The story below is a work of fiction. It may contain erotic or sexually explicit behavior between males. If you find this work offensive or are too young, please exit now.
The author reserves copyright privileges as of June 2004. This work may not be posted on any other website, nor reproduced, except for personal use, without the written permission of the author.
Dedication: To Susie, Man's best friend. (Woof)
If you'd like to comment or just say `Hi", my e-mail address is JETjt@aol.com John Tucker.
RON AND MATT
Chapter Forty-four
Thursday, 6 PM, McCarran Executive Jet Terminal, Las Vegas
Ron, Matt and Ronnie entered through the double glass doors spotting Tyler and Dan seated in the Lounge area. Ronnie took off running and grabbed Tyler around the waist as he rose to greet his arriving family.
"Hi, Tyler. Hi Dan," he said as he traded his hug for Tyler into one for Dan.
"Hi kiddo," Tyler said with a smile. "I hear you're the newest hero in the family. We're both proud of you."
"It was nothing, more like an accident I'd say," Ronnie replied modestly.
"That may be son, but your curiosity in this case saved the cat!"
"Huh?" Ronnie replied. "We don't have a cat."
Ron and Matt who had just joined the trio, laughed along with Tyler and Dan, then explained the old phrase.
"I had Parker pack fresh clothes for you," Ron said speaking to his brother and Dan. "He packed dark suits too, in case the funeral will be in Houston. Is the plane ready?"
"Yes," Dan responded. "It's refueled and they've restocked the food and drink and all those things. We've only been here for 35 minutes, but we're ready to go."
"I know you both must be tired, especially Tyler. I presume that Gary has gone on home."
"Yes," Tyler answered. "He offered to go back with us to help handle Emma's arrangements, but I wouldn't hear of it. He did a great job for us in Atlanta. Will and the Whiz Kids should be returning tomorrow on a commercial flight"
"Gary's a good man," Ron commented. "He's got all the qualifications to head up the Atlanta office before too long."
"We'd better get on with it," Matt urged, trying to get the flight boarded. "It's going to be the middle of the night when we get to Houston as it is."
"You're right about that, my love. Tyler, I think it would be advisable for you and Dan to put down the sofa and get some proper sleep. We'll probably only get two or three hours of rest once we get to the hotel in Houston before we have to take care of our duties. We should get up pretty early to see Jerry and make the arrangements for his grandmother."
"Thanks Ron, that's probably a good idea," Tyler responded.
The men left the building and soon disappeared into the doorway of the G-V. In minutes it began to move down the taxiway in preparation for takeoff.
Friday morning, M.D. Anderson hospital, Houston Texas.
Dan, followed by the three other men and Jerry's friend Ronnie, stepped to the nursing station down the hall from Jerry's room.
"I'm Dan Barnes. My companions and I are here to see Jerry Smith."
"Oh yes, Mr. Barnes," she replied. "I've seen you several times here with Mrs. Thorsruud. I'm terribly sorry about her death."
"How did it happen, and how's Jerry taking the loss?" Dan inquired.
"She passed away in her sleep in his room. When visiting hours were over, the floor nurse went in and found that she'd passed away. Fortunately Jerry was asleep. We summoned the doctor before we woke him. The doctor wanted to allow him to see her before she was sent to the funeral home. He of course was very upset, but the doctor prescribed a good dose of medication to put him to sleep. He's been awake for about an hour now. When last we were in there, he was sitting stone-faced and had refused his breakfast. The doctor said that you would be coming, or we would have called in a psychologist by now."
"We'll do our best to comfort him," Tyler said. "This is my brother Ron Turner and his partner, Matt Davidson. The young fellow there is Ronnie Turner."
"It's nice to meet you all. You may go in and see Jerry now, if you're ready," she said. "Mr. Barnes knows the way."
"Thank you nurse," Dan responded as he turned to head toward Jerry's room. "You've been most helpful."
The nurse acknowledged his thanks and turned back to her work as Dan led the group to Jerry's nearby room.
"Hello Jerry," Dan said as he entered the room. "How are you doing?"
"I'm OK," Jerry answered with no expression in his voice.
