Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2002 19:20:57 +0000
From: Ben nobody <ben_sc@hotmail.com>
Subject: Berto's Roses- Part XXVIII Beginnings

I really feel the need to apologize to my readers as it has been entirely
too long since I have written and posted a new chapter. This time I really
do have an excuse. I was out of town for an entire week and I don't own a
laptop so I couldn't really do anything in my hotel room at night but watch
TV and be bored. Well there was that one night when that guy I met online
came by...

Berto's Roses

By Ben

Part XXVIII

I slept rather fitfully that night. Too many things going through my
head. I would be with Jake soon, and I was really looking forward to it. On
the other hand, Berto was leaving and I was dreading that. I was hoping
that Jake would help me to get over my feelings for Berto. At the same
time, I wasn't certain I wanted my feelings for Berto to change.

As a result, I woke up tired and sore and in a genuinely pissed-off mood. I
growled as I threw of the covers and made my way to the bathroom. The
shower did a lot to improve my grouchiness and I was aware of just how
irritable I was, so I avoided everybody for awhile. I skipped my early
morning coffee, went out to the beach and took a solitary walk.

The temperature was slightly cool and the breeze was refreshing, the surf
was low and calm. The small gulls circled and squeaked. I pulled off my
shoes and socks and carried them. I had rolled up the legs of my jeans and
waded in the water.

What the hell was the matter with me? I was going to have almost a month in
the company of a great guy, whom, just a couple of weeks ago, I had given
serious thought to going to Italy with. Jake was gorgeous and sexy and we
made wonderful love together. I truly had missed him and was anxious to get
him alone. I silently kicked my own ass and resolved to pull myself out of
my dark mood.

I turned and walked back to the house. I passed the spot where I thought I
had lost Berto the night of our nude swim. A pang of pain stabbed through
my chest at the memory.  This was followed by a vision of Berto giving me
the sand dollar. I walked to the opening in the garden wall, automatically
looking for him in the roses.

Ah, there he was. He had turned on the sprinklers and was lovingly pruning
and clearing.  I knelt next to him and he silently smiled and handed me a
pair of shears so I might help him. We worked, side-by- side, neither of us
speaking. We simply enjoyed this time and each other's company. Gone was my
somber mood. Forgotten was the feeling of anxiety and dread. I was living
in the moment and savory it.

We finished the pruning and were walking back toward the casa with freshly
cut roses and the trimmings. I looked up and noticed Manuella watching
us. I wondered how long she had been there. She was smiling, but I could
tell her heart was breaking. She would miss her nino; I felt her pain and
wanted to reassure her, but knew that it would only make Berto feel guilty.

We went inside and had breakfast. The food was excellent and abundant as
usual, but it seemed that nobody had much of an appetite. Conversation was
sparse and we finished up rather quickly. Manuella said, "Berto, Senior
Roberto asked that you go up and see him before Senior Ben takes you to San
Augustin." Berto went upstairs and I turned to help Manuella clear away the
breakfast dishes.

She stood with her back to me, facing the table. Her shoulders were shaking
and her head has down. I knew she was crying. I walked over to her, turned
her, put my arms around her stout body, and pulled her into a strong hug.

"Shhh...shhhhh. It's going to be okay. He'll be fine. Ricky and Carla have
assured me that they will watch out for him. Besides that, you have raised
him to be able to take care of himself. " I kissed her on her head and
placed my fingers under her chin to gently raise her face to look in her
eyes.

"Oh, Senior Ben, I know he will be fine. It's just that he has never been
away from me and I will miss him so much." The dam broke again and tears
rolled down her cheeks in little rivers.

I reached for a dish towel and tried, in vain, to staunch the torrent. I
let he get it out and just held her.

"I'll tell you what. If Berto can't get home for awhile, I'll take you to
see him in San Augustin, okay?"

She looked up at me with hope in her expression. The tears slowed to a
trickle. "Really? Oh thank you, Senior Ben, thank you!" I was suddenly
beset by a rib-crushing hug, but she was actually smiling. I dried her eyes
and gave her a final hug as we heard Berto thumping down the stairs.

His face was full of wonder as he looked at something he was carrying in
his hand. I looked more closely and saw a wad of U.S. currency and a credit
card. Apparently, Bob had been very generous with his going away present. I
rebuked myself for not having thought of that, but it would have seemed and
empty gesture now.

