TIME-TO-SEE-59
Brandon paced back and forth, wearing a path in the carpet next to the bay window in their bedroom while Max was packing his bag for Athens.
"You have GOT to tell Shannon about us, Max. You'll have plenty of time with him staying here all summer, and if you move fast, you might be able to capitalize on his acceptance of his travel friends who have Gay dads."
"Well, they didn't SAY they were gay, Brandon!" Max answered, throwing his shirts into his suitcase.
"Oh! For goodness sake, Max. I read that email from Kevin. He was very candid about his family. He sounded as if everyone was comfortable with their arrangement too, and he all but used the word, gay." Brandon said.
"But he DIDN'T use the word, Brandon... That's just the point... What do you want me to do; put words in his mouth?" Max answered impatiently.
"No. I want you to tell Shannon that you are gay, that I'm your partner, and that we share our lives and our home... You can fill in whatever details you think a kid that age will need," Brandon popped back.
His tone changing to one of wistfulness: "I'll do it! I'll do it, Brandon. Just give me time..." And Max threw down another handful of clothes and walked over to Brandon intercepting him in his circuit of pacing...
"I'll just have to wait for the right time, Brandon... Oh, please, Brandy. I don't want to struggle over this. I always want to be around you because I feel my life is RIGHT when I am; and conflict like this blocks out the truth of how much I love you and how good our life together really is..."
Brandon put his arms around Max and said, "Oh, you know I won't create another problem for you Max. I really do understand how hard it is for you to actually say the words to your own son, but I REALLY believe being honest is the ONLY way for ALL of us to have a happy life together: you, me, & Shannon... "
"Shannon might want to come to Ireland to live with you at some point, you know. And we have to create an environment NOW, an environment that would be accepting and filled with possibilities and encouragement for him, should he want to do that in the future."
Max looked directly into Brandon's eyes and said, "I know you're right, Brandy. You definitely are. And I won't forget how important you've reminded me this step is. Please don't worry." And Max kissed Brandon on the forehead, having to stretch a bit to his tip-toes to do that, given that Brandon was a good two or three inches taller than he.
"Thanks, Hon." Brandon said giving Max an embrace that said he was not an adversary but an ally in every way.
"Now. Brandy. Would you check my email for another message from Shannon or Kevin. I need to give instructions to Jerome for while I'm gone."
"Fine, Max. Let me see..." and Brandon brought up Max's email account on the laptop that he'd opened on a table in the bedroom.
"Hummm?" and Brandon read the email that Kevin had sent just minutes ago.
"Seems they'll be staying at Castle Clontarf here in Dublin for the first few days. And then they will have to relocate for the next conference," Brandon said after reading the email.
"They will be landing in about a half hour from now." Brandon added.
"Really?!" Max said, considering the possibilities while looking over at the clock on the bedside table.
"I think that we could get over to the airport in less than an hour, to deliver me for my outbound flight to Athens. Please write an email in reply for me, Brandy, suggesting that we'd like to meet Shannon and all of them in the main lobby of the airport after their arrival, and before I have to take-off, if possible."
Max continued to think out loud, "I'll still have plenty of time to clear security and make my flight to Athens, even if we take time to meet and visit with them for a little while. I'd LOVE to surprise Shannon. I'm sooo eager to be with that little guy. I'm feeling how much I miss him and love him, you know..."
In seconds Brandon shot off the message Max had requested. Together they hoped that Kevin would check his email by the time he arrived at Dublin International.
"Come on, Brandy. Let's get out of here," Max yelled.
"You sure you have everything, Max?"
"No. I'm sure I've forgotten something important, but I'll depend on you for back-up..." Max said as he picked up the bag, gave Brandon a quick kiss on the cheek, and the two of them scurried down to the town car.
"It's great to feel needed," Brandon said... "I only hope that I'm more important to you than just a back-up business employee," Brandon said to chide Max a bit.
The doors to the car closed, and Jerome hurried around the outside of the vehicle to the driver's side where he got in. "Where to, gentlemen?" Jerome asked as he started the engine.
"To the airport... We'd love to get there in 30-40 minutes, but don't be unsafe or illegal. We don't want any consequences to deal with," Max called out to Jerome, leaning forward somehow feeling that he'd be clearer if he were leaning forward.
"Yes, Sir." Jerome said, and the car sped off down the half-crescent drive that was lined with bright pink and red azaleas from the main portico of Max's estate to the County road.
