Quarterback Keeper: 13
Let's Talk
The Sinclair corporate jet cleared American airspace when the steward asked Joe if he would like some refreshments. "I'll have a beer," Joe said. "Also, I am sure Michael would like a beer." The steward looked at Michael with a bit of suspicion. "It's okay Nick. I am Michael's substitute parent for the next two weeks. Plus, we're playing by Scottish rules on this trip."
"Yes, Mr. Bartlett."
"Oh, you can also stop with the Mr. Bartlett. I'm Joe, this is Michael, and the goof over there is Tyler."
Joe asked Michael what his plans were for the trip. He replied, "When I was younger, mom and dad took me to Rosslyn Chapel, but I really didn't get why mom was so big on wanting to see it. Then I read The Da Vinci Code last year as part of my independent reading class, and now I want to go back and learn more about it. You know, what is real and what is fiction."
"I would love to spend some time exploring Edinburgh with you and Tyler. Also, the Sinclair clan had castles and lands around Wick in the North. I would like to take a trip up there for some pictures, and maybe I can talk you and Tyler into hiking a day in Cairngorms National Park."
Joe laughed, "I am glad I brought my hiking boots. It sounds like this is more bootcamp than vacation."
"Well, if you're not up for it Uncle Joe, I understand," Michael said with a smile.
"Oh, so now it's goading the old man by challenging his fitness. You just made a serious mistake buckaroo."
Nick returned with two beers and two sandwiches. "Sorry it took so long, but you said we were playing by Scotish rules. In Scotland 17-year-olds can drink a beer as long as it is served with a meal," NIck said with a wink.
"Good to know," Joe said.
After a couple sips of beer Joe asked, "So, what about you and Ian."
Michael wasn't sure what to say next. Finally he said, "After you found the...well, you know...I decided to tell mom and dad about Ian."
"Shit," Joe chuckled, "I'll be your dad had a heart attack."
"Well I kind of eased into the subject. I asked if they remembered Ian. Both of them said they did. Then I said that I had been texting with Ian and we were getting really interested in each other. I started to tell them more and dad put his fingers in his ears and started singing the OSU fight song. Mom yelled at him and told him to grow up, but he just got up to leave. I wasn't sure what he was thinking, then he turned around and said, get your ass over here.' I thought I was dead, but when I got close he pulled me in a hug and kissed me on my forehead. I looked at him and he just said, I don't know what to say except: be smart, be safe, and talk to your Uncle Joe before you do anything--Oh, and I almost forgot, I love you.' Then he went to the office."
"Mom, just looked stunned and said, `I'll be damned.' She asked a few questions about our relationship, but steered clear of anything bordering on sex. She wasn't as blunt as dad, but I think she is hoping that you will have the bees and the bees talk with me so they don't have to."
"Is that what you want? Do you want to talk with me about sex?"
"I don't think any teenager wants to talk with an adult about sex, but I sure as hell would rather talk with you than with my parents. It's weird, because sex education is a part of my school's curriculum, so I know a lot more about straight sex than gay sex. Of course, all the health teacher was really concerned about was that the girls didn't get pregnant and we didn't give each other AIDS or some other STD. I guess he figured we'd just watch porn to learn about the rest of it."
"So, has Ian told his parents about you two?"
"Ian's mother died when he was just a little kid, so he didn't really know his mom. Ian was afraid his father and brothers wouldn't take it well having a gay boy in the family. He decided to tell his brothers first, as he put it to get that beating out of the way. He said when he told them, they looked at each other then jumped on him and pinned him to the ground. Then they both laughed and his oldest brother said, You dumb little shit, we know you are a bender.' Then his other brother said, But you're out little bender and we'll kick the fuck out of any ass who messes with you'."
