Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 13:42:03 -0700
From: Steve Thomas <s4d@hotmail.com>
Subject: Rob, Chapter 15

This is a fictional story. It is based on the few experiences and many
fantasies of the author. If you are really into graphic sex, it may not
satisfy your purpose for coming here. If you like to hear of real love
and real teen angst, with a little sex thrown in, you are in the right
place. There may be some amount of graphic sex between males. If this is
objectionable to you, or you are legally too young to be here, you are
cordially invited to press your back button.


Characters:

Robert E. Lee Balser

Denny (Dennis Andrew Miggs), 20

Robert F. Balser, Rob's dad

Donna Balser, Rob's mom.

Roger, Rob's attorney

Nana, The Balser's housekeeper

Garth Roth, 22

Randy Small, 24

Bob, Denny's Brother 3 years older

Gail, Bob's wife

Jack, Denny's oldest brother, 9 years older

Emma, Rob's boss.

Jack's son's, Jacky, Bobby and DennyToo

James Miggs, Denny's dad

Carol Miggs, Denny's mom,

Ray, Denny's dad's Deputy D.A. friend

Tad Newliegh, the new roomie

Jacob Smith, Rob's former "Landlord"

Linda Smith, Jacob's wife

Chris & Craig, partners, Rob's roomies.

Seth, Chris's Brother

Luke, Seth's partner.

Etta, The Smith's housekeeper

Donny, Works with Rob

Timothy -- Donny's brother

Rod -- the flight attendant

James (Red) Rod's friend


From Chapter 14:

"The only thing left -- besides my genitals -- was my face. He came up to
my face and gently rubbed and massaged it with oils and aloes. When he
was finished he planted a wet kiss in my lips. I grabbed him and ripped
the clothes off him, and I'll leave it up to your imagination what came
next. But I will say that if it was a show, it would have required
encores. As it was, it was the best yet!

Sunday morning we again slept late. We didn't eat the continental
breakfast offered, opting instead for a little breakfast place we had
seen on the way in, Friday night. We drove home -- top down -- to another
beautiful autumn day.

Chapter 15

I was faced with a dilemma: What do you get for the guy who has nothing!
He has no idea that my dad set up a trust for me. I could retire if I
wanted. But I don't want to. I could buy him anything I -- or he --
wanted. I want to - But I'm afraid he would take it badly. And - -
-there's the more sticky issue of -- we are talking something akin to
marriage.

Should I tell him about my father's trust? It's not like what men and
women have to consider exactly -- prenuptial agreements and all that.
Especially in 48 of the 50 U.S. States where gay marriages are not legal,
it's really a non-issue. But only legally. I feel like, as an equal
partner, Denny deserves to know, at least before we do any kind of
ceremony.

And if I wait until then to tell him, will he think I didn't trust him
all this time? Do I trust him -- really? Or am I still making our
relationship vertical -- like I am somehow above him, in a parent role --
rather than equal? I know I feel like I need to father him sometimes --
and he feels like he wants me to, as well. Does this include telling him
about my assets? To me this is not as much a legal thing than a moral
one.

So I have made a decision. When we set a date -- I will tell him! And as
far as I am concerned, long engagements are a bad idea, so it needs to be
soon. So - - -

"Denny, I am so happy that we are so committed to each other. Engaged, if
we can call it that."

"Isn't that what we ARE calling it?"

"Well -- yeah. I wonder how soon we should -- well -- have our ceremony
-- before God and man -- to give ourselves publicly to each other?"

"Hmph. Is that a question? Do you want my opinion? Or are you just
wondering aloud?"

"I want your opinion."

"Uh-huh -- and then when I give it to you, you will want me so see your
side of the issue -- your opinion -- right?"

Damn, he knows me pretty well! "Damn, you know me pretty well!" I said
grinning.

"Well, then why don't you just tell me your thoughts and I will tell you
if I agree, or if I have other ideas." He said.

I couldn't help smiling. "Okay. I think we should do it as soon as
possible."

"And - - your reason would be? Besides the fact that you aren't getting
any younger!" He laughed.

