After everyone had settled back into home, davey was back coaching, Mike was working with Jason to set up the foundation, and Paul had found some pleasure in tearing apart buildings (and, like davey, Mike found some pleasure in checking out his man, without a shirt, sweating from work - a fact not lost on Paul) - Sam set to work getting the nursery ready in "the boys'" old room, and Richard and Carla sat down every day, to plan menus. Finally, it was the night before "dress rehearsal" as they called in. In dress rehearsal, the restaurant would be officially "closed for a private party," and inside, it would be "friends and family" sitting down to kick tires, etc. They had invited everyone they could think of, associated with the little family. Davey invited Chet and Roger, and of course, Lawanda, Coach Jackson, and their son Tyler, at home on a break, would be coming. Carol, the food critic who had seen davey outside of the restaurant, was coming. So, of course, were Travis and Calvin. Paul had invited Otto and his father (the mother had last been seen getting on the back of a motorcycle of a man twenty years younger than she was). Parents and students from davey's classes were coming, so were suppliers, and former servers from when Richard owned Sasha's. The former owner's son, Philip, was also there. He'd be switching to Carla's sous chef when the restaurant truly opened, but for one night, he was a guest. Jason and Sarah were there, too. She had found a sitter she liked, after firing six of them, and even though she was on the phone, checking, every fifteen minutes, she was there. The only person they had invited of whom they weren't sure, was Gradisca. Her response was that she couldn't stay for dinner, she had to work.
"An odd answer, I'd say," Richard discussed with Carla. Carla smiled. "She wouldn't miss being here. Trust me. She'll come."
There was much interest in the new place. Carol had in fact watched the progress, and when the opening was announced (for a week after dress rehearsal), she had looked up an old photo of Richard, and surprised everyone by running a story with a title "Successful businessman and his husband scale down, go North." Richard had to laugh when he saw the story. The picture was about 15 years old.
"You're better looking now Sir," was Davey's reaction. Richard smiled. "See what marriage does to a person." Davey seemed to be keeping remarkably calm, even though the scheduled date of the twins' birth was getting closer and closer. He'd work of his anxiousness by running. Yes, he went back to those long distance runs. He kept the fuller head of hair he had grown in Europe, but his chest hair?
Nope. Four days after they had been back, Harris put davey into the wrist restraints, and rubbed the shaving soap all over his chest. Davey moaned as Harris ran the straight edge over him - his hair wasn't luxurious enough for the electric clipper, and he found the straight edge much more erotic. In fact, when Harris was done, all davey could do was to get out moans begging Harris to "fuck my mancunt Sir. FUCK IT HARD." Harris was a bit surprised at that word coming out of davey's mouth, and wondered where he had heard it. BUT.. he knew what it was, and he more than adequately fulfilled his marital "obligations."
Now, the night before dress rehearsal, Harris was in bed, looking over the menu and schedule, one more time, when davey came in. "You should put that down now Sir. You probably have it memorized." He leaned over and kissed Richard's forehead. Harris laughed. "Oh, I know davey dear, I know. I'm just reminiscing. This is my fourth, and last restaurant. I'm too old for this. " Davey looked concerned. "Are you feeling sick Sir? " "Oh no, davey. Just OLD. I've been working so long, and always in this industry. I feel like I'm 25 years older than I am. And now, if this restaurant works, I fully intend to step back." He ran his hand through davey's hair. "I want an anniversary trip to Venice with my husband, I want to spend time with my daughters, I want to DO THINGS other than work. " He smiled "That's all sweetums. Nothing to worry about." Davey kissed Richard's lips. "I'm glad Sir. I was a little bit concerned." Harris looked at davey, smiled, and davey saw the glint in his eye, before Harris threw off the covers, and rolled davey on his back. "Husband of mine, you have NO REASON to worry. GRRRRRRR LUPO IS HERE TONIGHT" 'AAHHHHHHHHH" mock screamed davey. The boys were in the house in the back property, so they didn't hear. Sam slept "the peaceful sleep of the innocent," as Carla put it. She was dozing off, and heard it. She smiled. "All is well here," she thought, as Harris was pulling davey's legs up onto his shoulders, slicking up his cock with his own saliva, and then showing davey that, he in fact, had nothing to worry about, besides being sore the next morning.
