A Homecoming at Thanksgiving
On a busy corner in midtown Manhattan, a brand-new, six-story office building opened for business. The first tenants moved in a week before Thanksgiving. O'Connor and Gordon, Attorneys at-law, owned the entire building. The firm occupied the upper two floors. The rest of the building rented out quickly.
Robert Cranford, an associate with the firm, and his secretary, Nancy, were busy organizing Rob's new office, when his cell phone rang. His first inclination was to let the call go to voice mail, and he would return the call later. He disliked taking personal calls in the office, but curiosity won out and he glanced at the caller ID. There was no name, but the call came from Cranford, NY, his home town. Cranford lay along the old Erie Canal about midway between Utica and Albany. The small city was named after one of Rob's ancestors. Rob figured that it was his dad calling to wish him well in his new office.
The Erie Canal connected Albany to Buffalo, and was a tremendous factor in boosting the economy of New York State. In 1825, about four years after the canal opened for trade and commerce, Elias Cranford saw the need for a midway stop between Utica and Albany. The two cities were about one hundred miles apart. He settled his family there and built a general store and an inn. It was a place where weary barge owners could stop to refresh themselves, or sleep over, on their way west to Buffalo, or on the way back to Albany.
Elias's little oasis grew over the years to be a small city of about 38,000 inhabitants. Rob was the last surviving descendant of Elias Cranford, and he knew that there'd be no one after him, because he was gay.
Rob kept looking at the caller ID. Something was not right, but he wasn't sure what. And then it came to him. His dad was on his contact list, and if it was his father who was calling, his name and telephone number would appear on the screen. Now that he realized the problem, he grew apprehensive.
"Sorry, Nancy," he said, "I've got to take this call."
"No problem. I'll just keep on unpacking."
Rob's voice shook, when he said, "Hello."
"Rob," he heard, "this is Jim Ford, your dad's friend."
Rob panicked. He yelled into the phone, "Is my dad okay? Did something happen?"
"I'm afraid so, Son. Your dad had a stroke and a massive heart attack. He passed away, and I'm really sorry to be the one to tell you that. You've got to come to Cranford as soon as possible to make arrangements."
Rob collapsed on a chair, and remained speechless. Finally, he heard Jim again. "Are you there?" the equally distraught man asked.
"Yes, of course. I'll get there as soon as possible."
"I'll leave the key to the house under the welcome mat," Jim said.
"Where is he?"
"He's at Bailey's Mortuary on Cedar Street. I'll tell them that you'll be there as soon as you can arrange it."
"Thanks, Jim. I'll call you as soon as I arrive."
Rob ran out of his office to look for one of the firm's partners. He found Paul O'Connor in his office.
"What's wrong?" Paul asked. Rob could not hide his distress.
When he filled Paul in, his boss said, "You go home, and take as much time as you need. Don't worry about a thing. We'll all cover for you."
"Thanks," Rob muttered.
"And Rob" Paul said. "I'm truly sorry for your loss."
Rob retrieved his car from a nearby parking garage, and headed to his apartment in a gentrified section of Brooklyn. He didn't know how long he'd be away so he packed two suitcases with clothes, and a tote bag with all his needful personal things. It was quicker and easier for him to drive to Cranford than to fly to Albany, rent a car, and then have a fifty-mile car ride to Cranford on one lane roadways. So, he headed his car to The New York State Thruway.
Once he reached The Thruway, Rob actually slowed down. It was a subconscious attempt to delay the tragedy which he would have to face in Cranford. He started to day dream, and his thoughts took him back in time to his childhood, and to his young adult years in Cranford. It was a time long before he left for a lucrative career in The Big Apple.
Rob met Ivan Kaminski when they were both in the same third grade class. Ivan's parents were Russian immigrants, and Ivan was first generation American. The Kaminski family opened a restaurant on Main Street which featured Russian cuisine. The restaurant flourished and the family did well.
The two young boys became inseparable best friends. When they first met, they were too young to know that they were both gay, but as they matured, they began to play with each other. They watched gay porn on their computers, and eventually they began to make love with all the carnal knowledge they had gleaned.
