I've Always Loved You, Mike

Story: I've Always Loved You Chapter 7: Tis the Season to be Jolly Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com) Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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As I lay there with Mike that night, I understood so much more about him. It made sense now why the Atkins appealed to him. We had joked about a Mayberry (that sweet life on Andy Griffith and other shows of a simple life) and Leave it to Beaver, but that was exactly was what he thought he needed. I hated what his mother had made him do to fulfill her needs. How could she do that? Then I remembered my father's assessment of many he had worked with the various jails and prisons...for most junkies, getting that...whatever, was so much more important than anything such as rent or even love of family. Mike had hidden this part of his life so long yet looking at him now as he slept peacefully beside me. It was hard to imagine how he managed to survive.

I briefly, I mean just for a second, considered whether Mike was or wasn't gay. Was he one of those that Wynona and Manny feared we would do to Chet? Was Mike simply "made" gay from those early years where he was abused? I couldn't answer that. No one had made me gay. I knew I was. That was proven many times as Della teased me often making me touch her breast. I felt nothing. Della was a beautiful woman, but I wasn't drawn to her physically at all. The first time she had made me do that, I was kind of repulsed. Now, I felt nothing at all when she did it after that. We were friends. Mike, like Mark, may have been one of those people that didn't see gender as important. It was too easy to say everyone was either gay or straight. Human sexuality was too complex to pigeonhole everybody as one or the other categories. All I knew was, Mike loved me. Not just physically, but he showed it every day through actions and words. Who cared if he was truly gay or straight? There was no doubt in my mind to that question. Mike was my husband now. He loved me and I loved him. Period.

His breathing changed as he was starting to wake up. His eyes opened and he blinked to focus on me. The smiled he gave was not his usual smile. He held some uncertainty in it. "Good morning." He said softly.

I looked out the windows as the day was beginning and there was light coming in now through the curtains. I nodded. "It is." I agreed and turned back to Mike. "And it will be." I took a breath. "Mike." I began trying to be careful with my words. "I love you."

He smiled a little more like he normally did after I said that.

"I am just going to say this," I said, "so, hear me. What you told me last night...had to be the hardest thing for you to tell anyone." I got closer to him. "I am so..." I thought of the best word to use, "overwhelmed...that you trust me enough to share it with me." I looked directly in his eyes. "What you told me hasn't changed how I see you or how I feel about you. I understand more about you now." I kissed him gently. "I meant what I said. I do, however, see you better now and I love you. My feelings haven't changed. I am impressed by you. You're my husband. If you tell me more, I will listen. No judgments from me and my opinion have not changed. You are my husband. My partner in life; I won't ask, but if you want to tell me anything. I will listen."

Mike still was having some difficulty with my acceptance of what he'd told me. "It doesn't bother you?"

I couldn't lie to him. "Of course, it bothers me, Baby," I said simply. "However, I also know you were a child when this started. You had something forced on you at a very young age. It was something you used later to stay alive. You don't do it now."

Mike shook his head adamantly. "No! I would never..."

I quickly kissed him to stop him. "That was a statement, not a question or an accusation, Mike," I said to clarify. "My concern is naturally about your health. HIV and AIDS were around then. Especially with IV drug users and from what you said, they were probably the ones that...did that to you. I know you've been checked out since. You have Chet and he's healthy. You're healthy."

Mike assured. "He is and I was checked before I even came up from Miami. I'm clean."

I smiled. "If you want to tell me anything. I'll listen. Understand that, but I won't ask you anything."

Mike sat up thinking. "Thank you, but...I just thought of something." He looked at me. "We are known now." He looked at me and touched his chest. "I'm known now. It could come out about me. Someone will recognize me from the past. A former...client."

I nodded. "Yes, that would be a valid concern," I admitted. "It's up to you how you deal with this. We are married, Mike. I will not suffer that much if it came out about someone in your past. I will be at your side. Always. Don't ever doubt that."

"I had...a lot of...customers in the past," Mike admitted quietly. "Someone is bound to remember me. I should have known that."

"We beat them to it," I suggested. "Tell everyone before it comes out." I held my finger up. "It will not surprise me," I said. "It might Chet. Manny and Wynona will use it against you."

"Their past isn't so squeaky clean," Mike growled. "My last trick was when I was fifteen!"

"I don't care," I said simply. "My point is, they will probably use this to try and get Chet. Now," I pulled him over me, "we should probably tell Amy. She would know the best route to take. Mark will have to be told...he can counter any questions or threats to us." I saw his eyes widen in alarm. "Don't look at me like that! The best defense is a good offense. If the people know..." I again held up a finger. "You don't have to give them details, but if they know, they can help us deal with this." I sighed thinking. "All our new fans will support us if they know the truth. To be honest, you can even help others by telling them about your past to get them to see there is a way out. You can inspire them. It's up to you what we do, but I will support you."

"You will?" Mike asked again in sort of disbelief.

"I will," I promised. "You determine what it is we do," I said. "If there's anything else you think I should know...I will listen. I see who you are, Mike. I fell in love with you almost from the first moment you stepped in that church. I think I've always loved you."

Mike didn't really look directly in my eyes as he said. "I just...don't want to embarrass you. You are a rising star! I didn't realize or think when we got together..." he let the statement falter.

"And we will do fine. I will do fine." I got my face in his line of vision. "Mike. I love you. We took vows...for better or for worse. You won't embarrass me. How we proceed, I will leave to you. We can take this horror from your past and make a good thing out of it."

Mike looked uncertain about that. "Inspire them." He shook his head. He looked in the direction of Chet's room. "How do I tell Chet? I'll have to tell him."

I gave a nod. "It will be hard." I made him look at me again. "We do it...together. Okay?"

Mike smiled, feeling better. "Sure." He grinned. "I love you."

Was he gay or straight? Well, he was certainly gay after our conversation!

Chet had another week of school before the Christmas break. Mike's school was off the month of December. I had to prepare for the New Years' Eve event, but we had guests in our home. I prepared to cook and Mike said he'd clean up afterward so I could work until Amy and Mark came over that morning. Coffee! The one thing needed by everyone. Goy or Jew. (Goy, meaning those not lucky enough to be born Jewish.) I got things ready for Avi and Eli, a good omelet needs to be fresh. The eggs were ready as I chopped the onions (which makes everyone cry, which was happening as I sniffed and dabbed my eyes with the upper part of my right sleeve as I blinked through the tears) on the kitchen island and had the mushrooms to slice and add for the omelets. I heard someone coming down and from the sound, it had to be Avi. He was a big man, remember? The house was sturdy, but he had a heavy footfall.

He smiled at me as he came in. "Good morning!" He greeted.

