Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:40:05 +0000
From: David Lee <dlee169@hotmail.com>
Subject: Second Chance Chapter 29

Second Chance, Chapter 29

Warning:

This story is copyrighted by the author known as David Lee and may not be
reproduced in whole or in part without explicit permission.

This story contains descriptions of love and sexual fulfillment between
people of the same gender.  If possessing or reading this kind of material
is illegal where you live, please leave this site at once.

My previous stories may be quickly accessed by searching for my name under
the "Prolific Net Authors" heading.  You may write to me at
dlee169@hotmail.com.  I'll do my best to answer promptly.  Please put the
title of this story in the "subject" line when you email.

For the full disclaimer and additional info, please read the statement that
precedes Chapter 1.

As always, I thank my editors Tom and David for their proofing my work and
giving me suggestions and lots of positive feedback.  They're an integral
part of this effort.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 29

Garret's night with Luc turned out to be all he'd hoped for and more.  They
couldn't leave each other alone.  They drained each other nearly dry before
they were satiated enough to enjoy the simple pleasure of cuddling. Even
then, it took a while before they went soft.

Somewhere in the midst of their Marathon of lust, Garret realized that his
crush on Rob had been just that – a crush.  He felt the same desire for
Luc.  In fact it was stronger because he was getting to try the things that
he'd been curious about.  Luc was a considerate lover who seemed as eager
to please as he was to receive pleasure at the hand of another.

Garret was beginning to understand his orientation.  He knew that he
enjoyed girls as friends, but that he yearned for sex with boys.  He
realized that Rob wasn't going to be his boyfriend because he had a man in
his life.  Rob was mature beyond his years and wasn't going to be
interested in a naive boy – even though he was only half a year younger.

Garret, however, had no problem hanging with a guy a year younger than
himself.  Luc had the same dark hair and beautiful blue eyes as his big
brother.  He also seemed to love experimenting with Garret.  It might not
turn into true and lasting love, but it satisfied Garret's needs for the
time being.

He still wished that he could have fooled around with Dylan, but he didn't
see that happening – ever.  The good thing was that he had a car to
drive and a buddy to get off with.  Life was looking a lot brighter than it
had a couple of months ago.  He wouldn't concern himself with finding
never-ending love just yet.

----------

In Monday's mail there was an envelope addressed to Josh.  He did a double
take when he saw the return address.

"Who's Roger Mills?" he asked Eric.

"Isn't that the guy who's married to Colt's dad?  Open it up and see."

"It is.  Listen to what he has to say.  They couldn't come to the opening
of my show because Ethan had to go to the emergency room for stitches after
falling on the front steps.  But they did go the following week and bought
my painting of Eddy Falls.  They want us to come over on Saturday, if we're
available, to see where they've hung it in their foyer.

I didn't even know they'd planned to attend my opening.  I guess Colt must
have told them about it.  He was excited for me."

"We'll talk to the `old guys' to see what's up for this weekend," Eric
said.  "I'm sure at least you and I could get there."

----------

Luc and Rob saw each other for a few minutes between their lunch periods on
Tuesday.  Garret and Luc had become almost inseparable since the weekend.
Rob grinned at how close they seemed to be.  He suspected that they had
done something more than sleeping in their shared bed, and he hoped that
they'd remain good buds at the very least.

Luc had more news than he could share fully and promised to email Rob the
details later.  For starters, their mom had kicked their father out of the
house and was filing for divorce.  She'd already contacted a lawyer on
Monday morning.

(That evening in Luc's email, he would find out that she had searched the
web for articles about gay teens and was scheduled to attend her first
meeting with the local chapter of PFLAG later in the week.  She had also
found a priest in another parish who believed in including all of God's
children in the church.)

"I've never seen her more peaceful and `alive'!" Luc exclaimed.  "It's like
she's a new person.  You're gonna love it!

Oh, here's your cell phone back.  Mom wants you to have it so you'll call
her sometimes.  She's gonna pay for it like when you were home."

Rob didn't get teary, but his heart felt warmed by the news.  Eric and Josh
could feel the emotion in their friend.  It made them happy, and nearly
tardy for their next class.

