Tommy and Tanner, Chapter 4
Warning:
This story contains scenes of love and sexual interaction between males of similar age. If the reading or possessing this material is illegal in your country, state, province, county, municipality, etc., please leave this site immediately and do not proceed further. If you are under the legal age to read this, please do not do so. It is not my intention to offend anyone or to get you in trouble.
The author retains the copyright, and any other rights, to this original story. You may not publish it or any part of it without explicit authorization from me.
This is not my first attempt at writing fiction. My longer stories on Nifty include: "Always and Forever" (March 25, 2004), "Jacob and Jacques" (May 30, 2004), "Zeke" (August 29, 2005), "Tales from Bentonville" (November 16, 2008), and "Second Chance" (September 24, 2010) under "High School" and "Someone to Watch over Me" under "Beginnings" in the gay male section. There are a few short stories also: "Brad and Alan's Canoe Trip" (April 22, 2004 under "Camping", "Of Angels and Dragons" (November 8, 2008) under "Camping", "A Christmas Tale" (December 22, 2009) under "High School", "Brazil Affair" (October 1, 2010) under "Beginnings" and "Seth's Gift" (October 10, 2010) under the Science Fiction/Fantasy category.
I am now listed on Nifty under the category of "Prolific Net Authors" which will make it easier for you to access earlier stories. Some of these stories are also posted at: www.storylover.us along with those of other writers that may interest you.
My only reward for contributing to Nifty is your emails. Please write if you like the story. Please include the name of the story in the title of your email because my email service sometimes puts them in the "spam" file.
Finally, thanks and hugs to Tom and David (boxerdude) who edit for me so that there are fewer mistakes! They not only proof-read, but make other valuable suggestions.
David (dlee169@hotmail.com)
Tommy and Tanner 4
Almost as soon as Thanksgiving was over, it was time to celebrate Advent at First Presbyterian. The family went on the first Sunday night of the season to make a wreath so they could observe the season at home by lighting the appropriate candle each week. Tanner wasn't used to this particular tradition, but found that he liked it. He even participated in reading the scripture for the simple ceremony. Worshiping with his family was a comfort to Tanner.
In early December, Tanner's comfortable world was rocked by having old wounds reopened. Tark was approached by the attorney who was handling the estate of George Sessions. The lawyer had advised George's heirs to offer a settlement to Tanner as compensation for the wrongful death of his father in order to facilitate the settling of the estate.
Tark, as his adoptive father, would have to sign an agreement that Tanner would make no further claims against the estate. Tark hated to even bring up the subject with Tanner, knowing how it might affect his emotions. However, there was Tanner's financial future to think about. Ralph Leads had had the potential of earning much more than the $30,000 that was being offered as a lump sum. Of course, if it were invested wisely, it could grow into a small nest egg for the boy. The cost of hiring legal counsel to pursue a larger settlement had to be considered too.
When Tark broached the subject, Tanner told him that he wanted Tommy to be present in the discussion. Tark agreed that it would be fine as long as the boys didn't talk about it in the presence of their friends.
"I'm not gonna say anything to remind anyone of how my father died," Tanner said, shaking his head. "It seems almost wrong that I would get money from my father's death. Is it okay to take it?"
"It's more than okay," Tark insisted.
"But he was cheating with another man's wife..."
"Regardless of the events, Mr. Sessions had no right to take his life. By doing so, he left you without parents and with no means of support. His estate owes you."
"That sounds like an awful lot of money."
"It's nowhere near what your father would have earned per year after paying taxes and social security. He might have worked another 25 or 30 years. His salary was at least 50,000 per year when he died. That would add up to well over a million at the current pay scale and you know he'd get many raises over those years!
Besides, your father's death has forced you to sell the house for far less than it will be worth when the market picks up again. Your dad and you would have lived there while the value went up again. His untimely death prevented that too.
George Sessions' estate has to be worth two or three million. With your permission, I'd like to ask for $750,000. I'll consult a lawyer who charges by the hour instead of making his fees a percentage of the settlement. You'll likely have to settle for less if we don't take it to court. If you do sue, you might end up with less, especially after paying the legal fees."
"Okay, I trust you to do what's best. If I get a bunch of money, I'll share it with the family."
"Whatever you get, I'd like to put it in a trust fund for your future."
"That's not fair! I have to share it with you."
"This should be your inheritance and that's what I want it to be. It's admirable that you want to share and I appreciate that. We'll talk more about that when you get a settlement. So, do I have your permission to take this on?" Tark said as he arose.
"Of course, Dad, I trust you to do what's right."
Tark had a lump in his throat as he embraced Tanner. Tommy stood up to get in on the hug.