I grinned at him. "Don't get excited, I don't know that much Yiddish, but...a gutn morgn." I greeted him.

Avi chuckled as he approached. "Thank you. Gute morgn." He shook his head. "I think you must have some Hebrew blood in you." He shook his finger at me as he got near me.

I shrugged and sniffed again from the gas or whatever the onions had that made you cry and nose run. "Who knows? Probably, but I just loved my neighbors. They are exceptional people, the Goldbergs. I liked them very much."

Avi nodded. "You just fell in love with a Jewish boy."

I shook my head smiling at him. "No, I fell in love with a person who turned out he was Jewish." I corrected and shrugged. "I enjoyed learning about him and his faith. Then again, it is the basis of my faith, it made sense to be familiar with Judaism."

"That's very refreshing to hear." Avi nodded. "And very appreciated."

Mike came down carrying Chet over his shoulder again who was laughing, but pounding a little on his father's back. "Let me down!"

"Is Eli doing his morning prayers?" I asked.

Avi nodded. "Shacharit. Yes." He smiled up toward the room he and Eli shared. "He would have been a great Rabbi."

"Forgive any ignorance on my part, but...didn't they just ordain a gay Rabbi?" I asked.

Avi nodded. "They did in England. There was a Rabbi that came out recently in the U.S., but he was a Reform rabbi already."

"Eli could still become a Rabbi," I suggested.

Avi shrugged. "He could." Then he smiled. "I wasn't kidding, he is much more devout than I am. I think he likes what he does now too much to stop now."

Mike said as he put Chet down beside me. "He's hungry again."

"I'm planning to do something about that. We're having omelets and chicken sausage." I said looking at Chet waving at the eggs I had ready. "I can make plenty. I think you, Chet, can eat two. Of course, I can make them a good size, but..." I looked at Avi. "How many for you?"

Avi chuckled. "Oh, at least three. Eli will only eat two."

That was when Eli came down. "I don't want to gain weight." He said coming to his husband and patted Avi's stomach and kissed him gently.

Avi wasn't bothered a bit covering the hand on his stomach and held it there. "I do my best not to." He waved at me. "I was just telling Eric he must have Hebrew blood in him. He has more than a passing knowledge of our customs and Yiddish."

I grinned at Eli. "As many people are responsible for me, I probably do, but I find people just fascinating." I waved to Mike. "It amazes me that in every culture, faith or race...we are all humans. Certain things are constant." I shrugged. "In each of these, there are gay people like us. We are so diverse in ideology, yet it is only when faith comes in do you hear the term pervert or deviant. I think that says being homosexual is very natural." I smiled at Mike. "We have the Latin culture, Anglo-Saxon and those of Hebrew descent. We have different backgrounds, but we all have that same deviancy. We're," I shrugged, "human." I chuckled looking at Mike. "Two plus two." I chuckled. "Mike likes that analogy for its simple fact. Evidence; and evidence says we are not deviants or aberrant."

Chet looked puzzled. "Aberrant? What's that?"

"Abnormal," I answered.

Mike nodded chuckling. "That's right."

Chet brightened. "Oh." He smiled. "A new word already! I can eat breakfast and do something else! I don't have to go to school now."

Mike nodded putting his arm around his son's shoulder. "Sure, you can do that."

I watched Avi's and Eli's eyes widen when they heard that.

Mike chuckled. "He won't." He said to them in mock confidence to them like it was a secret. "He's a sponge and loves school and can't learn enough, fast enough." He ruffled his son's hair. "He likes Geordi too much to miss out. He will go if I say he doesn't have to or not. He takes after me that way."

"PopE, Dad..." Chet said solemnly. "Do I have to go to Grandpa's and Grandma's?" He sighed.

Mike frowned and turned Chet to face him. "I think you should." He lowered his eyes a moment as he thought. "They are your grandparents, Chet." He looked at Chet again. "You are my son, yes...your mother was your Grandpa's and Grandma's little girl. Meaning, that you are a product of them. You are made partly from them."

Chet nodded. "But Grandpa shot you, Dad. I'm not even sure I like him now." He laughed a little bitterly. "I don't know if I like Grandma now."

"But they are still your grandparents." Mike urged.

"You and PopE aren't going to be there," Chet said almost in a whine.

I nodded. "We'll be in Charleston, but we won't be at your grandparents." I touched Avi's arm. "You know that is why Avi and Eli will be there. Nothing will happen there. They are going to be with you to be sure it doesn't happen at your grandparents."

Eli bent slightly to Chet. "Avi and I will never leave you. I've found the best way to deal with situations like this is, to tell the truth." He said to Chet.

"The truth is...they lied to me." Chet shook his head. "They lied about Mom and they lied about Dad and PopE." He looked at his father and then looked at me. "They are wrong."

"About what exactly?" Eli asked.

"About Dad and PopE." Chet said simply. "About you and Avi, Grandpa Ray and Grandpa Frank, about Hap and Wayne." He shrugged. "They are wrong."

Eli's eyes widened again and nodded. "That's good you see that, meyn bisl fraynd." Eli stood straight again. He looked up and saw blank expressions on all of our faces.

I shrugged with a light laugh. "Hey, I told Avi, I'm not fluent in Yiddish, Eli."

Avi chuckled and said. "Meyn bisl fraynd means my little friend."

I snickered. "You'll have to keep using it until I get it. I got fraynd."

"Your Dad is right." Eli agreed. "They are family."

"Fine," Chet said reluctantly and then brightened. "I like my new family." He looked at me. "PopE, Uncle Mark, Grandpa Ray, and Grandpa Wayne, Aunt Della." He looked at Eli and then to Avi. "Can I call you and Eli uncles, too?"

Avi smiled, but he was surprised. "You think of us as family?"

Chet shrugged. "Sure, I like you two. I like Aunt Della and Uncle Mark..." he said logically. "I can't just call you Avi and Eli."

Eli nodded. "Sure, if you want to. We'll be proud to be family, but we just met."

"I call you that, and you have to come back. You can't just leave." Chet was a little sadder than usual. "PopE said he would try not to leave, but..."

Eli hugged him lightly understanding what Chet was saying. "So, will we." He then looked at Chet. "What you are feeling is understandable. You need to tell your grandparents how you feel. Understand? Get them to explain why they did what they did. Have your Grandpa explain why he shot your Dad."

"Okay." Chet sighed again.

I looked at the clock. "Ooh, you need to eat and get going, the bus will be here soon."

I liked that Chet was so at ease with Avi and Eli. The real test would be in Charleston.

Life in the house had changed so much after adding Mike and Chet. What had been just me, Della and even Mark for a while, now I had Mike and Chet added. Now, Ray and Frank had come and now Avi and Eli were there who were even helping Mike with the dishes. The house was now more than the place I lived, but a home.

