Warning: This story at some stage will contain sex between consenting males of legal age or older, if your state, province or country does not allow such material to be read, please leave now, or if you are just curious, well read on, as you might just find out you are actually gay
This story in whole are in part is the property of the author and may be copied for personal use only, no sharing with other sites or people, without the express permission of the author, and is copyright©2012 David Spowart all rights reserved.
Written By David Spowart
Mr Right Too Soon?
Edited by J Matlock
Chapter 16
Book 2
Part 10
Nick was devastated regarding the death of his father. So many hurtful things had been said; his heart hung heavy to the fact they had not been able to reconcile.
"Coffee" Leo asked, as Nick bounced his son on his lap. "Thanks'" Nick responded, as Leo placed the cup on the table in front of him. "So, are you or Dan reading tomorrow?" Leo asked. "Dan. I can't" Nick replied.
"I understand, but Nick, you have nothing for which to feel guilty. If the Doctors are right, it was an illness; and people can act and behave in a manner that is alien to them. So, Nick, read; you might regret it, if you don't" added Leo, rubbing the top of Nicholas's head, causing the tot to giggle.
"Leo, babe I know you want me to get past this, and I will; in my own way. I just cannot do that. Dan was close as was Mary. Despite the fact my father forbid me to even admit I was his son, I loved him; but I cannot bring myself to say anything good. If I do say something, I could wreck relationships I do treasure" he said, with a touch of emotion and regret in his voice.
"I am going to see my father buried, and I will support my family; but I cannot bring myself to grieve". That admission hurt him very much.
Knock! Knock!
"I'll get it" Leo said, walking toward the door.
"Oh! Hi, Mary, Andrew, come in, please!" Leo said to them as they walked in.
"Thanks' Leo" Mary said as she entered.
"Oh there's my little guy" Mary said, taking Nicholas from Nick and kissing his cheek. "Oh, you are so cute" she went on.
"Hi, Andrew; coffee?" Nick asked, walking behind the counter top. "Please. She will be busy with the little guy for a while" Andrew went on. "All set for tomorrow?" Andrew asked. "As ready as I am ever going to be" Replied Nick. Leo was chatting with Mary.
"And how's Mathew?" Nick asked Andrew about his boyfriend. "Hung!" he replied. "You are Incorrigible" Nick snickered. "Oh, he's perfect. He starts his internship with Starling, Mathews and Clynch in a couple of weeks" He added.
"Environmental Law ?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, James Starling is sort of his hero" He added.
"Well, tell him I said hi when you go back, and, Andrew, tell me the truth" Nick said, looking intently at Andrew. "Of course, Nick, you know me" Andrew replied. "Apart from Dad, I know about that, but, since last year, how's she doing?" Nick asked, concerned about his baby sister.
Andrew looks a little pensive, not wanting to discuss the welfare of his best friend, but realises that Nick has always meant well; and Nick repeated the question.
"How is she coping?" he asked, looking over at Mary, as she coddled Nicholas while talking with Leo. "She has her good days, and, I won't lie, she does have her bad ones. She still cannot go out alone at night" Andrew replied, with a hint of sadness. "I ask her how she is feeling; but, you know how she can be, Nick, she deflects" Andrew added.
"No boyfriend? She hasn't mentioned anyone to me" Nick asked.
"Nick, she has admirers; I mean, God, I am gay and I find her attractive" Andrew laughed just a little. "Yeah, but?" Nick asked.
"She has baggage. She is seeing a therapist, and it is helping; but it's slow progress, Nick. " Andrew added, as Nick poured him a small coffee.
"Mary, coffee?" he asked, but got no answer. She was deep in conversation with Leo, while Nicholas hung round her neck, sucking his thumb.
"Mary, Coffee" she looked up straight at her brother, and smiled.
"Please, no milk" she replied, and returned to her conversation with Leo.
"She likes Leo. She was happy to find you two had reconnected; and Nick, I know you wanted him back. I remember the long into the night conversations we had, while she was in the hospital" Andrew reminded him.
