Cheddar's, Chapter 8
After eating dinner, and cleaning up the kitchen, the guys sat down in their little living room together on the loveseat. This was the first time they'd shared it, but it felt quite natural.
Adam turned on his phone to see if there were any messages. What he found were several texts from Darrin requesting that he should get in touch immediately.
"Wow! It looks like I must have missed something important by leaving my phone off," he said, showing it to Parker.
"Well, you'd better call him to see what's going on."
"Sit close so you can hear too when I put it on speaker."
"Um, on this little piece of furniture, I don't really have a choice," Parker grinned, nudging Adam's shoulder with his in an exaggerated way.
"Why didn't you answer my texts?" Darrin demanded, by way of greeting.
"What's up that's so urgent?"
"Wow, you really haven't heard the news then?"
"I have no idea what you're taking about."
"You know I'm your best friend, I mean other than Parker."
"We've always been besties, and now he's officially my boyfriend!"
"Congrats! But I have to tell you something that may shock you, despite how things have gone down for you this past fall. You can find the details on the Channel 9 website, but you need to hear it first from me; your parents were both killed in an auto crash while you were away."
"Oh shit! I suppose I'll have to see to their funeral and burial. I don't have a lot of feelings for them since they told me I was dead to them, but I guess it wouldn't be right not to do something..."
"God, or fate, or somebody has taken care of it for you. The funeral was this morning, and your grandparents made all the arrangements. You may catch flak for not being there, but you really didn't have a choice in the matter, I guess."
"Evidently my presence wasn't wanted. Both sets of grandparents have my cell number. There were multiple messages from you, but nothing from any of them. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about that."
Parker put a protective arm around his boyfriend's shoulder, sensing that he needed reassurance that he was loved.
"I can empathize. I don't get along well with my parents either, and sometimes I wish they were out of my life permanently, but I guess I'd feel different if they were suddenly gone. For whatever it's worth, I'm thinking about you."
"I appreciate it. Wow, I knew in my heart that I didn't have any family, but I suppose I still hoped they'd come around in the future. You know people say while there's life, there's hope."
"Reverend Bob asked for your phone number, but I pretended that I'd deleted it after you got thrown out. I'm sure he'll want to `counsel' you. He'll probably try to convince you to come back to the church and confess your sins so he can save you."
"Thanks for the warning! I'll do my best of avoid him."
"Do you want me to put you to bed, Babe?" Parker gently asked.
"Nah, I'm okay. What really upsets me is that I don't feel much of anything."
"It's probably the shock."
"No, I don't think so. When they threw me out, I was shocked; devastated would be a better word for it. They said they didn't have a son anymore, so I guess I didn't have parents then, either. I didn't have a lot of time to cry or wallow in self-pity. I had to focus all of my energy on surviving on my own. As you know, I wouldn't have done well without you."
"You're more secure under my roof, and you're loved for sure, but you would have made it either way. You're a survivor. If you don't feel a lot of emotion over your parents' deaths, don't beat yourself up. They're the ones who caused the rift, not you."
"And my grandparents seem intent on doing that too. They had my cell number! They've chosen to ostracize me; to treat me like a leper. If I feel any emotion right now, it's like anger!"
"It's okay for you to be angry. You don't need to repress your feelings. You can vent to me all you want!"
"You could practice your psychiatric skills on me and be my shrink," Adam suggested.
"If you feel in need of help, it should come from a professional source. We could call Smitty and you could talk to him. I'll bet there's also a free service at University Hospital for those who don't have insurance."
"You mean for the indigent!"
"You talk like a grownup." Parker teased. "I'll bet you did well in vocabulary on your ACTs."
"Yeah, I scored pretty high, oh older and wiser man. Not to change the subject, but are we gonna party tomorrow night?"
"We should probably just sit here and see the old year out by sipping a little Champaign and noshing on a few nibblies. We could invite your friend Darrin over, if he could stay the night. I don't want to have anyone here drinking and then driving."
"His parents would never let him sleep here overnight for fear I'd turn him gay. They're as bad or worse than Ralph! It had better be just the two of us, unless you want someone else."
"I don't want anyone but you. We could see the New Year in stark naked!"
"Now you're talking my language!"