When everyone was deep in sleep, Carla had a dream. In it, she saw the Egyptian goddess Isis, walking at the head of a procession, with her full entourage behind her. Carla could hear the mysterious, discordant instruments sound, and she saw Isis press her foot down on the head of a snake and crush it. Then she put an offering of fruit in front of an altar to mothers. "All praise to Isis, the protector of mothers," Carla murmured in her sleep. As that dream ended, she had another one. In that one, a dark haired woman , very preganant, lay on a divan . She was surrounded by attendants, who left as a pure white, female elephant entered the room. The elephant circled the oncwoman e, twice, three times. Each time, the elephant bumped the divan gently. Then she disappeared. Carla woke as the woman on the divan screamed, and gave birth.
'ALL PRAISE TO SRI! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROTECTION. THANK YOU FOR THE DREAM." Carla knew that, in the first dream, Isis was telling her the babies would be safe, and protected. In the second dream, Sri was telling her that it would be three days to their birth.
"So much to do," she thought, after she had lit an incense stick to each of the goddesses and had prayed, before going back to sleep.
The next morning, as everyone gathered for breakfast, Carla put her hand on Richard's shoulder.
"May I have a word with you? Perhaps in the library? Just to go over the menu one more time."
Richard knew Carla well enough to know when she was lying. And he knew when it was important by the look on her face. Coffee in hand, he followed her into the library.
"Richard, last night I had a dream." He interrupted her. "The one about the white elephant? I had that one too." Carla wasn't surprised. When magic worked, it worked powerfully. "What does it mean , Carla?" "It means the babies will be born in three days. You and I, we have to be ready, because davey won't be. And we can't tell him. "Agreed. Let's get through opening, and then we'll plan." She smiled. "Congratulations Richard! I may have to build some sort of altar of gratitude in the backyard." He smiled back. "I'll help you. Get our demolition expert Paul to help you."
Davey was home when Richard was getting ready for the restaurant opening. He was , in theory, there as a guest, but he was ready to get up and clear tables, get glassware, etc. He had dressed in one of his new European shirts - a pink one, tailored, and a pair of grey trousers he had bought closer to town. He wrapped a sweater - a gift from Richard, around his shoulders. He was waiting in the living room when Richard came out.
"Well, it's been a while since I had to suit up, but opening night..." Richard had put on a new suit - one he had tailored for the opening. It was a mix of blue and dark gray, complimenting his hair and his eyes. He had on a solid gray shirt, and an almost iridescent blue tie ("so they can pick me out). Now, if davey had nearly died when he saw Harris working away in that restaurant, covered with sweat, this time, death was closer - at least a "little death."
"Oh MY GOD SIR... It's a good thing these pants are loose, because..." He grabbed Harris' hand and put it on his crotch. Harris could feel the erection. He laughed. "You always were a sucker for a man in a suit." "I'll always be the sucker for you in a suit Sir. Should I get on my knees now?" "ha ha. Davey. Oh, davey, How about just a hug?" "On one condition Sir. Maybe not tonight -we'll be tired - but soon. Take me when you're wearing a suit like that. Tie me up with that necktie. And then.... do whatever you want." Another laugh from Harris. "Damn it davey, we gotta get to the restaurant. STOP DRIVING ME CRAZY," even though he knew, this man would never stop making him glad he had taken that risk.
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Calvin came by with Travis and picked up everyone in his truck. He and Travis were in the front, holding hands. Trav turned around to give davey a look. "You better keep on taking care of my friend, davey. I think he's smiled more in the last year than he did in the past 20." Richard answered. "It's gonna be a lot more my friend. You'll see. Marriage suits us. You're smiling too Travis." 'DON'T SAY ANYTHING DOLL," Calvin commanded, and said everything.
