This work is copyright. I have given permission for a copy of this story to be placed on the Nifty Archives under the terms of their submission agreement. But This work may not be copied or archived onto any other website or newsgroup without the prior written permission of the author.
This story is fiction, it didn't happen, to the best of the author's knowledge no one in the story exists in real life.
If you have a problem with reading stories of a homosexual nature, then bugger off. Also you shouldn't read on if you are below the age of consent, or you have the misfortune to reside in an area where reading and downloading this kind of material is against the law.
Dear readers, I have learned, much to my distress, that an illegal copy of this story had been placed on a news group. Although I did manage to get it removed, it is sad that a small number of people think it necessary to steal my work, remove my name from it, and post it elsewhere.
This chapter is the one you've all been patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for.
Chapter 8
Days passed, eventually turning into weeks. Carl finished his work installing the new kitchen at the Blake house, and began his job at the building site at the other end of the county. He would often not get back to Greenville till past 7 pm. Knowing that he probably wouldn't have the energy to cook a decent meal, Robbie brushed aside Carl's admittedly weak objections, and invited his friend to eat with him and Sarah every night.
"And bring your dirty washing too," Robbie told him. "I'm sure you haven't got the time to run it through the machine, much less iron it."
"I can't impose on you like that," Carl protested. "You're doing so much what with looking after Ben, feeding me and everything else."
"It was my idea," Sarah interjected. "And you should know me by now, young man, I don't take no for an answer. Since Mrs Rowlands has started working here, I've got plenty of time on my hands."
Carl knew when he was beaten. "Okay, okay, I give up."
It was a Thursday night, and Carl had told his dining companions that he wasn't working that weekend.
"Right, unless you've got something else planned, Car I want you to sleep over tomorrow night. We can sit round the pool and have a few drinks. You've not been able to let your hair down since you started this job. You can stop for the whole weekend too if you've nothing else on."
"Oh, we've nothing on," Ben interjected before Carl could open his mouth.
"I really ought to clean the house, I haven't done any housework for ages."
"It'll keep," Robbie said, warming to his theme. "You've been on the go for the past couple of weeks. You've got to have a weekend off you know."
Carl sighed, "Yeah okay, you're right."
"Good, that's all settled then," Robbie said rising from the table. "Another excellent meal, Sarah, thank you."
During the past few weeks, Carl had been getting more and more disturbed by his increased feelings towards his friend. He was on the point of rejecting the offer of spending the weekend at the house; he thought he needed time alone to think about what was happening to him. Though as Robbie had pointed out, he'd have only occupied himself with the myriad bits of housework back at home.
Robbie and Ben's relationship had continued to deepen, each had a good understanding of where the other was coming from. Ben had confided in Robbie that he wasn't looking forward to starting at a new school. Robbie confessed that he'd had the same reaction when he moved to St Winifred's, too. The pair would often find themselves having deep and meaningful discussions, bareing their souls to one another.
One day Robbie decided to take Ben into Manchester for the day. During the drive, Robbie found himself telling the quiet receptive and empathetic boy sat next to him, all about his relationship with Patrick, and how it had ended. Robbie also spoke of how lonely being a gay man in a straight world could be. Ben had questioned his friend about why he hadn't told his parents of his sexuality. Robbie had admitted to being frightened of them thinking less of him. When Ben told Robbie that he thought more of him because he had the courage to come out to him, Robbie had to stop the car in order to wipe his eyes, and to give Ben a huge hug. The two had been en-route to the Lowry Centre in Salford at the time. Robbie wanted to get a few more pictures for the house, which he was steadily trying to shape into his own, rather than his ancestor's ideas of how a home should be furnished. The two ended up only spending a couple of hours at the art gallery.
Robbie had then suggested to his friend that they go and do some serious damage to his credit card at the Trafford Shopping Centre. "After all I have to live up to the stereotypical image of gay men needing to satisfy their inborn shopping compulsion, haven't I?"
