Introspection

Introspection 5

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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.

Comments welcomed preecherdave@gmail.com

Dave's Note

Paul, Andrew and I have to take a trip out of town so possibly there will be no publication next week. There are 3 more chapters in various states of readiness. If you enjoy the story, there is more to come. Stay tuned

Previously

We arrived back at the condo in the early evening. In a call to Rob, he had told me that it was ready and there were basic supplies in the kitchen ... and the bedroom. Tony was beginning to really rub off on him. I had chuckled for minutes after the call.

I opened the the door with some trepidation. I had spent a bundle; did we get it right? I gasped. Somehow Rob and Tony had had our new furniture delivered and they had arranged it exactly as we had planned. The colours in the room were exquisite, exactly what we had envisioned. Andrew had been the mastermind, especially the colours and furniture arrangement. The kitchen was incredible, especially with the floor. I almost broke down when I looked into the bedroom. The new bed was there with a beautiful duvet cover with a big note wishing us the best; it was a gift from Rob and Tony. There was an empty bottle of bubbly on the side table with another note that the said that real stuff was in the refrigerator. Beside the bottle was a box of condoms and bottle of lube. We both broke out into laughter and pulled each other close.

On the way home, I had had time to think about the time with the Taylors, my first encounter with Phil, the chats with Jack, the warmth that Janice gave to me, even our time with Phil in the last two days and our wonderful time at the cottage by ourselves. I was beginning to really realize just how much this guy meant to me. I felt so close and we seemed to enjoy each other in so many ways. It had been a wonderful time. It hit me as we stood in the bedroom holding each other comfortably close that we were home. Our home.

Present

We celebrated appropriately both that night and next morning. I was a little tired at work that day. Must have been the tree cutting. Right!

For once, I told my colleagues of my adventures at Andrew's home and the renovation. They laughed at my tree cutting and the family dynamics and congratulated me on a successful renovation. It felt good to be a little more involved with them. I was surprised when one of the guys, Keith, came up to me at coffee break in the afternoon. He was in his mid 20s and had only been in his job for a year. He wanted to chat. From his demeanour, I suspected that there was another motive. He looked around at one point and asked if I could keep a secret and could he ask some questions. I knew what the conversation was going to be about. I had done the same thing myself in my first year university.

Short version was that he suspected that he was gay but was afraid to take the first step. He asked me a lot about my relationships and particularly about Andrew. By the time we were finished I had invited him to go to the club with the group. I emphasized that he could do what he wanted and he should go at the speed that he was comfortable with. I stressed too that at the club that he could just say he was me or one of the group to get out of an uncomfortable situation. Andrew agreed that it was great thing to do.

We sat down after supper that night to plan the rest of our summer. We decided on a trip to Andrew's family in two weeks to help with chores and make certain that Janice had backup with Jack. Then, the discussion about Labour Day. It was an interesting discussion. It seemed a given by both of us that we would spend it together. It was a tradition for both of us to spend it at our parent's cottage. I had decided that I wanted to change that tradition with my parents. If I went to their cottage, I wanted Andrew to be included and not just as friend. He was definitely part of my life in a way that no one else had ever been. I decided to start with a call to my sister, Anne.

She was pleased when I called. We chatted about what she was doing and her life with Jason. They were not married but had been living together for 2 years. I really got on well with both of them. I told her about Andrew and our experiences at his place last week week. We had some good laughs. The conversation changed when I brought up Labour Day. She explained that Mom and Dad were active in their local parish and a new priest had come who was quite conservative. I explained that Andrew was now the same for me as Jason was to her. She laughed and told me that, for her and me, it was the same but not for Mom and Dad. She understood why I wanted to push the issue. We discussed strategies. Anne offered to phone first and I vetoed that idea but said that I would tell them that we had talked and she had no problems. She wished me good luck. It appeared that my apprehensions were correct.

I debated in my mind when to phone and how to handle the call. I must admit that I procrastinated for a couple of days. I realized that it was upsetting me so I decided on Wednesday evening that Thursday was the time. It was getting closer to Labour Day and I hadn't phoned home for a few weeks with the renovations and the trip home with Andrew.

Thursday evening I told Andrew what I was going to do. So for privacy I went into the bedroom and stretched out on the bed and called.

