I've Always Loved You, Mike

I've Always Loved You

Chapter 6 A Kosher Christmas?

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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Eric meets some he is attracted to, but expectations and religious pressures...he didn't act on them. Now, a horrible tragedy brings him back with the words "I need you."

As we began dancing right in front where we had made our vows and pronounced married, the others began applauding as Etta James sang her heartfelt song.

I felt a sense of completion now as we danced in our hug. Mike was my husband now. Mike was really now Mine at Last. This had been a last minute thing, so dancing as soon as we were pronounced married...no one said we shouldn't! Even his kiss felt better as our lips touched again. "Mine at last," I said to him.

Mike nodded in our embrace, his lips right at my ear. "I'm yours and you are mine. Forever. At last."

Barry touched us on the shoulders. "There are people wanting to congratulate you." He waved at the others who were slowly approaching us.

We turned and hugging all of them, but I stopped Ray as he was walking away after hugging. "Thank you, Ray," I said to him quietly making him smile at me. "It was so beautiful that you came! I can't tell you how much this has meant to me."

He nodded with a growing smile. "If we can share in this happy moment with you...it was worth it. You made us a part of this moment...you made me a part of this important moment in your life. I'm more than happy to do it for you both. Your love for Mike is documented in your songs. We were privileged to be included in this." He hugged me tightly. "Of course, you know this means we'll be seeing and hearing from you a lot more."

"Try to stop me, Ray," I said in the hug. "I'll be blowing up your phone with texts, emails, and calls from me."

"Make sure you do," Ray said shaking his finger in my face as a parent would, but his smile was still there.

The reception just happened right there and then. Della held her hand up again and hit another button on the remote and music again played. This was more of a party type of music. I looked over and saw Mark. He was smiling, but I could see there was hurt in his eyes. Going over I didn't talk to him, I just hugged him.

"Thank you, Mark," I said touching his face and kissed him lightly. "I will always love you."

Mark nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I know that." Then he looked at Mike and then back to me. "Where are you going on the honeymoon?"

I laughed. "Well, this was sort of at the last minute," I said. "We didn't really plan for one of those. This past few months have sort of felt like a honeymoon to me."

Mark shook his head. "Well, for now, that's fine, but you have concerts coming up and appearances in New York for the New Year's Eve event. You need time to yourselves."

"Thanks, Mark." I smiled. "We'll do that."

This wasn't the big wedding and reception we were going to have, but it was nice. It was a party. Della and Mark had arranged for some food that had been delivered. Nothing fancy, but tasty. We had a wedding cake! Not one of those big monstrosities, but it was good! We did the traditional cutting of the cake as flashes popped around us to capture another moment in our lives and there was no smearing cake on either of us.

As happy as we were, I noticed Chet was looking at everything happening, and I saw he was working things out in his mind. For an eight-year-old, he was trying so hard to understand more about the world. I loved how he would work things out quietly and contemplate a while before he asked questions and drew a conclusion. He was eight!! They don't do that normally.

I ventured over to Chet as he sat quietly eating part of our wedding cake. "I hope you understand more about what just happened."

Chet looked at me and gave a nod and then frowned. "I know people get married. Dad married mom, but...he's married to you now."

I nodded. "That's right. Your Dad and I have made ourselves a real family."

Chet frowned. "I thought you were family."

I chuckled nodding. "You're right, we are, but now...it is legal." I moved closer to Chet. "Once in a while, someone comes into our life that becomes so important we want to be a part of their life. Your Dad and I wanted our lives to become one. That's what we just did; legally, but also before God. Mike and I are married. It sometimes happens more often than we want, but done for reasons, not like ours...we really only want to do this one time. Your father is it, for me." I looked at his eyes as he listened. "He's a very, very good man, Chet. I'm happy he agreed to do this with me." I touched Chet's face gently. "In a sense, I married you, too."

"Me?"

"Yes." I chuckled. "You're Mike's son. You are a family. I married your Dad and that makes you and me family, too."

Chet frowned. "I thought we were family."

I chuckled. "Yes, we are, but now...we are officially family. We are legally family. Now, even more so than just that single Power of Attorney we showed you."

Chet looked a little worried. "And you're not going anywhere?"

I was a little surprised at that. "No."

"Mom did," Chet said sadly.