Walking quickly across the polished floor of the lobby that stretched out in front of the main concourse, Max almost flew along with his suitcase, which appeared to be nearly weightless, but that, in fact, was quite densely packed with clothing and computer equipment. Brandon could barely keep up with Max, even carrying no bag himself, and with a stride at least six inches greater than Max's. Max was hell bent on getting to see his kid.
In the distance, Max saw a little group of five people just standing and waiting: two attractive young men, two older boys, and a younger boy that he recognized as his very own Shannon.
"Dad!" Shannon screamed at the top of his lungs.... "We got your email," and he tore away from the security of his little tribe, protected by Hugo and Kevin, to run ahead to his approaching father.
Max threw his bag down on the floor and swept Shannon up in his arms, capturing the boy in mid-flight across the huge terminal lobby.
"Shannon! Oh, Shannon. I missed you SOOOO much." Max said to Shannon as he swung him around in circles right there in the middle of the throng of travelers.
"Dad!" Shannon squealed again, hugging him tightly, not about to let him go for an instant.
Nicky and Jilder followed Shannon's path across the lobby, running together, caught up in the excitement and happy for their friend, even though they'd never met Shannon's dad.
And pulling up the rear, Hugo and Kevin walked over to the meeting that had quickly become a major "Scene" in the middle of the terminal!
After five or six twirls around, long enough to make Shannon thoroughly dizzy, Max slowed his spinning and allowed Shannon to come down to earth.
"Son, you've GROWN! You are such a big guy from when I last remember you, last year..." Max said.
"Yeah! Dad. I'm growing up and gettin bigger.... And YOU are gettin Older, Dad!" Shannon said. "You have little gray hairs over your ears..."
At that remark, Brandon laughed out loud doubling over in hysterics, "I like your candidness, Shannon. I KNOW you and I will get along just great," and he offered his hand to Shannon, which Shannon took just to steady himself, if for nothing else, being thoroughly woozy and walking wobbly after his dad's whirling welcome.
Shannon looked up at Brandon in his 6 foot 2 inch stature, looked him directly in the eyes and said, scrunching up his nose in a puzzled expression: "Who are you?"
"Uh!" Max stammered, suddenly looking pale, uncertain, and definitely on-the-spot, in contrast to the exuberance that had exploded from him spontaneously just seconds ago when he saw Shannon for the first time.
"Uh... Shannon..... Uh, this is my dear, dear friend, Mr. Brandon Johnathan,... Uh, Uh..... he and I have.... a LOT in common and we...." Max prattled on nervously...
At which point, Shannon had had enough, and he interrupted his dad finishing his dad's sentence for him: "And Brandon is YOUR partner, like Hugo and Kevin are partners making Nicky and Jilder have two dads... Right, Dad?"
"Oh, my God, the kid's psychic," Max said confidentially to Brandon, looking panic stricken over to Brandon...
"Nonsense, Max," he's bright and savvy and you can't bullshit him... So don't try. He's just like his dad, if only you'd allow yourself to realize it," Brandon replied to Max, indicating to him that everything was going to be alright.
"Brandy, what am I going to do now???" Max asked quickly, trying to inquire privately of Brandon, while looking as if he were in physical pain...
"For God's sake, Max... Get a hold of yourself. TALK to the kid... THE TRUTH!" Brandon replied to Max.
Still pale but determined to answer, Max looked directly at Shannon and said:
"Uh. Yep! You're right, Shannon. And the truth is YOU'VE got two dads too."
('There' I said it!' Max pointed out to himself... 'And I'm still breathing'...)
"That's cool, Dad. I'm glad I have two dads. I just hope he's as nice as Hugo and Kevin."
At that remark, Max looked above Shannon, past Nicky and Jilder to make eye contact with Hugo and Kevin. Max smiled, and with one arm around Shannon, he reached with the other toward Nicky and Jilder and Hugo and Kevin.
"Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm Maxmillian Murphy, Shannon's dad..."
Jilder responded, "Yeah! We noticed!"
(Pregnant silence...)
"Jilder! Where are your manners?" Hugo said mortified at how out spoken his progeny turned out to be...as he "popped" Jilder on the back of the head for his transgression...
"Please let me apologize to you for my son's impertinence," Hugo said. "We have been looking forward to meeting you, and now that I discover that we all have so much in common, I have to confess that I am REALLY happy to meet you... BOTH", Hugo said smiling and looking over to Brandon.
Max replied: "Oh, Hugo? Am I right? Please don't make excuses for yet another bright, impatient boy who clearly catches on to social realities as a gestalt. I feel so much better realizing I'm not alone in my floundering to deal with my own son's candidness. I know that I have sooo much to learn from the both of you. I am so extremely happy to meet you-- to meet all of you."
