Cheddars, Chapter 33
Adam and Parker were back home in Iowa City a couple of days before New Year's Eve. They planned a party for everyone in the house, and invited Jim and Paul over too.
Edgar had sent along a couple of bottles of good Champagne, that he'd purchased at the new wine shop, for their celebration with their friends. He trusted that they'd use it responsibly, and not get into trouble. Adam figured they could enjoy it without worrying about getting raided.
If they weren't noisy, (which they never were) it was unlikely that Mrs. Cooper would call the police. After the mess she got herself into by making a false report, even she wouldn't have the temerity to try it again.
Their guests could stay over in the extra bedroom and not be out on the streets to get into an accident or chance a random breathalyzer test. So, they could have a midnight toast without any repercussions.
They spent several hours playing a marathon game of Monopoly, snacking on various goodies that several of the guys had prepared. They paused long enough to watch the ball drop in Times Square, and then resumed playing until it got close to midnight, locally.
It was then that Parker opened the bubbly, while Adam dug out little juice glasses to put it in. Since his parents had never served alcohol, there wasn't the proper glassware, but no one in their group minded.
They drank a toast as the grandfather clock in the foyer began to strike. Then, they all shared hugs and brotherly kisses. The more sensuous kind would take place in the privacy of their bedrooms later.
Over their late breakfast on New Year's Day, Adam and Parker discussed their wedding plans with their housemates and guests, asking them to keep March 10th open. Everyone thought they'd have no problem getting the day off, since they could ask for it well in advance.
"Man, I wish we were getting married then," Rob said, with a hint of envy in his voice.
"Me too," Darrin agreed. "I suppose people might think that we haven't `dated' long enough to know our hearts."
"Who cares what other people think?" Adam exclaimed. "Some people will always throw up roadblocks, especially for gay couples."
Others around the table nodded their agreement.
"Are you going to tell them what we talked about?" Parker grinned at his lover.
"Shall I say it, or you?"
"I think I should, since I'm not related to either of them."
"Okay, what's going on in those devious minds of yours?" Rob joked.
"Through our mystic powers of wordless communication, Adam and I have discussed, and agreed on, asking if you'd be interested in having a double wedding."
"Wow!" Rob exclaimed. "I wasn't trying to usurp your day."
"You won't be crashing our party, because we're inviting you," Adam grinned. "In truth, we had already talked about it. What could be cooler for me than to share my special day with my brother, my best friend from childhood, and the love of my life?
"We're inviting mostly family, plus a few friends, and those would overlap, so it wouldn't make the guest-list that much larger. I don't know what you'd want to do about gifts. We plan to ask people to donate to a charitable fund we're starting for homeless teens in lieu of presents, assuming they feel obligated to give us anything. You guys could register at places like Penney's and Target. We're already set up with household items, and we don't need another toaster! But you're starting out from scratch."
"Don't you think we'd look greedy if we registered, and you guys didn't?" Darrin asked.
"Not at all! Wedding presents are traditional. We're the ones who might look odd in not registering somewhere. Maybe someone might think we're flaunting our wealth. But, I don't believe that will be the case with the people we invite," Adam said.
"Let us think it over for a day or two," Darrin suggested. "We'd love to share in the wedding, but I still have reservations."
"If you have reservations, it should only be room reservations for the honeymoon suite!" Adam joked.
Parker texted his dads and grandparents with the news that they might be coming to a double wedding. The responses they received were very positive! Everyone felt it would be great of Adam to share with Rob, especially since the two of them had been denied the bonding they might have had in growing up together, had they known they were related.
Jon sent another reply the following day. Bart and he had gone out to eat with Ellie and Edgar one more time before the Forsythe's headed back to Minnesota. They had had another discussion about the boys' upcoming nuptials. The gist was that they'd come up with a suggestion for their honeymoon.
Seeing that Parker and Adam were considering a Caribbean cruise, they got on line when everyone was still in the suburbs and looked at the most elegant suite on deck 14 for the guys as a wedding gift. Edgar and Ellie were platinum card-holders, and could get a 15% discount if the booked by a certain date.
