Ring in Mine #3: Nephi & Jerome: Chapter 68
It has been pointed out to me that these characters have taken on a life of their own outside of the Ring in Mine series. I hope you are enjoying reading the story as much as I am enjoying writing it. An outline exists for a second Samaria Story continuing this one. My wife says I can write it after I get my book "At Journey's End" to my publisher.
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Thanks Zach for your editing skills. Here is Chapter 68 ----------- Chapter 68
There was a single shot. Agnes dropped her gun and clutched her shoulder. A man dressed in casual clothes stepped into the situation.
"Agnes, you know protocol. There is always a sleeper." He turned to Kimmie, "Please let Andy out of the trunk." The howl of a siren followed by another grew louder. The paramedics arrived before the police. They saw to Agnes's wounded shoulder.
The medical center also sent an ambulance. They dealt with the cut on Jerry's neck.
"This could have been bad. It won't even need stitches." They slapped a bandage on it and packed up their stuff.
"Jerry needs to see a doctor. Take Skip with him," Andy insisted. He wanted the boys away from the drama of the police and the media.
"It isn't necessary to transport them by ambulance." The techs returned to the ambulance as a call came through. Andy could only hear the tech's side of the conversation.
"No, ma'am. The other boy has no injuries. Policy states we may only transport injured patients." The tech turned pale. "Yes, ma'am. I like my job."
"I understand. Emotional trauma with the potential of shock. I understand." They returned to the medical center with the two boys in the back.
A late model Lincoln pulled up. The officer on the scene recognized the most expensive lawyer in town climbing out. "Shit." He cursed under his breath.
The lawyer stood by Hugo. "This young man has witnessed a traumatic event. Please take his statement now so we can get him to a place of safety."
Away from the group, with the lawyer at his side, Hugo told his version of the evening's events.
"Agnes tried to grab Skip, but Jerry pushed him out of the way." The officer made notes and asked questions. Finished, Hugo sat in the lawyer's car while they talked with Kimmie.
The lawyer walked Kimmie to his car and spoke to the driver. "Take this young man and his tutor to the medical center."
Hugo found Skip monopolizing Jerome. Jerry looking lost on the couch listened in silence. Hugo had cried on Kimmie's shoulder in the car, now he needed his dad.
"I think I can squeeze a young man into this recliner with me." Sitting with his dad, Hugo found he could lean his head on Adam's chest without causing him any pain.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Hugo shook his head `no'. "Do you want to just sit with me?" Hugo nodded and closed his eyes. Jerry watched Hugo snuggled next to Adam feeling envious. No one noticed when he wandered into the hallway feeling left out and forgotten.
"I cooked this good meal. My boys will not eat hospital food." Mamá bustled into the room carrying a basket. She had put Jerry to work pulling a rolling cooler. Papá followed with a cardboard box. After blessing the food, Andy arrived.
"Welcome Señor Andy, there are plenty of enchiladas." Mamá Garcia called out. Eating pushed the day's ordeal to the back burner. Jerry wasn't interested in eating. Mamá encouraged him to try something. He swallowed three bites before he ran to the bathroom and threw up. Mamá followed Jerry into the bathroom and helped get him cleaned up. When Jerry was ready to rejoin the family, he sat next to Mamá.
Jerome fed Adam a dish Mamá had created for him. She had run enchilada filling through the food processor with cream cheese and layered it between soft masa, and refried beans. Adam gave it a big thumbs up.
The doctor stopped by and Mamá made him sit long enough to eat. "Thank you, that was delicious. Would you like to take this pair home tonight?"
"Dad you get to come home." Hugo was excited.
"It's only for the weekend." Adam answered.
"That's better than nothing." Hugo replied.
"I want to see you on Monday. If things go well, you can spend the week at home." The doctor turned at the door. "I'll have the nurse get you ready to go. He'll be staying with you for the weekend just in case."
Mamá and Papá left first to get things ready for Adam and Jerome.