"We're here for you," Tyler said in a soft, comforting voice. "We'll take care of everything for your grandmother too."
"I'm here for you too," Ronnie added moving around the bed to the other side and taking Jerry's hand.
Tears began to fill Jerry's eyes when he saw his friend.
"Why'd she have to die?" he asked plaintively.
Ronnie crawled up onto the bed and held his friend in his arms.
"It was her time," Dan said in a choked-up voice. "I know she wanted to live to see you walk out of this place, but she did get what she said she wanted."
"What did she want?" Jerry asked blinking away his tears.
"She told me that she wanted for you to have someone that would love and take care of you. You have that in Tyler and me. Ronnie is here as your special friend too. We all love you, including Ron and Matt. She also said she wanted to know that you were going to recover from your illness. I guess after the doctor told us that you were well on the way to recovery, her heart just stopped its fight to keep beating. She told me only yesterday that she was ready to see her husband Frank again. We can trust that she's at peace and with God and with your grandpa in a better place."
"I still love her and want her here," Jerry sniffed.
"I know son," Tyler answered. "She will always be with you in your heart. She's probably looking down on us right now wondering what all the fuss is about."
"I guess you knew her better than I thought," Jerry said forcing out a small smile.
"Dan, Tyler," Ron interrupted gently. "I think we'd better get on with the things we need to do. If you'd like to stay here, Matt and I will take care of everything."
"No," Dan said. "I know where everything is, and have the key to the apartment. Why don't we leave Tyler and Matt here with Ronnie and Jerry. Before we go we need to see the doctor too."
"Is that alright with you two?" Ron asked Tyler and Matt.
"Sure," Matt answered as Tyler nodded. "Just call if you need help with the apartment or anything."
"Jerry, where is your Grandfather Thorsruud buried?" Ron asked.
"He's in Las Vegas," Ronnie replied. "Gramma used to take me to his grave and we'd put flowers on it and keep it nice. It's the Palms one near Gramma's house."
"I'm sure she'd like to be buried next to your Grandpa," Ron said.
"Yeah, she's already got a little place next to Grandpa. She told me that that's where she wants to be."
"Thanks Jerry," Dan added. "I know it's a difficult time for you. We'll take care of everything. Just know that we love you."
"How can I go to the funeral?" Jerry asked. "I'm stuck in this hospital."
"That's what we need to talk to the doctor about," Ron said. "We'll be back as soon as we can."
"We'll be here Babe," Matt told them.
Ron and Dan turned, and with a goodbye wave stepped into the hallway. Dan spotted Jerry's doctor making his rounds and quickly walked up to him.
"May we speak with you a moment?" Dan asked.
"Of course," the doctor said. "I'm sorry about Mrs. Thorsruud. I'll do anything I can to help. Please step into the office over here."
"Thanks doctor. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I'd like you to meet Ron Turner, Tyler's brother."
"Nice to meet you sir," the doctor said as he offered his handshake. "Please follow me."
-
-
- An hour later, Emma Thorsruud's apartment
-
The door opened noiselessly to the apartment. The manager had seen them arrive and moved to intercept them until he recognized Dan. He knew Dan as he had made the leasing arrangements less than a week earlier and he had seen him numerous times since. Dan explained about Emma's passing, but told him that they would probably keep the apartment until Jerry was released from the hospital. He was glad that the apartment was still going to be rented, so he simply offered his cooperation.
"You did a nice job with selecting this apartment," Ron complimented as he surveyed the cozy unit.
"Thanks. Yes, it has a great location and came fully furnished," Dan responded. "If Jerry has to stay in the hospital for long we might as well keep the apartment for awhile. I'm sure that Tyler or I will be here regularly. I'm really pleased that we were able to make arrangements for Jerry to leave the hospital for the trip to Las Vegas. I don't think he could have tolerated not being there for the funeral to demonstrate at least symbolically, the love he had for Emma and to get closure by saying goodbye in that way."
"I'm sure you're right," Ron agreed as he walked into the dining area. On the table was a large envelope on which the names of Tyler, Dan, Ron and Matt were written. Under their names was written in large letters, `IN CASE OF MY DEATH'.