"I just don't believe long engagements are a good thing."

"Oh. Well, I guess I agree. But what's long? I'd like to finish school.
Is that too long?" He submitted.

"Yes! I'd like to do it sooner. I'd like to set a date even sooner than
that -- I mean really soon."

"But what kind of a marriage can we have if you are still the major
breadwinner -- or I should say the ONLY breadwinner?"

"Do we have to go over this issue again and again? Just look at how many
guys are going to your own college -- being supported by their wives! And
almost as many women being totally supported by their husbands. I really
think it is not an issue -- well at least for me."

When do you want to do it?" He asked.

"As soon as -- oh! What, set a date or actually do the ceremony?"

"Okay," he asked, looking pensive, like the cat playing with the mouse,
"Let's say -- umm -- Set the date! How soon do you want to set the
date?" He smiled seemingly almost mockingly. I had to remind myself that
he had no idea why this was important to me.

"Now."

"Now?" He parroted.

"Well, as soon as we can make sure all the people we want there can be
there."

"May I ask what your rush is?" he challenged.

"Umm -- okay. Yes, you may ask. When two people -- umm -- set a date -- I
believe there are disclosure issues that need to be shared. It really
isn't totally serious until a date is set -- and plans are put into
motion."

"Disclosure issues?" He said. "Like telling each other that they have
this huge debt that they may have forgotten to mention before? That type
of disclosure issues?"

"Yeah. That's the type. Either of us may have some stuff that is not
anyone else's business -- unless we are committed enough to set a date."

"Okay. I'm convinced." He started. "Well I don't have any debt or any
big secrets, so - - why don't we set the date for next spring! We can
work out the exact date -- like you said -- when we get all the important
peoples' input."

Wow! Now I really feel the burden. He now knows I have this big "issue"
and wants to find out what it is.

"As a matter of fact," he continued, "Christmas is in two weeks. Next
spring is at least three months away. Let's just pick a date. There are
always people who have considerations. We can't work around everyone."

"When, then?" I said. Heh! I am the one that was pushing this in the
first place, so why do I now I feel I'm the one getting railroaded?

"Okay -- spring is in March. How about the first Saturday in April?" He
said.

"Okay!" I said. As simple as that! I looked at my calendar. "The first
Saturday in April it is!"

Denny sat back as if he had won something. "Okay -- well since we have
committed to that point -- I feel like I need to tell you something." He
said to me.

"What?" I asked, completely blown away.

"It's something that I have been worried about ever since we got
engaged." He said.

Wow, what deep secret does he have that I don't already know? "Okay --
but whatever it is -- I can handle it." I said sounding more convinced
than I was.

"I'm still -- I mean - <AHEM> I still have very -- um - " He dropped his
head. "I still love Garth. I miss him -- sometimes terribly!"

"Wow! You could have told me that a long time ago. I love him and think
of him often, too. But it doesn't change my love for you! Do you think
it's a problem?"

"I -- I don't think so."

"Then neither do I." I replied. "I don't think that love is something
that you can just turn off. It's okay if you still love him. I'd say
there's something wrong with you if you didn't." I looked at his face,
and it relaxed so much.

"So -- what is your deep dark secret -- for me?" Denny said.

"Well, first of all I want to say that I can now see that this guilt over
Garth was really bothering you. I believe that we need to be more honest
-- or something -- sooner. This little `secret' that you were holding
inside you had to affect out relationship. It's the little things like
that, that rob us of complete joy. And secondly," I paused here as a
stalling measure. "Secondly, Denny I am- um -- independent."

He looked at me blankly. "That means I don't need to work. At all. My
father has given me -- or actually set up a trust in my name -- enough so
that I would never have to work at all."

He still looked like he didn't understand me. "So -- what you are
telling me is -- we're rich?"

"Haha! No. My father is rich. This is not rich. But I suppose that's
relative, isn't it. I really want to make it on my own. And I want you
to excel at what you're doing. Is this knowledge going to change your
motivation any?"

"Nope! I want to be able to keep my end of the relationship up. I don't
know if I could ever rise to your standard. But I can strive to rise to
my own."