"Jerry, do you want to ride with us?" Papá asked. Jerry held Jerome's hand and was unwilling to let go.
"We will see you at home then." Mamá replied.
As the rest of the group left the building, the nurse pushed Adam's wheelchair onto the transport van's wheelchair lift.
"Jerry, I'll see you at the villa." Jerome transferred his son's hand to Hugo. Jerome followed Adam's chair into the van. Jerry watched the wheelchair lift retract and the sliding door close.
"Come on Jerry. They love you, but they are a little focused on each other right now." Hugo hugged his little brother. "I think you're a hero." Jerry tried to smile.
Inside the van, they locked Adam's chair into place. Jerome sat next to him. Tears filled Jerome's eyes. A van like this would have helped Nephi a lot.
"You're thinking of Nephi, aren't you?" Adam asked. Jerome nodded.
"I miss him too. When the casts get me down, I try to imagine what Nephi felt knowing he would never use his leg again. He was so strong. How can I not endure a few weeks?"
Jerome leaned into Adam and pressed his lip to his lover's. "I love you Adam of Samaria."
Andy was beside himself. If he drove the boys home, who would be with Jerome and Adam. If he rode with the men, who would drive the boys home. The Agnes debacle had emphasized the need for more coverage. Adam's nurse reappeared with an overnight bag and a pistol holstered over his left pec accessible even while driving.
"We have many patients that have special security needs." The nurse's size alone would deter most miscreants. He looked more like a bouncer or a mob enforcer than a medical professional. "Please follow me."
The nurse didn't head for the main gate but followed a gravel road half a mile to a side gate. The nurse waved to a CCTV camera and the chain link gate slid open. They drove another half mile and came to the villa from the rear. Getting Adam out of the van, the nurse explained the two secure properties shared a fence line.
Inside Papá told the story of Grace taking a golf cart to see her ailing husband whenever the mood struck her.
Adam and Jerome enjoyed listening to prayers. Jerry had used part of his book money to buy another copy of `the book' to replace the copy left at home. He tried to sit on his dad's lap.
"Jerry, you will need to sit on the bed. It is too painful to have you sit on my lap. Jerome read it with the voices. Jerry no longer cared. He crawled into bed and turned toward the wall. Skip hadn't heard it yet and laughed after each page turn. Kimmie followed with `Tom Sawyer'.
Andy offered to move back to the cottage. "Adam and I will need to return to the medical center. We prefer a security presence in the main house."
"Then there is the noise problem." Adam smiled.
"What noise problem?" Andy asked. "The villa sits in the middle of the desert."
"It might not be so quiet when Trace and Josh return." Adam laughed.
"I hope the screaming banshee returns soon." Hugo laughed.
"Why?" Jerome asked, puzzled.
"Because then everything would be back to normal." Jerome pulled Hugo into a hug.
Jerome watched the nurse carry Adam from his chair to the bed.
"I saw the sadness in your eyes. I want you to know, he can lift my body, but only you can lift my spirit when I'm sad."
Adam pulled Jerome into a kiss. Adam's tongue slipped past Jerome's lips. The kiss grew in passion. "Jerome would you lock the door?"
Jerome pulled the blanket back exposing Adam's midsection. "That sounds fun, but I want to try something else. Kneel across my chest."
Jerome's soft penis hung within reach of Adam's lips. "Is this a good idea?"
"I talked to my doctor and yours. We need to go slow and stop if it hurts." Having his mouth full of dick made it difficult to continue the conversation, but Jerome wasn't complaining. The full banshee wasn't back but a small son of the banshee echoed through the villa.
Jerry struggled to fall asleep. Skip told Jerry to quit wiggling. Jerry grabbed one of the big pool towels for a blanket and moved to the couch. Was Mamá the only one that cared the crazy lady could have killed him.
He had only been asleep for an hour when the nightmares hit. Jerry tried retreating to his dad's bed but found the door locked. A locked door meant `do not disturb.' Jerry feared sleep and the dark.