"Look here Dan," Ron said as he read the words on the outside of the envelope, "It looks like Emma knew that her days were numbered."
"It doesn't surprise me," Dan responded. "The past couple of days she looked constantly fatigued and said that she tired easily, but I knew that she was too stubborn to take it easy. She did confess to me that her time was very limited because she had a degenerative heart condition. She said nothing yesterday, but she must have known that her time was about up. Please, open it."
Ron undid the clasp and pulled the contents out of the manila envelope, placing them on the table. When the large packet was empty, there on the table were a small pile of documents and several keys. The first sheet of paper on the stack was a letter neatly written in pen. On the top of the page was written their names.
Looking at the page, Dan asked Ron to read it aloud.
Ron began:
"Dear Boys, If you are reading this letter, it means that I have gone to be with my Frank. I have been feeling very poorly lately, and I know that my heart is not good. Please know that I have gone to my rest with a peaceful mind and that my soul rests in God's loving hands I cannot tell you what a blessing the Lord has bestowed upon me with you young men coming into the life of my grandson Jerry and me. You are like the fathers I always prayed for for my grandson. I love you and I know, without a doubt, that Jerry loves you too. I rest easy knowing that you love him as well and will provide for his welfare. I am encouraged with the doctor's report of his progress against the disease that has threatened his life. I pray that as he makes full recovery you will guide him into adulthood by loving him and advising him to the best of your ability. I have attached a copy of my notarized will, which your attorney so expeditiously amended. Today I mailed an additional copy to him for safekeeping. I have named Tyler and Dan as co-executors, and, as you will read, have encouraged the courts to allow them to adopt Jerry, if they so choose. Your attorney has agreed to assist in the executorships, so that it need not be too great a burden. In this envelope are a number of other papers that I had brought along to assist your attorney in amending the will. In addition, the smallest key of the group in the envelope is to a safe deposit box that I have rented since long before Frank and I were parted. In that box are a number of other papers including some old stock certificates that Frank bought long ago. I'm sure they are worth nothing, but I have kept them for sentimental reasons. He always believed that someday our `ship' would come in. The other keys are to my house and car. I wish I could have left more for my grandson. I'm afraid that all I have of value is my little house, and my old car, both of which are paid for. The furniture might bring in a little, but much of it is pretty worn and can be just given away. Knowing that I would probably be away for a good while and fearing that I might not return, I tried to organize the things at our house into groups that I thought Jerry might or might not want. Also attached to this letter are two pages with the names and addresses of people that need to be notified of my death. The first page is a list of people I have done business with. The second is one of distant relatives and friends that should be notified. The relatives are so distant that they hardly know of Jerry's existence, and therefore I believe that he will be far better off with you. I know that you will raise him in the light and spirit of the Lord. Please let Jerry know how much his Gramma Emma has loved him. I do not wish to leave him yet, but he must know that the fate of all of us rests in the hands of God. He has been a true blessing in the life of an old lady, and I'm sure that he will bring the same blessing to your lives and relationships. Love him for me. May God bless you all for your loving hearts. Now, with great love and thanks, I remain your grateful friend, Emma Solvig Thorsruud
Tears were in both the men's eyes as Ron read Emma's name.
"The letter is dated yesterday," Ron commented. "She cut it close."
"You know that Tyler and I wish to adopt and raise Jerry," Dan said.
"Matt and I were sure that you did, but we knew that it was unlikely unless Emma was no longer able to care for him because of his leukemia. Regardless, I know that you would never have separated them and would have cared for Emma had she become incapacitated, but I guess God had other plans for the dear lady."
"Have you and Matt discussed Ronnie's future?" Dan asked.
"Yes, we both want to adopt him," Ron revealed. "He's been with us such a short time and there are legal obstacles to overcome so we've not pursued it yet. I think that with the recent turn of events with Jerry, it's time to see if he's agreeable, then assuming he is, start looking into the legal entanglements we'll have to overcome."
"There's no doubt in my mind that Ronnie and Jerry are best friends," Dan commented.
"I'm sure that's true," Ron agreed. "If they both turn out to be gay, they might also end up as partners."
