All rights reserved. Copyright held by the author. If you are underage or are offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language, please exit now.
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"BRIARWOOD"
Copyright Ritchris, 2006
A dramatic saga
by
Ritch Christopher
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BOOK TEN
"CHRIS AND BEYOND..."
Chapter 109
"I know a little bit about a lot of things,
but I don't know enough about you..."
music and lyrics by
Peggy Lee
copyright 1943
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All Brad had to 'move in' from his car into his new bedroom at Chris' house, was his clothes, a case containing toiletries and personal effects and his laptop...not much to show for a lifetime and a world of wealth accumulated from the residuals of his famous novels. His 'move' so to speak, took one trip and all of five minutes.
"That's it!" Brad said to Chris, after setting his meager belongings on his new bed.
"Oh, surely, Brad, you must have stored up keepsakes, pieces of furniture, or mementos in a storage bin or locker some place!" Chris replied.
"Nope! Everything I own in the world...you're looking at!"
"Haven't you updated your wardrobe from time to time?"
"Just about every year, but as soon as I refurbish my wardrobe, I find the nearest Goodwill and give last year's duds to them."
"What about papers? Deeds? Documents?".
"I don't have a deed to anything other than a safety deposit box. Everything else is stored on the hard drive of my PC."
"This is unbelievable. You must have zillions in the bank and own NOTHING?"
"I swore I'd never buy a house or any permanent dwelling until I found you."
"Well, if you're moving in with me in this mausoleum, you won't have to buy any real estate."
"I could always buy the bedroom you're setting me up in! You know, some place to call my own!" Brad joked. "How much do you want for it?"
"It's not for sale," Chris joked back. "Who knows, you might be moving to a different room if things should work out between us..."
"That's a ray of hope!"
"You know, I never asked, but do you cook?"
"DO I COOK? I need to show you my certificate of graduation from the Fort Lauderdale School of Cuisine! I, my dear friend, am a master chef!"
"You stayed in Ft. Lauderdale long enough to graduate from a cuisine institute?"
"Yes, but don't get the wrong idea. I might have lived for a while 'where the boys are', but like a diabetic working in a candy factory, I looked but didn't touch what I was looking at."
"You didn't trick ONE time in Fort Lauderdale?"
"I would have...IF you had been living there at the time."
"Damn! You are something else...a whacko phenomenon. No wonder you were so aggressive in the bedroom last night. You're probably the horniest person on the planet."
"I WAS...but no longer. I finally got what I've been looking for all these years."
"Should I feel guilty?"
"No, it was by MY choice, not yours."
"I suddenly feel as if I should call Cliff and tell him I won't be in today and spend the entire day letting you catch up on some of the thousands of orgasms you must have stored up inside you."
"Oh, I've had PLENTY of orgasms...just not with another person...besides, Chris, it wasn't sex that kept me on the quest looking for you. Very frankly, if we NEVER had sex again, that would be all right, too. I just want to be near you...to love you...and have the feeling that you love me."
"Brad, there's no doubt that I love you. I...I just...oh, hell, I don't know what I mean!"
"You mean, after losing Ed so soon, you're not ready to commit to another longtime relationship..."
"Exactly."
"Then, I'll use some other wiles and talents to woo you."
"Such as...?"
"Oh, after a long hard session in the confessional, you can come home to a nice Chateaubriand for two."
"That's certainly a step in the right direction!"
"When I'm not writing, I can clean house, rinse out your underwear, iron your clerical collars...I can be your 'Jay'."
"I think you'd better meet Jay before you decide if you want to be like him."
"Chris, I'll do ANYTHING for you. Even if we take sex out of the picture, I can be satisfied just sitting on the couch in the den, listening to Barbra or Broadway CD's, while holding hands or cuddling."
"You know if you were one of my parishioners telling me this inside the confessional, I'd say that you had it bad...for somebody."
"I do...for you, Chris. I want this so bad."
"Let me pray about it..."
"Don't you mean talk to Cliff about it?"
"I see you can still read my mind as you always could in college."
"Tell Cliff if he'll side with me, I'll give a couple of hundred-thousand dollars to his church."
"Ha! That's like giving Charlie Goodyear a set of tires for Christmas. Roger has more money than Bill Gates."
"Jesus! Is there nothing I can do to plead my case?"
"You could start by giving me one of those kisses like the ones you gave me in bed last night. Let's see how they fare in the daytime while we're standing."
"You want me to kiss you?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then, for God's sake, DON'T MOVE!...One big, fat, sloppy, juicy kiss coming up!" Brad took two steps toward Chris and carefully put his arms around Chris' back to draw him close...just as the phone rang. "SHIT!" Brad exclaimed.
"Better get used to that. A priest's life is very similar to that of a doctor's. We're on-call twenty-four-seven," Chris replied, going next door to his bedroom to answer the phone. Brad followed closely on Chris' heels. "Hello?" Chris said, answering the telephone.
"Chris?"
"Yes?"
"It's me, Bill."
