Introspection 11 The Last Chapter
Author's Note
I enjoyed writing this chapter; it was a challenge. It is a little more serious but I tried to interject lighter moments. I said back at the beginning of Chapter 8 that I needed to recharge my batteries. Well, quite a bit of this chapter was written at a log cabin, off the power grid using solar electricity. Now that is all about recharging batteries in several senses of the phrase.
This is the last chapter as will become obvious. Hope you enjoy this chapter as much as you have written to tell me that you have enjoyed the story so far! Thanks to all who have written. I have enjoyed your comments immensely. I think that I have replied to everyone.
I have nothing planned for the future. There are a couple of ideas. One is to expand the characters of Keith and Chris. The other is the story of a commitment phobic Bad Boy. So if you see any titles like that, you will know that I have put fingers to keyboard.
Final note. Just to let everyone know that our province, Ontario, Canada's largest province, has a gay, female Premier (Prime Minister). What has given me hope is, that to this point, it is not an issue in the press or media. She appears to be respected by many, even the other parties. She has taken over from what was a stale government and may lose the next election but it will be about the government run by her ex boss, our last Premier, not about 'family values' and that nonsense.
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This document contains homosexual themes and acts. If you are underage or don't like the subject, then don't read it.
The story is not autobiographical and is a product of the writer's fertile imagination.
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We had a lot to do that week. Our first stop was to see Rob and Tony as they were important to all the proceedings. In particular, we wanted them to be at the civil ceremony as our best men along with Phil. I also wanted Tony to do some emcee work at the Friday night party and of course, we wanted them present for the blessing ceremony. They had both become as close to Andrew as they were to me.
We went over to their place on Tuesday night. After some chit chat, Andrew spoke up. "We have some news."
Tony stopped him. "'We have some news'. OK, either one of you is pregnant, has an incurable disease or you are getting married."
"Who told you?"
"You mean about the pregnancy? Well you are beginning to show. It is hard to hide it at this stage." Andrew grabbed him in a head lock. In a muffled voice, "Easy, easy, I can't retaliate on a pregnant person." By this time we were all laughing.
I interjected. "Getting married. In June, soon. Hey, it even rhymes."
Almost together, Rob and Tony, loudly. "No shit!"
Then it was just a mass of congratulations, questions and details. It felt so good telling them. Again they too were enthusiastic.
We found a place for the party on Friday night and contacted caterers. We lined up a disc jockey. We got our marriage license and a date, time and place with a woman register to perform marriages. We had decided on email invitations to the party and of course, telephone calls about the actual wedding and the Sunday ceremony.
We phoned the minister at the church and he told us that he was enjoying the challenge of a blessing ceremony like ours. He warned us to know that we might very well be asked to say something appropriate during the ceremony to each other. No pressure there! Yeah, I started thinking about it immediately. Smart ass told me that there was nothing he could say. His mother had always taught him that if you can't say something nice then don't .... I tackled him and gave him a big kiss. "There you can talk about that."
It was still three weeks away and we had most of the details pinned down and we were ready to go. Andrew came home one night looking a little down. "Hey, what's the matter? Problems with the wedding plans?"
"No. That is the good part of my life. There is one of the other managers who is being a prick. He is older and I thought that we had everything lined up for a change to a new computer accounting system. He has stayed quiet until today. We are just about ready to place the order and begin the change over. Oh, he said that he couldn't keep quiet any longer. Shit, shit. I am convinced that he just doesn't want to learn a new system. According to him, now, why change a system that works for a new one? As he put it, 'just to change for change sake'."
"OK. Tell me about him and the situation. Has this person been at the previous meetings? Do you have emails from him concurring on issues and dates or at least recognizing that he knew the issues? Were there minutes, summaries of meetings or lists of decisions taken that were distributed? Give me the background, the planning, the meetings, who was at them. I am an engineer who deals in details and facts."
So we talked for an hour. Then Andrew went off to his computer and as he pointed out, their present system could not allow him to access his office files. The new one would. I pointed out that that was a huge advantage to the new one for work away from the office with clients, at meetings or on trips. I suggested that he contact Michael Burtchell about the software as his company was using it as Andrew had explained earlier. He phoned Michael and had a long conversation with him.