They went to bed before long. Parker didn't initiate any sex play, and that was okay with Adam. What Adam really wanted was exactly what he was getting, a feeling of being loved and secure. Nestled in Parker's arms, he ceased worrying about anything else. The extent of his family was measured in quality, not quantity.
New Year's Eve day started out as a very laid-back one for the guys. They hauled their dirty clothes to the laundry room in the basement, and didn't have to share the facility with anyone because they were the only pair in the whole building.
Later, Parker got the key from the rental agent who handled things for his grandparents, and the two of them checked out the larger apartment on the left side of the second floor in case they wanted a bigger bedroom. It was more spacious, but felt kind of cold and institutional. Parker had made their current space into a more intimate nest with personal touches which gave it a homey atmosphere. Adam wasn't eager to move, and said so.
"Unless your heart is set on it, I'd like to stay put. You've done so much to the garret that it seems like home."
"Thanks, I was kinda hoping you'd feel that way. Let's go out and buy a queen sized bed and all the bedding to go with it. There are a lot of sales right now, and I'll bet we could talk someone into delivering it immediately."
"Okay, but I doubt we'll get it until after New Year's."
Parker proved to be a smooth talker. He got the rental agency to okay putting the trundle bed in the empty apartment to replace the double which was in one of the bedrooms. It would make the place more marketable because four people could conceivably share the space, and the rent, without sharing a bed. It had previously been occupied by three guys.
The old double would be hauled away by the furniture company when they brought the queen one. Parker told the sales lady that he would purchase a top-of-the-line bed and mattress if she would have it delivered that very day. She checked with her delivery people who were willing to do it if they could be finished by 3:00. Parker said he'd go home immediately to open up for them.
Carrying it to the third floor up the final narrow flight of stairs proved to be a lot of work. The men had to jockey it just right to clear the doorways without damaging anything. When it was all in the room, and the other beds seen to, Parker tipped the deliverymen $20 each. They were very happy to be rewarded for their extra effort.
After supper, the guys made up their bed with the new linens they'd washed, and then proceeded to take a hot shower. Not bothering to dress, they climbed in and Parker pressed the control to raise the upper part of the mattress. That put them into a good position to watch the TV that they'd brought in from the living room.
Snuggling in their comfortable shared bed was an awesome experience for both of them. It beat their old arrangement by a country mile. Parker was still hesitant to initiate anything with Adam so soon after the news of his parent's demise. However, Adam wasn't. After he turned on his side, facing his boyfriend, and running his wet tongue across Parker's left nipple, the proverbial "ice" was definitely broken.
Parker grabbed the control to make the bed level again so they could eventually get into the 69 position more comfortably.
The guys spent New Year's Day taking it easy. They baked a small spiral-cut ham which they ate with yams, and a green bean casserole. Parker had asked his grandmother for her recipes so he could make some of the things he was used to having.
It all turned out quite well, and they decided they wouldn't starve when they were responsible for all of their own meals. Till then, there would be a few years of eating quite a bit of cafeteria and restaurant food.
In the afternoon, they went to Coral Ridge Mall to check out the sales. Neither bought much of anything, but they did spend an hour at the ice skating rink until it got too crowded with little kids.
Then, they went back to their comfy garret to relax in their new bed. One thing led to another, and eventually, they shared their bodies.
Going back to school the day after New Year's was a rude awakening. Adam had swimming practice before classes started, and Parker's first class was fairly early too. Both would probably be too tired to make dinner. It might be a good night for Mexican.
Adam's day went well, once he caught his second wind after practice. Much of what happened was reviewing for the finals which students would take next week. He felt well-prepared because he knew the answers to most of the sample questions without having to look them up.
It felt good to be back with his usual buds at lunch. Darrin was there, along with Cody, Jim, and Paul from the swim team. The only fly in the ointment was the presence of Dave, but he seemed to be checking out the new guy who had joined them. Adam remembered being in classes with him in the past, and when the kid introduced himself, and it all fell in place.
"Hi, you might not remember me, but we were in 9th grade language arts together a few years ago."
"Oh yeah, it's Rob isn't' it?"
"Yup, Rob Utley. Miss Helmsley seated us strictly in alphabetical order, so you and I were never near each other, though I was by Darrin."
"True. And you went out for wrestling while I was in swimming."
"You had a really good record in swimming this year. I've been to a few of your meets."
"As I recall, you're having a good year on the mats. I hope to take in a match or two when swimming is over."