"Oh, hello, Bill," Chris replied as Brad's heart sank, causing him to collapse in the nearest chair next to Chris' bedroom phone. "How's Carolyn?".
"It's time, Chris. She's in a coma and the doctors don't expect her to live the day through..."
"Oh, God, Bill, I'm SO sorry."
"Can you come...TODAY?"
"Well, I don't...YES, OF COURSE I WILL. Let me give Cliff a call at the church and I'll grab the next flight out."
"I did as you asked. Yesterday, I had Father James from St. Michael's to visit Carolyn and me while Carolyn was quite lucid. We pledged our faith to his church and while he was here, he called his Bishop to explain the special circumstances...and although it was a telephone confirmation, Carolyn and I became members of St. Michael's. In other words, both of us are now Anglicans and you can legally perform last unction rites and then hold a funeral mass at our new church. Everything was cleared by Father James and Bishop Matthews from the Arch-Diocese of central Georgia."
"Congratulations, Bill, although that doesn't really seem appropriate just now with the news you've just told me about Carolyn."
"But don't you see, Chris? Carolyn got her final wish and she can pass happily now."
"Yes, I suppose that is a good way of looking at it."
"Today's Wednesday, Chris, and IF Carolyn should pass away today as expected, then I suppose we can have her funeral on Friday. That way, you can be back at St. Genesius on Sunday to perform your regular Sunday mass."
"The time factor is no problem, Bill. I took care of St. Genesius by myself for two weeks while Cliff and Roger were in New York. Cliff can handle all four services Sunday if I don't make it back in time."
"Oh, in that case, maybe you'll want to stay a few days here in Riverwind...you know, see a few familiar faces...give us...you and me...some time to talk and get reacquainted..."
There was that word again. It rang out in Chris' ears...'reacquainted'...the same word Brad has used the night before...and look what happened! There was no way under the sun that Chris wanted to get 'reacquainted' with Bill in the same way as he had with Brad. That would REALLY complicate his life...and Bill's...AND Brad's!
"I...I'm not sure about staying longer than Carolyn's funeral, Bill, but we'll just see. I'm making no promises. I...I have a new project which recently came into my life and I need to devote a lot of attention to it..."
Brad got the message...'HE' was the project and he began, pointing to himself, while excitedly whispering, "ME? ME? ME?"
Chris gave Brad a slight shove and mouthed the words, "You idiot!"...at which point, Brad walked around the back of Chris and began nibbling on Chris' earlobe which was next to the telephone receiver. Chris tried to get away, but Brad began spreading tiny kisses on the back of Chris' neck.
"Well, thanks Chris!" Bill continued. "I know how busy your schedule at church must be. I've heard that your church is rather large with a huge congregation."
"Yes, it is, Bill. We have to hold three masses every Sunday to accommodate all our parishioners."
"I haven't heard of any other church's population growing as yours. Is it you or your 'Father Cliff' who's the drawing attraction?"
"Hopefully, it's the Almighty and NOT Father Cliff or me."
"Ha! If I were a single young man, I know where I'd be on Sunday morning if I lived in Briarwood."
'Was Bill flirting while Carolyn, his wife, was dying?' Chris asked himself.
"I'm sure you'd be welcome to worship with us IF you live in Briarwood, Bill," Chris said, trying to 'lighten' the conversation.
"So, will you call me as soon as you find out your flight plans? I can have someone meet you at the airport and bring you straight to the hospital when you arrive."
"I'll phone you at the hospital as soon as I know something, Bill."
"Thanks, Buddy. I knew you wouldn't let me or Carolyn down. I suppose that's why I've always loved you."
'There he goes again!' Chris thought.
"Go be with Carolyn, Bill, these could be the last moments you'll ever spend with her. Make them count. I'll be there ASAP!"
Chris and Bill ended their conversation.
"So, you're going away?" Brad asked Chris.
"Not by choice, but I promised Bill I would."
"Want me to come with you?"
"Heavens no! That would really complicate matters!"
"Yes, but suppose you go down to see Bill...Carolyn dies...and you have to spend the night at Bill's house. How do I know Bill won't rekindle some old flame in your heart that you've kept glowing inside all the years after high school?"
"BRAD! What I felt for Bill was YEARS ago. I've kept no feelings hidden in my heart for him. He left me for Carolyn and I got over him."
"Yes, but you left me for God...and I NEVER got over you."
"Damn! You're jealous!"
"Bet your ass, I am! It took most of my adult life to find you and I'm sure as hell not going to lose you again...not to some old high school beau of yours."
"That's all he was! A high school beau. When I fell in love with Ed, I never gave Bill another thought."
"Yes, and you never gave ME another thought while you were married to Ed."
"Why should I? I had ED! I needed no one else. If I married you, I wouldn't need anyone else...and I'd expect you to feel the same way about me."
"I've ALWAYS felt the same way about you. That's why I've remained celibate until I found you."
"I...I still find that impossible to believe..." Chris said, half-smiling. "OH! I've got to call Cliff...pack a few things and get to the airport."
"I'll help you, but there's one thing you've forgotten?"
