Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:04:14 +0000 (UTC)
From: Jay Carrington <jcee1113@yahoo.com>
Subject: My Son and His Friends - Chapter 46

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This is a story of a man's relationship with his son and his son's
friends. The writing is very detailed and is a written representation of
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imagination.  Any resemblance to any real person(s) is purely coincidental.
The story contains consensual sexual behavior between young adult males and
an older adult male.  It depicts both unprotected sex and protected sex.
Safe sex practices are the way to go if you plan to be around for years to
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Chapter 46 - My Son and His Friends

Monday morning arrived and found us scrambling to get Phil fed, out of the
house, and to his work sites.  Dad and I sat at the island afterwards
reading the paper, listening to the news, me drinking some orange juice
while Dad drank his fifth cup of coffee.  Dad remarked that after his fifth
cup, he was now ready to face the day.  I had to laugh as he always has had
to have his coffee, but that is one of several things that he and I don't
share.  I don't like hot drinks except an occasional hot chocolate or an
apple cider based holiday drink during extremely cold weather.  As we
exchanged sections of the paper, Dad pointed to an ad that he wanted to
follow-up on later in the day.  I glanced at it and told him that it was
not too far from the house, and we could visit it during our errand running
trip.  He was happy that it could be worked into our agenda.

After we finished reading the paper, Dad and I cleaned the kitchen and
headed out to run some errands.  As we entered the garage, I remembered the
fishing rods and the other supplies that I had purchased at Target on
Friday.  I showed them to Dad, and he made a few more suggestions of stuff
that we needed to buy to finish out the equipment needs.  He said "Doug, do
you know where a bait shop is located around here?"  I said "No, but we can
call Phil and see if he knows."  We got in the Denali, and I called Phil.
I backed out and headed to one of the local hardware stores.  Phil answered
the phone, and I asked him about the bait shop.  He told me that there was
one on Arminture Way called Fido's Bait Shop.  Dad made a note on the
notepad that I keep on the console.

We continued to the hardware store where we walked the aisles and examined
several items for Dad's backyard and mine, as well.  Dad wanted a few
hummingbird feeders, a black light bug light, a large Styrofoam cooler, and
a few inflatable owls.  I looked at the owls, and he said "I think they
will help scare the squirrels away."  I just shook my head and looked at
the lopping shears and landscaping lights.  I decided to buy the lopping
shears, but held off on the landscaping lights until I had talked with
Phil.  We checked out, placed our purchases in the Denali and headed to the
nursery that Dad had pointed out in the newspaper.

We pulled into the parking lot at the nursery, parked and got out.  Dad
headed over to the cement statuary, I followed.  He looked at several
characters and a multi-level fountain / bird bath.  I said "Dad, how do you
propose to get that one back to your house?"  He said "Doug, you sound so
much like your mom.  You both should know that when I really want
something, I will find a way."  He checked on the prices and then, we
headed into the large lot which contained a large collection of live shrubs
and trees.  He asked one of the workers if they had a Limelight Hydrangea,
and the worker said that they didn't, but were expecting a truck later in
the day.  We walked on and looked at a few more shrubs before I suggested
that we talk to Phil about buying plants.  Dad thought about that for a few
seconds and agreed with me.  We left the nursery and headed to Target.

