Cheddar's, Chapter 7
Having spent three hours over lunch, it was nearing 4:00 when the boys arrived at Woodfield Mall. They found a parking place fairly close to an entrance because the crowds were thinning. Most of the after Christmas bargains had already been snatched up.
They headed to a moderately-priced jewelry store to look for something to be a tangible sign of their relationship as boyfriends. They weren't sure if they wanted earrings, rings, or an alternative. Neither had pierced ears, but were willing to have them done.
The helpful clerk suggested looking at their selection of friendship pendants which consisted of two interconnecting parts that made a whole when placed together. Each `friend' wore one half as a reminder that they were only complete when they were together. The set could be engraved with whatever sentiments people wanted, as long as they weren't too wordy.
The guys thought the split heart was a bit too cutesy. The yin and yang symbol was nice, but it suggested one person was the masculine force and the other the feminine. Both felt like that didn't apply to them. Then they spied the dog tag, and both nodded. When the two halves were placed together, it looked like a regular dog tag with a saw-tooth line running through it vertically.
"Let's each have half of our name engraved on one part and half on the other," Parker suggested. "So, yours could have AD' and mine AM'. Then you'd get CH' and I'd get IP'."
"That's cool, but don't you want `Parker' on it?"
"Not unless you insist. This way it would be balanced with two letters each. Besides, my legal name is Jonathan Parker Grim V; I think `Chip' is more intimate."
"Okay, I like that, Chip!"
They tried to think of a phrase to show their relationship, but couldn't come up with a short one. "United" might fit somewhere. The salesman, who had been watching their interaction attentively, made a suggestion.
"If I'm out of line here, let me know. I can think of two short words, "
CARE' and LOVE,' unless I'm overstepping the boundaries. I could see your names on the back, and UNITED IN LOVE' arranged in a vertical order on the front because they split equally – united' across the top, in' in the middle, and love' at the bottom."
"I think that would be perfect!" Parker spoke for both of them. Adam eagerly nodded his agreement. "How soon can they be engraved?"
"You can have them in half an hour if you'd like them today."
"Great!" Parker exclaimed. "How much do we owe?"
"The dog-tag with two chains is on sale this week for $34, and the letters will cost 25 cents each, making a grand total of $41 plus tax. It's a great deal because it's all sterling silver."
Parker would have paid for both, but he didn't want to make Adam feel less than his equal by doing so. Adam, pulled out cash for his part of the bill. Parker accepted his money and put the whole thing on his credit card.
"Once it's on my neck, I'm gonna wear it all the time, except in the pool." Adam smiled, as they strolled the mall killing time until the engraving was finished.
"So, you're not worried about the guys at school seeing it and guessing that we're a couple? I won't be around to have your back, you know."
"I honestly can't think of anyone who'd hassle me about it except maybe for Dave, and that would be out of jealousy on his part. He seems to have the hots for both of us!"
"As long as you'll be safe, I'm pleased that you want to wear it. I'm planning to. It's like being engaged as far as I'm concerned. It's a symbol of pledging my love to you."
"Cool! Can we do a little private ceremony together tonight?"
"Anything you want."
Parker seemed more animated than usual at dinner. His relatives assumed it was from spending several hours of his day with the father he'd not seen in years, and, indeed, that was a part of it. However, Adam appeared to be nearly as excited as he was. Perhaps it was empathy. Whatever, it was great to see them both so upbeat.
The guys excused themselves soon after the meal was finished, and disappeared upstairs for about 15 minutes. Once in the room with the door shut, Parker got down on his knees in front of Adam.
"Adam I promise myself to you. I want you to be my husband someday when we feel the time is right. Will you pledge your love to me too?"
"You know I will," Adam smiled through is tears. "I love you more than anyone I've ever known."
He then pulled his lover gently up from the floor, and held him tightly. They kissed for several seconds before standing back and grinning at each other.
"Let's go break the news to the family," Parker suggested.
"I don't think it's gonna fall into the category of "breaking news," Adam said.
"Do you think we project our feelings for one another?"
"Well, duh!"
When the two young men came into the family room grinning, Parker's grandparent and aunt and uncle knew something was afoot. Unbuttoning their shirts part way, they showed off their new bling.
"We know it's too early in our relationship to plan a wedding, but we want you guys and the whole world to know that we're soul-mates and we belong together."
Then they knelt side by side so that their intermeshing dog-tag could be more easily viewed by people who were seated.
"This calls for a toast!" Ellie announced. "We have several bottles of Champagne already chilled for New Year's Eve, and since you boys will be gone by then, I think we should open one of them. It will give me a certain naughty pleasure to celebrate a relationship Ralph considers evil with alcohol which he believes will corrupt you."
