Jason's First Workout -- Chapter XXIV -- Homecomings and goings
(This work is copyrighted by OlCoach44@gmail.com, December 8, 2021. All rights reserved. Copies or re-posting without express written permission of the author are explicitly forbidden and subject to US Copyright law.)
Dear Readers:
Thanks to all of you who continue to provide feedback and email me with suggestions/questions or thanks. If you like this story, check out my other two in the Nifty archives -- "Lil' Joe Comes Home" and "The Adam Chronicles". Though only a few chapters each, they are stories I started some years back.
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As always, thanks for hanging in there between chapters and for reading!
Best, Coach Luke. Olcoach44@gmail.com
New chapters (5 and up) updated to present day: Luke age 57, Brock 49, Jason 34, Joe 40, Chase 29, Sam 27. The Hendricks clan: William (Will) SR, (64) wife Barb (63)- William Jr (37), Mary Francis (35), Thomas (Tommy) (32) and Kate (29).
April 2021 Luke
"Just give me a fucking second to catch my breath," Brock panted, leaning on the porch railing for support. "Why'd you have to end that damned course with those pull up bars?"
"I said you could skip that last round if it was too much," I answered, chugging my water bottle and letting some spill over my face and chest. "Here, drink your water," I said, handing him his own bottle from the cooler on the top step.
"Fuck," he said taking it. "I used to not be such a wuss. What the fuck's wrong with my cardio these days?"
"You'll get back there, Bud," I said, rubbing his back as he downed the water. "Lifting only and no cardio is catching up with you. But I think it's also 10-12 hours on your feet every day that's not helping." He continued to pant in between drinks. The warm spring Saturday morning had gotten muggy. We were both soaked through, and I peeled my wet tank top from my skin and stood, letting what little breeze there was cool my damp head, torso, and legs.
Brock pulled up more and eyed me lasciviously. "You stink, pardner!" he smirked.
"Not as rank as you, Grandpa." I answered, spreading my legs and giving my best ironman stance. "You like what you see or your vision not back yet?"
He lunged at me and I sidestepped, up the stairs and onto the porch. "You want something?" I turned my back and shook my ass at him. I'd worn my skimpiest black running shorts with the slits up the sides, mesh liner, and nothing else. They were soaked through with sweat so I knew he could see everything. I felt a hairy paw grab at my crack and stepped forward again.
"Give me a fucking second," he groaned, topping the steps and then bending over again, hands on his sweaty knees. I rubbed one hand across his sweaty, shaved head and then brought my palm to my nose. I inhaled deep.
"Fuuuck," I sighed. "You okay?" I reached again for his neck and placed my second bottle of cool water against it.
"Yeah, just -- what the fuck is up with me? I didn't use to be so worn out from an hour of lifting?" he moaned again.
"It was about 40 minutes, and it was mixed muscle resistance and cardio, Stud. I do this every other day. You're usually heading to the hospital and lifting downstairs when you get a chance. It's not the same thing. We'll get you back there." I said, trying to comfort him. He was starting to scare me a bit because he never seemed this winded, or spent, when we were lifting in our home gym downstairs. Then he raised up and gave me that megawatt smile, and my handsome, bearded stud boy was back.
"I'm okay, Papi. Just winded. Not too winded to notice that fine ass though," he smirked. I stepped toward him and flexed. He ran a meaty paw along one bicep and let out a low whistle. "You are still the sexiest fucking grandpa in town." Our lips met softly and I licked around his.
"Mmm," I groaned. Then licked along the side of his stubbly jaw, tasting the salt of his sweat. "Fuck, you taste good."
"I've lost a step, baby," he whined.
"Shut up." I commanded. "I've got almost 8 years on you, and I say you're still my fuck-boy."
"Boy, huh?" He smiled as I tugged on his threadbare Emory t-shirt that was plastered across his furry pecs and shoulders. He crossed his arms and pulled it over his head and tossed it into my face. I buried my face in it, inhaling his aroma and grabbing my hardening cock with my other hand. "You don't think I'm thickening up a bit?" he asked, pinching one love handle.
I dropped the t-shirt. "I'm horned up! Are you really asking me to tell you if you look fat in those shorts?" I scolded him.
"Sorry, Daddy, it's just -- you're so fucking hard and sexy. I don't want to be that guy." "What guy?" I shot back.
"The one who lets himself go to seed." He groused.
"There's only one seed I'm thinking of and we're going to get down to it, right out here," I grumbled, reaching for him.
"Fuck, Papi. You mean I still turn you on?" He teased.
