Briarwood

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"BRIARWOOD"

Copyright Ritchris, 2006

A dramatic saga

by

Ritch Christopher

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BOOK NINE

"A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH"

Chapter One-hundred

"This, my friend, is only the beginning -

Such a sweet beginning, too.

Now, at last, I see a chance of winning -

See a chance of breaking through.

Who can say? Today may live in hist'ry

As long as there's a hist'ry book.

Yesterday the world was still a myst'ry;

Today it has a new and diff'rent look.

So, my friend, let's send the old world spinning;

Change is what I recommend.

Come on, my friend, let's see this sweet beginning

Through to the bitter end!

Through to the bitter end!"

"Sweet Beginning" from

"The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd"

Music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley

Copyright 1964

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The taxi pulled up in front of Hunter's townhouse, directly from the hospital. With any hint of an invitation, Roger would have piled out of the cab and offered to spend the night with Hunter and Lee, as Roger was so concerned about Hunter's condition, he didn't want to leave him. However, Cliff knew what was best for Hunter and Lee AND for Roger. The two young men had expressed their love for one another only half an hour ago in the emergency examining room. Cliff realized that this was a time for Hunter and Lee to be alone.

"What time is your audition?" Roger asked Hunter.

"I'll probably get there around 10:30," Hunter replied.

"Do you need transportation," Roger added, quickly. "I can send a limo to pick you up here which will guarantee that you'll be on time."

"No, thanks, 'Uncle' Roger. I don't think a non-equity aspiring young actor should arrive at the theater in a limousine. I'm sure that would give the wrong impression to everyone else lined up for the cattle call."

"Now, here's what I want you do to, Hunter. As soon as your audition is over, I want you to take a cab to the Waldorf and come up to Cliff's and my suite. I'm going to call the Institute as soon as I get back to the hotel and have one of my lab technicians fly to New York early tomorrow morning with all the equipment he needs to draw blood from you. Then, he'll return and my staff can start working on your HIV strain to see how serious it is or if we have the meds to rid you of it right away," Roger said.

"I...I don't know how or why you're doing this. You've only known me less than a day," Hunter replied.

Cliff interrupted, "Hunter, Roger would do this for the lowliest beggar on skid row IF he thought he and his Institute could cure someone of HIV or AIDS. That's what they do at Cole Institute. They treat people because they are REAL people who need help. That's the reason Roger founded the place."

"Well, all right. I won't question what you do. I'm just grateful that you're doing it for me. I'll be at your hotel with my sleeve rolled up!"

"OK. That's tomorrow, but is there ANYTHING I, or Cliff, can do for you right now?"

"Father Cliff might say a prayer that I'll be in good enough voice for Tim, Rob, and the director to remember me out of the hundreds which they will hear before and after me. Although, after the ass I made of myself at the Four Seasons, I doubt if Tim or Rob could ever forget me."

"You just forget that happened, son," Roger said.

"I might, but I doubt if the rest of you will..." Hunter said, dropping his head.

"Come on, Hunter, I need to prop up your self-confidence a bit!" Lee said, opening the door of the cab to get out.

"You WILL call, if you need either of us, won't you?" Roger said, in persistence.

"Roger, Hunter said he would!" Cliff spoke up. "Now will you let the boys get out of the cab and go inside to get to bed? The fall air is chilly and you don't want Hunter getting a chill, do you?"

"Of course not!" Roger said. "Well, good night, boys, sleep well and call us tomorrow to let us know how the audition went!"

"Don't worry. We'll call," Lee said.

"Maybe we can all go out to dinner again, tomorrow night?"

"What? So I can faint again and ruin everyone's evening?"

"Hunter, will you shut up?" Lee said, emphatically.

"Yeah! Well good night and thanks for everything," Hunter said, getting out of the cab.

Roger stepped out of the cab long enough to give both Hunter and Lee a big hug.

"Remember now! You're BOTH part of the family and we SHARE everything. Got it?" Roger said.

"GOT IT!" Lee and Hunter said in unison.

Roger got back into the cab and he and Cliff rode away. Lee put his arm around Hunter's waist and helped him up the stairs of the townhouse.

"Where's the key?" Lee asked.

"In my left pants pocket. Wanna get it?"

"Sure, why not?" Lee reached inside Hunter's pocket and it was empty. "There's no key in your pocket!"

"Reach a little further to the right."

Lee did as Hunter suggested. He found no key but felt something else instead. "You conniving dumb-dumb. That's your dick!"

"Well, it's been known to open a few doors," Hunter joked. "Did you notice that it's hard."

"God, I was hoping so. I'd hate to think it's that big when it's flaccid. Now, where's the fucking key!"

"WHOA! That's the first time you've ever used that word in front of me."

"My dad wouldn't let Jake or me cuss."

"Well, if you don't mind my saying so, the word sounded good coming from your mouth. It made you sound older and more mature."

"You're about to hear my second curse word if you don't tell me where the key is!"

"I'm tempted not to tell you just to hear you curse again!" Hunter laughed. "The KEY is in my right outside jacket pocket...in case you ever need to find it again. However, IF and WHEN we get inside, I'll make sure you have your OWN key...although I DID like your groping me!" Lee found the key, unlocked the door, and the two of them entered the foyer. "Lee, after your telling me that you loved me at the hospital, all the way here, I kept wondering if I could carry you over the threshold."

"We're not married, yet! We haven't even slept together ONCE!" Lee added.

"I'm hoping we will, tonight."

"Do you think we should? I mean, you were weak about two hours ago and you have a big day ahead of you tomorrow!"

"Lee, NOTHING could make me sleep better than having you beside me."

"Oh, all right! My bed or yours?"

"OURS!"

"FIRST! You're going to introduce me to all of your medication and tell me which ones you take when. REMEMBER? 'I'm' the charge nurse now!"

"Sweetheart, you can be in charge of everything as long as you stay with me."

"Well, after what we said to one another at the hospital, I DID change my mind about moving out."

"I'm so glad you said that, but most importantly, I'm overjoyed by the one statement that you made at the bedside."

