Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2003 01:51:50 -0400 From: Tom Cup <tom_cup@hotmail.com> Subject: David's Fortunes - Chapter 3 Copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 by the Paratwa Partnership: A Colorado Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, except in the case of reviews, without written permission from the Paratwa Partnership, Inc, 354 Plateau Drive, Florissant, CO 80816 This is a fictional story involving alternative sexual relationships. If this type of material offends you, please do not read any further. This material is intended for mature adult audiences. Names, characters, locations and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. ************************************************************************ Author's Note: These chapters were written some time ago and are based on "David's Christmas Present" which can be found here on Nifty. The original author was unable to finish the story and asked for others to do so. For reasons that I won't go into here, these chapters have been only available to the members of TomCup.com. We are releasing them now for the enjoyment of Nifty readers. Because "David's Fortunes" begins where the original ended, at chapter 11 of "David's Christmas Present", the reader may wish to read the original eleven chapters before proceeding here. If you are familiar with the original story, we hope that you will enjoy the alternative ending in the following chapters. ************************************************************************ What's New at TomCup.com? Of Our Teenage Years Chapter 11 Added 4/28 KOA Boy Chapter 6 Added 04/23 Stephen Miller's Journal Chapter 12 Added 4/13 Mentoring Brandon Chapter 8 Added 4/13 Raptors By Richard Dean Chapter 7 Added 4/13 Age Before Beauty Chapter 4 Added 4/08 Calvin: Identity Crisis Chapter 12 Added 4/02 Private Lessons Chapter 5 Added 3/06 In Memory of Steve: Chapter 9 Added 2/13 Short Story: Ambrosius Added 1/29 Short Story: Blair Manor Added 1/29 Sexfiles File 10 Added 11/30 Short Story: Can I Stay With You Added 11/30 Terms of Living Chapter 11 Added 11/16 Short Story: Boys Will Be Boys Added 11/15 ************************************************************************ David's Fortunes By Tom Cup Chapter 3 Tell Me You Love Me "I don't want to imposed David. Really. I can get a cab to a hotel. I don't mind." Betty was resting comfortably in one of the spare rooms. David, Gwen and Adam had to practically carry her she was so distraught. She cried, apologizing over and over again for the mistreatment of David's childhood. David tried to reassure her that he did indeed understand. He did. Finally the pieces to the puzzle of his life fell into place. John was not the type of man to accept an illegitimate child, especially one that was born of a wife that fell for the tenderness of another man; a man that revealed John's cruelty, John's inhumanity. The birth of the child, the years of mournful apologizes, had not changed him. It had turned Betty into an obedient wife, and neglectful mother to her youngest son; who was a constant reminder of her unfaithfulness. David mourned for his mother as he had once mourned for himself. "Forget about it. You'll staying here," David told Gwen, "We have plenty of room. Besides, I want to hear what you've been doing with yourself." Gwen relented. She had hoped to spend time with David but the night grew longer than expected when Arnie returned with the twins. David watched Gwen's reaction to the boy's with caution. He was pleasantly surprised as they all fell into any easy rapport. The twins bombarded her with question after question becoming more at ease with her with each answer. She laughed and hugged them as she answered. David couldn't help but look on and smile. Adam's eyes' watched David. He looked from the commotion in the living room to David leaning contently against the wall. "What the hell's going on here?" Arnie asked pulling David to the side. "A Dennings plan that backfired. I'll fill you in later." "My God David," Arnie continued, "Talk about a blast from the past. She's the last person in the world I'd expect to see here." "Me too. But you know Arnie, I'm glad she's here. There's somethings we never finished, you know? I mean look at her!" David laughed, "with the twins." Arnie did look and had to laugh himself. "Yeah, she would have made a good wife for you and a mother to your children." David nodded. He and Arnie understood what the statement meant, that if David weren't gay, if David wasn't in love with the boy who accidentally overheard the statement and saw David's nodded that then Gwen would have been a good wife for David. There was no other woman in David's life that he could have even considered as a mate. Gwen he would have, except for the fact that he was finally comfortable with being gay. Adam didn't understand the nuisances and undertones of the conversation that David and Arnie were having. What he heard was David admitting that Gwen would be a good wife and mother. He quickly wiped the tear away that formed at the corner of his eye and stifled the pain that rose from his belly like an aching flame. He forced himself to smile. "Hey," he said to the twins, "It's way past bedtime and I think Dad and Gwen want to spend some time together." "awww..." winded the twins but knew that Adam was only telling them the truth. They hugged Gwen and she kissed each of them on the top of their heads, smiling at David. The possibility of having Gwen as their mom wasn't lost on the twins either. They looked at each other smiling, the power of their ability to communicate silently was again at work. Jody was elected to ask what they both wanted to know. "Are you and Dad going to get married?" David was stunned by the question. He stepped forward to explain to the boys that Gwen and he were just old friends, that he had not plans of marrying anyone -- that is any female. Of course he would not mention that he considered himself taken already but the Indian boy that was nervously smiling at him, awaiting an answer. Gwen laughed and hugged them and the tension left the room at the sound. "Oh I don't think that's going to happen honey, but I'll visit often. If that's OK with your Dad." David nodded, relieved by Gwen's answer. To David she was simply letting the boys down easy. Adam again heard something else, the possibility that Gwen would be entering their lives, the possibility that Gwen and David would pick up the relationship that they once had, the possibility that David was reminded that he could have a wife and his own children. "Tell you what," Gwen said, "If it's OK with your Dad, I'll tuck you in tonight and read you a story." David smiled and again nodded. The twins jumped up and down, pulling the laughing Gwen to her feet. Arnie couldn't help but laugh, patting David on the back, glad that the day hadn't turn in to the disaster it could have been. No one noticed the look of abandonment in Adam's