Mamá Garcia glanced out the kitchen window while getting a drink. The villa glowed like a Christmas tree. She pulled on a robe and slippers and made her way to the main house. Jerry sat on the couch crying wrapped in a towel. She wrapped Jerry in a soft throw and pulled him onto her lap in the rocking recliner.
"Bad dreams?" She asked. Jerry nodded. `Why didn't he turn to his father?' Mamá wondered.
"They worry about each other. They locked the door." Jerry answered the unvoiced question. She hadn't yet heard Jerry talk about his brush with death.
"Mamá is here. Tell me what happened today." Jerry told Mamá about how scary it was with the knife at his neck and how much it hurt when she cut him.
"I thought she would kill me." Jerry shared.
Mamá thought it was odd that Jerry didn't mention pushing Skip away from Agnes.
Jerry leaned away from Mamá Garcia enough to look her in the eye. "It wasn't Skip's time. I am a Samaritan, just like Daddy Nephi."
Jerry's answers to her unasked questions haunted her well after Jerry fell asleep. Is this what people meant when they said someone had an old soul? He was a five-year-old child with the wisdom many adults would never achieve.
Jerry stirred around 6:00 AM. He left Mamá sleeping in the recliner. Dressed he started his chores but got no farther than feeding the dwarf goat kids. Mamá found him as the sun came up. The kids' bottles were empty. Wrapped in the terry towel, Jerry slept between two bales of hay, a tiny goat on either side. She found a warmer blanket to cover the three tender souls.
At breakfast, Hugo gave his dad's a thumbs up. "Skip made me check for a monster under the bed. I told him the creature was in your room and it was an old friend." Hugo laughed.
"Where's Jerry?" Jerome asked.
"He had a rough night. He did his chores early and is sleeping." Mamá explained.
Finished with their chores, the boys watched the clock waiting for thirty minutes to pass.
Kimmie, already at the pool, lounged in the sun when two naked boys and Andy wearing a pair of blue briefs jumped into the heated water. The nurse carried Adam to the lounge chair next to Jerome's in the warm sunshine.
"If you get cold let me know." The nurse admonished.
"I'll be fine. Enjoy the pool." Adam reassured his keeper.
Mamá and Jerry arrived, each carrying a book, in time to see the nurse reveal his speedo clad body and acres of muscle. He dropped to the concrete and performed a series of one-handed pushups.
"Oh my!" Mamá Garcia set her novel unopened novel on the table. Everyone's eyes except Jerry's were on Martin's flexing torso, even Andy who wasn't into guys. Jerry opened his sketchbook and drew pictures of the baby goats.
"Why are you wearing a t-shirt today Kimmie?" Skip asked.
"Don't worry about my dads, they're all about each other." Hugo laughed. Kimmie blew the comments off until Andy started with his taunts.
"I'll lose the shirt if you lose the briefs!" Kimmie answered. Andy looked to his employers for support.
"Mamá Garcia?" Jerome asked.
"Don't mind me honey. I'll just sit here and read my book."
"Go for it, Andy!" Kimmie taunted. After a few contortions a blue pair of wet briefs landed on Kimmie's shirt.
"I'll keep these as a souvenir." Kimmie pulled the shirt over her head.
"Now I need some sunblock rubbed on my back." Andy wasn't sure about getting out of the pool yet. Hugo was first out of the pool offering to help. He spread three coats of white cream on Kimmie's back, rubbing it in well.
"I can do your front." Hugo offered. Kimmie looked at Hugo's young aroused state and reassured him she could do her own front.
"I think our son bats for the other team." Adam shared with his partner.
The nurse removed his speedo. He flexed his muscles before diving back into the pool. Everyone waited for Mamá's `Oh my!' But It didn't come. Jerome turned. Mamá's book lay on the floor. She made no move to retrieve it until the nurse's attributes disappeared under the water.