On the way to Target, Dad said "Doug, I am not going to dwell on this, but
I feel I need to say something.  I am not your mother.  I do not hold the
same beliefs that she does, and I can accept your relationship with Phil.
He seems to be a very nice young man who fits into your household and
contributes to your and Ryan's happiness."  I smiled and felt a tear form
in my eyes.  I kept my attention on the road ahead of me as I listened to
Dad.  As we got out of heavy traffic he said "Doug, you embarrassed Phil
and me Saturday night with your detailed comment about your relationship.
That was a totally unnecessary way to handle that situation.  You need to
know that I was not born yesterday, and I do know more about things like
that than you think."  I said "Dad, it was our first night together in over
two weeks and I wanted to lay with my head in his lap and he wouldn't allow
it with you in the room, so I decided to address the issue head-on."  Dad
said "Doug, you said enough in Pigeon Forge, so I had figured it out.  I
did not need a graphic picture, but like I said earlier, I don't want to
make a big issue out of this.  I just want you and Phil to relax around me.
I can and will accept your relationship.  I just hope that makes you feel
better."  I smiled and turned to face Dad.  "Dad, you have no idea as to
how happy that makes me.  I just wish that I could count on Mom, but we
both know that will never happen."  He said "Doug, your mom has changed so
much over the years that on some days, I don't recognize her.  I sometimes
wonder why we are still together and then, I remember that she has strong
beliefs and will not even consider a divorce."  I looked at Dad with wide
eyes and probably a gapping mouth.  He said "Doug, all marriages have their
ups and downs.  You remember that from your own marriage.  No marriage is a
bed of roses all of the time.  That is why we have outside friendships and
relationships."  Just about that time, we were at Target and the
conversation ended, as I parked, and we got out and headed into the store.

As we walked the store picking up many items that I had on my list, along
with some that Dad suggested we buy, I kept reflecting back to Dad's
comments.  I wanted to ask him about what he meant by outside friendships
and relationships.  Was my Dad telling me that he had an affair?  If so,
who with?

We finished our shopping and checked out.  We got in the Denali and headed
home.  I tried on several occasions to reengage our previous conversation,
but I could not find a good opening, so I just sat on my side and let my
imagination go.  As I conjured, analyzed, dismissed and played with several
ideas and individuals, I began to wonder just why did Dad find it so easy
to accept our relationship.  Did this mean?????  Nnnoooooooooo, not my Dad.

We arrived at the house, unloaded the purchases, and I made a quick summer
garden salad with toasted garlic bread for lunch.  Dad went to his room and
stored his purchases.  After he returned to the kitchen, he helped me by
setting out the glasses, tea, forks, knives, and napkins.  I finished the
salad and placed it and several bottles of salad dressings on the counter.
We sat down and had a good lunch.  Dad told me that he really wanted that
multi-tiered fountain - bird bath.  I suggested that he talk to Phil, as he
might know of another place that might have a better price, or maybe he
could get Dad a discount.  Dad nodded his head and said "That's a good idea
son."

We finished eating, and I stood up.  Dad said "Doug, go sit down on the
sofa and relax.  I can handle this kitchen, and you can thank your mom for
that."  I started to argue, but I thought that he probably needed to stay
in practice, or there would be hell to pay when he went home and she
returned, so I did as I was told.  I walked into the family room, plopped
down on the sofa, turned on the TV and started watching a program on the
HGTV channel.  Dad joined me in a few minutes, and he and I critiqued
elements of the program.  I asked Dad about his interests in several of the
pieces of statuary that he had looked at that morning.  He told me that he
wanted to add some characters in the backyard near his workshop.  We talked
about possible locations and shared a few laughs about some other stuff
that we could put out there, like a couple of nudes that would drive Mom
crazy.

The program finished, and I turned the TV off.  Dad said "Doug, what are
you planning for Ryan's birthday?"  I told him about the parties that
Michelle and I had planned.  I told him that I had sent out the invitations
for Ryan's party, so I was ahead on that.  Then, I said "I am glad that you
brought that up because I need to make a call about the parties."  I got up
and located the phone number for Rosie who had made the cake and churns of
ice cream last year.  I called her and she answered.  We talked, and I
asked if she could prepare the cake and ice cream again for two parties.
She said that she could, so I gave her the separate dates for Ryan's and
Myles' birthdays.  I told her that I would get up with her later regarding
the times and other specifics closer to the events.  We hung up, and I
returned to the family room.  I said "Well that is off my to-do list."  Dad
chuckled and said "Well Doug, I really meant, what are you thinking of
buying him?"  I said "He is going to be fifteen, and he already has a lot
of stuff, so I really don't know."  Dad said "Your Mom told me to make sure
that I purchased him a gift from the both of us before I left so, I have my
orders.  Can we ramble and look this afternoon?"  I said "Sure, that would
be a good thing to do since he is out of town."  We got up, walked to the
Denali, and headed to the area around the mall.