Parker got on the cruise website to see what kind cost they were talking about. He thanked them very much, but asked if they'd consider an alternative plan. Would they be willing to put the money toward a pair of suites on deck 10 which had a passage door between them? That way, they could share the honeymoon cruise, as well as the day, with Rob and Darrin. Parker and Adam would pay the additional cost.
This time the reply came immediately.
"If you want to share the trip as well as your wedding day, the four of us would pick up the cost of the plane tickets for Adam's brother and his husband. We'll also pay the extra for the two suites, if there is any."
"Wow! That's awesome!!! We'd love to have them along. With the privacy of an extra cabin, we can spend time together and still have our intimate moments with our spouses."
"Good! Let us know soon so we don't lose the connecting suites. There aren't as many of them.
"Bye."
"Bye Dad, and thanks!"
Adam asked Rob and Darrin to spend a few minutes with Parker and him after supper to discuss their plans.
"Well, are you going to get married with us? There should be enough room to seat our small number of guests if we open the doors between the front and back parlors. We won't have the dining room furniture delivered until later, so we can use that room as a dance floor. While we're dancing, the caterers can set up the two parlors with tables and arrange the folding chairs around them, so we can eat there.
"I'd love to exchange vows on the landing in the foyer, but I think it would be difficult for the guests to have an unobstructed view. However, we should get some of our pictures taken there for our wedding albums."
"It sounds awesome!" Rob enthused. "I think you've sold us on the idea. I'm lucky to have a brother who's in advertising and event-planning."
"If you're still wavering," Parker grinned, "we have another surprise to sweeten the deal, just like the guys on TV selling knives or pillows. `If you act now, we'll throw in, at NO extra cost, an all-expense-paid cruise for six days in the Caribbean.'"
"Oh man, you can't do that!" Darrin exclaimed.
"WE aren't, our other family members are. The posh suite they were going to reserve for us is about the same price as two interconnected ones. This arrangement will let us be together when we want, but have a door between to shut when we want to screw like bunnies!" Parker snickered.
"Oh wow! I can't believe it!" Rob exclaimed. "We'll have to coordinate plane tickets."
"Nope, my dads and grandparents are doing everything. They're the ones who insisted on it."
"AWESOME!" Rob and Darrin shouted in chorus.
"I take that as a `yes' and I'm texting Dad immediately so we don't miss the special deal."
For the four prospective grooms, the first half of spring term moved along at top speed. They wanted to keep all their school work up to date so nothing would cloud their wedding day and honeymoon. With Rob and Darrin working at Cheddar's and the other two, along with Toby, putting finishing touches on the house so it would be ready for their wedding, it felt like there wasn't time to breathe. They did exercise at the rec center when they could, but were thankful they weren't on the swim team. They couldn't imagine how hard that would have been.
On top of everything else, Adam and Parker were purchasing a few pieces of furniture for the main rooms downstairs. Until after the wedding reception, the front and back parlors would be empty, save for a couple of sofas.
The three bedrooms that were finished, would be completely furnished to house the out-of-town adult guests.
Even if the other bedroom, or the attic apartment, didn't get furnished, they could still get married in the house.
Jon had put them in touch with a local decorating service he knew of which featured furnishings that would coordinate with the style of the house. The studio was in an old mansion that had been built in the same era as the house they were restoring. In fact, it was called, "The Mansion." Things that looked good there, would likely be fine in their home. In the past, Jon had dealt with one of the decorators named Tony, and was very satisfied.
Tony came over to discuss what would look best in that setting. He was very taken by the chair Edgar had saved for them, and thought he could find just the right fabric to have it upholstered in, hopefully in time for their ceremony. He would choose a color to complement the painting which was due to arrive shortly.