"WHAT?"
"I was about to kiss you before the telephone or BILL interrupted us!"
"I can take time out for that kiss..." Chris replied.
"Good! Now where were we?" Brad said, walking toward Chris. "I think I had put my arms behind your back. You were ready to close your eyes...and I was about to do this..."
Brad swept Chris into his arms and pressed his lips to Chris'. Chris opened his mouth to let Brad's tongue enter and Chris put his arms around Brad. They kissed deeply and passionately for several seconds...or until they both ran out of breath.
"You certainly put up a strong argument of why we should be together..." Chris sighed with a whisper.
"I can't bear the thought of your going away for a few days. I suppose I'll find out how lonely this house can be when one is alone."
Chris pulled his face back just enough to look deeply into Brad's eyes.
"You'll have two whole days and maybe the weekend to redecorate your room."
"Can I redecorate your bedroom too?"
"Ha! With two whole days, Roger, Cliff's other half, could redecorate this whole museum."
"I might just give him a call."
"Tell you what! When I call Cliff, I'll ask him if you can come over for dinner tonight and you can get to know both Cliff AND Roger. They and their Briarwood Boys are all the family I have! But I warn you...Jay will be there too, along with Troy, his lover. IF Jay gets a hint you're redecorating, he'll be here at six in the morning to help you. The guy is a BORN decorator. I swear, Jay will be the first person to redecorate his own coffin before he dies. He LOVES to decorate."
"Is he any good? Does he have good taste?"
"EXQUISITE! He could work for Martha Stewart or decorate one of Donald Trump's hotels, top to bottom!"
"Is he cute?"
"More than cute! He and Troy are both very handsome...BUT, neither will cheat on the other...even if you DID have that in mind."
"Please have them invite me for dinner. Tell them I can come early and prepare the meal if they like."
"HA! You'd NEVER get to prepare ANY meal in Jay's kitchen. If ANYONE ever cooked a meal at Cliff's house besides Jay, Jay would be in some psycho ward under sedation for clinical depression!" Brad heaved a big sigh. "WHAT?"
"I was just thinking how great it would be if I were a part of your family. I mean, you make Cliff, Roger, Jay, and Troy so damned attractive...I wish I could be one of them."
"Oh, if Cliff and Roger like you...and I'm SURE they will, you'll almost immediately become a Briarwood Boy."
"That's a start!"
"You have no idea how BIG a start that would be."
"Well, go on and call Cliff. Ask him what time I should come over."
"I wish now that I could be there when you meet them. It would be nice to have a dinner partner once again."
"I'd love to be your dinner partner...and your life partner...if you'll just say the word."
"Let me think it over while I'm gone. Who knows? Maybe you won't have to wait as long as you expected..."
"ONE MORE KISS! OKAY!"
"Oh, all right."
They kissed again, only longer and more romantically.
"Chris?"
"Uh huh?"
"I DO love you."
"I know."
"Have you thought that maybe God sent me back into your life?"
"I've been thinking that all morning..."
They kissed a third and final time before Chris called Cliff to tell him that he needed to make a quick trip to Riverwind, Georgia.
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Cliff was totally understanding about Chris' sudden need to go to Riverwind. He was also very gracious to having Brad over for dinner that evening. Chris had never mentioned Brad to Cliff and Cliff was eager to learn about the mystery man who was staying with his assistant priest. Actually, no one in Briarwood knew very much about Chris' past before coming there to live from Atlanta. With Chris being gone for a few days, perhaps, Brad, IF he were a former good friend of Chris', could enlighten everyone at the Cole residence with a little more info on the handsome young priest.
Brad drove Chris to the airport for the less than two hour flight to Riverwind, Georgia. Both Chris and Brad were apprehensive about Chris' trip, but for different reasons. Brad wanted to be satisfied that Chris wouldn't fall under a romantic spell cast by Bill after Carolyn's demise, while Chris dreaded performing final unction and a funeral. He hated doing both to ANYONE, not just a close friend's.
The Briarwood air station wasn't overly crowded, but just enough for Brad and Chris to hug 'goodbye' without a kiss...especially since Chris had chosen to wear a gray suit and his clerical collar. He had felt if he dressed as a priest, there would be less trouble getting to see Carolyn once he arrived at the hospital in Riverwind. Therefore, it would have been even more of a spectacle for people at the airport seeing a priest kissing another good-looking man on the lips. The 'hug' would have to do...for now!
Cliff had told Chris to have Brad arrive at the Cole manse around six o'clock for cocktails. Jay was more than thrilled to have a new dinner guest and was preparing a special meal which would probably not be ready to serve until around eight-thirty. Brad was really not a drinker per se. He could sip and nurse one drink for hours just by refreshing it with ice cubes. Little did he know that he would have to hold the same glass of Scotch for nearly two and one-half hours.
When seated on the plane, Chris took his Book of Common Prayer and read over the rite of final unction as he had not performed one since becoming an Anglican priest. In Atlanta, with so many of his friends and members of the mission who were stricken with AIDS, he had performed unction ceremonies several times a week. Since arriving in Briarwood, any parishioner who had died, had always had Cliff perform the last rites...since he was best known in the church and the church's rector.
