Berto's Roses
By Ben
Part XXXI
The morning sun awakened me. Jake was still asleep, curled up in a fetal position, his face peaceful and handsome. I moved from under the quilt slowly and quietly and went to the bathroom. Again, there was just the slightest chill in the air coming through the open window. I looked up between the palms and saw that the sky was already a brilliant blue.
After my morning ritual, I got my coffee in the kitchen where Manuella was humming to herself as she moved about. We seldom talked this early, other than to acknowledge the other's presence and for me to thank her for the coffee. I strolled to the garden and turned my attention to the roses.
I saw that there was some rather heavy pruning to do, so I turned on the sprinkler system and went to work. By the time I had finished, the sun had warmed the morning air and I was very hungry. After cleaning up my mess, I went to the kitchen to wash up a bit. Manuella was setting the table for three as Jake walked in all clean and shaved and beautiful.
He had his usual conversation with Manuella in Spanish and they shared a joke or two. I was glad he was here, not just for me, but for her as well. She seemed to be dealing with Berto's absence much better, now.
"What's on the agenda, today?" asked Jake as he leaned over to kiss me on the mouth.
I blushed deeply but didn't hinder him in any way. I wasn't entirely comfortable kissing him in front of Manuella, but she knew we were sharing a bed, so what was the big deal? I did notice that she gave Jake a sidelong glance or two as if she were sizing him up a bit. I wondered what that meant, but would sooner die than think of asking her.
"I have to go get Carlos right after breakfast, he has a few things to finish up. The windows are supposed to be here today and, if we're lucky, the hot tub, too. Then I can have the adobe mason, Pedro, come and do his thing."
"Cool, sounds like a busy day. Is Carlos going to set the windows for you, or are you doing that part?"
"I think I should leave that to Carlos. I've never done it before. I'd probably screw it up somehow."
"Nah, nothing to it. I used to install windows when I was going to college. I'll give Carlos a hand, if that's okay."
"I'm sure he'll appreciate it. His number one helper, Berto, is gone right now." I winced as soon as I said it, and glanced quickly in Manuella's direction. She looked up at me for just a second, but said nothing. What an idiot! I didn't need to remind her that her son was away from home.
"I'll work on the ads and catch up on email, then. Want to take the grand tour of Santa Rosalia with me?"
"I thought you'd never ask. Manuella, do you need us to pick up anything for you while we are out?" Manuella gave him a surprised look and then rattled off a short list of items she needed. This was followed by a string of praises and "thank you"s. Damn, why did Jake have to be so thoughtful and make me look bad?
I took my car because I didn't want Carlos to have to ride in the bed of the truck. I drove around town and we found everything Jake could remember on Manuella's list. Jake dickered and haggled over our purchases like a native. It's completely unfair how one guy could have it all.
Carlos was ready when we got to his shop. I could tell he had been working after he got home from working for me all day. The shop was nearly full of wooden furniture. Jake looked around and was very impressed. I talked at length with Carlos and they appeared to make some kind of deal-finalizing it with a handshake and mutual smiles.
I opened the trunk and Carlos began loading his tools. "What was that all about?" I asked Jake.
"I'm buying some furniture from him and having it shipped back to Jacksonville. You just can't find stuff like this there. Especially at these prices. It will go great with the stuff in my condo."
Carlos was finished and we drove back to the house with him and Jake chatting the whole way. We saw the delivery truck following us as we turned the final corner to the house. It carried several large flat, boxes and I expected this to be the windows and doors for the sunroom and the studio.
I parked in the carport and opened the trunk for Carlos. Then, Jake and I met the truck and guided the driver as he backed in the driveway. To my surprise, he was American and had brought the load down from San Diego. He had a Mexican-American man with him, and between the four of us, we had everything loaded in no time. I paid him and thanked him for their prompt delivery and they were off.
Jake and I began cutting and stripping away the boxes and wrapping materials. I was curious to see if everything made it without being broken, and was pleased to see that it had. We stacked the windows and doors where they would be convenient and took a break to find something to drink. I had water and Jake took one of Manuella's Coronas that she proudly offered to him.
"You got some really good window here." Jake said between gulps. "They even threw in enough caulking to give you a double bead around each window. I can guarantee you a weatherproof seal."
"Glad to hear it. I ordered them online, so this is the first time I've seen them, but I'll take your word for it."
Carlos had finished everything he could in the bathrooms. After the toilets, showers and tile was installed him would do the trim work. He and Jake went right to work, putting in the windows on the sunroom. Feeling more than a little useless, I went in to work on the ads for the gay periodicals.
I booted up and decided to check my email first. I had one form from my son telling me he had finally found a job in radio broadcasting. It wasn't his own show, but he was in on the ground floor. He seemed happy with it, so I replied with a congratulatory note and an invitation to come and see me anytime he had the chance.
I wasn't sure he would take me up on it, because he was pretty pissed with me for leaving his mother in Charleston and finally getting on with my life. The fact that he had contacted me was certainly a good sign that maybe he was beginning to forgive me.
There was a confirmation from the travel site for my hotel and rental car for when I went to Great Lakes for my younger son's graduation. I emailed him to give him the information. I also extended and invitation to him. This I felt more confident about, as I had always been closer to him that I had his older brother.
I also noticed a message from an address that I didn't recognize. Normally I just send these to the trash can, but I decided to open this one. I'm glad I did.
From: albergonz@hotmail.com To: ben_sc@hotmail.com Subj: University
Dear Senor Ben,
I am writing to you from my dormitory on my new computer. Carla helped me to set it up and get it working. I have three others sharing my room, but I have the only computer. I will share it with them so they may use it for their assignments and to write emails.