When they began to approach the restaurant, Richard said to Carla: "is that Gradisca sitting outside of the place? Is she crocheting?" They pulled up. Yup, it was Gradisca. She had a knitting basket filled with what appeared to be a baby blanket, in mostly pink.
Richard got out of the van "Gradisca! I thought you said you weren't coming?" "No, caro. I said I had to work and I wasn't coming to dinner. I didn't tell you WHERE I was working. " She turned to Carla. "Ti hai bisogna stasera?" (Do you need help tonight?) Carla answered "Da te? SEMPRE" (From you? Always). "OK then, someone get me some whites. I'm not cooking in this ." Gradisca was wearing her usual shirtwaist. She and Carla disappeared into the restaurant, but first, she called out. ' "PAULO. Be ready. Nonna may need you tonight" Carla hurried her into the kitchen, as Richard thought "Nonna? Did she just call herself grandmother to Paul? He laughed. "probably just a term of endearment."
Richard wasn't the only one suited up. Mike was hosting, and he had put on a very sober, dark navy suit and a white silk shirt, which he kept open. Richard had asked if he could borrow two of Lawanda's waiters who were not on shift that night. Her response? "TWO? You planning to close down for lack o business in one night. Take four, you fool." And he did. Four servers who had worked for him, and now Lawanda, were on the floor. In the kitchen, with Carla and Gradisca, were two of the best students at the local cooking school. Richard was up front to pour wine, clear tables as needed, and to just do what an owner does. He had also hired two seniors from the high school to bus tables.
And so the meal began. There was a fixed menu. Some of you will want to know what it was, so .. . Everyone was served an apertif of an apricot brandy mixed with white wine - something that they had drunk in Venice - and then a light appetizer somewhat akin to a cream puff, stuffed with a shellfish salad. Then pasta: potato gnocchi with a wild mushroom sauce. Gradisca had seen that and, knowing how time consuming it could be, rolled up her sleeves and started making the potato dumplings. Carla smiled. She was so nervous that the gnocchi were the one thing she was worried about. With Gradisca, well..
After pasta, there was roast guinea hen, which had taken some doing to find. A little stronger than chicken, it came to the table in an herb sauce, with slow cooked pole beans, and a stuffed tomato.
Carla and Richard had argued over the dessert for a long time. Should they "go American" with the dessert, or stick with Italian, and just serve fruit, cookies, and liqueur? The solution was to do both. Everyone was served slices of yellow melon, just as it was, with muscat grapes, and a handful of almond biscotti. Then, if they chose, they could have a pour of a heavy cherry liqueur. If they preferred, Carla was filling cannoli with her special mix of sheep milk ricotta and chocolate.
Halfway through the meal, Gradisca washed her hands, and came out to the main room. She went up to Mike. "Dov'e' Paulo?" (Where's Paul?). Mike had picked up enough Italian, to point him out to her. She went to the table where he was sitting with Otto, Calvin, and Travis.
"Paulo. VAI. NELLA CUCINA ORA. LA TUA NONNA HA BISOGNO DI TE" "(Paul, go. Into the kitchen ow. Your grandma needs you).
Paul didn't blink, just got up and went. Richard was passing by the table on his way to pour wine for Coach Jackson , Lawanda, and Tyler, and he heard it again. He'd have to get back to the kitchen.
"Tyler, it's so good to see you! How is school." Tyler looked away, down at his table. "School is doing him good boss. It's a girl who screwed him over. That's why he's back home. Tyler's gotta get over that hussy." Richard found out later that, Tyler had been lovesick about a young lady. One day, one of his classes was cancelled, and he got home early. He opened the door, and found her in his bed with his former best friend.
"NO Tyler.. It's not like that. I can explain." Tyler had been less than kind about throwing them out, but she was a student at Yale, as was his best friend. He needed space. So he took a leave of absence, and he was back helping mom at the restaurant. "AND DON'T YOU DARE TRY TO POACH HIM MR. HARRIS, SUH" Lawanda yelled at him. "If you were anyone else, I'd ignore you, Lawanda." "If I were anyone else, you wouldn't have the money to do this place, so you just listen to what I say, chief." "Yes ma'am. But Tyler, you're welcome to come here anytime you want to eat GOOD food." He and Lawanda high fived, and he went back to the kitchen, where Gradisca had Paul rolling out long rows of gnocchi dough. "Piccolo, piccolo. " she repeated, as Carla laughed.