On the way, Dad said "Doug, I was thinking that in a little over a year, he
will be old enough to start driving, and since he loves to fish so much,
that maybe I should look at a Jon boat for him."  I said "Dad, that would
be nice, but his schedule doesn't allow him to do a lot of fishing other
than when, he is with you, and we don't have a vehicle to transport a
boat."  Dad countered with "That is why I was saying that next year when he
can drive, he might have a small truck so he could carry it back and
forth."  I said "Dad, he is very active in some of the school sports and he
swims.  He really doesn't have a lot of free time, but when he does, he is
studying or hanging with the 'family'."  "Family?" Dad asked.  I said
"Yeah, Jay, Myles and Rob.  They are like brothers, and they are always
together unless they are fussing, but that is short-lived."  Dad said "That
sounds familiar."  I smiled and pulled into a parking place at one of the
strip malls.

We went into one of the smaller privately owned sporting goods stores and
checked out a few things.  Dad was almost like a kid when he found a
paddleboard.  He said "Now Doug, I hear that these are very popular and
since you guys are going back to the farm and its lake, I think this would
be a great thing for Ryan."  I agreed, so Dad bought a bright green one,
and we asked the store manager to store it until we were ready to go home
later that afternoon.  He agreed, and we were out and in other stores
looking at other things that I might give Ryan.  I could not find anything,
so we headed to the mall.  As we were walking into the mall, I noticed a
young man coming toward me.  I looked at him, and I was awed by the chain
that he was wearing.  Being a teacher and unafraid to talk to young people,
I stopped him and talked with him about his chain.  He was more than proud
to tell me that his grandparents had given it to him on his fifteenth
birthday and that many people had complimented him on it.  He said that his
wish was to find a cross to signify his beliefs.  I told him that I was
sure that he could find one.  He said that he had looked, but had not found
the one that felt just right yet.  We finished our conversation, and I felt
that I now had an idea for Ryan.

We entered the mall and walked to one of the jewelry stores.  I looked at
the choices of chains, but was not impressed with their inventory.  We left
and walked down to another jewelry store.  We walked over to the counter
and began to look at that store's offerings.  A clerk came over and asked
if he could help.  I told him what I was looking for, and he pulled several
chains out and let me hold them.  I finally told him that I just didn't see
what I was wanting.  He asked me to describe what I wanted, so I described
the chain that the young man was wearing.  The clerk stood there, rubbed
his chin and then, snapped his fingers.  He said "Don't go away."  We stood
there for about five minutes before he returned.  He had the chain that I
wanted in his hands.  He said "This chain is one of our new ones and had
not been unpacked and put on display.  I told him that I wanted it so, he
put it in a case, figured up the cost and I paid for it.  As we left the
store, Dad said "Doug, that chain costs a lot of money."  I said "Dad, you
are right, but Ryan does not give me a lot of trouble, but understand, he
is far from being a saint."  Dad chuckled, and I added "And I would rather
see him enjoy something now while he is with me, rather than after I am
gone, and he goes on a wild spending spree."  Dad looked at me and said "Is
there a hidden message there?"  I said "Nooooo, why?"  He said "I was just
wondering if you were wanting something from me and your mom."  I said
"Dad, I make a good salary and I have ample resources.  I am not desperate,
and I am not in need of anything at this time."  He said "Your mom and I
have been talking about our wills and our estate, but I guess that is a
conversation for some place other than standing here in a mall."  We left,
drove back to the sporting goods store, picked up the paddle board, and
headed home.