In appreciation for the business the Forsythe's had sent his way, Josh and his husband, Eric insisted on transporting the pastel, and helping in the hanging of it. Since the medium is fragile, Josh wanted to lay it on its back in their SUV, well cushioned with foam and bubble-wrap to lessen the chance of losing any of the chalk due to bumps and vibrations. Parker was excited about hosting them overnight.
Josh and Eric arrived in the afternoon on a Friday in February. Unusually high temperatures had been the pattern for the month, and that weekend was no exception. It was 65 F when they pulled up to Adam's address.
Parker and Adam led the way to the house in Adam's little red Fit. Everything went smoothly because they already had the necessary tools – step-ladders, level, tape-measure, drill, and screws at the house to hang the painting. They spent longer admiring the way it looked in place than they did putting it up.
"This fits the space perfectly!" Josh smiled. "It looks like it was made for the foyer."
"That's because you sent perfect color samples, so we were able to choose the right wall color," Parker said.
"Like grandmother, like grandson!" Josh beamed. "Wow, this house is amazing. May we have the grand tour?"
Parker proudly showed them around to view all that had been done. He included a quick peek at the bedroom that had yet to be painted. When they got to the attic apartment, Josh and Eric told the guys about their place in the house their fathers had restored.
"It's a somewhat similar layout. Have you considered living in it?"
"We DID live here when we first met, and we might again," Adam informed them. "It was Parker's little hideaway, where he brought me when my parents booted me for being gay."
"Cool! Our family has rescued a few guys like that. It's how we got involved in Lundy House."
"My cousin almost got placed there after his father physically abused him." Parker said.
"That would be Dan, right?"
"Yes, I forgot that you've met the GOOD elements of my family," Parker nodded.
"We have," Josh agreed. "Believe me, we love your family! After seeing photos of the painting your grandmother bought, your dads purchased some for their architectural office. In turn, their customers have sought me out. They've boosted my income and reputation."
When they got back to Adam's house, dinner was nearly ready. Rob was on cooking duty, but Toby was his sous chef. Jason and Darrin, unfortunately, had to work that night. With so many of the guys working at Cheddar's, it was usually impossible to have them all home on a busy Friday night.
The "chefs" had outdone themselves, and everyone complimented them on the food. Knowing their guests were over 21, they had served wine with the meal. Of course, the rest partook as well.
Over the protests of their hosts, Josh and Eric got up to help clear the table. It pleased the rest of the guys that they acted just like they were a part of the household.
After the kitchen was put back in order, Toby and Rob excused themselves to do homework that needed to be finished. The other four continued their conversation as Adam showed them to the master bedroom which had been made up fresh for company.
"We don't want to put you out, we can sleep anywhere." Eric asserted.
"Nope! We do this for special guests, and you guys certainly fit into that category. We're honored that you're here."
"Okay, perhaps we can return the favor someday."
In the living room, conversation flowed easily among the four of them. Parker asked several questions about Lundy House, after finding out that it was Josh and Eric's "adopted" brother who had been the catalyst that brought it all together.
"How did he come to have such a big heart for people on the street at an early age?"
"His situation was a little like what you've told us of yours, Adam." Josh related. "He wasn't lucky enough to have a guy take him in, and he was living in an old van, washing dishes in a greasy spoon, and trying to finish high school. We worked with him on a school project, and found out that he'd even lost the van and was living under a bridge. It broke our hearts, and our dads' hearts as well. So, we sorta adopted him."
"That's so cool! You guys are like my lover," Adam said, brushing away a tear. "He has a soft heart, and I have empathy after being thrown away, so we want to help others that fall between the cracks. It seems to happen to gay teens more than any other group, especially the guys."
Jason and Darrin came in the back door around 10:00 and were introduced to the guests. Toby and Rob bounded down the steps at the sounds of their boyfriends' voices.
Parker offered to make popcorn, and everyone was up for that. After a few more minutes of fellowship, over their snack, everyone went to their rooms for the night.