"HAH! That is my standard! That's all I could ever ask. But you know
what?"

"What?" He said.

"I love you." I said, simply.

"I love you too, but what's that got to do with - "

"I love you, so it doesn't really matter -- to me. I mostly want you --
us -- to be happy. I just don't think you would be happy if you weren't
doing what you can to pull your weight. And - - besides that, no one is a
better judge of that than you, yourself. And I am no judge at all, when
it comes to your standard."

"Okay. Would I be overstepping my limits if I asked -- how much are we
talking about?"

"How much?"

"Your trust. How much are we going to be getting?"

"Already ARE getting." Wow, I didn't really plan on FULL disclosure yet,
but -- well, we HAVE set a date, so -- why not. "Well, it was 5 million
at the beginning of the last quarter. My dad has it set up in an
unbelievable way -- that only the very rich know about and can do -- so
that it gets back a minimum of 2% per month."

"2%? That doesn't sound so - "

"That's 24% per year, and that's not compounded. It amounts to $100,000
per month -- minimum. Sometimes it is as high as $200,000."

"Sheee -- yit!" Denny exclaimed.

"And not only that, since I'm not using it as fast as it comes in, it
compounds on itself. Next year the principle could be as much as 8
million."

"I -- uh -- um -- duh! I just don't know what to say, Robby. No wonder
you can afford this nice condo! I just kind of assumed your job was good
enough to - "

"It is! I don't hardly touch the trust. But that's also how all the
charges got cleaned off my record in that assault deal. If you know --
and pay -- the right people -- it's easy." He gave me a look. "Sorry,
baby -- don't look at me that way. You know I didn't do anything wrong.
It's just a fact of life: if you have money -- you get benefits that
other's don't. It's not evil to be rich, like the liberals like to
make out. Oh, there are many people who use their riches in unfair or
evil ways. My dad never would. Neither would I! And don't worry: the
creeps that beat you up didn't get a cent!"

"Okay -- I believe you." He said.

"Just like that? I had so much more to say!" I was joking, but not
really.

"Why shouldn't I believe you? You've never given me any reason to not
trust you?"

"Denny -- does it bother you that I never mentioned this to you before?"

"You mean about the money?"

"Yeah. I felt bad keeping it from you."

"You know how you told me that people -- on some level -- know that a guy
is gay?"

"Yeah?" I said.

"It's the same with this. I didn't really know -- at least consciously.
But I sort of -- um -- felt -- that we wouldn't ever hurt for money. I
guess I felt like you would inherit your fathers money or something. And
the way your dad's lawyers came immediately to your aid -- our aid --
when you got involved in my fight. And of course there's your grad
present -- the Vette. It all makes more sense now. But -- on some level
-- I guess I knew. Heh!" Denny continued. "I wonder how your parents feel
about you marrying a `commoner'?"

"I think it WAS a bit of a concern. I know it bothered them more than the
gay issue. They never said it, but I know that they had concerns about
how their little -- or not so little -- rich boy could deal with someone
not exposed to this kind of abundance."

"Wow! That was a mouthful!" he ribbed.

"The first Saturday in April! All of a sudden I'm getting excited! That
really IS soon!"

"Seems a long way away to me." Denny said.

"Well -- haha! When you get to be my age, time goes faster."

"You are soooo old!"

"And you're in deep trouble!" I said, laughing, as I picked him up and
turned him upside down.

"Nice view from down here!" He said, as he grabbed my butt and buried his
face in the front of my Dockers, then clamped onto my crotch with his
teeth.

"Ooooo! You're achin' to get creamed!" I threatened.

"Promises, promises!" He mumbled, as he chewed on my swelling piece,
through the material of my clothes. I put "the squeeze" on him, so he
wrapped his legs around my head and tried to hump my neck. Remember he
was upside down!

I carried him to the couch and tried to put him down on it, but he
remained clamped on to my head with his knees and my dick with his teeth.
So I lay down on the couch with him on top of me. He then proceeded to
undo my fly and pushed his face in, and sucked me through my boxers. I
was as hard as steel, and without thinking about it, my hips started to
rock.