We talked again and devised a strategy. It involved putting together all the documentation that he had here and at the office. I suggested two steps. First, meet with the manager privately and start slowly letting him know that Andrew had all the documentation. We both realized that Andrew would have to be firm but diplomatic. Luckily, records and lists of decisions taken had been kept and circulated. The guy was screwed for not talking earlier or for not having read the background material. It was Andrew who said that he would like to keep the guy on side but the decision had to stand. He could always go to the partners with all the documentation that he had but that was a last resort. I suggested that he could possibly have Michael Burtchell over or take the manager and Michael out for lunch to discuss the software. Michael had a growing reputation as one of the best forensic accountants in the business.
"Now I know why I need you around. It is not for your body but for that incredible brain."
It turned out that his thank you was very physical, not in the least cerebral. It was worth the thought and ideas that I had contributed. I get really turned on when Andrew becomes an aggressive top. He outdid himself that evening and again early the next morning. Andrew looked very relaxed as we left for work. I could swear that I could feel him inside me all day. Imagination? Who cares! For me, this man was dynamite in and out of bed.
Andrew came back home that night with a look of relief on his face. He had managed to set up lunch with Michael that noon. His colleague was overwhelmed by Michael's personality, the depth of his knowledge of forensic accounting and his detailed comments on the new computer software. Andrew had pulled it off leaving the manager feeling that the decision was correct and Andrew had not needed to really lay out all his ammunition. Both Andrew and I felt that we had learned a lot. I was the aggressive top that night, much to Andrew's encouragement. We both love being vocal at times.
The Friday finally arrived. Both families arrived the night before. Julie and Phil arrived Friday morning to stay at our place. We were not staying at home that night. We had booked into a special hotel. By late Friday morning at work, I was totally wired. Alexander grabbed me and led me out of the office at 11:00 to go for an early lunch. Before I had a chance to talk at the restaurant, he grabbed my hand.
"You are nervous?" I shrugged a yes. "Do you want to spend the rest of your life with Andrew?" I nodded yes with wide eyes and with enthusiasm. "Have all the details for this afternoon and tonight been checked a 1000 times?" I started to smile and nodded yes. "OK, it is simple. Choose something to eat and tell me about your plans for France."
By the time I was finished, lunch was eaten and Alexander had paid the bill. "Son, enjoy the day. Let other people worry about the details. I shall be there if you need anything. See you at 4."
Oh shit he called me son and I knew that he meant it. I wiped the wetness that was forming in my eyes. "I won't ever forget what you just said. Thanks so much for what you have done today. I needed this. OK, enjoy the day. Right?" I got the biggest smile and hug.
I was home to shower, relax and get dressed in my new suit. I also had time to figure out what I might say at the ceremony. I arrived and Andrew was already there. I looked at him. "Hey, I am not supposed to see the bride until the ceremony."
He gave me a look that had us both laughing. "Who says that I am the bride? Did I seem like I was playing that role a couple of nights ago."
"Good point. My god, you are handsome. No, don't touch me. That has to wait until tonight." We had both agreed that there would be no intimacies until this evening and that had started yesterday morning. I was ready to ravish him on the spot. "Virgins we remain."
"Right!!!" It was not a smile but a look of amazed pleasure.
Mom and Dad picked me up at 3:00 at the same time as Andrew's parents arrived for him. I told him what Alexander had said and so as we got into the two separate cars, we gave each other a gentle, loving smile. I was enjoying the day.
"A bientôt, mon amour." I called to him. (See you soon, love.) My mother heard, understood and gave me a genuine, lovely look of acknowledgment.
I had talked to the ex minister who was going to perform our marriage and asked if we could give her some requests for the short service. She was very accommodating and I had sent her some of our ideas for the wording and the order of the service. Little did I know that she would take all our ideas and incorporate them into the service. As it turned out, the service was basically our suggestions.
We arrived and there were our families and closest friends, Tony, Rob, Keith, Chris, Jerry and Alexander and Barbara who I considered family as did Andrew. It was a small group but they were the people who meant the most to us. The Minister arrived and took her place at the front of the room. She looked at us and we told her that everyone was here.
"Dear friends we have come together to witness the marriage of Andrew and Paul and to rejoice with them." She smiled as she finished.
"Marriage is a gift that brings two people together to give themselves to each other in love so that they shall grow together and be united in that love. In marriage, the partners give themselves to each other, to care for each other in good times and in bad. They are linked to each others families and begin a new life together in the community. Do you, present, family and friends, give your blessing to this marriage." The Minister paused and there were enthusiastic affirmatives around the room none more clear than my mother's.