They both went to the State University of New York in Albany. Of course, they roomed together, and those were happy days. Then the inevitable happened. They were separated. Rob went to study law in New York at Fordham University, and Ivan remained in Cranford. He took over his parent's restaurant, when his father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Mr. Kaminski died very quickly following his diagnosis. Mrs. Kaminski was heartbroken, and she died a year later.
Rob returned to Cranford every chance he got, but it was difficult for him and Ivan to be alone, and to find time to make love. He came home for the summer between his second and third year of law school. One night, after he and Ivan made love, Ivan started to cry. When his sobbing let up, he said, "I love you, Robbie. I want to spend my life with you, but it's too hard. It isn't in the cards for us."
"We'll work it out," Rob said without much conviction.
The status quo was maintained until spring break just before Rob's graduation. The moment Rob got home, he ran to the restaurant to see Ivan. On his way there, he heard someone call his name. It was George Fremont. George was a high school acquaintance. Everyone called him Georgie Porgy, because he was quite chubby, just short of obese. His clothes always looked slovenly on him.
"Are you on the way to the restaurant to congratulate Ivan?" George asked.
"Congratulate him for what?"
"Didn't he tell you? He and Virginia Jennings are engaged to be married."
Rob's stomach filled with bile. When he could speak again, he said, "No. I didn't know that. I'll see him later. Right now, I've got an upset stomach, and I'm headed to the drug store to get something."
"See you around," George said, and he disappeared.
Just this past week, recruiters had come to Fordham Law's campus to entice the brightest students to join their firms. Rob was offered a position with a well-established New York City law firm. He had every intention of practicing law in Cranford, but he didn't want to close a gate behind him, so he asked for a week to make up his mind.
Rob waited until George was out of sight, and he high-tailed it right home. His heart was breaking. The one person he loved more than anyone else in the world was getting married to a woman.
"How could he do this to me, to us?" Rob thought.
Rob's mother had died about a year earlier. He hated to leave his father alone, but he told him that he had to get back to New York to take care of some unfinished business. His unfinished business was to accept the offer of employment by O'Connor and Gordon. His father was disappointed, but he understood. His son was an adult now, and he could not control his life.
Rob left without making any contact with Ivan. When he got back to New York, he wouldn't answer any of Ivan's text messages, E Mails, or telephone calls. Ivan could only wonder why his love had deserted him.
Now, ten years later, Rob made a promise to himself to contact Ivan before his father's funeral. If he showed up at the funeral, it could be very awkward if they didn't break the ice before that.
In spite of everything, Rob looked forward to seeing Ivan again. He hoped that he was happily married, and he wondered if he had any children. The moment Rob entered his house, he called Jim Ford to let him know he was here,
"I'm at Kaminski's restaurant having dinner," Jim said. "I'll come over first thing tomorrow morning."
"I haven't eaten anything since I left New York. I think I'll go there for dinner also. Please tell Ivan to expect me, and that I need to talk to him."
Jim had finished his dinner, but he waited for Rob to arrive. It was very late, and there were very few diners remaining in the restaurant. When Ivan heard that Rob was on his way, he joined Jim at his table, and they began their vigil.
When Rob arrived, Jim's greeting was short. The two men shook hands. "I'll see you tomorrow," Jim said, and he left.
Rob and Ivan stared at each other for a moment, and then fell into each other's arms. They didn't care about the few diners still in the restaurant. They kissed each other on their cheeks. Rob was surprised to feel tears on Ivan's face.
"I'm sorry about your dad," Ivan said. He motioned to a clean, set table. "I'll have a waiter take your order, and I'll stay with you while you eat, if that's okay with you."
"Of course, it's okay. Let's catch up."
"You must have come home for visits these past ten years. Why didn't you ever call me?" Ivan asked. His tone was more than accusatory.
"Well, you're married, and I didn't want to cause you any conflict."
Ivan stared at Rob in disbelief.
"What are you staring at?" Rob asked.
"What kind of drugs did you take with your coffee this morning?" Ivan asked. He was totally confused by Rob's statement that he was married.