Chris looked over the pages and realized how similar the rites were to that of the Roman Church since the mass was now being performed in English vernacular. The text in the Anglican procedure was actually worded better with a more beautiful tone of the language. Even the Roman Catholic mass, to Chris, sounded as if it had been sloppily translated from the Latin with the beautiful flow of words left out of the Roman syntax. The airline attendant asked Chris if he would like a drink and Chris ordered a bottle of water. The last thing he wanted was to arrive at the hospital with some aroma of alcohol on his breath...although he did feel a good stiff drink might steady his nerves and apprehensiveness about seeing Bill and the dying Carolyn after all these years.
The flight showed no signs of turbulence as the sky seemed quite clear, so Chris thought he would try to nap until he reached his destination...after all, he really didn't get THAT much sleep last night, lying naked, next to Brad. 'Ah, dear Brad!' Chris thought. 'Do I love him...probably...but, could I ever love him as much as he loves me or pretends to love me? Could I ever love him the same way or as much as I had loved Ed?'. These thoughts kept rolling over and over in Chris' mind as he drifted off asleep. He really slept harder and deeper than he realized because the next thing he knew, the airline attendant was telling him to fasten his seatbelt for the landing. 'Damn!', he thought. 'The pilot must have been steered by a tailwind and we arrived much earlier than was expected!'.
Chris deboarded the plane. He knew that Bill wouldn't leave Carolyn's side to come to the airport to pick him up, but when Chris called him to tell him what flight number and the time of arrival, Bill assured Chris that someone would be there to take him to the hospital. As a result, Chris had no idea whom to expect...male or female, young or old as Bill had not mentioned any name to Chris.
Chris had only packed a shoulder-strap suitcase with a spare suit, a pair of knockaround slacks, a sweater, two sport shirts, one dress shirt, shoes, socks, underwear and shaving gear. If he were to wear vestments for the funeral mass, he was certain he could borrow some from Father James. A full set of vestments would have been a bit much to pack for a 'few-days' jaunt.
And so, Chris stood in the middle of the small rotunda waiting for only God knows who? Surely, whomever it was, must have been told by Bill to look for a passenger in a clerical collar. There couldn't be too many of them in an airport in mid-afternoon in the tiny metropolis of Riverwind, Georgia...unless there was a priest's conclave visiting there without Chris' knowledge!
Finally, Chris heard a voice calling, "FATHER CURTIS? FATHER CURTIS!"
"HERE!" Chris cried out.
Chris turned to his right to see a young lad who appeared to be twelve or thirteen years old. He was blonde and had a crew-cut, cute as a button...just the kind that would catch Billy Cole's eye in Briarwood. He was wearing jeans and sneakers with a bright red pullover sweater.
"Father Curtis?" the boy asked.
"Yes."
"I'm Bucky Fry. I'm here to take you to the hospital!"
"Are your parents in the car?"
"No sir, just me."
"You drive?"
"Sure!"
"If you don't mind, can I ask how old you are, Bucky?"
"Sixteen!"
"And you have your driver's license."
"Oh, yeah. Bill took me to get them the day of my birthday!"
"Then I presume you know Bill and Carolyn?"
"Sure! They're my next door neighbors. I cut Bill's grass and trim his hedges for him every week. I AM a good driver in case you're worried. Bill taught me how to drive."
"Well, if Bill trusts you to come to get me, who am I to question his recommendation?"
"Do you have more luggage?"
"No, just what I'm carrying on my shoulder."
"In that case, let's be off."
Chris was still a bit stunned but followed Bucky to the car...a Toyota Corona."
"Is this your car, Bucky?"
"Oh, no! It's Bill and Carolyn's," Bucky replied. "Do you want to put your bag in the trunk or the back seat?"
"The back seat will be fine."
Bucky took the bag from Chris and placed it in the back seat while Chris, to his dismay, got in the car's passenger's seat. Then Bucky got in, started the motor, revved it several times, and sped off through the airport parking lot as Chris reached for his seat belt and buckled it. Bucky stopped the car almost instantly.
"What's wrong?" Chris asked.
"I forgot to buckle MY seat belt. I remembered when I saw you do it!"
"Don't you always use it?"
"Only when Bill's in the car. When I'm by myself, I often forget it."
Luckily Bucky couldn't see Chris rolling his eyes and exhaling a deep breath. 'GOD! Why didn't you insist I have a drink on the plane?' Chris prayed, silently to heaven.
Once the seat belts were fastened, the motor revved again and they were off! Chris had grasped one hand on the arm rest on the passenger's door while his left hand was clawing into the seat to brace his body...just in case...
"Bucky, did you leave the hospital before coming to pick me up?"
"Yes, sir. I've spent a lot of time at the hospital since Carolyn went there."
"Do you live with your parents?"
"No, just my mom. My dad left her when I was twelve. That's about the same time that Bill became my 'dad' so to speak."