I realized what he meant and hugged him quickly. "I am sorry about what happened, but she didn't go away because she wanted to, Chet. I can't promise that won't happen." I kissed the top of his head. "I will promise you this. I'll do all I can to stay healthy to better my chances to stay alive." I looked down at him. "I eat right and exercise. I will do the same for your Dad..." I grinned. "Of course, that means you will be doing that, too." I chuckled and touched his plate with the more than healthy slice of cake on it.

Chet nodded and smiled, eating more of the cake. "But it is good." He said about the cake. "It makes me happy!"

I went to Mike, who had been watching what was happening. Standing next to him, Mike looked at his son.

"That looked like a pretty intense conversation," Mike observed quietly.

"It was." I agreed. "He'll be fine." I sighed as Mike wrapped his arms around me again. "It's been a tough year for him. He's just...adjusting his mind to things."

The party lasted until late...or early depending on your perspective. It was after three in the morning when Mike and I got to bed.

Mike looked at me propped on his elbow, looking down at me. "You spoke of a satisfied, comfortable feeling before." He grinned. "I felt it, too, but now..." he bent in kissing me, "I feel it even more so. My husband." He said quietly. "I love you."

I nodded. "I love you, too." It was never an effort, but now, we came together because that was just...us.

We came downstairs around noon that Sunday. Most of our guests were gone now except for Ray and Frank as they sat at the table in the kitchen quietly.

I frowned at what I saw. "I'm sorry, gentlemen, I should have been here to make breakfast for you."

Ray grinned as he sipped his coffee. "Don't be silly." He chuckled. "You had just gotten married! You were...busy." He got a grin on his face that was a little more...leering. "I hope."

Frank nodded with a chuckle. "I did help myself and made something this morning. There were some leftovers from the reception. I hope you don't mind." He waved at the stairs to upstairs. "And there was this young man with red hair that said he was hungry."

Mike laughed knowing his son. "Yes, we know that tune well. That boy is a bottomless pit."

Frank rose from his place beside Ray. "Do you need more coffee, Sweetie?" He asked Ray.

Ray grinned and shook his head. "I'm good, Babe."

"The coffee is only a little old," Frank said waving at the coffee maker. "It's still warm. I can make more."

I touched Frank gently on the arm. "I'm sort of odd," I admitted. "You see? I like my coffee lukewarm or cold."

Frank stood a moment as he considered what I said and then nodded. "You're right. That is odd."

"There are a lot of things I should have considered," I said going into the kitchen to get Mike and me something to eat. "I didn't invite you two here to take care of Chet."

Ray shook his head understanding. "It was sort of short notice. I have children, it was no problem. Chet's a smart boy."

Mike nodded as he came in to help me. "He's been through a lot these past few months. He is smart. I hope he will understand when he knows the whole story."

Ray nodded. "He will. Trust me." He said from experience.

"Your flight back is tomorrow." I changed the topic. "What do you want to do today?" I asked.

Frank looked surprised. "You two just got married!"

Mike smiled at me. "We just had what we had to as we made it legal." He shrugged. "Not saying that's not a big deal, but we have been married a few months now."

I grinned back at Mike. "My husband is right. We sort of became married when we got together as a couple." I walked over and hugged Frank. "Having you two come was...a real highlight for me."

Frank chuckled and pointed to Ray. "You mean having him here was a highlight."

I nodded. "I admit it, Frank. I wanted Ray here because I knew of him through his songs and having followed him as he came out." I hugged Frank again. "But knowing about him and what sort of man he is...he saw something in you that attracted him. Will you give me the opportunity to see what that is? I think I see it a little now. Ray's a good man, so I trust him to pick the right person to share his life with. Can I get to know you?" Mike walked over to me and Frank.

"Give me a chance to know both of you?" Mike asked. "Frank, I think because we are the other person in the lives of someone like Ray and Eric...I will be talking a lot to you. Seeking advice on things."

Frank smiled. "I am looking forward to it."

I turned to Ray who was smiling more listening to what we said. "And you...can help me keep things straight in my head as my career progresses."

Ray got up and put an arm around my shoulder. "Your head seems to be on straight, but any advice I can give that you ask for, I will give willingly." He looked at me seriously. "I know a little history about you...as it's common knowledge now...but, your parents are dead, right?"

I nodded. "That's right."

Ray nodded. "What about you, Mike? Are your parents in your life?"

Mike scratched his ear absently. "Well, my father has never been in my life. I have his name, but...and Mom was always drunk, so..." he shrugged. "I don't even know if she's alive. She sort of disappeared."