"What? That I loved you?"

"Yes..."

"It was YOU who gave me the courage to say it...after you had said it to me."

"I...I've never said it to anyone in my life."

"I had only said it to my brother, Jake, but that was a different kind of love."

"Lee, since the words are new to both of us...would you mind expounding on why you said it."

"If you're fishing to find out that I meant it, don't try. As long as we're together, you'll know I never say ANYTHING I don't mean."

"I'm not fishing, Lee. Since the phrase is so foreign to my ears, I would love to hear you give me the reason OR reasons why..."

"First of all, I'm not impressed by your money OR your dad's position and wealth."

"I never thought you were. God knows, I nearly had to tie you up to accept a few gifts of clothing...but that's not a reason why you love me..."

"I hesitated saying it because I felt it was too soon after Jake's death to fall in love. I felt a kind of guilt...finding happiness when I know Jake will never experience falling in love with anyone. But then, I saw the way you were so honest at the hospital. It took a lot of guts to reveal your secret about HIV. I know. I've been there. Hunter, it wasn't a matter of pity either because, I'm living proof that HIV and AIDS aren't fatal. Sometimes it's the best thing that happens to people. It changes the way they look at life...and each day becomes more important than ever before. You get a desire to live longer and make each day more meaningful."

"I've already experienced part of what you're saying, Lee."

"I'm sure you have...but I also know that living with HIV or AIDS is a long row to hoe by yourself. It's much easier to get well if you have someone to get well for."

"You're not saying you fell in love with me because I had the virus, are you?"

"HUSH! Let me finish!"

"Sorry!"

"A couple of weeks ago when I lost my brother, Jake, I had no one in my life to love. Sure, I could have lived indefinitely with Mike and Tom, but what good is a third wheel on a bicycle and what's one wheel without another on a bike? So I left without saying goodbye. By the time I reached the bus station, I had never felt so alone in my life because I had never BEEN so alone. I'd always had Jake to love and take care of. Then, I met you, just a few hours later. I choked and you saved my life. Call it an omen or an act of God, it happened! You felt you made a fool of yourself tonight at the Four Seasons, well, I felt almost the same way by getting strangled on a CinnaBon. How stupid did that make me feel? Here I was choking like an idiot and you came to my rescue like Sir Galahad, all dressed up in nice clothes and being one of the most handsome guys I'd ever seen. Countless times on the bus ride to New York, I even wished I HAD died from strangulation...me, a penniless little Texas hick with a few bucks to my name, sitting next to what turned out to be a zillionaire or worse with talent, looks, and everything I would never have. Then, another couple of hours passed and you invited me into your world without my asking. I STILL felt unworthy to you. You invited me to stay at your home...even giving me an entire floor of my own...later buying me thousands of dollars in clothes. That, too, embarrassed the daylights out of me. You were on a pedestal I couldn't reach. We had nothing in common. You were gay. I...I didn't know WHAT I was.

"That night, we went to the Empire State Building where we kissed and being totally honest, I felt that was all some baloney to get into my pants. I was really frightened by the nice things you did for me, waiting to hear what I had to pay for them...but nothing really happened. You didn't drug me or try to trick me to go to bed with you. I became confused, wondering when you were going to drop the other shoe and awaken my Sleeping Beauty dreams. I became bold in the shower tonight and touched you in private places...thinking that whatever you planned to do to me...the touching would give you the cue and to hurry and get it over with so that I could run out the door into the night and go back to my reality.

"Then, you fainted at the restaurant and I became really concerned. I had no idea what was wrong until I found out at the hospital. Suddenly, when I found out you were HIV positive, for the first and only time since we met, we were finally on the same plateau. I realized the things you had said and done for me was a way to reach out to someone. I could see that you were afraid...afraid like any other normal human being. I knew how I felt when I was diagnosed. I reached out to Jake for help and you...you had no one but me. No, Hunter, it wasn't pity. I wanted to reach out to you and give you some of the love you've never had...but it was YOU who told me that you love me, first. Dear God! How great that sounded. You don't have to convince me otherwise, because in my mind and faith, I was certain that God meant us to meet and to be together...and by God, that's JUST what's gonna happen."

Hunter couldn't say a word in rebuttal. Tears were flowing down his cheeks. His shoulders were trembling as his crying turned to sobs. Lee walked to Hunter and put both arms around him, pulling Hunter's face into his shoulder. Lee stroked the back of Hunter's head.

"That's it, love, let it go! Cry it all out! I'm with you now and I'm never going to leave as long as you want me around."

"Oh, God, thank you for loving me, Lee..."

Lee began crying, as well. "Sweetheart, if I may call you that, this is only the sweet beginning...the first night of many years together."

"I don't know what to say."

"Well, first of all, you can tell me where you keep your meds."

"In the kitchen under the sink, locked up in a tiny vault!"

"Show me!"

They walked into the kitchen where Hunter got out ALL the large number of pill bottles and began to sort them out according to the time of day he was to take which. Lee observed the regimen and memorized it. He swore to himself, that as long as he was around, Hunter would NEVER miss taking a pill again. Lee had swallowed most of the same medication when he was diagnosed with AIDS and he knew how important each of them were.

Lee took the bottles and set them on a kitchen cabinet shelf in plain sight. He got out the 'bedtime' pills and set them before Hunter to take, immediately. Hunter complied with no complaints. In his life, NO ONE had ever looked after Hunter the way Lee was doing. Hell, no one cared enough about Hunter, or so he thought, to ever do ANYTHING for him. This made him love Lee even more.

"Gosh, these look familiar! I used to take ALL of 'em. Here, you want some water or juice?"

"Water is fine."

Once the pills were swallowed, Lee said, "Now, is all that medication gonna keep us from fooling around a bit?"

"Shit! If I get sick and throw them up while we fool around, I'll take a second dose!"

"Come on and I'll undress you and put you to bed."

"Sounds better and better by the minute!"