"Do you think they are gay?" Dan asked.
"Emma sure seemed to think so," Ron answered. "They're still a bit young to know with certainty, but I know that we'll love them both without regard for their sexuality."
"That we will," Dan said in agreement. "Well, we'd better get busy and go to the funeral home and make the arrangements for Emma's body to be prepared and her casket selected for shipping to Nevada. I presume we'll fly her body back in the G-V?"
"Yes," Ron answered. "We'll need to call the crew with the dimensions of the casket so that seats can be removed in order to make adequate space for it."
Ron looked at his brother's lover, and for the first time fully appreciated the good man within the handsome body.
"I think we've just begun our busy day," Dan said to his partner's brother.
"I agree," Ron said reluctantly. "We'd better get on with it."
Saturday evening, Ron and Matt's estate, Las Vegas
The previous three days had been exhausting and more than one ache was felt in their tired bodies as Ron and Matt performed their nightly ritual before getting into bed. The funeral parlor in Houston had finished their work in preparing Emma's body and had placed it in the beautiful copper encased casket for transporting to Las Vegas. Dan had selected dress clothes that Emma had brought to Houston and delivered them to the funeral home. Ron, who had accompanied Dan back to the apartment to pick out the clothes, spent the time after Dan left again to go to the mortuary, packing Emma's belongings to take back to Nevada. The four men had all agreed that Emma's small house would be maintained until Jerry was out of the hospital and he was strong enough to decide what items he wanted to keep. Upon arrival in Las Vegas, Palms mortuary met the corporate jet and took the body to their facility near the cemetery. The visitation had been set for Sunday night there, and the funeral for Monday morning
In addition to all the details that had to be handled for Emma's internment, the men and Ronnie were spending as much time with Jerry as possible. The men were proud of Ronnie for keeping Jerry company the most, while the older men took care of other details. One of those details was developing a coordinated plan for taking care of Jerry's medical needs until he could return to Houston. An oncologist team in Las Vegas had been contacted and would check on Jerry on Saturday and again Monday afternoon, after the funeral. His return trip was then scheduled for Tuesday. In addition, each of the men had made several calls to their offices in Las Vegas to keep their `fingers in the business pie'. Now they had made it back after another long flight and had taken care of the necessary details upon arrival, including a stop taking Jerry to the referred oncologist.
All in all, it had been an exhausting week.
Ron joined Matt on their master bedroom's California-king-size bed, sinking down beside his lover before rolling toward him and placing a warm kiss on his lips.
"I love you more each day," Ron stated sincerely and with pride to his partner in life.
"And I love you even more," Matt responded. "In spite of how tired I feel, and the grief we've shared, I've never been happier."
"I know what you mean love," Ron said as he snuggled his handsome frame against the equally gorgeous body of his lover.
"I'm hungry for your loving," Matt said as his passions stirred, feeling his partner's large organ swelling against his own upper thigh.
"Never accuse me of not feeding you," Ron said with a lusty grin as he turned off the bedside light.
Sunday evening, the Palms Funeral home
The four men and two younger boys, one of whom was seated in a wheelchair, took their places in the small chapel of the funeral parlor. The time for the visitation had arrived and all were dressed in dark suits as they waited for friends of Emma Thorsruud to come and pay their last respects.
Ronnie stood close by Jerry's wheelchair.
"There's sure lots of pictures on the stands over there," Ronnie commented, trying to keep Jerry's mind off of the open casket at the other end of the room.
"Yeah," Jerry agreed. "My Gramma used to show them to me. She showed me my dad when he was little and my aunt Bertha who died when she was young. There's pictures of my mom and even me when I was little. My mom didn't have much family and I guess all of `em are now dead. I don't even remember meeting any of them. My Gramma had a sister, who had a couple of kids but they lived in Pennsylvania. I think her sister died too, and if ever I met my great aunt or her kids, I don't remember. It seems strange about families. Some are really big and there are grandparents, aunts and uncles and their kids, and their kids' kids and all that. You know, you see pictures of all these people getting together. Gramma and Grandpa's families were small though and even if there are relatives, they don't know me and wouldn't care about me. I guess now I don't have anybody."