"Ian said his brothers insisted on being present when he told his father. His oldest brother, Eric said, Listen pops, Ian has something to tell you that you might not like, but if you hurt him, Evan and I will kick the shit out of you.' I haven't figured out if the Ramseys are really into fighting or just colorful talkers. But, Ian's father just said, So, Ian's a poof. It's not like he did something terrible like joining the Tory Party."
Joe looked Michael in the eyes and said, "I am glad both of you have family that love and accept you. Even today, so many kids don't have that. I am also impressed that you and Ian decided to level with your families. I know that isn't easy at your age. Now for my next question, since your parents are leaving the sex talk to me, do you want Ian to be a part of it?"
Michael thought for a while then said, "I would like that. I think it would make it easier to talk about what we want and don't want to do. Kind of like having someone to ask the questions we are too shy or embarrassed to ask each other. Will Tyler also be part of the talk?"
Joe laughed, "That would be funny. Talk about someone who blushes at the mere mention of the word sex." Then Joe said in a loud voice, "Tyler, Michael wants you to be there for his sex talk. I think you can provide some fresh perspective."
There was a loud moan from the front of the passenger section and both Joe and Michael laughed.
Fore!
Glenarch House was a country house built in the 1820's that had since been turned into a B&B. Mindy had booked two rooms for the trip. One was a converted carriage house with windows facing the garden and the other a single room on the river side of the house.
Joe and Tyler were already at breakfast when a sleepy looking Michael joined them. "You look a bit rough this morning," Tyler said.
"Yeah, I can't sleep well in a new place. Plus, the time change always gets me."
"I would have thought you would be up and all excited to see your friend," Joe said with a wink.
"Ian can't meet me until this evening. He got called into work."
"So, I guess you and Tyler are stuck figuring out what to do on your own," Joe said. Both Tyler and Michael looked at him with confusion. "Oh, I forgot to mention that I have some business to take care of, so you two are on your own today."
"Okay," Tyler said. "When will you be back?"
"I will be free for dinner this evening. How about we meet at the Black Bull pub in Dalkeith. I was talking to one of the locals and he said it had an authentic local feel. Michael, you were wanting to go out to Roslynn Chapel. I've been there before, so maybe you and Tyler can take the car and go see that today."
Tyler and Michael loaded up a picnic lunch and were ready to leave for Roslynn. Joe handed Tyler the keys and said, "Remember it's the left side of the road. Just take it slow and be safe." Then Joe gave Tyler a tender kiss. Seeing two studs display affection and love made Michael smile on the outside, but long all the more for Ian on the inside.
After the car was out of sight, Joe headed the other direction. The Newbattle Golf Club was just a fifteen minute walk, and Joe felt the need to do some thinking before his meeting. At the club he was introduced to Dr. and Mrs. Kerber. "Guten Morgen, Mr. Bartlett," Dr. Kerber said.
"Good morning Dr. Kerber and Mrs. Kerber. Please call me Joe."
"Please call me Franz," Dr. Kerber said with a thick German accent, "and my wife is Maria. She doesn't speak much English. Her second languages are French, Spanish, and Italian. She told me I had to cover English."
"Pleased to meet you. I see we are playing together today," Joe said.
"Yes. I just hope you can forgive mine and Maria's play. We are what you would call duffers."
"Not at all, I am sure we will have a fun round."
Just then a handsome young man with red hair walked toward Joe. Joe immediately recognized him even with all his clothes on. "Mr. Bartlett, I am Ian, your caddy for today."
"Hello Ian, please call me Joe."
"Sorry Mr. Bartlett, club rules are that caddies use formal address on the course."
"What is your last name?"
"Ramsey, sir."
"Well then Mr. Ramsey, let's have a good day."
On the first tee box Joe asked Ian for a suggestion on playing the hole.
"Sir, try to keep it in the left half of the fairway. There are bunkers on both the left and right of the green and the best approach is from the left."
Joe stepped up and smoked his drive down the fairway and landed it perfectly for an easy approach shot. As Ian took Joe's club, he said, "You've played before. I'm honored that you requested me to caddie."