Friday night soon rolled around. Robbie and Ben, who had been in the study mucking about on the computer, heard Carl 'beep beep' his horn, as he drew up outside the house. The two rushed enthusiastically into the hall to greet their hero.
Carl soon came through the door, looking tired, but happy to be home. He gave Ben a hug, and then as had become their usual custom, Carl and Robbie spent a few moments in close physical contact, too.
"Sarah's got some variety programme she didn't want to miss on the TV, I offered to video it for her, but she always claims she can never work the machine to play it back. So it's just us three for dinner. It's only a casserole anyway," Robbie told his friend once they'd disengaged from their hug.
"Okay, sounds great," Carl smiled.
Once in the kitchen, Robbie got out a few cans of Guinness. "A beef casserole is best eaten with this, I think," he said showing Carl the tins. He brought out a can of pop for Ben, too.
"I've been looking forward to sinking a few cold ones all afternoon," Carl admitted popping the top on one of the cans. "Some of the lads on the site go out on a Friday teatime for a few bevies, but I don't like drinking and driving."
"Sounds sensible," Robbie said removing the casserole dish from the oven.
After ladling out the meal; Robbie handed round a basket of bread rolls to mop up the thick onion gravy.
The three began to tuck in. The only sounds that were to be heard were the scraping of cutlery against plates, and the odd appreciative noise coming from the diners.
For the past few weeks, Ben had been closely observing his male dining companions. Usually Sarah ate with them, but with her absence, Ben wondered if he dare resolve something, which he knew needed to be brought out into the open. At every mealtime he'd seen his father steal glances over at Robbie when he thought the latter wasn't looking. Those glances, Ben was as certain as he could be, spoke volumes. He'd noticed that whenever Robbie had looked up from his plate, his dad would drop his gaze. Similarly when Robbie thought that Carl wasn't looking at him, he stole the odd glance over at his friend, too.
"Not that hungry, son?" Carl saw that Ben had been pre-occupied, and hadn't been eating with his usual gusto.
"Erm, no, not really," Ben said quietly, wondering if he dare put his plan into effect.
"You feeling okay?"
Ben had a huge knot in his stomach, and was feeling decidedly queasy. "I'm okay, dad."
"I'll just stack the dishwasher, then we'll go and sit by the pool for a bit," Robbie said standing up and collecting the plates.
As Robbie turned away from the table, Ben saw his dad look at Robbie again. His eyes looked so soft and tender, it was exactly the sort of look he gave to Ben whenever the two were sharing a private moment.
'I've got to do this for their sakes,' Ben told himself.
Everyone then retired to the pool room, Carl carrying a couple more cans of Guinness.
For about ten minutes the two adults talked spasmodically; Ben kept seeing more of those stolen glances.
At one point neither man had hold of his glass. 'This is it.' Ben offered up a quick prayer, then took his dad's left hand in his right; he reached over and took Robbie's right hand in his left. Ben then brought his two hands towards one another, interlacing Robbie and Carl's fingers, sandwiching the connection with his own hands on the outside.
Ben's heart was pounding in his chest, he could here the blood pumping in his ears; clearing his throat, he began. "Dad, Uncle Rob. You're the two people I love the most in the world. Because of that, I can't sit by and not say nothing. Dad, I know that you really love Uncle Rob here, and I don't mean as just a friend, either." He then turned to Robbie. "I'm sorry Uncle Rob, for breaking my word to you." Ben turned back to his father, who wore an expression that he was unable to read. "Dad, Uncle Rob loves you so very much. I'm as sure as I can be that you feel the same way about him. It's been breaking my heart to see you two walking on eggshells around each other. I'm going to go sit with Sarah for a little while now. Please, please for my sake and your own, be honest. Tell each other what you really think about the person sat opposite you. I love you both, and I want you to be happy."
Ben removed his hands from Robbie and Carl's, and bolted from the room, hoping he hadn't wrecked the trust that Robbie had placed in him. He also prayed that he hadn't ruined the friendship between his dad and Robbie.