"Hi Mom. It has been a while. Yes, it has been busy. I renovated my condo and moved into it. Yes I was living with some friends while the work was done. That was the number I gave you. Peter? No Peter and I had a parting of the ways back in May. Long story but I moved out. Yes, it happens. Labour Day, funny that you should mention it. That is one of the reasons I phoned. I would like to make some plans. Well, yes I would like to come but I want to bring a friend with me." There was silence on the other end of the phone. "Mom are you still there?"

"Paul, you have taken me by surprise. Who is he? Why now? You have never suggested this before."

"I guess I have never wanted to do it before. I think that you will like Andrew. He is very special. He is an accountant and financial officer in a local company. We have visited his family, a great bunch. We are heading up there next weekend as his father broke his leg and they need some help."

"So they have accepted you?"

"I feet that I have become one of the family. Thanks to all my training by Dad, I taught Andrew and his brother, Phil, how to take down a big tree and cut it up for firewood. We had a great time. I guess that is one of the reasons that I want to bring Andrew along for Labour Day."

"Paul, I think that you know that your father and I have religious reservations to this kind of relationship."

"Actually, Mom you have never really said that. I thought that you had accepted my orientation. It has never been an issue. I feel that Andrew and I have much the same relationship as Anne and Jason."

There was another pause of silence. "I think that you are comparing apples and oranges."

An interesting way to put it but it still boiled down to 'that is different'. "By the law of Canada, I am comparing two things that are exactly the same."

"Maybe, the law is wrong."

"The law is the law and we have a fundamental separation of church and state. Mom, I guess we have never had this conversation. I am not sure what you are saying. If you don't want to invite Andrew, he and I can find something to do on the Labour Day weekend."

"You mean you would reject your family for this man?"

"No, I am not rejecting my family. We have planned to spend Labour Day together and we wanted to do it with my family. If anything, to be frank, I would say that you are rejecting me for your religious beliefs. Mom, if grandma and grandpa had refused to have Dad with them, what would you have done?"

"That would never have happened."

"Well it appears that it has now with Andrew and me. Mom at this point in my life, he is my partner just as Jason is Anne's partner. By the way, Anne and I have talked and she has no problem with this at all."

"Well I guess your father and I shall have to talk about this. This is not the conversation that I expected."

"Not what I expected either. Talk to you soon." I guess it was the conversation that I had expected but best not to admit that. Let her think that this was a surprise to me.

Andrew could see that I was upset when I joined him in the living room. He quickly came over and embraced me, holding me tight. I explained and we talked it through.

"I am sorry that I am the cause of this."

"Remember what you said when I told you that I would leave if your father asked me to." He looked as if he didn't remember. "I can quote exactly. 'If you go, I go with you! This ends here, now.' Do you realize how much that meant to me? Well, this goes double back to you."

He held me even tighter.

"Andrew, this is not settled. I expect a call from my mother or father tonight or tomorrow. They will want to settle this. I don't know how it will go but I do know my position."

Sure enough the phone rang at 9. I suggested that Andrew answer it to add a little reality to the situation. "Hello. Yes, this is Andrew. Hello Mr. Watson. Yes, I shall give you over to Paul."

I took the phone. "Hi, Dad." I paused listening to his torrent of words and emotions. "No I didn't think of it as a bombshell. I just told Mom that I wanted to bring a friend to the cottage on Labour Day. She was the one who brought up the question of why I would invite him. I actually thought that I was rather subdued and logical."

"Sounds to us like an ultimatum!"

"Dad, you would never question whether Jason should come to the cottage. They aren't married but they live together, plan their life together. That is exactly what Andrew and I do. I am not going to change my orientation. You have known about it for almost a decade and I assure you that I am not attracted to women. That is not going to change. So Andrew and I were planning our summer, fall and Labour Day. I really do want to spend it with him and with you, Mom, Anne and Jason, my family."

I stopped because I had two emotions playing in my thoughts, anger and a sadness that was close to tears. I didn't want to become embroiled in an emotional debate. I was trying to keep it subdued and logical. I thought I was doing a good job. I could see Andrew hovering in the kitchen with a knowing but very sympathetic look on his face.

"What about our feelings on this question?"