"Carla, now it's my turn to have a word with you." She laughed. "Took you long enough Richard. I thought you'd be asking after the first one."
They went and found a quiet space near the back. Richard pulled two espressos. "So, this Nonna stuff. What's going on?" Carla laughed. "Richard, if you don't know by now how strange the world is... Gradisca was a wild woman in her youth. She was married three times." "Well, that I knew" he added. "And she mentioned a son to me." "She didn't mention the 8 daughters." "WHAT? EIGHT DAUGHTERS?" Carla smiled. "Gradisca is very traditional. Her family never spoke of the girls. Only the boys. But yes, she had 8 girls. In her words " a few good, a few bad, a few so/so, and then one rotten one. The rotten one, Richard, " He filled it in. "Is Paul's mother." He whitened at figuring it out. "Yes. Gradisca didn't know. She had NO idea. But when you brought Paul in there the first time, she felt like there were family resemblances, and she felt , as she told me 'simpatica' with him. So she investigated. Yes, Richard, and I know I sound like a TV show, but Gradisca, is Paul's grandmother. "Has she told him?" Carla smiled. "I think he figured it out. Have you ever seen Paul so docile?" She had a point. Richard watched him working with Gradisca. He came up behind them. "Can I give you folks any help?" Paul turned around. He had tears in his eyes. "Dad Richard, this is my Nana." WIPE YOUR FACE SCUNGILL. DON'T GET SALT IN MY DOUGH.' Now, Richard began to tear up. "And you couldn't be a luckier guy."
He had to stop because, there was a loud sound coming from the dining room. It was people stamping their feet and chanting "RICHARD/CARLA/RICHARD/CARLA" over and over again. He turned to Carla. "Well, darling, I think we have to take our bow. " He took Carla by the hand, and they walked out to the center of the room. The guests stood and applauded, as Richard hugged Carla. "DID YOU LIKE THE FOOD?' Carla yelled out, and there were WOOPS and HURRAHS from the group. She turned to Richard, and whispered "You have to do this. You're a much better speaker than I am. GO FOR IT."
Richard held up a glass to toast everyone, and the room quieted. "Thank you everyone. Thank you. If you're here tonight, well, just know it means that you have a place in Carla's heart, or mine, or usually both. " He paused. "Even you Lawanda" She gave him the finger and everyone laughed. "Seriously, the decision to do this was NOT easy. The decision to switch, from French to Italian, midstream, so close to today, was even harder. BUT.... " He pointed to Carla - 'when you have the chef of your dreams ready and saying 'let me handle this', you know you can do it. " He started applauding for Carla, and there was another ovation.
"There's another lady in the kitchen tonight. A guest chef. GRADISCA COME OUT HERE NOW." A stout, gray haired lady with too much makeup on, and covered with flour, came out to join them. "Gradisca, gracious lady that she is, came in tonight to help. Go to her restaurant too. Together, we've got Italy divided. She's got the south, I've got the North. You can't go wrong."