Ray smiled. "Well, if you don't mind..." he put his arm around Frank. "We'd be happy to be those parents to both of you."

Okay, I had to hug them both again. "We'll be a real family!!"

It was nice having Ray and Frank there. In many ways, they were a lot like Mike and me. Not just because they were gay, I mean...Ray was a performer and Frank had supported Ray from the sidelines. While Mike and Frank supported me and Ray, their backgrounds were different, but the two seemed to really fit together without trying. It simply was. Just like Mike and me.

I took them all to the Stockyards, the Cattlemen, a nice restaurant that had things common for this part of the world. There was the rustic interior with the unpolished wood and things like saddles and harnesses around to add a cowboy ambiance. What they were known for was some great steaks and of course, Chet being a veteran of this place told them what was good from his several visits here.

"Those Wrangler Calamari are great!" Chet told them smiling as he pointed where they were on the menu to Frank. "The sauce is kind of hot." He went on. "Those Shoot `em Up Onion Bullets are my favorite." He chuckled. "Again, the sauce is pretty hot." His brow furled a little. "I don't think there is a sauce here that isn't hot." He looked at me. "Is there PopE?"

I grinned. "There are some." I turned his page to another. "There is the Greenhorn menu." I leaned in closer and pointed to the less...spicy sauces. "That is for those that aren't Texans."

Chet smiled. "And I am a Texan now!" He said proudly.

Mike nodded. "Yes, you are."

As much as we enjoyed getting to know these two better, we had to get back to our lives as they had to return to theirs. Monday morning, we watched the limousine take them to the airport after promising we would stay in touch with each other. I knew Ray had children, but in many ways, I felt he liked having a son that may have understood even more about his true nature. He is what he is. Just like me.

The holiday season was here, and Mike and I knew we'd hear from the Atkins. A week after the wedding, I was getting ready for the upcoming demands I was facing with performances coming up. It was the afternoon when I saw a light blink telling me the phone was ringing...I had that rigged so when I was working, it didn't distract me or make the unwanted sound on what I was working on. It was a few minutes when I heard Mike talking as he came down the hall where I was working.

"...he isn't comfortable with you," Mike said in a tired voice as he said it again and then listened. "...and you still don't understand why that is?" He was shaking his head as he came in where I was. "I'll talk to Chet, but he needs a supervised visit if he does...even for Christmas." He sighed. "Because his grandfather shot me!!! In front of Chet!" Mike looked at me. "¿Por qué no pueden ver eso?" He asked me why they couldn't see that. "¡ Dios, estas personas son densas!" He swore to God these people were dense.

I shrugged and said. "No sé." Telling him I didn't know.

"I was talking to Eric!" Mike said to a question he heard. "Yes, he is involved with this. No visits without supervision! And I don't mean from that damned church!" He clicked the off button as he waved the house's portable phone and sighed. "These things are great, but..." he grumbled holding the phone, "you can't slam them down."

I saw Mike was struggling with this. "We need to invent something that will make that statement over these new phones." Coming over to him, I touched his arm, making him look at me. "From what I heard, they want Chet to come there for Christmas."

Mike nodded with a sigh. "He will have to come there as Manny can't leave home." He ran a hand through his hair as he sat down. "I don't think Manny deserves to see Chet." He templed his fingers as he thought. "I'm thinking of Chet. They are his grandparents. Part of him..." he shuddered, "is made from them."

I moved closer to him. "He is made of their building blocks...that's all. Their ideology is not natural, so Chet doesn't have that."

Mike nodded. "I don't have to let this happen at all." He then smiled at me with a laugh. "I mean...we don't have to let this happen. I don't want Chet to hate them."

I brought him in for a gentle kiss. "I know. You're a good man, Baby." I smiled at him as our foreheads met. "When do they want him there?"

"Christmas Eve and Christmas Day," Mike answered.

"Let me talk to Amy and find out what we can do," I told him. "We have a few weeks."

Mike frowned. "I don't want him to go away from us for Christmas."

"He won't have to." I smiled. "We can go with him."

Mike looked surprised. "We go with him?"

"You and I only have each other, Mike." I reasoned. "We can celebrate Christmas as a family in a hotel; as long as we're together."

A week later Amy got back to Mike and me at our house about what could and should happen. She sat down in a chair near us in our great room.

