter to tell him so. It would have been difficult to determine
which of the Clayton Clan was the most excited as they all anticipated the
look on Ryan's face when he arrived home.

	When Ted arrived at the music store, Ryan asked if Ted would take
him by the hospital for a few minutes. Ryan had actually planned to go see
Kyle after dinner with Walter. Ted, however, made some lame excuse to Ryan,
telling him that he had forgotten his wallet and needed to go back home
quickly for fear he would be caught driving without his license. After
that, he would take Ryan to the hospital to see Kyle. Ryan 'bought' Ted's
lie and settled for Ted to make the fast journey home. The two pulled up in
the Clayton driveway at 5:45.

	At first, Ryan told Ted that he would wait outside in the car while
Ted went inside to get his wallet. Ted had to drum up another lie to Ryan,
telling him he wanted Ryan to see the new home stereo system he had bought
earlier that day for his and Alex's bedroom. Had Ryan ever gone inside
Alex's and Ted's bedroom, he would have known that the room already had a
tremendous home stereo sound system. But to please Ted, who was doing him a
favor, Ryan reluctantly got out of the car to see what Ted had bought.

	"Let's go in the front way, through the living room," Ted said to
Ryan. "Alex just waxed the kitchen floor and I doubt if it's dry." (Lie
number three.) The front door was locked and Ted fumbled with his keys to
give everyone inside time to get into place. Finally, Ted found the 'right'
key, unlocked the door, and told Ryan to enter first where a huge
"SURPRISE!" awaited him.

	To say Ryan was stunned would be an understatement, judging by the
look on his face. It ran the gamut between joy and tears as Ryan could
hardly believe his eyes. Everyone in the room, including Earl who had never
met Ryan, ran to him to give him hugs. Alex took Ryan's hand and led him
into the dining room to get a view of the banquet spread provided by
Gould's. Each moment acted as a new surprise for Ryan as his birthday had
never been a cause for celebration before...not even when he was child.

	"Is everyone hungry?" Jeff announced. "If so, let's eat!"

	"Don't we want to wait on Walt?" Ryan asked.

	"I suppose," Alex replied. "Normally when Jeff and I have a
birthday party, we eat first and open presents later."

	"Aw, come on you guys, this is TOO much," Ryan exclaimed.

	"We'll give you what we got you and wait for Dad's surprise
later. Here, 'Mister Twenty-one', have a seat!" Alex said.

	Ted took Ryan's arm and led him to Walter's big chair in the living
room. Ryan looked at Jeff and said, "I think there's someone in the room I
haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet."

	"Oh, sorry!" Jeff replied. Taking Earl's hand, Jeff brought him to
meet Ryan. "Ryan, this is Earl. He...he's my...my...boyfriend!" Jeff's face
was a confusion of emotions---he hadn't expected to use the term
'boyfriend', but it just seemed right.

	Earl's look of surprise almost rivaled Ryan's when he came through
the door.

	"Please to meet you, Earl."

	"Huh?" Earl retorted, while still in shock at Jeff's
introduction. Jeff elbowed Earl in his back. "Oh, hi, Ryan, it's nice to
meet you, too!"

	"Jeff? Would you like to be the first by giving Ryan his present
from you?" Alex asked.

	Sure!" Jeff went to the hall closet to retrieve a huge box
alongside a smaller one. "Here, I thought you might want this for your
room."

	Ryan took the gift, opened it, and found a new Playstation
apparatus.  "Thanks, Jeff. I'll practice and see if I can beat you at this,
as well as at Nintendo."

	"Oh, the other box has a bunch of game cartridges...BRAND NEW
ONES!"

	"Hey! Great!  I'll have lots of fun with them."

	Ted was next as he heaved an even larger box than Jeff's toward
Ryan.

	Ryan opened Ted's present only to see a brand new CD system with
extra large Bose speakers.

	"My God, Ted, I've never seen anything so wonderful. This is better
than anything we have like it in my store."

	"Oh, there's a little envelope inside," Ted said.

	Ryan expected to find a nice birthday card, but instead there was a
$500 gift certificate from the music store where Ryan worked.

	"Good heavens!"

	"I didn't know exactly what kind of CD's to buy for you, so I
thought you could pick 'em out yourself."

	Alex's gift was in a much smaller box. He handed it to Ryan with a
warm smile. Ryan carefully tore away the wrapping paper to reveal what
appeared to be a jewelry box. Nervously, Ryan opened it. Inside was a solid
gold neck chain with a solid gold medallion attached loosely. On one side
was engraved, 'Brothers forever' while on the back it read, 'With much
love, Alex, Ted, and Jeff'. One thing Gould's hadn't planned was 'tear
time' as that seemed to be in order around the room. First Ryan broke down,
followed by Alex, Ted, and Jeff. Even Earl had no idea why he was crying,
but he was shedding his fair amount of tears just the same.