"They will each give their consent to the other; they will exchange vows and in token of this, they will give and receive rings. We trust that with the help of the community here assembled that they may have a happy, harmonious and productive life together.
The Minister turned to us and motioned that we come and join her. Andrew gave me a soft, loving look as we turned to face her.
"Paul and Andrew will you give yourselves to each other to be partners, to love, comfort, honour and protect each other every day and for years to come? Andrew? .... Paul?" We each answered in turn. I could not believe how emotional I felt at this moment. All the weeks of planning had culminated in this and I was filled with joy.
She instructed us to face each other and join hands and told Andrew to repeat after her the following vow.
"I, Andrew, take Paul to be my legal partner, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish from this day onward. This is my solemn vow."
His voice was a little shaky but he made it. My voice caught half way through but I took a deep breath and finished with a strong, confident voice.
"I understand that you do have rings to give each other." Phil and Rob came up and handed us our rings.
The Minister looked at me and nodded. I turned back to Andrew. "I gave this ring to you as a Christmas gift of friendship. My mother and I had a wonderful time picking it out. I now want to give it back to you, giving it new meaning. I pledge with this ring to symbolize my vows and as testament to the world of the vows that I have made to you today. Andrew a new ring to you."
"I think it is my turn to say something." Oh, that impish little smile. "I too bought this ring for you with your mother as a gift of friendship and we also had a wonderful time choosing it." He turned and looked at Mom who glowed. "After we each had opened these presents, we disappeared to the kitchen to discuss which finger to put it on. I don't think that we have told anyone what happened. You told me again that it was my choice as to which of my fingers to put it on. I suggested that we close our eyes and put it on our own finger where we wanted to wear it." He looked me straight in the eye. He had that look on his face; something was coming. "I didn't peak. Did you?"
There was a wonderful chuckle around the room, including the Minister. Andrew had managed the intonation just right. I was just holding back my laughter. He had a look of total innocence.
I repressed the smile, well most of it and mouthed 'smart ass' but replied 'no' emphatically. "Then we both chose the same finger." He held up his ring finger. We both smiled at each other. "I give this ring to you as a new ring to show you and the world of vows that I have made to you in front of family and friends today. Paul, a new ring."
I looked first to the Minister and then our community. "You have just experienced one of the reasons I have made my vows to this man." I smiled at the Minister.
"Andrew and Paul have joined themselves to each other by vows, signified by the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings. I declare that you are married and are partners in life. I wish you a long, happy and eventful life together. You can now do what you think is appropriate." She had a huge grin.
We simultaneously took each others hands again and looked into each other eyes. We were not ones for great spectacles and were both quite reticent about showing intimate affection in public. We looked at each other for seconds and then leaned forward and gave each other a loving kiss. He looked at me then and whispered that he loved me more than I could imagine. We turned to the comments and clapping of family and friends. We were surrounded by love. Anne gave me the most wonderful hug with tears in her eyes. She told me that it was the most meaningful marriage that she had been at. Alexander and Barbara gave us huge embraces, to both of us at the same time. There were kisses from Mum, Janice and Julie. Manly hugs were the order of the day from all the guys. Phil muttered that he would never have guessed that he would be here, like this, a year ago. Dad just gave me a bone crunching hug that went on for a long time.
We had scheduled the party to begin at 6:30 letting everyone know that there would be lots to eat and the bar was open until 7:30. Then it was a cash bar. We figured that would get people there early. We went home with Phil and Julie to clean up and change for a party. There was lots of good natured jibes and discussion about their lives for the last weeks. It had seemed strange but not bad to have had the apartment to ourselves for a few weeks. Phil was coming back in a week to start summer courses and Julie was going to spend a lot of time here over the summer especially when we were in France and Europe in July.
The party was a blast. Lots of glass clinking calling for kisses by yours truly and Andrew. We started in on kissing family eventually to the boos of the crowd. I guess for me one of the highlights was when Chris hit his glass once and called for attention. He said that he had enough of the kissing. Everyone booed but chuckled at his tone. He wanted Some Enchanted Evening. I told everyone that, for me, this was an enchanted evening. I explained what Chris wanted.