"Dad that is your decision. Maybe I wasn't elegant but that is what I said to Mom, that if you don't want to invite Andrew that is your prerogative. I simply told her what I would do in that case. Perhaps I reacted to her saying that I was rejecting my family for this man, a bit starkly for her." I paused to make sure that I used the softest most conciliatory voice that I could muster. "Dad, I am going to be honest and speak plainly. Andrew and I are spending Labour Day weekend together. We hope that it is with you. Anne frankly hopes for the same thing." I just had to play the Anne card.

"So we have no choice."

"Put another way, Dad, the choice is yours." There was a long pause and I decided to remain silent so as not to give him anything to react to do except to make a decision.

"Can I be blunt?

"Yes but I can be in return."

"Are you going to be sleeping in the same room?"

Ah, my trump card, I could keep it less confrontational. "Are Anne and Jason going to be sharing the same room?"

"You should have been a lawyer."

With a little chuckle, "Not sure if that is a compliment or an insult."

I could almost hear as suppressed chuckle from his end. "When will you be arriving?" It was said with a sigh but no noticeable reluctance.

"Not sure. It may have to be Saturday morning. It is a bit of drive and we are not sure of our schedules." Oh, Paul, nice touch, 'our schedules'. "Will be in contact in the next little while when we know the details. Thanks Dad and I really mean it."

Andrew came out of the kitchen with a look a puzzled look on his face. "So we live together and plan our life together just like you sister and her PARTNER. Does that mean that you think of me in the same way? Now that is a bombshell. I don't think that I have been consulted on this one."

I tried to make face that said that what I said was nothing. "I, I, I was trying to make a logical argument so that my loser roommate wouldn't have to spend his Labour Day weekend alone. The proof is that I got him an invitation."

We had moved towards each other as we spoke. When we were in reaching distance, I grabbed him turned him around and smacked his ass. "Smart ass!"

He turned his head and we kissed. A very high octane kiss. "If I'm a smart ass, you should put me over your knee and do what you did in the Suites." He raised his eyebrows. In 30 seconds, I had him naked from the waist down. I moved us to chair in the living room and forced him over my knees. He didn't really need any forcing but it was part of the act. His ass was turning red as I rained down light smacks. I could feel that he was rock hard and he was moaning with pleasure.

"You kinky bugger." I stopped and put a wet finger into him. With his reaction, he almost tossed himself off my knees. We stood and I stripped him totally. He went and sat on the couch.

"Do a strip tease for me. I guess this is kinky night." I did the best one I knew how. I turned and ended up turned backwards to him as I bared my ass.

"Walk backwards to me!" I did and he smacked my ass several times. Pain and pleasure, boy did that get the blood flowing everywhere. I was rock hard. I understood why he enjoyed it. He turned me around and swallowed my cock. My eyes opened wide. My breathing sped up but was shallow. I was in total lust.

We had been tested a couple of weeks before so I told him to hold those thoughts and came back with just the lube. I sat on the couch beside him and handed him the lube, pointing to my cock. When he was finished, "OK smart ass, sit on it."

"With the greatest pleasure." A hundred watt smile on his face

I let him set the pace as he went in and held and then slowly sank down until there was no more. The look of absolute pleasure radiated on both our faces. "Andrew, so tight and hot. Oh shit, do it again, I can feel the contractions. Oh shiiiit!"

"Paul, I feel so full and connected with you. I'll be your smart ass any day you want. Oh, yes, move inside me. Feels so erotic. Fuck, fuck fuck."

"Is that a request or an expletive?"

"Both, dumb ass. Fuck me!"

I pulled him close and started one of our gentle, erotic kisses. It just turned me on even more, something that seemed almost impossible. As we kissed, he was moving, contracting around me and I was forcing myself in and out of him. I finally put my hand on his shoulders to stop him. I was too close. We kissed and fondled each other until we were calmer. When we started again, I knew that we would not last long. I murmured to him to finish when he wanted. Suddenly, I saw his eyes close, his face screw up and his body went rigid as his hand flew up and down on himself. I started to go in and out fast and hard. I felt his contractions grip and release me in a rhythm. Half a minute after he blasted my chest and neck with his semen, I yelled his name as I sent shot after shot into him. I lost track at five or six. I was lost in mist of shocks to my nervous system that were incredible. While I was still in my stage of passion and lust, I had scooped up his semen and put it in my mouth. I shared it with him as we kissed.

I looked at him with moist eyes, "Partner, it seems to get better and better."

"Lover, you mean so much to me that it is scary. You said so many wonderful things to your father."