"Can you see this hard cock in these tight shorts that I wore just for you, baby?" I asked, stepping up to him and raising both meaty arms above his head. I then buried my face in his left pit, sniffing, sucking, and licking it `til he groaned out loud.
"Fuuuck," he said, as I moved to the right pit. "Does my stink turn you on, Daddy?"
"You know it does, muscle boy," I said, lowering my voice and then jerking down his sweaty shorts, revealing a now-stretching jockstrap that was far from new. "I'm gonna lick these sweaty balls and get you all worked up, then I'm going to eat that sweaty ass until you're begging for this thick cock. You think you can handle that, Stud?"
"Fuck, Luke, you know I love it when you get nasty, but," he hesitated.
"What, Fucker?" I said, and grabbed his crotch and twisted.
"Fuck!" He shouted. "Shit, it's just, you woke me up and busted my ass to get out here and workout. I haven't really, um, cleaned in a while. You know, back there." I started laughing.
"Seriously?" I smirked. "I just licked your sweaty pits and said I was going to lick your sweaty crotch after an hour workout. You think after 15 years together I'm scared of my boy's nasty hole. Maybe I want it nasty," I groaned, sticking my tongue in his mouth, and groping his growing cock through the jockstrap. "You forgot how hard and nasty I can be?"
He groaned and pressed his crotch into my sweaty embrace. "Fuck me, Daddy. Use your nasty boy." I groaned at his response. Stepping back, I dropped my sweaty running shorts, my hard, leaking cut cock slapping up as I freed it, then I dropped to my knees and buried my face in my man's crotch. I licked each hairy thigh and sucked on that sweaty jock. I pulled it away from him, freeing those sweaty balls as he widened his stance to give me better access.
"Oh Fuck, Daddy," He moaned. "You're too good to this boy." By now his uncut cock had freed itself from the waste-band but I was still bathing those huge, hairy nuts in my spit. I pulled the strap down, loosing that fore-skinned 9 inches that I adored and began to jack it slowly with one hand, while the other fondled the nuts I was eating. I got another moaned "Fuuuck" in response to my work. A long stream of pre-cum began its descent from his foreskin as I ate man-nuts; first one, then the other. There was no way to get both of those bull-sized balls in my mouth. I kept stroking him then raised up and took just the cockhead in my mouth, swirling my tongue in and out of his foreskin and tasting the bit of cheesy gunk still mixed in with his increasing pre-cum. Pulling down the skin with my other hand, I sucked hard on the exposed head and swiped my tongue across that large piss slit a few times, moaning to vibrate his nerve endings and sucking down all of that pre-cum. I looked up, gave him a wink, then used both hands on his hips to spin him.
I slapped each hairy butt cheek once; hard, leaving a handprint; I pulled apart those ripe hairy cheeks and hocked a good load of spit on that furry man-clit. Gooseflesh raised across his ass and back as my man moaned, and spread his muscle legs even wider. I inhaled deeply, throbbing at the scent of sweat and man-funk coming off of his rank ass. I positioned my out-stretched tongue in torpedo fashion and dove straight into his hole, reveling in the overwhelming funk of his ass. He moaned, reached back, and pressed my head into his ass. I tongued, gnawed, and chewed across his hairy hole, panting, licking and sucking. I kept working my tongue into his cleft, tasting the intoxicating flavor of my man, working as much spit as possible into his pussy. He continued to moan and grind against me and started to beg me to fuck him.
"Oh God, please, just fuck me already. C'mon Luke, I need that cock, Daddy!" he begged.
Still, I spit, sucked and chewed. I wanted him wet and ready when I entered him because I knew this would not be a slow love-making. I was hot, hard, and ready. This would be a hard and fast man-fuck. When I had my tongue and three hairy fingers up in him working his love-nut and his juices hard, I backed my face out and stood. I used one hand to wipe the sweat and spit from my beard and mustache, as I leaned over Brock's sweaty back, I whispered into his right ear, "hold on to that fucking porch railing, boy, because you're about to get fucked."
"MotherfuÉyowwww!" he shouted as I shoved my entire fuck-stick up that tight, nasty hole. Immediately I began to rail him hard, almost totally withdrawing and then ramming back into him as hard as I could. He yelped with each forward thrust into his un-lubed hole, but then he started to howl, then growl, and finally push back to meet my thrusts. We were both scarlet red with heat and sweat. I could feel the sweat dripping off my forehead and chest onto his hairy back each time I thrust forward. My cockhead was a molten sword, plowing the heat of his fiery ass, begging for release to shoot my wad and put out this fire. I was close and reached forward to grab his throbbing, leaking cock, batting his big mitt away as I did so.