Kevin extended his hand first to Max and then to Brandon. "Nice to meet you both as well. We have been so looking forward to our visit with you."
Brandon was cheery beyond belief, with a broad smile across his face, he met the whole brood and realized that his life would suddenly get much better quite rapidly, given that Max would be free to be himself, and Shannon seemed to be a terrific little kid-- if a bit out-spoken-- keeping a person like Brandon on his toes, lest he (Brandon) how might one put it?-- 'step on his own dick', in a manner of speaking....
But life has its own demands, one of which Brandon just remembered. "Hon (referring to Max)-- better watch the time. You've got to get through security if you're going to make that flight to Athens... And clearing security these days is no dash in the park."
"Oh, my God, Brandy, you're right. Can I leave our new friends in your care, and you'll help them connect with Jerome and the car?"
Brandon asked Kevin and Hugo, "And will everyone, including Shannon, be staying at Castle Clontarf?"
"Well, we made reservations for Shannon, because we had no idea that we'd connect with you before Maxmillian left for Athens. But, if he wants to go with you, Brandon, we certainly understand."
"Aw, Dad... We want Shannon to come with US! You promised!" Nicky said plaintively to his dads....
"Let me relieve the boys," Brandon said. "I'm sure they are all looking forward to sleeping in a castle tonight; so allow me to encourage you all to continue with your plans. I will join you at Clontarf this evening for dinner, if I may be so bold as to invite myself. That way we can visit and become acquainted while Max is away, and the boys can enjoy one another's company as well..."
Turning to Shannon, Brandon asked, "How does that sound to you, "Murph"? Shannon smiled from ear to ear when he heard the special name Brandon had for him...
"Yeah. I'd like that" Shannon said. "And I like that cool name you got for me too!" Shannon said reaching his arm out to grab Brandon's shirt sleeve.
"Then it's decided. We'll all go to Castle Clontarf, have dinner, visit, and let the boys settle in. And Max can get his butt over to security right now, lest he miss his flight...MAX!!!"
"Shannon. I love you, and I'll be back in 5 days when my business in Athens is complete. Stay with Hugo and Kevin and do as they ask... Be safe..."
"OK, Dad. I will." Shannon said, and he waved at his dad as Max grabbed his suitcase and ran off in the direction of security screening.
Later that evening, all three boys with squeaky clean faces, all freshly showered and dressed in coats and ties, hair pasted to their scalps with shiny hair gel (except not-quite 'pasted', in Nicky's case), filed into the grand dining room at Castle Clontarf.
They were three very handsome boys: Jilder was first in line; 'Murph' was next; and Nicky was third; Hugo and Kevin followed close behind. They were greeted by the maitre-de who looked to the two gentlemen and asked, "How many in your party, Sirs?"
"Six." Kevin replied. "Mr. Brandon Johnathon will be joining us a bit later."
"Very good, Sir. Please follow me."
And the Maitre-de turned and led the little family across the dining room to a large, round table covered in an ornate, deep red and gold brocade table cover, set with white china, dazzling silver flatware bearing the Clontarf Crest, and shining gold goblets.
The table sat beneath an enormous silver and glass chandelier, bedecked with chains of small crystal madallions and cascades of teardrop-shaped crystals under each candle light. The sheer grandeur of the setting left all of the boys speechless.
Nicky looked up with his mouth hanging open, processing the intricacy of the chandelier that captured his attention. Each element of shredded light that sparkled as it twisted and turned traveling through the thousands of crystals left Nicky in an hypnotic trance. He seated himself not taking his gaze off of the magnificent chandelier for even a single moment.
'Murph' was puzzled over how he would negotiate the enormous gilded chair to which he was lead, the seat of which met him almost at chest height. He didn't want to have to ask anyone to pick him up and place him on the chair; that would have been too embarrassing for a young man his age; so he stretched to get his belly up on the seat, after which he used the chair back to pull himself up all the way onto the seat. Finally on his knees in the seat, he twisted around, disarranging his coat and tie a bit, but finally seating himself facing the table.
Jilder required help. He just stood there surveying the majesty of the setting into which he'd been thrust. Kevin came up behind Jilder quietly, sensing Jilder's intimidation, put his arms around him from behind and spoke quietly in his ear:
"So you are finally given the great luxury and beauty that a boy like you has deserved his whole life. Take it, Jilder, it's here for you now. You deserve it." And Jilder stepped over closer to one of the enormous gilded chairs and lowered himself to the seat, just looking at the great beauty all around. 'Could ANY one person ever deserve this much beauty and luxury,' he questioned himself silently.