On the second Friday night in March, Parker's relatives from Edina and Schaumburg touched down at the Eastern Iowa Airport. Adam was waiting at the curb in a 12-passenger van he'd borrowed from the dealership, while Parker stood near the exit from the "secure" section to welcome his family and Taylor.
They had about a 30-minute wait for Ken and Sally's flight, so Adam parked the van in the short-term lot while they waited. As soon as Parker's aunt and uncle collected their luggage, they all departed for Iowa city.
The drive didn't take long because the weather was good, and traffic on I-380 moved along like it did on I-90 in the suburbs, only with less of it and fewer lanes.
The first stop was at the newly refurbished house where the adults would be sleeping. Naturally, everyone wanted to see the changes in the house. None of the guests was expecting it to look as "original" as it did.
The front façade looked very much like the picture in the book from the library. The main difference was the large rock in the yard inscribed with the words, "Stone Manor."
The inside resembled the old photos too. The elegant stairway was perfectly restored, as were other details.
"This is awesome! Where did you find the pocket doors to separate the parlors?" Jon asked, as the continued the tour. "They must have cost a fortune."
"Oh contraire, mon Pere," Parker laughed. "Believe it or not, they were stored in the attic of the original garage. Even the fittings were there. All they needed was to be refinished and rehung. I held back about telling you because I wanted to see the surprised look on your face."
After their luggage was seen to, they all rode to Adam's house where there were refreshments waiting. They sat and visited for over an hour before the adults drove the van back to the house where they were staying.
Dan and Tay were pleased to be sleeping at Adam's.
"I'm sorry that the only bedrooms left have twin beds, but we made up the pair like a king-sized one so you wouldn't fall on the floor," Adam teased as he showed the younger teens their room.
"This is cool!" Taylor grinned.
"I hope you'll be comfortable. If not, you can move to our bedroom after we go on our honeymoon."
"I'm sure we'll be fine! It's a bigger playpen than we're used to, so if Tay falls on the floor, I'll just do him there," Dan giggled.
Taylor blushed a deep shade of crimson. He seemed to be embarrassed by his boyfriend's suggestive talk. It made Parker wonder if they were, indeed, "doing" each other. It could be just banter, but they might have taken that step earlier than he had. Ah well, it was none of his business either way.
February had been warmer than usual. Now March was starting out chilly. At least Saturday morning was clear and sunny, even if the mercury was hovering about seven degrees above the freezing mark.
The grooms and their attendants walked to the house with their rented tuxedos still in the bags to keep them spotless. Since the future spouses had chosen white ones, it was the best policy. Their attendants would be dressed in black. Everybody would wear lavender ties as a nod to their orientation.
They arrived in plenty of time to get dressed and have a quick rehearsal with Fr. Winkler before anyone arrived.
Jon and Bart had made breakfast for the Forsythe's, Fischer's, and themselves, and cleaned up the kitchen afterward. With that accomplished, they had also dressed early.
The caterers arrived about 45 minutes ahead of the ceremony to set up in the kitchen. They were pleased to use the many convenient features in it. They said it was an ideal setup for entertaining.
Guests began arriving shortly after the food-service people. Jon and Bart welcomed them, directing them to the den where several large racks with hangers were set up for their coats.
About five minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to begin, Adam's maternal grandparents, Arlo and Fred, came in. He was pleased that they had accepted the invitation.
Adam had shown Jon a picture of them so he'd know who they were. Jon and Bart escorted them to the front row, and introduced them to Parker's grandparents.
At the appointed time, Fr. Winkler entered the back parlor and stood in front of a small table by the fireplace. The DJ cued the CD player to begin Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary" as the signal for Dan and Taylor to lead Parker and Adam to join the priest on his left. Toby and Jason preceded Rob and Darrin on the other side.
Fr. Winkler opened with a prayer. He read a scripture passage, and gave a short homely before asking the young men to join hands with their intended spouses.
The guys had chosen to use a slightly modified version of the standard Episcopal form. Adam and Parker had originally planned to write their own vows, but became so emotional in the process that they didn't think they could repeat them in front of an audience. Rob and Darrin chose to do the same. They answered, "I do" and "I will" to the questions. Even their short answers brought tears to their eyes.