"Andrew, I am as in love with him now, as I have ever been. I cannot imagine my life without Leo Bo-Trent in it" Nick replied with a grin that threatened to split his face.
"Trust me, Nick, I know how that feels. Mathew...well, let's just say he is my third arm; or, on the other hand" Andrew was saying, before Nick interrupted. "He's hung; yeah, I get it" He snickered back.
"What's so funny" Leo asked, picking up the coffees Nick had poured. "Nothing babe, just talking is all" Nick replied, kissing his lovers cheek. "Nick, she is smiling, but I can see sadness in her eyes. Go and talk to her. I think she needs her big brother" Leo added, and took a seat next to Andrew.
Nick took the coffee and sat down next to Mary, who was talking nonsense to Nicholas. "Hey, here you are" he said, handing over her coffee. "Thanks" she responded, placing Nicholas down, and he walked toward Leo, who then picked him up. He was giggling like he was being tickled.
"So, truth time, sis; how you doing?" Nick asked.
"What do you mean, Dad?" she replied.
"Besides that, when I call and ask you, you change the subject; so, I am here. So, how are you doing, Mary?" Nick asked, with brotherly concern.
"So- So" she replied.
"Are you seeing anyone for help?" he asked, already knowing she was seeing a therapist; but did not want to break the confidence he shared with Andrew.
"Yeah, I wasn't coping Nick; and you had enough trouble with dad, so I didn't want to pile my shit on top of yours" she replied, and Nick took her hand in his.
"Pile away, Mary. I am your brother; it's what I was placed on this earth to do" Nick replied. "I think a certain young doctor may have an opinion on that statement" Mary replied, looking over to the counter, where her best friend and Leo were deep in conversation.
"Sis, you know what I mean. I am always here for you" Nick added, with a hug. "I appreciate it, Nick."
"So, who are you seeing?" he asked.
"Oh, the therapist at Brown. She's good. She's helping rebuild my confidence, Nick. I am still a little agoraphobic; but, baby steps, Nick. It took a lot for Andrew to get me up here" she added.
"He apologised, you know". Nick looked all confused.
"Who did?"
"Darren Clarke" she replied, looking at the floor. Nick knew that this was one of the frat guys who attacked her, and the one who took his own life.
"He sent me a letter, begging for forgiveness" she added.
"Mary, that was not your fault; he was of weak mind. Darren followed his friend with his actions; and he is in prison, now, and will be for a very long time" Nick replied, pulling his now weeping sister into his arms. Leo and Andrew stood and watched as she sobbed into her brothers' shoulder. She needed to do that, so badly.
"He couldn't forgive himself, Mary. You couldn't control his actions; nobody could, so don't dwell on that, okay? The best form of revenge is not letting it beat you. Live, Mary; live the best life you can. Be successful; despite the actions of others" Nick said, still holding his sister tight.
"Thank you, Nick; I needed to hear that, and hear it from you" She said with a teary smile, wiping the moisture away from her face. "Any time, sweetie" he replied, kissing her forehead.
"How's Mom doing?" he asked, changing the subject. "Oh, torturing Danny" she added, with a hint of playful evil. "They are bringing dad's casket home this afternoon, and she has Dan moving stuff around and out. He's begged me to help, but you know me; any opportunity to be evil with Dan, I have to grab it" she snickered.
"You're a minister's daughter! Where did this sinner come from?" Nick said, jokingly looking to the heavens. "Had a good teacher" she hugged Nick. A tear came to Leo's eyes, watching the siblings interact.
He and Jen used to be that close, but now, it's just courtesy when she's home. No real affection, like he was seeing in front of him, and he envied that.
"I need food" Nick proclaimed, and they headed out to Denny's for some comfort food. The guys sat and talked about growing up in the suburbs of L.A., and the antics they had gotten away with. Mary spoke of an old boyfriend she had had, and had not seen, since he moved with his parents to Idaho. She was 11yrs old and heartbroken. They guys couldn't help but laugh.