"That's my cock to jack, boy, just like this is my hole to seed!" I shouted.
"Fuck me, Daddy," Brock growled. "Breed your goddamned hole. You own it." That did it. I saw stars as what felt like a thousand ants covered my cockhead and my ejaculate was released, singeing his furnace of a fuck chute, once twice, three times. I lost count as I collapsed against my man's sweaty back, feeling each throbbing pulse of my cock in his pussy release my seed that was now beginning a retreat and slipping out of his well-fucked hole to mix with our sweat and drip down his legs and onto my crotch. My boy moaned again, and I gripped his cockhead harder, stroking his skin along his throbbing man-meat `til I felt him erupt, covering my hand with his own molten load. He growled deep in his pit and hunched back against me. "Fuuuck" he groaned slowly.
"Fucking right," I smiled into his neck. "That's how you should take it and often. I'm gonna whip this fine ass back into shape, Boy."
"Damn, Daddy," he whispered, turning his head back to me, our tongues reaching out to writhe and wrestle some spit back and forth. "I forgot how good you can man-handle me. I may pass out."
I crooked a muscled arm around his shoulder and throat.
"I've got you, Fucker. Don't you ever forget that," I nuzzled against his neck.
"Fuck Luke," He groaned again. "I goddamn fucking love you so much stud."
"Ditto," I growled into him, then began to peel my sweating chest from his back. "But you knowÉ"I said, smiling slowly. "All of a sudden, I feel like I need to piss."
He laughed. "It's been a long time, Daddy. Go ahead."
I leaned back, my softening cock still buried in his sweaty, cum-saturated man pussy, and I relaxed my pelvis, using those old Kegel exercises, and began, slowly, to piss up my man's ass. Slowly, I could feel my stream building and suddenly piss was shooting up his ass and douching him fully, pouring back out of his ass and washing piss, cum, and other shit out of him and into my crotch. He moaned again, standing up, and my cock fell out, my last few shots of piss rinsing the hairy insides of his big hams.
"Fuck," I moaned, shaking my coated dick in one hand. "Let's hit the outside shower. I'll clean the piss and shit off of the porch later."
He turned to around and kissed me. "That was the hottest, nastiest fuck ever!"
"Glad you liked it," I smiled. "Play your cards right and after I soap you up in the shower, I'll breed you again."
"Damn, Papi. Not sure my legs can take it after that workout," he groaned.
"We'll talk more about your workout schedule after we're both cleaned up. Now get your ass moving," I said, slapping his sweaty, dripping cheeks.
May 2021 Jason VIA Facetime
"Doc, can you hear me?" I asked.
"Yes, son. But no picture yet," Luke responded.
"Is Dad there?" I asked, adjusting the iPad to the hotel wifi and running tech. "Dad?"
"Coming!" I heard Brock say, and then suddenly both were on my screen.
"See me now?" I asked.
"Hey Bud," they both said. "You look tired, Jay," Luke said.
"I'm good, Dads, really good. We just wanted to update you and let you know there was a slight change of plans butÉ" I motioned off screen and then Joe joined me.
"Hi Dads!" Joe said, leaning into the camera. "As Jay was saying, it didn't work out for a baby girl."
"Oh no!" Brock said. "What?" I heard from Luke.
Joe continued, "Instead, we got a boy!" And with that he leaned back, bringing Daniel into the frame. "Can you say hi to your grandpas, Danny?" The look on my Dads' faces was priceless. Shock! Elation! Lots of questions?
"Holy Shit!" Brock exclaimed.
"Wait, that's not a baby," Luke began. "He's a toddler or bigger? And he's?" I saw the look of concern. I nudged Joe.
"Okay, Dads. I gotta go wrestle this guy into his PJs and I'm gonna let his Daddy tell you all about our miracle boy here," Joe said, leaning back with D in his arms. "Can you wave to Grandpa's?" But Danny just buried his face in Joe's muscular neck as he gently stood and left me in the computer frame to face my Dads. We'd already had a wonderful video chat with Joe's grandmother, and made a phone call to his biological father, Will Hendricks, to share our news. All of that had been easy preparation for what I knew was about to be the `Great Inquisition.'
"Son," Luke began, but I raised a hand.
"Doc, I know you and Dad have lots of questions and this is not what I'd prepared you for when we talked 3 weeks ago. But things changed swiftly once in Changsha and at the orphanage. Can I just tell as much as I can and you can ask questions after?" I looked pleadingly at Brock. "Please Dad?"