Edgar hastened to the wine chiller and selected a bottle which would be adequate for six people. He brought it back on a tray with the appropriate stem-ware. Untwisting the wire, he slowly pulled out the stopper, which resulted in a resounding pop. Then he filled the flutes to the top and handed them out, starting with Adam.
"Adam and Chip, here's to your love and happiness!" Ellie proposed.
They all clinked glasses and drank a sip.
"Long life and undying love," Edgar toasted next.
"Whoa, we'd better slow down before we get dizzy!" Parker giggled. "We're not veterans like you guys."
"Don't college boys overindulge these days?" Sally asked.
"Undoubtedly some do, but I'm not one of them. Both of us are serious about our studies, and our health."
"That's good. So, here's to your health, and your relationship," she smiled.
Ken added similar sentiments.
Feeling slightly buzzed, the boys undressed one another the minute their bedroom door was shut. Both were totally erect before they'd finished. With beaming faces, they made out for several minutes.
After their shared shower, they climbed into bed to finish their mission.
Tonight, they didn't have the discipline to practice edging. Once they'd milked each other's foreskin back, and teased their frenulum with a wet tongue, they were heading quickly toward nirvana. Perhaps it was due to the alcohol they'd consumed, or maybe their lust. Whatever the cause, they quickly shared their nectar and, almost as rapidly, fell asleep snuggled together.
While still eager, Parker was considerably less anxious about the prospect of seeing his father the second time. Many of his questions had been answered in their first meeting, and he was looking forward to a relaxed evening of getting to know Bart and him better.
Thirty minutes before Jonathan and Bart were to arrive, the boys drove to the Palatine Inn to pick up the entrée for dinner. As promised, it was piping hot and in an insulated container to keep it that way.
Ellie put it in the oven on "warm" when they got home.
The men arrived punctually, and were given an enthusiastic welcome from everyone before being ushered into the family room for a drink before dinner.
Parker was thrilled that his grandmother hadn't stinted on hospitality. She was always the perfect hostess, but she showed a genuine affection toward her guests that went beyond just doing the "proper" thing.
The family learned more about Jon's life over dinner. He and Bart were working in the same architectural firm when they met. Their boss put the business on the market because he was losing his battle with cancer. He'd not had any luck in selling it quickly, so he offered it to Jonathan at a reduced price. Not having quite enough financial resources on his own, Jon had asked Bart if he'd like to form a partnership. Bart didn't hesitate to take him up on the offer.
"I had a huge crush on Jon already, and I figured I'd rush in like a fool and go for broke, in all senses of the term. I've not only done well financially, but he's become the love of my life! We're planning to do the marriage thing now that it's the law of the land."
"Awesome," Parker grinned. "May we attend the wedding?"
"Of course!" his father said. "We'd love to have you be our attendants. In fact, anyone at this table is welcome if they'd like to come. Please feel free to tell me if you'd rather not; I'm not trying to put anyone on the spot by pushing my life-style on you."
"I don't suppose that would include Mom," Parker smiled pensively. "I know you said the divorce was a friendly one."
"She'd be welcome too, but I suspect it would be uncomfortable for her. We parted amicably enough. However, I don't think it would be wise."
"I don't think it would be fair to Bart either," Ellie pointed out. "Joan may be my daughter, but I feel she shouldn't be included."
"You're very kind to consider my feelings," Bart complimented her.
"I'm sorry, Babe, I wasn't thinking. Of course, I won't even consider inviting anyone who would put a damper on our special day."
"Um, speaking of Mom, I suppose I should keep up with her more – maybe tell her about our dog-tag jewelry. She's away so much that I sometimes forget."
"She's kind of like Mayzie in `Horton Hatches the Egg,' Ellie commented. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't speak ill of your mother, but I can understand why you might forget about her. You deserve more."
"It's okay, Grandma. You've more than made up for it, and I have not only my family's love, but I have Adam now too. I feel very fortunate."
"I should have stepped up instead of hiding," Jon shook his head, sadly. "I've missed so much of your life."
"I understand, Dad. I know your motives were well-intentioned. Besides, now that you know I'm gay, and you didn't influence me to be that way, perhaps you can give me advice on how to have a successful relationship with another guy!"
"Seeing the guy you've found without my help, I'd say my only advice is to love him, and make him want to stay. You seem to have followed your heart and your best instincts with no outside intervention."
"Maybe it's genetic," Adam ventured. "If it's not nurture, it must be nature."
