Cards in the Deck

This is a work of fiction - names and places are elements of fiction.

Please donate to Nifty.org at http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html. Your donation will allow stories such as this to be published.

Folks, this is a big chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Cards in the Deck - Adam and Ben 30B

The Last Christmas at Brevard

Ryan had gotten up early in the morning saying it was too hot between Quinn and me. It did get stuffy in there for sure. I got up around 7 am and didn't find him in his room. I went down to the kitchen and didn't find him there either. The roof, I thought. I ran back up the stairs and to the third floor. Sure enough he was standing on the roof by the ledge with a hoodie and sweats on. It was cold out. I exited through the window and slipped up behind him. As I reached my arms around him, he startled saying I scared him. I asked him what he was doing and he was chatting with Bradley. I thought it was early but Virginia is an hour ahead.

He snuggled back against me. "Last night was so awesome, Ben. I have never seen anything like it!"

"I would hope not. Guys your age should not have experienced anything like that in your 16 years. Are you ok?"

"Oh yes, but there's something I'm having a hard time getting my head around. Last night, you ate, or swallowed, yes, ate Quinn's cum. I thought they only did that in porn flicks. None of the guys who have sucked me tried to swallow. In fact they all acted like it was gross when I came."

"Not surprising. Your guys just like dick. Not sure what to do with cum. In my opinion, it's a very intimate gesture. I have only done it with the guys I loved. I didn't do it much with Adam because his load was a problem. But Quinn and Ian, oh yes."

"Why was Adam's a problem?" he asked.

"He came too much. When he shot, it was like a hose. A little cumshot is fine but a mouthful is more than I can stomach. Have you tasted it?" I asked, trying to gauge his experience.

"Just mine but I wasn't impressed," he responded in a matter of fact tone.

"It's not good," I laughed. "However, in the heat of the moment, when you are really turned on, it is very sexy. After YOU've cum, though, you won't have much desire to do it. Get it?"

"Yes, like you lose interest when horny goes down."

"Exactly."

"I will have to test this on Bradley," he said laughing. "Hey, I need to talk to you about something else," he warned.

"Yes?"

"Grandmother."

"What about Claire?" I asked.

"I don't think she likes you," he said. "WEll, maybe not that but she told my mom she should be careful about how much `influence' she lets you have over me," he said raising his eyebrows.

"Oh really. What kind of influence do I have over you? I have only known you for two months," I said with a light chuckle.

"The kind I need," he responded. "I don't think she has anything specific except maybe you were a bit of a playboy in your younger days or you might have me marching in gay parades or something," he said with some laughter.

"The fact is, Ryan, I am exerting some influence over you and some of it might not be so popular with the general population. I will cross those lines until you tell me not to. Right now, I'm much less concerned about you being related than I am your age. Outside of that, I want to be the end all when it comes to you understanding your history and background as well as your development into someone very important, which I believe you are destined to be. There will come a point where that branch of your family may have little say in what you do compared to this branch," pointing to myself. He smiled at this notion.

"All I can say is, lets not worry too much about Grandmother. My mom thinks you're awesome. And she definitely likes my attitude these days. And that's another problem," he said wearily.

"What is?" I asked.

"My mother is so mad about how my dad is responding to me being gay that I think she might leave him. She had him move into one of the guest rooms. She said she needed space. She said they had talked about all of this before I was born. What if I only had one eye, or had autism, or was even gay. He said he would deal with everything that came and he's not dealing with this. She's not happy."

"She didn't say anything to me. I'm surprised. Im planning on a heart to heart with Charles this weekend but I will keep what you just told me confidential. OK?"

"Yes, please," he responded then Quinn stepped out of the window.

"What are you all doing out here?" he asked.

"Talking," said Ryan. "Why are you all dressed? Where are you going?"

"I have some errands to run. I will be out for a while. Ben, remember you are doing the one man play at 2. Do you need anything?"

"What `one man play?'" asked Ryan.