"I'll bet you look good in a singlet," Dave leered.
His tablemates were embarrassed, but Rob seemed to take it in stride.
"I'm not ashamed to be seen in it," he smiled.
Adam was looking forward to his new term schedule which would be one class shorter because he was ahead in credits. It would be good to have the extra time to keep up on his homework, especially since he'd be devoting at least an hour a week in the new-member class at church for a while at least.
Mulling over the changes, he stopped in the restroom to pee before hitting the cold January air. He was on his way to the front door when Darrin joined him.
"So, why do they want you at the main office? Are you in trouble on the first day back?"
"Um, what do you mean?"
"Didn't you hear the message on the PA?"
"Nope, I guess I was taking a piss. What was it about?"
"I have no clue; it only asked you to report to the office."
"I guess I'd better go see."
When Adam got to the office, the receptionist nodded toward a middle-aged man in a business suit who was seated in one of the visitors' chairs. She stood and addressed him.
"Mr. Novotny, you and Adam may use the conference room if you wish to have a private conversation."
"Thank you. I think that would be best," he said as the two of them entered the small room the secretary had indicated.
"Hello, Adam. I'm Carl Novotny, your parents' lawyer. First, let me extend my condolences. According to your grandparents, you were estranged from the family, but that's not any of my business. I just want to clear the air so we can talk freely."
"Thanks. I wasn't sure how to bring that up. I'm curious as to why you're here."
"I'm here about your parents' estate. You're not an easy person to find. Your grandparents weren't helpful, but I knew you were in high school, so by process of elimination, because of your home address, I figured City High was my best bet. The district is very protective of any personal information and wouldn't give out your cell phone number. So, I popped in and had a conversation with your principal before he allowed me to meet with you.
I have very good news for you in the realm of your inheritance. You'll be a millionaire when all is settled."
"That can't be true! My family kicked me out. No doubt they changed their wills and left everything to the church."
"Your grandparents insisted that there was no valid will, and are making a claim on most of it, but I have the original copies from when they were updated less than a year ago. You were listed as their sole heir, with a trust set up to keep you from having access to a lot of it until you're 25. However, the fund gives you a good income in the meantime. Also, each of them had a $250,000 life insurance policy that is payable immediately. By most people's standards, you're a wealthy young man already.
I don't know the full value of the house or the business, but you'll be worth a great deal more when it's all settled. I firmly believe that your grandparents destroyed the copy of the will that should have been in the house safe, but there will be another in the safe deposit box which they can't get to, and it's a duplicate of the one I have on file. Don't worry; I'll see that you get everything you have coming. I'll threaten them with legal action if they try to interfere."
"Wow! I've been on free lunch and food stamps for the past few months. I can't believe all my money worries are over. I can't wait to tell Parker!"
"And he would be?"
"My boyfriend! He's the one who gave me a place to live after I got pitched."
"You are indeed lucky," Mr. Novotny said.
"So, you don't agree with my parents' point of view about gays?"
"Not at all. I have a daughter who's married to another woman and they've blessed us with two adorable grandchildren. That's one of the reasons I left no stone unturned in contacting you after I was told about your orientation."
"There is a God!" Adam exclaimed.
"Yes, and he's alive and well at Grace Episcopal, if I may proselytize."
"I know; I'll be taking instruction there starting next week."
"May I be among the first to welcome you then?"
"Hmm, I wonder why my parents chose you as their lawyer instead of someone from their church."
"Possibly because of my reputation, and the fact that Mr. Pruitt, who was one of their elders, was disbarred because of his shady dealings."
"Cool!"
Going beyond the call of duty, Mr. Novotny drove Adam to Wells Fargo Bank to help him set up a checking and a savings account. They deposited the insurance checks into savings, and put a grand into checking for his current expenses. Of course, Adam could make electronic transfers as he needed to. Along with setting up a safe deposit box, applying for a credit card, and a debit card, Adam felt like an adult, controlling his own life.
In spite of that, he admitted that he was out of his element in dealing with money, and asked Mr. Novotny for the name of a financial planner to help him preserve and grow his new-found fortune.
"Chad Abernathy is my advisor, and I highly recommend him. I could do it myself, I suppose, but he has knowledge that I don't possess when it comes to mutual funds and the like. He's young, smart, and personable. I know you'll like working with him."