"Sure, son," Dad said, looking at Luke and placing a hand on his neck. "But yeah, we have lots of questions."
"Okay, I know. And I'm sorry my texts and emails have been vague. I just wanted to tell you this face to face because it's just been too hard to explain in writing, you know. And well, it's been kind of overwhelming too, so I appreciate your patience." I began.
"We love you both, Champ. We were just worried when we got those cryptic messages, and now, seeingÉHim," Luke began.
"I know, Doc. Isn't he beautiful?" I asked smiling, but they both continued to look on seriously concerned. They weren't going to let me off easily. And so, I began.
"We got to Changsha, we met the representative at our hotel, but we weren't allowed to go to the orphanage for another 3 days. Joe was like a bull in a china shop. I finally had to get him drunk the second night and just fuck the daylights out of him, he was so wired with waiting.
"Well, all of the babies were beautiful. I mean, it was kind of hard to distinguish them except by size. Most were two months to six months old and frankly, I mean, they all looked alike. It was pretty overwhelming. Joe and I had just begun to discuss how overwhelming this was, and how were we expected to pick just one? I mean, they were all so beautiful, but also kind of the same, when about that time we heard a woman's shout in the hall, and then this little toddler boy came tearing into the room where we were sitting yelling something unintelligible. Well, we were so startled, we jumped up, and Dads, I wish you could've seen this kid's face when Joe stood up. I mean, it was like a movie. His eyes got really big, and it was like he just started at Joe's feet and moved his gaze straight up. By this time, the interpreter was joined by the nurse who was chasing this boy, but the boy pointed at Joe and said something in Chinese, which the interpreter said something like he thinks you're the Gentle Giant' which apparently is a famous cartoon in China. Anyway, by this time Joe was smiling this big smile, so he sort of crouches down and says what's your name, little man?' And Dad's it was the sweetest thing, this little tiny boy just walks up to Joe, who by now is down on his knees, trying to be really small, and the boy grabs both sides of Joe's beard, tugs, and starts just jabbering, which most of it wasn't real words since we learned he can't really talk yet. But then the nurse sort of gasped, and I saw this look of shock on her face and then she began to cry. I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on. We're all looking at each other except for Joe, who by now has this little guy wrapped around him in his lap and is just talking to him and this kid is still jabbering. I look at the interpreter and ask, `why is the nurse crying?' So, they start this exchange as she's pulling tissues out of her pocket and wiping her eyes. By this time some more nurses are back, and they all have the shocked expression on their faces, too.
What we learned that day was that this little boy, who was 2 years, 2 months oldhad been brought to the orphanage as a newborn. I know you're going to ask, so yes, probably because of his cleft palate. He was starving when he arrived, so he had probably been delivered at home somewhere in the province and they'd traveled to the city to drop him off. They immediately did surgery to correct his palate so he could nurse or take a bottle but he probably had intravenous feeding for a few weeks. He then had a second surgery at one year to align his palate for growth. He'll need at least two more surgeries plus some dental surgeries before he's 6 when his growth plates align normally plus plastic surgery for that scarring. Anyway, he was something of a handful for the nurses. He did not like to be touched. Often, he ran from them. He was nowhere near ready to start toilet training and was very afraid of men (mostly the orderlies and some doctors in the facility). So, when he ran to Joe and then started jabbering as if it was the most normal thing in the world, well, the nurses were pretty overwhelmed. And so were we once we heard his story. We went there to pick out a newborn baby daughter, and essentially, our little boy picked us. Well, he picked Joe. His bonding with me has been a bit of a harder issue, but he's coming around, especially after we left the orphanage and were in the hotel for a week. He was amazed and astounded by everything and is so alert and so smart, Dads! I can't wait for you to meet him. His birth name phonetically sounds a lot like `Don heel', so we took Joe's middle name Daniel and mine and named him Daniel Scott Green-Perry. His birth certificate also has his native name on it but I can never get the pronouncement right, but we've bought tons of stuff from Changshu so we can raise him with some cultural awareness of who he is and his heritage. Anyway, we're just thrilled to be back in Singapore. We'll be here for 8 more days, then we'll fly home to you guys and home! We're waiting on one last additional INS paperwork from our embassy here, but Scottie had everything pretty much in hand.
Okay," I finally took a deep breath. "I know you have lots of questions, so fire away."
"Wow," Luke said. "Just, wow." He glanced over at Dad. "Bud, you have any questions," he said, looking at Brock who was furiously texting on his phone.