"What do you mean? What are you asking me?"
"Why would you think I was married? Did you think that I could marry anyone, male or female, when you knew how much I loved you? What in the world gave you such an idiotic idea?"
"You did. You always told me that our relationship was going nowhere, so when I heard that you were engaged, I believed it."
"I was never engaged. Who the fuck told you that I was?"
"I came home for my last spring break from law school. As soon as I dropped my bags at home, I hurried to the restaurant to see you. On the way there, I ran into George Fremont. He asked if I was going over to the restaurant to congratulate you on your engagement to Virginia Jensen. You always told me that you thought we had no future together, and we should discontinue our relationship, so I believed him. I ran home and right back to New York. Even though I always intended on hanging up my shingle in Cranford, I accepted an offer in New York."
"How could you believe that fat pig? Ginny was always like a sister to me. I think I told George that she was engaged. I never said it was to me. She's married now, lives in Chicago and has three kids. We're still in touch. As for that idiot, George, after you left, he did everything he could to have sex with me. It took two years, but he finally gave up."
Rob grabbed Ivan's hands and started to cry. "All these wasted years," he moaned. "Please forgive my stupidity."
"Tell me you still love me, and I'll forgive you even if you're a mass murderer," Ivan confessed.
"Of course, I love you. I never stopped. Not a day goes by that I don't long to hold you in my arms. What are we going to do?"
"After dinner, come to my apartment with me," Ivan begged.
"No," Rob said. "We have too much to think about. For the past ten years, we've led separate, successful lives. We've got to figure out how to make this work. It's the same dilemma we had ten years ago. Give me until after my dad's funeral to come up with a solution. I never want to lose you again."
Ivan nodded. He resigned himself to Rob's request. "I've waited for you for ten long years," he said. "If you really don't want to lose me again, I can wait a few days longer."
Rob's dad, Franklin, was buried on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Ivan stood at Rob's right, and Jim stood at Rob's left. Rob wasn't doing too well, and Ivan had to grab his arm a few times to keep him from falling down.
At last it was over. Rob had arranged for a small spread in his father's house. Ivan catered it for him. When the last mourner left, Rob started to clean up. Ivan stayed behind to help him.
"I did a little research," Ivan said.
"About what?"
"Statistics. Did you know that we have seven lawyers in general practice, and two prosecuting attorneys for a town of nearly 40,000 people? Surely, one more won't glut the market."
"I've still got a lot to think about, Ivan," Rob said. "I make a lot of money in a very prestigious firm. I have every expectation of making partner before the end of next year. It would be folly to give that up."
Ivan's face clouded over. "You're right of course," he said. "I can't ask you to throw that away."
"I didn't say I wouldn't give it up. I said it would be crazy to. I'm still thinking about it."
Ivan's face lit up. "Here's something more for you to think about. You know old man Harris, John Harris? He's retiring, and he's been looking for an associate to take over his law practice. It's a good practice. He's my lawyer, and he was your dad's also."
"That's funny, I was going to contact him right after Thanksgiving regarding my father's estate. That will give me a chance to talk to him about his practice."
Ivan's smile was getting broader and broader.
"I told you," Rob said. "I've got lots to think about."
"I take it you'll be here for Thanksgiving," Ivan said. "I close my restaurant that day. Russian cuisine is far from traditional Thanksgiving food. Let's go into Albany. I'll make us a reservation at a real fine restaurant, and we'll celebrate the holiday together. Will you do that?"
"Of course, I will."
Ivan could no longer restrain himself. He enveloped Rob in his arms. "I love you so much," he said. He placed his lips on Rob's, parted them, and the two men got lost in ecstasy. Rob took Ivan's hand and led him to his bedroom.
They began to undress each other, all the while sneaking in a kiss when they could manage it.
Of the two men, Ivan was definitely the weepier one. "It's been so long," he sobbed. "I wish George hadn't moved out of town years ago. He denied me the pleasure of killing him."
They stared at their naked bodies, trying hard to refresh their memories of what it was like to hold each other tightly. The staring didn't last long. Instead lust took over. They wrapped themselves together and now they were both crying.