As the body will have it, I came out of him as we stayed almost glued together. We remained for a few more minutes of kisses and fondling and made our way into bed where we fell asleep, my arms around him, nestled together. My last thoughts were thank you Peter for getting me to see our relationship clearly and thank you Jack and thank you Dad for accepting Andrew and me together. Little did I know that the thanks to Dad (and Mom) would take a lot more work.

We went to Andrew's parents' place and had a great time. His father was doing very well accepting his limitations. He loved ordering everyone round as he supervised. A monster had been created. I gave him as good as he gave, in return; he took it from me. We noticed a change in Phil. It was hard to pin it down but he was doing more around the house and with the business. He seemed almost friendly to both Andrew and me. We were actually introduced to Julie at Sunday lunch before we left. Phil had good taste in women; I almost regretted my words to Phil about her during my first encounter with him. She was a keeper. I hoped that Phil felt the same.

The trip home was enjoyable as we discussed the great weekend that we had had. We organized our next couple of weeks that would end with our trip to Mom and Dad's cottage for the Labour Day weekend. I was so looking forward to seeing Anne and Jason and introducing Andrew to my family.

The weeks passed quickly and we were in the car on Saturday morning heading for the cottage. I think that we had bought up half the city for the lunches that I told Mom that we would supply. Dad would work his BBQ magic for the evening meals. The day was a beautiful end of summer day with the sun shining with only a few fluffy white clouds in the sky and the temperature in the mid 20s celsius. it would be great for some fishing and swimming in the afternoon. We arrived by 11 o'clock. The greeting was as chaotic as usual since Anne had arrived the night before. Mom seemed a bit reserved in her greeting of both Andrew and me but I assumed that she just didn't want to add to the chaos.

After a great lunch that we had brought, Dad said that they needed some things in town and that maybe he and Andrew could go in. It was clear at lunch that Jason and Anne had taken to Andrew immediately. I figured it was Dad's way to get to know him better. We could go fishing and swimming when they got back.

Jason and Anne went down to the beach to do a little clean up. Mom and I had volunteered to do the clean up after lunch. We made idle chit chat but I sensed that there was something on Mom's mind. I decided that I might be wrong but if there was something, I would just let her broach it. It did not take long.

"Paul, I am upset by the situation that we find ourselves in." I looked at her with a questioning look on my face. "I told you on our last telephone call that I was not comfortable with your relationship."

My relationship, my god given orientation? Ok Paul, stay reasonable and low key. "I talked to Dad and I am certain that we had reached an understanding."

"Well, I wasn't part of that conversation and he and I have had some deep discussions on the topic."

"Unfortunately, not with me. Several weeks have gone by and Andrew is here with me for the weekend. I assumed that everything was alright."

"Well, I guess that your assumptions are not quite the way things are."

"What exactly are you saying?"

"Well, I cannot have two men sleeping in the same room together."

"But you can have an unmarried male and female sleeping in the same room together?" I could feel my anger rising.

"That is different!"

Control the anger. I did but just barely. "Not in my book. Is this an ultimatum?"

"It is the way I want it in my house."

"Mom, I can only say that this was not the way to do this. I certainly hope that Dad is not having a variation of this talk with Andrew. To be as blunt as you have been, you have made a choice. I shall now have to make my choice."

"I don't see that you have one."

I stood up looking sadly at her. "There are always choices, Mom." I stared at her surprised look.

Undaunted or just willfully oblivious, "Father Sebastian says that there is a very good priest and program in the city for you, to help deal with your situation."

I said in a quiet, authoritative voice. "There will never ... be a priest or a program for me and my god given 'situation' or for my genetic makeup, given to me by Dad and you." I left the cottage before anything further could be said by either of us.

I was angry and humiliated. Angry at the comparison of the welcome to me by Andrew's parents and his welcome by mine. Humiliated that they had let us arrive with no warning of the change in my agreement with Dad. I suspected that Mom had laid down her law and belief to Dad and he must have thought that I would react as he had done. Acceptance. He didn't know me! I went for a walk on the beach listening for the car to return. I needed desperately to see if Dad had spoken to Andrew and explain the situation to Andrew. Luckily Anne and Jason had gone for a walk and were not in sight. I stewed and finally decided on my course of action but I would have to talk to Andrew first.