Lee took Hunter by the hand and led him into Hunter's bedroom. Lee pulled down the covers and turned the electric blanket on low to warm up the bottom sheet and mattress. Lee carefully removed Hunter's clothes, piece by piece. Since the two had mutually touched one another in the shower earlier, there was no mystery or embarrassment by seeing the other's naked body. Lee had undressed Jake countless times when they were growing up, so Lee had no problem with his expertise of undressing another male. Hunter stood as still as a Macy's manikin, letting his new lover bare him naked. However, Hunter was unable to control the automatic response of his protruding erection as Lee knelt to lower Hunter's underwear. Hunter laughed when his projecting projectile sprang forward, almost hitting Lee in the face. Lee didn't laugh out loud as Hunter, but Lee smiled as he jerked back quickly to be kept from being knocked over backward.

"Sorry!" Hunter said. "You seem to have some strange effect on my pelvic appendage!"

"Doesn't that thing EVER go down?" Lee joked.

"It used to, quite regularly, but now, I'm afraid it'll remain that way constantly."

"'I' excite you that much?"

"Lee, sweetheart, except for being examined by a physician, no one but you will ever touch me there from now on..."

"Let me see what if I can find to relax it enough to help you go to sleep."

"Don't I get to undress you?"

"Well, you paid for these expensive duds, you can rip 'em off if you feel like it!"

It only took less than half a minute for Hunter to take off Lee's clothes. Hunter even ripped Lee's shirt in haste. Hell, there was a closet full of shirts and hundreds more he could buy to replace the one he'd torn.

Then they were both naked...facing one another.

"God, you're beautiful!" Hunter said.

"That's bull malarkey and you know it. I've never thought of my naked body as being beautiful."

"Oh, then what do you say about MY naked body?"

Lee sized Hunter up from head to toe, his eyes stopping at the penile area. "I'd say that your body is handsome, virile, and ever so horny."

"Only because you do that to me. You know, I think I'm gonna faint again if I don't get to kiss you."

"Do you have to ask?"

"No, no, I don't!"

Hunter leaned forward and took Lee into his arms and kissed him fervently. Lee's momentary bravado seemed to vanish as he melted into Hunter's body. When the kiss subsided, Hunter rested his head on Lee's shoulder so that he could whisper into Lee's ear.

"God, I can't believe you said you love me, Lee. I...I've never had anyone to love before, not even a brother, like your Jake. You do mean it, don't you?"

"Damned right I mean it!" Lee replied. "Boy, my dad must be rolling over in his grave if he could hear me saying 'damned'!"

"Let him roll!" Hunter joked. "He's gone and can't hurt you now. No one is ever going to hurt you again. Right now, I don't even care if I get the role of Sammy. I have you and we have enough money to stay here and make love the rest of our lives without ever leaving."

"We'll starve from not eating, won't we?"

"Ha! I read a book once about these astronauts who were stranded on some planet. I'm not sure what planet they were on, but they didn't need oxygen tanks as the air was conducive to the human body, but they had NO food. In the book, these guys were ALL straight, but one of them suggested that they could survive on the protein found in semen. So they soon became experts at oral sex and they lived for years just eating sperm!"

"That's ridiculous!"

"Well, it WAS fiction...SCIENCE fiction!"

They both laughed. Then Hunter leaned backward, lying on his bed and pulled Lee on top of him. Both were so excited, they were about to experience an orgasm by their penises touching. With Lee on top, he became the dominate partner and began kissing Hunter from his neck downward as Lee's legs slid off Hunter and onto the floor next to the bed's edge. Hunter gasped when he felt Lee put Hunter's organ into his mouth. That was all it took to push him over the edge and he ejaculated immediately.

"DAMN!" Hunter shouted. "What am I? A twelve-year-old kid who just came for the first time? I've never climaxed that quick EVER!"

"With all your bravura and braggadocio, apparently, you're not as experienced in lovemaking as you claimed to be! I guess there's LOTS of things I can teach you!" Lee said with a wry grin. "Wanna know something funny?"

"Yeah, right now, I NEED to hear something funny!"

"I came at the same time as you..."

"You DIDN'T!"

"Oh, but I DID! I hope there's some carpet stain remover under the kitchen sink..."

"Fuck it! Leave it! We'll replace the old carpet if needs be. Boy, some honeymoon night, this turned out to be! Damn! We're gonna just LOVE going through puberty together! I just KNOW it!"

"Can you go for seconds?"

"Try me!"

That was all the coaxing Lee needed. He raised up to put his face on Hunter's pillow and they kissed passionately for several minutes. They made love, 'safe love', for the next two hours, ending with Lee spooning Hunter with both arms around him. They fit together as if they were two pieces in a big puzzle, but now the picture of the puzzle was complete. Lee held Hunter tightly with his crotch eased against Hunter's buttocks. In just minutes, both were sound asleep, feeling loved, warm, and safe.

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"Mother, you know that I wrote you about Forrest Kidman, one of the guys in my platoon?" Will asked.

"Of course, I do, son," Valerie replied. "I talked with him over the telephone and gave Father Chris' number to him so that he could reach you."

"That's right. I had forgotten. He might be coming to stay here for a few days."

"That would be nice, dear. I think it would do you a world of good to see some of your friends."

"That's what I was hoping you'd say. Forrest has some business with Walter Clayton, you know, the noted attorney that attends St. Genesius?"

"Will, I've known Walter for years. I knew his wife before she died. They had two lovely sons, Jeff and Alex. Jeff is now a priest somewhere in New England. I think Alex lives up there too."

"I don't remember Jeff or Alex, but since you know Walter, what do you think of him as a lawyer?"

"Oh, my! Walter prepared your father's will and I don't think your dad would have trusted just 'any' lawyer. Walter is highly well thought of, all over Briarwood."

"That's good to know."

"Your friend, Forrest? He's not in any kind of legal trouble, is he? I mean, when he called to talk with you, he said it was a matter of life or death. I think that's how he phrased it."

"No, Mother. Forrest was being just a bit melodramatic. He's coming to see Walter concerning a matter of another army buddy of ours."

"Oh? Then, I'm sure that Forrest will find Walter very trustworthy."