"Taking him to Charleston, you need to be careful," Amy warned pushing that statement harder. "Don't let Chet out of your sight." She smiled. "I know you know that, and I have something in the works." She got a look that was...a little mean. "Eli and Avi Bau."

My eyebrows rose. "They're Jewish!?" It made sense! Christmas wasn't their holiday!

Amy nodded. "That's right and they aren't brothers." She smiled more. "They are married. Eli is a social worker, Avi is a police officer. They agreed to take Chet together."

Mike nodded with a chuckle. "And they are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts." He said knowing it probably wasn't.

Amy shook her head. "No, they do want something."

"What?" I asked.

She shrugged. "They are fans of yours, Eric."

I nodded. "They want more than an autograph."

Amy held her hand up. "The compensation is to meet the two of you. If you do a song or two at a function for them...that's up to you."

"I'm not Jewish!" I laughed.

"So, no one's perfect. They are gay!" Amy said simply. "Tú tampoco eres latín." She said I also wasn't Latino.

"Sure." I agreed. "Why not. Do I sign a contract or something?"

Amy shook her head. "No. They trust you."

Mike chuckled and threw his head back. "Manny and Wynona are going to love this!"

We told Chet what was going to happen when he got home from school.

"I'm going to Grandma's and Grandpa's," Chet said uncertainly. "Why?"

Mike frowned and sighed. "Because they are your grandparents." He stressed. "They are your mother's parents. Your Uncles Johnny and Ronnie are going to be there with their children...your cousins." He touched Chet on his arms. "I've known Johnny and Ronnie. They are good people. You like your cousins. They are your cousins. Don't hate them because of what your grandpa and grandma did or said."

Chet rolled his eyes. "I don't hate them, Dad..." he corrected hesitantly, but not happy with the news. "I just don't...like them right now."

Mike nodded. "I know, but they do love you, Chet."

I was impressed with how adamantly Mike was pushing this. "They were worried about you, Chet," I added backing Mike up.

"But they lied to me, PopE." Chet almost whined. "They wouldn't tell me about Mom, they don't like that you and Dad were getting married, they don't like the others like you...it doesn't make sense! Why!?"

Mike grabbed Chet pulling him in for a hug. "I know and I'm so happy it doesn't make sense to you, son." He smiled at his son. "Not everyone is going to agree with everyone, but on this..."

"It shouldn't make sense to anyone!" Chet shouted. "How is love bad!? They told me in Sunday School God is love! You and PopE love, how is that bad!?" He asked with the indignity of an irritated eight-year-old. "How is your love wrong, or Grandpa Ray's and Grandpa Frank's wrong? They love each other just like you and PopE! They're married, too!"

I sat back at that surprised at the titles he gave Ray and Frank. "Grandpa Ray? Grandpa Frank?" I asked grinning. "What brought that on?"

Chet didn't understand. "Grandpa Ray said you said he was like your Dad now." He looked puzzled at me. "He and Grandpa Frank are like your Dads and Dad's Dad. They said so and so did you! I heard from you. They were at the wedding."

I chuckled. "Yes, I did say that." I nodded. "He is a good man and I'd love to have him as a father."

Chet nodded not understanding why I didn't see his logic. "So, aren't they my grandpas?"

Mike nodded. "Yes, I guess they are." He laughed and looked at me. "He figured that out by himself, too." He hugged Chet. "I told you he was smart!"

I ruffled the red hair. "Yes, he is." I grabbed them both in a hug. There's nothing better than a hug for me. I hugged Mike a lot!

We got things ready at the house for Christmas with the tree and decorations. Della was great at doing that and Chet was bothering her where to put things. Mike and I helped, but we were also getting ready for the trip to Charleston, and I had to get things ready for some performances. I even had a theme for Christmas! Yes! Only my workshop at the North Pole was more adult; male, but adult. Who didn't see Santa as a big silver daddy or bear? My elves were bigger, and Santa wasn't me...that's right, I wasn't Santa, but I was a reindeer! I had some Christmas music in it that was more traditional with the jingling of bells, but only bits and it morphed into my particular sound. The Christmas music that was not religious. There was Jingle Bells and Let is Snow, Frosty the Snowman and all that...Jingle Bell Rock! Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Only Rudolph was me. Complete with the red nose that blinked that I wore. No, I didn't look like a deer. Nor did any of the other guys look like deer, but we did have the antlers (short antlers) and brown leather pants and sam browns on (those leather belts around our waists and chests. Now you know why it was important for me to stay in shape.) I was shunned by the other reindeer, but learned the joy of the season and won the love of another reindeer. He was cute! Blond, but cute. As I explained, I did rock, I performed, but I did more of a show. That took planning and preparation.