"What's wrong, love?" Sarah said in surprise as Ben buried his tear-streaked face in her lap.
He mumbled something into the folds of her dress. She rubbed Ben's back for a minute then said, "I didn't hear what you said, love."
"I think I might have done something really stupid," Ben said lifting up his anguished face. "I've told dad and Uncle Rob that they had to stop pretending. I told them that they had to tell each other the truth about how they were in love with each other. And, and..." Ben dissolved into tears.
"Oh it's alright, sweetheart. Those two needed their heads banging together. It's as obvious as the nose on your face that those two are in love. I know that Robbie has been hung up on your dad for years, and I'd bet the family silver that your dad feels the same way about Robbie, too." Sarah then got out one of her infamous tablecloth-sized handkerchiefs and wiped Ben's face. "There, there, it's going to be alright."
"But I promised Uncle Rob that I wouldn't say anything about him being in love with dad."
"Sometimes you have to break your word, because you know deep down inside that it's for their own good that you're doing it." She continued to mop up the boy's tears. "Ben, this is one of those times when telling is a good thing." Sarah took the distressed boy into her arms, cradling his head in her ample bosom.
In the pool room, neither man moved, their hands lay on the table still connected.
"Rob."
"Car."
The room fell into silence again. Robbie had his eyes cast downwards, closely scrutinising the wood grain pattern on the table. He'd been both praying for and dreading this moment for years. His heart was pounding heavily in his chest. He wondered if he could pretend that what Ben had just said wasn't true, then he realised that he just couldn't do it any longer. He loved the person holding his hand. He'd loved him for years. 'No', Robbie realised he couldn't and wouldn't pretend, but could he make that all-important declaration?
"Rob, I think, oh God, I don't mind admitting I'm scared to say this, but what Ben said, it's been eating at me for a few weeks now." Carl couldn't see Robbie's face, it was still cast downwards. With his free hand, Carl reached over the table and lifted Robbie's chin. Looking directly into his friend's eyes, Carl saw fear and uncertainty; he also spotted deep unashamed love, too. Clearing his tightened throat, Carl took a huge leap into the unknown. "Rob, my Rob, I am, Rob I love you."
Robbie opened his mouth and issued the words he'd longed to say for more than half his lifetime. "Carl, I love you too." Robbie's emotions got the better of him, and he began to weep softly.
Carl stood up from his chair, still holding onto Robbie's hand as he walked around the table. "Stand up please, Rob."
On hearing his friend's words Robbie immediately obeyed, but he still had his head downcast. He began to tremble.
Carl released his grip on Robbie's hand, and wrapped his arms around his shaking friend.
"Rob, please look at me," Carl whispered throatily.
Robbie lifted his head; Carl closed the distance between them, and treated Robbie to a firm, masculine and very passionate kiss.
The kiss didn't last long, but it served to increase Robbie's tears. They had turned from distress to an overwhelming hope. A hope that all this wasn't just a dream. A hope that Carl wouldn't be immediately revolted at kissing a man.
The kiss had had a magical effect on Carl. He hadn't kissed that many people on the lips before. He'd enjoyed kissing Maureen; those kisses had been very pleasant, but the one he'd just shared with Robbie felt so much better. Robbie's lips weren't soft and yielding like those of his ex-wife. They were firm, masculine, strong and just so overwhelmingly wonderful. Swooping in for another kiss, Carl ran his tongue along Robbie's almost closed lips. Robbie opened up and Carl plunged his tongue inwards to taste his friend. Carls initial assessment of how good things had felt at a closed mouth kiss, were blown out of the water by the sheer ecstasy he now was experiencing.
Withdrawing Carl said, "Oh God, Rob, I didn't know, I didn't know how good it would feel to kiss you."
"You liked it?" Robbie said quietly. He still wouldn't allow himself to believe that Carl was in love with him. The events of the last few minutes were still very jumbled in his mind.