"No preliminaries," Ivan said. "I'm too hungry."
He fell to his knees and devoured Rob's cock. Rob was hard as a rock. He was uncut and measured close to seven inches, but not quite. Rob's knees actually buckled. Ivan had hardly stroked his cock more than six times when he started to come. He wanted to stop Ivan, but he was too far gone, and he spurted generously into Ivan's gullet.
"I'm sorry," Rob said. "I didn't expect to cum so fast."
"Don't sweat it. I'm staying all night."
"And I'm staying in Cranford until Thanksgiving for sure, and after I meet with John Harris, it might be forever. Who knows?" Rob added.
He leaned over Ivan, and took Ivan's cock as deep into his mouth as he could. He and Ivan were exactly the same size, and neither was circumcised. They used to joke about it when they were youngsters. Ivan came just as fast as Rob had. Rob generously shared Ivan's cum with him.
When they had Thanksgiving dinner together in Albany, Ivan got teary-eyed again. "I don't have to tell you what I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving," Ivan said. "It should be obvious to both of us. This, without a doubt, is the most thankful Thanksgiving that I have ever celebrated."
Rob took Ivan's hand. "Amen," he said.
At the beginning of Rob's meeting with Mr. Harris, they discussed evaluating Rob's father's assets for the estate tax return, and for the possible sales of any or all of Franklin's assets. With that business out of the way, Rob steered their conversation to business affairs.
"Ivan Kaminski told me that you are retiring in the near future, and you're looking for someone to take over your practice," Rob said. "If it's true, I'd like to work with you, and when you're ready to take a much deserved, permanent vacation¸ I'll discuss buying you out."
"That's not going to happen," John said.
Rob was shocked. "Why not?" he asked. "Don't you think I'm good enough."
"Robbie," John said, and then he smiled at Rob. "I've known you all your life. I know that you're better than good, but you're not the right man for this practice."
"Why not?" Rob asked again.
John took a moment to think about it, and then he said, "You're a high profile, highly paid, city-slicker lawyer from New York. You'd never fit in here."
"I beg to differ," Rob said. "I own a home here, and I intend to live in it. My roots are here in Cranford. I love my home town. I've missed the town and I've been terribly homesick since I left it. But most important, the love of my life lives here."
John smiled. "I'm going to ask you bluntly if you are referring to Ivan."
"Yes, and I'm not ashamed of it."
"Relax, Robbie. When you guys were teen agers, and you were in college, the whole town knew that you two were lovers. Frankly, when you moved to New York, we were all surprised. We even conjectured that we might have been wrong about you two. What changed your mind to make you want to move back?"
"It was a monumental misunderstanding, but Ivan and I have cleared the air, and we never want to be separated again."
"Well, if you're sincere, how soon can you start?"
"It'll take me a good month to give notice at my firm, and wind down my affairs in New York. I'm currently renting my apartment on a month to month tenancy, so that's not going to be a problem. Is a month, give or take a few days, okay with you?"
"Of course, it is."
Rob stuck out his hand and John shook it.
"Maybe I was wrong," John said." After our little talk, I think you're the perfect man to take over this practice. Now I'm getting excited about working with you, and handing you the reins."
"Will you excuse me now," Rob said, "I want to run over to Kaminski's and give Ivan the good news."
"Hell. It's lunch time. I'll go with you, and we can tell him together. Will you have lunch with me, Rob?"
"Of course. It'll be a pleasure."
A year later, Rob and Ivan were living in Rob's house. They made love almost every night. It would be a long while before they began to slow down.
Ivan was so happy, that he hummed all day long in the restaurant. As for Rob, he was even happier than Ivan. He loved "lawyering" without the stress and pressure he had endured in New York.
But better than everything else, he was home. At the first Thanksgiving dinner he enjoyed in Cranford, after his return, he was even more grateful than he had been the year before, and he told Ivan that it was his love that was giving him so much joy.
"And your love brightens every day of my life," Ivan said. "I'm so thankful."
The two men hugged themselves tightly, and each said a silent prayer of thanksgiving.