"Ah," I said. "It's a secret. I'm doing a play about how things happened back in the day. From my memories."

"Oh my God! That sounds awesome!" exclaimed Ryan.

Quinn was stepping back toward the window and said, "I'm going in. It's cold out here."

"Sissy!" said Ryan.

"Uh oh" I thought to myself. He's poking the tiger.

"Pussy," responded Quinn.

Ryan: "Moldy bitch!"

Quinn: "C U Next Tuesday Cunt!"

"Good one, I thought."

Ryan: "Fart breath."

Quinn: "Little dick!"

Ryan: "Nappy head!"

"Oh he didn't go there," I thought. "Hateful, but don't put anything past Quinn."

Quinn: "DOG SHIT TURNED WHITE!!"

And that's when it fell apart. Ryan started laughing saying that was the stupidest thing he had ever heard. But he had lost, sufficiently. I was laughing too.

"You don't play?" asked Ryan looking at me.

"Oh no, I have three clinchers that shut down the game every time. I don't play."

"Please tell me," he said as we were all climbing back through the window.

"Absolutely not!" I exclaimed. "They are all mine."

Quinn was waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs. "Try me again, anytime, honey," he said smiling and swashing Ryan's wind blown hair. He walked in front of us and down to the main floor. We headed to the kitchen and Quinn walked out the side entrance and climbed into the CT6 which Kent had waiting for him. Kent drove away without a word.

"Where is he going?" asked Ryan.

"I don't know," I said. "This is very suspicious." I picked up my phone and called Quinn. He didn't answer. I canceled then dialed Kent. He picked up.

"Yoa," he said casually.

"What's up" I asked.

"Going to the airport to meet your parents," he said.

"I was going to do that," I said defensively.

"One, you don't have time. Two, this is the last time I get to do this and I'm going to do it."

"Why is Quinn with you?"

"You know why, Ben. He has to go through this with them and it's better you are not there."

"What do you mean?" I asked in an elevated voice.

"They are going to want to talk to him. You just didn't propose for shits and giggles. Y'all are going to tie the knot and you know Margo is going to `talk' to him. This way, we will have it all done and out of the way. Believe me, Ben, this is really for the best." Then the phone line dropped.

I stood silent and motionless. I wondered if I should call Margo and give her a `what's up' warning. I thought better of that. Seemed like there was something I should do. There was nothing I could think of. Those slippery bitches got this one by me. Surprise Attack!

I didn't have long to think because James and Claire pulled up in the drive at 10:30. The Brevards and the Suttons were close behind rental cars. Before I knew it, there were a bunch of people. I hadn't realized they were all flying at the same time. Ryan was a gentleman but wanted to show off a little, so he showed everyone their rooms. We helped get luggage upstairs. We gathered in the front living room where I ran down the schedule times to be aware of. Then, I told them to relax and do whatever they like. Get acquainted with the house or whatever. I didn't want to "entertain" so to speak. Ryan took his cousins on a tour while the adults meandered around looking at the things we had discussed in the appraisal meetings. Obviously, the 7 Christmas ornaments were on the radar and they were prominently displayed on the family room tree, the biggest and best Kent had ever selected.

I heard the gate bell and saw my family proceeding up the drive. Quinn in the back with Margo, Phil up front with Kent. He stopped the car under the Porte Cochere and they all climbed out. Quinn was quiet but helped get the suitcases from the trunk. He took Margo's and headed up the back stairs.

"Everything ok Mother?" I asked hopefully.

"Everything is just fine," she said. "You were worried, weren't you. Worried he would fall apart and disappoint me miserably." She smiled at me and continued, "he did just fine, Ben. Fortunately, your father and I went in with a formatted impression based on his handling of the estate. I even pressed a little harder because of that. He did very well. He is strong."

Phil, my father, came over and rested a hand on my shoulder. "It's a big deal son. We had to go through it with him and your mother and I are agreed. He is very strong. There shall be no more said about it this weekend. Understood?"