I also had to work on a couple of songs for the New Year's Rocking Eve!

Now, it wasn't just the members of a select group of people that were following me (homosexuals), but regular people. Barry and Hap were helping Mike and me out, too. How? Remember I said about those people across the street with their signs about "Adam and Eve, Not Adam and Steve" "You'll Burn in Hell" When another group came to stand against them on the same sidewalk with their signs simply asked, "Why not Adam and Steve?" "Why Does Love Condemn us to Hell?" The focus of the fact the I was homosexual and now living with a man I was married to (which no one knew about...for the most part), was protesting the protesters. This group from the LGBT came and stood against them supporting us! Yes! And the group from the LGBT became bigger than the protesters. We had the gay sports jocks, log cabin Republicans (which I never understood, but your party is your own), gay professionals such as lawyers, doctors, teachers, law enforcement officers and yes...much to Chet's excitement...cowboys from the gay rodeo circuit!! The cowboys even entertained doing rope tricks even for the children of those protesting us! The protests were quiet for the most part, but I was afraid some of my neighbors would become upset. It was happening across the street and not in front of a residence, but a park. Both groups had permits to do it, but the problem was with all these people, there were cars needed. Now they were parking in the park and up and down the street in front of residences. Some of the people that stood with us with the LGBT were part of PFLAG and just because those protesters were wrong, as far as these new supporters were concerned.

There was a good part of all this; my songs were selling even more. Several of my older songs were now being discovered and were climbing the charts, too. Just as love is love, music is music. I was gaining popularity.

I came home that Sunday tired after a weekend in Denver having done a concert/show Friday and Saturday nights with rehearsals Friday and Saturday to get the moves down. The only rehearsals were the guys to dance with me. My music I carried on discs and used my hand button to control. The guys that danced with me were professional dancers and didn't take a lot to get them to know what I expected. Mark had someone to have tryouts a week prior and they were paid well to dance. Most of the people that held the tryouts knew me if they weren't gay themselves...like a male dancer has to be gay...there were straight ones, but they knew what was needed as choreographers and picked some good ones.

Arriving home before dark, I came in through the back this time and heard a conversation as it was happening. Walking into the great room, I saw Mike talking with two men. The new men were both dark-haired, but sitting on the couch very close together.

Mike looked up and smiled, rising to greet me. "Hi, Honey!" He greeted me with a kiss. He then waved to the two men. "Amy called after you left for Denver and said they were coming, so I invited them over. This is Avi and Eli Bau." They both stood as I came over.

Eli was the social worker, as Amy said he was. He was about six inches shorter than Avi. Eli was in his early forties and Avi was in his late forties. Avi was taller and probably outweighed Eli by forty to sixty pounds or more. He was big! He was an inch or two taller than Mike, but much bigger than Mike. He was the police officer, and his size wasn't because he ate too much, he was a very muscular man! Not that Eli was a wimp, but Avi...no criminal or perp would mess with Avi. Eli wore a Yamaka on the crown of his black head of hair, while Avi did not.

Mike grinned at them. "I don't guess I need to introduce him to you two."

Eli grinned as he walked over and shook my hand. "You sure don't. It's such a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Richards."

I nodded shaking his hand. "It's nice to meet you, but if you want me to call you both Mr. Bau, I will, but call me Eric."

Avi was smiling even more as he came up beside his husband. "That's fine, Eric." He gave a little chuckle. "I can't believe I'm meeting you. Eli and I saw you in Atlanta a year ago. That was an amazing show!" He jabbed Eli lightly. "I feel like a teenager."

Eli patted Avi's arm but looking at me. "We know you just came back from a concert so probably very tired, but we are meeting with Amy Diaz tomorrow," Eli explained. "She had some things to tell us before we go to Charleston with you three."

Avi nodded. "There are some jurisdiction issues and certification issues that will be addressed," Eli explained. "My jurisdiction is fine, but Avi needs to be covered..." Eli frowned and venture hesitantly, "legally in case..."

"Manny tries anything," Mike added looking at me. "He shot me, so he's capable."