"Sorry. Okay, I was just emailing my friend Baxter Caldwell, who was in residency with Barry and me in Atlanta years ago. He stayed at Emory and is one of the finest pediatric plastic surgeons in the country. He mostly does burn victims now but I told him my grandson was coming from China and we'd need a consult in 10-14 days. I've got this." Brock said.
I watched Luke begin to tear up and place a soft kiss on the side of Dad's head. "Thank you, Baby. I'm just. I'm just overwhelmed," He began, and his voice choked. "He's beautiful, son. Just beautiful. And the way you met him. What an amazing adoption story he's going to have to share about the day when he chose his dads. I'm justÉ" He broke off and Dad brought him into his embrace. Seeing my dads cry and hug each other made me begin to cry and then the shitshow was really on.
"Thank you, Doc. I was so worried you guys were going to be upset," I started.
"Whoa Champ!" Dad started. "Why did you think we'd be upset? We had this talk before you left. If you guys wanted to adopt, we were behind you 100 percent, right?"
"I know," I began, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, "but, I mean. I was afraid you would see the scar and hear what's ahead and just think we were crazy for not picking one of those newborn girls who were all so beautiful." I stammered.
"Hush, now, Son," Luke began. "Give us a little bit of credit. We were shocked, yes. But only because you'd sent cryptic emails, so, yeah, we were shocked. But son, you have to know we'd never question your choices. I'm so damned proud of you both I could spit!" he yelled into the screen wiping his eyes again.
"I know, Doc. It's been hard, I'm not going to lie. I finally emailed Dr. Patterson last week and she gave me some great advice and I'm getting a family therapist referral from her when we get back to the States. So far, we've mostly gotten by with sign language and photos on this iPad. But for the first few nights, Daniel would only sleep next to Joe. He didn't want me even in the room and would try and push me off the bed. Finally, Joe made him watch us hug and kiss and tried to show him that we're together. I mean, I cried myself to sleep the first couple of nights, I'm telling you. But it's gotten better, Dads, honestly. I can hold him now, and he lets me do stuff for him just like Joe, but clearly, Joe is still the favorite," I sighed.
"Well, that would've probably happened with an infant too," Doc began. "Most babies only want their mom at first, and they grow to welcome both parents, but often they'll go through stages of favoring one over the other. I just wished you'd have called, or let us talk you through some of that stuff, son."
"I'm sorry we couldn't have helped you more," Brock began.
"Dad, I'm sorry," I began. "I just. It's just been an emotional whirlwind, and honestly, I just wanted to have my shit together a bit more before we dumped all of this on you. I justÉ" I'd promised myself I would not cry with my dads on the phone and now I was about to lose it again for what? For the third time this phone call!
"Son," Luke said softly. "It'll be okay. You just bring our grandson home. Gramps and I here will be waiting. We'll kill the fatted calf, have everything ready, whatever you three need. You have our hearts, don't you know that? We're hugging each other right this moment because we can't hug you, but we want to."
"And we're so damned proud of you, Jay. You're one fine Dad already. I can't wait to see this little guy again and welcome him home," Brock countered.
I wiped my eyes and smiled at my dads. "I love you guys so much. Listen, we'll Facetime again tomorrow if it's not too late for you when he wakes up. That's his best time of the day, and we'll let you try to talk with him, okay? I better go and make sure he and Joe haven't soaked the entire bathroom trying to get him bathed and in his pajamas. Thanks, you guys," I said, softly.
"Love you, Champ," Dad said. And I ended the Facetime call.
I stood and wiped my face with both my hands. I moved to the bathroom, smiling as I heard splashing and Joe singing a childhood Sea Chanty to our baby boy in the tub. We could do this. We could do this!
Two weeks later The Cabin Brock
The boys' small cabin had been transformed by Luke, Shirley, and O'Della into a welcoming home for a 2-year-old. All of the outlets had been covered with plastic child-protection devices as had all cabinet doors. There was a potty chair that changed into a step stool next to the toilet. The double bed in the guest room was wrapped in tarp in the unfinished crawl space and a toddler bed, night light of stars, and all the trimmings were now set up in what will become Daniel's room.
The back deck was bedecked in Welcome Home banners, decorations, a table brimming with food, and space for us to visit outside where a balmy 82 degrees bathed us in sunshine and breezes. The boys were expected home any minute.