"Yes sir. Thank you. He is ok, though, right?"

"Sure, he may be a little tired," she laughed.

And with everyone in and settled, it was time it launch the "one man" play. I gathered the teens together. I had discovered Brandon and Emma were much more personable in real life than they showed on those calls. Phil asked if the adults could sit in on this demonstration. I told him yes but there would be no interference, corrections, or interjections. Only silence. He agreed.

Everyone gathered on the front portico and I sat in one of the old wicker chairs and started my dialogue.

Clinton Brevard was a singularly successful man. He turned cotton into a prosperous commodity. At some point they learned how to dye cotton and weave into other materials. It would become shower curtains and drapes, clothing, upholstery. Every element of life would hinge on products made my cotton. Clinton ran a big outfit here and was very influential in the community and in the state. He grew old and wore himself out and passed the business on to his son, Nelson. Nelson was a very intellectual man, gentler, not so gruff, edgy, and otherwise pompous as his father. He ran Brevard Textile successfully but, having implemented many labor standards and safety protocols required by the government, became increasingly bored with the cotton mills.

In the early 70's there was a fuel shortage and lines formed at the gas tanks. Nelson had spotted a company down in Louisiana called Bellamy Industries that had been making barrels for the oil. It was once a successful company but times had gotten away from it. Old man Bellamy had passed and his son was then the president, CEO, and chairman. Nelson bought a bunch of shares in the company and got appointed to the Board of Directors. He spent some time helping them get over the hump of losses and outdated equipment. His experience at Brevard helped him implement some changes that had a positive impact on revenues. He then convinced the Board to split the stock so that shareholders would have more shares but the price would be suited to new investors. The Board labored over this for a couple of months and finally agreed. He then bought up more shares. Mergers and monopolies weren't watching that so closely and since he wasn't selling, he didn't fall on their radar. He had acquired enough shares to represent 4% of the company. The president of the company, realizing what was happening came to Nelson and asked him what he wanted. It was better to counter and prevent Nelson from taking over and ousting him from his leadership role. Nelson told him he wanted the chairmanship. Bellamy Junior could hold onto the president and CEO titles. It was a hard discussion, according to Grandfather, but the Board acquiesced and soon Nelson was made Chairman of the Board. Again, he implemented a number of changes and as the country eased out of recession, so did Bellamy Industries.

I was here, sitting on this porch. I was 11 years old. It was a hot Saturday afternoon and I was out of school. A procession of black limousines pulled up that driveway and the passengers stepped out of the vehicles looking in awe at the surroundings. Kent Sr, who ran the estate back then, came out to welcome the men.

Brandon interrupted, "No carpooling" he asked sarcastically.

"Hush," I said. "No interruptions. These were men who did not carpool. If they let anyone into their car, it was a mistress or a deal to be struck!" I snapped. I continued.

As the men gathered right there at the foot of the stairs, I got up out of the chair and stood beside Kent.

"We are here to see Nelson Brevard," said one of the men, presumably Robert Bellamy.

"I think he's expecting you," said Kent.

One of the men asked, "Who is this young fella?"

Kent replied, "This is Mr. Brevard's youngest grandson, Benjamin Beal Brevard. He's home from school."

"Beal, as in Louisiana Beal?" asked the man.

"That's Margo's boy," said another gently. "How are you today, Master Brevard?" he asked.

Before I could answer, another man spoke up and said, "well if they have Alabama and Louisiana sewn up, all they need is Mississippi to clean up the South!" and everyone laughed.

"As my grandfather says, nothing good ever came from Mississippi," I replied.

"Well, well," said the man. "The boy has a good brain for a youngin'. Good for you, son. Good for you."

"I'll tell Grandfather you're here," and I walked into the house.

Then I had the family follow me into the house and I stopped at the door to the study and started my dialogue with everyone to my back.