Martin pulled himself over the edge of the pool. Mamá Garcia didn't drop her book this time. She used it to fan herself as she ogled Martin's muscular chest and shoulders tapering to his slender waist and back to his developed thighs. He turned to dive back into the pool.
"I think he could crack walnuts with those buns." Mamá sighed. The nurse squeezed the muscles in his ass. Papá chose that moment to walk around the house.
"Papá! Inside now!" She took his arm and pulled him toward the house. "Lunch might be late boys!"
Lunch was late. Mamá appeared relaxed. Papá looked exhausted but smiling.
"Boys, I have to fly to New York for a board meeting on Wednesday and won't be back until Saturday. I will be in meetings Thursday and Friday. It will be best if you stay here with Mamá Garcia."
Jerome gave the lesson and prayer at supper. Afterwards the boys and their dads watched a Disney film on television. Kimmie wanted to watch a romantic comedy on another channel. Andy suggested the tv in the security cottage. The next morning Mamá asked Jerry to invite Kimmie and Andy to breakfast.
"Kimmie must have gotten up early. She's already made her bed. Andy's made his too." Jerry reported.
Mama Garcia picked up the phone and called the security cottage. "We are having breakfast in ten minutes if you are interested."
The missing pair arrived for breakfast. Kimmie looked well put together. Andy's t-shirt was front to back. Kimmie had pulled her brushed locks into a ponytail. Andy's curls stuck out any which way. They sat on different sides of the table trying not to look at each other. Andy's foot kept brushing Hugo's.
"No one cares you spent the night together, but you're playing footsie with the wrong person." Hugo picked up his plate. Andy turned bright red but switched places with Hugo. He sat next to Kimmie. Andy jerked nearly putting a fork of eggs up his nose.
Hugo shook his head. "They are as bad as Zeke and Rafe." Hugo had to explain the antics of the couple still in Utah.
"I would like you to stay in the main house. Use Kimmie's room. It has the sitting area. After church take the card and get a TV and maybe a VCR for the room." Jerome requested with a smile.
The boys dressed themselves for church. Getting clothes over Adam's plaster was difficult. He ended up wearing black scrubs. "Everyone will understand and welcome you with open arms." Mamá Garcia insisted.
Three vehicles pulled through the front gate. The boys rode in the van with Adam and Jerome. Papá Garcia drove his wife. Kimmie rode with Andy following behind watching for trouble.
When the priest started the homily with the parable of the Good Samaritan, Skip and Jerry beamed. The priest was talking about them.
Trace and Josh had arrived at the villa while the others were at church. They were sitting around the pool sleeping in the sun. Trace's sister's funeral had been in Minnesota. Even though the calendar said it was spring, in Minnesota winter still held the state in its icy grip.
Jerome made sure Trace was all right before springing the New York trip on him.
After Mamá Garcia's big Sunday dinner the boys were ready to go swimming. Unaware of the new dress code. Trace and Josh appeared in board shorts ready to make use of the warm pool.
"You can't wear those in this pool!" Jerry shouted. "We swim naked here."
The pair looked around. Kimmie was sunning topless. The sun shone on all of Adam and Jerome bandage free parts. Mamá Garcia read her book with only an occasional glance at the scenery. Trace and Josh shared a look and dropped their shorts.
A shiny glint caught Mamá's eye. "Oh my!" The bright rings disappeared under the water.
"Why would someone do that to their dick? It's sick." Adam commented. Jerome didn't answer. His mind had fled a year into the past and into another desert. He stood, wrapped his towel around himself, and wandered into the house ignoring Adam's questions.
"Jerome, where are you going?" Jerome walked away as if he hadn't heard Adam's question. Adam felt helpless. "Would someone help me to my wheelchair?" Josh climbed out of the pool and lifted Adam while Andy helped him into his shorts. The nurse returned from the restroom in time to push Adam into the house in search of his partner.
They found Jerome sitting on the bed tears flowing across his cheeks. A small wooden box lay open next to him. One hand held a pair of shiny rings. The other grasped a photo. "I am trying but I can't do it."