Kevin stepped back to the chair right next to Jilder's. Hugo moved up behind Kevin and spoke quietly to Kevin. "And you're equally as worthy of this luxury, but even all of its beauty cannot compare to the beauty of your love, which I see and feel everyday. And your love is always visible--unlike this luxury--nurturing and keeping our family together in settings far less grand than this. We are more blessed by your love, than by the beauty of this lovely table which we may now enjoy.
Hugo kissed Kevin on the neck and pulled his chair out inviting him to be seated.
Everyone in place, Hugo surveyed his wonderful family with a long and satisfying gaze, savoring the blessings of his life. He was a long way from the little Burrito shop where he first saw Kevin.
A waiter, no, a CADRE of waiters, appeared, and one addressed Hugo, "Will you be having the Castle Home Wine this evening, Sir?"
"Yes, thank you. And the same for my partner," Hugo said nodding to Kevin.
"Very good sir," the waiter replied.
"We have special grape juice for the young men, if that would be suitable?" the waiter suggested to Hugo.
"That would be very nice... a perfect way to include the young men even though they are not quite up to the full rigors of adulthood," Hugo replied.
"Thank You, Sir." And the waiter nodded to three other waiters who each approached the table at once and began filling the boy's golden goblets with grape juice simultaneously.
The boys all sat speechless watching what was going on. None of them dared to touch the table without approval from their dads. So with all eyes trained on Hugo, Hugo reached for his own goblet, lifted it, and proposed a toast:
"May love, good health, safe travels, and happiness always go with my wonderful family gathered here with me tonight, and may the same always accompany our honored guest, Mr. Shannon Murphy, on this special occasion of our first day in the Republic of Ireland."
Kevin nodded to the boys and gestured to indicate that they too should pick up their goblets. When everyone was poised with chalices in the air, Hugo cheered, "Here! Here!" and took a sip from his own, Kevin followed: "Here! Here!," and the boys took their cue that they too should cheer out loud and drink to the health and happiness of each other.
It was a wonderful moment for five spiritual beings, bound in concern and love for one another, discovering how they are actually One.
They had no sooner returned their chalices to the table than Brandon Johnathon approached and asked, "May I join you?"
Jilder spoke up being the first to betray his delight at Brandon's arrival, "Sure. Sit down. That seat's for you."
"Yeah! Brandon. We missed you. I'm glad you didn't have to work late too," Shannon said.
"Oh, Murph! Come on... surely you don't think I'd miss having dinner with you and your friends, do you?" Brandon said
"No. I knew you'd come. I just wanted you to hurry up and get here, that's all," Shannon said.
Kevin addressed Brandon, "It is very kind of you to give up your evening to join us. It's really remarkable that we now have friends in this new land."
"Well, I can confess for Max and me together that we have been thinking of nothing else but Shannon's visit for months. And to have him arrive in an entourage of wonderful people too is OUR unmerited pleasure."
Nicky jumped in with his curiosity, "Brandon: Do they have any metal suits here?"
"I don't quite follow you, Nicky. What was that again?" Brandon asked.
Nicky continued, "You know. Armor suits that the old knights used to wear. We want to see some. Do you think they have any here?"
"Oh, indeed they do. Have you been in the Great Hall yet?" Brandon turned to look at Hugo and Kevin with his question.
"I don't think so," Kevin said. "At least we haven't seen any suits of armor; so I suppose logic would say we haven't been there yet."
"Well, after dinner, boys, we'll all have to go to the Great Hall for an after-dinner brandy and an inspection of the suits of armor and the battle axes and such."
"That would be cool," little Murph said.
"Yeah. We all wanted to see the armor suits," Jilder agreed too.
"This castle is not the oldest of castles, but 1172 would make it almost a thousand years old, and well into the era when suits of armor were important."
Hugo said, "I was looking over the seminar schedule up in the room and found that we will be moving to Galway, Ireland, for one session next Friday evening. Maybe we can find some even older castles over there."
"Oh, indeed," Brandon said. "If you'll be going to that part of the country, I know that Max will want to invite you to join us at Castle Dromoland, which is a favorite of his and just another marvelous experience for the boys."
"Well, that sounds like winning the lottery-- twice!... First Max allows us to use his town car while he is away. Next you are saying that you would like to invite us to join you both at this wonderful castle. Really, Brandon, we appreciate your hospitality immensely, but --really--we couldn't impose."
"Nonsense," Brandon wouldn't accept a 'no'. "I'll text Max right after dinner, and I'm sure he'll want me to set the reservations in motion immediately. Now THERE is a place with suits of armor AND..... GHOSTS!" pausing for dramatic effect!