"It was fantastic, Rob, you are fantastic." Carl cupped Robbie's face in his hands and gazed deeply into his friend's face. Of course he'd seen Robbie's face thousands of times before, but this was the first time he'd seen Robbie as his lover. Carl had a momentary panic at the word, but he suppressed it. All the feelings that had been building up in his mind for the past few weeks, were, he realised centred around the fact that he was in love with this gentle, kind and loving man.
Robbie wanted so much to lean forward and kiss Carl, but he held back, he knew that he'd have to tread very carefully not to freak him out. Robbie remembered the first few steps into gay love that he'd taken, he recalled being scared out of his wits. No, he'd go slowly, keeping things at a pace that Carl felt comfortable.
Taking Robbie's hand, Carl lead his friend over to a two-seater bench. Sitting down, Carl patted the wooden seat next to him. Robbie sat down and looked adoringly but slightly fearfully at Carl.
"What's wrong, Rob?" Carl had spotted the uncertainty in his lover's eyes.
"It's just that I'm having difficulty believing that it's all real at last. Ever since I was thirteen I've longed for this moment."
"That long? Honestly Rob, I'd no idea," Carl said incredulously.
"I know you didn't, and I couldn't have told you."
Carl was amazed. "Why not? You must have gone through hell!"
"Yes, I did. Always being with you but not able to touch you. Carl, if I'd have come out to you and confessed my feelings back then, you'd have either run off as fast as you could, you might have hit me or told everyone in school that I was gay. I couldn't take that risk."
"I'd have never hit you, love. I could never do that."
"But our friendship would have been over, that's for certain."
"I don't know, I honestly can't answer that one." Then remembering something, Carl asked, "That's why you broke off our friendship wasn't it? Because I'd started seeing Maureen?"
Robbie nodded. "God, Carl, it was bad enough being with you and not being able to hold and kiss you. Seeing someone else, a girl, do that to you, when it was what I so desperately wanted to do. I couldn't cope with it, I just couldn't." Robbie burst into tears again.
"Oh Rob. My beautiful and precious Rob, I'm sorry, I had no idea. No idea at all."
"I know you didn't," Robbie said trying to stem the flow. "I saw it as you making your choice, you weren't gay like me, there was no hope of us ever having anything together, so I did the only thing I could to save myself from total destruction, I ended our friendship."
"It really hurt me, you know, when you did it."
"Yes, Car, I could see it in your eyes, but I didn't have a choice. It was becoming so difficult for me to hide my feelings towards you. Whenever I spotted you and Maureen together, I'd go in the opposite direction. I had to."
"Oh you poor, poor baby." Carl wrapped his strong arms around Robbie and hugged him tightly as Robbie continued to leach out the many years of pent up pain and anguish.
After some time Robbie quieted down. Carl reached into his pocket and took out a crumpled paper tissue and dabbed at Robbie's swollen eyes. He then leant down and kissed them gently. "You'll be okay now, Rob. You've got it all out now."
"Yeah." Robbie admitted. He had, but Carl's feelings towards him were still a little ambiguous. He thought he'd push just a little bit. "Carl I just feel so drained, I think I need an early night."
"Yes of course, love."
'Here goes,' Robbie thought. "Carl, would you, please would you share my bed with me?"
Carl honestly wasn't too sure about that. Yes, he loved Robbie, he was pretty certain that he was 'in love' with Robbie, but the emotional part of it was very different from the physical part.
"Please, Car, I Just want you to hold me, nothing else," Robbie said, fearing that he'd gone too far.
Sensing Robbie's need, Carl smiled. "Yes, Rob, of course I will. All this is very new to me you know. You'll have to take it slowly with me."
"I understand. We'll go at whatever speed you need to. The only thing I'll ask of you is that you keep on telling me that you love me."
"Oh I do, Rob, my precious man. Up until this evening I didn't know how much I really did, but Rob I do love you very much."
"Thanks."
Robbie leant forward and kissed Carl. The two then withdrew and smiled at one another.
"I think we ought to go and tell Ben what's happening," Robbie said. "Carl, you are one lucky bugger to have that kid. I've never known any twelve year old to be so kind and understanding."