Benjamin! What are you doing in here rifling through my papers? What's wrong, Grandfather? Why is everyone so upset these days? Are you about to do some business? No, I need to ponder. Sit there and ponder with me. You see, Benjamin, textiles is headed south, literally and figuratively, several companies have moved their operations across the border to Mexico. Do you want to live in Mexico? Hell no, I said. [Everyone chuckled.} My sons are concerned about the status quo and I understand that. They believe that our family's importance rests on company ownership. I say that it rests on our resources and our contribution to the community. I want to sell out. So in return, Phil slams the door when he comes in and James slams the door when he walks out.

It's a hard sell convincing them that what I believe to be true is a fact. Unions are creeping in and I have no tolerance being told how to run my company. Those ways work up north where industry is merciless. We are in good shape, Benjamin. I have implemented all the standards required by the government. We run safe shops. Our equipment is inspected and repaired regularly. We are audited every year. I changed the payroll to ensure pay is distributed accordingly. I may lose the will to live if those Unions call me to another meeting!

We are sound and we have a chance to get out of the business before the migration and heap a bunch of money into our estate. What do you think, Benjamin. You always know what to do Grandfather. Want me to talk to Phil and James? Nelson laughed at this. You have makings Benjamin. You like this kind of pondering don't you? I do, sir, I told him. Really, in truth, I just liked him talking to me. Informing me. Trusting me.

Nelson ran into a snag he did not see coming in that the 7 investors that Clinton had brought on board years before had heirs and they wanted a piece of the pie when the sale of Brevard Textiles was announced. The problem was, the company had paid them dividends on the profits over the years and there was no profit for the investors. They would only be entitled to the principal of their original investment which was quite small for the day. They drove up here one day in two cars and met Grandfather on the front porch. One of them pointed a shotgun at Nelson and demanded they be given their fair share. Nelson asked them what was a fair share? Outside of some cash used by Clinton to modernize some equipment, they had not worked a stitch for the Brevards. I was not there but I think Uncle James was. He can tell you more of that story sometime.

Then, shortly thereafter, The Board at Bellamy offered to purchase the textiles and add them to the corporation. Nelson contended that running one large diverse corporation would be no easier on him than running two companies and the textiles would then be subject to stockholder rule. So he offered the Board the chance to buy out his 4.5% stock holdings He told me that Bellamy was not getting any younger and was slowing down and that the only way to install a new, younger president would be to fire him and that would take an industrial strategy. They respectfully declined to buy him out so he secretly gathered offers from several outside competitors. The rule for those engagements is that once an offer is presented, the offer has to be presented to the Board for their consideration. Bellamy was furious. Nelson had to once again sit down and have a difficult discussion with him. He told him one: the company had reached its peak. Bellamy had reached his peak as well. On the basis he would not voluntarily step down and given that the Board would not buy him out, he had no choice than to seek out their options, in the best interest of the shareholders.

Still sitting in the study, I looked at everyone poised in the room and at the entrance. All eyes were glued. Then I looked to the empty chair sitting across from me and continued. James, Phil, I want to talk to you about what is to come. You each have roles to play and I want your absolute cooperation. Phil, we are going to need a Trust to shelter the money. James, I am going to need a lawyer outside of the Company reaches...I'm not printing all of that story. I got up and moved through the doorway into the foyer and took my place in the doorway to the South Parlor. I stood as Grandfather stood with my left elbow propped against the door frame.

Show in our guests, Benjamin and then he whispered to me, take a seat on the stairs so you can listen in, Benjamin. You will enjoy the show from there. He winked at me.

The men all filed in and stood where you are all standing now. Ryan was practically standing on my feet. Brandon and Emma were right behind him.

Gentlemen, welcome to Brevard House. It's been our family home since 1940. Fine house, Bellamy said. Very fine, indeed. Bellamy said I think you have something for us to see, Nelson. We have come a long way. I feel a bit parched.