Manuella saw the cash and started to protest. I put my hand, gently, over
her mouth. "It gave Bob a lot of satisfaction to give it to him. Let him
enjoy it, Manuella."

"But he will spend it foolishly." She mumbled, after I took my hand away.

"I certainly hope so. That's how it was intended to be spent. Better put
that in your pocket so it doesn't get lost, Berto. Ready to go?"

"Si, Senor Ben." He stuffed the bills and the card into his pocket, then
walked over to his mother.  They walked hand-in-hand to the truck. Berto
kissed her and they had a short conversation in Spanish.  Then followed a
hug which lasted forever. Manuella held up beautifully, no tears and even a
smile. You had to admire the woman's strength.

We got into the truck. I gave a thumbs up and a wink to Manuella. She
nodded her head quickly in understanding. I backed out of the driveway
quickly and we were on the way.  I heard a sniff or two from the other side
of the truck. I reached over and took Berto's hand in mine.  He gripped it
firmly and finally released it then looked at me with very wet, dark
eyes. This wasn't easy for him either.

We rode in silence for a long time. Each lost in our own train of thought.
As we got closer to Ricky's, he began asking me a myriad of questions. I
answered as best I could, but didn't really know what he should expect at
the university. He was excited and nervous at the same time.


I showed him the estate from a distance. He was as awed as I was the first
time I saw it. He used several Spanish expletives, which I didn't
understand. I drove up to the house and parked in front rather than the
garage.

We were met at the door by Jose. He looked sexier than ever. He yelled my
name, grabbed me and lifted me off the ground into a huge hug.

"Put me down, Jose. You're breaking my back."

Jose laughed at this, but put me down anyway. He grabbed my face and
proceeded to give me a long, very sensuous kiss. He nearly took my breath
away. I blushed crimson-red as Berto was a witness to all of this.

"Um...Berto, this is Jose. He is Ricky's...um..."

"Lover, " Berto said, matter-of-factly. "Buenos dias, Senor Jose."

"Senor? No, do not call me `Senor'. That is for old men, like him." Jose
laughed and poked his finger in my ribs.  "You must call me Jose. I
insist. Please, come inside.  Enrique and Carla are waiting for us. We will
have lunch."

As was his habit, Jose held my hand. He also held Berto's hand as we went
into the library. Ricky rose from his chair as we entered and gave me big
hug and a quick kiss. He also hugged Berto.

"Buenos dias, Berto. Welcome to my father's home. My sister, Carla will be
with us momentarily.  She likes to make an entrance." He said with a wink
and a smile. I still found it amazing how handsome he was.

"As I recall, she's very good at it." I commented. This brought a round of
laughter from all the men in the room.

"And what is so funny?" I turned at Carla's voice. She was stunning. Her
long hair was brushed back and cascaded down her back. She wore a simple
yellow sundress and her tanned shoulders and décolletage were set off to
perfection. She had placed tiny yellow and white flowers in her shiny black
hair as well. She wore sandals on her feet and her toenails were as neatly
trimmed and polished in clear enamel as her fingernails. She looked very
much the coed.

"Hello, Carla. You are looking especially beautiful today." I spoke the
truth.

"Well thank you, Ben." I received a chaste kiss on the cheek and a hug.

"Carla, may I introduce Berto? Berto this is Carla. Isn't be lovely?"

"Si, Senor Ben. Muy linda. Buenos dias Senorita Chavez."

Carla wrinkled her nose and smiled. "I think, since we will be fellow
students and great friends, you should just call me Carla, no? Come Berto,
let us eat. I have much to tell you and show you." She took Berto's arm and
they walked into the smaller dining room. Jose took my hand and Ricky
walked by my other side. As we were entering the dining room, Ricky grabbed
a handful of my ass and whispered into my ear.  "How are you doing, my
friend. He will be fine, I promise you. Carla will see to that."

I jumped at his touch, but I appreciated his concern and whispered a quiet
thank you. Carla had seated Berto next to her and I sat on his other
side. Ricky and Jose took the other two chairs and the food was served
immediately. I noticed Berto had a nervous look and leaned over to whisper
in his ear.

"Just watch what Carla does, and you will be fine." Berto nodded his
understanding and gave me a grateful look. Fortunately, Don Chavez was not
present for the meal, so things were a lot more informal.  Carla took up
most of Berto's attention and, before long, the two of them were chattering
away in an English-Spanish mix that I didn't understand very well.

