Date: Sat, 21 May 2011 02:45:21 +0000
From: Morris Henderson <bigmoh@post.com>
Subject: Surrogate Father No Longer Part 1

SURROGATE FATHER NO LONGER

Foreword

Thirty five year old Mike Davis and 18 year old Corey Hopkins
recently committed to a lifelong partnership based on a solid
foundation of love for one another. You may wonder about the
substantial age difference of the two gay lovers. It bothered Mike for
a time but he overcame any doubts and it is no longer an issue. The
lovers coped with another problem, however. Mike and Corey lived
in a downstairs apartment while Sherry Hopkins, Corey's mother
and Mike's wife, lived quite separately, upstairs in the same house.

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: The explanation for the improbable situation is
in a previous story, "Surrogate Father." A full appreciation of the
characters, their relationships, and how they came to occupy the
same house requires a reading of the original story, which is
strongly recommended but not essential to understanding this
sequel.]


PART ONE

The marriage ceremony at Sherry's church was brief. When it
came time for the groom to kiss the bride, a perceptive
observer would notice the lack of passion in the ritualistic
expression of love. Corey, watching his lover kiss his mother,
was suddenly weighed down with a variety of emotions. There
was impatience that the charade would soon be over. There
was sympathy for his gay lover and his mother having to
endure what was surely unpleasant for them both. Or was it
unpleasant for them? Could their kiss be more than playing a
role? Disquieting tinges of jealously surfaced in his mind. He
should be the one kissing the most important man in his life ...
not a woman ... not his mother. The kiss, however, was
almost mechanical. Neither Mike nor Sherry expresed any
passion. There was a bond between them to be sure but it
never rose beyond the level of respect and friendship that had
matured during the many years that Mike filled the role of
surrogate father to her young son. Still, Corey resented the
apparent infidelity of his lover.

The marriage was a deception to create a façade of
respectability. Sherry didn't approve of her son's gay
relationship but grudgingly accepted it. And since her son
professed to be gay, Mike would be an acceptable partner.
He had virtually taken the place of Corey's father who died
when her son was an infant and had an admirable character.
Recognizing the inevitability of her son living with the older
man, she had no choice but to allow the homosexual union.
She suggested, however, the pretense of a marriage and
offered the basement apartment of her house to avoid
scandalous gossip among congregants at her church if her
son's homosexuality were to become known. It was, she
reasoned, better than having her son move in with Mike, which
would arouse all sorts of suspicions. The newlyweds would
never share a bed but would maintain the appearance of
marriage.

Mike moved into the Hopkins house the day after the wedding
ceremony. Mike and Corey's first night in their new home was
bliss, a consummation of their union as gay partners. Their
thoughts and actions were concentrated exclusively on each
other and on the intensely satisfying emotional and physical
bond that each had craved.

The ecstasy enjoyed by the two lustful lovers contrasted
sharply with the agony that Sherry was suffering in her
upstairs bedroom. She knew, of course, what would be going
on in the basement apartment but couldn't bring herself to
think of it in detail; it was too ... well ... abnormal and, in fact,
disgusting. She had agreed to the homosexual relationship
and even suggested that it take place in her home. But that
was when her rational mind was in charge. Now, it was her
emotions that tormented her. Her son, for whom she had such
great expectations, was queer ... and now living in sin. Her
hopes for grandchildren were dashed. Two floors below, her
only son was engaging in forbidden and abhorrent behavior.
Where had she failed as a mother? What could she have
done to protect her son from the influence of a man who, in
spite of outward appearances, was a degenerate sinner?
Refusing to accept the reality of Corey's inborn sexual
preference, she put the blame on Mike. But there was nothing
she could do about it. It was, of course, hypocritical to permit
the deviant behavior while outwardly professing to be a good
Christian but she squelched those thoughts. The sham
marriage must continue to present a respectable image to all
her friends. It was a trap of her own making and there was no
escape. The only consolation was that she had made her
beloved son happy, a thought that allowed her, after agonizing
for hours, to fall asleep.