Getting Chet off to school was done making sure he had all his books and wore his uniform correctly. After the dishes were done, Eli, Avi, and Mike were sitting together until Della arrived adding to our visitation. Then Mark came looking sharp in another expensive looking dark brown suit. It wasn't too long before Amy arrived. We continued to visit, Della left to deal with a group that came to record on the other side. Amy then gave the necessary paperwork to Avi to sign with instructions about carrying a firearm in South Carolina. Mike, Chet and I were meeting Avi and Eli in Atlanta, then we would arrive in Charleston on the twenty-third. We would all go with Chet to his grandparents, though Mike and I would go with them and leave after that.

At the table in the kitchen, we all sat together when at last Amy took the papers we had gone through and signed making them neat as she tapped them together before putting them in her briefcase. "I'll fax them, make legal copies and mail them and make sure you have legal copies with you. The originals I will keep."

Mike nodded as his expression held an impressed look. "Wow, that's...very thorough."

Amy smiled patiently. "It's the best way to avoid...confusion...in the long run."

Mike sighed as he looked at me and nodded. "I told Eric some things last night...and I..." he bowed his head a little as he struggled with words.

I reached out and touched his hand.

"I didn't realize..." he waved his head in a shrug, sort of, "I mean, how did I know everyone would be knowing me?" Looking up he instantly pressed on. "I did some things in the past...when I was a child and when a teenager...I shouldn't have done."

Mark looked a little surprised. "You committed some crime or crimes?"

Amy frowned at Mark. "He said he was a child and a teenager." She reminded Mark and looked at Mike. "Can you tell us what those things are?"

Mike was struggling with telling them and couldn't look them in the eyes. "I was...basically a prostitute."

Mark's expression was now...well, he wasn't smiling. Shock?

Amy however, looked at Mike with compassion. "How old were you?" Amy asked.

"I stopped at about fifteen," Mike said.

I rushed in. "He was abandoned by his mother, who left him to live on the street!" I said to them urgently. "He did it to eat and have a place to stay."

"Oh," Mark said now understanding a little. "What about social services? You were never rescued by them?" He looked at Eli almost as an accusation.

I was protective of not only Mike but Eli and Avi. "Why look at him?" I asked Mark pointing at Eli. "He was still in school himself when it occurred. That was almost twenty years ago. The fault is in Florida."

Amy shook her head. "The crime has passed the statute of limitations. However, provisions can be filed."

Mike held his hand up. "The problem is if someone recognizes me when I did...do those things. It was when I saw the images on the internet. Eric's picture was there, but when I looked at the images...I was in them. I'm mentioned by name! If it comes out..."

Mark nodded. "Oh, now, I see. What do you two want to do?"

Mike looked at me. "Eric thinks...he suggested I tell everyone in advance. To inspire others in similar situations."

Mark sat forward thinking, you could see it. "Yes, that would be the best way to stop any speculation."

Avi frowned. "No one was there for you?"

Mike shook his head. "My mother was...an addict." Mike explained. "She was the one that began me doing this to make money for her habit."

"Got mayner." Avi said in horror to himself. "How old were you?"

"Nine," Mike said now with more confidence as no one was blaming him.

Amy bowed her head and sighed. "Dios mio." Then she looked up at Mike. "Your...Johns...whatever...were they male adults?"

Mike nodded. "Yes. For the most part."

She gave a short breath of disgust. "I doubt any of them will ever come forward to say anything or they might face charges themselves...not to mention embarrassment. They are pedophiles." She looked at Mark. "At fifteen he was under the age of consent." She said to me.

"But they could start accusations and rumor." Mark pointed out as he tapped his pen on the table thinking more.

"That's right." I nodded. "We will not be blackmailed or shamed in any way," I said firmly.

"I didn't do it very often." Mike defended quickly. "It wasn't all bad." He actually smiled at one memory. "Mr. Blanco." He chuckled. "He was a nice man that owned a little grocery store in South Miami. He let me work for him and stay in his storage room. He did that for about two years."

"He held a lost child in his store!? Why didn't he call Social Services or someone that could help?" Mark asked not understanding.

Mike laughed. "Because he was Cuban." He stated simply. "We didn't trust anyone in authority. He wasn't calling anyone. Remember Castro? Cubans handle their own problems, that's just the way they operate. They won't trust just anyone."

"Did he...?" I asked but couldn't ask the question.

Mike shook his head. "No, he was a nice man. It wasn't too bad there, but he died when I was thirteen. That was when..." he stopped and took a deep shaky breath, "I did it more often." He shook his head. "I had nowhere to go, I was hungry and there was no money...no one would just rent to a thirteen-year-old."

I took Mike's hand and squeezed it. "You don't need to justify what happened."

Mike nodded. "I do." He insisted. "I hid it so long."

Eli leaned forward and reached for Mike's other hand. "Mike, you are not the first human to do this or have it happen." He assured quietly. "It's called the oldest profession for a reason. It's gone back for thousands of years."

Mike nodded. "Sure, but not for me." He looked at me. "It's not because I wanted to." He urged to me. "I had to."

Knowing about the community he grew up in and what I heard and was told about Cuban-Americans...he looked like a regular Caucasian man with very dark hair. However, he was raised in that community and influenced by that community. He didn't see a way out until he got older.

"It's okay, Mike," I said again. "I understand."

A tear was forming in his eye. "It was just sex! I didn't love any of them." Mike said. "I do love you!" He insisted. "I do,"

I smiled bringing him close and kissing him gently. "I know you do, Baby," I whispered to him. "I know."

Amy smiled. "I think telling the truth is the best way to go." She said looking at Mike. "When you're ready."

Mark nodded. "Your face is out there now. You are even mentioned by name with a link to you on Wikipedia. The sooner you do this, the better." He looked at Mike closer. "Nothing after you were fifteen?"

"No," Mike said. "I had encounters, but not for money." He looked frustrated. "I did meet up with some others...we were six guys, all under eighteen living in this little...three-room apartment...I guess I did do it until seventeen...to pay rent...we all did." He shook his head. "I got a job. I worked, but...when short on the rent..." he said asking what else could he do with his tone.

"You survived, Mike." I reminded him and I looked at Amy and Mark. "Could this have an effect on Manny's and Wynona's attempt to take Chet?"

Amy chuckled and shook her head. "Absolutely not." She held her hand up to Mike. "Don't take this wrong, but...a former streetwalker, who has reformed and now married...raising a child? No. They can't use the past to take Chet."

Mark nodded. "In fact, I think if you tell everyone what happened in the past, they might just back off."

Mike nodded. "It would be embarrassing for them." He sat back with a sigh. "How do I explain this to Chet?"