"Oh...?"
"Yes, Mom said every boy needs a male role model and Bill agreed to be mine. He's been LIKE my dad ever since. Before Carolyn got sick, Bill and I went EVERYWHERE together...fishing, swimming, horseback-riding. He's taken me many times to Atlanta to see the Braves play. Sometimes we go for a whole weekend together. I'd get off school early on Fridays and we'd drive up to Atlanta, check into a hotel and see a Braves' game on Friday night, Saturday night, and then Sunday afternoon before we drove back to Riverwind Sunday night."
"I...I suppose you've missed those games a lot since Carolyn got sick."
"Oh, I see Bill just about as much. He and I play National League Baseball on the Playstation he bought. When he moved out of the bedroom so that Carolyn could have more peace and quite...into the spare bedroom, I stay with him on the weekends. Every night when Bill gets home from the hospital, my mom sends me over to his house with his supper and he and I watch TV or play games until it's bedtime."
"Then you go back to your house to sleep?"
"Not always. Bill wants me to stay with him a lot because he gets lonesome and depressed staying in the house by himself."
"So does Bill sleep in Carolyn's bed and you sleep in Bill's or do you sleep on the couch?"
"Oh, no! I usually sleep with Bill! He's SO lonesome. He just wants someone to hold and cuddle...so I don't mind if he cuddles me. It's like I'm doing him AND Carolyn a favor at the same time."
"Uh...how was Carolyn when you left the hospital?" Chris asked, trying to change a subject which he didn't want to delve into further...just now.
"She was about the same...no better...no worse...just lying there asleep in the bed in a coma."
"I probably shouldn't ask, but is she moaning or making sounds as if she's in pain?"
"No, she's breathing heavily though. Bill's watching her so closely...like every breath is going to be her last one...A couple of times, I thought she HAD breathed her last one because her breathing just kinda stopped. Bill thought that was it...but she took another breath, then another one."
'Dear God, how much further can that hospital be?' Chris asked himself. "How was Bill when you left him?" Chris asked Bucky.
"Every time Carolyn holds her breath, Bill does too. It's like...heck, I'm not ashamed to say it...I keep feeling that when Carolyn DOES take her last breath, Bill will too."
"Bucky, so far as I know, there's nothing wrong with Bill physically, so I don't think he's going to pass away when she finally does."
"Oh, I know that, but I'm still scared. I mean, I'm really closer to Bill than I am to my Mom or my real Dad...of course, I haven't seen my real dad for four whole years."
"You must be very important to Bill, right now in his hour of need. I'm glad he has someone in his life to look after him."
"Oh, I LOVE looking after him."
"Your mom doesn't mind that you spend so much time with Bill?"
"No, sir. I'm sure she's glad. My Dad was rule of the roost as long as he lived with us, so mother really didn't know anything about raising a boy on her own. Bill has taken that duty off her shoulders, I guess. I wouldn't be surprised if she asks Bill to let me move in once Carolyn's gone."
"Would you like to move in with Bill?"
"Heck, yes!"
"Do you think Bill would let you move in permanently?"
"Shoot, yes! He's always wanted a son, but he and Carolyn couldn't have children, so I guess I'm like the son he'll never have!"
"So, YOU and Bill are very close?"
"VERY!"
Chris was dying to ask the NEXT question, but he was trying to find the words to put it gently without being an accusation.
"Being so close to Bill, as you are, how does that affect your social life in school? I mean, do you go to parties, go to the movies with your friends? Do you have a girlfriend at high school?"
"Ha! Not hardly!"
"What do you mean?"
"You're a priest and you're not suppose to tell anything that's told to you in secret, right?"
"Yes...I'm not allowed to reveal the contents of a confession to anyone...not even the law."
"Then, I guess it's okay if I tell you that I'm gay! You can't tell anyone, can you?"
"Well, no, I can't...but does Bill know?"
"Who do you think help me find out that I WAS gay?"
"Bill?"
"Sure. Do you think I'd let him hug and cuddle me if I weren't gay...especially when we sleep together in the nude?"
"Are you saying that you and Bill...?"
"Have sex?"
"Well, yes, since you brought up the subject."
"All the time...every way imaginable!"
"Does or did Carolyn know?"
"No way! She's been on morphine and oxycodone so long, she has had no idea of what we've been doing in the spare bedroom."
"How about your Mom? Does she know?"
"Probably, but she's too afraid of getting Bill mad at her. Then she'd have to be a full-time mother again...and that's the LAST thing she wants. WELL. we're here!" Bucky exclaimed as he pulled into the hospital parking lot. "The nurse at the desk is expecting you, so go on in. I'll be up to Carolyn's room shortly!"
NEVER had Chris been so glad to get out of an automobile. Why, in God's Holy Name, was Bill having a romantic romp with a sixteen year old while his wife, the love of his life, the person whom he jilted Chris for, was lying on her death bed? Chris' empathy for the soon-to-be-widower had suddenly turned to rage. Was he jealous of a young boy or was he just angry at Bill's lack of good judgment? He only hoped that Bill had said his confession to Father James before asserting his allegiance to the Anglican faith...because, in the state of Georgia, Bill, Chris' best friend and first lover, was legally a pedophile! God! What a fucking mess!