<><><><><>

It was midmorning before Mike and Corey awoke after a
prolonged night of lovemaking. Their exploration of a wide
variety of sexual stimulation provided pleasures that were
punctuated by crescendos of orgasmic release. Technically,
neither was a virgin but it was the first time either had enjoyed
unfettered sex as an expression of mutual love. It was the
fulfillment of a wish each had held in secret. Their relationship
-- a boy and surrogate father -- had been a familial type of
love for more than a decade but, as Corey reached the stage
of youthful manhood, a new type of love emerged --
imperceptibly at first -- an undeniable romantic love --
accompanied by primal lust. Both had yearned to express that
love intimately but each for his own reasons had restrained
himself from voicing what he most wanted before they
confessed their mutual attraction to each other.

Reluctantly, they disentwined themselves to take care of the
customary morning bathroom rituals that included their first
time showering together. The affectionate and arousing
attention to each other's bodies inevitably resulted in their
returning to bed where they made love passionately up to,
including, and beyond intense orgasms. They had no
thoughts of anyone other than themselves as they cuddled
together in bed.

Corey's mother, meanwhile, had left for work but she found it
difficult to concentrate on her job. She guessed quite rightly
what her son and his older lover had been doing the previous
night but tried, unsuccessfully, not to think about it. She still
regarded homosexuality as sinful and deviant. And still
resented what she thought was Mike's seduction and
corruption of her son.

Sherry reminded herself of the agreement she, Mike, and her
son had made. Their pact included all the situations they
could think of. The door at the top of the stairs would be
closed at all times. Although it was one house, it was two
separate homes. She would not intrude into the two lovers'
home unless invited nor would the men venture upstairs
uninvited. She understood that Mike and Corey wanted to live
independently as a couple without intrusions from her in her
role as mother, landlord, and sham wife. Her priorities were
her son's happiness and avoiding the scandal of her son's
relationship with another man. They had even agreed on a
myriad of other details to ensure privacy but at the same time
maintain the illusion of a new husband moving into a single
mom's house. Mike and Corey could come and go as they
pleased through a separate doorway to the outside. There
would be a separate telephone line to the downstairs
apartment. Gas and electricity would remain on a single bill
but were factored into the rent that Mike insisted on paying.
Mike could use half of the two-car garage since it would
bolster the neighbors' perception of a "normal" marriage. They
would have the same mailing address but would remove only
their own mail from the mail box each day. And on and on.

It all seemed so workable but, over time, difficulties would
arise that jeopardized what they hoped would be a happy
accommodation of everyone's needs. Not the least of these
difficulties was Sherry's lingering belief that Mike had led her
son astray.

<><><><><>

It was lunch time when Mike and Corey finally got out of bed
and dressed. Throughout the afternoon, they unpacked
several boxes of personal items that Mike had brought from
his old apartment -- clothes, toiletries, dishes, cookware,
some books and CDs -- just the minimum to get by. His
furniture and countless other boxes of things he wouldn't need
immediately had been put in storage.

Having finished that task, Corey said, "All my stuff is in my old
room upstairs. I'll go get it."

"No, you won't!" Mike said. Corey was stunned at the
emphatic tone.

"And why not?" Corey asked in what sounded like a
confrontational way.

"Because your mother's at work and not home. Remember
our agreement? Two separate living quarters. No roaming
free in the other person's home unless invited."

"But she won't mind," Corey objected.

"Probably not," Mike said more softly as he retreated from the
role of surrogate father chiding a misbehaving child. "But a
deal's a deal. We can't start down a slippery slope."

"Okay," Corey said with an expression that suggested both
that he felt punished for his lack of judgment and resignation
to the restrictions of the separate quarters agreement.

Mike sensed the disappointment; he had seen the same
reaction many times when his young friend was growing up.
He hugged his lover and explained, "If we want privacy from
her then we have to honor our agreement. We both have to
remind ourselves from time to time that we're living in separate
homes. We can't just roam free in somebody else's home. If
we violate that agreement, then we're risking our own privacy."

"Sorry," Corey said contritely. "You're right, of course. I guess
it'll take some getting used to."

"She'll be home in an hour or so. You can get your things
after supper. And I have a suggestion for when you do."

"And that is?"

"Your mother's been through some tough times. Having a gay
son. His loving an older man. Our living here. Trying to
maintain appearances of a proper family. She's been
wonderful but I suspect that deep inside she's hurting. When
you do get your things, take time to tell her how much you love
her. I think she needs to hear that. She needs to know that
you're not abandoning her."

Corey grinned. "That's one of the reasons I love you, Mike.
You're always thinking of how other people feel and what they
need."

"Oh!" Mike responded with fake disappointment. "I thought all
along it was my cock and ass that appealed to you."