"Adam, did you rob a bank or win the lottery?" Parker laughed as his slightly smaller lover literally picked him off of his feet and swung him around exclaiming that he was rich.
"Neither, but I really fell into it. No more free lunches, no more food stamps, and I'm gonna make a donation to the emergency meal ticket fund tomorrow!
"Okay, what's going on?"
"My heartless parents didn't change their wills because they never expected to exit this earth so quickly. Their lawyer traced me down at school, and brought me some very impressive life insurance checks. The rest of the estate will follow in the months and years to come. He thinks my `wonderful Christian' grandparents destroyed the copy of the will they found, but there are two other copies in existence which are valid and up to date. So, I'm suddenly a man of means, and no longer dependent on you."
"Um, does that mean you'll be moving out?"
"Not unless you drag me out kicking and screaming! This doesn't change much, except to make it better! We can be more equal as partners, and no one can claim I'm in it for your money.
"Oh, my beloved Adam. I'm thrilled! We need to celebrate."
"Yup, I'm taking you out to Cheddar's and I'm buying. If the manager cans me for hobnobbing with the clientele, she can stick it where the sun `don't' shine!"
"Does that mean you're quitting?"
"I'm honestly not sure. I will certainly give proper notice if I do. I might hang onto the job until I start college. Once swimming season is over this year, it wouldn't kill me to continue. I may, however, cut back my hours."
"Hi, I'm Jason and I'll be your server this evening. What would you like to drink?"
"I'll have water with lemon," Parker said.
"Me too," Adam echoed.
"I'll get those immediately."
"Have you decided on your dinner, gentlemen, or would you like a few more minutes?" Jason asked as he returned.
"I'll have the chicken pot pie with the salad and croissant – tomato vinaigrette for dressing, and no honey butter on the roll." Parker requested.
"Make that two," Adam echoed.
"Adam, is that really you?" Jason asked, as he took a closer look.
"Yup! It's me, and we're celebrating tonight."
"Man, you have balls of brass! I know it's dark in here, but if Gloria catches you dining with a customer, she's gonna chew your ass."
"Hmm... Brass, ass, I think I see the makings of a limerick," Adam giggled.
"Seriously, you know the rule."
"I remember Gloria saying it, but I don't remember anything in the contract that says I'm not as good as anyone else who eats here."
"I sure won't tell, but I don't envy you if she finds out."
"Bring her on!"
They had finished their salads and were about to dig into the entree when the lady in question came to the table.
"How's the food tasting, gentlemen?" she asked.
"Fine, as always," Parker responded.
She looked at both of them and suddenly realized that one of them was her employee.
"Adam, please step into the kitchen. I'd like a word with you."
"I think it's against company policy to have a customer in the kitchen," Adam smiled, "especially when his meal is likely to get cold before he eats it."
"You'll come right now if you know what's good for you!"
"Whatever you have to say to Adam, you may say it in my presence," Parker asserted.
"You know good and well that we don't allow the common help to mingle with paying customers," Gloria raised her voice. "You're fired! Now get out of my restaurant, or I'll call security!"
"My boyfriend and I will finish our meals in peace, or I'll make such a stink that you'll be out of a job," Parker told her quietly. "I'll file a discrimination suit against the restaurant if necessary."
Realizing her threats were futile, Gloria left in a huff, and the guys went back to their meal. They ate slowly, almost daring her to do anything about them.
Jason came back with refills on their water, but they asked for the check instead.
"Um, there's no check; your meals have been comped." He grinned.
"Well, here's the price of them plus a 20% tip. If she tries to take the cost of our meals out of your paycheck, you'll be covered. If she doesn't, consider it a generous gratuity," Adam laid the money down. "I know who the district manager is, and I'm going to complain about our treatment."
Author's notes: Thanks to all who emailed since last posting: Joe W, Shawn W, John L, Walt Sz, Dan B, John D, Jude P, Barry J, Dick M, Randy McC, Skip M, GC, Ott H, Wayne, Bill K, Hotrod, Tom A, Peter C, Jim E, Mike C, Mendy D, Derrick M, Jim W, Bill T, Frank K, Bobby C, Zero M, Jim F, Bill DeW, Charles G, Lawrence and Douglas, Tony F, and Vern.
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Sorry this posting is late!
David