"What are you talkin' about, Jerry? You have me," Ronnie countered. "And you have Dan and Tyler, and Ron and Matt. Heck, you have more family now than you ever had."
"I guess that's true. I'm sure gonna miss her though," Jerry admitted as he glanced at Emma's open casket. "Even if she was old she was always there for me, doing her best. "
"Yes, she was a really nice lady. I liked her a lot too. But at least you were loved. My momma died when I was little and my dad never liked me. He was never really mean to me, but he yelled at me, made me work around the house, and we never did anything together. Then when he found out I was gay, he threw me out."
"I'm sorry, Ronnie," Jerry said squeezing his friend's hand. "You know? At first I thought that Ron was your dad or uncle or something. I was really confused when you said that he was your friend. I mean, like, you have the same name."
"Yes, I was surprised too when I met him in the hospital and he told me we had the same name. I'm still having a hard time believing that he and Matt love me. I had a really hard time when I was all by myself. I was hungry and did things that I'm ashamed to even tell you."
"You don't have to tell me anything," Jerry said. "I like you for who you are and I know Ron, Matt, Tyler and Dan accept you that way too."
"They wouldn't if they knew what I'm having to do," Ronnie said with tears forming in his eyes.
"I think you're wrong," Jerry said. "Whatever it is, you can tell them. I'll listen too if you want, but there's not much I can do to help you, having to go back to the hospital and all."
"I want them to love me so much but I'm afraid that they won't even like me if they know."
"I don't know what's bothering you, but I do know that I'll always be your friend. In fact, I more than like you. I probably shouldn't say this here in the middle of the funeral stuff, but to me we're best, best friends, and I'm hoping that maybe we might be even more than that someday."
"You don't know how much that would mean to me," Ronnie confessed. "I'm just not sure if you'll feel that way when you find out about me."
"Well, now's the wrong time to talk about it even though I want to. I see some people coming in," Jerry observed, ending the discussion. "I guess we have to be nice and polite and stuff to `em for a while. I really hate all of this, but Dan told me that it was a way of honoring my Gramma, so I'll just get through it somehow."
"You won't have to get through it alone, friend," Ronnie said. "I'm here with you. The older guys are all here too. You're one of us now."
Ronnie thought about what he had just said, and the beginning of tears glistened in his eyes.
"Thanks," Jerry said with a sad smile as he looked down and missed the downcast expression that had appeared on Ronnie's face. Gritting his teeth as if getting ready for an ordeal, Jerry looked up and turned his wheelchair to face the oncoming visitors.
At the same time, Senator Young's home in Las Vegas
"I'm glad you could come over after church Orville," the Senator said to his burly guest as they entered his home office.
"Nothing could keep me away, once I was invited," the man said as he placed his heavy frame into an indicated office chair across the desk from his host. "I hate those fuckin' queers as much as you do."
"I'd put it a bit more delicately," the politician admonished. "I just think of my crusade against them as my way of doing God's work."
"Amen to that, brother," Orville responded. "Now tell me what your plan is for ridding this town of the vermin?"
"Well," Ben said, "You should know that I have to be very careful. I'm under indictment for kidnapping my own son from that gay camp. That's why I need your help."
"I heard about that Senator. I can't believe that those faggots could foil the attempt either. They should put them in Jail."
"Don't worry about that, my friend," Ben Young replied, "that's exactly what I plan to do!"
"I can't wait to hear about it," Orville said smiling.
"I'll get to that pretty soon," the Senator responded. "I just wanted to see if you're in?"
"Well Ben, I'm not too sure just yet. I mean, I don't know what's involved and what's in it for me."
"I can only skirt around the full plan until I know that you're in solid," Ben explained. "I can't afford to have someone walking around that knows everything, but is not a part of it."
"I guess it's one of those 22 things," Orville said scratching his head.
"22 things?" Ben asked.
"Yeah, you know what they say when yer damned if ya do and damned if ya don't"
A light came in the Senator's eyes, and he laughed.
"You mean `Catch 22'?" Ben said.
