This is a work of fiction - names and places are elements of fiction.
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Cards in the Deck - Adam and Ben 19
The Last Brevard Part 1
Moving forward, it's time to reveal how time and events change the shape of things. As relationships sunrise and sunset, we can take a look at how things have changed for Adam and me. Adam took one semester off from college and worked. He worked very hard at the factory and did some side work working with his high school football team. It was therapeutic for his foot recovery as well as helping keep in shape - physically and mentally. He was accepted to University of Alabama which was only just over an hour away starting his freshman semester in January. Although the school is practically ruthless in its admissions policies, his story was most engaging and his academic standing, along with a letter of recommendation from St Luke's Academy catapulted him forward.
We had four good years. He was home for the summers and holidays which I loved so much. He made some very good friends - Nate, Sean, and Chris. Two of his friends were gay and Chris was a straight boy. They were magnificent, though. He would bring them home for study weekends. They loved having a weekend in the country at the big house. They would study all day and play hard in the evenings. Honestly, I think a lot had to do with the hamburgers at Tastee Freeze. I wish I could put away food like those boys could. Although nothing was ever said, I'm sure they were aware of the mine and Adam's relationship; however, I did hear slight mentions in their conversations that led me to believe Adam was having brief trysts at school. I never believed it to be anything threatening to our relationship. I asked on occasion if he was careful because I didn't want any communicable diseases brought into my bed. He understood what I was saying.
He had signed up as a Marketing Major which surprised me. I tried to convey to him that when companies slash budgets, it's usually the marketing that goes first. His analysis was that he could cover a multitude of areas in a large company. I encouraged him to go with it.
We had little drama during those four years, except for the tornado. Oh yes, a tornado swept very close to the Brevard estate one Saturday afternoon when the boys were visiting. It was frightening, I have to say. The debris was everywhere but fortunately the house and the grounds were spared. We lost a number of trees in the woods and a couple of old barns out on the edge of the property. While it was scary, it's rather something to see when you see strong young men so terrified. It would be a tale they would share for sure!
I was spending so much time at work, Adam being away at school helped me a lot. Between contract negotiations, rising taxes and fees, and the availability of skilled labor, I was working long hours. I began to think this might be better for someone who had help around the home.
At the end of first semester, senior year, Quinn came home from Auburn. He fell into an unfortunate situation where he flubbed up two courses and was notified that he would not be able to walk in the graduation. Those courses were required for his major and he would have to make up those classes. I will say this, Quinn had developed into a fine young man. He was thoughtful and sincere and his flair for the drama had truly subsided. He had no plan when he came home but he was very disheartened. I put him to work in the factory right away. Starting with shipping since we were behind with one employee out on FMLA, Quinn moved and sorted it out. Got the process moving again. It became necessary to end employment for one employee as he was the basic cause of the bottleneck in the process. Then Quinn moved to other areas after that. He had a quick eye and understood processes from a practical approach. Two more employees were then terminated and management became weary of his assignment to their areas. I had to address their concerns in team meetings that this objective review would benefit our productivity and enable us to operate more efficiently, which would impact their bonuses. I am sure, however, that all this business talk is boring you so let me move on.
I got both a strange tingle and feeling as Graduation approached for Adam. I was juggling Adam's graduation party planning and Margo's - my mother's - 66th birthday party in Naples. Adam informed me that I should go ahead with Margo's party because he and his friends were heading to Key West after graduation and he wouldn't need a party. While we hadn't spoken a lot during his final semester, I was aware of the effort he was putting into getting his first job. He received his offer letter just weeks before graduation where he would be joining a project management team with a very large retail company who was preparing a full launch of their online shopping module. The retailer was aiming to move away from real estate and felt the modern generation would understand the launch and brought in a cast of graduates. Adam worked very hard to get the position, leaning on me for guidance through the process. I was very helpful to help, but signing off on a future less inclusive of me caused conflict within me. The fact that the job would relocate him to Atlanta meant he would be away from home most of the time.