He let go of both ends of me and jumped off. Then he jumped back on, this
time, securing his mouth on mine, and pushing his other end into me. We
laughed and kissed passionately for several minutes.

"I love you so much!" He said. "So, what shall we do to celebrate?"

I had almost forgotten there was something to celebrate. "What do you
want to do?" I asked.

"You KNOW what I want to do!" He giggled. "But maybe we can go out and do
something significant first?"

"Okay. Unless you have some other ideas, I'd like to drive by both our
parents places and tell them our date. Then we can go out to eat. I know
a very nice place -- now that you know I can afford it!"

"Can we go by and tell Randy and Tad, too?" Denny asked.

"Of course!" I said. "Maybe they'd like to go out to eat and celebrate
with us!"

"Great! We better call them now, so they don't eat first."

Denny made then call. "Hey Tad! Pretty good, you? No, I'm fine. It was
just kind of exhausting. Hey can you guys go out to dinner with us
tonight? No, our treat. Yeah -- we have an announcement to make. Yeah.
Red? You mean James -- is he there?" Denny looked at me and I nodded.
"Sure he can come too. Oh. OH! Really -- he is?" Wow. Well I'm not
surprised. K. See you -- about eight! K. Bye!"

"So do I get to hear what went on, on the other side of the line?" I
asked.

"James is living with them."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. He had been living with Roddy, but after that night on the boat,
they got into a big fight, and Rod kicked him out. So he's living with
the guys, in the dorm, illegally, of course -- for the time being."

"Yeah, I'm not surprised either." I replied. "Well we better get our
butts in gear if we're going out to Orange County to see our parents and
then coming back here -- wait! Let's have the guys meet us out there.
Tell them I'll give them gas money! I know they are all strapped."

Denny put the phone on hands free. "Hi. Listen Randy -- we are really on
a tight schedule. Rob says he'll give you gas money if you'll meet us
out in Orange County."

"Cool!" Randy said. Where?"

Denny looked at me. "Fleming's Steakhouse -- Newport"

"Where's that?" Randy asked.

"Do you know Newport?"

"Yeah."

"It's on Newport Center Drive on Fashion Island."

"What time?

"Eight o'clock sharp."

"We'll be there -- WAY cool! Bye!"

"See yah -- bye!" We said.

"Wow. That'll be a treat for the guys -- well, and for me!" Denny said.
"I've driven past there before and just assumed it was too rich for my
blood!"

"It's a nice enough place. Lets get going. Did you want to warn your
parents we're coming?"

"Naw -- they'll be there -- and if I call, Mom will want to invite us
for dinner, with all the explaining -- let's just go."

"My feelings exactly."

We pulled up to Denny's parents home. His dad was in the front yard,
mowing the grass. "Hi boys! What's the occasion? Does your mother know
you were coming?"

"Nope!" Denny said. "We decided to drop in."

"Well, you know, when you just drop in at dinner time, you have to accept
pot luck!"

"We won't be staying for dinner, Sir." I explained. "We have
reservations for later."

"Oh? Well, come on in the house. Your mother will be happy to see you --
both!" He said. He was staring at our ear studs. Denny noticed also and
asked,

"What do you think?"

"It's kinda hard to get used to, but - - it makes me wish I was
younger!" Denny's dad said. "It's cute!"

"Wow!" Denny said. "That's a switch! Talk about hard to get used to!"

"You know what, Son? I'm somehow happier, now that I accept these
feeling for what they are." He opened the door for us, and we walked in.
Denny's mom was in the kitchen. It smelled good in there!

"Oh! Denny! And Rob! How nice! Are you here for dinner? I can always
throw a couple more potatoes in the pot!"

"No, Mrs. Miggs. We have reservations for later. We stopped by to -- tell
you something."

"It must be important. When is it gonna be?" Denny and I looked surprised
at each other. "Men are SO transparent!" she added. "Let me guess! Next
Spring!"

"MOM!" Denny exclaimed. "How did you know?"