"Thanks, Mother."

"Will?"

"Yes?"

"You didn't say much about your visit with Father Chris, the other night. Did the all night stay help you?"

"Oh, very much, Mother! Chris...FATHER Chris is a wonderful support. Dr. Herbert thinks I should spend MORE time with Chr..Father Chris. He seems to have a soothing effect on my nerves."

"It's just too bad Father Cliff isn't here. He could help you more than Father Chris."

"I...I doubt that, Mother. Father Chris seems to understand me better than any doctor I've seen since I got out of Iraq. I...I might be spending more nights with him."

"Well, as long as you don't get into his way. He has lots of parish duties with Father Cliff on vacation."

"Oh, I don't think he minds. I...I even made him a salad the other night."

"Dear, dear, you spend one night and you're already preparing his meals?"

"No, Mother, not a meal, just a salad."

"Will, can I ask you a direct question?"

"Sure!"

"Is Father Chris gay?"

"Mother, why would you ask such a question?"

"It's common knowledge that Father Cliff and Roger Cole are an intimate couple, so much so that Father Cliff even had his surname changed to Cole like Roger's. The church doesn't mind and Lord knows, I don't mind. It's just that Father Chris shared a house with Dr. Middleton, before he died and I've often wondered about THEIR relationship?"

"Mother, you don't think I spent the night with Father Chris because he's gay, do you?"

"That's silly, Will. I know you're not gay. You have a fiancée and soon you and Kathy will be married. Your being gay is the farthest thing from my mind."

"Mother? What if I WERE gay?"

"Then I'd worry twice as much about you. You have enough to handle with your post-traumatic stress without adding undue burdens on yourself. Besides, you're too masculine to have an interest in other men."

"Mother, let's pretend just for a minute. What if I had told you when I was fifteen or sixteen that I was gay?"

"More than likely, I would have sent you to some clinic where they transform gay people into normal human beings."

"You think gays aren't normal human beings?"

"Well, they're human beings, but I'm not so certain they're normal."

"You don't think Father Cliff and Roger Cole are normal?"

"Of course they are. God made the two of them gay to help others born that way."

"Then you think gays are born gay and don't choose to be gay after they grow up?"

"No, darling. Look at yourself. You dated pretty young girls all through high school and college. You have a lovely bride-to-be. There's no reason you would just wake up one morning and find out that your sexual preference had changed overnight. Will, the last thing in the world I would ever suspect is that you're gay. I think I know my own son!"

Will wanted to pursue the subject further, but the time wasn't right. After his love affair with Rick and his new feelings for Chris...plus having sex with Chris all night long. Will was definitely convinced he was gay. However, IF being gay was established at birth, not chosen later, why had he not had feelings for other guys at junior high or high school? Had he decided to be gay with Rick overnight and why had the homosexual feelings remained in his psyche to the point he was much more interested in Chris than in Kathy?

"Mother, I think Forrest might arrive late tonight or early tomorrow."

"That's not much of an advanced warning. I should go see if one of the guest rooms is clean enough to receive him."

"If it's all the same to you, I think Forrest will be bunking with me in my bedroom."

"Oh?"

"Yes, we were practically bunkmates in Iraq and we got used to sleeping together."

"I was just thinking how much Forrest would enjoy a nice big king-sized bed of his own while he's here."

"Mother, Forrest and I have so much to talk about and so little time, we could talk more in MY room."

"All right, but make sure that Libby changes your sheets. You've been locked up in your room since you've been home and Libby hasn't had the chance to give your bedroom a good cleaning."

"I'll make sure it's clean enough for Forrest. When we slept together, it was usually in mud and filth. We never had clean sheets."

"Please, please, I don't want to think about that horrible place. We should never have invaded Iraq in the first place. According to the news, most Americans agree with me now. Bush and Cheney were just greedy and wanted to make billions by starting a war. I keep seeing pictures on the news of those poor wretched people in New Orleans who have no home and nothing left of their belongings. Cheney says that it's not up to the American taxpayers to rebuild a city in Louisiana. I'd like to ask him, why we're spending hundreds of billions rebuilding buildings in Iraq that we destroyed in the first place. Shouldn't we spend THAT money on U.S. citizens?"

"Mother, you sound more and more like Dad every day."

"Will, if your father was alive, he's spend his last dollar to end the war and get Bush out of the White House."

"I'd love to stay and listen to your political speeches, but I need to call Forrest to see what time I'm supposed to meet him!"

"Run along, dear. I'll tell Libby, myself, to clean your room!"

"Oh, God! Yes, MOTHER, please do that for me!"

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When the limousine stopped in front of Rob and Tim's apartment on West 75th Street, Marc and Billy jumped out and ran up the landing. Tim wanted to make sure that the chauffeur had been paid for his services...which was inane because Roger ALWAYS made sure his employees were paid in full...and then some. Rob unlocked the door to their living room and Billy and Marc made a beeline to the bedroom. The two horny youngsters were undressed and in bed in less than three minutes flat.

Tim turned on the TV to catch the latest news while Rob went to the bar and made the two of them a nightcap...cognac and soda on ice. For a long time after Dorothy, the serial killer was caught, neither Rob nor Tim could watch the news. It was only by the grace of God and the quick actions of Father Cliff that they were alive. Both owed their lives to Cliff, their fortune to Roger, and their talent and success to the Almighty. Rob had rigged a special spotlight to beam on their Tony Awards on the mantel above the fireplace. The number of autographed pictures had grown over the years. They had 'good luck' photos of everyone from Stephen Sondheim to Harold Prince to Bernadette Peters to Barbra Streisand.

Rob brought the two drinks and sat down on the couch with Tim. Tim took a glass and they toasted one another.

"Cheers!"

"Here's to 'Dark'!"

"Amen!"

"Quite a day, huh?" Rob said.

"You can say that again. The auditions were grueling but at least we have our 'Cora'!"

"She's gonna be magnificent. Jesus! Tim, I get goosebumps when I think about her singing your, 'Where's The Man I Knew'!"