	Between the hugs and tears, Walter came in from the
kitchen. Everyone looked up and greeted him.

	"My GOD! WHO DIED?" Walter asked, loudly.

	"DAD! Come on in! We've been giving Ryan our birthday gifts for
him!" Alex said.

	"Well, it looks as if I made it in time to give Ryan one of my
presents!"

	"Walt, you've given me too much already!" Ryan said, his voice
showing his love and sincerity.

	"Well, I got you a couple of things, anyway. However they are both
rather large. One I'll give you now and the other after we've eaten."

	"This is just TOO, TOO MUCH!" Ryan repeated.

	"Well, the first large gift is too heavy for me to bring to you, so
I'll have to ask you to go into the kitchen and get it all by yourself!"

	Ryan sat down the gifts he had already received, stood up and left
everyone to go to see Walter's present. As soon as he opened the kitchen
door, he saw Kyle standing there like a picture of health
personified. Ryan's heart dropped from his chest to his feet and he almost
fainted when he saw Kyle. He paused only for a split second to get his
breath and ran to put his arms around the waiting Kyle who was smiling the
way he did on the Broadway billboard...rugged, dashing, and handsome!

	"Happy Birthday, little love..." Kyle whispered into Ryan's ear.

	The rest of the Claytons were wedged together in the kitchen
doorway trying to get a look at the surprise reunion. Tears were flowing
like raindrops on a window.

	"I thought you were too ill to be discharged!" Ryan said to Kyle.

	"I'd've been here if I had had to get off the table at a mortuary."

	"But you look so wonderful!"

	"So do you!"

	"Can you stay or do you have to go back to the hospital?"

	"Why should I go back? My doctor says I'm in better shape than any
time he's seen me since I returned to Briarwood."

	"Then you can spend tonight?"

	"Tonight, tomorrow night, and forever," Kyle said.

	"I...I just can't believe this!"

	"Believe it. As you once said to me, 'This is now! Enjoy it!'."

	"Oh God, this is so...so...I can't find a word to say how I feel!"

	"Can you think about it while we eat? I...I'm hungry," Kyle said.

	"Ryan, didn't you hear Kyle?" Jeff asked, loudly. "He's hungry, so
why don't we all eat?"

	"That's a good idea, son," Walter said. "I can't give Ryan my other
gift until we've eaten."

	"Walt? Please, no more!" Ryan said. "You've given me more than I
could ever dream or hope for."

	"Well, it's your birthday and I have to give you--let's say 'one
more to grow on!!"

	Alex put Kyle and Ryan at the head of the buffet line and everyone
filled his plate with Gould delicacies which proved to be wonderful,
especially the wine, according to Jeff and Earl.

	When everyone was seated at the dining table, Walter resumed his
place at the head.

	"The Clayton's, much to my dismay, aren't really a very religious
family, but I think we should give thanks, as it appears we ALL have much
to give thanks for." Everyone bowed his head as Walter continued. "Dear
Lord, we give thanks to thee for the blessings bestowed on all of us in
this family. You have brought us together with a spirit of hope, joy, and
celebration. We ask you to bless Ryan today as he enters his adult life. We
ask you to bless Kyle and restore his health. We ask you to bless the union
of Alex and Ted. May they have long and fully enriched lives. I would also
like to ask that you bless my son, Jeff, for being the light and life of
our family ever since his mother left us to be with you. I pray that Earl
will be the inspiration to his family that Jeff is to ours. All these
things I pray in your holy name. Amen."

	Each couple had joined hands during Walter's prayer. Kyle had
gently grabbed Ryan's hand as did Ted, Alex's. Jeff, who hadn't closed his
eyes during 'grace', deciding to follow suit, reached over and took Earl's
hand and held it. Earl didn't exactly understand Jeff's display of
affection, but he realized that he enjoyed it anyway.

	It took nearly one hour for everyone to finish his dinner. Alex
gave a hand signal to one of the Gould caterers who promptly went into the
kitchen to light the candles on the cake. Then he brought the flaming
pastry into the dining room as the Claytons burst forth in a verse of
'Happy Birthday to Ryan'. There were more tears shed by all, as Ryan blew
out the candles. By everyone's standards, this was a perfect party on a
perfect evening.

	When the dessert was finished, Walter once again stood and said,
"Ryan, I suppose it's time for my other gift, although I would like you to
share it with Kyle. I realize this box I'm holding in my hand is rather
small for two people, but I want both of you to try and share it."