"Which is why Amy thinks it's necessary for me to be there." Avi nodded. "In view of their history with you, Mike."

"What state is your jurisdiction, Avi?" I asked.

"Georgia for now. I had certification in New York, but this should be pretty simple for South Carolina. I just need to be covered in case there is an incident where shots are fired." Avi said and said quickly. "Which I will do my best not to...but I will be legal there as your representative. I'm signing the papers with Ms. Diaz tomorrow to be filed in South Carolina. I am a detective, and I can be granted that jurisdiction if the paperwork is in. I will be armed."

I was a little speechless. "All that? For Chet?"

Eli shook his head. "No. For you two." He pointed at Mike and me, but then nodded. "Chet, too, he has to have supervised visitation, which is me, but Avi is there as..." he looked up at his husband, "a silent enforcer?" Avi nodded and Eli turned back. "Of course, but mostly for you two." Avi agreed. Eli spread his arms out like to say, how could he help it? "We are all pulling for you two. We all have for ten years!!" He said to Mike.

Mike grinned sheepishly. "Well, I was Oblivious."

Avi grinned patting Mike on the shoulder. "But you're not now!" He chuckled. "Oy! Those in-laws..."

"They are such prostaks. So, if we can help..." Eli shrugged.

I couldn't help but smile at them. All the gestures and the way that spoke, Avi and Eli were hilarious! They were Jewish! They were very happy men. "Yes, they are very coarse and ignorant." I laughed.

"You understood that!?" Avi smiled more, delighted at my knowing the word Eli had used.

"I have some knowledge of Yiddish," I replied nodding. "Thanks to Samuel Goldberg." I looked at Mike. "Sorry, he was my first crush, but that was long before I understood what that meant or was willing to admit why."

Mike grinned. "Oh?"

"He was fourteen and I was eight." I smiled and sighed at the memory. "He was a neighbor and so handsome. His mother was always funny, and I often spent time with Sam which he didn't mind, so why not? He taught me many words and some phrases in Yiddish." I smiled at Mike and pointed at Eli and Avi. "Has Chet met them yet?"

Mike shook his head. "He's over at Geordi's house today and should be back in a little while."

I turned back to our new guests. "He will love you two!" I looked at Eli smiling. "You wear a Yarmulke all the time?"

Eli touched his head and nodded. "I do!" He smiled. "You even know what it is! You didn't refer to my wearing a beanie!"

I shook my head. "It isn't a beanie. I know that. You wear it when in prayer, as I was told." I nodded. "This is the name, isn't it? That and Kippah."

"That's right!" Avi nodded smiling and looked softly at Eli. "Eli is more devout than I am. He was going to become a Rabbi." He said putting his arm around Eli. "He was a student when we met. However, at that time, no one would ordain a gay Rabbi. He couldn't teach from the Torah if he's faygala." He did the hand waggle for a gay man.

Mike looked a little confused. "I think I know, but...what is faygala?"

"Gay," I answered nodding. "I'm afraid there are many that are khnyok in every culture."

Eli blinked but smiled even more. "You do know some Yiddish!"

Mike shook his head. "But I don't."

"That means a bigot or a racist," I explained but held my hand up to Eli and Avi. "I know some words, but not many phrases. You really need to be raised in a Jewish home to really understand them."

Avi nodded. "So, this will work? Our being here?" He asked hopefully.

"How can this fail?" I asked smiling answering the question with a question as Samuel and his mother often did. "But be warned." I saw their faces change to curiosity. "I'm a huge fan of hugging."

Eli brightened opening his arms to me. "They are much better than simple handshakes! I love them!"

Okay, we made two new friends. I hugged them both. We were doing that when Chet came home, escorted by Geordi.

"More kissing!?" Chet asked, but not really irritated now or curious.

Mike turned smiling at his son. "Probably, is that a problem?" He smiled at Chet and his friend. "Hi."

Geordi grinned and waved. "Hi, Mr. Calhoun." He looked at Chet. "I told you, Chet, there is kissing and then there's....kiiisssing." He let the word linger a little longer. "Mom and Dad do a lot of the kiiisssing. So, do you're Dads."

Chet nodded with a bounce. "I know, I just like teasing them about it now."

Mike smiled at them. "Meet our new friends, guys." He waved at Avi and Eli Bau.