I heard the car arrive. Dad got out first. "Get everything that you needed? Need any help?" There was a look of relief on his face. So he did know what Mom was going to do in their absence. He shook his head saying that no help needed. Little did he realize that his relief would be temporary. My mother liked to get her way, exactly the way that she wanted it. I looked at Andrew. He looked calm but upset. I motioned with my head to come to the beach with me.

I put my arm over his shoulder and gave him a smile. "Had an interesting session with my mother. From the look on your face, you had an interesting time with Dad?"

"Apparently, my coming has put a lot of stress on the family."

"No stress as long as we obey mother's strict guide of contact for single males sleeping together. Actually, they can't sleep together in her house." That got the first smile from Andrew. "I told my mother that I would have to make a choice. She told me that she didn't see that I had any choices. I told her that there were always choices." I looked at Andrew and grinned. "Remember your words that this stops here, now. It is her home. I can't accept her choices, her rules. I know a good hotel not too far from here where we can have a great Labour Day together on equality terms with my unmarried sister and Jason. By the way, I love and respect my sister."

"Right, you just want to get me into bed."

"Amongst other things." I wiggled my eyebrows. By this time, we were both laughing. "We never packed our things. It is going to be awkward but the rest of the weekend will be even more so, if we stay; that, I can guarantee."

We stopped on the beach and I found the hotel number using my phone and made a reservation for two nights and for supper on Sunday night. I knew a little local restaurant for tonight. We went back to the cottage and went straight to the bedroom without saying a word to Mom or Dad. Only my suitcase was there. We found Andrew's in the small bedroom at the back. I shook my head at the nerve of my mother. We carried them out to the living room. My father's look of surprise was only surpassed by my mother's look of triumph turing to anger as she registered my choice.

"What do you think that you are doing?"

"I told you mother that there are always choices."

"So you would ruin the weekend over this matter!"

"You have managed to do that all by yourself."

My mother's eyes opened wide, her nose flared. "Paul!" My father warned.

"OK, Dad. You are right. That is one of the reasons that we are leaving."

I heard footsteps on the deck. It was going to become more awkward. Anne came in first and stopped short. "What's going on?"

"I think that you had better ask Mom." I picked up our cases. "Bye Sis, Jason. Shall be in touch."

As we left the deck, all we heard was Anne's raised voice. "Mom that is the stupidest thing that I have ever heard. How could you do that to your own son? I was so glad that he has found someone he wants to bring to the cottage to meets us."

I gave Andrew a hug and a kiss; he too had heard Anne's outburst. We packed the car and as I got in, I saw Dad stride out of the cottage."Son, wait, please." He reached the car. I was very angry at mother and at him.

"Dad maybe we can figure this out another day. You have told my partner that his presence has caused stress in our family. That was impolite and uncalled for. My mother not only forbade her 31 year old son to sleep in the same room with his partner in her house but she also moved Andrew's suitcase while I was out. Then she told me that I needed to see a priest and get into a program to deal with my sexuality. Not exactly her words but that is what it meant to me. We all need time to cool off and think before more nonsense is spoken by me or her. This was not the way to deal with this. We came to spend time with my family and we have been ambushed."

"Where are you going?" I told him. He had the good grace to look upset and guilty. "Sorry, son, I guess I share a lot of the blame. Just hold a minute." He moved around the car to Andrew's window. "Andrew please accept my apologies. I'll do what I can to settle this properly." I felt only slightly better as we drove off. Definitely not the weekend that I had anticipated.

We were up early the next morning, after a very romantic evening, to explore the area and have brunch in a diner that had a lot of memories for me as well as some good food. We came back to find a note left for us.

Hi Paul and Andrew, Would love to spend some time with you. How about a drink in the bar at 2? Really want to see you. Love Anne (Jason too)

We were sitting in the bar when they arrived. Anne and especially Jason had fled a rather poisoned atmosphere, created by Dad and me of course. Mom was in a funk over my words and my departure. How dare I! She was the paragon of the helpful, caring mother. Dad was angry mostly at himself, Anne suspected. With our update on the situation behind us, we had a lot of fun. Andrew and Jason talked non stop about sports and business. Anne and I just enjoyed each other. The time flew by quickly. Finally, Anne groaned that it was time to get back for Dad's sake.

"You wouldn't consider coming back for supper for my sake and Jason's?" She gave me a wicked but ironic smile.