"That, too," he said, chuckling..

"PROVE IT!" Mike exclaimed. "We've got at least an hour
before supper.

Corey burst out laughing and Mike joined in. They walked to
the bedroom and were both naked and hard in no time. If it
were a competition to see who could pleasure the other more
it would have to be called a draw. Although they were still
learning the other's most arousing treatment, they made the
most of the opportunity to use hands and mouths to deliver the
maximum of erotic enjoyment.

<><><><><>

That evening, Corey retrieved his clothes and personal items
from his upstairs bedroom. Following Mike's advice, he
paused to tell his mother that he loved her. He was stunned
when she began to cry. He couldn't remember ever seeing his
mother cry. (He was a mere infant when his father died and
she cried for days.)

"What's the matter, Mom?" Corey asked.

It took a lot of coaxing but the woman finally admitted the
reason: her son had been lead astray by a pervert. By this
time, she was shaking with sobs.

Corey hugged her and waited for her sobs to abate before
saying, "Mom, Mike did nothing wrong. I'm the one who
started it all. Remember when he took me to urgent care?
And the conversation we had when you found out? The fact
is, Mom, that I'm gay. It's not something I chose to be; it's
what I am. I talked to Mike about it a lot. He helped me
through the denial, the guilt, and the depression. I didn't know
then that he was also gay. It was only later -- after my affair
with Jacob -- that I found out. By then, I realized that he was
the kind of person that I wanted to be with for the rest of my
life. I got up the nerve to ask him for ... well ... to have sex.
He REFUSED! He'd have no part of it. But I persisted and
continued to ask him. Eventually, I convinced him that I
wanted him as a life partner. So there you have it. He didn't
seduce me. If anything, I was the one who first suggested it
and, in time, overcame his resistance. So don't blame Mike.
And never forget that I love you."

"Forgive me, Corey," Sherry said through her receding tears.
"I guess I jumped to a conclusion. Maybe because I still
couldn't fully accept that my son was queer ... oops, sorry,
`gay' is the politically correct term. Thanks for setting me
straight."

"One more thing," Corry said. "I wasn't around when you fell in
love with my dad but I'm pretty sure that your love for him was
like my love for Mike. Also ... I'll put this delicately ... you and
my dad expressed your love for each other at night and I'll bet
it was wonderful. Well, I feel the same way when I'm with
Mike. I have the very best partner I could ever hope for. And
the very best mom I could ever hope for. I love you both ...
differently, of course, but I'm grateful for my good fortune.

A smile finally returned to Sherry's face as she said, "I love
you, too, son. Now get back to Mike. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" Corey asked.

"Very! Now get back downstairs."

<><><><><>

A week later, Sherry opened the door at the top of the stairs
and called down, "Mike, can you come up? Pastor Thompson
is here."

Mike knew what that meant. He would have to play the role of
husband for appearances sake. "Be right there," he called
back. Turning to Corey, he said softly, "Gotta go. Hope it
doesn't take too long."

"You know why he's here," Corey said. "He's going to invite
you to church service to welcome you into the congregation."

"It figures," Mike replied ruefully. "But you know how I feel.
I've got no patience for dogmatic interpretations of the Bible ...
or I should say the misinterpretations by many denominations.
I'll try to behave myself but it could get ugly. Wish me luck."

After cordial greetings, the minister and the "married" couple
settled into the living room. The pastor began the
conversation. "I just stopped by to get acquainted. Sherry has
told me so much about you ... how good you have been to
young Corey as he grew up without a father. I'm delighted
that you can be a full-time father to him now."

"As I am," Mike replied. "He's been a joy to me over the years
and I'm proud of the admirable young man he's become."

"You and Sherry make a fine couple," the pastor said. "I pray
that God will bless all of you."

In an attempt to steer the conversation away from religion,
Mike said, "Nobody can replace Corey's real father but I'll do
my best to continue to be there for him."

"I'm sure you will," the cleric mused, "As you always have
since his father was killed. No doubt he's looking down from
Heaven and is pleased with what you've done for his son ...
and that Sherry now has a loving husband. I want you to
know that we're all pleased to have you as a new member of
our church and we look forward to seeing you at worship
service Sunday morning."