We arrived at the house, and I pulled into the garage, parked, and lowered
the garage door.  Dad and I got out and stored the paddleboard in the
overhead of the garage.  We finished, went in and sat down after I stored
Ryan's birthday gift in my room.

Dad went to his room while I was in mine.  I returned to the family room
and shortly thereafter, Dad joined me wearing a swimsuit.  I looked up and
he said "I think I am going to take advantage of the pool this afternoon,
and it might be a good idea for you to join me." I gave it a quick thought
and decided to join Dad.  I walked back to my room and found a pair of my
board shorts.  I redressed and joined Dad in the pool. We swam, splashed
each other and relaxed on the floats.  Dad asked me what time did Phil get
home, and what were our plans for the evening?  I told him that Phil should
be home in about thirty minutes and that I really hadn't made plans yet.  I
asked him if he had any special requests, and he said that he didn't.  We
continued to float around the pool and then, I heard a door slam in the
house.  I slid off my float and made my way to the edge of the pool.  I
heard Phil yell for me, and I answered him with "We out in the pool."  I
was waiting for Phil to show up when I felt Dad move behind me and before I
knew it, he had pulled my swimsuit down.  I turned around, and he had my
suit in his hands and was twirling it on one of his fingers over his head.
About that time, Phil walked out to the pool area, and Dad released the
suit and it flew over and fell at Phil's feet.  He looked down, and then,
back at me with the strangest look on his face.  Dad started laughing, I
turned beet red and then, Phil reached down grabbed my suit, held it up and
said "Looks like someone lost their drawers!"  I turned around and sloshed
water on Dad.  He started laughing and sloshed me back.  It was now war. I
dove down and went for him.  I grabbed his suit and he battled me to keep
it up, but since he had started this, I prevailed and had his suit off of
him, and I flung it on the pool deck.

Phil just stood there watching me, and Dad battle it out.  He said "I
thought you two were conservative, but from the look of things, I would say
that was not correct. Now boys, is there something that I need to know?"  I
said "Dad surprised me when I went to the edge to wait on you.  He pulled
my suit off and threw it on the deck, so I did the same thing to him."
Phil started laughing again and said "Well, I guess I will just go over
there, sit down and see which one of you is brave enough to come out of the
pool first."  I turned and glared at Dad then, I lunged at him and took him
under the water.  He grabbed me and tossed me out of the water and into the
deeper end.  The war resumed, and we were playing like the boys often
played.  Phil just sat there and enjoyed our antics.  After awhile, Dad
swam over to the side of the pool and said that he had to rest.  I swam up
next to him and when he turned towards me, I sloshed him.  He laughed and
said "I guess I had that coming!"

As I stood there by Dad, I really began to think that I was tired of the
water too and was ready to get out.  I looked over at Phil with pleading
eyes.  He laughed and said "Oh no, I am not coming to the rescue for either
one of you!"  Finally, I thought what the hell, walked to the steps, and
walked out of the pool naked.  I walked over to where Phil had tossed my
suit, reached down, picked it up, and put it on with my back to Dad and
Phil.  Phil whistled, and I did a slight turn to him about the time that I
had it pulled up to my waist.  I walked over to Phil and sat down.  I
smiled at Dad and said "We are waiting for our floor show."  Dad looked at
me and said "Doug, unlike your mother, I don't have any hang-ups about
nudity" and he proceeded to do as I had done.  Soon he was on the pool deck
and putting on his swimsuit.  Phil looked over at me and smiled.  Dad came
over and sat down with us.