"Oh believe me, I know how lucky I am. And to think it was him who brought us together. God, I love that son of mine."
"Come on then, I think he said he had gone into Sarah's apartment."
The two stood up, Carl took Robbie's hand, smiled over at him and lead him from the room. Just before they entered Sarah's part of the house, Carl made to let go of Robbie.
"It's okay, Car, Sarah's known that I've been in love with you for years."
"Okay, love." Carl regretted again the pain he must have caused to his friend. "Let's do it."
The two walked hand in hand through the door.
"And it's about bloody time you two woke up to the fact that you were made for one another," Sarah said, seeing the happy couple.
"You've known I've loved this gorgeous hunk for years, Sarah."
Carl blushed.
"And you've been too frightened to say anything about it. And as for you." Sarah fixed her gaze on Carl. "You hurt him," She pointed an accusing finger at Carl, "And by God you'll know about it."
"It's still very early days for him, Sarah. We're going to take things one step at a time."
Ben, who had fallen asleep, his head resting against Sarah's side, woke up then. "Oh hi," He said shyly.
"Come here, you," Carl said letting go of Robbie's hand and opening up his arms. Ben walked towards his father, he wasn't really sure what kind of a reaction he'd get. As soon as he was standing in front of his dad, Carl wrapped his arms around his son and picked him up. "You knew didn't you, little guy? Thank you so much for speaking out, because I don't think I'd ever have had the courage to do it."
"No, me neither." Robbie rubbed Ben's back.
"It's all going to be okay, then?" Ben asked.
"I hope so, squirt. Me and your Uncle Rob are going to take things steady. I've not ever fallen in love with a man before, it's all a bit frightening really."
"I was so worried about saying something, but as I said to you, I just love you both so much, I couldn't sit and watch you two pretending any longer."
Carl put his son back down on the ground and looked deep into his eyes. "I don't know where me and Rob's relationship will end up, but you will always be my most special man."
"Oh, enough with all this sentimental clap trap, I'm missing my telly programme," Sarah told the trio. Everyone burst out laughing and left the room. Getting out her handkerchief, Sarah mopped up the copious tears that had begun to fall. "I hope they'll be happy together." Looking up at the ceiling, "Lord, please watch over them."
The next morning Robbie began to wake slowly from what he thought had been a really wonderful dream. He'd dreamt that Carl had told him that he loved him. He'd also imagined the two going to bed together, Robbie falling asleep loosely wrapped in Carl's wonderfully powerful arms.
Once his senses became more attuned, Robbie felt a second presence in the bed. Snapping open his eyes, Robbie stifled a gasp. "It wasn't a dream," he said under his breath.
Robbie saw one of Carl's thickly muscled and tanned arms resting above the duvet. Carl's head lay on the pillow; the face was at peace, the lips parted slightly, Carl's light snoring was the only thing to be heard in the room. Robbie had so missed sharing a bed with another man. After Patrick's death, he just couldn't face going through the possible pain of loss again. The other side of his bed had remained empty for six long, lonely years.
Robbie looked down at the latent strength in Carl's body, and what a body. The physical labour that was part and parcel of Carl's daily work had honed the man into a wonderful specimen of male perfection. Robbie wasn't shallow enough to go for looks alone, though. He appreciated Carl's intelligence, his ready wit and the gentle and caring warm-hearted soul that defined Carl.
Not wanting to wake his lover, Robbie softly stroked Carl's blonde curls. Carl had said that he would need to visit the barber that weekend. Robbie really liked the longhaired look, but he realised that in the dusty environments in which Carl often worked, shorter hair was easier to keep clean.