Adam needed to wrap his arms around his man. He felt so useless, unable to give Jerome the physical reassurance he needed. The nurse touched Jerome who pulled away. "Leave me alone!"
"Go get Jerry." Adam asked. The nurse hesitated. "Get him now please."
Jerry crawled next to his dad. He looked first at the photo and then the rings. "I miss him too."
Adam felt left out as Jerome and Jerry shared stories in verbal shorthand. One would start a story and never finish.
"Remember the big Christmas present." Jerome began.
"And the race car." Jerry paused. "Remember when I dropped the flashlight."
"He found us anyway." Jerome finished. The cryptic statements continued. There were so many things Adam didn't know about Jerome's life with Nephi.
The nurse pushed a puzzled patient back to the pool area. `What had triggered Jerome's melancholy walk down memory lane?' Adam pondered.
Half an hour later the phone rang three times before Jerome answered it. He soon rejoined the family at the pool. "Something has come up and I need to leave this afternoon. I hope you haven't unpacked Trace. A car will be here in an hour."
Adam wanted details. Jerome pleaded ignorance. With Jerome's suitcase packed and in the trunk of the rented car. Jerome wished Adam good luck on Monday. Jerome gave Jerry and Skip hugs and kisses.
"Be good for Mamá Garcia and Kimmie. Study hard and get real smart." Jerome admonished his boys.
"I am smart already. Kimmie says I'm reading Third Grade books." Jerry countered.
"Then get smarter and remember Samaritans think about things before they say them. You don't want to hurt anyone."
"I try not to hurt anyone's feelings. Sometimes it's hard." Jerry earned another hug and kiss. Adam received a halfhearted kiss on the cheek. When Adam tried for a more passionate kiss, Jerome turned away.
Trace closed the door behind Jerome and climbed into the front seat. Before leaving the property, Jerome asked Trace to remove his earpiece and turn off his radio.
"You know I can't do that. It against company protocols."
"I will give you a second chance. Turn it off." Trace refused without an explanation.
"Driver stop the car." The car stopped within feet of the gate. Jerome stepped out of the car. The driver opened the trunk and removed Trace's suitcase from the trunk. Trace stood next to his battered case.
"What is going on?"
"I gave you an instruction twice and you chose not to comply. I will pick up a new security detail in New York. Someone who can follow directions." Jerome climbed into the car and locked the doors, leaving Trace to walk back to the villa.
Trace used the offending radio to call Josh for a ride. They were both mystified as they arrived at the villa. Trace called his superior, explaining the situation.
"I am not at liberty to divulge Mr. Tellerson's destination."
"You can't tell me or you don't know?" Trace countered.
His boss admitted he was not in the loop. "Mr. Tellerson would have preferred you as his traveling companion. I'm not sure what happened, but it looks bad having the head of the company using an outside security firm. Let nothing happen to Mr. Tellerson's partner or children. He already doubts the effectiveness of Tellerson Security."
Trace tried to explain the dangers of breaking the radio link mandated by company protocols.
"Don't tell me, I wrote those protocols. Did you ask why he wanted the radio off?"
Trace had to admit he hadn't asked. Trace knew he was right. He doubted anything Jerome had to say would have changed his mind.
Concerned about the last-minute change in plans, Adam called Belinda Montrose, the head of Jerome's team at Home Office. "What's so important Jerome had to leave early?"
"Adam, I not sure what is going on, nor can I tell you what I know. The boss is not a happy camper. Tellerson Aviation did not purchase an older ten-seater aircraft. Jerome isn't flying to an unknown location in the desert. I am not expecting him to arrive in New York until late on Wednesday for our briefing on Thursday." Belinda didn't say a lot of things. "He said, `I may be stupid, but I'm not visiting skinhead country waving a rainbow flag.' What happened?"
Adam wasn't sure what had happened. He tried asking Jerry.
"Go away, I'm not talking to you."