eyes. "Well, looks like everything is under control here," Arnie said, "I'm going to head home." "Arnie," David said leading him to the door, "Thanks for everything. Couldn't have made it through this without you." "Somehow I'm not sure that's true. But you're welcome." When David returned to the living room he found Adam clearing away what was left of the evenings gathering. David joined in silently, occasionally smiling at Adam. Adam smiled back. They hugged. David felt relieved that their biggest hurdles were behind them. He was jubilant that he was closing old chapters in the book of his life and that old wounds were being healed. He began chattering about the future that lay before them but Adam didn't hear what he said. His mind was on the woman that had so easily come into their lives and taken his place as caretaker of the twins and David's lost love. "I'm gonna go to bed now," Adam said as Gwen returned, "Goodnight." "Good night buddy," David said. He wanted to say more, to tell Adam how much he loved him, to kiss him goodnight or scoop him up in his arms and carry him to bed and making celebratory love to him but knew it wasn't appropriate with Gwen and his mother in the house. There would be plenty of time for that once he got his mom settled and Gwen was gone, David thought, them my young lover we will celebrate this day for many days to come. Adam hugged Gwen. It was a polite gesture. Gwen hugged him, ran her hand through his silky hair and kissed him on the cheek. Adam mounted the stairs, turned briefly thinking to ask David to come and talk to him for a moment but saw David and Gwen sit on the couch together, holding hands. ***** The tears fell easily from Adam's eyes as he tried to sleep, tried to discern what would happen to him after Gwen and David were married. He would still have a Dad but he would lose his lover. That was the way it would have to be, he would have to give David to Gwen. He tossed and turned in his rarely used bed. The bed that he once shared with David would become David and Gwen's bed, they would make love in that bed. Adam cried until he couldn't cry anymore. He lay awake staring for a time at the ceiling before deciding to go downstairs for something to drink. He full expected that David and Gwen would have retired to their bedroom by then but they were still in the living room. They had fallen asleep on the couch, Gwen with her back to David as he held her. They looked right together, Adam thought, a brave and his squaw sharing the night together. He didn't get the drink, just returned to his room. He knew now that he had been right. David might not realize it but Adam believed he saw the beginning of the end of his love affair with the man he loved. He grabbed his Neal McCoy CD's from his collection, hoping that the music would lull him to sleep. He stared at the ceiling as the first song played but sat straight up in bed as the second song began: Kiss me each morning for a million years Hold me each evening by your side Tell me you love me for a million years And then if it don't work out, if it don't work out Then you can tell me goodbye. Sweeten my coffee with a morning kiss Soften my dreams with your sigh Tell me you love me for a million years And then if it don't work out, if it don't work out Then you can tell me goodbye. Adam's tears fell in a torrent of sobs. He thought of Christmas Eve when David had brought him into his home and into his life. He thought of the love that David had shown to him, love that he had never thought possible. He thought of how unselfishly David had welcomed, him and the twins into his life. If anyone deserved to be happy it was David. If you most go, I won't grieve If you wait a lifetime before you leave But if you must go, I want tell you no Just so we can say we tried Tell me you love me for a million years And then if it don't work out, if it don't work out Then you can tell me goodbye. He and David had tried. They had loved a lifetime in the short time they were together. Adam mourned for the loss of their love but knew what he had to do; he had to leave so the twins and David could have the happiness they deserved. He got up, packed a few belongings, and tiptoed down the stairs. He took a final look into the living room where Gwen and David still slept and headed for the garage. ***** David was awakened by the telephone at 6:15 in the morning. He had a crick in his neck and his back ached from sleeping on the couch. Both he and Gwen seemed uncomfortably contemplative by how they had wound up sleeping together in each other's arms but fell into amused laughter. They were just friends that had comfortably talked each other to sleep, nothing more. The phone continued to ring. "You better get that," Gwen said. "What?" Gwen laughed. "The phone." "Oh yeah." The look on David's face told Gwen that something was indeed wrong. David hung up the phone and stared at her scratching his head. Gwen stared back waiting for him to say something, to explain the call. "My truck was stolen," David said to her questioning look, "The police found it abandon on a rode about forty miles from here, abandoned. The thief got stuck in a ditch." "My God, David. Was anyone hurt?" "Didn't appear to be. Just abandoned," David said, "Can you do me a favor?" "Sure, what are friends for?" "Well, would you mind looking after the boys and mom? I'll call Arnie. He and I can pick up the truck." "No problem." "Thanks." While David called and filled Arnie in on the mornings events, Gwen busied herself making breakfast. The smell of the bacon flowed through the house and soon the twins were bounding down the stairs. Moments later Betty came down and joined Gwen in the breakfast making. David decided to wake Adam. He went to the boy's room and tapped lightly on the door and then slipped inside thinking of covering Adam with kisses while he had the chance. He stood unbelieving at the empty room. He thought of the truck and realized what must have happened. Adam must have seen he and Gwen sleeping together on the couch and assumed the worst. How could David have been so stupid? He kept forgetting that Adam was only fourteen. That he needed to be reminded that David was not going to fall for someone else especially a woman. David cursed and ran back down stairs. He told Gwen where the truck was located and to tell Arnie he couldn't wait, he had to get to the scene. He had to be sure that no one was hurt. Gwen agreed to retrieve the vehicle with Arnie while Betty stayed with the twins. "What's happened David?" Betty asked as David grabbed his coat and headed for the garage. "Adam. Adam's gone." ************************************************************************ Send comments to: comments@tomcup.com To support this and other stories by the author, join at http://www.tomcup.com. If you like this story, check out Tom Cup's "Calvin: A Coming of Age Story." Available at Barnes and Nobles Bookstores, Amazon.com and our local independent bookseller