Phil looked at me and said "Doug, if you look as good as your Dad does at
his age then, I guess I will be one lucky guy."  I felt my face get hot and
Dad looked over my way.  He said "Yeah and everything still works!"  I went
deep red and was extremely hot in the face.  Both Phil and Dad got a good
laugh off of me.  I said "I think it is time to change the subject as both
of you have told me several times on this trip - that is too much
information."  I looked over at Phil and said "Dad has a few questions for
you about some plants."  Dad then talked to Phil about the Limelight
hydrangeas, while I sat and listened.  Phil told Dad that he would take him
to a nursery that he uses and they would be able to get a better price.
Dad was happy to hear that.  Then Dad mentioned the cement statutory and
again, Phil told Dad that he had a good source and they would be able to
get a substantial discount.

I heard my phone ring, and I ran into the house to answer it.  It was Ryan
checking in and wanting to know what he was missing.  I told him that we
had been in the pool and were now sitting out by the pool talking.  He told
me everything that they had done that day, and he detailed their evening
plans.  He said that Michelle had said that she wanted to sleep in tomorrow
morning, so they would not leave until around ten thirty.  I told him to
call me when they left the hotel, and he said that he would.  We talked for
a few more minutes, and then, hung up.

I returned to join Dad and Phil out by the pool.  Phil said "Well the
second that I opened the utility room door, I knew that we would be going
out to dinner as I did not smell anything cooking."  I smiled and said "You
sure are observant, what do you want?"  Phil thought for a few minutes and
finally he said "I think I would like a steak."  Dad agreed, so I said, "We
need to change clothes, and we will meet you in the kitchen in about ten
minutes."  Dad and I got up and headed to our rooms to change clothes.  We
finished changing and met Phil in the kitchen.  As we walked out to the
garage, we found that Phil had all of us blocked, so he was designated as
the driver.  We got in his truck, and Phil said "If there is not any
disagreement, I am going to go to Outback."  Everyone was quiet, so Phil
took that as approval, and we were off to Outback.

We pulled into the parking lot, got out, and walked into the restaurant.
We had to wait fifteen minutes, but were soon seated.  The waiter took our
drink orders, and we told him that we knew what we wanted to eat.  He took
our orders which were simple as each one of us ordered a rib-eye medium
rare, a baked potato with butter and sour cream and a salad with honey
mustard dressing.  Just as the waiter was about to leave our table, I
decided to order a blooming onion.  As he was writing that up, I asked if
he could delay our steaks until after we had finished the appetizer.  He
told me that he could and would.  In a few minutes, the blooming onion
arrived.  We began to cut into it and dip it into the sauce.  Dad spent a
lot of time picking Phil's brain about landscaping and some shrubs.  After
we had finished the blooming onion, our waiter brought our steaks to the
table, and we began to eat.  We talked as we ate and soon, we were finished
with our steaks and just about talked out.  The waiter reappeared, asked if
we would like a dessert, and we told him "no" as we were full.  Phil gave
him his credit card, and we were soon on our way home.

Phil drove into the driveway and parked behind the Denali.  We got out and
walked into the house as I lowered the garage door.  Everybody assembled in
the family room.  It was quiet for a few minutes, and finally, Dad said
"Doug, I came to visit you with a purpose in mind and since it is just the
three of us, I would like to have that conversation now.  This is rather
hard for me to bring up, but I need to put it out there, and I need you to
listen until I am finished."  I looked at Phil as my mind conjured up a
number of topics such as my Dad's health, my Mom and Dad's marriage, maybe
I had a brother that I didn't know about, or maybe my parents were having
financial issues.  I nodded to Dad, and he started.

