Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 14:21:38 -0400
From: Michael Raburn <mraburn@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Dylan's Hope 10

THIS WORK IS FULLY PROTECTED BY U.S. COPYRIGHT LAWS.  NO PORTION OF
THIS WORK MAY BE COPIED OR REDISTRIBUTED BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS CONSENT OF ITS AUTHOR.

THIS WORK DEALS WITH A FICTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO MEN.  IF
READING ABOUT HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS OR SEXUAL CONTACT BETWEEN TWO
MEN IS EITHER ILLEGAL IN YOUR AREA OR OFFENDS YOU, PLEASE DO NOT READY
ANY FURTHER.

ANY SIMILARITIES TO ANY PERSON LIVING OR DEAD ARE PURELY COINCIDENTAL.
THIS WORK IS ENTIRELY FICTIONAL.


THANKS GUYS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT...  I'm so sorry that this has taken so
long to get out.  Without going into too many details, let me just say that
the path I thought I was on got diverted and the direction of my life has
changed in the last couple of months.  It's all gonna work out, it always
does.  Keep me in your thoughts and I struggle through the next few months.
I'll try to be more punctual in my postings...Michael


DYLAN'S HOPE

Michael A. Raburn


Chapter 10


"Somebody decide to have a party and not tell me?" I asked as we pulled up
in front of the cabin.  Sarah and two men were sitting on our front steps
and waved to us as I parked.  "Oh, you called ahead didn't you, sweetie?" I
asked my handsome lover and leaned into kiss him before I got out of the
truck.

"Yep, yep." He giggled.

Sarah and the two men stood as we approached the steps.  She hugged Dylan
and kissed him on the cheek then extended her hand to me.  I swatted it
aside and hugged her as well.

"You can't get away that easily." I joked.  "After everything you did for
us at the hospital that night, I think you deserve a hug."

"Just doing my job."

"Yeah, right." I laughed.

"Jon, Dylan, this is my brother Mark and his partner Jake.  They're
interested in doing the work on the studio for you."

We all shook hands and then started talking about the space I wanted them
to work on.  Dylan unlocked the door and ushered Sarah inside as the guys
and I walked around the side of the house and towards the barn.

Granddad's barn, like everything he built was no ordinary barn.  Years ago
when he finished the house and moved up here he started building a place to
house all his toys, his tractor and four-wheeler.  Located about fifty feet
behind the main house it was about the size of a two-car garage but had a
taller roofline.  The structure sat on a concrete pad and had been equipped
with running water but there was no heating or cooling equipment installed.

Dylan and I had talked about the possibilities of using the existing
building as my new studio space but were undecided where to house the
equipment if we moved it out of the barn.  We didn't know if we wanted a
new studio or a new storage shed.  I asked Mark his opinion and he was
about to answer when Sarah and Dylan walked up, glasses of iced tea in
their hands for all of us.

I pulled Dylan to my side and kissed him on the cheek.  "Thanks baby."

Mark looked at us wide-eyed then looked at his sister.  Jake slapped him in
the belly with the back of his hand.  "Told ya."

"Huh?" I asked.

"Sorry Jon, Dylan.  Mark was trying to figure out why two grown men would
be sharing a cabin up here so far away from the city.  Sarah wouldn't say
anything one way or the other, but I had this feeling that you were in a
relationship.  Mr. Know it All over here thought I was crazy."

"I just didn't want to jump to conclusions." Mark sputtered.

"Well, that's kind of you. I guess.  But let us be clear about this.  Jon
and I are married to each other, well, as married as we can get.  If you
have a problem with that..." Dylan explained.

"Told ya." Jake taunted again.

"We are too." Mark whispered, a look of embarrassment on his face.

"What was that buddy?"  Jake asked.  "I didn't quite hear that."

"Jake and I are too." Mark said a little louder, a faint grin crossing his
face in spite of his embarrassment.

"Mark, there's nothing to be embarrassed about.  You love who you love,
nothing else matters." I stated.

"I wish you would tell that to the people that live around here." He
replied.  "I'm sure it's easier in the city.  People around here can be so
cruel and even dangerous if they find out someone might even be suspected
of being gay."

"Oh, believe me, the city is not much better.  I've always felt that I had
to have my guard up all the time.  And the places that should be safe for
us are not always.  Jon was attacked...shit." He stopped, looked up at me
pleadingly.  "Daddy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean, I shouldn't have..."  Big
tears were welling up in his eyes.

"Dylan, it's alright.  It's something we need to talk about anyway."

"But, I didn't want to hurt you." The tears were now rolling down his
cheeks.

"Shhh." I pulled him into my arms.  "He can't hurt me any more.  It's over.
And you did nothing wrong." I whispered in his ear.

Continuing to cradle Dylan's head to my chest I finished what he had
started to say.  "I was attacked by a guy I met in a bar in Atlanta.  I
don't know whether he was strung out or just out to get me.  I'm not even
sure if I was his intended target or if it was totally random.  Whatever,
what Dylan was trying to say is that it's not always safe even in places
that should be.  Life's too short to worry about all that junk now though.
We're safe here, you guys too.  Don't feel you have to hide anything from
us.  If you want to hold hands or whatever at least this is one place you
don't have to hide anything."