Luke and I had visited with Daniel every day for the last 10 days via Facetime and it was amazing to hear him starting to try and make sounds in English, or to point at pictures. Shirley and O'Della had also been doing the same. We were the only small welcoming party on this day since we didn't want to overwhelm them all and we knew they would be jet-lagged. We'd planned this low-key celebration so the four of us could get our hands on these two boys we loved so much and welcome our grandson -- well in Shirley's case -- great-grandson home.
"That's a big black SUV coming up the driveway," O'Della said, startling me out of my thoughts.
"Jason said they'd hired a service to bring them from the airport," Luke told her.
"Which is why we didn't pick them up." I added. "Okay y'all, just hang back and give them some space."
"Y'all can hang back, I'm going out to the front porch and get my baby -- both of them!" Shirley said, starting out. I'll smiled at Luke as we all trotted out onto the front porch to get a look at them.
Joe emerged first, waving to his grandmother and said, "They were both out like a light as soon as we got in the car, so at least they slept for an hour or so. Let Jay get him out of the car seat and we'll be right up."
Luke took off down the steps. "Let me help you with the bags," He began but Joe ushered him back.
"It's okay, Coach. Jaelyn, our driver here, will help me get the bags. It's a lot," Joe said.
I watched as Jason emerged from the second row and worked to unbuckle a very sleepy toddler from his car seat. He looked like a little black-haired wet noodle. He was totally limp! I watched my son as he approached us. He looked totally exhausted and completely happy. I smiled at him. He smiled back, placing one large hand on the back of his son's head.
"Hey Dad. Here's your grandson -- in person," He said, as he reached the bottom step. I could feel my face stretch with the biggest smile I've probably ever had, and I was damned if I was going to cry at this moment.
"Hey there, Slugger. We've got his bedroom all ready if you think you need to go straight and put him down," I said, hugging the side of both of them. By this point, they both were totally surrounded by the four of us on the top step. Luke was patting Jason's head and Shirley and O'Della were cooing around the limp sleeping form of our grandson.
"Here, let me get the door, and we can get y'all inside," Luke said, reaching back.
Jason stepped through surrounded by his gang of four and made his way into the cabin.
"Oh look!" He said, "what a great sign. I'm sorry he's missing it!"
"It's okay," O'Della grinned. "We knew it was more for you and Joey anyway. You just go on and put the young'un down in his new bed. And listen now, if you boys don't like any of that we done, y'all just change it. Your Gran and I did pack up all of them baby girl clothes, but we've put them away in the closet until you all decide if'n you'll need `em again."
Jason smiled at her at the entrance to what had been the guest room. "Oh Grans!" he exclaimed. "It's perfect! He's going to love it. And that starlight lamp. Oh, that's perfect."
"Well, we knew he liked that little star globe you had in the hotel room," Shirley began, "So your dads thought that would be perfect for him here. He's had a lot to adjust to in a short time, but I'm sure he already knows how much he's loved."
Jason smiled at her as he gently laid a very sleepy and sweaty-headed boy on the bed. He patted Daniel's sweaty mop, and stood. "Let's let him try and sleep for another hour or so. He didn't do as well on the jet as we'd thought. We're all a bit tired." He stepped out of the room, closing the door slightly.
Luke retrieved a device from the coffee table and handed it to Jason, turning on the screen.
"Here's the baby monitor. We found the box and read the directions and got it set up. We can all go on the porch and watch him sleep through this video screen. You can even turn up the volume and hear him breathing." Luke said.
"How'd you know you can hear him, Doc?" Jason asked.
"Well, I tested it out on your dad during one of his naps." They all laughed.
"I should go help Joe," I said starting to turn, but then Jason grabbed me.
"No, Dad. I haven't gotten hugs from any of you yet," he said, pulling me into a tight hug. The next thing I knew, Luke was behind him and the three of us were holding on tight. We separated, Luke wiping his eyes, and then O'Della and Shirley each stepped forward to give our boy a kiss and a hug. Just about then, Joe stepped in, rolling two large suitcases.
"The rest can stay on the porch," He sighed. "What'd I miss?" His grandmother took one step and wrapped his large frame in a hug, followed by O'Della. It was an exact replay of our hug with Jason. "I missed you girls," he said, kissing the tops of both of their heads.
"Us too," I waived. And our son-in-law released his grandmothers and walked up to envelope me in a muscly bear-hug, and then reached for Luke.
"Thank you, guys," he said, holding us tight. "I don't know what we would've done without you and our daily video chats."
"Happy to do it, son," Luke said. "He's a beautiful boy. Thanks for taking care of both of them."
We released, and Shirley put her hands together. "Why don't we go out on the porch and eat? I know you boys are exhausted, so we've already decided we ain't staying long. We'll just feed you and be on our way so y'all can get settled."
