While everyone had planned for davey to go back to his own apartment after the field trip, there was enough food prepared and he stayed to dinner. Clara grinned when she heard he was staying. On the one hand, davey brightened her day. On the other hand, someone was going to have to tell him about Elana, eventually. When Harris came in to look for snacks, after she smacked his hand, she whispered "Sir, it's not my place, but you'll have to tell him. My taking him aside will not look good." Harris sighed. "Yes, Clara, you're right, as always. After dinner. I promise." He tried to reach behind her to steal a biscuit, and got a swift cuff on his wrist. 'THREE MILES MORE DAVEY" she yelled. "Someone's making biscuits" Jason called back. "I can smell them."
Both Harris and davey were sweaty after the field trip and their little afternoon delight, so they washed up, and changed. Now that davey knew how much Harris liked him in buttondowns, he tried to wear them around him as often as he could. He came to the table in a snug white one, untucked, with blue shorts. Harris' hand was on davey's thigh as soon as he sat down next to him, and davey's hand went right on top.
Everyone was curious about the field trip. Davey was quiet, because he didn't want to brag, but Harris spoke right up. "You are ALL looking at 'the pied piper' of the High School." That made davey blush, and Carla asked "Pied Piper? DAVEY. I always KNEW you would be popular there. You have a gift for children. I KNEW IT." Harris was beaming like a proud papa: he did research before we went, and taught those kids more about animal biology than they've probably learned all year from their teachers. " He ruffled davey's hair. "You, my love, were the STAR OF THE SHOW." Davey smiled. "I still think you were the star sir, the way you answered the question about which one of us is the girl in bed." Carla looked puzzled "Excuse me? Someone asked that? And they're still in that school? I may have to head down there and have a word with the principal. "
Harris smiled. "It's ok Carla, it's ok. You get used to this kind of question eventually. Probably, his father put him up to it. He'll be in the restaurant some day in the future, and I'll be there, and I'll make sure to embarrass him in front of his wife. Don't worry." Carla remained unconvinced. "Well, you may be too polite, Sir. " He smiled. "Does that mean I get an extra biscuit?" 'ABSOLUTELY NOT. Not until davey lets me know you've completed an appropriate number of miles." Harris shrugged his shoulders, and laughed. "A full scale mutiny. All about getting me to lose 5 pounds." In unison, the table answered 'TEN POUNDS SIR," before the laughter started.
Part way through dinner, davey asked Harris "Sir, have you ever considered getting a tattoo." Carla dropped her fork, and Jason stopped chewing.
"A WHAT?" "A tattoo sir. You know what they are." Now, Richard was not adverse to tattoos, but he felt they were for younger men. Men his age should keep them covered up if they had them from their youth.
"And what sort of tattoo do you think I should get davey?" "Well, Sir, to be honest, I've been thinking about it a long time, and because of the way you roar, I thought a lion would be good." Carla, Jason and Sam were all suppressing laughter as best as they could. "But after today, I think a wolf would be better for you."
That pushed them over. They were looking at each other, laughing until they turned red, as they watched this exchange.
"A wolf? Indeed. And where should I place this image, davey? Is it a place that polite society can hear?"
"Well, I've thought about that too Sir. If I had my choice, I'd want it on you in a place that I could see often. Maybe on your forearm, since you hold me so much, or on your chest, so I can see it before I fall asleep.
"AWWWWWW" came out of Sam's mouth before Richard looked at him with fake anger. "I see. Well... if I got one, would you get one?" "if you wanted me to , sir." Jason whispered to Sam "that means he wants one, and he wants Mr. Harris to think it's his idea." Sam shook his head in agreement. Jason whispered again "Let's watch this tennis match"
"Well, I'm not sure I do, but I always think of you as my lamb." "OH, that's a good one, Sir. Because davey has such curly hair," Carla added. "A black lamb. Didn't they write about those in the Odyssey?" Yes, they did Carla. Good memory. Remember how we fought through those last books, with the sacrifices, and all that?" Harris looked at davey and smiled. "A black lamb. With very curly hair. Hmmm. I DO like that. Or maybe a dove. NO, a black lamb. Now, where would we put it? I have to think about that. All the places I can think of would detract from you. " He sighed. "But if you REALLY want to have me get a tattoo, I'll consider it. I wanted to talk to you tonight anyway, so perhaps after dinner we can discuss the tattoo as well.
"Tough match," Sam whispered to Jason. "Harris is no pushover tonight." Jason smiled.
"By the way Sir, I had an idea for your running training. When I run from the apartment, how about I run past the house, pick you up, and you can run back to the apartment with me? It's only about 4 miles.
"FOUR MILES. And how would I get back?" Davey smiled. "You can come up to the apartment and take a break, Sir." Again, Jason whispered to Sam "Looks like Cannon is getting his second wind in this match."
And so it went. When Carla served the coconut pie she had made for dessert, she gave Harris half a portion. "Weigh in and we'll talk Sir."
And as they finished, Richard looked at Jason. "Jason, why don't you and Sam go and have a game of cards or something and continue to dissect the discussion of tonight?" both of them reddened, but smiled. "I want to borrow the library to talk to davey for just a little while, if you don't mind. "Yes sir. Sure. I don't mind at all." Davey jumped up and headed to the library. Harris got up after he watched his lover for a few minutes. After he went into the library, Sam turned to the others. "I have NEVER seen him so smitten. Have you?" Carla sighed. "Once. And that's what I think they're going to be talking about tonight."
When Richard got to the library he closed the door. Davey looked concerned, and Richard came over, embraced him and kissed him full on the lips. "First, let me say that this really isn't about you. It's about us. Second, if I've ever loved anyone as much as you, I can't remember it." He brushed davey's hair back. Davey smiled "Sir, the feeling is mutual. I hope I haven't gotten you angry. "
Richard laughed. "No, no no. You've just made me think of parts of my past that I really should have shared with you, and didn't. All the discussion of marriage lately, makes this all the more pressing."
Davey paused. "Sir, if you are going to ask me to marry you, the answer is yes." Richard smiled so hard he almost cried. "Well, I AM going to ask you davey, but not quite yet. You need some more time alone, and you need to hear what I'm going to tell you, because, as I suggested, I HAVE been married before." He swallowed "And I have a son."
Davey needed to sit for this. "Sir, I, I, had no idea. I think I DO need to hear this."
Richard was clearly nervous about all of this. He paced, walked in circles,