The time between holidays seemed to fly by. Before anyone was completely prepared, Christmas was nearly upon them. Teri was particularly stressed because Tark's parents were coming. Cynthia Worthington Torrance did not condescend to cook. That was what domestic help was for. She had better things to do with her time, like host charity balls and serve on the symphony board in addition to attending a variety of club meetings and other civic affairs.
Teri felt inadequate for the task of entertaining her mother-in-law, but Tark reassured her by saying that her home-cooked meals were the finest in the Midwest. He helped her with the baking and enlisted the boys' aid in cleaning the house. Working mothers had more than their share of work to do.
Accommodating guests comfortably in their small house was challenging. It was decided that Tim would sleep on the trundle bed in his little brother's room and give up his queen sized bed for his grandparents. He didn't mind sharing with Tuck for a short period of time, but wasn't looking forward to a long visit from his father's parents.
Tuck was excited about having Tim room with him. He idolized everything about his big brother from his developing muscles to the sparse hair on his chest. Tim was what Tuck hoped to be in another few years – a stud.
James Tarkington Torrance, II was a pleasant, easy-going man despite his pretentious name. He had not wanted to pass it along to his only son, but had been talked into it by his wife. Cynthia was much more impressed with position and money than he was. James was from old money, so it didn't mean that much to him. Cynthia, for all of her love of status, had grown up in a family with parents who had to struggle to make ends meet. She had recognized James as a man who could transform her life into what it should be – what it was predestined to be. He was her prince on a white steed.
The arrival of this set of grandparents on Christmas Eve day was in stark contrast with that of Teri's parents at Thanksgiving. Cynthia greeted each boy with a rather reserved handshake that made him feel unworthy of touching her royal personage. Tanner was last to receive her perfunctory salutation. It made his heart feel iced over.
When the elder Torrance's were shown to Tim's room, Cynthia made a kind of sniffing sound which left no one in doubt about her critique of the accommodations. She didn't say it was beneath her to sleep in the basement, but her body language spoke volumes.
It was Tark and Teri's tradition to go to the Christmas Eve service at 11:00 p.m. The boys all got dressed in slacks and sweaters and had their hair appropriately styled for the event. Cynthia pled fatigue from their tiring flight (of two hours) and said she and James would not be attending.
The service was a beautiful mix of lessons and carols leaving the congregation with feelings of peace and hope. Teri appreciated having a quiet, spiritual time away from her mother-in-law. And, if truth be told, so did the rest of the family. As they rode home, each was thinking of some excuse to be out of the house for at least a part of the time their company was there.
Christmas day dawned bright, cold, and crisp like a Norman Rockwell painting. A fresh layer of snow had fallen sometime after midnight, covering the browns and tans of dead grass and giving the landscape an unspoiled appearance. The boys were eager to take the toboggan out to the hill at the middle school, but would have to wait until much later in the day.
Teri laid out a bountiful breakfast because Christmas dinner wouldn't be served until 1:30 and she knew her ravenous brood well. There was an egg casserole, a fresh-baked breakfast ring, and a choice of cereals plus juice, and coffee. Most everyone dug in enjoying the meal and expressing their love of the food. Tark's mother asked for a dish of plain yogurt and a cup of tea. Teri jumped up to fulfill the request as if it were a royal command.
After breakfast, everyone gathered in the basement family room. Tark had built a fire in the wood-burning stove. The glass panels in the doors allowed a nearly unobstructed view of dancing flames which lent a cozy air to the room.
As the presents were passed out, it became evident that the boys were not all treated equally by this set of grandparents. Each got a sweater and socks, but there was one larger gift with the names of Timothy, Terrence, and Tucker on it. Inside was the latest version of Play Station with several games, including Snake Ball and Toy Home.
"Mother, I think you forgot to put Tanner's name on the tag," Tark said evenly.
"Oh, dear, I guess I must have purchased it before I knew you had taken in that boy."
"He's my son, now, Mother; not `that boy'." Tark reminded her quietly, but firmly.
"Yes, well..."
In the interest of peace on earth, Tark let the matter drop for the moment, but he was not at all pleased with his mother's attitude. He knew this model of the popular video game wasn't even on the market until months after the adoption had gone through.
Although the atmosphere was somewhat strained, dinner was a grand success. Even Cynthia didn't find anything wrong with the food. As she was sampling her second helping of cranberry relish, she did manage to say that her cook made the best she had ever tasted.
"I'd be interested in having her recipe," Teri graciously responded.
"Oh, she never gives those out," Cynthia assured her. "It is her way of making a living after all."
Tuck missed the undercurrent, but the older boys did not. They could hardly wait to be excused from the table to get away from their grandmother and play with their new video games. Their request was soon granted because everyone felt too stuffed to eat dessert until later.