"He's come a long way in a few months, Mike," I assured. "You can do it alone or with me. You're choice."

Mike shook his head. "I couldn't explain Sherry's death to Chet. What do I say to him about this?"

"Mike," I said. "You couldn't because of what his grandparents told him, which he believed. You will tell him the truth." I smiled. "You've taught him well how to analyze things. See things logically. He can do it again. He will understand." I smiled at Mike. "He will," I assured.

Mike nodded. "I hope so." He sighed. "I will..." he chuckled smiling at me and squeezed my hand, "we...will tell him tonight."

When Chet came home there was no one here, but me and Mike. His first question after looking around was, "Where'd Uncle Avi and Uncle Eli go?"

I looked at Mike, who wasn't as happy as he normally was. I turned back to Chet. "They will be back," I said going over to Chet and took his bookbag. "You know they will be here to go with you to your Grandma's and Grandpa's house. So, you'll see them in a week." I looked up at Mike. "Mike."

He looked at me bringing him from his thoughts and nodded dreading what he needed to tell his son. "We might as well do it now." He sighed and then smiled at Chet. "How was your day?"

Chet shrugged. "Fine. Just before Christmas break, no one was too busy." He replied, but he looked puzzled knowing his father. He knew something was happening. "What's wrong, Dad?"

Mike took a deep breath. "I've got something to tell you."

"Can we let him get in first?" I muttered to Mike. "We always hit him with things right when he gets home from school."

Chet wasn't backing down as he got closer to his father. "Dad?"

He smiled and nodded. "PopE's right. We'll talk about it after dinner, okay?"

"Is something wrong?" Chet asked and looked at me. "Am I in trouble?"

I knew children often took the blame for things in their mind at first, so I turned him around hugging him quickly. "What? No!" I glared at Mike. "See? We'll make him wary to come home." I looked at Chet. "You are not in trouble in any way, okay? You're Dad needs to tell you something...that is difficult for him. He will tell you. It has nothing to do with you."

Mike nodded. "PopE's right." He walked over hugging his son. "It's about me."

Chet looked in his father's eyes. "You had trouble telling me about Mom. You aren't going to leave, are you?"

Mike's eyes grew. "What!?" He was instantly shaking his head and hugged him again quickly. "No! No, no, no, son. I'm not leaving. You're not leaving. PopE's not leaving. We're a family now." He brought his son into a hug again and held him. "Don't worry about that." He pulled Chet back a little. "It's about the past. There are things in my past I need to tell you and because we're known now...what I have to tell you...I'm having problems with. Okay?"

"Okay." Chet was satisfied a little, but concerned seeing his father's face.

Mike smiled softer at his son. "I just...hate telling you. You might not ...see me as you do now after you do."

Chet's eyebrows came together. "I see you as Dad." He shrugged. "How will whatever you tell me change that?"

It was a simple statement and question, but very powerful. It was a simple fact. I smiled at Mike. "He told me. I see him just like before...even better now."

Mike smiled at me and looked down at Chet. "We'll talk after dinner."

We had a nice dinner. A somewhat spicy Tex-Mex chicken Parmesan. I love that flavor! Salsa was in it! It was nice just having us at the table for a change. I loved we were really becoming a family.

At the end of our meal, Mike smiled tightly to me. "Okay, Chet, here it is." He looked at his son. "Tell me what you know of your grandmother...my mother."

Chet looked surprised. "Nothing." He said. "I only know you told me you haven't seen her since before I was born."

Mike nodded. "That's right. I haven't. I never even saw my father." He looked at Chet. "Have they taught you about drugs in school? I know I've told you about some of them."

Chet nodded. "You said don't do it. They were bad. You told me about pot, cocaine, and others...school has this whole presentation about the bad things drugs can do."

Mike nodded. "When I was a little boy...younger than you are now...my mother got involved with some dangerous people. She began to do drugs. They are expensive. You become hooked on them and would do anything to get the money to get them." He hesitated and took a breath. "The world can be...very unpleasant."

I smiled at him and took his hand and that made him smile a little easier at me.

"I was a year older than you are now," Mike explained. "Mom had no money, but she had to have...whatever...she thought she needed. She had someone with money offering her that money in exchange for something." Mike looked at Chet. "We've talked about sex. You know that PopE and I do it as adults. What this man wanted was sex...but it was not love. He wanted it from me."

Chet's eyes widened. "You!?"

Mike nodded. "That's right. He wanted to have sex with a little boy. My mother let him do that with me to make the money for her drugs. I didn't have a choice."

Chet was trying to understand. "You knew what sex was?"

Mike shook his head. "Not much more than you do now." He held a finger up and said firmly. "It is not what PopE and I do. I wasn't the one having sex...he was. I was just the object. It was a while before I understood that, but that happened a lot for the next few years." He drank more tea like it was alcohol for courage, or just to wet his suddenly dry throat. "There were many men that wanted to do that. My mother found out they would pay her, so she let them." He took another deep breath. "When I was about twelve...she disappeared. She left me alone. It was a few weeks and I didn't know if she was alive or dead...I still don't, but no one was paying the bills so I could live there. No one was buying groceries. I was on my own. A nice man let me live and work for him. He was very nice, but then he died." Now, there were tears coming from his eyes. "Again, no one was looking out for me. I was again, on my own. I knew what some men wanted and...I did it. This time, I decided to do it. They would pay me so they could have sex." He shook a little. "I was a prostitute." He couldn't look at his son. "As soon as I could, I got a real job and I stopped doing it. There weren't jobs for young people that age and sex was the one thing many wanted and I had done it before, so I did it, to pay bills and eat." He shrugged and he looked at Chet. "I didn't want to do it. I had to or die."

Chet listened and his mouth dropped open.

"In many ways, I believe that is what your grandparents are afraid of," Mike said. "That I...or PopE will ask you to do things you are not ready for." He was slowly crying now. "I would do anything to keep it from happening to you. I will look out for you, but no one did that for me." He wiped his face of the tears. "I will be here for you. PopE will be here for you. Uncle Mark, Aunt Della, Grandpa Ray, Grandpa Frank, Uncle Eli and Uncle Avi...those are just some of the many people that will be here for you. I didn't have them. I don't want you to see me differently because of what I told you." He sighed again from the heaviness of what he'd told Chet. "Life can be nice and pretty, but not always. I will do all I can so you will never have that in yours." He pointed at Chet.

I watched as Chet...using what his father taught him to do...thought. I watched a series of looks from confusion to sadness as he absorbed what his father had said and finally looked at his father. The last thought was sadness. He got up slowly going to his father.

"You were alone." Chet shook his head. "I am sorry about what happened to you." He smiled weakly at Mike. "You are not alone now. I will never leave you, Dad."