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Before Chris and Brad had left for the airport, Chris took Brad into Chris' bedroom and opened the huge double-door closet.
"For dinner this evening at Cliff's, if you want to wear something different than your usual wardrobe...take anything you see and wear it. After having surveyed every inch of your body last night, I'm positive that we wear the same size in everything...and that includes shoes."
"Oh, you were checking sizes while you were going down on me, huh?"
"Well, I happen to know that if you had a reason to wear one of my jocks I wear playing tennis, it would be a perfect fit!"
"You're sure I'm not just a half inch longer than you?"
"Ha! If you were, I'd've thrown you out of the house instead of offering you a place to live!" Chris joked.
"WOW!" Brad said, looking at the massive array of shirts, sport coats, slacks, and shoes in Chris' closet. "Why did you buy all these duds when you mostly wear a clerical collar?"
"Oh, Ed bought most of them. When we went out to dinner, he left all his 'playing doctor' at home and insisted that 'I' leave all my religion too. He wanted me to look spiffy and unlike a clergyman. You should have seen all the clothes of his, I gave to the AIDS dischargees at the Institute...thousands upon thousands of dollars of name-brand and fashion-designer clothing."
"Jesus Christ! Is that silk shirt Versace? Look at this one, Armani!"
"Don't be so impressed, Brad. You could afford to buy designer labels if you chose to."
"I don't know if I'd be comfortable in such elegance."
"You would and you will! As I said, feel free to wear any or all of them!"
"Damn! In spite of all the money I've made and saved, suddenly you make me feel indigent almost."
"How so? Remember, I'm the one who came to Briarwood straight from a charity mission! Little did I know that I would fall in love and tie up with a straight rich doctor."
"Ed was straight when you met him?"
"Very much so! When he changed his life around one-eighty, that's when I knew that God had something to do with his coming into my life."
"You think that it was God who made Ed turn gay?"
"That's what I choose to believe."
"Hell, if I were straight, you'd turn me on!"
"Bullshit!"
"Don't be so fast to slough off my remark when I've spent the better part of my adult life pursuing you. When you take off your backwards collar, you are ONE HOT NUMBER! Remember, I never saw you in priest's clothing until I saw you at St. Genesius, during confession and you were wearing a monk's robe like it was Halloween or something!"
"You know why I wear the monk garb occasionally?"
"Why?"
"So I don't have to wear anything under it. I'm totally naked as if I were a Scotsman wearing a kilt."
"No wonder so many priests are accused of molesting choir boys. You dress for the occasion!". Brad joked. "God, if I had known that, I would have tried to grab you under your skirt."
"Then you didn't see the holster and gun I had attached to my belt," Chris quipped back.
"You would have shot me for ONE grab?"
"Yep, pardner! I'd've shot your balls off!"
"Oh, Chris, Chris, Chris, I SO don't want you to go to Riverwind! I just love being near you and having fun as we are now. It'll seem like an eternity until you get back."
"Oh, you'll be entertained, but not sexually, when you meet Jay tonight."
"I'm really looking forward to it. I do feel strange, though."
"Why?"
"Oh, it's like being a boyfriend who's been invited to meet his 'intended's' parents while the 'intended' won't be present."
"Oh, am I your 'intended' now?"
"I intend for you to be my 'intended'."
"Well, until I give you a positive answer, just pretend I'm your 'intended'!"
"I've been pretending every night of my life since we've been apart. I've built up my biceps and triceps on my right arm by 'pretending' every night...sometimes two and three times a night."
"Are you looking for sympathy?"
"Just empathy, by trying to understand the way I feel about you!"
"I think I do empathize a bit."
"Can I ask a really personal question?"
"Sure!"
"When you left me to go into the priesthood, did you give up masturbation completely?"
"I was supposed to, but, I didn't."
"Did...did you ever 'get off' while thinking about me?"
"For a while...yes, I did."
"Thank God for that! That helps my hope somewhat."
"Brad, I can feel that you're shaking. Why are you so nervous?"
"I'm scared as hell that I'm going to lose you to Bill this week!"
"Brad, you are NOT going to lose me to Brad or ANYONE this week!"
"I shouldn't ask, but I will. Do you keep a gun in the house?"
"Yes, it's in Ed's bottom desk drawer in the study, why?"
"Oh, in case I have to blow my brains out once I hear that you've rekindled your love in Riverwind."
"Then I should tell you that there are NO bullets in the gun OR in the house!"
"Shit! I can't even DIE for you to show you how much you mean to me!"
"Oops! Look at the time! We'd better head for the airport."
"You WILL call me tonight, won't you?"
"Tonight! Tomorrow morning! Tomorrow at noon! Tomorrow night! As often as you need me to."
"Good! At least I'll be able to tell you that I love you three times a day while you're gone!"
"Come on, Little Boy Lost! Let's go get into the car!"