"Food sounds good," Joe said, looking at Jason. "But y'all can stay a bit. At least until he wakes up from this nap. We want him to see you in person and get to touch you all."
"I'm not going anywhere," I said, smiling at the crowd. "Not until I've tried to hold my grandson and especially if Shirley's macaroni and cheese is still warm out there!" They all laughed as we headed toward the porch. The boys were yawning but stuffing their plates.
"I can't believe we have real home-cookin' from you two!" Jason said, looking at the grandmothers. "I'm so sick of hotel and restaurant food."
"Me too!" Joe said, smiling at the ladies. "Thank y'all for all of this!"
"Well, we were just the muscle," Luke said, smiling. "Shirley and O'Della just pointed and Brock and I jumped." They laughed.
"Story of my entire life," Joe smiled at them.
"Y'all keep talking like I'm bossy and I won't tell you where I've put the rest of that fried chicken," O'Della chuckled.
"Fried chicken," I hummed, looking over at my husband.
"Of course, it's a celebration," he said, smiling at me. "But in moderation."
"Spoil sport!" I said back. "Damn, this all looks good, even your salad, Luke!" I felt the cherry tomato hit me on the side of my head. I deserved that.
When we all had heaping plates, we settled ourselves in the chairs out on the deck, leaning back to eat and drink Shirley's sweat tea. I noticed Luke had his obligatory cup of water. The soft breeze kept the sun from getting too hot and we ate in mostly silence, all four of us enjoying the sight of our two boys being home and eating our homemade meal so ravenously.
"I can see y'all haven't had enough to eat," Shirley laughed. "I told O'Della, that Chinese takeout we get from the Red Dragon doesn't ever fill me up. I knew whatever they had over there wasn't gone be enough for my two strong grandsons to eat!"
Jason choked down a bite and smiled. "It was okay at the start, Gran. But you're right. There's only so much noodles I could eat. And don't get me started on what they call McDonald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken in China! Let's just say they have the name and the sign, but the foods totally different."
Joe started when the small receiver next to him squawked. He grabbed it and looked at Jason, then held it out for him to see.
"I think he must've sighed and rolled over," Joe said to Jay. "He's still asleep, see."
"Did you bring in the brown backpack with the suitcases?" Jason asked him, putting his plate down.
"Yeah, it's there at the door, why? Sit down and eat, Babe," Joe said to him.
"It's got his little panda bear in it. I stuck it there when we were in the car. If he wakes up without it, he'll have a fit."
Jason stood but Joe grabbed his hand. "He'll be okay for a minute, Babe. Finish eating. We can put it in his room after we eat."
"Okay," Jason sighed, sitting back down. "I just don't want him to wake up in a strange room and be scared without anything he recognizes."
"He'll be fine," Joe said. "And we won't be any good to him without eating."
The four of us old folks just smiled, watching this exchange. I think these boys will be okay, I was thinking, sending telepathic messages to Luke through my eyes. He smiled back at me, thinking the same thing, I could tell.
June 2021 Luke
I surveyed the quietly snoring mass of my naked man, stretched out across our king-sized bed, the scent of his man-musk and our night's lovemaking wafted off of him. What was it about the hairy contours of his pectorals or the solidness of those shoulders that could still take my breath away? I hated this part, but I'd promised him a month ago to keep kicking his ass and getting him up and motivated three mornings each week to work out with me. With summer fast approaching and the Southern humidity doing its annual duty, I'd taken to rising earlier and earlier to beat the heat. Today, it was just after dawn but I'd already downed 30 ounces of water and my first coffee, fed the dogs, and changed.
I couldn't be the drill sergeant today so I'd go for the soft and loving route, especially since the evidence of my love for him last night was still streaked across his hairy ass and hams.
"Hey Baby," I said softly, nuzzling his neck and pecking at his ear. I pressed lightly on his back. "You gonna get up and join me this morning?"
"GrrrÉ" He groaned. "You better be naked and hard," he moaned, opening one eye to stare at me levelly.
"Well, I'm half-naked with just my running shorts and shoes on, and topless, just for you. But, you rode this hard last night. It's workout time now, Stud," I said softly.
"Fuuuck. I hate this part," He groaned, rolling over fully, his half-hard snake slapping against his thigh. "Can't you just suck me off and then go work out. I promise I'll work out later." He sounded like a petulant teenage boy.
"It's okay if you want to lay aroundÉ" I began, mockingly.