I jokingly asked for a starting pitch for a starting note and some bass gave me one, too low. I smiled at him and quickly told him that I was a tenor with a bit of mock disdain in my voice. I said in my best falsetto, higher, higher. He threw some pitches to me until I caught the perfect pitch.
The place went silent as I started to sing to Andrew who was now somewhere across the room as he had been talking to some people. I didn't have to pretend. As I sang I searched for him and seeing him, I walked slowly towards him. The crowd parted and I sang the last verse looking at him with tears in my eyes (and his). It was a wonderful moment as the applause rang out with ohs and ahs. We kissed and this time it was genuine and touching.
The last song was played and we danced it and said goodbye to the last people. The biggest shock came when I went to pay the hotel caterers. The bill had been paid. I just looked at them as if they were crazy. They showed me the check. It was a personal check from Alexander Grey. I left them and the band a rather large tip. The hotel manager gave me a letter that Alexander had left.
Dear Andrew and Paul, This is a small gift from us. I know that you will have budgeted for this. Please use that money to really enjoy your time in Europe after your work in Paris is finished and you are on your honeymoon.
You cannot imagine how happy this makes Barbara and me. Barbara and I were so moved and touched by the ceremony this afternoon. We know that you are going to have a wonderful life together and we want to share a small part of that.
All our love
Barbara and Alexander
We were more than touched and it was somehow a fitting end to this part of the evening. We arrived at a small exclusive hotel. We had told no one where were staying that night and Andrew had signed us in earlier in the day. We held hands in the elevator, both just leaning against the wall smiling idiotically at each other. Word were not important now. I felt the same as I always did about Andrew and yet at this moment, different. It did seem to make a difference that we had made public and legal declarations today and celebrated them with family and then our growing network of friends and colleagues.
When we entered the room, we grabbed each other and kissed passionately. No crowd of noisy onlookers.
I was the first to talk. "Well love, I guess that you are stuck with me now."
"Big guy, stuck is the operative word. Let's get sticky and stuck together like never before. I really feel that we have done something monumental today. It really hit me as we were exchanging vow, saying things that we have really only said in private before. Our parents were glowing with pride and I think that I saw envy on Anne and Phil's faces. I feel blessed." Then he smiled and his tone changed. "Let's get naked!"
It was one of the things that I loved about him, that ability to shift gears quickly, change the tone. He started to slowly take his clothes off as we went into the bedroom so I sat on the bed and watched. I loved his toned, slim chest and stomach. I deliberately then looked from his stomach down to where I could see a bulge forming.
"You have an evil, one track mind, Paul Watson."
"Who is doing the strip tease? You leave me wanting more." I shrugged my shoulders.
He took off his pants slowly and I was left looking at a very large snake coming awake in his shorts. I started to shift on the bed and move my legs, moving them in and out which only made me more aroused. I used my index finger to beckon him towards me. I traced his erection with my fingers and then slowly took his shorts off. There, in all his male, aroused glory, was my partner in life. I kissed the head. He groaned. I licked it. He squirmed. I put it in my mouth. He moaned. He objected when I released him and stood up. But I was adamant. "Lover, undress me. Touch me. Thrill me with your touches." He was an expert and did a wonderful job. I ended up naked and as hard as he was.
We lay on the bed kissing and caressing each other. My nipples are very sensitive and when he arrived there after kissing me on mouth with a battle of tongues, then on the neck, I yelled out in passion. My nipples were sending sparks of electricity to my groin that was almost overwhelming. I crooned and raked his back with my nails and managed to trap one of his nipples between my fingers which caused him to gasp. By the time we were finished, I was as hard as I ever been and so was he. We looked at each as much as saying OK what next.
He broke the stalemate. "Lover, I need you in me and yet I want to be in you." He winked with a lascivious smile. "I have a plan. You in me for a time and then we switch. We can do that for quite a few switches if we stop and rest every once in a while."
"I knew I married you for a reason. Good plan."
Putting the lube in him and on me was erotic as hell. Almost sent me over the top. I insisted that we start with him on his back. I had to see him and kiss him as I entered him. There were no objections.
And so our night of love making started. As I hovered above him, looking down at him. "Lover, I love you so much." I leaned down, kissing him as I entered. There was the slightest resistance and then I slipped into the first opening. We kissed and he raked my back with his fingernails and stroked my balls with the other. My pleasure doubled. He withdrew his hand as I started to slide in farther. The sensations were overwhelming both mental and physical. I moved inside of him; the feelings were electrical with shocks of sensations running all through my groin and body. I lasted less than 5 minutes when I quickly withdrew telling him that if I didn't, it all would be over. He chuckled and entered me.