Carl's breathing pattern began to change. Robbie grew very fearful. He'd learnt from his gay friends that when a new and hitherto inexperienced bed partner woke up, they sometimes regretted the fact that they had spent the night with another man. Robbie hoped desperately that Carl wouldn't have such regrets, but the years of disappointment and loneliness had taken their toll on his self-esteem. Masking his fears as best he could, Robbie saw Carl's eyes flit open. Despite Robbie's efforts, Carl could see that something was worrying his bedmate. Carl's arm, which had been above the covers reached over to Robbie's troubled face. With a gentleness that caused Robbie's heart to flutter, Carl's fingers lightly ran along Robbie's cheek.
Carl's face broke out into a full smile. "Good morning, my beautiful Rob, did you sleep well?"
"It was the best night's sleep I've had in years," Robbie said, not able to hide his relief.
"What's wrong?" Carl asked, seeing a solitary tear roll down Robbie's cheek.
"I just. . . oh I. . . I thought you might have changed your mind about me," Robbie said, fighting desperately not to cry.
"Hush, my precious one. I don't regret a thing." Carl then reached his arm around Robbie and pulled him into his chest. He licked across Robbie's lips, parting them. Robbie sucked on Carl's tongue for a little while before releasing it.
As they hugged, Robbie could hardly fail to notice that Carl was sporting a hard-on. Just before they'd climbed into bed the previous night, Robbie had told Carl that he normally slept naked, but he'd leave on his underwear if it made Carl feel more comfortable. Carl had seen how Robbie was trying to make things as easy as he could for him, it only made him love Robbie all the more for being so thoughtful.
"No mate, I always sleep in my birthday suit, too," he told his lover.
When Carl had disrobed, Robbie couldn't help gasp at how stunning his friend was. He'd seen Carl numerous times in a bathing suit. Robbie had also seen Carl totally naked in the changing rooms at school, but as Carl stood there in the bedroom in all his naked magnificence, Robbie had to sit on the edge of the bed because his legs were in danger of giving out. Carl was secretly pleased that his, to him, fairly average body could have such an impact on another person. Robbie had behaved himself however; and kept to his promise that all they would do was sleep.
As the two lay still pressed together that morning, Carl's rigid manhood pressing into Robbie's hip, Robbie asked, "Carl? Could I, erm, could I touch it?"
Carl had little difficulty in knowing to what his friend was referring. He smiled. "Thought you'd never ask."
Robbie then pulled away slightly, looked at the impressive tool, as it stood proud. Carl rolled onto his back and pulled the duvet away to give Robbie a better look. Robbie reached out tentatively, just touching the helmeted cock-head with his fingers. Hearing a groan of pleasure issue from Carl's throat, Robbie grew braver, and grasped the tool in his hand. He then took a few test strokes. As Carl didn't ask him to desist, Robbie took a firmer grip, and rubbed the head with his thumb. This caused Carl to groan again. Robbie re-positioned himself to get a more comfortable angle, and began to wank off his partner. Seeing Carl's balls start to retract, Robbie moved his lips towards Carl's own lips to kiss him. Robbie didn't think that going down on Carl's dick would be a good idea so soon in their relationship.
Three more strokes saw rope after rope of pearly white semen erupt from Carl's tumescence. Carl cried out his orgasmic joy into Robbie's mouth that was still connected to his own. Since his wife's departure, Carl's only sexual release had been through his own manual ministrations. Carl knew that this shared act of lovemaking was far more pleasurable than any of those solo masturbation sessions had been.
Robbie stopped pumping, and withdrew his kiss. "Okay, Car?"
It took Carl a few seconds to collect his thoughts. "Oh God, Rob, that was fantastic!" he beamed. "Will you let me do you, too?"
"Only if you feel comfortable about doing it, Car. I don't want to rush you."
Carl could have wept for the restraint and patience that his lover was showing to him. He nodded. "I want to do it to you. I want to show you how much I really do love you."
Robbie smiled, he'd hoped Carl would reciprocate, but he wouldn't have brought up the subject. Laying back onto the bed; Robbie felt Carl running his fingertips along his admittedly not terribly well defined frame. Though this didn't matter to Carl. He was quickly growing to love the person lying next to him. Robbie thought he would explode in pleasure just from the sensual caresses he was receiving to his body. When Carl finally reached Robbie's cock, which had been leaking copiously, it only took a dozen firm strokes before he erupted, hurling his seed skywards, only to fall back again on his chest.