"Okay, fuck it!" he said sitting up quickly and rubbing one large paw across his stubble and his sleep-filled eyes. "You are a fucking machine, you know that?"
"And you've dropped ten pounds in a month," I said, complimenting him. "This machine is quite taken with your renewed vigor."
"I'll give you some renewed vigor," he laughed, shaking his semi at me as he stood, naked, and walked into the bathroom. I listened as his piss hit the toilet. Was it just me or did that sound less loud and forceful than it used to? Maybe I wasn't the only one getting older by the day. I shook my head and headed toward the backdoor.
"I'll meet you on the porch in five. Just put on some shorts and shoes. It's already warm and clammy so no reason to sweat through a t-shirt in the first five minutes. Besides, I like watching those chest muscles work when you try to match me on the pull-up bar." I joked.
I laughed as I heard his "Fuck you!" echo behind me.
He was on the porch with me in less than five minutes.
"I can't believe you're working me this hard today. Don't you remember that the boys are bringing Danny over for lunch after their appointments and then we were going to check out some jungle gyms online?" He asked, stretching along the porch rail next to me.
"I didn't forget. I can't believe the progress he's making already, but I'm not surprised with those two doting Dads around," I said, proudly. "But that's no reason for us to slack off. Besides, you'll be showered and had a nap by the time they show up."
"Well, that's what most reasonable people do on their day off, you know." He said.
I leaned over and kissed him. "I appreciate you making this effort for me." He kissed me back.
"I know it's for my benefit," He laughed. "I'm not a total dumbass. And don't tell anyone, but I'm starting to like kicking your ass in cross-fit again. I just don't know why we have to do it at the ass-crack of dawn!"
"Kiss this!" I shouted, as I took off down the steps and hit the first part of our home-built obstacle course at a full run. I turned to see him galloping behind me, laughing.
The early morning sun slanted across the course, reflecting off the hard black steel of the pipes and reflecting orange and gold across the mountains to our northwest directly ahead. I was lost in the zone, swinging through the pullups and parallel bars when I heard a shout. I was hanging by both hands when I turned back to Brock. Had he yelled my name? I watched him as if in slow motion. He seemed to have grasped the first of 3 rings on the course when he'd clutched his chest. He may have mouthed "Baby?" I couldn't tell. No sound came. And then he dropped face first into the grass as if a string through his spine at been snapped. I could hear someone yelling his name and then I realized it was coming from my chest and then the next thing I remember was being on top of him, pulling him to me, then trying to turn him so I could see his face. I was furiously wiping grass and dirt from his face, mouth, and nose while crying, screaming his name, talking gibberish. I realized I had to settle down and get control if I was going to save him. I felt for a pulse but couldn't find one. I felt for my phone to call 911 but realized it was in the house. Fuck! What to do?
Frantically, I laid him back down and began chest compressions, but I realized I needed to get an ambulance. Laying him back gently, I took off sprinting for the house, cleared the steps in two strides and flew through the house into our bedroom. I grasped it, dialing 911 as I flew back down the hall, down the steps, and down the lawn toward Brock. He hadn't moved. I punched the phone on to speaker as the 911 operator's voice came onto the phone. I immediately began compressions again.
"It's my husband. I think he's had a heart attack. He's not breathing, and I can't find a pulse. Please send an ambulance right away!" I shouted as soon as she identified herself. She asked about location, about Brock's age and vitals, but it was all a blur. After what seemed like hours but I later learned was only 7.5 minutes, I saw two guys in orange shirts jogging toward me with a gurney and kits. I remember that both EMT's seemed so young, like boys really. The lead man, a gorgeous, fit blond with piercing blue eyes, spoke softly to me as he removed my hands from Brock's chest. I'll never forget it. So kind and gentle.
"You've done a great job, sir. You've done all that you can. Now please, sit back and let us try and help your husband. We'll have you here every step of the way, okay?"
His voice was so deep and so sonorous that I just remember nodding, feeling the sobs build up from within my chest. I let go of him, and then I fell apart. They assessed, they loaded him into the ambulance with me running behind them. There were electric paddles for heart stimulation and shots of drugs and IVs, and it was all for naught. He had gone and left me. He was gone before his face hit the dirt. And then all I could focus on was that last word I hadn't heard. What had he called me? What did he say? Sirens were screaming and the ambulance was bouncing as I laid my chest over my husband's stilled legs on the gurney. And then the darkness came for me too.
(This work is copyrighted by OlCoach44@gmail.com, December 8, 2021. All rights reserved. Copies or re-posting without express written permission of the author are explicitly forbidden and subject to US Copyright law.)