----------

Rob's mood was bright and breezy as he relieved Scott of his babysitting
duties that afternoon.  There might be a chance of becoming reconciled with
his mother.  She had never really been a nurturing person to Rob because of
being emotionally screwed up after the birth of the younger children.  Rob
had often felt more like the parent.  Yet in the recesses of his heart, he
still loved his mom even though he had felt betrayed when she didn't stop
his father from throwing him out.  Since she'd grown a spine and dumped his
father, maybe, just maybe, things would get better.

He was holding Robbie in his arms looking out of the nursery window when he
saw something that cut like a knife through his euphoric mood.  Reese was
standing in the drive with his arms around Blake.  From where Rob stood, it
looked like they were kissing.  His heart felt like lead as he turned away
from the sight.  He didn't want to look again, but he couldn't resist
taking another peek.  Blake was now standing alone and Reese was hurrying
toward the street.

Rob looked at his son with sad eyes.  He talked to the baby in an effort to
keep his spirits up.

"Well Robbie, I may have been premature in telling you that you have
another daddy.  I didn't consider that Reese might try to get back with
Blake or that Blake might want him.  They weren't together for that long,
but I guess they were really close.  I'm afraid that I could lose him.
What am I gonna do?"

Robbie smiled and babbled as if he were trying to cheer up his father.  He
was like a warm, lively Teddy bear.  Rob held him close, trying to keep his
mind off of what he'd just seen.

----------

Rob tried to keep from showing his internal turmoil during dinner, but his
dads noticed that his appetite was not what it should be.  They didn't pry
because they assumed that he would talk to them if he had a problem.
Perhaps he was merely tired.  He didn't have much time to relax and be a
teenager after all.

Josh and Eric noticed too and thought that they might try to talk with him
before bedtime.  It wasn't like Rob to look so glum – especially since
he'd come to live with them.

----------

After dinner, the back doorbell rang and Rob went down to answer it because
everyone else was upstairs at the moment.  Blake stood there looking
stressed.  Rob was tense too.

"Aren't you going to let me in?" he said.

"Oh, sorry.  Of course I am.  What's up?" Rob said feigning a casual
attitude.

"I need to talk to you in private.  I don't want to hurt you.  You're never
going to believe what happened today."

"Try me," Rob answered, afraid of what he might hear.

"Reese wants me to take him back.  He's called me several times today.
That twink I caught him with recently threw him out when he cheated on him.
He says that he hooked up with this third guy because he looked like me.
He claims that he's still in love with me.  He says that he's learned his
lesson."

"So, what did you say?" Rob asked, holding his breath until he heard.

"I told him to get the hell out of my life and to stay out!  He kissed me
and begged to come back.  It made me want to puke!  I didn't want his lying
lips on me.  There's no telling where they've been."

The tension drained from Rob's body and he smiled at his distressed lover.

"Let me kiss you and make it all better."

"Not until I go wash my face one more time to make sure it's clean.  I'm
not gonna give his germs to you.  What if they spread from us to Robbie?
We need to protect our baby from stuff like that."

"Our baby," Rob repeated in Blake's absence.  "Did you hear the Robbie?  He
does love us!"

Blake returned from the bathroom a few minutes later with a clean face and
sparkling eyes.

"Rob, do you have any idea how much I love you?"

"I think I'm beginning to have an inkling, Babe."

They went up to Rob's room and lay on the bed with Robbie between them.
Every now and then one or the other would lean over the infant to give his
boyfriend a kiss.  Robbie babbled and kicked his feet in the air assuming
that the attention was all directed toward him.

Josh happened by the open door with his camera in hand and recorded the
scene for Robbie's memory book.

"Let me take the young `un up to the studio with Eric and me.  We're done
with our homework and would love to play with him so that you can play
too," he said with a smirk.

"Thanks, but I think he needs changing."

"Can do!  You two have a little quality time while we enjoy our nephew.  I
think Rob could do with some cheering up."

----------

"Rob I'm sorry, but this will have to be a quickie.  I've got to finish a
term paper and get the last of my stuff ready for the University of
Minnesota so I can transfer there in the fall.  As soon as I fill out this
last form and get it in, it's a done deal."

"I don't even care if I get off," Rob said.  "I'll be content to have your
naked body next to mine and know that you ARE mine."

"Did you ever doubt it?"

"I saw him kissing you when I looked out this afternoon."