It felt so wonderful to be filled by him. The sensations were so different than being in him as he moved over my prostate. Again, I was one of the lucky men who feels wonderful shocks of pleasure both at the opening ring and at my prostate. I was in total overload. Almost too quickly, he came out gasping, 'too close'. We caressed each other and then I entered him again. We kept the balancing act going for a long time until he finally moaned, "Paul, love, finish in me this time at your speed. I feel so romantically and erotically charged." Then I told him that as soon as I finished then he was to finish in me. I shall not even try to describe the explosions that we both experienced as I am sure that everyone has felt it many times in their lives. We ended up in tears in each others arms repeating so many of the things that we had said to each other earlier today.
We woke the next morning, hard and ready for a continuation of a few hours ago. This time it was slower, gentler and less urgent but still passionate. I laughed when we finally finished our shower seeing the time was after 10. Dad had mentioned meeting for breakfast. It was Mum with just a trace of smile who suggested that maybe a lunch date would be better before we all left for Andrew's home town.
Everybody met at the restaurant at 12:30. Only Phil made a quiet comment as we were standing together in the buffet line. "You looked well rested, considering."
I gave him a smug look. "Been there. Done that. No big deal."
"Yeah, I know all about the 'done that'. Noisy buggers." We both started to laugh hard.
I clapped him on the back, looked him the eye. "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. I remember ...." We were laughing again. Phil even blushed a bit. I really did like my brother-in-law. Questions about the joke were told that it was private.
We arrived in the afternoon at the Taylor cottage. We and all our friends including Phil and Julie, Anne and Jason were staying at the cottage and the parents at the house in town. Alexander and Barbara chose to stay in a motel close to the home. There was supper and time together at the cottage. Andrew and I had such fond memories of the time we spent at the cottage on our first visit to his parents with Jack in the hospital.
Andrew and I were standing in the porch looking out on the lake. "Remember our first night here."
"I am getting hard just remembering it. It was magical."
We had a great night with a BBQ and Janice and Mum's great cooking. There were card games all over the cottage. It was the kind of celebration that we had hoped for.
Church was interesting. We both realized that we lived a kind of bubble in the city. We had a mixed group of friends both gay and straight but none of them cared about sexual orientation. We were friends. I could tell immediately that the word was out that we had been married. There were well wishers and then there were a few that just avoided us. But there were a couple of withering looks that told us that we were not really welcome in their eyes. I wondered how they would feel about me singing a religious piece during the service. I thought back to Alexander's advice on my wedding day. Enjoy it and give it your best. I might win some grudging respect and I might not. Then I hoped that the minister would not have any difficulties because of the ceremony in the afternoon. If I knew him, he would cover himself well but do what he believed was proper.
I really do love the Anglican service. In fact, as I told Anne, Andrew and I had basically taken our service for our wedding from the Anglican Book of Alternative Services, taking out the outright religious references. Again, the time in the service came for my solo. I was introduced by the choir director and I said my few words of the meaning and affect this 300 year old piece of music had for me.
I remember thinking as the pianist started the musical introduction, OK Paul, make your words come alive and live in the moment and experience the joy of singing a magnificent piece by Bach.
Jesu, joy of man's desiring, Holy wisdom, love most bright; Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring Soar to uncreated light.
Word of God, our flesh that fashioned,
With the fire of life impassioned, Striving still to truth unknown, Soaring, dying round Thy throne. Through the way where hope is guiding, Hark, what peaceful music rings; Where the flock, in Thee confiding, Drink of joy from deathless springs. Theirs is beauty's fairest pleasure; Theirs is wisdom's holiest treasure. Thou dost ever lead Thine own In the love of joys unknown.
I must have touched some. There was that lovely moment of silence after a performance that moves people. Then almost unheard of, there was applause that started somewhere where our group was not sitting and it spread through the congregation. I saw the look on the minister's face. It was one of approval and joy. He looked at me and merely thanked me and said that the piece had been given new meaning to him. I was correct it was about love and joy in the holy treasure of faith and values.
Andrew and I had many people come up to us at coffee afterwards. Most were genuine congratulations. Others I suspected just wanted to meet a gay married couple, like a freak show. Perhaps a bit harsh. A few treated us like lepers. I enjoyed it all.