The conversation reverted to the following day's service. "So, do you know what you are going to say, yet?" Mary asked, looking at her brother. "Mary, I am not saying anything" he replied. "Okay, I understand, but you might regret it later" she responded. "I might regret a lot of things, Sis; but this is not one of them" he added.
"Nick, take some of your own advice, for once" she said, looking daggers at him. "Like what?" he asked. "Forgive and move on. Get up and talk about when we were kids. You remember that, don't you?" she asked. "Yeah, he was a good dad when we were younger" Nick remembered fondly.
"Okay, talk about that. Remember when I was seven and I broke his favourite cup, and you couldn't stop laughing?" she asked.
"Yeah he picked me up and threw me into the pool, and Mom pushed him in, to get me" he snickered at the memory. "Well, remember him like that. I know he turned on you Nick, but that was a medical issue" she reminded him.
"Okay, I will speak, but not long, okay?" he added.
"That's all I ask; and Mom and Dan, if he hasn't killed himself, will be happy that you are" she laughed at the thought of Dan being worked to death by their Mom.
Leo was holding onto Nicholas, who had his mouth full of chocolate cake, and was wearing most of it. "Are you enjoying that, little man?" Nick asked, looking at his son and Leo, who had chocolate smeared all over him. Nick leaned over and whispered into his ear. "If my sister wasn't here, I would put Nicholas in his pen, and lick that mixture off of your body" he snickered. "Oh, that is easily remedied" replied Leo. He looked over at the counter of the shop and beckoned the waitress over.
"Thank you, Miss, can we have the bill and can I have a portion of this cake to go? Ohh, better make that a double slice" he said, and smiled at Nick, who had a wicked grin on his face.
Andrew looked at them both; his Gaydar knowing exactly what they had planned. "Something tells me I don't want to know" Mary said, looking at her brother and his lover. "That's okay, we were not going to invite you for dessert" replied Nick, and Andrew burst into fits of laughter. "O.M.G., I cannot believe you just put that image into my head" Andrew replied.
"Dirty mind" Leo retorted.
"Nope, just the same mind set" replied Andrew, and Leo just smiled and snickered. They stood when the waitress brought his card back, along with a generous portion of sticky chocolate cake.
"Thank you" Leo replied.
Nick embraced Mary outside of Denny's, as Leo placed Nicholas into his safety seat in the car. Leo came and hugged her, also. "I like how he is when you are around him" she whispered into Leo's ear. "Me too" Leo replied.
"Okay, Sis, I will be around early; so make sure sleeping boy is up and ready. Tomorrow is going to be long and rough on us all, especially Mom" Nick said. As she was driven away by Andrew, she smiled and nodded.
"He's nice" Leo said, sitting next to him; Nick, looking in the back seat. Nicholas was licking the remnants of the cake off of his fingers.
"Sorry, who, oh, Andrew...Yeah" Nick replied. "He was a godsend when Mary was raped; he never left her, not once" Nick replied. "I got there as soon as I found out. It was Dan who came and told me; Coach was great, he gave me a couple of weeks off" Nick added. Leo and he had talked briefly about it, but not at length.
"She's tough Nick, she will get past it. I talked with her for a while, and she seems to have come a long way" Leo added. "Yeah, but babe, she's like me; she bottles things up" Nick added.
Leo looked a bit concerned when Nick said that. "Oh, don't get me wrong, I did. I bottled up my feelings when we parted. I hid. It hurt, it hurt so fucking much it changed me" Nick went on. "In what way?" Leo asked, as they pulled into the driveway.
"I never sought out a real relationship; one nigh hook-ups, that is all. I couldn't get past the fact I was still so much in love with you" he added softly.
"Nick! Nick! Look at me, babe, look at me". Nick looked up, and the dam opened. "Babe, I am not going anywhere, I love you." Leo replied, kissing his forehead.
"I love you so much. When this is all over, lets travel back east to Vermont and get married. I don't want to wait any longer" Nick added.
"Okay, we can do that" Leo replied kissing Nick.