"It's a mother thing. "When is it?"

"The first Saturday in April."

"Ooooo!" Mr. Miggs said. "We're going to Hawaii then!"

"No, dear -- we don't leave until the Monday after that!"

"We can change the date, if that is cutting something too close, Mr.
Miggs. That's why we're here!"

"Nope! It works fine!" He answered, then added, "And please -- call me
Jim -- or Dad -- if you feel comfortable with that!"

"And you can call me Carol -- or Mom!"

"Erm -- how -- um -- how about Jim and Carol for now? Well, listen, we
need to go over to my parents and tell them now, so we'll get out of
your way so you can eat."

"Oh you'll never be in the way, Dear! Tell your parents hello, and thank
them again for the lovely Thanksgiving dinner!" She kissed Denny and then
hugs all around. "And remind them that they are invited here Christmas
day."

Before we left, Jim said, "I am so proud of you, Son -- er -- Sons!" And
he kissed Denny on the cheek.

When we were back on the road, I said, "Did you know that dinner was
going to be at your house?"

"No."

"I wonder when they were going to tell us?"

"So -- my parents are going to Hawaii! That's great. They've never been
before. So -- I guess we can safely say that Hawaii is out for our
honeymoon!"

"Why is that?" I asked.

"I don't want to be there the same time as my parents!"

"Hawaii is a big place, Baby."

"Still, it would creep me out, even imaging running in to them."

"Heh! And I was thinking seriously about Hawaii! But we can go there any
time. How about a cruise?"

"Yesss! Denny said. "Where?"

"Well, I've been to the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, Alaska and
a cruise of the Greek Islands. But you know what? I've never been to the
one that goes down to Mexico. And - - I've never been on any of those as
an adult!"

"Mexican Riviera cruise?"

"Yeah. How does that sound to you?" I asked.

"Anywhere you are sounds like heaven to me!" Denny said.

"I'll call my travel agent in the morning."

When we got to my parents house it was nearly dark. So it was easy to see
they were home by the lights already on in the house. We walked in the
front door, and my mom was coming from the parlor as we entered. "Oh!"
She exclaimed. "You startled me!" Then she hollered, "Nana, two more for
dinner!"

"No, mom! We have reservations at Flemings."

"Ooooo, Fleming's!" She exclaimed. "So when's the date!"

"Aw Mom! We wanted to surprise you!"

"Well, I'm surprised! When's the date?"

"I mean -- how did you know?"

"I'm your mother, Robert! You have to ask how I know? When's the date"

"Where's Dad?"

"He's in the garage working on his Excalubur. I swear that car takes
more of his time than -- When's the DATE, Robert?"

"I'll tell you together. Maybe then ONE of you will be surprised."

Mom pushed a button on the intercom. "Bob, Robert and Dennis are here.
They have some news for us!"

"Be right in." The box squawked back.

Dad came in wiping his hand on a snow white towel. "So -- when's it
gonna be? And where?"

I almost felt like crying! "It's going to be the first Saturday in
April! We haven't gotten as far as where it will be."

"Why don't you have it at the club? It is a great place for a party like
that."

"You really think the Country Club will want a gay wedding there?"

"Trust me, Son. If we throw enough money at them, the board will come
dressed in period costumes if we ask them to!"

"I think we'd like it to be a little more -- uh -- genuine. I was
thinking the same place Chris and Craig did theirs. It's a little glass
church in Palos Verdes."

"Oh yes, I know that place -- lovely setting!" Mom said. "It would need
to be an evening wedding -- to take advantage of the sunset."

"Yes, that's how Chris and Craig's was."

"Wonderful! Nana, forget the 2 extra for dinner. Robert and Dennis are
going to Fleming's to celebrate setting their date!"

Nana came to the kitchen door and clapped her hands. "Oh, this is so
wonderful!" and she smiled a huge toothy grin.

"Listen Mom -- Dad, we have to be getting down to Newport. So that date
is good for you two?"

"Oh yes!" My mom exclaimed. Good-bye, my two gorgeous boys! Tell Arthur
hello for us!"