"If I had to pass along the `gay' gene, I hope I also passed along a good-sense one too."
Parker had just experienced the best Christmas he could remember ever having had. When he was little, there had been special ones with an abundance of toys that he'd asked for but never really played much with. This year was all about love; well mostly. The text he'd received from Danny, discussing Ralph, reminded him that not all the family was about love. Danny sounded upbeat, and he seemed to be finding ways to tune his father's homophobic remarks out. Perhaps he'd be able to remain under the same roof by getting caught up in activities at school that would give him less time at home.
All too soon their break was coming to an end, it was time to return to Iowa City. That wasn't a bad thing either, because the guys were eager to go back to their shared nest. It would be different now that they were boyfriends.
After a substantial breakfast, the boys got on the road. This time, Parker asked Adam to drive the first leg of the trip. Since they were on the tollway, and it was just after rush hour, it shouldn't be too stressful. Adam appreciated the opportunity to gain more experience in handling metropolitan traffic, but cringed when he stopped to consider that the car he was driving was worth more than what he'd earn at Cheddar's in several years of working.
Once on route 88, Adam relaxed more and they could visit. Parker had held back earlier for fear of distracting him.
"Is your cell phone off the hook?" he asked. "I don't think I've heard it ring once on this trip."
"The battery was getting low, and I'd left my charger at home, so I decided there wasn't any reason not to turn it off. It's not like I have any family trying to contact me. I was with the only person in my life who loves me."
"Oh, Baby, I'm sorry I brought up something that reminded you of it."
"No, that's okay. I'm simply stating a fact; not looking for pity. Your grandparents made it plain that they'd like to claim me, and your dads couldn't have been more welcoming."
"Everybody loved you, well, other than Ralph and Jennifer. But they wouldn't like you simply because you're associated with me since I'm a known sinner!"
"I hope you'll lead me astray when we get home!"
"It's gonna be more of a challenge with twin beds, but I have a couple of solutions in mind. We could get a queen sized bed to replace them, or we could even move down to second floor. Last I knew, the apartment hadn't been rented for next term."
"But that would up the price of the rent!" Adam noted.
"Nah, Grandma doesn't care which one we live in."
"Grandma?"
"Oops! There's one more disclosure I need to make. Honestly, I completely forgot about it. Uh, my grandparents bought the house for me so I could get out of the rule about living in the dorms as a freshman. It turned out that I probably could have been exempted anyway. Because of high enrollment, there aren't enough dorm rooms for everyone anyway, but either way, you can live in property your relatives own, so..."
"So, that's why your landlord didn't care if you had someone else sharing your apartment who didn't pay extra rent."
"Yeah, I passed it off as that because I didn't want you to feel like you owed me anything. I'm sorry; I should've cleared that up. Are you mad at me?"
"I should probably make you sleep on the floor to do penance," Adam grinned, "but if I did, I'd want to be on the floor with you."
"There is that old saying, `I wouldn't kick him outta bed unless it was to fuck him on the floor.' Is that what you mean?"
"Jeez! You ARE a naughty boy!"
"I'm just quoting here, not suggesting!"
"Okay, smarty. Look, the DeKalb Oasis is coming up in 2 ½ miles. Are you ready to switch places?"
"Yup, and I think we should find those same urinals so we can check each other out again while we pee. After all, I haven't feasted my eyes on it for a couple of hours!"
The guys got back to their apartment in the afternoon while it was still light out. Adam immediately put his cell on the charger, and they decided to take a short nap before it was time to warm up the leftovers Grandma had sent home with them for dinner.
In their bedroom, Parker pushed Adam's bed next to his, and hooked them together with the scissor-like mechanism that was attached to the one he slept on.
"This will have to do until we can make better arrangements. At least this way, we won't end up falling onto the floor between them when we cuddle," he said.
They stripped to their underwear, snuggled together, and promptly fell asleep without any fooling around.
Author's notes: Wow! I was right about people having other things to do besides email me during the holidays. I think there were over 40 responses this week; a new record for this story! I heard from the following: Paul R, Bert S, John L, Jim H, Wayne, Lawrence and Douglas, Sam McM, Bill T, Jeremy R, John D, Randy McM, GCD, Jim W, Les H, Bill K, Mendy D, Jim F, Walt Sz, Geoff S, Denise B, Walt S, Esro, Larry S, Jim M, Greg B, Thomas M, Charles G, JCH, David B, Barry J, Skip M, Peter C, Tom A, Michael T, Andrew A, Mike W, Eddie C, Ott H, Paul F, and Rick E.