He crouched his head down close to the table and leaned toward the boys speaking in a low, conspiratorial voice: "Real GHOSTS! there be in Castle Dromoland!"
"Uhhh!" Shannon gasped taking a big gulp of air and putting his hands up to his mouth.
"For real?" Nicky dared ask, somewhat inclined to include, "You GOTTA be puttin us on"... but he didn't... He COULDN'T bring himself to say it!
"Ohhhhhhhh!" Jilder said, eyes bulging and body about to fall out of his seat, now completely oblivious of the elegant surroundings in which he found himself.
"Yes!!!!" Brandon shouted in one choppy syllable! And in his most ominous and seductive manner Brandon went on....
"AND... King Brian, the first king of Ireland is said to walk about his castle grounds, about the lakes and grottos, even today! And some say that they've even SEEN him! YES!!!!"
"Ohhh!" Shannon gasped putting the fingers of both hands over his mouth.
"And do you want to find the ghost of King Brian, "Murph"?" Brandon asked in his best conspiratorial tone.
"Aw!!! Come on, Brandon." Jilder said, trying to call Brandon on his nonsense. Still though...
"NOOOOOOO!" Brandon went on in all seriousness: "Right there HE BE! Walking the grottos and land on which he lived over a thousand years ago!"
The boys were captivated by Brandon recounting the local lore and the implied possibilities. There would be no-way these boys would give up a chance to go ghost hunting for King Brian! No-way!
Kevin spoke to Brandon, "Well, my goodness, we would certainly want to see King Brian if we could... What would we have to do?" Kevin enjoyed the fairytale quality of Brandon's story, and he also enjoyed toying with the boys acceptance of the fantastic and stretching their gullibility.
Usually, Kevin was reality personified, but something in Brandon's fanciful tale about King Brian tweaked Kevin's childhood fantasies too; so that he was more than ready to travel to Castle Dromoland and see for himself....
Thus, all through dinner the men considered the possibilities that they might get to see a ghost if they were to visit Castle Dromoland.
"If Brandon can't get dad to go to Castle Dromoland, I'll ask him to take us myself. I know he'll let us go, if I ask him." 'Murph' reassured everyone present.
Here he was. Shannon was only hours into his dad's far away life with Brandon, but he was absolutely SURE that his dad would honor his request. He was that sure of his dad's devotion to him. THAT in itself was worth the trip to Dromoland: to see a man and his young son embark together on a journey important to the boy.
After dinner, the men and their charges retired to the Great Hall and after-dinner brandy for the men and hot chocolate for the boys.
Remarkably large suits of armor stood about the grand hall, and charging poles and monstrous battle axes hung on the walls. Indeed, this was turning out to be a wonderful vacation for everyone.
It began to grow quite late. The fire in the grand fireplace had died leaving only glowing embers to crackle and pop every now and then, and the boys had begun to yawn.
The boys shirt tails were now evident here and there, their ties were askew, and their suit coats were hiked up from squirming around on the large sofas. But they were supremely delighted planning their quest to meet the ghost of King Brian in Dromoland. Were any of them frightened? Not that they would admit... It remained to be seen how they would react if they really should meet a ghost!
The sound of a cell phone signal interrupted their conversations, and Brandon reached in his pocket to discover that Max had just sent a text message in reply to his earlier one.
It said,
"Brandon: Marvelous idea. If you won't feel that I am abusing your devoted attention, may I ask that you make reservations at Dromoland immediately for you, me, Shannon (uh? 'Murph') and our 4 American friends. Please invite them to be our guests at Dromoland, if their schedule permits. We can stay through the weekend and return to Dublin in the middle of the week, or perhaps later, if we have good fortune. Kiss 'Murph' for me....Love... Max"
"Well, that's it, gentlemen. If you think you can join us, we'd be delighted to host a week or two at Dromoland," Brandon said.
Even though their energy was definitely on the wane, all of the boys managed to yell out, "Hurray for Max! Hurray for Max!"" while bouncing around on the sofas...
"Boys! Calm down. Sofas are for sitting, not for use as substitute trampolines..." Kevin said. Then he turned to Brandon and gave him an embarrassed smile... "Guess you can tell the boys are ready to accept your gracious invitation, and Hugo and I would be ecstatic to join you and Max. Thank you so much, Brandon..."
Brandon shared his message from Max, leaving everyone delighted with the invitation.
"See, I told you Dad would take us to Castle Dromoland," Murph said.
"Yes. And you were right too, Murph."