Nelson shouted out to Kent Sr and asked for whiskies be brought around for his guests. Nelson began, Gentlemen, what we are going to discuss today, as well as witness, is absolutely confidential. The impact of the reports you are about to see could create a stock frenzy and put any such deals in jeopardy. I trust you will put your personal interests and the interests of the Company before all today. And gentlemen, let me not be so subtle about this. If there are any dissenters in this group who feel the need to leak what is about to be shown, in order to challenge or sabotage these agreements, I can assure you your life will be broken into two parts: Before Nelson Brevard and After Nelson Brevard! Are there any questions?

The foyer was still. No one moved. Follow me, then. I led the group into the dining room. Some took seats. Ryan was to my right and Brandon was to my left. Emma was beside her brother. James and Phil sat. Everyone else stood on.

Gentleman, I present to you the merger agreement put before the Board for your consideration. It has been prepared in great detail outlining the disposition of the company assets, debts, and other factors as well as the personal impact it has on your income, stock options, bonuses, and other sundry items.

They read and they read for a while. There was a stock Nelson Brevard bought for $20 a share. Then it split to $10. Then it climbed to almost $30 on its own through strong revenues and expense management. Now there is an offer to purchase the stock at $36 per share netting Nelson about $11 million in stock buyout not including bonuses and stock options awarded to him over the years.

Everyone signed their agreement and the offer was accepted. I picked up a strategically placed glass and stood at the head of the table. Gentlemen, a toast. And everyone stood. I motioned for everyone to stand and they did.

I was a smart boy destined to run an average but successful textiles company started by his father. Today I close the deal of a lifetime, structured by an industrialist, granting you and your successors a good life, full of abundant opportunities, education, travel, culture, peace, and good will. You have each traveled a hard road the past number of years as I have asked you to do and this is the end result. A toast to your perseverance, your boot strap, and your backbone. Congratulations, gentlemen! And everyone toasted.

That evening, everyone returned with wives and had cocktails here at the house, then traveled out to the country club for a party that would not be forgotten for a long time. I looked at James who was wiping his eyes.

He interrupted, "Benjamin you have woven quite a story here today. I cannot say you were wrong on any point. For that I am appreciative. Also, there were certain discretions you showed to Phil and myself and I'm thankful for that too. Thank you Ben."

Everyone stood and clapped. Obviously, you got the abridged version as I couldn't possibly write all of that here. It was a good story though. Quinn suggested I write a fiction novel, protecting the innocent and the guilty. I laughed at that.

Brandon came up to me and shook my hand. He told me what I had done for them all was nothing short of amazing. James and Phil approached.

"Why didn't you tell us, Grandfather?" asked Brandon.

"I just never found the time. But it's providential that Benjamin has taken care of it for us." and he smiled at his grandson. James took me aside and, with a stern look, advised me that he would have appreciated a draft of that story line so that the tone and content could have been checked beforehand. I responded, that based on my memory, I had no belief that my tone or content needed to be checked. I was sitting there through most of it.

So much for that. It was time to get dressed for our drive out to the Club for dinner, yes the same club. There was a happy hour first for 5 pm.

During the family "happy hour" Quinn's mother showed up. She had been invited as a surprise to attend the dinner with us. I thought that was extremely brilliant. I would have suggested it but really hadn't thought about it. Quinn was very self conscious and I knew why. Having this pack al gathered in one place was like something on a tv show and while he tried to create social topics for her, she tended to do better on her own. Her sass and style won the ladies over completely.

We headed out to dinner in a caravan, a procession of cars. Each family was snuggled in a vehicle. Too bad we didn't have a bus or something. The club was packed just as I had suspected. Oh we had to get through a group of diners to get to the private dining room. The club served prime rib, potatoes au gratin and roasted asparagus. It was ok. Cook could have done better but she was in party mode so it would have been thoughtless to expect that of her.