Mike looked confused and shook his head. "But you heard what I told you...about having to do what I did..."

Chet nodded. "I heard. You said yourself, no one was there for you. I will be." He smiled at me. "I know PopE will be."

Of all the things he had to tell Chet and what Chet did first was assuring his father he wouldn't be alone made Mike smile at his son. "You understand about what I told you?"

Chet shrugged. "I know it was bad. I don't understand a lot about sex yet, but...you're my Dad." He said simply. "I love you."

Mike hugged his son. "Thank you. I love you, too." He wiped his eyes. "I will be telling a lot of people soon. I just didn't want it to be a surprise to you." He rubbed his son's back. "People can be mean. They might tease you."

Chet gave a shrug. "Okay."

I couldn't miss out, so I got up and hugged them both. Then I kissed Mike tenderly. "You said what you had to very well."

Mike smiled still hugging Chet. "I just don't want to affect how he sees me. I want to keep my little boy a while longer." He said ruffling the hair against him now.

Running my fingers through Chet's red hair, which Mike was right, it was getting darker as he got older. "I don't know..." I grinned. "He's very smart. He will probably see you better. Just like I do." Then I grinned. This had been tense, so it needed something special. "How about some fried ice cream?"

Chet looked up stunned and with a little doubt. "How do you fry ice cream? It's cold and frying is hot...that's not possible!"

"Oh, really?" I grinned at him. "But I say it can be done. It's time you learned some more. There's an Asian restaurant not far that serves some good fried ice cream and I'll prove it."

Mike got up but chuckled as he was enjoying what was happening now. "I thought it was Mexican."

"Is it?" I asked and shrugged. "I know it's served in many Mexican restaurants...I heard it was Asian, too. Then I heard it was done at the World's Fair in Chicago at the last of the 19th century." I threw my hands up. "Who cares? It's good! Let's go."

Chet loved it! It was nice just being out as a family, but I should have known what was going to happen. We came in the family restaurant fine, but I noticed a few faces look up and were startled as more were recognizing us...or just me. Fortunately, we got through our deserts with no problem, but there was a table with four people, two couples that were young. Late teens or early twenties as they commented about who we were. They were straight and on dates it seemed. As they finished getting up to leave, they came in our direction but was stopped by an Asian man who worked there. Was he the owner? Perhaps, but he stopped them. I couldn't hear much, but I heard him ask something and the girl said.

"That's Eric Richards!" She claimed excitedly loud enough for everyone there to hear, to which the man explained that we'd come as a family and deserve to be left alone.

I looked at Mike and leaned closer to him. "I better handle this, or there will be trouble when we go to the car." I got up going over to them. "Hello." I touched the owner and smiled. "Thank you, but...I'll talk to them." I nodded and the owner bowed slightly and moved off.

"We saw you there..." she said excitedly to me. "I knew you lived in Fort Worth, but..." she grabbed her...boyfriend's...date's arm, "I never dreamed..."

Her boyfriend grinned. "She's a little excited."

"I love your music!" She claimed and poked her boyfriend in the side to make him laugh and yelp. "You do, too! The music is so..."

"Energetic." Her boyfriend added quickly interrupting her.

"Charged!" The other young man added.

I grinned as I nodded. "Well, I didn't want people to fall asleep when they listen."

The other girl frowned. "So...you're...gay?" She asked as if that fact was hard to believe.

Handling this took delicacy. "If you're asking because you want a date...that won't happen." I answered. "Whether I am or not...I'm taken. Why else do you need to know?"

She shook her head realizing how it sounded. "No, no it's not that...it's just...you're...so cute!" She said waving at me. "It's just a shame."

"Why?" I did laugh at that. "There's no shame in it at all." I chuckled. "A shame that no woman would ever have sex with me!?" I shook my head. "Don't worry about me missing out on anything. I'm fine, thanks."

The first girl turned to her friend. "Really, Tiff?"

Something was given for me to sign autographs which I did and then said I needed to return to my family. Sitting again with Mike and Chet, Mike chuckled. "It's just going to get worse."

I nodded returning to my ice cream which had started to melt and was softer now. It was still good though. "Mark was talking about some increase needed for security. I guess we have to do that."

"The protesters in front of the house are pretty well disbanded now," Mike said. "They weren't much of a threat really before, but you're increased popularity..."

I nodded. "There are some...crazy people out there." I conceded. "Mark suggested moving, but...I like our house."

Mike grinned taking my hand. "Our house." He said nodding bringing my hand to him kissing my hand lightly. "I like that. Our house."

"It is our house," I said again. "Mark suggested moving, I've thought about a wall around the house...but I have to get that approved by the Homeowner's Association. I had a hard time with them when I started a business. I made it part of the purchase before I bought the house. I was buying both halves..." I shrugged looking at now more faces that were looking in our direction and talking in hushed voices to whomever they were with. "I write music. I sing songs and now..." I waved at the others in the restaurant, "it's not the occasional gay men that know us now, but a lot of others as well."

"We're going to California in little more than two weeks," Mike said. "We'll be there a month or so...there will be time."

Chet had a confused look on his face. "We will come back though...from California?" He asked.

Mike shrugged and looked at me. "Will we?"

I looked at him surprised. "This is my home now. It's your home, too." I shook my head. "I don't want to leave Fort Worth. It was very welcoming to me." I looked at Chet. "You like it here, right?"

Chet nodded assuring me quickly. "I do! It's got everything, school, my friends, Six Flags!"

I laughed and didn't want to tell him technically Six Flags was not in Fort Worth, but Arlington, but an easy drive. "We're just going so I can work."

"And I wanted us to go with him this time," Mike told Chet. He looked at me. "Where will we be staying in California?"

"Mark's negotiating with the people filming the movie. I was hoping a nice apartment or condo somewhere near the studio." I shrugged. "If they want me, which I signed the contract for...they will have to accommodate."

Mike nodded with a grin. "If Mark is negotiating, it will be more than fine." He took my hand. "These people want you badly. They know a money maker. They'll have something you'll approve of."

The commotion with the fans had caused the few others to look, but they didn't come over to us. We enjoyed our ice cream and went home.

The next few days we packed. Not only for the three or four days in Charleston but to move to Los Angeles. Mark had come over to see that everything was working toward a mutually common end.

"...it's a house." Mark was saying in Mike's and my room as he was reading over what he'd been sent. "It's in the West Hollywood area...not far from the studio they will be filming in..." he said reading off his laptop.

I was listening, but...I was packing! "The weather for January in L.A. is cool?"

Mark looked up surprised. "What?" He shook his head. "I don't know...I guess...it's Los Angeles." He said as if that answer gave me the answer.

I chuckled. He'd never change. "You've been watching reruns of Baywatch again."