"Shit!  I would have called the club and canceled swimming lessons if I'd
known!  All this time you probably thought I was cheating on you. Damn him!
He could have screwed up everything!"

"Don't damn him; feel sorry for him.  How could anyone not want to be with
you?  I'm sure that he still loves you on some level even though he can't
seem to be faithful to anyone.  But if he still wants you, he's not going
to get you.  I'll kick his ass if I have to."

"Like you said to me once when I was worried that you'd be attracted to
younger guys, `there is no contest'!  I'm in love with you for the
duration.  Now let me help you out of those clothes..."

----------

Blake and Rob emerged from the bedroom about 15 minutes later looking a bit
disheveled and very happy.  When they got up to the studio, the other boys
grinned at them knowingly.  Whatever Rob may have said about not caring if
he got off, he was pleased that Blake hadn't taken him at his word.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Babe." Blake said as he began to descend the
stairs.

"I'll see you to the door.  Feel free to come back to tuck me in bed if you
get your paper finished."

"If I tuck you in, I won't be able to leave."

"That's okay too."

"Okay, I'll work extra hard on it and you can proof-read it in the morning.

They kissed once more at the back door and Rob bounded back up to the third
floor.

----------

Rob had barely put Robbie down for the night when he saw Blake coming
across the lawn.  He hurried down to let his boyfriend in.

Blake hugged him tightly, pulling him up so that his feet left the floor.

"Zac was so grateful for having the apartment to himself that he offered to
proof my paper after the first draft and again after I'd finished.  It's
all done and I have time to tuck you in bed."

"Will you sleep with me?  It would really make me happy to have you lying
next to me."

"See this?" Blake asked holding up a small bag with clean clothes and
shaving kit.  "I was hoping that the offer still stands.  I'm beat and I'll
bet you are too, so I was thinking that we might cuddle like old married
folks.  I mean, we should probably be content with having made love earlier
this evening."

"That would be cool," Rob agreed.  "I'll be up early with our son anyway."

And it was cool.  Blake lay on his back, and Rob lay on his side with his
head on Blake's shoulder.  It felt very natural.  They both fell asleep
quickly.

----------

Auditions for roles in the spring play were held that week.  The theater
department was planning to stage "The Foreigner" and Eric was hoping to get
a part in it.  He had landed a major role in his former high school and was
eager to tread the boards again.  He didn't feel that his singing voice was
good enough to be in a musical, but he could act.

Josh liked being on the stage too.  Oddly, he was more comfortable in front
of a large audience in a darkened auditorium than he was in a small group
when he was the focus of attention.  Of course, he had gotten over most of
his anxiety after having to glad-hand a lot of strangers in the gallery.
He had always been pretty outgoing when meeting people one on one as Eric
had noticed the first time they met.  Eric thought it was too bad that the
school wasn't doing "Winnie the Pooh" because his vivacious Josh would be
the perfect Tigger!

----------

Several of their friends also auditioned.  Eric got the lead part of
Charlie Baker who was the shy person pretending not to understand English.
Josh got to play the part of David Lee, the innocent acting minister who
had a darker side.

Damian was going to try out for something until he found out the plot
revolved around a group of racists in Georgia.  He told the director that
he understood that there wasn't a spot for him, but he'd like to help with
scenery.

"I'm sure that a guy with my superior tan couldn't play someone like that
red-neck `Owen Musser' who discriminates against everyone.  It's fun to see
him outwitted by a halfwit boy.

I'd still like to read for you so that you can see what I can do."

When Damian got through, the director looked impressed.

"You've got me thinking.  I would like to do "A Raisin in the Sun" next
season.  You'd be great as Walter Lee.  Do you think you could interest
enough other kids with your `superior tan' so that we'd have a full cast?"

"I'll do it!  I'd bring in my cousins from Alabama in order to make it
happen.  It's an awesome play!  But, I'm pretty sure there are enough
brothers and sisters in this school to fill up the cast.  Could we stage it
in February in conjunction with Black History month?"

"I see no reason why we couldn't.  That would almost guarantee us a full
house.  Let's plan on it!"

-----------

Rob made several false starts at phoning his mother before he eventually
let the call go through. He wanted to talk to her, but he really didn't
know what he'd say.

"Hello Mom, it's Rob."