What I learned through various conversations is that Annaleigh, who was a bit timid and shy, was married to a sharp and witty guy. Jacob Sutton was a process engineer for a Canadian/US Bank and was very keen on IT infrastructure. Charles on the other hand, who was normally very timid, was married to a direct shooter. The impression I got of Rebecca is that she wasn't just a mother who fretted too much. Instead, she was very direct, made decisions quickly, and didn't involve a lot of back forth to get things done. She was a consultant for an accounting firm working with several government agencies. Although we had Ryan in common, and I could quickly see he was the apple of her eye, I would have liked her the same. We had those gin and tonics at the club bar she had so hoped for. Margo eventually made her way to us and I left them knee deep in business talk.

Quinn was entertaining the youth as he was so apt to do. The three of them were getting along well. I found each of them more unique than I could have possibly imagined. While everyone was enjoying after dinner drinks and socializing at the bar, I saw them from the balcony out by the pool sipping on sodas and talking to other youthful guests. I needed to get something from the car and when I went out to the parking lot, I found Chalres standing behind his rental car smoking a cigarette.

"Charles!" I exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing out here and when did you start smoking?"

"Well I have since we were teens, you know. I had quit for a long time but then this pressure started building and I caved." He was about to stub it out when I said,

"Hey, give me one of those!" He laughed and handed me the pack. I hadn't had a cigarette in several years. I lit up and asked what the pressure was all about.

"I think Becky is going to leave me," he said. "She is so upset with me and I haven't been able to turn it around, Ben."

"Upset about?"

"You know. The Ryan thing."

"The Ryan thing being Ryan being gay?" He nodded yes.

"Charles, if that is the thing, maybe she has a point to be upset with you."

"That's easy for you to say, Ben. You understand it and HIM. I don't."

"Yes you do, Charles. And you know you are sitting on something, or someone rather, that's very special."

"He is but I just can't get past it. There are so many risks and I don't know how to communicate them to him."

"Ok lets start there. So you have a kid that's unstable, has mental issues and is bound for drug rehab.,"

"No I don't!"

"Ok so he is probably a selfish little bastard who is an ass to deal with and treats people like shit."

"That's not it at all!"

"He's lazy, nonproductive, does lousy in school and shows no respect for authority."

"Ben, stop it!"

"Ok so he's gay and he likes boys. Is that the worst you can do?"

"Oh there's AIDS. There's bullies. There prejudice and discrimination. So many things to get him off track, Ben. Times are not the same as when you came out. The bullies were afraid of you. They're not afraid anymore."

"Times have changed Charles and not all for the bad. I'm 42 and I don't have AIDS. His chance of getting it is rather slim I would say. But if he did, its not the end of the world. Cancer would be worse. And bullies like weakness. He shows no sign of it. I doubt they will show him any interest. If there were going to be bullies, they would already be there and he assures me there has been none of that."

"Well that's good to hear, I guess."

"Charles, did he tell you about his trading?"

"I know father gave him some money but I don't know how much..." he couldn't finish that before I interrupted.

"$25,000," I said.

"What? They gave him $25,000 to invest? A fifteen year old kid? Oh my God!" he exclaimed, finishing one cigarette and lighting up another.

"So, Charles, James told him the principal was on loan and would have to be paid back on demand. Ryan has almost doubled the principal and is going to pay it back after the first of the year."

Charles stood there speechless. "I wish I had known, he could have helped me with some investments!" he said laughing.

"Me too! Listen Chuck," and I leaned in to speak directly and honestly, "Ryan is very special and he is going to be running some shit one day. I mean he could ascend to the likes of Nelson Brevard by the time he's 30. I implore you, get your arms around him so that you can celebrate his accomplishments with him, not just what you read in the online news. All you have to do is love him and he will take care of the rest. I have known him what, sixty days? Look at us. It's like a lifetime."

"Becky was real quick to point that out to me. She and I discussed all of this even before he was born and I completely dropped the ball. Should I be ashamed?"