Brad gave Chris a quick kiss and Chris picked up his shoulder bag and headed toward the car on the way to the airport.
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At 6:15pm, Brad rang the doorbell at the Cole Estate. Chris' and Ed's house was enormous but compared to Cliff's mansion, Chris' looked more like a tiny New York apartment. Brad waited, nervously, until the door opened. Jay and Troy were standing there to greet him.
"Oh, my Lord!" Jay exclaimed. "Don't tell me that you're Brad."
"All right, I won't!" Brad answered.
"But...what I mean...you're not at all what I expected!"
"I'd hate to ask what you WERE expecting," Brad joked.
"It's just that you're so young and handsome!"
"You're Jay, aren't you?"
"Why, yes! How did you ever guess?"
Troy, who had been standing slightly behind Jay, nudged Jay out of the way and extended his hand to Brad.
"Hello, Brad. I'm Troy...and you're correct, this star-gazer is my other half, Jay."
"Pleased to meet you, Troy...and you, too, Jay!" Brad said, taking Troy's warm hand and friendly gesture.
"Please come in," Troy invited.
"Yes, DO come in," Jay echoed.
"This is a lovely place. The grounds are quite impressive!" Brad said.
"You should see the woods and meadows in back of the house...especially, this time of day. Cliff and Roger are in the living room. They're expecting you."
"Thanks," Brad said, entering the marbled-floor foyer.
Troy led Brad into the living room, followed by Jay, who was still in awe of Brad's good looks and manliness. Cliff and Roger were seated until Brad entered and the two of them arose to meet Chris' old college mate.
"Father Cliff?" Brad said, putting out his hand toward Cliff.
"In church you can call me that, but in my home, it's just 'Cliff'. Hello, Brad. This is the other half of my lifelong partnership, Roger."
"How do you do, Roger...or should I call you 'Mister Cole'?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Roger replied. "I hate formal informalities. Like Cliff, I'm just plain, 'Roger'!"
"It is indeed a pleasure to meet you. Your reputation precedes the informalities."
"I hear that you've got quite a reputation in the world of literature," Roger replied.
"Oh, I manage to write a little, on occasion."
"Please sit and let Jay bring you a drink."
"What would you like, Brad?" Cliff asked.
"Scotch and water, please...with lots of ice."
"Do you have a particular brand of Scotch which you prefer?" Jay asked.
"I've never been asked that before. I'd usually say, 'house Scotch' if I were in a bar."
"Then it's Johnny Walker Gold, coming up!" Jay replied. "That's Roger's 'house Scotch'!"
Brad, Cliff, Roger, and Troy all sat down on the nearest couch or chair so that they would be in semi-circle to converse.
"Your house is quite outstanding and beautiful," Brad said, looking around at the ornate fixtures.
"I'll ask Troy to give you a tour before you leave. He LOVES giving tours!" Cliff replied.
"That would be nice."
"So, did Chris get off all right?" Roger asked.
Roger's phrase of 'get off' amused Brad for a second.
"Yes, his flight left right on time."
"I don't envy him," Troy interjected. "Going to see an old friend pass away is very difficult."
"I'm sure he was dreading it, Troy," Brad said. "He showed more guilt about leaving St. Genesius in the lurch."
"Oh, the church is always in a lurch," Roger said, smiling at his small pun.
"Do you know Bill and Carolyn, Brad?" Cliff asked.
"No. I didn't meet Chris until we entered college. Bill was Chris' boyfr...I mean BEST friend while growing up and in high school."
"And were you his boyfr...I mean, BEST friend in college?" Roger mused.
"Yes. We were close...well, as close as roommates are supposed to be."
"Did you and Cliff keep in touch after college?" Cliff asked.
"...uh, no. I...I haven't seen or heard from him since graduation."
"Oh? Did you two have some kind of 'falling out'?" Roger inquired.
"No. Our interests seemed to diversify after college. Chris went on to Divinity School while I branched out into my writing."
"Chris told us about your best-sellers," Cliff said.
"Oh?"
"Yes," Roger replied, "and I think you'll find EVERY ONE of them in my library. I've read ALL your novels, Brad."
"That's very nice to hear," Brad said, a bit embarrassed.
"You're quite talented and have an excellent gift for dialogue, not to mention your descriptive passages," Roger added.
"Chris said that Brad Pitt is going to make a couple of them into movies!" Troy said.
"Well, he's optioned them...whether they get made into movies, remains to be seen."
"What's that about Brad Pitt?" Jay asked, entering the living room with tray full of drinks.
The conversation ceased while Jay distributed everyone's favorite beverage around the room. Then he sat down next to Troy.
"Brad Pitt has optioned three of Brad's novels for future productions," Troy explained.
"Well, all I can say," Jay blurted, "IF you're still in Briarwood when Brad calls and you need someone to accompany you while you meet with Brad...I'll be MORE than happy to act as your executive assistant."
"I'll keep that in mind, Jay," Brad said, smiling.