The minister did a great job in the blessing ceremony. He basically did what we had done. He took parts for the Anglican Book of Alternative Services, the Prayers of the People and the Blessing of the Marriage changing them to fit a gay couple and then to bless us as people not just a married couple. Before the final blessing he asked Andrew and I to say a few words.
I spoke first. "I met this man under very peculiar circumstances. Let's just say that we were with partners who decided that they would not honour our concerns and feelings. It gave both of us pause about those people. We both struck out on our own and we reconnected weeks later. I got to know this exceptional man. We seemed to care for each other and we were so sympatico. I invited him to the ballet, Romeo and Juliet and he professed not to know anything about ballet. I asked him to just accept it and immerse himself in the music, dancing and story. I jokingly said that maybe he would be like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman when she cried on seeing her first Opera. He assured me that would not happen. I watched him carefully at the end a wonderful performance of Romeo and Juliet. He tried his hardest but he finally had to pretend that he had something caught in his eye. His tears matched mine. I was hooked. He has become the centre, the rock of my life." I paused looking into Andrew's eyes. "I want to thank this community and our families and friends for their love and support. It has meant so much to us."
Andrew stood up. "Paul has shown me that sharing with family and friends is so important. He has supported me in so many ways. I have learned how important it is to share our love and commitment with those that we hold dear. I think Paul knows that he changed my life the first night we met. We talked that first night when I drove him home and later he told me he would contact me when he had sorted out his life. It took a while but he did phone. Almost didn't make contact as I dropped my cell phone and just missed breaking it. If I am honest, I think that I was hooked that first night we met. I cannot imagine sharing my life with anyone else. I echo his thought to everyone here how much we appreciate your loving support."
Mr Taylor stood up. I was in shock. "I was not known for great sympathy to same sex couples. Paul invaded my house when I was in the hospital and then on crutches. I was defenceless and I am sure that he knew of my feelings. He cooked me food. He brought me my brand of beer when I really needed it. He told me that he would find the LBCO and Beer Store in any town or city in Ontario. He wore me down. I finally asked him one day if he really liked my son. He said he did. I only asked because I knew the answer; I could see it in his every look and action towards my son. I welcome officially my third son to our family but he has been that for quite a while."
As I was just taking all that in, when my mother stood up and walked to the front of the church. Oh shit, what next? She looked at us and smiled. Then she fixed her eyes on the congregation. "I am a Catholic. My church teaches that what happened Friday and today is wrong. However, I see two men who care for each other, who consider each other often before themselves, who plan all the important things in life together," she paused, "Who love each other. If every couple were like them, there would be a lot more happy marriages in this world. Thank you Paul for opening my eyes and not giving up on me. Andrew, you have brought joy into my life." She came over and kissed both of us.
For the first time, my emotions just took control. Andrew and I looked at each other and almost simultaneously and very quietly whispered, "Julia." We brushed each others tears off.
I thought that we were finished but Phil stood up. He too came to the front and looked at both of us. Pointing at me, "I insulted this man on the first day that he was in my parent's home. Even still, he eventually invited me to live in his home to study at Community College and really, to change my life. What did I find there? It was not just his home but it was my brother's home as well. They work as a team. They have let me into that home and that team. I want to echo Mrs. Watson's words. They can be a role model for any couple. Thank you guys and I know that I don't have to wish you luck. You make your own every day."
I was ready to stand and yell enough but common sense prevailed and I chose to grab Andrew's hand and we squeezed together.
The minister stood up and looked at the congregation.
God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that you may faithfully live together in this life, and in the age to come have life everlasting. Amen.
The peace of the Lord be always with you. We all replied. And also with you.
The minister then looked at the congregation. "Andrew and Paul have requested that you share the Peace, Peace of the Lord, with each other and with them." It took quite a long time as we circulated as a couple wishing the Peace to everyone who had joined us this weekend. One of the most heartfelt was from Alexander and Barbara. It was a wonderful way for us to end this commitment to each other and to family and friends.
He then gave the departing Benediction.