After the applause , Richard continued. "This is a family operation, all the way. And I'm gonna thank my chosen family, one at a time, so be prepared to be embarrassed. First, Jason and Sarah: Sarah's a new mother - she's on the phone with her sitter right now." Sarah heard that and blushed, but didn't stop talking. "Jason takes care of all the stuff I don't know, which is a LOT. He's taken care of my businesses for over 10 years. Jason, it doesn't work without you." "Next, sitting there is my best friend, since high school. Travis, if you had ANY idea how responsible you are for all ohis happening... and I'll tell you all in a few minutes , I love you, even if you ARE six days older than me." Now Richard had to take a breath. "Back in my youth, I had a son. I never saw him until this year, when he got in touch with me, and asked if he could come and live here. He's your host tonight. Mikel, or as he prefers, Mike. You're more than my blood, Mike. You're my soul. It may be possible to love your child more than I do, but I doubt it." Mike couldn't control his composure, and ran to Richard and hugged him. The hug went on for a long time, but to those who knew, the erotic aspect, was gone. "It did me no end of surprise when I learned that Mike was gay. Now, Mike is a married man. My son in law, Paul is here today... making gnocchi with his grandmother. Paul, I know you hate this, but come out and wave to your fans. We'll make you a chef one of these days. "
He continued "One of the most important people to me, because my eyes don't let me drive, is Sam. Sam, how long have we been together? A LONG TIME. You never hear from him, but he's always there." More applause. And he's husband to... "OH GOD WHAT DO I CALL YOU CARLA? MY EVERYTHING? MY ALL? College, grad school, dancing on tables in Spain, and Italy, and everywhere. " Carla curtsied deeply.
Now, Richard was working very hard to get his composure. "Last... " A pause. "You know, more than two decades ago in high school, I had a crush on a track star. A deep, deep crush. And nothing happened. It was a different time, we were different people. And then last year, Travis invited me to come to a reunion that I did NOT want to attend. And who was there..." He smiled. "My old crush. Handsomer than ever. We're married now. And... very soon, he's gonna be a father. Davey, I LOVE YOU. COME OVER HERE PLEASE."
The kiss, at the center of the restaurant, was all the things the kiss with Mike was not. The locked eyes, the smiles. Richard whispered. "would you marry me again?" Davey smiled "Is that even a question?" and hugged Richard. And then he whispered into Richard's ear. "Don't forget your promise."
Everyone was tired as the night ended. Carol the critic came to shake everyone's hand. "I can't write a review at dress rehearsal, but I'll be here on opening night, and if it's 3/4 as good as it was tonight.... You'll be busy a while." She gave Carla kisses on both cheeks. "You are one helluva chef lady." And then Gradisca. "I haven't been to your restaurant in way too long." Gradisca looked at her and said, in perfect English "then get your ass over there."
The ride back was quiet because everyone was so exhausted. When they got to the bedroom, Richard went to use the bathroom before he changed. When he came back, davey was lying on the bed, spread out. His wrists were near the bedposts.
"Use that tie Sir. " Tired as he was, Richard got the necktie off, and roped davey's hands above his head. Then he undressed him, button by button, lingering with his tongue, his scruff, whatever got a wimper or moan from davey. "Lupo and Ralph are here tonight Sir. They're both taking me. ' That was the last thing davey said that night, as Harris shoved a gag in his mouth. Then he licked davey head to toe, licking his inner thighs more than any other part of him.
"You want me, bottom?" "MMMMMPHYS" davey shook his head vigorously. Harris pressed his thumb to davey's ass. It opened. One finger, then two, went in, and fluttered like a butterfly, as louder moans came out of davey. Harris dropped his pants, and took his lover. His dress shirt was opened, because when he went to take it off, davey shook his head NO. He closed his eyes, and he saw his husband, dressed the way he was that night, and he just got more and more aroused. He began shooting after just two of Harris' many thrusts that night. And when Harris finally did come to climax, it was a big one. A truly big one.
Harris went to untie davey, and he got the NO head shake again. Davey wanted to sleep tied up. Harris smiled, and took out the gag. "I love you my sweet man. My father to be." "And I love you, my prince, my sheepdog, my wolf, my everything."
And just like in Carla's dream, three days later, davey got a call from the clinic. "Mr. Cannon, your surrogate has gone into labor. If you'd like to come and meet your daughters when they're born, you're welcome to come any time you like.
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Gentle readers, some of you will know, and some of you will have figured out: there is ONE MORE chapter of this story to come, with an epilogue. I know that will disappoint some of you, but this writer sticks to happy endings. Any of you who'd like to run with the story when it's finished, are more than welcome to do so. That chapter will be soon. If you'd like to visit my other stories, type "ropingtop" in the search bar. The one with the magnifying glass. You'll find them. Ciao for now.