"Yeah, that's it!" Orville responded. "Though it's beyond me what that's all about. I just know some people say it."
"It's the name of a book," the Senator explained. "In the book appears the dilemma that I face in telling you about my plan before I know if you're in."
"You got your plan out of a book?" Orville asked.
Ben looked up at the ceiling and prayed silently, `Lord protect me from idiots!'
Recovering quickly he said, "No Orville, the plan is my own, but now I think I have a solution to my concern."
"Ok Ben. I'm listening."
"Orville, one of the reasons I asked you over here, besides our mutual hate for queers, is that you have a somewhat, shall we say, questionable past."
"I'm not saying nothin' to that pack of lies," Orville said defensively.
"It's to our advantage," the Senator replied. "I will tell you a little about what I know, and I promise never to divulge your past to anyone, as long as you keep your mouth shut, whether you're in or out."
"What do you know?" Orville asked.
"I know there was a little matter of a young lady that was raped three years ago in a small town in southern Utah. Even though there was a lot of evidence and a lot of publicity, it seems that they never caught the guy that did it."
"I didn't have nothin' to do with the rape of Karen Smith!" Orville exclaimed.
"I didn't accuse you of anything, but neither did I give you her name."
"Uh... Uh..."
"Let's just say that some new evidence in that case might appear if anything about my plan escapes your lips," the Senator said with an evil smile.
"I get your drift," Orville said as he slumped down in his chair.
"Now that we've got that over with," I'll tell you a bit about my plan."
"I want you to know that I want to destroy a man named Ron Turner and his queer boyfriend, Matt Davidson, but I have to do it in a way that doesn't lead back to me directly. That's why I need you. What I'll be asking you to do is to be a middleman to get a few things done that I can't do myself, because I'm sure I'm being watched."
"You're being watched now?" Orville asked looking around.
"Yes, I'm pretty sure," Ben replied. "But I've been asking people over here after church for the last 6 weeks, just so that your coming over would not be noticed. I'll have more people over in weeks to come, too."
"Clever," Orville admitted. "Now, how do we stay in touch without anyone noticing?"
"I have a rental post office box located in a mini-storage facility not far from here. There are two keys. I'll get notes into the box, when I have instructions, and you will check it for "mail" every day at 5:30 in the afternoon."
"That should work," Orville admitted. "Now assuming I want to help you with your little `project', what's in it for me?"
"I am going to put you in touch with someone I know politically. I will give you $10,000 in cash to give to him. You will sign some papers, and make an investment'. Afterward you will put your copy into the mailbox I was talking about. When we've accomplished our mission, you'll find the papers back in the box. You will take the papers back to the man I name, and you will find that your investment' has grown to $80,000."
"Sounds pretty fair to me, as long as I don't have to do anything that will get me in jail," Orville responded.
"No, it will mostly have to do with carrying messages. There will be a bit more than that later, but it won't be dangerous."
"Heck, that's easy," responded Orville. "I'd do that much for free!"
"I'm sure that's true," Ben said smiling. "The bit more at the end will be more public. I want you to accuse Ron Turner and Matt of sodomy and statutory rape."
"How am I gonna do that?" Orville asked. "I don't even know those perverts."
"I'll take care of all of that. When the time comes, it will be all set up and we'll have a victim/ witness to back you up. All you have to do is to make it public, keep your jaw from flapping, and do what you're instructed, but nothing more."
"I guess I'm in then," Orville committed.
"Good! I'm glad. As long as you do what I tell you and keep your mouth closed there is no risk," Ben assured the bulky man.
"Can I ask a question?" Orville asked.
"Sure Orville," Ben replied. "I'll tell you now if I can."
"How are you going to get this victim/witness you're talking about?"
"I already have him," Ben responded with an evil grin. "He's already working inside in preparation for our move."
"You already have someone close to Ron Turner?" Orville asked, amazed.
"Yes I do," Ben assured the big man "He's just a kid, but he'll do what I want. He's the one that you'll get messages to."
"What's his name?" Orville asked.
"I guess it won't hurt to tell you now that you're committed to our plan," Ben responded after a moment's thought. "His name is ... Ronnie Turner."