"Don't place any bets on that! Can't you see the look of triumph on Mom's face. I come crawling back and we didn't sleep together in her house. Win win for mother. Not bloody likely." I spoke dramatically like a sports announcer at a hockey game and had everyone laughing. "By the way, why don't you and Jason plan a weekend at our place. We have a spare bed in the study."

"Let's look at our calendars and email. Oh, we could escape Thanksgiving?"

"Sorry, Sis but our plan was Labour Day with my loving family and Thanksgiving with Andrew's, arrangement already made." I paused. "Thank god! Sorry, present company definitely excepted."

Our goodbyes were really bittersweet. We had a good supper and a romantic walk by the lake. It certainly put me in the mood for an early bedtime. We had entered our room and I must have telegraphed my feelings. His kiss startled every nerve in my body. We were soon in bed in each others arms. We kissed, touched, and spoke intimate things to each other. Light touches, kisses on the neck, shoulder and nipples. Then little nips and bites in the same spots. I almost lost it when his finger caressed the tip of my cock with feather like touches which turned to feather like stroking up and down the length. When I did the same to him, he moaned my name.

With my eyes staring into his, "Andrew, love, take me but I want to watch." We stood caressing each other as we looked in mirror on the cupboard door. Andrew looked as if he was in a dream world. I lubed him and then I positioned myself to watch. I was in a haze of passion as he positioned himself behind me. Beautiful lithe body, cock almost red purple he was so inflamed, eyes wide and shining and the most loving look I had ever seen on a lover's face, my Andrew. I felt him move his head to my waiting opening. Incredible pleasure as he slowly popped in staying still and fondled my balls and more feather like strokes to my cock. I gasped in pleasure as he moved all the way in.

What followed was the most intense love making I had ever had. My body was racked by pleasure and pleasure pain as he stoked me, pinched and bit me. When he finally reached his finish, he yelled my name asking for a kiss. As we kissed, his body went rigid and he thrust in and held. His face was a mask of pleasure and after two pulses he start to stroke in and out moaning and muttering my name. He pulled out, positioning me so I could see and he slowly swallowed me. I lasted less than a minute.

"Andrew, lover. You mean so much to me." The rest was incomprehensible as he took me to a height that I had seldom reached and I shuddered as I tensed and shot, shot after shot. I pulled him up and we kissed and shared. We licked each other clean.

We drove back to the city after breakfast. Before we left, I had had a call from Anne calling me a coward for not coming back for supper. Apparently, she let it slip to her father where they had been and had been overheard by mother. She was displeased by the disloyalty of her daughter. Anne too had left after breakfast after a rather loud argument with their mother over her actions over the weekend. I started to feel guilty until I reviewed the entire weekend and really felt that it did have to stop, now. I promised myself to phone father at work on Tuesday or Wednesday.

When we arrived back home, we found a message from Phil asking Andrew to phone when he got the chance. Our first and only thought was that something had happened to Jack. Andrew phoned right after lunch. I heard snippets of the conversation and could not really believe that I could be hearing it correctly. It turned out that I had heard it accurately. Phil wanted to come to our place to discuss some things with us and he wanted to bring Julie. I began to feel that my entire world was turning upside down, the weekend at my parent's cottage and now this. Andrew had put the phone on mute using the excuse that he had to check the calendar. I shrugged and said of course but I wanted to talk to him. Andrew looked at me suspiciously but handed me the phone.

"Hey, Phil glad to hear that you are coming. Ever lived in a condo?"

Guarded tone, "No. Anything special I should know?"

"Well, it is sort of like a cottage." I could see that Andrew was beginning to clue in, to my direction. He was shaking his head. I would have to get it out fast. "Noise travels easily, especially at night. Your brother will get so charged up I will never get any sleep."

I put him on speaker phone so that Andrew could hear the chuckles from Phil. He was still chuckling as he said, "Tell you what, we'll make exactly as much noise as you and brother dear." There was a pause. "You really are a piece of work. I am beginning to see what he sees in you."

"Ouch, I am being abused by your brother. Hold on. I have to defend myself." We struggled until we were laughing so hard it hurt.

Andrew grabbed the phone. "See what I have to put up with?"

"It is your choice brother. You deserve what you get."

"I often do!" He started to grope me. I laughed swatting his hand. I mouthed later, horny bugger. I handed the phone back.