Dad looked over to Phil and began "I have given this a lot of thought since
Doug called me on his way back from your Dad's funeral.  He was so taken
with how close your family was during your father's sickness and his death
as compared to our family."  I started to say something, but Dad gave me
that eye and I knew to not say anything.  He looked at me and continued
"Doug, your mother and I married when we were just out of high school.
Your Mother never accomplished her goals in life, and she has always felt
to some degree like she was trapped in this marriage by her faith, family,
and the people around town.  Now, she loves you beyond comprehension with
all of her heart, and she would give her life in a heartbeat to protect
you, but she is unhappy and makes everyone around her suffer.  She has made
her faith her foundation and judges everything that we and others do,
against the teachings of her faith."  I rolled my eyes at Phil, but he
continued to look and listen to Dad.  Dad continued "I know that you are
wondering why I am bringing this up, but let me get to that.  A marriage is
supposed to be a union between two people who love one another, and they
are supposed to grow together and share both the happy moments and the
unhappy times.  Your mother and I did love one another early on, but we
have grown apart.  Over the years, we talked about a divorce, but she would
not agree as she wanted to make sure that you had a home with two parents.
We toughed it out, each doing our own thing, but keeping up the pretense of
being a couple.  Whewwwww, that was tough, but there is more."  I sat up,
put my elbows on my knees, and propped my head in my hands.  I could not
believe what I was hearing.  I could feel my stomach tightening and my
heart began to beat faster.  Dad continued "As a man, there are many things
that one must do to maintain his sanity and to meet personal needs.  I
began to hang with a group of men at work and then, a group in the
community.  We all banded together and did a number of things together in
men only settings.  Eventually, as we became more friendlier with each
other and established a feeling of camaraderie and trust, we started
talking about our sex lives, or lack thereof.  As we began to share out
situations, it became evident that we were harboring a lot of feelings that
were manifesting themselves in anger and hurt.  Eventually as things would
work out, we went to a secluded farm for a weekend, and in a moment of
madness, we all stripped naked and drank a number of beers.  Things
progressed, dares were made and accepted, and some of us joined in, or did
things that we never ever imagined ourselves doing.  Just so you know, I
sucked a couple of cocks that night and I had mine sucked.  The feelings
were overwhelming as I had not had that type of treatment in years.  I
longed for the feeling of the human touch, of being held, and just feeling
close to another living and breathing person.  This has been going on for
years, and it is still something that I engage in from time to time."

I felt my head drop between my hands.  I can honestly say that I had never
expected this confession, or would I have ever expected to hear that my Dad
had been intimate with another man.  I felt sick on my stomach, and my head
was spinning with questions.  Dad looked at me and said "Doug, that was
extremely hard for me to reveal tonight, but I had to do it as I need for
you to understand three things.  The first is: I needed to explain to you
as to why our family is not as close as you would like; two, that I just
like your Mother love you beyond measure, and three, that I truly
understand and accept your relationship with Phil.  In fact, I am happy
that you have finally found someone to be there for you because, I watched
you suffer in silence and withdraw from a number of things when Allison
left.  If it had not been for Ryan and the boys, I don't know what would
have happened to you."  He turned to Phil and said "Phil, I want you to
know that I welcome you to our family, but my wife will probably feel
differently."  I sat there dumbfounded and unable to get any words out of
my mouth.

Finally, Phil said "Doug, I think we all need time to think on this, so I
am suggesting that we go to our rooms and discuss this later when we are
all together without Ryan and the boys.  I heard him, but I just sat there
looking at my Dad.  Phil placed his hand on my thigh and shook me; I slowly
responded to him and stood up.  I said goodnight to Dad, and I followed
Phil to our bedroom.  Phil got me settled and then, he toured the house
turning off the lights and making sure that the house was secured.

Phil returned to our room, and we stripped down to our boxer briefs.  We
crawled into bed and Phil pulled me to him.  He spooned behind me and put
his arm around me and played with my nipple and chest hair.  He kissed my
neck and talked to me.  I heard him, but nothing was making sense.  We lay
there and eventually, I dropped off to sleep.