"You are not shameful for having a hard time with an issue. Your inability to resolve the issue for the greater good will be shameful. Listen, when we get home you get him off to himself and tell him two of our particularly good stories, then, shut the fuck up and let him tell you something. Open the door, let him in, and once he realizes he's in, he will tell you something. You tell him how proud of him you are about his dealing with family things and lightening up on folks like his cousins. Do you see how well they are getting along? Give him acknowledgement. You can do this Chuck. I will see you through it this weekend. Tomorrow, let him take you and Becky on a stroll around the property. He will tell you all kinds of stuff. He fits in so well at the house. I wish I had ten years to raise him on Brevard land. I wished I had had more time," I said being very honest about that.

"Ryan, outside on the land? I can't believe that. He's usually at his computer building some model or derivative something. But, I can do that, Ben. I feel like doing it but I'm terrified I will get preachy and judgemental. I don't know how to contain it."

"Just listen to him as if he were someone else's kid then when you realize he's really your's, you will be so happy to know him again. Then you can get Becky back on the rails. She's just trying to push you to a higher understanding."

He looked down and cried a bit. God damn, I dropped a tear too. What the hell would I cry for?

"Damn Chuck, that was the best cigarette I have had in a long time!" I told him clearing my eyes.

"Me too. Lets go back to the party. I know I stink so I'm going to wash up. I will get this back on track Ben. You're a lifesaver."

Just before we got to the front door, I stopped him. "Listen to what he has to say, Charles. Listen." He nodded in agreement and we went to the men's room to wash up and back to the party. While I thought everyone would want to get on home, it seemed the party was in the club bar. There was music playing and people were dancing. Ha, the bartenders were enjoying the Brevard crowd. The other guests were too. Miles, our mayor was there with his wife. He really enjoyed meeting the family, and his wife was very happy to be invited to the Christmas Party. .

So I have to be honest, Ryan and Brandon had to do some driving to get us home. Jacob was a light drinker and was able to drive. Fortunately, we live close to the club. When we got in, and everyone settled in for the night, I finally got to ask Quinn how the discussion with Phil and Margo went.

"It was ok, Ben. It was hard, but not as hard as I thought it would be. Your mother asked me if I were given $500,000 and told to get out of town, where would be the first place I would go."

"Really?" I asked shocked. "What was your reply?"

"I will tell you as long as you tell me first, where would your first place be if they had asked YOU that. Because, Mrs. Brevard, if I were asked to leave, I certainly wouldn't take any money with me."

"Oh my God!" I shouted louder than I should have.

"Your mother laughed and said that was the best answer she could have hoped for. She wants to know I'm long term Ben. She said, this being a once in a lifetime deal, for them as well as us, she wants it to be right. To be good. They aren't interested in supporting a short timer. She said I answered all her questions thoughtfully. Phil said they were believers. I told her my mother had a similar conversation with you! She really liked that. I felt like I had interviewed for the CIA but it was ok. I mean, I knew it was coming and Kenny warned me in advance, and told me not to tell you because you would worry." He crawled into bed and I climbed in on top of him. I could hear Ryan and his dad laughing in the next room. I got up and put on some sweats. No one was in the hall so I crept down to the door and listened.

Ryan was laughing at some story his dad told then I heard Charles tell him he was going to do some things differently. He needed a second chance. And he promised he would help Ryan with anything he could. He said "and if I don't know the answer, we can ask Ben since he THINKS he knows everything!" and I almost burst out laughing and gave myself away. Ryan did laugh and said, "Yeah he's like that isn't he?"

"LIttle shit. He better not creep into my room tonight," I thought as I went back to my room and closed the door. Chuck, I thought, should tell about the time we got caught skipping school at St. Luke's. It was all his idea and McKinnon's, of course. We went rowing out on Lake Lura and turned the damn boat over. The saying went on that it was a Brevard to first touch Lura's bottom! Headmaster Keen did not like it at all. Gave us a tongue lashing.

I wanted to love on Quinn a little before we passed out. I loved his smooth soft skin just before sleep. It gave me comfort. We slept like a rock, and surprisingly, there was no Ryan tonite.