As soon as we were out the door, "Who's Arthur?"

"He's the maitre' d. My parents are regulars there."

"Of course they are!" Denny said, not trying too hard to hide his
sarcasm.

It just occurred to me to call the guys. I flipped out my phone and threw
it to Denny. "Get one of the guys on the line." I said.

He did as requested and handed the phone back to me. "Yeah -- this is
Rob. Hey, Do you have enough for parking? I'll pay you back. Oh. Yeah --
it's valet parking only. Yeah. Well, just get the ticket and I'll give
you some to get your car back. What? They don't care about that! Yeah, I
suppose, but that's their problem! See yah!"

"What was that about?" Denny said.

"They were worried about valet parking for their old car. Well, I'm sure
there are some snobs that would get incensed that their car may be next
to Randy's. Too bad. Some people just have no class!" I said.

We waited outside for the guys, and all went in together. I saw Arthur.
"Hello Mister Balser! It's been a long time!"

"My parents send their regards, Arthur." I slipped a $20 into his hand.
He led us to a table set into a bay window -- overlooking -- you guessed
it -- the bay.

When we got settled, I ordered sparkling cider all around. (Too many
designated drivers!) When everyone had a glassful, I made a toast. "To my
friend and lover and the sweetest guy in the world -- Denny!" After
several clinks and everyone took a drink, Denny stood.

"To my wonderful partner. It feels great to be loved by the ACTUAL
sweetest guy in the world!" Another clinking of glasses, and I continued.

"I suppose you all have guessed why we wanted you all here tonight." They
looked at me then at each other -- clearly puzzled. I looked at Denny and
said, "Heh! Looks like we get to surprise SOMBODY tonight! Guys we are
getting married the first Saturday in April!"

"Woo-hoo! Yeah! Great! Yeeeee-hawww!" They whooped and hollered. I
couldn't help grinning so much it hurt -- nor the tears in my eyes.
Denny was in the same shape.

"And guys, It may have been presumptuous of me, but I pre-ordered for all
of us when I made the reservations."

"Hey," Randy said, "beggars can't be choosers!"

"I ordered steak and lobster for everyone!"

"Woo-hoo! Yeah! Great! Yeeeee-hawww!" They whooped and hollered.

"And Crème Brûlée for dessert!"

"Hunh?" They all said in chorus. I laughed.

"Something new for you to try." I said.

"I'm game!" Said James.

"Pretty brave for the kid who has enough on his plate already!" Randy
said.

"What's going on in your life, Red?"

"Well, as you may have heard, Rod kicked me out."

"Jerk!" I said.

"Well, I have been staying the last couple nights with these guys."

"This is kinda also his farewell dinner. Tomorrow he gets evicted from
our place. Dorm rules." Randy said. "Tomorrow he will be in the street."

I looked at Denny. His bottom lip was sticking out.

"Do you wanna come bunk on our couch for a while?" I said, before good
sense made me think it out. We hardly know the guy! But Rod is a jerk, so
this guy must be okay -- right? Hah! Well now I'm committed.

"Do -- do you really mean it?" He asked. "I promise I won't be any
trouble. How much can I pay you?"

"Nothing." I said. Denny looked at me as if I was crazy. "All you need to
do is find a place as soon as possible. Denny and I need our privacy more
than the money. But I don't want you sleeping in the street!"

"Oh, I can sleep in my car, but - "

"No -- that's not much better than on the street. You come over tomorrow
night. You can stay for up to 3 months, if you need to, but you need to
look for another place immediately. Sorry, I'm just not set up for a
boarding house. Does that sound fair to you?"

"Yes, of course." He said, sounding sincere, but looking as if his neck
was in a noose. I saw an exchanged look from Randy to Tad. As far as I
knew, they still had no third roommate, so I guess having Red there
impacted their own privacy a lot. I was already beginning to regret being
so impulsive and - - - nice.

The rest of the dinner went well enough, but I seemed to sense a pall on
the whole evening. It was as if the fun that the other guys -- including
Denny -- were having was just background noise to me. Finally I excused
myself and went toward the restroom. As I passed the entrance door, I
veered off and went outside.