I awoke the next morning and suddenly remembered my most disturbing dream.
I turned to Phil, and he was watching me closely.  As I looked at him, and
the look on his face, I knew that it was not a dream, but that it was
reality.  I felt sick again.  I shook my head, rolled out of bed, went to
the bathroom and took a hot shower by myself.  As I stood in the shower,
things and events began to make sense: the look on the mountain, the no
comment when he opened the door of my bedroom and found me naked with the
boys, the acceptance of my relationship with Phil, and the events in and
out of the pool today.  My world had been rocked, and now, I had to decide
how I would handle this.  I finished my shower, and Phil followed me by
taking his.  I got dressed and waited for Phil to finish his shower.  He
dressed, and we walked out to the kitchen.  I began to prepare scrambled
eggs, grits, a slice of ham, toast, and hash-browns.  Phil turned on the
news and settled down in front of the TV because he definitely wanted to
hear the weather forecast.  Dad joined me in the kitchen and proceeded to
make his pot of coffee.  Dad backed against the counter and watched me.  I
felt his gaze, so I turned and looked at him.  He said "I did not sleep
that much last night.  I am afraid that I said too much and you may not be
able to handle it the way that I had hoped you would."  I said "Dad, it was
and is a lot to comprehend, as I would never have expected to hear any of
that from you.  In time, I will put everything in perspective, but right
now, I am going to focus on this breakfast and make every effort that I can
to make sure that this is a memorable trip for you as well as, a beginning
of a stronger relationship with my Dad.  Dad walked over and hugged me.  I
felt moisture on my neck and as he pulled back, I noticed that he had tears
in his eyes.  , I finished cooking breakfast, and Phil poured me and him a
glass of orange juice while Dad had his third cup of coffee.  We ate
breakfast, and Phil asked me what time did I expect Ryan to come home?  I
told him probably no later than 4 o'clock.  Phil said that he would make an
effort to be home by four thirty and then, we could go to his friend's pond
and do some fishing.  Dad's ears perked up, and I told Phil that I liked
those plans and that I would call Meredith and Christine to tell them about
the fishing trip and to invite Rob and Jay.

Phil finished eating his breakfast, placed his plate and glass in the sink
and headed out the door.  Dad and I sat at the bar.  Dad finally said
"Doug, I truly do not want things to be awkward between us as you are my
only son, and I love you with all of my heart."  I said "Dad, I love you
too, but I need time to sort through this, and I promise you that I will
put things in perspective.  I will make every effort to find a positive
here, and I will make every effort to pull us together as a family."  We
cleared the counter and rinsed our dishes in the sink before placing them
in the dishwasher.

I looked at Dad and said "Can we talk more this morning?"  He said "Doug, I
will talk with you about a number of things, but there are some things that
I just don't feel like going into or sharing."  I thought about what he had
said, and I decided that my questions would probably fall into the
forbidden area, so I said "Dad, I understand and I will respect your
wishes, my questions were probably off-limits."  We walked into the family
room, picked up sections of the newspaper, read them, and swapped them off.
After we finished the paper, Dad asked if we could drive down to Fort
Valley to check on some peaches.  I agreed in an instant, because I knew
that the boys would love to have a peach cobbler and I would love to have
some so that I could put some in the freezer.  We walked out to the garage,
pulled down several plastic crates, and put them in the Denali.  We got in,
backed out, and headed to Fort Valley via the interstate.

As we drove, I asked Dad to stay a little longer, so that he could be a
part of Ryan's fifteenth birthday.  He said that he would think about it,
but he would have to consult his calendar as he had some appointments
scheduled before Mom returned from her trip.  That was not the exact answer
that I wanted, but it was a start.

End of Chapter 46

WOW!!!!!!!!  Did you ever see that one coming?????  I sure didn't, and I am
supposed to know it all.  Well I did predict that Dad's visit would be
interesting.  I guess we need to see how things are handled when the boys
return and become a part of the everyday activities while Dad visits.

After receiving several emails from new readers who talked about this
story, I spent some time and started reading it from the beginning, as I
had to do some research for this chapter.  I really appreciated their
comments and I look forward to reading more from them as the story
continues.

Thanks for reading and please feel free to write and comment about the
story. Your feedback and comments make writing more meaningful.  Enjoy your
weekend!  Jay