Joe smiled and said, "My friend gave you a good recommendation."
Franz and Maria each teed off and Joe thought to himself: Ian and I will have plenty of time to get to know each other.
"Do you live around here?" Joe asked.
"Yes sir. My family has a farm just outside of Dalkeith. We raise grain, sheep, and some cattle."
"So your muscles are the result of honest farm work."
"Yes sir," said a smiling Ian.
It was finally time for Joe's second shot. Ian handed him a nine iron and Joe put it on the green leaving a ten foot putt for birdie.
"Do you want to be a farmer?"
"Not really, my brother Eric is studying agriculture and will likely take over the farm. My second brother Evan is at university. He wants to study law. I would really like to do something with music, but that's a long shot for a kid like me."
"I see. So are you also planning on college?"
"I've thought about it, but I slacked off in school and I probably won't score well enough to get into university."
Joe told Ian that he was a high school teacher, and they spent the rest of the front nine comparing the life of a Scottish teenager to that of an American. After a quick snack at the turn they started the last nine holes. Joe was sitting at one under par and Ian was having a good day chatting with the friendly and athletic American golfer.
The thirteenth hole was the longest on the course at 546 yards and named the Lucky Dip. As Ian was handing Joe his driver, Joe said, "By the way, Michael Sinclair calls me Uncle Joe." He then hit a crushing drive down the center of the fairway. When he looked up, Joe knew from the expression in Ian's face that he was upset.
The walk to Joe's ball was in silence. Ian handed Joe a two iron. Another good shot followed by a pitching wedge for a 12 foot putt. Joe lipped out and then a tap in for par. Ian still hadn't said a word.
"On the par three fourteenth, Ian handed Joe a driver. Joe looked him in the eyes and asked, "Are you angry?"
"Yes, sir."
Joe smoked another drive and this one landed on the apron then rolled onto the green. Joe had a fifteen foot putt for birdie. Ian said, "It will break a foot to the left near the cup, sir."
Joe looked at the putt again and didn't see any break, but he decided to take Ian's advice. The putt followed a straight line and Joe was sure he would be wide of the hole by a foot, but then in the last six feet the putt moved left and ended in the center of the cup for birdie.
As they were walking to the fifteenth, Joe asked, "Are you still angry?"
"Yes, sir."
Joe parred the four stroke fifteen and then it was on to the sixteen. The sixteen was called the Gap and was lined on both sides with trees and fairway bunkers. Ian handed Joe a three wood and said, "Yes sir, still angry?"
Joe hit the ball and it bounced twice before settling in the right fairway bunker. After the Kerbers both hit their balls, Joe asked, "What do you recommend?"
"An eight iron, sir."
"I'm a long way out, wouldn't a five iron be a better club?"
"No sir, the lip of the bunker is higher than you think. You need more loft to get out cleanly."
Joe took the offered eight iron and hit a perfect shot to put the ball back in play. As they were walking to Joe's ball, Ian asked, "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you intentionally hit that ball into the bunker?"
"You noticed that."
"Yes sir. So why?"
"I wanted to confirm what I thought about you is true."
"What is that?"
"That you have integrity. Look Ian, I know you are angry because you feel I have played you today. However you have had several opportunities to give me bad advice and ruin my game, but you didn't. You did your job regardless of how you feel about me right now."
When they had reached Joe's ball, he asked for a seven iron and dropped it five feet below the pin for an easily makeable putt. On the way to the seventeenth, Joe said, "Michael, doesn't know anything about my playing golf today, or that I requested you for my caddy, so I hope you aren't upset with him when we have dinner with him and my boyfriend this evening."
Ian couldn't contain a grin. "I get to see Michael tonight? Wait, you have a boyfriend?"
"Yes, and yes. Just don't tell Tyler he's my boyfriend; I want to keep him guessing. Do you need to check with anyone about going with us to dinner?"