Mark frowned. "No, but it's always sunny."

I nodded. "Is it?" I walked in to my computer and typed quickly. I read the page as it displayed. "No, it's not." I chuckled pointing at the screen. "Average temperatures in January are in the mid-fifties to upper forties." I looked back at Mark. "And it does rain despite Hammond's words in the song that says, it never rains in Southern California."

Mark shrugged as he thought of the song. "The weather is not what that song was about." He waved at his laptop. "Aren't you listening to me?"

I shook my head. "Nope." I chuckled going back in the closet to begin to sort through clothes. "Is there a decision about who my co-star will be?"

"Yep, Tom Spencer."

I gave a nod coming back, knowing who he was and had looked at all three on the internet. I hit the internet again and pulled up his page. "Sure. He looks nice enough." I saw pictures of him and his lovely blonde female fiancé. Looking back at Mark. "He's bisexual? Or gay-friendly?"

Mark shrugged. "He's an actor." He said simply.

"I'd like to meet him," I said. "If I'm going to kiss him convincingly, I need to know him." I walked over to Mark. "I mean, I want to meet him and his fiancé Heather with Mike and me. We need to become friends. Our screen romance has to be convincing."

Mark nodded. "I'll see if we can get that to happen." He frowned as he looked at me. "I guess that's why we never..." he shook his head. "Sorry." He knew he was beating a dead horse. "What's past is past."

I walked toward him. "No, finish the sentence."

Mark grimaced. "I wouldn't think twice about kissing Tom Spencer. If he'd let me. It wouldn't be an odd thing for me." He shook his head. "I never got that."

"I know." I smiled daring to ask him. "When we did kiss...I meant it every time. Did you?"

"Sometimes."

I grinned and kissed him on the cheek. "I meant that one, too. We're friends. That's why you're in Mike's and my bedroom without Mike being here!"

Arrangements were made for our trip to Charleston. We took a plane to Atlanta, where we met Avi and Eli Bau. Why is it that they never assigned the same concourse? Chet was very happy to see his adopted uncles again hugging them both. From there we flew to Charleston. Again, we stayed at The Charleston Place. This time, we had to get a suite with an additional connecting room. We arrived the day before to make sure we were on time.

I came to Avi's and Eli's room to see if they were ready. Their door was open, so I watched Avi load his shoulder holster with his gun from the doorway. Avi looked at me and saw my frown.

"You know this is only a precaution," Avi said quietly as he put on his sports jacket to cover the gun.

I nodded. "I just wonder about the need for this kind of caution." I shrugged. "All this because a family wants a grandchild to visit for Christmas," I said sadly.

Eli had been coming out from the bathroom and heard us. "Manny Atkins used a gun to try to," he did air quotes, "persuade Mike into giving him his son to them. I don't think being overly cautious is a bad thing in this case." He held the big envelope with the court papers in them...instructions on how this would go. He walked over and put his arm around me. "We'll be careful. Nothing will happen to Chet."

We had rented a big SUV while in Charleston. It was necessary for all that was going. Arriving at the Atkins' home a little before six that evening. It was getting dark, so the lights were on and there was nothing to tell about the family's intentions. Like Sherry, the house was...cute. I thought the lights on display were a little overdone. Garish to me, really with the whole roof lined with too many twinkling lights, lighted candles in all the windows, the Santa on display with all the reindeer under a bright light. The lighted inflatable snowman lit, candy canes in the yard, the complete nativity set out with Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, and several barn animals, with the shepherds...all lit!

Mike looked as he parked the SUV and shook his head and chuckled. "They just don't get it."

I smiled at my husband. "What are you talking about?"

"Look at Mary." He pointed to the nativity.

Sure enough, Mary...she was white and was very blonde. I chuckled, too. "Well, at least they are displayed. Only about ten percent of this whole display has any religious part about Christmas."

"Manny and Wynonna would never believe Jesus was possibly black." Mike grinned.

"Or perhaps a Sand Nigger?" Avi said from behind Mike as he grinned. Eli slapped him lightly and Avi chuckled and shrugged. "What? I'm just saying!"

"We're here now, so..." I said opening the door. "Let's deliver Chet as promised at the appointed time."

Chet grunted from between Avi and Eli. "I really don't want to."

Mike turned in the driver's seat. "I know, son." He reached caressing his son's face. "But part of you is in that house." He sighed. "They are your family. You like some of your cousins. You might have a good time." He pleaded a little. "Try to have a good time?"

Chet sighed as if it was an almost impossible task he had to do. "Okay."

We all gathered at the door and rang the bell. When Wynonna answered, she smiled seeing Chet, but frowned looking up and seeing Mike and myself...then looked at two she didn't know. She looked back at Chet. "Hi, Chet!" She bent to kiss him, but Chet backed away slightly, so she didn't move to continue the attempt to make Chet kiss her.

"Hi," Chet answered distantly but didn't move forward.

Mike waved at Avi and Eli. "This is Avi and Eli Bau..." He began.

"They're Jewish!" Chet said proudly. "They are my new uncles. Are you serving anything kosher tonight?" He asked a little irritated that she wouldn't be or even know what it is.

"Kosher?" Wynonna asked looking up and saw Eli's ever-present Yarmulke. "Oh, I see."

"They will be staying here while Chet's here," Mike explained.

"Why?" Wynonna asked shaking her head. "We have a social worker here."

Avi smiled. "Understandably, we don't take your preparations into consideration," Avi said firmly. He pulled out a folder. "Here is the documentation of this visit. Court directives and sanctioned by a judge. Who we are, our credentials and outline for this visit...my husband Eli..."

"Your husband!?" Wynonna gasped.

Eli chuckled. "Yes, Jews can be gay, too. We are married. This social worker...do you have her credentials available? Was she court approved as a part of the chaperoned visit?" He waved at the papers she was holding. "That is a signed document stating ours and the court approval from both states."

Wynonna shook her head. "No, I don't have Sally's credentials." She snapped.

"Okay." Mike walked closer. "We are fulfilling what we said we would do. We are complying with rules agreed to by our lawyers..." he stood up straighter as he got what Wynonna said. "Wait. Sally? Sally Evette!?"

Wynonna nodded. "She is a social worker."

"And a member of that sick church!" Mike stated and cocked his head turning to me. "Deben pensar que soy tan crédulo." He said telling me they must think he was gullible.

"Mike," I said touching him lightly on the hand.

Chet chuckled and looked at his grandmother. "Dad and PopE speak Spanish when they don't want others to know what they're saying."

