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Twenty Years Later
Book II
(The Family Expands)
Chapter 5
Jaden and Michael played together every day after school, and did homework together. Jaden, of course, had Kenzie to watch over him, and Michael had a baby sitter until his father came home. As much as Rob wanted to meet Richie there were no opportunities to do so until Saturday morning. Rob wondered if Richie knew that he was gay also.
Saturday morning came at last. Richie and Michael arrived at Arlen's house at exactly 8 AM. Jaden introduced him to half the household, his father, Uncles Arlen and Kenzie, and his cousin Larry. "My other cousins are at the gym," he explained. "I'll introduce you later."
The walk to the gym was interesting. Jaden and Michael walked together. Kenzie and Arlen marched behind them, and Richie and Rob followed them closely. Larry walked by himself, and brought up the rear. He wanted it that way so he could observe Richie and his Uncle Rob. He got vibes about the two of them, but Richie was married; not a good sign for Rob.
The two men were in animated conversation. There was no pretense now. They each knew that they were both gay men, raising their natural children. Larry could tell that Rob was relating his history, and Richie was listening intently. They arrived at the gym, and Larry clearly heard Richie say, "I'll tell you later, Rob. I'd really like to share it with you. We're kindred souls you know." Larry was convinced that Richie was referring to his own personal history. He wondered if Richie would be willing to share his story with the rest of the family.
When they entered the gym and got seated, the basketball players had finished warming up, and were now choosing sides. The three brothers all ended up as skins. When it happened that they were on the same side, there was magic in the gym. The other team didn't stand a chance. Jaden pointed out his other three cousins to Richie. Michael already knew them. Richie whispered in Rob's ear, "Your nephews are getting a rise out of me."
Richie had been invited to have lunch with Arlen's family, and the brothers had promised to play ball with Jaden and Michael. He couldn't wait for the game to end, and to get better acquainted with this rather unorthodox modern family.
After the game, Ari, Mac and Dennis were introduced to Richie. They shook his hand warmly and apologized for their terrible body odor. Richie laughed at them, and asked, "Does anything smell better than good, healthy, man sweat?" He got no answer, as everyone was cogitating on an appropriate answer, which nobody could come up with.
Larry and Kenzie made ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch, and after lunch, Michael, Jaden, and his cousins were tossing around a football on the back lawn. Arlen, Kenzie, Rob and Richie were sitting on the patio watching them. It was Rob, who broke the ice.
"Richie," he said, "it looks like we are not only neighbors, but that we are going to be good friends. Every one of us here has a story. You said that you would like to tell me yours. Arlen and Kenzie are my brothers. You can speak freely. None of us judge."
The men did not expect Richie to burst into tears, but he did, and Rob put his arm around Richie's shoulders. He felt Richie leaning into him, and he somehow began to get aroused. When Richie composed himself, he began to speak.
"Like so many of us, I got married, hoping to conquer my homosexuality. You know how well that works. I was a college senior when my ex-wife finally seduced me enough to have sex with her. I was unprepared, and we made Michael. When he was born, I was in law school. I came home from school one day, when Michael was about six months old, and found my wife and son missing. There was a note on the kitchen table from her.
"The note started with some vile language from Jessie, cursing me out for getting her pregnant at such a young age. She said she couldn't handle the stress of being a wife and mother. She went on to say that she took Michael over to my mother's house, and she was headed for New York, where she hoped to have the life she dreamed of. I never heard from her again. I used her letter as proof that she had abandoned us, and I was granted a divorce. Michael and I moved back with my parents. God bless them.
"When Michael was about eighteen months old, I met Carl, a fellow law student. We fell madly in love. He had his own place, and begged me to move in with him. He even wanted me to bring Michael. He said that he always wanted to be a daddy. Until two weeks ago, Michael considered us both to be his daddy. Carl's apartment became too crowded for all of us, so we rented the place around the corner together.
"I had no clue that anything might be wrong between us. We even got married only nine months ago. Then last week, Carl got home late. He was drunk. He told me that he had to get that way in order to tell me that he was leaving me, and he wanted a divorce. I begged to know why. He told me that he loved me and Michael, but all this domesticity was stifling him. We never went out and tied one on, and if we did go out, we always ran home early to pay the baby sitter, and send her home at a decent hour. He wanted to be free and single, and live the life he, we, had missed out on in our twenties.
"Carl moved out the next day, while I was at work, and Michael was in school. Michael doesn't know yet. I told him that Carl was out of town on business. He's losing a father, and I don't know how to tell him. But things get worse. My lease is up in three months. I can manage until then, but I may not be able to keep the house on my own. If we have to move, Michael might have to go to a new school. He and Jaden have gotten so close, that they may be separated also. Losing Carl is traumatic enough. I hate to put him through another loss, and a lot more stress."
Richie seemed to be finished, and the patio was silent.
Finally, Arlen said, "Richie, I'm going to say something, and it's just not verbiage. I mean it. If there is anything we can do for you, allow us to do it. If you need to borrow some money, we're here for you also. We'll all put our brains together and come up with a plan to save your rental home."