Tark helped his wife clear the table and put away the food. James pitched in too. Cynthia needed to rest. After things were taken care of, Teri retreated for a nap as well. She had the beginnings of a headache.
Tark and his father sat in front of the TV watching football. James fell asleep in the recliner before half-time.
Around 3:30, the boys donned their winter gear and pulled the toboggan the few blocks to the schoolyard hill. They wouldn't have much time because the sun would set early. However, they were eager for a few runs in the new snow. Several of their classmates had the same idea. They played until it got dark enough for the streetlights to come on.
The next morning, Cynthia said she wanted to take some family photos. She set her new state-of-the-art digital camera up on a tripod in the living room. She arranged people by generations and asked Tanner to take the shots.
"Let's use the self-timer so ALL of the boys can be in the picture," Tark suggested.
"I'm not sure how to do it. Besides, I want some pictures of just my family."
"It's okay, Mr. Torrance," Tanner spoke up. "I can take the pictures."
"I know you can, SON. That's not the point. Mother and I are going to the kitchen to get this straightened out."
Once they were supposedly out of hearing range of the others, Cynthia started in.
"I don't know why you have to push that boy off on me. He is not my grandson!"
"He is my son. Our whole family chose to welcome him as our own. You need to get used to it and welcome him too."
"I don't care what YOU say. Blood is thicker than water, after all."
"And love is thicker than blood, Mother."
"You have been a disappointment ever since you went to college. You chose to go into a dead-end job and married beneath your station. Now you're trying to force an outsider on me. I don't like the way you're treating me! I am your mother and as such, I deserve respect!"
"Respect is a two-way street." Tark said without raising his voice.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You have been disrespectful of my wife, my boys, and my career. If you want to be treated well, you must treat others well in return."
The rest of the family couldn't hear Tark's responses completely, but they could hear a great deal of what Cynthia was saying. Her words cut Tanner and Teri to the quick. Tommy put his arm around Tanner's shoulder and James squeezed his daughter-in-law's hand.
The conversation in the kitchen continued.
"I really wish our flight were leaving today instead of tomorrow. I'm going to be absolutely ill from the hostility I feel in this house!" Tark's mother continued.
"I'm afraid it's mostly of your making, Mother. But I have a solution."
Tark opened the phonebook and looked up the number for the local Motel 6. He had begun to dial when Cynthia pushed the hang-up button.
"If you're throwing us out, I'm not staying in cheap accommodations. I'll make my own reservations, thank you very much."
When Tark and his mother returned to the living room a few minutes later, Cynthia announced that she was packing and James had better do the same so they wouldn't have to keep the cab waiting when it arrived.
Tark's father started to follow his wife, but turned around and mouthed "I'm sorry!" to the rest of the family.
"Don't you think you should do something to keep her from leaving?" Teri asked her husband.
"Hell no! I handed her the phone. If she's disrespectful to my family, she's being disrespectful to me as well. I take it personally."
Having said that, he hugged his wife first and then he hugged Tanner.
As they were coming up the stairs from Tim's room, the elder Torrance's seemed to be arguing.
"I want you to schedule an appointment next week with your attorney and change your will!" Cynthia insisted.
"Oh, I plan to," James responded. "I had forgotten that I have one more grandson to include in it!
Tark, my son, I'm sorry about all of this. Your mother and I are going to have a long talk. In the mean time, here's a check for $1,000 I want you to have for..."
"Dad, I don't want your money," Tark cut him off.
"You have to take it. It's not for you. Give $250 to EACH of my grandsons to spend any way he sees fit."
"Okay, thanks. I'll accept it for them."
After his parents had left, Tark grinned.
"Well, after all of these years it looks like Dad's finally grown a pair!"
"James Tarkington Torrance III, please watch how you talk around the boys!"
"Hey, it isn't like they don't each have a pair of their own," he snickered.
The older boys were trying not to break into giggles. Tuck looked perplexed for a moment and then grinned as the penny dropped. It was as if a veil had been lifted in that split second. From then on, he would understand many things that had gone over his head in the past. He was growing up.
Author's notes: As always, I've been pleased to hear from many of you since last posting. The list includes: Robert N (STWOM), Bob (Z), Don R, (Zeke), Rutabaga, Jim C, JT, Trish, Bill T, Jim W, Walt S, Bill K, Mark H, Tom A, Wayne, Don R (Second Chance), Paul F, Carroll, and Danny A.
There are many scary things in this world lately. Please keep the people of Christchurch, NZ in your thoughts and/or prayers. Also, remember the people who are in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and other places of strife. Lets hope it all comes out for the best.
On the US front, at least the current administration isn't going to defend the DOMA. That's a tiny step, but in the right direction. Hawaii is also making civil unions of same-sex couples legal. That too is a step.
David