"No, my father is at his regimental reunion and won't be back until the day after tomorrow, and both my brothers have dates for tonight. So I am on my own."
The seventeenth hole was a par four that teed off from a secluded and elevated tee box. The first shot would be over the river to the fairway below. The Kerbers looked a bit intimidated by the hole and Joe said, "How about I tee off and then we all play from where my ball lands." They eagerly agreed.
Ian handed Joe his driver, then said, "Just a little, I'm getting over it." Joe and Ian gave each other a smile. Joe hit another perfect drive. While Joe picked up another par, the Kerbers at least didn't lose their balls in the river.
On the eighteenth tee box Joe said. "Do you want to make a little wager?"
"Sorry sir, I don't have money to lose."
"I wasn't thinking about money. I was thinking that if I birdie the hole, I can ask you any question I want and you have to answer it honestly. If I bogie it then you get to ask me any question you want and I will answer it honestly."
"What if it's a par?"
"There are two options: One, neither of us gets to ask a question; or two, we both get to ask a question."
Ian thought for a while and said, "I'd like option two."
Joe smiled and hit a screaming drive down the left side of the fairway. Then a second shot put the ball four feet below the hole for a short birdie, but just as Joe was putting Maria Kerber's phone went off with an obnoxious version of La Cucaracha. Joe flinched, lipped out, and had to settle for par.
On the way to the clubhouse Ian said, "I will count that last hole as a birdie, you were unfairly distracted."
"No Ian, I am a big boy. That hole was even par."
Joe handed Ian the caddie fee and a 100 pound tip. Ian handed Joe back 75 pounds and said, "Sir, the usual tip is 25 pounds." Joe smiled and said, "Let's head over to the Black Bull to meet Michael and Tyler."
The Black Bull
Joe and Ian arrived at the Black Bull before Michael and Tyler, so they had a chance to settle their bet.
"So Ian, tell me what you think about Michael."
Ian smiled and looked down at his drink. "I think he's cute."
"Of course you would. It's like you're looking in a mirror. However, that is not all there is, right?"
Ian thought for a moment. "I can't really put it into words. Yes, he is hot and athletic, but he's also smart and funny. Sometimes he gets me laughing so hard I get the hiccups. I know his family has money, a lot of money, but he doesn't make me feel uncomfortable because my family doesn't have much money. It's like we are just mates. It's weird, because we have really only spent a few summer weeks together in the same place. The rest of the time it's been email, texts, the occasional chat, but he just seems to know what I need when I'm down and I can't wait to tell him about the good things that happen. I don't really know what love is...I mean I love my father and brothers, but to be in love, that's not something I don't understand. So, I can't tell you that I'm in love with Michael, but I can say that I can't stop thinking about him....wondering what he's doing. When he tells me about winning a tennis match or doing well in school, it makes me...well proud. And if he is sad, it hurts that I'm not there to hold him and comfort him."
"For someone who can't put your feelings into words," Joe said, "you just made a few poets wish for your voice." Joe smiled and took a drink of his beer.
"Okay, my turn," Ian said. "What are you going to tell Michael's parents about me?"
"The truth?"
"What's that?"
"Hey, the bet was for one question. You can't go trying to get a two for one."
Ian slumped in his chair, crossed his arms, and made a pouty face. He was so cute that Joe couldn't help laughing and said, "I'm going to tell them that you are smart and respectful. That you are honest and have integrity. Based on the calluses on your hands, you are not afraid to work. I will also tell them that neither you nor Michael know where your friendship is going, but the two of you should be given the chance to figure that out for yourselves."
Ian smiled, "Thank you Joe."
Michael and Tyler walked up behind Ian and he didn't see them. Suddenly, Michael threw his arms around Ian. When Ian realized who had him, he jumped up and gave Michael a hug. When everyone was seated again, Michael introduced Tyler as Joe's boyfriend.
Ian looked at Joe and said, "I thought you said Tylet wasn't supposed to know he was your boyfriend."