"Don't speak to your father like that." Kimmie snapped.
"Adam's not my father. I have two dads, Dad Jerome and Daddy Nephi."
"Jerry, go to your room until you can be polite." Kimmie ordered.
"Where do I go? Someone burned the only room that was mine." Jerry turned and ran into the house in tears.
"It's time for Mamá to step in. It seems everyone has been so concerned about their grownup problems, they have forgotten that two days ago this little boy had a knife at his throat." Mamá turned to Adam. "You need to find out what you said to upset Jerome and figure out how to put things right."
Mamá followed Jerry. She searched the house to no avail. On a hunch she checked the animals. She found Jerry with his arms around a kid.
"Do you want to talk?" Jerry shook his head. "May I sit here with you?" Jerry and his goat moved to a bale of straw in the three-sided shade structure. Mamá Garcia sat next to him. Jerry leaned against her. The little boy was back.
"Can you tell me about Nephi?" Jerry began with his mother leaving him on the doorstep.
"Mom was going to Germany with her boyfriend. She told me my dad would take care of me. I had two grandmas and they had Uncle Bertram's cookies. He makes the best cookies."
He told Mamá about jumping out of the big box and surprising his dads. "I didn't have one dad. I had two and they both loved me."
He told her about his race car bed. She could see how much he still loved his daddy Nephi.
"When the house burned down, it burned all my toys and the pictures of my mom." Jerry cried. "I can't remember what she looks like."
Mamá Garcia's heart broke as the little boy sobbed.
"A man grabbed me and put me in the trunk, like the crazy lady did to Uncle Andy. Daddy Nephi blocked the road with his cart. Daddy Nephi was para..." Jerry stumbled on the word. "After he got shot, his leg wouldn't work. The bad guy smashed Daddy into a pole. Uncle Myles got me out of the trunk before the car blew up."
Jerry realized Daddy Nephi burned up just like the pictures of his mom. Jerry stopped talking and just rocked back and forth. The sobs were gone. His mom was gone. Nephi was gone. Jerome was gone. Everything was gone.
Mamá whistled for Papá. "Would you find the other kid."
Papá brought bottles for the twin goats. Jerry stopped rocking and fed the two little critters that depended on him.
"I need to make supper. Do you want to go back to the big house?" Jerry shook his head `no'. "Do you want to sleep in my grandson's room?"
Jerry followed Mamá into her cottage. This was the room her grandsons stayed in when they visited. There were LEGOs in the closet and toys. Just like with his grandsons Papá sat on the floor and the pair played. Mamá threw together a quick supper from leftovers for her other charges.
With the kids brushing their teeth, Mamá had a few words for the adults around the table. "Jerry will stay at my place." Mamá gave any disagreement little credence.
"May I remind you; Master Jerry Tellerson is third in line in the Tellerson hierarchy. I work for the Tellerson family." She turned to Andy, Josh and Trace. "Unless Jerome asked you to do something illegal, I'm disappointed that you are here and not with the man you promised to protect."
Mamá returned to the cottage to find Jerry on the phone. "I'll try to be nice to Adam. I don't like him very much right now."
Jerry listened for a minute.
"I don't care. I won't call him dad. You're my dad. Nephi is my dad. Adam is your boyfriend." Mamá wished she could hear both sides of the conversation.
"You love him more that you love me. When I had nightmares, your door was locked so you could be with him. I don't want to like him. I wish you were here."
Jerry listened. "I love you dad. Here's Mamá Garcia. I'm sleeping at her house. She has LEGOs and toys. We need some toys."
Mamá Garcia listened to a list of instructions, offering suggestions. "You two are not too different to make it work. Don't give up, just don't forget you have a little boy that needs you too."
Jerome hung up the phone. Visiting the Hidden Oasis hadn't made him feel any better. His conversation with Jerry and Mamá helped him think through his relationship problems. Rather than spend more nights here and visiting Nephi's Sanctuary, Jerome had a new plan.