Then Mike turned to Wynonna again. "Do I strike you as being that stupid!? No!" He shook his head. "We have the papers, which are copies. Avi and Eli will remain with Chet and he does not leave their sight...not even once! That is written and filed with a lawyer! Understood?" He said calmly but putting his hand on Chet's shoulder. "Avi and Eli have our confidence and we will come back immediately if they call. It's that, or we go back to Fort Worth right now." He shook his head. "I don't trust either of you. You are Chet's grandparents and want him to know you. No. I will comply with the court's directives, but so will you!"

"Both of them have to stay?" Wynonna asked pointing at Avi.

"Eli's the psychologist and social worker." Mike grinned. "Avi's the police enforcer." He looked back as Avi opened his jacket and showed his badge. His shoulder holster held the gun at his side. "And don't say any crap about not allowing guns in this house. Manny's got quite a few...or did until he used one on me."

Avi nodded. "All this is covered in the documentation."

Eli smiled. "Just curious." He began. "You know Jesus is Jewish, right?"

Wynonna was surprised. "Of course, he was."

"To be a Jew, you must be born of a Jew...meaning Mary had to be the Jew." He waved at the nativity. "She doesn't look Jewish...at least not two thousand years ago...Anglo Saxons were held in Rome as slaves, but..."

"So, do we take Chet and go back?" Mike asked.

Wynonna frowned but stepped back to let Avi in first, followed by Chet and then Eli.

"We won't be far, son," Mike said waving at Chet. "Be good!"

I saw Mike look back at the door as it closed by Wynonna. We walked back to the SUV and I took Mike's hand in mine.

"He'll be fine, Mike," I assured, taking his hand as we got back in the SUV. "Avi and Eli will watch carefully." We stopped on the sidewalk. "What do you do Christmas Eve?"

"We could go to the mall?" Mike grinned.

My eyes widened. "No way! You couldn't get me to go willingly to any mall tonight. I'm not a masochist."

Mike chuckled as he started the SUV. "I think Starbuck's is still open for now." His eyebrows danced a little. "They have some great holiday coffees and other drinks, but you're recognized more now."

"First get there. If it's not too crowded...we handled it at Su-Chen's with the fried ice cream. If it's not bad, we can risk it. We'll be fine." I waved at him to drive. "Come on, let's go."

The Starbuck's wasn't crowded at all. Those last minute shoppers were still at the malls, which were closing at eight that evening, or they were with family already, home for Christmas Eve to spend together...they might stop before going home. We walked in and there were no surprises, though one dark-haired young man in his twenties with five others...there was one elderly woman, two middle-aged adults, and two others a boy and a girl, younger than the young man: family from the similar looks of them...his eyes widened when he saw us but didn't say anything.

The person at the counter was a young blonde woman who smiled at us automatically. When we placed our orders she really saw us. Her eyes also did the widening thing. I knew she recognized us. They always ask your name to put on the cup when it was ready. I heard her whisper to the two others there working to make the coffee and they looked, too. She didn't do the question but put the name on our cups without needing to ask.

It was bound to happen, Charleston believes itself a city, but it's really several small towns squeezed together. Where we were in West of the Ashley and well...we got our special coffees. Mine had the minty taste of candy canes, his was a holiday spiced coffee with cinnamon. Delicious. We were just relaxing together on a cushioned bench with my arm around the back of him. It wasn't busy here, but out there? There was no way we were heading back to the hotel as traffic would be hard enough until later. We also needed to be local to the Atkins' home in case there were problems and we had to go back quickly. Mike and I were enjoying ourselves and we didn't even think about where we were in this city or concerned what others saw us do, which was nothing, but sit close together enjoying the quiet music and rich smells of the many coffees...we heard the door chime for new customers coming in. The place might get more crowded as everyone would be heading home for Christmas stuff and get a relaxing Cinnamon or Eggnog drink. Three women entered laughing together. I recognized them immediately. My heart sunk. Patricia, the young woman that approached Mike that first night looking for a man to father children, Betty, one of the three of four women that had been friends since high school and Susan...Susan, my ex-fiancé. I stiffened a bit. Mike's eyes went to where I was looking and his eyes came back to me. The happy atmosphere, the soft playing Christmas music in the background...just soured.

"Do you want to leave?" Mike asked me quietly.

I had guilt feelings with Susan. It wasn't her fault, but...I lied to her. She and I never really talked before I left. I just...left. Looking over at Mike, he gave me such a look of concern and love. It gave me courage. "No, Mike. This should have been addressed for some time now."

The three were busy talking and laughing until Patricia saw me and froze. The other two looked and I saw Susan's eyes show immediate surprise and then hurt and then lastly...anger.

I rose from beside Mike and walked over. "Hello, Susan," I said softly. "How are you?"

The thing was...Susan was pretty. Reddish brown hair hung below her shoulders, and she stood a few inches shorter than me. She had put on some weight since I saw her last, but it wasn't bad. She had a Chinese grandmother, so it added a slightly exotic touch, which I found appealing...somewhat.

"Eric," Susan said in an even tone, but there was still anger in her eyes confronted with me; remembering what I'd done to her almost a decade ago. "It's been what...almost eight years?"

I nodded. "It has been." My heart was beating faster, not because she meant anything to me, but I had done something wrong. I had hurt her. Admitting a wrong is hard. The four friends probably told each other everything, so... "I'm sorry," I said as sincerely as I could. "It was never my intent to hurt you."

"Why are you here?" Patricia said a little snide. "There are no concerts in Charleston." She looked over at Mike. "We heard about you and Mike."

"You left Charleston to be gay." Betty shot quickly and angrily. "Leaving without a word!" She looked over at Mike. "And took him to be gay, too!"

It hurt, but I stood my ground. "I didn't leave to be gay, Betty. I was gay before I left. I am gay. I didn't seduce or make Mike gay. We just are." I said without the volume or anger!

I saw some of the anger in Susan's eyes lessen. "Then why did you ask me to marry you?" She demanded.

I looked at Patricia and Betty saying to them, "I'm sure you will get all the details from Susan later. Can I speak to her alone?"

"There is no way you..." Patricia said angrily.

"Pat!!" Susan said loudly causing them to look at Susan surprised. "Please?" She said softer. "Give us a minute. I will be fine."

Betty and Patricia looked at each other. Betty nodded finally. "We'll be right over there." She told Susan as she pointed to the opposite side of the store from where Mike and I were sitting. Being near us would be unthinkable; shunning us was a statement. They walked away to get whatever they had come in for.

"You can still get what you came in for," I said to her. "I'll buy it."

"I guess you're doing well," Susan said a little bitterly. "I hear your songs on the radio now. You have concerts all over. You are even in the news."