11:34a.m. the following day, Reverend Jenkins had said his part of the service, and called on the congregation to pray for a few minutes. The hymns were favourite ones of Reverend Stone. Not much to the liking of Nick or his mother, but they abided by his wishes.
"Nick would like to say a few words. Nick" the Reverend said, and Nick stood, a few short notes in his hand. He looked out into the congregation. He spotted some friendly faces, and some not so friendly faces.
"My Father was a complicated man. We all know that, but he loved the church; he made it his life's work. Most of you know that my relationship with him was strained, at best" he started, looking at the casket and a large photograph of him on an easel.
"But believe me when I say, I loved him. He was a great father to us growing up; but, like most families can attest to, relationships get tougher the older and more independent you get. I still love my Dad. He might not have known that, but I always hoped one day we would get back what we once had. Good night Dad, sleep well" Nick ended with a tear in his eye,
"Darling, that was lovely" his mom said as he took his seat. He squeezed her hand, as Leo, from behind, on the next bench, squeezed his shoulder. Mary had said a few words, with Andrew standing beside her; her rock, as she called him.
Dan could not bring himself to speak. Despite the occasional run in, he was devastated that his father would not be there to guide him. That would be Nick's job, now, and he was more than up for it.
The remainder of the service took place at the family plot within Westwood Cemetery with all the family, and some friends, in attendance. They went back to his father's home for a funeral tea, as was right for a reverends send off.
Nick walked up to his brother, who had been quiet most of the day. "I miss him, Nick" he said sadly, but Nick could not share the sentiment. "Yeah, I know" he replied.
"Look, Mary is staying with Mom tonight. Do you wanna come back with me and Leo for the night?" He asked. "Can I have a beer?" he asked. "Yeah, one won't hurt" Nick replied, squeezing the back of his neck.
"Neither will two" he snickered, but his smile seemed hollow.
Nick walked over to his mother, who was holding court with her church women's group. "Mom, we are heading off, do you need anything?" Nick asked. "Just, just" she stood up and moved him away from prying ears.
"Just, can I come and see my grandson tomorrow?" she looked like she was pleading. "Mom, you don't need to ask, just come over. Better still, we will come tomorrow and help you tidy up some" Nick said with a smile.
"Dan is staying with us tonight; I think he needs to talk some" Nick added, and his mother nodded in agreement. "He's crushed, Nick, so, yes, talk to him" she added.
Nick leaned down and kissed his mother's cheek. "I love you, Mom" he added. "Love you, too, sweetheart" she replied, and turned and took her seat within the women's group.
Forty minutes later they were back in their home. Leo went upstairs to change into something more casual. Nicholas was with his aunt, and would not be back until the following day. Nick followed Leo and also changed.
"Is Dan okay?" Leo asked.
"He will be; just need's male company. Mary and Mom don't cut it, and as much as Andrew tries, he is a bit effeminate" Nick added. "Oh, homophobic" Leo laughed. "No, it's just that Dan can be dumb sometimes, and he can offend when not meaning to".
"Is it okay with you two fags if I grab a beer" Dan yelled upstairs.
"See what I mean?" Nick replied before yelling back.
"Yeah, fine; but, you call us fags once more, you'll find your own fucking beer"
"Sorry" he yelled back.
"Fucking teenagers" Nick said, kissing Leo's forehead.
"That chocolate cake still in the fridge" Nick asked, with a wicked grin once again covering his face. "Yeah, but Dan is staying, remember?" Leo replied.
"You mean I cannot have a snack in bed?" Nick snickered.
They headed down stairs. Dan was on the sofa with a bottle of Bud in one hand and the remote in the other, watching Sports Centre.
He placed the Beer on a coaster and headed back into the kitchen. "You two want a beer?" he asked, and Nick nodded for both of them. He returned with two open bottles of Bud, and the chocolate cake on a plate.
"Oh, you don't mind do you? I had nothing to eat" Dan said, looking at Leo and his brother. "Knock yourself out, bro" Nick smiled. "I just have to find something else to eat in bed" Nick whispered into Leo's ear.
To be continued...
Remarks and anything else please davidspowart3@hotmail.com
David