And so, weeks after graduation and the conflict was real. I could barely get a call back from Adam. He might wait two days to call me back. It ticked me off a bit thinking he reckoned me to be the guy who would accept that. Often was the look of a text "hey adam, just checking in. everything ok?" No response. Phone messages, "Hey Adam, just wanted to see how you were doing. Give me a call back." Phone response at 1 am, "He Ben, sorry been so busy. Will catch up with you later."
Ok I was getting really pissed and fast. AS my mood deteriorated, so did my handling of matters. One Friday evening, on my way home from work, I lost patience with a slow poke car on Fox Run Rd. I attempted to pass this car with the Rolls and, fortunately, the other car was able to escape without harm while I ended up putting the Rolls ass backwards in a ditch and sunk in mud. I called Kent and told him to come get me out. He brought his truck and I stomped off towards the house unable to stand there and process the incident.
Kent later had a very polite but firm conversation with me. He could tell I was distracted and my tone was brittle and unyielding. He thought it best that he start driving me. A real accident would be terrible and I posed a high risk. "Just like when I was 16 and Margo took the car from me," I suggested. "A little history repeating itself."
"Maybe" said Kent. "But you guys can't defend yourselves in accidents against everyday folk. I will be there for you. Anywhere you need to go. Day or night. Got it?" I agreed. You know, it really didn't phase me. I did not have to be the guy driving around town trying to find parking spaces. Get dropped off, get picked up. Who would argue with that?
I also noted, as I was fully retreating to the house and not going out much that Quinn was there a lot. I found him at the breakfast table in the morning and would send him home before bed every night. I first thought he and Kent were hooking up, as, which I failed to mention earlier, part of Quinn's satisfaction and cool demeanor were brought on by his coming out during his sophomore year. He met a guy and he was in Cloud Cuckoo Land with him. I think after it ended is when he suffered in his hardest courses. No confirmation, just suspicion. I didn't pry. He did though.
I had taken up hanging out in my grandfather's - Nelson Brevard - old study. I didn't know why. Perhaps I was seeking some words of wisdom from his ghost. Maybe it was just isolated enough to keep my mind at peace. Quinn popped his head in.
"There you are! I have been looking for you. What are you doing?"
"Just thinking about things, Quinn. What are you doing here?"
"I didn't have anywhere to go after work so I came by here."
So we chatted a bit about work and he would want me to tell him about things in the house. He loved looking at the floor plans for the house by the different architects. Brevard Manor was built in three phases and was designed by two different architects. Joe had a field day with the plans as well. It was entertaining I guess.
And, on that Friday evening, in late August, with scorching heat outside and little rain, a storm started brewing. My management team had also grown weary of me. The engaging question - Why? - I used to ask, which let management explain and provide root cause to issues and success, was now sufficiently interpreted as "Why the hell did this happen? What are you going to do about it? And, how do we ensure it does not happen again?"
Three conversations with Adam in the past three months and credit card bills were mounting. I hoped he knew I could see where he was spending. Las Vegas, Biloxi, and Miami and a few other local spots. That evening, having been released from jail, his father showed up at my gates.
I pressed the switch and opened up for him. No telling what he wanted. I asked Quinn to be on guard. I met Mr. West at the front door and showed him into the front hall.
"Congratulations on your release, Mr. West. What can I do for you?"
"Oh you can hold off on the pleasantries" he sneered. "I'm here to see my son."
"He's not here."
"When will he be back?"
"I don't know. He lives in Atlanta now with his new job. Did he not tell you?" I jibed.
"I haven't heard from him in months.
"Neither have I!"
"Well maybe the boy finally outgrew this pervert mess then!"
"Mr. West, you can dispense with the sneering! I do not have the time for it! Now talk like a normal person or get the hell out of my house!"
"Well, I didn't think it would be too much to see my son again. I'm a bit taken aback."