"Yes, it's going very well," I said walking her to the counter to get her coffee...or something. The caramel...something. She had no problem taking what I bought her. I motioned to a small table where we sat. I knew it would probably be loud...in a Starbuck's on Christmas Eve...who wouldn't love that? I gave a glance to Mike, who was trying not to look like he was watching, but he was. I liked that. I looked at Susan. "I'm sorry for what I did."

"You lied to me," Susan repeated through gritted teeth, her anger coming back a little.

I admitted it. "Yes, I did." I sighed. "How could I tell you truth I could not admit to myself? I never wanted to be gay."

"Then don't do it!" Susan said angrily.

"I could have remained where I was," I said. "I could have just done what I was expected to do. I could have married you." I leaned forward. "That would really have been a huge lie." I shook my head. "The wedding and commitment...I could no more not be gay than I could not be white!" I pounded my own chest. "I didn't choose this, I am this." I shook my head again. "I am a white, brown-eyed, black-haired, gay man," I said loud enough to be heard by the others in the store.

"You said you loved me!" Susan claimed loudly and now the other family members were looking very uncomfortable at us now. So was the girl behind the counter. Susan looked at the girl and family and leaned in saying softer to me. "You never loved me."

I shook my head and closed my eyes covering my face with my hands. "I did...I thought." Begging her to understand. "I tried to do what I was expected..." and I heard her gasp. Putting my hands down to see what it was, I watched her eyes follow my left hand.

"You're married!?" She asked louder. "Who..." She looked at Mike and feared who she knew that who was.

Mike had gotten up and had begun approaching when our voices had risen. "To me." He held his left hand out to show her the matching ring and then put the left hand on my shoulder standing behind me.

She looked angrier now. "I knew it!!" She said standing pointing at us. "All that time...you two were so close..."

"Stop it!" I demanded loudly now standing. "We don't need to embarrass..."

"You were sleeping with him!" She pointed at Mike her anger getting louder. "Ben told us..."

"Ben!?" I asked, remembering my one-time tenant. "He'd have sex with anybody, but he and I jerked off, that's all!" I shouted. "Mike and I never..."

"Eric," Mike said quietly putting his arms around me. "Don't." He said near my ear. "Calm down."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes feeling the eyes of those here on us. "We should have done this outside, or in the car. For the lie, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." I said forcing calm. "I couldn't marry you. That would have been a much bigger lie that would have been a disaster, but you're going to believe what you want."

She looked at Mike angrily. "You married Sherry! You got her pregnant before that marriage!"

Betty and Patricia were now standing next to Susan. "How could you do that if you're gay!?" Betty demanded of Mike.

Mike shook his head. "Sherry was too excited and willing to go to bed with me...she was as guilty as I was!"

I frowned. "Did you love me?" I interrupted him as I shouted at Susan. "Did you really?" I walked around the little table. "Or did you agree to marry someone that might and has made money? My father was a doctor! I remember the first time over at the house...you loved the money and the house!"

"That is not true!" Susan shouted back. "I cared about you; I was starting to love you!"

"You cared and started to love me." I nodded, folding my arms across my chest. "The problem is...what you believe. I chose to believe you did love me. I was a virgin until I went to Texas, never having had sex with anyone. You were the perfect girl to make everyone happy." I got closer to her. "I apologize for what I did. I am..." I said softer, "begging you to forgive me. The whole decade was handled wrong. I regret hurting you and not loving him in the very beginning. I was guilty of falling in love with him while he was there with me." I shrugged. "It began the night we met."

She shook her head and some of the anger was ebbing away. "I saw that." She said weakly. "I saw the...connection you had with him. The ease with how you just...blended."

"What?" I asked confused. She was jealous?

She nodded as tears were forming. "Whenever one would come in the room with the other...both of your whole faces changed." She smiled. "Your eyes, Eric, just lit up when you saw him. They never did with me."

"I never..." I began again understanding. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Susan shook her head. "No, you didn't mean to." She sniffed and laughed. "You never would have meant to hurt me. You couldn't lie well, and you were always a gentleman." She looked at her two friends. "We had many long nights talking about you." She waved at Mike. "Then the Atkins, Manfred shooting you after you left to live with Eric..."

"But it was so soon after Sherry died..." Betty said. "That was the..."

"No." Susan shook her head and gave a grimacing look to her friend. "Come on, Betty, you knew what Sherry was like. She was a spoiled brat all her life. Selfish." She shrugged. "I was surprised the marriage lasted as long as it did, Mike."

Mike nodded, but his arms were still around me. "It ended a few years ago."

"You took Chet." Patricia objected, her focus was on Chet and children.

Mike nodded. "He's my son. Of course, I did. He is going to be Eric's and my son soon."

"That's why we're here," I explained. "Chet's with his grandparents now." I smiled at Susan. "I ask again." I waved at Patricia and Betty. "They can hear it, too. Please, forgive me, Susan? I am so sorry."

Susan smiled a little. "It is nice to know I was rejected simply for having the wrong equipment."

We both chuckled. "Do you understand it wasn't a choice?" I asked.

"Dr. Johnson has gone on and on about the demons of homosexuality, but the numbers are so great..." Susan reasoned. "I can't really believe that."

I grinned. "We are everywhere." I reached out and took her hand. "Are you dating or..." taking her hand I felt the ring on her finger, "married?"

Susan nodded. "I've married David Castleberry. He's in the Navy and at sea right now. I live in Virginia now. I'm just here for Christmas visiting my parents while he's away."

I grinned and nodded. "That's very good. I'm very happy for you."

"We married two years ago while he was stationed here in Charleston." She nodded. "We wants to start a family," she said. "He wants to be here, though. He's going for stateside duty, and we are planning to do so when he does."

I frowned. "Are you still with that church?"

She shook her head laughing lightly. "No, David attended twice, but said he wanted to find another church after that."

"Smart man," I growled as Mike let me go a little. "I hope things are good now for you. I want the best for you."

Susan nodded confidently. "That's David." She leaned in kissing me on the cheek. "Thank you." She said looking at Mike. "I hope you two will be happy together." She said and went to join her two friends.

Mike turned me around. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." I smiled. "Much better now."

The young man came over. The one who recognized us. "Sorry, Mr. Richards, but..." he grinned and handed me a slip of paper. "Could I get an autograph?"

I chuckled. "Sure," I said taking it asking his name and signed it to him.

"And you, too..." he said knowing who Mike was, "Mr. Oblivious." The young man grinned. He shook his head marveling at what happened. "So, you two are married now?"

Why fight it? We just aired everything in the Starbuck's! "We are. There is still a wedding coming, but..."

He held his hand out. "I got it. No problem."

I was asked by the three in the Starbuck's working for the same thing, which I did and apologized for the scene. Before Mike and I returned to the SUV, I stopped by the three ladies. "Merry Christmas."

Susan rose to hug me. "Merry Christmas."