Richie began to sob. "Thanks," was all he could manage to croak out.
"Jaden just lost his mother," Rob piped up. "He and Michael have become such good friends, it would be a crime to separate them. Yes, we'll find a way to help you," Rob promised.
"We're barbecuing chicken and corn on the cob tonight before it starts getting too cold. There's plenty to go around. I hope you and Michael will stay for dinner," Kenzie invited Richie. Richie was still too choked up to say anything so he just nodded.
While dinner was being prepared, Michael pleaded with his father to let him sleep over in Jaden's room. "It's really neat," he said. "I'll sleep in an attic."
"Sure," Richie said, smiling for the first time that day. "After dinner, I'll go home and get your PJ's and a toothbrush."
After the mess was all cleaned up from the barbecue, Jaden's cousins excused themselves to go clubbing. The four "old men" went into the living room to socialize.
"I'll be right back," Richie said, "I'll get Michael's stuff, and join you in a minute."
"I'll walk with you, and keep you company," Rob said. Richie smiled. Kenzie and Arlen were hopelessly romantic souls. They saw the looks passing between Rob and Richie and they smiled at each other.
As soon as they entered Richie's house, Rob asked, "Would you like to have dinner with me next Saturday night? Just the two of us."
"Are you asking me out on a date?"
"I guess. Why not? I just became single, and you are about to."
"Okay then, here's my answer," Richie said. He leaned into Rob, and gave him a closed mouth quickie kiss. They smiled at each other, and Richie asked, "Do we have to wait until next Saturday?"
Rob shook his head, and closed in for a real kiss. When they came up for air, Richie said, "Michael is sleeping at your place tonight. Would you care to sleep here and keep me company?"
"I can't think of anything I would want more." They grinned, and ran back to Arlen's house, holding hands.
Rob slept with Kenzie and Arlen almost every night, but all his stuff was in Jaden's room. After he told his brothers where he was sleeping that night, he went upstairs to get some basics for the evening and the next morning. While he was gone, Kenzie and Arlen gave Richie a big hug.
"I think Rob has a crush on you," Arlen said.
"I hope so, because I've got a major crush on him."
When he went into Jaden's room, the boys were sitting on the bed playing a kiddie card game. When Jaden saw his dad packing an overnight bag, he panicked. "Where are you going?" he asked in fear.
"I'm going to sleep at Michael's house. I didn't want his father to be all alone, so I'm going to keep him company."
When he left the room, Michael said, "I sure hope Daddy Carl doesn't come home tonight. He might get real mad." He had no idea what the relationships of the adult men were all about, but he instinctively believed that Carl might get jealous.
"I'm tired from playing so much football," Jaden said. "Let's get ready for bed." He led Michael into the bathroom. They peed and brushed their teeth. Back in the bedroom, they stripped naked. Neither one gave it a second thought. In both their households, the men never wore anything to bed, and often they wore nothing when they were just lounging around the house.
They climbed into bed, and nestled under the clean cool sheets. Michael said, "You know how your cousins call themselves brothers, even though none of them are related?" Michael asked. "Could we be brothers?"
"Sure," Jaden said, and he reached over and kissed Michael on his cheek. The men in his life kissed each other all the time. To him it was just a sign of love.
The minute Rob and Richie entered Richie's house, they both felt a little awkward. They had just met early that morning, but the short time span didn't stop either one of them from wanting the other. Rob had read something once and it sprung to his mind. Roughly what it said was that if the right someone enters your space, love will occur instantaneously. Unfortunately, the human race will waste precious time in wooing. He wasn't going to let that happen. Even knowing that Richie was on the rebound and very vulnerable, he grabbed hold of him, and began kissing him passionately. He wanted to ask Richie to make love with him, but Richie was already doing that. There was no need to ask him anything.
They made love that night like each of them had just discovered the joys of sex, male sex anyway, for the first time. They brought each other to orgasm with fellatio, and when they wanted to fuck each other, Richie said that he no longer had condoms in the house. They both knew who they had slept with, and they went commando using lubrication only. They were both well endowed, and they used plenty of lube.
When they were recovering, and lying wrapped up in each other's arms, Richie whispered in Rob's ear. "I always thought that I was crazy in love with Carl, but after making love with you, I now have serious doubts. Tonight was something else. It was off the charts."
Rob reached up to caress Richie's cheek only to find that he had been crying.
"Richie, Babe," Rob whispered back in Richie's ear. "I know just how to keep you and Michael close to me."
"I know what you're thinking," Richie said. "I'm going to say something I never said to Carl at lease renewal time. The house comes with an option to buy."
"That's good to know," Rob said, and he fell fast asleep in Richie's arms.
Back at Arlen's place, he and Kenzie were just cuddling up to each other. "I love Rob," Arlen said, "but it's kind of nice to have you alone for a change."
"I got the feeling that Rob has found a new nest to lie in, and I couldn't be happier for both of them. Richie's husband, Carl, is a first class jerk, but he's made room for Rob."
"And don't forget Michael and Jaden."
To be continued.....