I walked around thinking. I had training years ago. It was a lot more
than how to hug! We learned techniques for dealing with this kind of
situation. I took a deep breath and reasoned -- and decided that, if I
screwed up, then we would get through it, and agonizing about it now was
not fruitful.

"Rob? Are you -- uh -- what's wrong?" Denny put his hand on my shoulder.

"I just had to get away for a moment."

"Are you upset with me?"

"What? Oh, Noooo, baby. I just -- well, maybe fu -- screwed up in there.
Sometimes I'm too nice for my -- and now OUR -- own good."

"Well, for what it's worth, your heart was in the right place. But --
three months?" He said it lightly enough, but it was like a dagger
through my heart.

"<Sigh> Okay, here's the deal. Yeah, sometimes I think too much with my
heart and not enough with my head. In the case of you and me, I think I
am right on track. And I was trying to think as rationally as I could
under the circumstances -- on the spur of the moment. I thought I saw a
look from you which communicated that you wanted to save this guy, too."

"Yeah, you did. But why for nothing?"

"Well, I figured if he doesn't have enough to get into a place, paying
me -- us -- will just drag that out longer. Three months may be too long,
but thinking on the spot, I reasoned that would get him through the
winter. If he is still sleeping in his car by spring, then I can't help
him. I just had to get some distance for a moment to think -- mostly to
let it go -- and enjoy the moment. Tonight is a celebration -- right?

"Anyway -- he has a deadline. Denny, my -- er -- our place is pretty
nice, but - - not so nice that it would make anyone wonder about why I
could afford it. Let's just keep my financial position confidential. No
one except you and I needs to know anything about it."

"Of course. Your business is not anyone else's affair."

"OUR business, Babe -- OUR business. Let's get back inside. With no
alcohol flowing, they will be wondering where we are and why we left.
I'm okay now. Thanks for coming out!" I hugged him and we returned to
the party. We got a look when we came back, but no one said anything.
James was not there, but returned after a moment, with a drink in his
hand. Lots of implications there, but I had already decided to let it go,
so I ignored it.


That night in bed, after we did a good bit of celebrating of our own, we
were just lying there, enjoying the afterglow, Denny's head on my chest.

"That was pretty incredible sex, Robby! Especially considering all you
had on your mind."

"I'm pretty good with compartmentalizing."

"What were you thinking when he came back with a drink?"

"Heh! You saw me thinking?"

"Yeah -- and then you seemed to be okay with it."

"More compartmentalizing. I was thinking: this party was on me. We were
at a pretty high-end establishment. All he had to do was order what he
wanted from the waitress. But maybe he thought he was going to be taking
enough charity, and at least he could buy his own drink. But the rest of
us weren't drinking, so why did he feel a need to? Things like that. All
that in a quick moment. And then I told myself, this was a party -- I had
already decided to live with -- to make the best of -- the situation, so
I let it go."

"Man, you could sure teach me a lot about that kind of dealing with
situations!"

"Oh, I will! The main thing is to learn to live each day -- in that day.
Don't worry about the future, and especially don't worry about the past
-- you can't change the past. That's why I stepped outside tonight. I
was really beating myself up -- questioning why I did what I did. But the
fact is -- I did it! I invited an almost total stranger into our home --
for three months -- for nothing. But once it was done, I -- er -- sorry,
Sweetie but -- WE have to deal with it."

I expected some response, and when there was none, I noticed that he was
very relaxed. I looked down and his eyes were closed. Heh! I had put him
to sleep with my worries! God! I love this boy!

Notes: Well, what have I done to our boys? I -- like Rob -- was not
really thinking ahead on this one. I was tempted to just delete it and
start over with a different theme. But that's not my style. In real
life, this is exactly the kind of hands we deal ourselves -- or get
dealt. So I decided to play it out. I love your comments! Send any you
have to Steve at s4d@hotmail.com. Be sure to include "Rob" in the subject
line. Thanks and love, Steve


Bottom line: Love will Rule in the end.