"Like hell, you're going to Hollywood to see Brad Pitt!" Troy exclaimed, chidingly. "Now if you want to meet with Billy Bob Thornton, I might reconsider."
"Ha! You know, I still can't believe that he had Angelina Jolie's name tattooed on his poh poh! I bet it hurt like hell when they removed it! A-N-G-E-L-I-N-A! That's eight letters. One for each inch!"
"JAY! We have a guest!" Troy said, loudly. Brad, Roger, and Cliff broke out loud in laughter. "Thank your lucky stars that 'Troy' is only FOUR letters if you ever decide to do a 'Billy Bob' on yourself!"
"Ha! You'd have a helluva time trying to fit MY name on your you know what!"
"WHAT? Three measly letters?" Troy joked.
"You're right! A tattoo artist could probably write 'Mississippi' on you when you're excited." Jay quipped.
"...and STILL have room for your name!" Troy joked back.
Whether it was the drink or the comical banter, Brad felt suddenly relaxed around his hosts. Jay was just as Chris had described...and then some. Brad could tell that Troy loved Jay very much...and Brad could also see, that under his humorous façade, Jay was a very loving and caring partner for Troy. These two were the first of the Briarwood Boys which Brad had met and somehow, he knew that the others must be just as endearing.
When the laughter subsided, Jay looked at Brad and said, "So you were Chris' lover in college?"
Cliff turned red and coughed while Roger spewed his drink back into the glass. Troy looked up at the chandelier and Brad was momentarily, speechless.
"We...we were close...like brothers..." Brad said, quietly.
Jay looked at everyone around the room and muttered, "WHAT? Did I say something wrong?"
"Slightly," Troy replied.
"Look, I wasn't born yesterday. We all know that Chris is gay and taking one look at his handsome former roommate...there's no way that something romantic wouldn't have come between them!"
The room was silent until Brad looked at Jay and said, "Well, you're quite observant, Jay...somewhat blatant, but observant all the same. Yes, Chris and I WERE lovers during college."
"THERE! What did I tell you?" Jay blurted out. "I'm no fool! I see what I see."
"Yes, and you always tell the world what you see at the same time!" Troy added.
"So, did you part as friends?" Jay pushed onward.
"I was just explaining before you brought us our drinks that after college, Chris went into the Roman Catholic ministry where there was no room for me or ANY lover."
"In other words, Chris jilted you for God?"
Brad grinned. "That's one way of looking at it."
"But now that he's Anglican, he's free to have a lover! Right?"
"I suppose."
"Then, he's crazy if he lets you get away for a second time. It's one thing to know and have God, but after Ed's death, Chris needs a man!"
"I...I couldn't agree with you more, Jay..." Brad replied, taking a huge swallow of Scotch.
Brad's remark interested Roger very much. "Is there anything we can do to help you?" Roger asked.
This time, Roger's remark surprised Brad. "Well, he's asked me to move in with him on a trial basis...although we WON'T be sharing the same bedroom...at least, not just yet. I...I told Chris that I would try to redecorate MY bedroom while he was gone to Riverwind...and maybe his, too."
"That huge dungeon needs a coat of bright yellow paint on every wall in every room!" Jay spoke up. "I would simply LOVE to redecorate that entire House of Gotham City!"
Chris mentioned that you might be willing to help, Jay. But I don't know how much that could be done in three or four days."
Roger sat up and said, "Brad, do you watch much TV?"
"Very little, Roger."
"There's a show on Sunday nights called, 'Extreme Makeovers', where a group of contractors and designers tear down and rebuild an entire house in seven days! I'd be willing to bet that my contractors at the Institute could do EVERYTHING which they do on TV in less than half a week!"
"Are you kidding?" Brad asked, excitedly.
"I'm SURE of it!"
"Oh my God! If I could just pick out the colors, the drapes, the carpeting, the furniture, I'd be way over the rainbow!" Jay exclaimed.
"If you think it's possible, Roger, I'd foot the bill for everything!" Brad replied.
"Like hell you would! I've never given a dime to Chris. I've made all our Briarwood Boys millionaires and that's the very LEAST I could do for Chris AND YOU...if things work out between you two!"
"I...I don't know what to say..." Brad said.
"You don't have to say anything. Just let me get on the phone tomorrow morning and the rest is taken care of!" Roger replied.
"Christmas is gonna come early for Father Christopher Curtis, this year," Jay sang. "Come on, Brad, let me show you around the Cole Estate and give you some ideas I have in mind for Chris' refurbishing! He's gonna just DIE!"
"I hope not!" Brad said.
"Oh, silly! You know what I mean!" Jay grabbed Brad's hand and all but yanked him up out of the chair and led him up the staircase to the second floor.
After they had gone, Troy, Cliff, and Roger sat there enjoying their drinks until Roger looked at Cliff to ask, "Do you think he's the guy for Chris?"
"He's perfect!" Cliff replied..."Almost as if Brad had been sent from God..."
Roger lifted his glass to toast from across the room.
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(To be continued in "Briarwood"--Book Ten--'Chris and beyond..."---chapter 110).