After the meeting, Geordi said he had to go home and left. We found out Avi and Eli were checking into a hotel. Mike and I insisted they stay with us that night. If for no other reason than to get Chet familiar with the two of them. Chet, who really didn't know a stranger long, was fascinated with our two new friends who were Jewish. Eli had a personality that seemed to naturally put children at ease. That was his job as a social worker. Avi proved to be quite a character and Chet thought he was so funny.

When it neared dinner time, I looked at our new friends. "It's almost dinner time and...I know I have some things that are kosher, but..."

Avi waved my concern off. "We'll be fine, Eric." He thumbed to his husband. "I've seen him eat a ham sandwich with mayonnaise...on white bread!"

Eli looked irritated at his husband. "Our whole marriage isn't kosher, Avi! You're going to get picky with what we eat!?"

I chuckled. "Guys, I have a solution tonight. I know a restaurant here that serves nothing but kosher meals. Choshon's, it's a kosher deli, but it also serves hot food and lot of sandwiches, and I can get some fresh bagels for breakfast with some lox to go with it if we go. Eggs I know are fine, but you need something with it like cheese for an omelet. I have tomatoes and onions. Maybe we can get some chicken sausage? We can get it there!"

Eli smiled at me. "You don't have to go to all this trouble, Eric."

"Eli." I stood. "You don't have to do what you'll be doing for Mike and me. If I can do something that makes you know I understand and appreciate that, like providing an acceptable breakfast, I'm doing it."

Eli chuckled. "Okay!" Yes, that earned me another hug. I was going to love these guys!

Chet loved Choshon's. He wanted what he thought was a hotdog. Avi had to correct him on that assumption. Telling him these were franks and made with kosher meats. And that led Chet into a whole lot of other questions which both Avi and Eli answered with no problem.

I looked down at Mike that night before...we did anything. "We're kind of giving Chet the wrong impression of us, Mike."

Mike's eyebrows rose. "How so?"

"Well, he knows me and you, Ray and Frank, Hap and Wayne, Mark, Amy and her wife and he now knows Avi and Eli."

"And all the cowboys on the gay rodeo circuit," Mike said defensively. "He saw the gay athletes out front protesting against those nasty people with their signs!"

I nodded. "Yes, but he's never even seen a drag queen or crossdresser. Most all of the men we've introduced Chet to are masculine acting and...nothing about them says gay."

Mike frowned sitting up a little. "Now, wait...crossdressers are straight!"

I nodded. "I know, they're just straight men in dresses. I know. That's good, but...you wanted Chet to know about everything he could. There are many portions of the human race that are very...different." I shrugged. "There are transsexuals and intersexuals. He should know there are men that...except they have cocks are pretty much female. There are some born male that want to be female so badly they got surgery."

Mike looked worried. "He just found out about homosexuals...not even a year ago! He's learned a lot in these few months." He tapped his own chest. "He just found out I was gay."

"And married me, yes, I know." I sighed. "My problem is...people like Manny and Wynona get upset because of our...bizarre behavior."

"We're not bizarre!" Mike stated quickly.

I nodded pushing him back down. "I know we're not. I will be the first to admit when I saw my first male couple kiss...in real life, I was...unnerved by it."

Mike's eyes widened even more. "But you're gay!"

I smirked at him. "Thanks for telling me, Baby. I had no idea." I patted him on the chest. "My point is...people like Manny and Wynona are unnerved because they don't see it. If Chet sees..." I hedged lightly, "others not like us. It will be less of a shock." I shrugged. "Now, I'm not only comfortable with men kissing now, I've gone the other way."

Mike looked at me oddly. "The other way?"

I nodded smiling. "Yes! Now I see a guy kissing a girl and my reaction now is, why the hell is he kissing her?"

Mike laughed shaking his head. "That sort of has to happen if we as a species are going to survive."

"I don't know about that." I shook my head smiling. "I'd say we as a species are doing just fine considering how many people are in the world." I moved so I was over him looking more directly at him. "We reproduce, Mike," I said lowering my face to be nose to nose and looking in his eyes. "There is Chet in the other room." I saw Mike's eyes reflect a little sadness and realized how he was taking what I said. "Oh, no...Baby, no, I don't regret you having Chet. Don't look that way. I love Chet, you know that." I sighed kissing him gently. "There were things going on we both were guilty of...don't look that way." I rolled as I hugged him. "You didn't do anything wrong." I smiled at him. "You created a wonderful person. You and Sherry had a very smart, perceptive little human being that is a delight. Don't doubt that. My only regret is my part in his life is not like that."