"Geeze thanks Michael, now I'll never be able to get rid of him."
Tyler just smiled.
The waitress brought menus and asked what everyone would be drinking. Joe said, "Beer, unless anyone would like something else." They all shook their heads no.
"So Ian," asked Joe, "Have you eaten here before?"
"Yes, my father and I eat here quite often."
"What would you recommend?"
"I think everything is good, although most people new to Scottish cuisine are shy to try the haggis. My favorite is the Black Bull's Steak and Stout Pie with mash."
"That sounds good to me," Joe said.
When the waitress brought the beers, she asked if everyone was ready to order. It turned out everyone decided to go with Ian's recommendation. Then Joe added, Bring the table an order of Deep Fried Calamari Rings, an order of Deep Fried Mushrooms, and an order of Battered Haggis Fritters. We're going to have to try haggis and this seems like the safest way to do it."
Tyler said, "I'll give haggis a try, but you might be buying me two or three more beers."
Michael whispered in Ian's ear, and Ian blushed.
"What did you just say to poor Ian to embarrass him," asked Joe.
"I told him that you two had seen his picture," said a mischievous Michael.
"From what I saw," Tyler said, "you have nothing to be ashamed of."
Ian turned even redder and Joe and Michael burst into laughter.
The four men enjoyed the meal and each other's company. Joe could see the connection between Michael and Ian strengthening before his eyes. Toward the end of the meal, a college age couple walked up to the table. "Hey Ian, what's up," the man of the couple said.
Ian responded, "Everyone, I'd like you to meet my brother Eric and his girlfriend Melinda. Eric and Melinda, these are my new American mates. This is Michael...this is his Uncle Joe...and this is Joe's boyfriend Tyler."
Eric looked at Tyler, then at Joe, then back to Tyler. Tyler said, "I'm legal," and everyone laughed.
"Eric," Joe said. "We are going to Edinburgh tomorrow and I'm wondering if Ian could be our tour guide?"
Eric looked at Ian's pleading eyes and said, "Sure under one condition. All of you have come to dinner the next day. Our father will be home then and I'm sure he will want to meet all of you."
"Agreed," said Joe.
Later that evening Tyler was using Joe's chest for a pillow. He finally mustered up the courage to ask, "Joe, when did you know?"
"When did I know what?"
"That I was your boyfriend."
"If I were picking a moment," Joe said, "I think it would be at the Cubs game. My cousins were being asses, but you just won them over. I don't think I would have ever considered the possibility of reconciliation with them before that day. We would have continued to have our little fights at the Sinclair Board of Directors meetings, but that would have been the extent of our connection. I would have never really gotten to know their children; I would not be Uncle Joe. Today made it even more clear that I like being Uncle Joe. I can't express what a gift you gave me when you bridged the divide between me and my family."
Joe and Tyler lay in silence. Tyler absentmindedly ran his fingers through Joe's chest hair. Finally Joe asked, "So when did I become your boyfriend."
"You have been so generous from the minute we met. Of course when Dr. Kesslinger introduced us, I was totally intimidated, maybe even a bit scared. I know my mom really likes you and you have been so good to her. There are so many things I could point to when I would have said, that's Joe Barlett and he's my hero. However, and this may sound dumb, the thing that made me fall for you was that day you were helping me move, and you asked if I wanted to bring Sunshine home with us. It was like you could see into my soul and knew what I needed at the very moment. You do that all the time, not just for me, but for everyone who needs a hero."
Joe pulled Tyler into a deep hug. Tyler felt so warm and secure in Joe's embrace. Tyler reached up to kiss Joe's cheek and was overcome with warmth when his lips detected a tear.
Thank you for reading "Quarterback Keeper." I very much appreciate the comments and words of encouragement I have received from readers. I also have another story, "Tough Love in Kansas City" going on nifty.org. If you would like to be included in updates on my stories, send me an email.
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