	The gift box was about two inches by one and a half inches. It was
wrapped in gold foil with a tiny gold string on the outside. He handed it
to Ryan. Ryan's first impression was that it was another jewel box, but
what could be inside for two people?...for him and Kyle? Ryan held the tiny
box while Kyle removed the string and the foil. Ryan slowly opened it and
discovered two solid gold keys. Neither Ryan nor Kyle had an idea what the
keys were for and both gave Walter a puzzled look.

	"I'm afraid that's as much of the gift I could bring inside the
house. The rest of it is outside in the back yard. If you're curious, both
of you, follow me."

	Everyone at the table except for Ryan, Kyle, and Earl knew what was
to happen next and all of them eagerly anticipated Ryan's and Kyle's
reaction to the final gift.

	The new apartment built over the garage might as well have been
Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disney World as it had the same effect on the
new couple.

	"It's all yours...BOTH of yours...." Walter said.

	The construction workers had built a long set of stairs leading up
to the domicile. Ryan took Kyle's hand as they ascended upward. Ryan took
one of the keys from the box, put it into the lock, and opened the
door. The apartment had been expanded and cordoned off into five rooms plus
a bathroom. The furniture, the carpets, the drapes, and the special
hand-picked items, selected by Alex and Ted, were luxurious. Kyle was
familiar with expensive furnishings and realized that this new dwelling
must have cost Walter a small fortune. Kyle was speechless as he dropped
his head and slowly shook it in disbelief. He thought he couldn't breathe!
Ryan thought he wouldn't be able to catch his breath for a month of
Sundays.

	No one at any time or any place had ever received such a gift of
such magnitude in Ryan and Kyle's eyes. The Clayton Clan followed the
couple up the stairs and moved on inside as each of them took personal
pride in the work that had been accomplished.

	Ryan turned and looked at Walter, "How did you---I mean, when did
all this happen? I mean, how can we ever repay you? I mean..."

	"Tinkerbelle did it while you were at work and while Kyle was
getting better at the hospital. Oh, by the way, in case either of you are
wondering about the price of the rent...I'm afraid the landlord refused to
set a price. So I guess it's free. Ryan, Kyle, you can live here and make
this your home for as long as you like! Days! Months! Years! It's all
yours!"

	Ryan tugged on Kyle's hand as they explored room to
room. Absolutely NOTHING was missing! This was Dorothy's 'Oz', Alice's
'Wonderland', Peter Pan's 'Neverland', it was Kyle and Ryan's 'new home'!

	"I'll let the two of you get a bit more familiar with your new
surroundings while I take the rest of my brood back to the house for
coffee. Will you join us when you're ready?"

	Before Walter left, Ryan and Kyle each embraced Walter, trying to
express their gratitude by action if not words.

	When they were alone, Ryan looked at Kyle and said, "Do you believe
any of this?"

	"For a moment, I thought I must have died in the hospital and this
was heaven!"

	"I mean---Walter? He hardly knows either of us but now...ALL THIS!"

	"Ryan, maybe Walter saw in you what I saw in you the day we went
out for lunch...things you never saw in yourself!"

	"Kyle, there are so many things neither of us has ever said to the
other. I mean, do you think you could live with me and be happy?"

	"Only if I was sure that you love me?"

	"I...I've never said it...but I do. I DO LOVE YOU!"

	"Only as much as I love you, my little love."

	"Kyle, I want you to stay healthy. Do whatever your doctor
says. Take as many pills he prescribes. I want us to be happy together for
a long, long time."

	"I don't think I could die and leave you and all this now, even if
I wanted to!" Kyle said, then added, "and yes, we're both gonna live a
long, long time!" His tone announced his determination.

	"Oh God, how I love you!"

	"Then why don't you kiss me and show me?"

	Ryan ran into Kyle's arms and kissed him passionately. They held
the kiss until they were both gasping for air.

	"I just thought of something!" Ryan said, excitedly.

	"What?"

	"The new bedroom! The new bed! We can be together all night!"

	"How about all the rest of our lives?"

	"Jesus! Kyle, you WILL tell me if you get tired? God, I don't want
you to relapse!"

	"Will you stop worrying? I talked with my doctor before I left the
hospital and asked him if he thought I could stop by the pharmacy and buy a
couple of things, since I intended on sleeping with you tonight."

	"What did the doctor say?"

	"Nothing. He walked over to the medical supply room and came back
to hand me a pocketful of condoms."

	"Oh God! You know I've had no experience...?"

	"Yes, I know, but I have the rest of both our lives to teach you,
thanks to you and your family. Now kiss me again!"

	Ryan and Kyle didn't make it back to the main house for coffee for
nearly two hours.


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


	(THIS ENDS BOOK TWO OF "BRIARWOOD". THE STORY CONTINUES WITH Cliff,
Roger, and the Clayton Clan IN BOOK THREE---"BRIARWOOD LOST"--chapter
twenty-five)


Copyright Ritchris, 2005.