Mark stretched out his arm to grab Jake by the waist.  Jake looked up
startled at him then relaxed into Mark's side, grinning like he had just
won the lottery.

"Now, back to the studio." I started to redirect our conversation.  I knew
these guys would become great friends and we would offer them the sanctuary
of our property and our friendship.  Sarah already seemed like family and
now her brother and his lover would be too.

"Jon, I think Sarah and I are going to work on dinner.  Can you guys stay?"
Dylan asked.

"We don't want to be any trouble." Mark started.

"None at all.  Five it is then.  Come up to the house when you're done
here." He kissed me and grabbed Sarah's hand and started off towards the
house.

"He's so nice." Jake said.

"Don't know what I'd do without him." I answered.

Over the next hour Mark, Jake and I planned, sketched and discussed the
pros and cons of all the possibilities we could brainstorm about the barn.
Finally we decided to use the existing space as the main studio, build a
separate building to house the kilns to minimize the possibility of fire
hazard, and to build an extension onto the back of the barn for the
tractors.  A heating plan was sketched out that included both central heat
and air as well as a small wood burning stove.  Satisfied that the plan
would work we discussed price and scheduling.  They were eager to start as
quickly as I gave them the go ahead.  In order to do that we had to lay out
the plans for Dylan.  I wouldn't make this decision without him.

We arrived back at the house and were greeted by the wonderful smells of
country fried steak and gravy.  Sarah was mashing potatoes as we came in
the door.  "Dinner's almost ready.  Why don't you guys clean up and we'll
be ready." She said.

"Yes, ma'am." We chorused.



Dylan's steak was a hit with the guys that night.  We had a leisurely
dinner then moved to the living room where we continued our conversations
over coffee in front of the fire.  Mark and Jake were curious about how
we'd met so we told the abbreviated story of our lives then it was their
turn.  They were neighbors and classmates in school and found themselves
inexplicably drawn to each other.  Over the years they had become closer
and closer until one day Jake finally declared his love for Mark.  He was
so scared that his confession would drive them apart and that maybe Mark
did not share his feelings.  But, had reached the point where he could not
go on without Mark knowing how much he loved him.  Mark was freaked out by
Jake's declaration but quickly realized that he had been fighting the same
thoughts and emotions and that he did indeed love Jake with all his heart.

When Mark started his construction business Jake naturally became a part of
his professional world.  They built a house, supposedly for Mark but Jake
had moved in with him to "save" on the expenses of building his own house.
They had kept their love a secret from everybody but Sarah and even
continued to maintain separate bedrooms for appearances sake, even though
they had slept together every night since they graduated from high school.
Their parents were continually after them to find nice girls and get
married.  They just couldn't understand why two good looking young men
wouldn't want to get married and settle down to have a bunch of
grandchildren for them.

"Guys, it's been great, but I've got to get home.  I'm working morning
shift tomorrow." Sarah said when she noticed it was almost midnight.

"Thanks for everything, Sarah.  Please know you are welcome here anytime."
I pulled her in for a hug.  "And thanks for introducing your brothers."

"We'll see you guys Monday. Thanks." Mark extended his hand then realized
he too wanted a hug.

"You two take care of each other." I whispered in his ear as I hugged him.

"We will." He answered, standing back to allow Jake to hug me.

"Night." I called after them as they bounded down the stairs to their
truck.



Dylan was sleeping peacefully on my shoulder when the dreams got the better
of me and I woke up.  How he was able to sleep with me thrashing around and
sweating all over the bed I'll never know.  I eased my arm out from under
his head and tucked the blanket back against his body.  I stood by the bed
a minute or two marveling at the beauty of his sleeping form and wondering
what I had done to deserve him.  A quick glance at the clock confirmed what
my body already knew, I had only been asleep a couple of hours.

Shucking out of my boxers I headed towards the bathroom for a shower when
movement outside the window caught my eye.  Still a little shell-shocked
from the dreams I cautiously approached the window, careful to hide behind
the drapes that were pulled aside.  Peaking around them I caught the
flutter of gray wings highlighted by the moonlight.  A huge owl swooped
from his perch near the backdoor and landed on the roof of the barn.  His
haunting cry was answered by the arrival of another owl landing on the
woodpile.

I'm not sure how long I watched the two great birds when I stepped from
behind the drapes.  My movement must have startled them because, as if they
were one, they took to the air headed back toward the woods behind the
studio.  My last glimpse of them was four great wings silhouetted against
the bright night sky.


I was almost finished with my quick shower when his arms encircled my body
and pulled me to him.  Turning to face him, I bent to kiss his perfect
mouth.  Dylan's arm stretched around me and turned off the water.  Silently
we toweled each other dry.  After hanging the towels over the shower rod I
took his hand and pulled him back to the bedroom.


To be continued...