I talked and joked with Ricky and Jose. Ricky was kidding Jose about his
flying lessons in the lear jet and the helicopter. He told me that if I was
to fly with him to make sure I brought a "barf bag" along. I told him that
I wasn't all that anxious to get into another plane with Jose, after the
last time.  Berto, of course, had no idea what I was talking about, so we
related the story to him, including the part about Don Chavez pulling one
over on all of us.

"Believe me, Berto, he flies like you drive." Berto wrinkled his forehead
and his expression told everybody that he had no earthly idea what I was
talking about.

It was getting late and I needed to get to San Diego. We all went outside
and I saw that Berto's things were gone from the truck. Ricky led the way
to the garage and opened the cavernous trunk of the limousine. Inside were
Berto's belonging and a complete computer set up, still in the boxes.

"This is your surprise from us, Berto. It is very helpful to have your own
computer at university.  Carla has one just like it and she will help you
set it up. You will even be able to email home whenever you want to.

Berto's jaw dropped and he inhaled sharply. His eyes were wide open in
disbelief. This is something he would never have expected. I had to admit
that even I was impressed and Ricky's continuous generosity.

"This is for me?" Berto barely croaked out.

Ricky nodded, smiling his best killer smile. "Si, it is our gift for your
first day at university with our confidence that you will use it and learn
well."

"Oh, muchos gracias, Senor Chavez!" Berto gave him a big hug, then Jose,
then Carla. Finally, he turned to me. "Senor Ben, do you see what they have
given to me? Is it not magnifico?"

"I hugged him and said. "It sure is. And I expect you to send me some
email.  I will even try to get you mama to send you email, too. I need to
be going, now, Berto. Carla will make sure you get settled in at
school. Good luck and study hard, okay."

Berto stood up straight and looked into my eyes. "Please tell Mama that I
love her and that I will be alright."

"I promise, Berto."

"And, Senor Ben?"

"Yes, Berto?"

"I love you, too."

He held he in a strong hug and the pain that filled my heart was agonizing.
I kissed him on his forehead and could only manage to get a whisper through
my tightened throat.

"I love you, too, Berto."

"Come, Berto. Let me show you the house before we leave for university."
Carla took his arm as she gave me a kiss and led him away toward the
house. Ricky and Jose stayed with me as I watched them walk away, chatting
like old friends.

I had a sudden thought. "I need to give Berto my business card so he will
know my email address." I started walking to the door through Carla and
Berto had disappeared. Ricky held me back.

"I will give it to him, Ben. You should just go now. It will be easier for
you both this way."

I knew he was right. I nodded and thanked him. He and Jose hugged me and
kissed my tear- streaked face. They led me to the truck and I got in and
started it. With a final wave I drove down the long driveway and made my
way to San Diego. I'm not sure just exactly when I stopped crying, but by
the time I made the border, I had.

I found the military terminal without much incident thanks to a very
friendly gate guard. I checked on Jake's flight and found to my unexpected
pleasure, that it was due in the next 20 minutes. I got a coke from the
machine and read an outdated issue of people magazine that somebody had
left laying around.

I had been reading for awhile when I noticed a pair of white Navy uniform
shoes that had stopped right in front of me. I continued looking up and saw
an impeccable set of "summer whites" with Lt.  Commander's shoulder
boards. Under the combination cap was the handsome face of Jake. He was
even hotter than I remembered. Or maybe it was the uniform. This man was
made to wear it.

I jumped up and drew him into a hug, nearly knocking him over in the
process. I almost lost control and kissed him right there, in front of God
and everybody. I managed to stop myself and finally released him. He was a
sight for sore eyes.

"I need to make a head call." He said. "Come with me."

We found the men's room and I walked in first. After a quick look around,
Jake stood directly in from of the closed door and pulled me into a hot
sensuous kiss. He held me close and all my tension and sadness just melted
away. Jake was here and everything was going to be okay.


I hope it was worth the wait. I'll try to get the next chapter out in a
more timely manner. Thanks for reading. Please go to /nifty/support.html
and do what you can. There are a lot of great stories in the archive and
every one of us benefits from having a free site. Feel free to write to me
at ben_sc@hotmail.com.  If you haven't read any of my other stories, check
them out under the "Authors" link. Look for "Lyle Benton".