How is Mama and Senor Roberto? How is the garden? I miss it very much. Senor Chavez was very generous and sent Carla and me to the university in that automobile grande. Everybody was looking at me as my belongings were taken out of it and up to my room.
My roommates have become my friends and so has Carla. We do many things together and she shows me the things I need to know here. I will be going home with her after class on Friday. She wants me to meet her Papa, the Don. I am nervous about this. I hope he likes me.
Love,
Berto
I was so surprised and thrilled at the same time. I ran and got Manuella. She ran as fast as her bulk would allow to my room. She stood in front of the monitor and stared for a long time. It was then that I realized that Manella couldn't read-at least not English. Why had I not realized this before? I offered to read it to her, hoping I wouldn't embarrass her.
She nodded and I began reading, but she interrupted me several times...
"Who is this Carla?" she wanted to know.
"Carla is Ricky's sister. She goes to school there, too. She's a sweet girl, very pretty. You would like her very much."
"Hmmph! Berto is not going to university to see pretty girls. You tell him I said he is to study. Leave this...this Carla alone."
I laughed. "Carla is just helping him get settled at school, Manuella. They're not getting married."
Manuella stood up straight, sucking in her breath. She had a horrified look on her face as she turned it to me, her hand over her heart. "Oh, Senor Ben! Do not say such things! Berto cannot marry. He is just a nino!"
I shook my head and chuckled at her, then pulled her to me in a hug. "Don't worry, they are just friends, at least for now. And Berto isn't a little boy anymore. He's a healthy, handsome young man."
"What else does he say?" She leaned over to stare at the monitor again.
I finished reading the email and answering her questions. She didn't seem thrilled that Berto would be going home with Carla. I assured her that it was a big house and Berto would, undoubtedly, have his own room to sleep in.
"What would you like me to send to him? Maybe Jake could help you better than me. We could even set you up with your own account so that you can write and receive messages anytime you like."
"Oh, I could not do that. I do not know how." Manuella covered her mouth and looked dubiously from me to the computer. She was hesitant, but I could tell she wanted to learn.
"I wasn't all that long ago I thought the same thing. You'll be surprised at how easy it is."
I went back out to the sunroom and I was surprised to find that half of the windows were already in place. I was also surprised to find Bob up and around and looking pretty good. I walked up to him and said. "I'm glad to see you up and supervising."
"These guys hardly need it. I'm just enjoying the show."
I knew just what he meant. The air was now nice and warm, so Carlos and Jake had taken their shirts off to be more comfortable while they worked. It was indeed a great sight. Carlos very much resembled Berto, as one would expect his cousin to do. He was older and his body was thicker but he still looked very good. Jake was, just plain beautiful-a slight sheen of sweat on his rippled torso.
They finished with their latest window and Jake looked up at me and smiled. That's all it ever took. Come get me. I'm yours. Do to me whatever you will. God he was a hot man!
"Hey glad you're here. Give us a hand with these doors. They're just a little bit too big for us to hold and install at the same time. Hey Bob, you look like you're feeling better today."
"Thanks I am feeling better. Is there something I can do to help."
"Sure, help Ben hold this door straight until we can get it attached."
Bob and I held the door as Carlos and Jake plumbed it up. We held it steady as they drove long screws into the frames to secure it in place. Bob kept me entertained by obviously looking at Carlos and Jake and making lewd faces behind their backs. When Jake bent over in front of him he stuck out his tongue in the general direction of Jake's ass and wiggled it. He was such a pervert. He must have been feeling better.
Manuella told us that lunch would be ready soon and I suggested that we move the table out to the sunroom to enjoy the weather while we ate. The others seemed to like the idea, too. Jake and I cleared everything off the table, turned it over sideways and rolled the round table through the door. Carlos helped Manuella bring out the food while Jake and Bob and I brought out the chairs.
I made sure there were five chairs out there. I didn't see any reason that Manuella and Carlos couldn't eat with us. Bob made no comment and I pulled out the chair for Manuella. She seemed a bit uncomfortable, but sat and was soon enjoying her lunch with the rest of us.
Of course, I felt like the odd an out since my Spanish was almost none existent. Carlos spoke very little English so the conversation see-sawed and meandered back and forth between the two languages. I told everybody about Berto's email and what he had sent. There were several comments about his "new girlfriend" which set Manuella off once again.
Lunch finished, Jake and Carlos went back to the windows, while Bob and I went to work on some ads and a theme for our web site. I showed him some of the photos I had taken and we picked out the ones we wanted to use for backgrounds, etc. It was nice to be able to have him right there so I had his immediate input. His business background was certainly very useful too.
Jake wandered in and told us Manuella insisted that we stop for siesta. She had said that the work could be finished later. Bob was looking at me expectantly, and I knew what he was thinking. He wanted a three-way with Jake and me. I didn't even acknowledge his look and feigned ignorance. He either took the hint or gave up and finally walked out the door and up to his room. I didn't want to piss him off, but I wasn't in the mood to share Jake with him either.
Jake was tired and sweaty. I gave him an upper body massage and we kissed and cuddled for awhile, but we didn't have sex. Plenty of time for that later. Jake rolled me over onto my right side, so that my back was toward him. Then he spooned up behind me and wrapped his arm and leg over my left side.
I could feel his warm, moist chest moving while he breathed. He kissed my shoulder a few times and squeezed me into him. Soon I felt his warm breath against my neck and ear and I knew he had fallen asleep. I was warm and safe and in the arms of a wonderful man, once again. Before long, I too, had drifted off.
Time to say thanks to some new fans as well as some veteran readers. Jim, my buddy in Wilmington, NC, kind of gets this stuff in advance. Thanks for your support horn dog. Earl and Rich, you guys are faithful as always. Frank, who is very close to me, is a new reader and I am so glad we met. You guys are the best! 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".