At first Carl was disappointed that Robbie hadn't lasted longer, but then he smiled, knowing that he'd had such a powerful effect on him. "Was I any good?" he asked once he saw that Robbie had returned back down to earth.
"Well," Robbie paused, "It wasn't bad for a first attempt." He smiled, and then he couldn't help but laugh at Carl's consternation.
"You sod!" Carl said grabbing Robbie's arms. He pulled himself on top of Robbie, and sat on his stomach. However, Carl was careful to keep most of his weight on his spread knees. holding Robbie's arms at the elbow, Carl pressed them to the mattress. "I was fucking brilliant," he glowered down in mock anger.
"Oh, be gentle with me, Master," Robbie joked. He looked up from his supine position at Carl's defined torso, the chest glistening with the semen that had pooled there following Carl's own ejaculation a few moments earlier. He groaned, "Jesus, Carl, you're a bloody stud."
Carl's expression softened. "You're pretty wonderful yourself, too."
The pressing needs of their bladders became evident to both men, more or less at the same time. By some unspoken agreement, Carl shifted off Robbie, moved to the edge of the bed, stood up and offered his hand to his lover. The two walked hand in hand to the en-suite bathroom.
In the kitchen, Sarah was making Ben's breakfast.
"Dad doesn't normally sleep in this late on a weekend," he said after swallowing a mouthful of cereal.
"Well, this isn't any ordinary weekend, is it?" Sarah questioned.
Ben's face grew pensive. "I hope they're okay," Ben said crossing his fingers for luck.
"Don't worry. Those two were destined for one another."
"Yeah, but dad, well he has never, erm, you know."
"A man might have some different body parts to a woman, but when you love someone, like I know your dad loves Robbie, then things like that oughtn't to matter."
"It's just I love them both so much, I wouldn't ever want to see them fall out."
"Well, even the happiest of lovers argue now and again, you know. So long as they realise that they're best friends, and truly love their partner, that should see them through any rough spots." Sarah wasn't sure why she was spouting such words of wisdom; she'd never been married.
"Do you think I ought to take a pot of coffee up to them?"
"You only want to go and be nosy, don't you?"
Ben blushed, "Well, a bit."
"No, leave them to it. Like men the world over, once their stomachs start to rumble, they'll be down here wanting to be fed."
Ben finished eating his breakfast, he slowed down as much as he could, but there was still no sign of the two men.
"Go and watch television or something, go on, get from under my feet," Sarah said when Ben had sat at the table for five minutes after he'd put his plate in the dishwasher.
Ben slunk off to the library; he'd started one of Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five' books. Sitting in the Drawing room with the door open so he could see if anyone passed by, he became absorbed in the book.
Hearing movement on the stairs, Ben looked up at the clock. "Blimy, it's after eleven!" He put the book down quickly and raced into the hall. He saw both Robbie and his dad coming down the hallway, heading towards the kitchen. They were smiling.
"Okay, Squirt, have you had your breakfast?"
"Yeah, hours ago," Ben told him. He had a question on his lips, which must have shown on his face.
"What's eating you?" Carl asked.
"You and Uncle Rob still okay then?"
"We are very okay." Robbie said moving towards him and treating him to a hug. "Thanks for all you did last evening, little fella."
"Well, as Sarah said, someone had to knock your heads together."
Carl and Robbie laughed.
"We didn't stand a chance with this match-maker around, did we?" Carl said coming close to Robbie. The two had agreed that it would be okay to kiss one another in the house in front of Ben, but they'd save any stronger emotions till they were alone. Ben's eyes grew wide as he saw his dad kiss Robbie on the lips. He'd never seen two men kiss before.
"Well, it's what you wanted, wasn't it?" Carl said seeing the expression on his son's face.
Ben grinned, "It's perfect, just perfect," he said treating both men to a wide grin.
To be continued.