"Phil, see you and Julie this weekend. Looking forward to it. Say hello to Mum and Dad. I'll send the address and directions by email."

We looked at each other. Something had changed for both of us. Little did my parents know that the weekend at the cottage had bonded us closer together. I knew that I still had my sister behind me and possibly Dad although I knew that he was in a very difficult position. We had a very passionate night. I had never known before how close I could feel to another person.

I knew that I had to act first. My anger had dissipated, especially towards Dad. I phoned him in the late afternoon at the office hoping that his day would be finishing and we could have some time just talking. I sort of planned what I wanted to say but I was hoping that I could at least start to build a bridge with him and I would try to listen to him and his point of view. I didn't want apologies or recriminations. I wanted resolution and healing.

He ended up surprising me with his first words. "Thanks for phoning. I honestly didn't know where to start. I had my two children leave the cottage angry this weekend and I don't know what to do."

"Well, let's just talk and maybe find a way to go where we want to go. There are two main problem, Mom and I. Dad do you think that Mom will ever accept me and my partner?"

"That is a difficult one to answer. You may have to accept half measures to start. I know, what is that? Maybe some visits by both of you for dinner and you stay at Anne's place. Perhaps, you visit Anne and we come for dinner."

"I would have to talk that over with Andrew. I don't like it but .... Dad, please make sure that there is no talk of visits to a priest and programs to get me to see the error of my ways. Mom will never have a straight son. She must treat Andrew as my partner and with respect. I know that things will be cool, perhaps frigid for a while but this is between Mom and me, not Andrew."

We talked amicably for a while tossing around a few more ideas. It was a good start. I had to explain Thanksgiving to him. He was disappointed but understood that we really were partners and that I now had commitments to another family. I had the impression that it had finally hit home for him. I felt encouraged.

It was my day for surprises. Andrew listened to my recounting of my talk with Dad. He looked at me with a lovely smile. "You know sometimes you don't win the war in one battle. Sometimes you have to win a few skirmishes first."

"When did you become so wise?"

"Maybe I always have been?" He winked at me. "Actually, it is your father who is being a good tactician. Your laying down the basic ground rules was also smart. Thank you for your comments about me and my family." He got a great big kiss. It was going to take a long time.

We had been on holidays and the first week back was very busy for both of us. It was a scramble at work and we split the tasks of getting ready for our first house guests. We planned to take them to a mixed, gay friendly dance club on Friday after a quick supper at home.

Julie was a delight. Over supper, I warned Phil that he might get hit on by a guy or even fondled. I told him not to punch the guy out but to take it as a compliment. Julie told him that she would protect his virginity. She had us guffawing when she muttered that shouldn't be a problem as there wasn't any left to protect. We had a great time at the club. Phil and Tony hit it off right away. Phil asked me why Tony hadn't brought his girlfriend. I told him why. He just looked at Rob and then Tony and then laughed that another preconception was gone. Phil was fondled and asked to dance by several really hot guys. He joked that he might convert. Julie socked him on the arm. The final thing happened as they said goodnight at home. Julie turned to Phil as they left us to go to bed and she very pointedly put her fingers to her lips indicating silence. Phil theatrically sighed his displeasure.

There were surprises and more surprises. I took Julie out to sight see and shop, well shop mostly. As she said there were slim pickings back home. Back at our place, Phil outlined his thoughts about returning to school and community college. Andrew was delighted as many of his thoughts had been triggered by his new view of his brother and his partner. Oh and he and Julie were getting very close and she would want more than he could give with his present jobs and education. It was agreed that he would return after Thanksgiving to explore our community college. We would get material for him to look through in the next couple of weeks.

We all pitched in to prepare supper. Tony and Rob were the first invited. We asked one straight couple that Andrew knew. We included Keith and a friend he had met. So there would be 10 for supper. It was great. We drank too much, ate too much, talked and laughed a lot and we had a riotous time.

We felt real regret when Phil and Julie left. Luckily, my sister wasn't arriving for 2 weeks and then it was Thanksgiving with the Taylors. I realized how different my life was from this time last year. I now knew that I could have deep emotional attachments. I couldn't even imagine my life without Andrew. I loved it.

Author's Note

There is another chapter being written. I hope to publish next Thursday or Friday.

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, April, 2013