The comment irritated Mike. It wasn't an invitation; it was
presumption that Mike WOULD attend. There seemed to be
no way to avoid what Mike had feared. He glanced at Sherry
with his eyebrows raised as if asking, "Shall I tell him?" She
gave a slight nod of approval so he confronted the situation
directly. "Well, Pastor Thompson, I'm afraid I'm not a regular
church-goer. Don't get me wrong, I live a Christian life ... to
the best of my ability ... but I much prefer to do so on my own."

Sherry, who had also feared the initial meeting with the pastor
because she and Mike had discussed his views of organized
religion, spoke up, hoping to avert an argument. "Mike and I
have discussed this at length. We've agreed that he needn't
attend church. I hasten to add that he's one of the finest
Christians I've ever met. He has more compassion for others
than anyone I've met. If the measure of a Christian man is `do
unto others' then Mike is at the top of the scale." (She tactfully
chose not to say -- "better than many in the congregation who
forgot about compassion, love, and honor as soon as they
resume their weekday lives.")

"It was a sticking point," Mike quickly added. "As we
contemplated marriage, we examined very closely the role that
religion would play in our lives. Sherry takes great pleasure in
the camaraderie with members of your church and is inspired
by your sermons. Consequently, I fully support her continuing
active involvement in the church. She, on the other hand,
understands that I will not accompany her to services."

The pastor was speechless for a moment but then said, "The
Lord has said that salvation is ..."

"Pardon me for being blunt. Or should I say honest?" Mike
interrupted. His patience was quickly evaporating and his
irritation surfaced when he continued, "If my failure to attend
church services condemns me to the fires of Hell, so be it. If,
however, my good deeds earn me a place in Heaven, I'll
accept that."

"But the Bible tells us...."

Mike interrupted again. "I don't want to get into a theological
discussion. I left the only church I ever belonged to because
of its explicit policies that discriminated against African-
Americans and subjugated women ... all founded on the
alleged revelations to the church leadership. I've not found an
organized religion that consistently teaches love of God and
love of mankind. So I will be guided by my own faith in a
Divine Creator and not by someone else's interpretation of
scripture. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go back downstairs and
continue helping Corey with his homework."

Sherry and the pastor sat uncomfortably as Mike walked out
and down the stairs. The pastor was bewildered by what he
had heard. Sherry was disappointed with Mike's forceful tone
and even more with his abrupt exit from the room.

"Please forgive him," Sherry said. "He's a good man. He's a
good father and a good husband. We have our differences
but doesn't every married couple? I'm lucky to have him and
am willing to overlook a few things because of all of the
wonderful things he does for both Corey and me."

"Well...," the pastor said thoughtfully. "Several other women in
the congregation attend services without their husbands. It's a
shame, really. A family that prays together... as they say. I
hope your husband will see the light and have a change of
heart."

Now it was Sherry whose patience had been tested beyond
limit. "With respect, Pastor Thompson, Mike is more deserving
of salvation than some in your congregation who pretend to be
God-fearing on Sunday morning but don't practice Christian
principles in their daily lives. He has his flaws but don't we
all? The fact of the matter is -- and will continue to be -- I will
attend worship services and Mike will not."

"I see," the pastor said with an expression that suggested
either disappointment or disapproval. "And Corey?"

"Corey is a young man now," Sherry replied assertively. "He's
capable of making his own decisions. I will encourage him to
attend church, of course, but I will not pressure him to do so. I
will respect his decision and I ask that you do the same."

Feeling chastised by a parishioner, the pastor said, "I'll be on
my way now but I'll pray for salvation for all of you."

Mike later apologized to Sherry for his rudeness, which
disarmed her temptation to scold him for being uncivil. After
some discussion, she conceded that it was better to get it over
with and that no gentle phrasing would have been likely to
make the point.

<><><><><>

For the next several weeks of summer, things were idyllic.
Corey spent his time outdoors working for a landscaping
company, which tanned his upper body and toned his already
well-developed muscles. That, of course, increased his sex
appeal and kept Mike's arousal at peak level. Corey did not
complain; the frequent sex met the needs of a virile teen
perfectly. Neither lover spent time thinking of the distant future
when Mike's drive and ability would decline much sooner than
his younger partner. They lived in the moment, thoroughly
devoted to each other and relishing the many intimate
encounters in bed.

Yes, life was good! But the seeds of trouble, temporarily
dormant, would soon sprout unexpectedly and threaten their
relationship.


...to be continued...


[AUTHOR'S NOTE: My thanks to Iatia for expert editing, for
valuable suggestions, and for continuing encouragement.]