When it was time, Dan and Tay produced the rings from their breast pockets for Parker and Adam. Toby and Jason did the same for the other pair.
After the priest pronounced them to be married couples, they kissed to the cheers of their guests. As they walked down the aisle together, the JD played, "One Hand, One Heart" from "West Side Story."
The grooms danced first with their spouses, but soon included other family members. Since Darrin had no family in attendance, Sally danced with him. Ellie was with Parker, Rob had his mother, and Adam had Grandma Arlo. At the end of it, the ladies changed partners, so that the four grooms received lots of love.
The grooms and attendants went through the buffet line first, followed by family members. Then the rest of the guests were invited by tables. It all came off efficiently.
As soon as they had eaten enough to hold body and soul together, the grooms got up from the table to circulate among their guests. After they had socialized for a while, the best men made several toasts in sparkling grape juice, since none of them were of legal age.
That was followed by the cutting of a small cake for the grooms. Everyone else got to choose from a large selection of beautifully decorated cupcakes.
At 4:00 p.m., the young men all went upstairs and changed out of their formal wear, and into jeans and pullovers. The attendants would all walk back to Adam's house after the grooms had departed. Dan and Tay loved being treated like little brothers by the guys who lived there.
They would return later to eat supper from the leftovers the caterers had boxed up and put in the refrigerator.
Jon and Bart drove the grooms to a hotel not far from the airport. They had a very early flight to catch in the morning, so it made sense for them to be close by. It also gave them the chance to celebrate their new marital status before embarking on their trip.
Adam and Parker made love hungrily but gently. Having abstained for a week leading up to their wedding night, both were horny as could be. However, they took their time, making their first time as a married couple a memorable experience.
Parker chose to be the receiver for their first encounter, and managed to save his seed until he became the giver. In doing so, both guys experienced the sensation of having their chutes filled with the other's cum. They fell asleep contentedly, after eating the snack Jon had packed for them.
Rob and Darrin enjoyed a similar experience in coupling. Rob enjoyed his role as a top the first time, but equally loved having Darrin take the active role. They were as versatile as their counterparts in the next room.
They also appreciated Jon's thoughtfulness in providing food.
Author's notes: I wish to begin with a sad announcement. Walter S, a long-time reader, passed away on July 1st, just shy of his 87th birthday. He was a kind man who enjoyed life to the fullest. I shall miss him! Rest in peace, Walt.
Thanks to all who emailed since last week's posting: Dick L, Dan B, Bill K, Tyler W, Bill T, Tony C, JLF, Walt Sz, Charles G, Steve C, John L, Paul R, Wayne, Mendy D, Avid R, Kyle F, Tom A, Geoff S, Jeremy R, Jim M, Frank K, Jim W, Ott H, Joe W, Owen, and Zero M.
We all hate commercials, so I'll just say thanks to those of you who donate to keep this free service going. And, thanks for your many words of encouragement.
Too often, we hear about juvenile delinquents who run amok. I love reading stories about teenagers who do good deeds. Here is one:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/teen-saves-mans-life-on-2nd-day-on-the-job/ar-BBDObn9?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=mailsignout
[http://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBDOfXN.img]http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/teen-saves-mans-life-on-2nd-day-on-the-job/ar-BBDObn9?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=mailsignout
Teen saves man's life on 2nd day on the jobhttp://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/teen-saves-mans-life-on-2nd-day-on-the-job/ar-BBDObn9?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=mailsignout www.msn.com The 16-year-old performed CPR on a man who had collapsed while dining in the restaurant
Paul, a faithful reader pointed out an incorrect pronoun on page 6 in last week's chapter. It should have read, "No, it's more like he can't say words like `dick' when mine is stuck in his (not my) mouth! ..." Don't know how I missed it! Thanks, Paul. Danny may be flexible enough to do that, but it doesn't make sense in the situation.
David