The trip to France was as wonderful as I could have dreamed of. Unknown to the French team, we went three days early to recover from time zone changes, get our bearings in Paris and to just immerse Andrew in the tourist sites of Paris. We ate, drank and did the sites that Andrew had never seen before. I enjoyed and saw the sites anew with his exuberance. On our first night in Paris, I told Andrew that I had always dreamed of making love to my love in Paris. We did and it was memorable. Hard to explain why that was so significant to me but to me it was a highlight and I guess that is all that matters sometimes in life.
We had good meetings and got a lot done with the French team. Benoit had obviously done a lot of thinking since our conversation. He actually took us to a gay friendly club where we met his present girlfriend, Irène. We had a truly exciting evening.
We travelled to the south of France and visited the Riviera, Nice, Canne. Aix en Provence, Arles and many more. We knew that we would be back and over the years we spent a lot of time in Europe.
Slowly I took up more ownership of the company and took over more managerial roles. We expanded in the pattern set by Alexander and refined by me and my new team. Andrew too took more ownership in his firm and guided it through an expansion making it one of the biggest in the city.
Our relationship with Alexander and Barbara simply became closer. We did become their sons in fact if not in law. I was so glad that we did. We were there to support Alexander and Barbara when Barbara was diagnosed with cancer and finally succumbed in her early 60s. It was a while later that Alexander told us that the cottage did not hold the same appeal to him without Barbara and he proposed that we take it over. I almost knew what he had in mind. He sold it to us and then loaned us the money and wrote off a large portion each year. It was done legally and we made it known in words and actions that it was still his and we spent many happy times with him along with our friends and his at the cottage. I told Dad and Mum to give theirs to Ann and Jason for their family. Yes, they were married and had a boy and a girl. They became our second set of nephews and nieces.
Phil passed his courses and worked in IT in the city. He climbed the ranks quite quickly. He and Julie were married and started a family almost immediately. What a blessing to have our growing families near us and we spent many wonderful weekends and summers together at the cottages as we told Jack and Janice to give their cottage to Phil and Julie.
It was Phil's eldest boy, Eric, who came to us when he was sixteen and a half to ask us questions. He was a star athlete, especially hockey, popular and very bright. I knew from his first question and tone of voice that we were going to talk about what would be one of the defining moments of his life. "When and how did you know you were gay?"
My first thought was poor guy but I knew that it was better to deal with it now with close family. I told him that l would give him the shorter version. I told him about high school and first year university and a lot about his uncle and me. Andrew added more detail. Eric had a rye smile when he said that we could probably guess why he was asking. I only gave him a smile in return. We left it at that after giving him the safe sex lecture. A few days later, Phil called us and asked to be on speakerphone. It was a thank you for helping Eric and assuring him that his dad would support him. That was all that was ever said. The next year at the cottage we were introduced to a good looking young man as Eric's friend. It was the summer before university and Phil and Julie made a point of letting them choose where to bunk. They chose separate rooms but I heard footsteps in the early morning. I had nudged Andrew and he smiled knowingly when I told him that the memories made me horny. Classic response was, what doesn't? We made love quietly and slowly.
My guy and I have led a charmed life. We often reflect on that fateful Saturday night when our partners refused to listen to us and we met. I had approached Andrew cautiously after I left Peter; he had agreed to go slowly but then let me know in little ways that he wanted more. I had trusted him. Then one night at his first ballet, he was moved to tears and I knew that I had lost my heart to him. I am always amazed at the small decisions that we made together that have bonded us closer and closer together. More important, no regrets, no second thoughts.
Let me know your thoughts on this chapter preecherdave@gmail.com
If you liked this story, you might want to read the others that I have published on Nifty. In particular, Unexpected Change which has had the most positive comments and one of my favourites, Getting My Act Together.
Unexpected Change, Nifty, College, April 16, 2011 Friendship, Nifty, Adult Friends, May 20, 2011 Surprising Last Year at University, Nifty, College, June 9, 2011 Murder Changed My Life, Nifty, Beginnings, July 8, 2011 What is Love?, Nifty, Beginnings, August 31, 2011 Getting My Act Together, Nifty, Adult-Friends, November 10, 2011 Surprised, Nifty, Adult-Friends, January 14, 2012 Surprised Eric and Dave, Beginnings, February 10, 2012 Surprised Graham and Robert, Nifty, Adult-Friends, March 22, 2012 What a Difference a Year Makes, Nifty, Adult-Friends, September 13, 2012 Discoveries, Nifty, Beginnings, November 1, 2012 Introspection, Nifty, Relationships, August 1, 2013