"He has settled in with a good job. He is doing very well but it comes with a price and that price is his life here."
"So, you got him through college even though he didn't play football. Hmmm."
"Sports was never going to be a career for Adam. He was always going to be too small for those college leagues. Now is there anything else I can do for you/"
"Well, there is the issue with the accounting irregularities."
My patience was growing thin.
"What accounting irregularities, Mr. West?"
"The amount from the brokerage firm isn't what I expected. I was an investigation."
"Oh good goddamn! The money was transferred from the real estate firm straight to the brokerage account, except for the measly $3000 you allotted for Adam for his school expenses. We didn't touch your piddily money! Now is that all?"
"I expected more."
"Discuss with the accountant. They invested in a high yielding dividend with moderate to high risk. They can't help the market fluctuations. And I would suggest taking your money back to Mississippi and staying with your mother. I think she has been very lonely." And as I was talking I walked toward him so he would back up and once we had gotten to the door, I reached around him and opened the door. I really wanted him out.
"What? I'm not good enough for your precious town?"
"I do not think you will get a fair shake around here. You will do better without the history, don't you agree?"
As he turned to leave, he looked over his shoulder at me and uttered, "Queer!"
And that is when I snapped. I rushed up behind jim, and with a little history repeating itself, I kicked him in the back of the leg - what was becoming my signature move:) He fell forwards down the steps and landed in the bushes.
"And please Mr. West, get your fat ass off my shrubberies!" I snapped and went back into the house and slammed the door. I was about to head upstairs and Quinn stopped me by grabbing my arm.
"What is it Quinn!" I yelled.
"Ben, stop," he said. I paused. "Seriously, Ben. Really? Get your fat ass off my shrubberies?" He grinned and then started to laugh. I grinned and slowly found the humor too. We both cracked up.
"Ben, that was funny. Funniest shit I ever saw! Let me give you the black girl version," he laughed. And with hip jutted out and hand on hip, he shrilled, "Giirrrllll, you need to get yo' fat ass off my shrubberies!" He was screaming with laughter now.
"Let me give the Queen's proper version," I laughed. With a high pitched british accent, I hooted, "One should endeavor to remove one's large arse off one's shrubbery!" We had fallen onto the stairs nearly exhausted. My throat was dry from laughing so hard.
"Now seriously, Ben, I have to ask you this. Please don't get mad. But, is it right striking a man from behind, I mean, while he's walking away? Is that considered dirty pool?" he asked in a thoughtful tone.
"Well," I said, thinking hard for an explanation. "You cannot claim self defense if you shoot a man in the back, I think, unless he has just turned to pick up a weapon. Now from a disciplinary perspective, if a child runs from a parent to avoid a whipping, does that negate the whipping that is about to be dispensed?" I asked knowing I had been somewhat clever.
After pondering for a moment, Quinn replied, "I think I get you, Ben. He had it coming and walking away did not `negate' the whipping. Good. That's very good. I totally get that," he said. And we cracked up again.
I looked both seriously and fondly and Quinn, sitting there with me. "You have become very important to me, Quinn. You know that? Don't know what I would do without you these days." I just lightly touched his cheek.
"I'm glad you feel that way, Ben. I hate seeing you so upset all the time. You know..."
"Thanks Quinn," I interrupted, "something has to be done but I'm not sure what it is yet." I think he understood - enough said on the subject of Adam and his conspicuous absence.
I walked him to the side door and out to his car. "Quinn," I said, "if Mr. West is parked out there on that road, do not engage with him. Go to that QT down at the corner and call me or 911. Please! Do not get into it with him. I don't trust him."
"I hear you. I don't want a scuffle with him."
He drove away and I went back into the house. There was a text on my phone, from Nate, one of Adam's college friends. "Hey Ben, ran into Adam last night. Didn't know you not together now. Sorry. Hope you are well. Never had more fun than visiting your place. TTYL"