"She WILL be terrific!" Tim added.

"You're certain about Marc?"

"It's too late now. We've already told him that he has the part, but I'm not worried. He'll be great!"

"You still want him around twenty-four-seven?"

"You mean, adopting him? Hell, yes! I love him!"

"So do I."

"Damn! He and Billy sure went to bed in a hurry! You don't suppose that they're...?"

"I don't suppose, Rob. I'm sure of it!"

"You don't object?"

"Would you'd've liked it if someone objected to our bedroom romps?"

"No, but he and Billy are so young."

"Rob! If they're old enough to have orgasms, they're old enough to share them!"

"I just wonder what his agent would think."

"Who the fuck cares what he thinks? He sent Marc to us and we're responsible for him. I just can't wait until he's our TOTAL responsibility!"

"I...I hope Hunter is all right."

"I'm sure if anything bad had happened, Roger or Cliff will call us."

"I couldn't believe he just fainted like that! Do you suppose there's something wrong that he doesn't want anyone to know about?"

"I wondered the same thing. I mean, all the way home from the hospital I kept thinking if I should even consider him for the part of Sammy. Suppose he fainted during the show? It's a big risk."

"My sister used to faint like that when she was binge dieting. She wouldn't let her food digest. Our mother would make her eat a full meal and without our knowing it, she would go into the bathroom and throw it all up."

"Your sister was anorexic?"

"She looked like Karen Carpenter until my mother discovered what she was doing and took her to the doctor."

"Hunter didn't look anorexic. He's a well-built young man."

"Maybe it was nothing. Maybe he just fainted for no apparent reason."

"That could still put our show in jeopardy."

"If we don't hear from Roger before audition time tomorrow, I'll call Roger and see what they found out at the hospital."

"You know, Hunter DOES look right for Sammy."

"And you heard him sing. He's fantastic for not having much experience."

"Do you think he and Lee are a twosome?"

"They SHOULD be. Lee needs SOMEONE in his life since he lost Jake."

"I still can't believe that that Brindley boy killed himself in the jail before he was even indicted."

"What Brindley boy killed himself in the jail?" Billy asked from Marc's bedroom door.

"Oh, hey, Billy! We thought you and Marc had gone to bed."

"I...I got up to see if you'd heard anything about Hunter and I heard you two talking."

"We haven't heard anything about Hunter, Billy..."

"Then what did you mean that the Brindley boy killed himself in the jail."

"I...I'm sorry that you heard that, Billy," Rob said.

"CHUCK BRINDLEY? He KILLED himself?"

"Billy, your Daddy Roger and Daddy Cliff were going to tell you but you were having such a good time in New York with Marc, they didn't want to spoil your fun," Tim tried to explain.

"CHUCK'S DEAD?"

"Yes, Billy?"

"Oh Lord, no! I told him I'd visit him again." By this time, Billy was in tears. "Didn't God hear my prayers about Chuck?"

Rob and Tim looked at one another and then they turned their focus on Billy. Neither of them could provide an answer to the sobbing, heartbroken boy.

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The following evening after the day of confessions, Alex invited Jeff, Johnny, little Roger and little Cliff to dinner. Johnny was still busy daily running the AIDS center while Ted was all over the town of Mackintosh every day attending to his mayoral duties. Johnny had become addicted to watching the Food Network Channel and had become quite deft in gourmét cooking. He usually left the center around 4:30 each day to prepare something new for Ted. Ted was loving Johnny's new hobby so much he had gained nearly twenty pounds.

Alex and Ted's relationship was strong as ever. Occasionally when they had a minor tiff, Jeff and/or Johnny would intervene as soon as they got wind of the problem to make everything copasetic. With all the close bond between Alex and his brother, Jeff, neither had ever had a reason to be jealous of one another...ever! Except everytime Alex saw little Cliff and little Roger, Alex longed to have two children as Jeff and Johnny. Alex had discussed the possibility of adoption to Ted several times, but Ted would always find a way to change the subject to another topic. Ted grew up having no brothers or sisters and the idea of having small children around the house was somewhat alien to him.

Jeff, Johnny, and the kids arrived at Alex and Ted's around 7:30. Ted had concocted a large pitcher of margueritas (his own recipe) to serve before dinner. He had also made faux margueritas for the two boys. The four 'brothers' sat in the living room enjoying the drinks while little Cliff and Roger were in the den watching the Cartoon Network. Jeff asked Alex if there was anything he and Johnny could do to help with dinner. Ted, graciously, accepted their offer and went into the kitchen. Jeff prepared the Pillsbury Crescent rolls while Johnny made a Balsamic vinaigrette dressing which left Ted alone, at least, momentarily alone because soon both kids came out of the den into the living room and they each hopped on one of Ted's knees.

"Well, to what do I owe the pleasure of this intrusion?" Ted joked at the children.

"Uncle Ted, would you tell us a story?" little Roger asked.

"What kind of story?" Ted asked.

"Uh, tell us how you met Uncle Alex!" little Roger replied. "Did you know each other when you were little boys?"

"Come to think of it, I guess we did. I can't seem to remember a single time or single year when your Uncle Alex and I WEREN'T friends. We sorta grew up together."

"You love him, don't you?" little Cliff said.

"Yes, Cliff, VERY much so."

"Do you love him as much as our dads love each other?"

"Probably about the same."

"Did you ever have a girlfriend?"

"No, Roger, I don't think I ever did."

"Are you and Uncle Alex ever going to have kids?"

"I...I don't know, Cliff."

"You DO like kids, don't you?"

"Sure..."

"I mean you like US, don'tcha?"

"If I could find two boys just like the two of you, I'd love to have them. But you two are already taken!"

"Uncle Ted, did you know that Granddaddy Cliff and Granddaddy Roger are coming to see us this weekend?" little Roger asked.

"Yes, I did, but why do you call 'em 'Granddaddy'? Walter is your granddaddy."

"No, he's Grandpa Walt!"

"Oh! I'm glad you cleared that up!" Ted said.

"I can't wait to see what they bring us!"