"I know, dear, I saw your number come up.  How are you and how is the baby
doing?"

"We're both fine.  He had a great three-month checkup.  The pediatrician
was happy with his gains.  He's grown several inches and put on several
pounds, but he's still kind of long and thin.  He eats like a horse; it's
not that I haven't been feeding him."

"He sounds like a chip off the old block.  You were the same way.  Luc says
he looks just like the baby pictures of you.  That young painter, Joshua,
must have captured him perfectly.  When I saw that painting I knew the baby
had to be yours."

"Uh, Ben and Scott, my guardians, said if you're free on Sunday afternoon
you'd be welcome to come over to visit for a while.  I mean, if you don't
have something else planned."

"I'd cancel an audience with Pope Benedict to see my grandson!" Sophia
Mancini exclaimed.  "May I bring your sisters and brothers?"

"Oh yeah, they're invited too.  Gloria and Theresa will probably want to
hold him the whole time, but he's beginning to become a bit leery of
strangers.  He's fine with everyone in the house, of course."

"I hope your son will take to Nicky and Mickey.  They may be boys, but they
love little kids just like you always have.  You wouldn't believe how often
they've come to my room to see the painting since your father's gone.  Luc
did tell you, didn't he?"

"He told me.  I have no feeling toward the man, but you didn't have to get
a divorce on my account.  I'm not coming back to live there regardless.  I
have a new life."

"No, I did it for me and for the family.  Your father has always been
difficult to live with – very demanding and verbally abusive at times.
I didn't realize how bad it was until after he was gone.  I feel so
liberated."

"Okay, well Robbie's fussing and I have to go.  Plan to stay from about
2:00 to 4:00.  Luc can show you how to get here.  Pull right into the drive
and park in back."

"Thanks Son!  I love you!"

"Okay, bye Mom."

Rob put down the phone to pick up his son.  Knowing the love he felt for
this little guy made him feel guilty that he hadn't been able to say to his
mother that he loved her.  She must care for him in some way like he did
for Robbie, so why couldn't he believe it and respond in kind?  He wondered
if he'd ever be able to.

----------

On Saturday afternoon, Ben, Scott, Josh, and Eric drove over to see Roger
and Wade.  They had told Rob that he was welcome to come too, but he said
he and Blake were going to do laundry.

"Oh I do wonder what they'll find to occupy their time while the dryer is
running," Josh said in an exaggerated, campy voice.

"Probably what you and I would do," Eric snickered.

"Boys, behave back there!" Ben laughed.

"What?  I was picturing them spraying stain remover on what's going in the
washer next," Josh countered innocently.

"Yeah, probably working on the stains on Rob's sheet," Eric added.

Scott was going to admonish him, but ended up laughing too hard to sound
convincing.

----------

Josh was surprised at how great his painting looked on the foyer wall in
the Johnson/Mills period home.  If he hadn't done it himself, he might have
mistaken it for the work of an established artist.  Fortunately, he'd
brought along the camera so that he could photograph it in this perfect
setting.  Mr. Hadley had encouraged him to keep a record of his best pieces
to put in his portfolio in case he decided to go to art school or study art
at a university.

Roger had made a double batch of excellent brownies that he said were from
his mother-in-law's recipe.  He was pleased at how well they were received.
He had planned to freeze the extra ones for later, but decided to send home
a dozen with their guests.

Wade and Roger's son, Ethan, managed to sit politely long enough to eat a
brownie and drink a glass of milk.  Then, he tugged at Eric's left hand and
Josh's right insisting that they should go up to the attic and play trains.
He even offered them his favorite one to play with if they'd come.

The boys were delighted that he liked them well enough to suggest that they
could use his much loved toy.  So, they accompanied him to the toy room
while the men visited.

About 45 minutes later, Roger came up to tell his son that the boys had to
leave because their fathers were going home.  Ethan was disappointed, but
cheered up when they promised to come to see him again.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's notes: As always, thanks for emailing me.  I think the list is
complete: Rad, Mark H, Rutabaga, Ash B, Pete R, Bill K, Polar, Jim C, Mike
DeW, Karserus Jim We, George, Dave J, Devin N, Paul R, Carroll, Anein, and
Tim E.

I'm in sunny Kansas.  It's going to be 101 F again.  Oh boy!

David