Mike frowned. "But you are a part of him," Mike assured. "You will help shape his life in so many ways. How he thinks, what he thinks..."

I nodded. "But he takes after you in so many ways." I shrugged. "Sherry was very selfish, I knew that, but she was smart. Combined with you, he is as well." I chuckled. "And the red hair."

"It's getting darker." Mike grinned. "Slowly."

I nodded. "And he's not that much of a ginger really, he has dark eyes and no freckles like most do." I settled against him loving lightly as I ran fingers in his hair, kissing lightly over his chin and jaw. "We both made decisions...we aren't too happy with in hindsight." I smiled again. "For reasons to fill a need you had, you chose Sherry." I shrugged. "I chose Mark." I held my hand up. "I don't regret Mark, but if I'd taken the time, I would have seen it wasn't going to work out between him and me. Choices we made helped shape us. Don't ever regret Chet or Sherry. I can't regret Mark, but they are the past. Now, we have us. The past," I smiled. "Okay?"

Then I saw Mike look very worried and almost upset. "There were things...choices in the past...I haven't told anyone about." I saw his eyes get a little clouded and moisture from there. "Not even you."

Hearing this didn't upset me, but..."But you are telling me now?" I asked.

Mike nodded. "I have to." I watched as tears were now coming from him. "I love you so much. Really, I do. Believe that, but..."

Sensing the seriousness, I pulled him closer. "I believe you."

"Mom...was..." he began sobbing, "just...wasted most of the time."

I nodded, listening, but let him go on.

"Everything from heroin, cocaine, to just drunk," Mike said, now sadder than I'd seen him before. "To pay...for her...drugs...she...she...had me..." his words broke as he told me.

My heart ached for him because I knew what he was going to say. "How old were you?" I asked quietly.

"Nine." He said shaking his head. "I was nine years old! My mother pimped me out!" He began crying. "I caught the eye of many men. I remember the first man that...it hurt, but..." he pushed the heels of his hands in his eyes to stop the tears that were coming now freely, "when he put his..."

I placed my forehead against his. "Oh, baby. I am so sorry."

He shook his head. "You don't understand. I got used to it." He sobbed. "She was so...drunk or so out of it most of the time, but...even after she disappeared when I turned about thirteen...I didn't stop doing it."

I pieced together what I did know that he'd told me about his past.

"I had to leave home as Mom wasn't paying the rent. Social workers didn't understand and...a Latino kid?" He laughed. "I wasn't Latino enough for the Cubans and not white enough for the others...I was hungry. I needed a place to sleep..."

I nodded tightening my hold on him. "You did what you had to."

"It didn't matter if they were male or female." He cried. "I just...did it." He looked at me. "I didn't want you to know, but I can't hide it and I was afraid how you'd see me..."

My heart ached for him. This was something so...horrible in his past, now I understood more why Sherry and her family appealed to him. With them, he was white with them! He had run from that past. I kissed him quickly to stop him. "Stop." I said softly as tears of my own came down, "and I'll tell you what I see." I took a deep breath. "I see a beautiful person, Mike. A miracle. How you survived, I can't imagine. Knowing you as the smart man I came to know and love, I have to say that was a major factor. That you hustled," I shrugged. "You did what you had to. You survived. I'm not sure I could have. That says a lot about you." I smiled. "How did you turn out so well?"

He looked at me in disbelief. "What do you mean?"

"Well, most people would have given in, but you didn't." I smiled. "You're not mean at all. There's not a violent or mean bone in your whole body! You're kind and considerate. Instead of being beaten down by the life you lived, you have triumphed."

His eyes grew. "I was a prostitute!"

I shook my head. "No, you were a survivor, Mike. You didn't give in to drugs or violence and you did go to school, I helped you get your GED. You're getting a degree! I've seen your grades. You are smart! Compared to your life, mine was a cake walk!"

Mike looked at me listening. "You see it that way?"

"You overcame so much, Mike." I shrugged. "How else can I see it? You're alive and healthy. As you said, I see two and two. That's four. That's simple evidence. You..." I kissed him, "are a champion..." I kissed him again, "...and that you love me. I feel like the luckiest human being on the face of the Earth."

"You don't think less of me now?" Mike marveled.

"One more time," I said to him firmly. "Your life is a triumph. I think more of you now. I love you, Mike."

He wrapped his arms around. "I love you, too."