"Do they always bring you guys a gift when they come to visit?"

"Always! But, sometimes, Granddaddy Roger has his gift delivered in a truck!" little Cliff said.

"Oh? Like what?"

"Granddaddy Roger bought us that big TV in our room and a DVD player with ALL the Walt Disney movies...'Bambi', Pinocchio', 'Peter Pan', 'Lady and the Tramp'...ALL of 'em!"

"I should've known!" Ted sighed.

Johnny entered the living room from the kitchen. "This is a nice homey little picture!" Johnny said. "Why don't you little guys go wash up in the bathroom? Dinner is ready."

"OH, BOY!" the two boys screamed, jumping off Ted's lap and running down the hall toward the bathroom.

"Ted, pardon my saying so, but they looked good sitting on your lap. Have you changed your mind any, about adopting a kid?" Johnny asked Ted.

"I wouldn't mind if I could get two like the two you and Jeff have!"

"You know it was Walter who found 'em and arranged their adoption for Jeff and me."

"Yeah. Didn't their real mother have AIDS or something?"

"Yes, but Ted, there are hundreds more just like little Roger and little Cliff, who need homes and loving parents. Straight people don't want to go to the trouble of adopting kids and giving them a good home, they'd rather sit back and criticize us gay, who want them."

"I hear that phrase almost daily, Johnny, as I visit my Mackintosh constituents. I'll bet there are two or three dozens gay couples living here in Mackintosh who would just LOVE to adopt."

"Maybe YOU, as Mayor, could make a presentation to the New Hampshire legislature and see just how many kids you could place in good homes."

"You mean, only after Alex and I adopt a couple ourselves, don't you?"

"You could start a chain reaction, perhaps."

"Has Alex been talking privately to you and Jeff?"

"About adoption?"

"You know damned well I'm talking about adoption!"

"Ted, my lips are sealed!"

"You conniving con artist! I should've known!"

"What about it, Ted? Wouldn't you like to have someone in your life you could look down on and call him 'son'? You'd be surprised at what an amazing effect it would have on your life for a young boy to call you 'Dad'!"

"Don't think I haven't thought about it!"

"Well, THINK HARDER ABOUT IT! You and Alex need kids! Walter could arrange the adoption papers in no time at all...and you KNOW how happy it would make Alex..."

"Johnny, when I had my accident and didn't know if I would live...then when I found out that I was going to live, I thought I'd never be able to walk again, all I had in my life was Alex."

"That's not true, Ted. You'll always have us and the rest of the Briarwood Boys."

"I don't mean it that way. It was when I was lying in the hospital bed and I woke up and saw Alex's face, I knew he was all I wanted for the rest of my life. I just don't want kids to come between us."

"Ah, Ted, that's not fair. Kids would bring you and Alex closer together as our two have brought Jeff and me closer than ever."

"You don't mind sharing Jeff with the boys?"

"You phrased that politically incorrect. You and Alex would share your kids!"

"I KNOW how much Alex wants kids."

"SO? Do you love him enough to give him what he wants?"

"You know how much I love Alex. I'd give him the moon if he asked."

"Kids will love you back MORE than the moon, Ted."

"All right! But don't say a word to Alex OR to Jeff. They still read one another's thoughts...but I'll call Walter from my office tomorrow and see what he can do."

"You know, Ted, you and I are two of the luckiest people on earth. We both married a Clayton boy. Jeff and Alex are so much alike. They've always loved one another as if they were one entity...and that makes you and me closer than just mere brothers-in-law. It's so easy to see why Alex loves you."

"I can say the same thing about Jeff and you. You are Jeff's world...his heaven on earth. I haven't a qualm about saying that I love you, too, Johnny. We're four of a kind living in a wonderland of AIDS victims and I hope we'll always be together...the FOUR OF US!"

Johnny walked over to Ted's chair, lifted Ted's chin with his forefinger and gently kissed Ted on the lips, just as Alex and Jeff entered the living room.

"Uh oh, bro," Jeff said. "Looks like we walked in on a little incestuous romance."

"Do you think this is grounds for divorce, Jeff?" Alex replied, going along with Jeff's joke.

"I think we walked in, too soon. If we had waited five more minutes, they might have been naked, making love in the middle of the living room floor!"

"I wish we HAD waited! Then we could have joined them!"

"They DO make a good looking couple, don't they?"

"I'm kinda partial to the one sitting in the chair!" Alex said.

"And I think I've got the hots for the one standing, doing all the kissing!" Jeff added.

"I think I'll see if I can seduce mine with some beef Wellington!"

"Beef Wellington?" Ted exclaimed. "Damn! There goes another five pounds I'll add to my gut!"

"See, bro?" Ted said, "Mine prefers my gourmét food over romance!"

"I won't tell you what 'mine' prefers, but it's shaped like a knockwurst!"

"KNOCKWURST, did you say?" Johnny jumped up and ran to Jeff.

"See?" Jeff replied, kissing Johnny.

"Come on, Jeff, get your boys and let's eat. TED! It's your turn to ask thanks!"

"Thanks!" Ted replied, grumbling.

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After reaching Forrest, via long-distance, Will learned that Forrest would arrive at the Briarwood Airport and nine o'clock that night. Will drove his mother's car. He had called Chris to say 'hello' and 'I love you' after telling Chris about going to meet Forrest. Chris was glad about Forrest's visit. He felt that renewing Will's friendship with his army buddy would be good psychological therapy...for BOTH of them.

The night that Forrest reached Will in Chris' bedroom, Will had had a long talk with Chris explaining Barry's dilemma and Forrest's anxiety over the 'shooting'. Chris called Walter Clayton the next day and arrange for Walter to meet with Forrest to see what could be done about Barry's incarceration in the Richmond jail. It had been years since Walter had defended a murder charge. Taking care of Roger's assets was a full time job for him. BUT, as a favor to Chris and to Valerie Danforth's son, Walter promised he would look into the case and offer as much advice as possible.

Will felt that meeting Forrest again might be too much for him to handle, so after Chris' coaxing, Will took his new medications before driving to the airport to alleviate some of the panic and tension. Will waited, nervously, for Forrest to walk through the exit gate from the plane. He had never seen Forrest in civvies. He met Forrest in Iraq and had only seen him wear U.S. Army issue duds. Forrest was wearing a white sport shirt, black slacks, a leather jacket, and loafers on his feet. He had let his hair grow to a nice GQ length instead of the army buzz cut. Even though Will came from a wealthy family, Forrest looked like a million bucks to Will. DAMN! WAS HE EVER HANDSOME?

"Hey! Forrest!" Will called out.

"WILL?"

"OVER HERE, BUDDY!"

Forrest saw Will and ran to him. The two embraced as long-lost lovers. Both were happy as hell to see one another.

"My God, you look great!" Will said.

"You don't look so bad yourself for a mental patient!" Forrest joked. "I thought you'd be drooling at the mouth and dressed in old fatigues like Robert DeNiro in 'Taxi Driver'!"

"Don't get angry, but after you told me about Barry, I thought you'd be wearing widow's weeds!"

"What the fuck are widow's weeds?"

"When we get home, you can ask my mother!"

"God, Will, we've never hugged before now, but I feel as if I could hold you in my arms all night."

"You just might get the chance. I had asked Mother to have my room cleaned and you and I are sharing the same bedroom."

"I thought you were rich and lived in a big mansion!"

"I do. We have about a dozen guest rooms, but I wanted us to spend as much time together as possible as long as you're here."

"Twin beds or a single?"

"Why the fuck would I have twin beds in my bedroom?"

"Hell, I just thought if you are as rich as I think you are, you might have gone out and BOUGHT twin beds for the two of us!"

"Don't flatter yourself with MY money!" Will said, laughing. "Let's go get your bag."

"All I brought is this carry on."

"Then that means we can get the fuck out of here!"

"GOOD! LET'S GO!"

The two ex-army buddies walked out to the parking lot to Valerie's black Audi. Forrest gave the car a wolf whistle. "Was the Rolls too dirty?"

"Yes, halfway to the airport, some bird shit on the windshield and I drove back home to get this old thing. I hope you aren't too embarrassed to ride in it!"

"I'll duck down in the seat if I see someone I know."

"Good! So will I, if I see someone who knows you in Briarwood."

"Can I ask how many cars you own?"

"NO!"

"Christ! Just HOW RICH are you?"

"Hell, I don't know. It's my dad's money. Mother gives me an allowance on top of my military pension."

"They give pensions to rich guys?"

"Sure, I'm a loony ex-GI, remember?"

"Barry and I forfeited our pension when they discharged us."

"How IS Barry, Forrest?"

"Depressed...suicidal."

"Does he still feel the same way about you? I mean, after..."

"Hell, I don't know. They won't let me see him unless we're chaperoned."

"Fuckers!"

"I haven't been able to ask him a single private question."

"Do you still love him?"

"I think so...but, with him facing murder charges, I...I don't see much future for us."

"Nah, nah, don't be negative. Let's wait and see what Walter Clayton has to say about Barry's case."

"Is he a good lawyer?"

"From what I've been able to find out, he's one of the best in the country!"

"THAT'S good to hear."

"Did you have dinner?"

"Yes, I had a meal at the Richmond Airport before I boarded."

"I can offer you a drink, but I'm on some new medications, so I'll have to be a tea-totaler."

"How ARE you, Will. Are you medications and therapy helping you?"

"Those and the new priest I've met."

"So you ARE sleeping with a man of God."

"You'd never know he was in the bedroom!"

"Good, huh?"

"The greatest!"

"You know, neither Barry nor I had the slightest clue about you and Rick!"

"Yeah? Rick and I had no clue about you and Barry...and if WE didn't know, being at each other's sides day and night, how the fuck did you guys get caught?"

"You've seen porn movies where the woman was a screamer when she came?"

"Yeah."

"Barry could outscream Linda Lovelace when he came."

"Oh, Jesus! No wonder you got caught!"

"It was a fucking embarrassing nightmare for both of us. We couldn't even look at the other guys in our platoon. It wasn't a matter of 'Don't ask, don't tell'. With Barry it should've been 'Don't ask, don't scream'!"

"I'm so sorry, Forrest."

"I'm even sorrier about Rick."

Both were silent the rest of the way to the Danforth estate.

"Now, no snide remarks, but here's my home, sweet home!"

"GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! You live HERE?"

"Just me and my poor little old widowed mother."

"Christ! If Saddam Hussein had hidden in your house, no one would've ever found him!"

"It's been rumored that Osama bin Laden is hiding in our basement, somewhere!"

"Shit! Bush is looking in the wrong places!"

"Don't mention that asshole's name in front of my mother unless you want to hear an hour of political rhetoric!"

"She supported Kerry, huh?"

"NO! She just hates BUSH! Come on and I'll give you the short tour of the house."

"Do I have to buy a ticket?"

"Only to get out...not to enter!"

Forrest almost got a stiff neck looking upward at the huge mansion. When Will opened the front door for him, Forrest stood in awe in the foyer as he looked at the twin staircases leading up to the other floors. Crystal, marble, gold filigree, huge canvas oil paintings, large vases with long-stemmed bouquets as far as his eye could see, stood in front of and all around Forrest. He was speechless. Had he seen Roger's estate, Forrest might have dropped dead in his tracks.

"Is your mother still up?"

"Ah, no. She goes to bed with the chickens and awakes before the cock crows."

"You have chickens and a cock, too?"

"Let's say, we don't have chickens!" Will said, wryly.

"You're an asshole, you know that?"

"Yeah, and I'm told my asshole's a beaut!"

"I wasn't talking about YOUR asshole, I said you were one!"

"Sorry, I misunderstood you."

"You know, for a guy with post-traumatic-stress, you haven't lost your sense of humor."

"Just don't let my mother or my psychiatrist hear you say that."

"Weren't you engaged? I mean, didn't you have a fiancée?"

"I'm supposed to be her fiancé, but since I found God, or at least, my man of God, I'm not so sure she's my fiancée."

"You haven't told her?"

"Hell, no. Kathy is the type girl you don't tell ANYTHING!"

"She knows it all?"

"If she doesn't know it, her dad will buy it for her!"

"What about you mother? Does she know about you and the priest?"

"I'm not ready for her to recite her sermon on the mount!"

"How does she feel about gays?"

"GREAT! Our main priest is gay and she's all for him."

"But, not you?"

"Nope, not me! Come on, let's go upstairs to my bedroom!"

"Is it far?"

"About a mile if you climb with a rope! Take my hand and I'll guide you."

Just for fun, Forrest took Will's hand as they walked up the stairs, down the hall into Will's massive bedroom. Will was surprised to see how clean it looked with fresh sheets. Libby had even set a bouquet of chrysanthemums on Will's teakwood dresser. Forrest couldn't believe the huge mirror over the king-sized bed.

"WOW! Did your parents have the mirror installed for you and Kathy?"

"I never fucked Kathy here. The mirror was put there years ago by my mother who taught me that it was evil to jerk off. She thought if I started to masturbate, I would see what I was doing, get embarrassed and stop."

"Shit! I've heard EVERYTHING now! Did it make you stop?"

"No, I used to get so excited watching myself, I mastered the art of masturbation by following a Kama Sutra guide of positioning."

Forrest laughed out loud.

"Hey, will it cost me a quarter to take a leak in your bathroom?"

"QUARTER? Shit! It's fifty cents! Go through that door."

"Will I recognize the toilet when I see it? I mean, it doesn't slide in and out of a hidden door, does it?"

"Go find out for yourself?"

` "If I don't find it, I'll just pee in the bathtub. You DO have one?"

"Yeah, it's black marble."

"I should've guessed."

Forrest disappeared through the bathroom door and Will went to the bed to turn down the covers. He hadn't thought much about sleeping with Forrest or what they should wear to bed. With Forrest's carry on bag, Will doubted if Forrest had packed pajamas, but in the army, WHEN they were able to sleep inside, all the men wore their khaki shorts. So, the problem of what to wear to bed was settled. Will stripped down to his boxers and socks and waited on Forrest to join him.

Forrest came out of the bathroom, saying, "Push button flush, huh? I've never seen one before."

"My dad had them made for every toilet in the house. He LOVED gadgets."

"I see you're ready to turn in..."

"Yeah, if YOU are!"

"READY! I'm tired as hell."

"Want me to give you a massage?"

"Oh no, you start rubbing my back while you're wearing your boxers and the two of us might get into ALL kinds of trouble."

"I wasn't going to massage you back, myself. The mattress vibrates. It helps to put me to sleep."

"Oh, like those 'magic fingers' in motels? Does it cost fifty cents, too?"

"No, but you can put it on your credit card."

"Wonderful! Mine are all maxed out!"

Forrest removed his clothes, down to his briefs. He and Will took off their socks at the same time and both got into bed.

"How does this mattress feel to you?"

"Fabulous! But how do you turn off the lights? Don't tell me you've got one of those 'clap on, clap off' gadgets!"

"No, thank God, my dad didn't install those. There's a dimmer beside the bed. I'll turn off the lights when you're ready."

"I'm ready, now!"

"Want some soothing music to put you to sleep?"

"Sure, why not! How much extra for the music?"

"It's piped in from satellite in New York." Will dimmed the lights and turned on the FX. The strains of Barbra Streisand began singing, "Nights are long since you went away. I dream about you all through the day...my buddy..."

"Did you plan for her to sing this especially for me?" Forrest asked.

"No, but it IS appropriate..."

"Oooh, this feels so nice...so relaxing...All that's missing is a good-night kiss..."

"You want one?" Will asked.

"You'd give me one?"

"A little one...on the house!"

"Well, if it's free, I'll take it!"

Forrest turned over on his right side to meet Will, who had turned over on his left side, and Will kissed him ever so gently on the lips.

"How's that?" Will asked.

"I'm not sure. Could I have one more just to find out?"

"Sure, anything for a buddy!" Will replied as he kissed Forrest again, only longer.

"Will?"

"Yes?"

"Are you starting something we'll both be sorry for?"

"I...I won't be sorry. What about you?"

"Let me kiss you and you'll see how sorry I am."

"I'm game."

Forrest elevated his upper body on his elbow and put his face over Will's to position himself for a more passionate kiss. He leaned down, only to discover that his lips met Will's tongue as it slid into Forrest's mouth. As soon as both their tongues touched, passion was loosened between them. Will put his arms around Forrest to pull Forrest's body on top of his. Forrest reached up and ran both his hands through Will's hair.

"Oh, baby, baby, baby," Forrest said between gasps of air.

They both could feel their erections trying to tear through their underwear. They were extremely excited with sexual tension. It was Will who reached first into Forrest's briefs and pulled Forrest's cock out of the slitted opening. Forrest exhaled a tremendous sigh, relieving some of the pressure that had been mounting inside him since Barry was arrested and put in jail.

"Forrest?" Will whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Can I fuck you?"

"Only if you let me fuck you, afterward."

"You got yourself a deal. Now take those goddamned briefs off while I struggle out of these fucking boxers!"

In less than fifteen seconds, both men were stark naked and grinding their crotches into the other's. They had only began making love and the sweat was pouring off both brows and torsos, wetting Libby's clean sheets. Will turned Forrest onto his back and put his legs over Will's shoulders and soon, Will had entered Forrest without need of lubrication, only perspiration. Will drove his organ hard and fast into Forrest, making Forrest cry out with pleasure.

Neither of them cared where this action was leading. In the dark of night, Forrest became Rick's proxy and Will, Barry's. About half an hour later, Forrest made love to Will. What the war had taken from them was being returned in a special way. Tonight, nothing mattered...not Rick, not Barry, certainly NOT Kathy, and for some reason, not even Chris.

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(To be continued in "Briarwood"...Book Nine..."A New Heaven and a New Earth" chapter 101.)