A ROCKY ROAD
CHAPTER THREE
Dinner the next evening was pleasant although TJ and Neil were anxious because after the meal, they planned to come out to Neil's mother and brother.
Everyone helped, as usual, clearing the table and loading the dishwasher. Jeff was about to leave the kitchen when Neil said, "Jeff, can you hang around a little while? TJ and I would like to talk to the whole family."
Both Jeff and his mother were curious but his father anticipated what was to come.
"Okay," Jeff replied. "Will it take long? I was going to go over to Ryan's house to lift weights."
"Not long," Neil said although he had no idea where the conversation would lead or how much time it would take. When everyone was seated at the kitchen table, Neil continued. "First and most importantly, I want to tell you how much I love all of you and how grateful I am for being a member of this family. I'm also very proud of the way you have welcome TJ into the house for a visit. Please remember that I love you as you listen to what I have to say."
"And we love you, too," Neil's mother interjected.
"Okay," Jeff grunted. "Is this a love-fest or what?"
"There's more," Neil said, ignoring the scorn in his brother's tone. "You know how much I have grown to like and respect TJ since we met. What you may not know is that I've come to love him. And, fortunately, he loves me. There's no other way to say it so I'll put it bluntly. I'm gay. TJ is gay. We plan to live together as a couple."
Neil's father listened to what he already knew and, like Neil and TJ, watched the reaction from his wife and youngest son. His wife's reaction, he thought, was remarkably subdued.
Jeff's reaction was far more expressive and revealed his obvious shock and dismay. But then he grinned and said, "No way! Tell me this is some sort of twisted joke!"
"It's no joke, Jeff. We're gay. We love each other and plan to live together."
Jeff's expression turned suddenly sour although his parents sat quietly.
"You're really serious?" Jeff asked incredulously.
"Yes."
Jeff thought for a minute and then exploded, "You mean I have a queer brother and he brought his pervert fag boy friend home with him?" That's the most disgusting thing I've ever heard!"
Mr. Bailey immediately said, "Watch your language, son! You're entitled to your opinion and have every right to express it ... but not with insulting terms!"
"Okay, how's this? My brother is a deviant, sinful homosexual! And I'm ashamed to say he's my brother!"
Mr. Bailey disapproved of Jeff's fervent condemnation of his brother but at least it didn't include pejorative terms. Turning to his wife, he said, "The boys told me about this last evening but they wanted to tell you themselves. How do you feel about the unexpected news?"
"Not entirely unexpected, dear. Mothers see things that fathers don't. We sense things that men cannot. I suspected something when Neil was in middle school but discounted it, thinking it was a phase of growing up." Then, turning to Neil, she continued, "My suspicions grew stronger when you were in high school. You didn't date as much as the other boys. I assumed it was because you spent so much time studying and practicing. But seeing you and TJ together ... well ... Don't ask me to explain it. It was just intuition but there seemed to be a magic to your friendship. Am I surprised? Yes, but not as much as your father and brother. Am I disappointed? Yes. It's not what I dreamed about as you grew up. I pictured you as the husband of a lovely wife and as the father of my grandchildren. But a mother will always love her children."
"MOM!" Jeff exploded. "How can you love a queer fag?"
"That's enough!" Mr. Bailey commanded. "I've warned you about that sort of language! I don't want to hear any more of it! Do I make myself clear?"
"Clear as a bell. I'm outta here. I don't want to hear any more about my brother's repulsive behavior." With that, he stormed out of the kitchen, slamming the door as he left the house.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you," Neil said. "I'm sorry if I've hurt you. I didn't choose to be gay. It's what I am. I recognized it years ago. I love you both but I also love TJ. I can only hope that you understand how much he means to me, how much joy he gives me. And that you realize that I'll be happy with him and miserable without him."
Both TJ and Neil craved some inkling of acceptance or even, however unlikely, approval of their relationship but none was forthcoming. Mrs. Bailey turned to her husband and said, "We know how Jeff feels. How do you feel?"
"I was shocked at the news. I've now had some time to think about it. Like you, I'm disappointed but, as I told the boys last night, my disappointment is chiefly because they will face the kind of ridicule and condemnation that Jeff displayed. I'm convinced that they are sincere when they say they love each other. I'm less sure that their love will endure." Turning to the nervous teens, he continued, "Last night, I deferred judgment on your relationship because I needed time to think it through. I'm on the fence. I neither approve nor disapprove. I'm not happy with the situation but neither am I angry. Maturing from a child to a young man to a man requires that you to make a lot of decisions, some good, some bad. But you learn from them. As a parent, I hate to see my son get hurt by bad decisions. But I also realize that you must be given increasing freedom to decide and to live with and learn from those decisions. While I don't approve of this decision, I wish you well."
"Thank you, dad. I love you."
Mrs. Bailey said, "TJ, I'm afraid we've left you out of this conversation. Do you want to add anything?"
"Yes, ma'am. Neil told me that you were wonderful people and that I would like you. He was right. If anything, you're more wonderful than he said. You welcomed me into your home and showed me the very best hospitality. Your reaction to learning that we are gay has been amazing. I'm sure my parents will not be as reasonable and loving as you have been. I don't exaggerate to say that I risk being disowned when they find out. But that's a danger that I'm willing to face because I love your son. I love my family, yes, but my love for Neil is stronger. Finally, let me assure you that I will never hurt your son but will do whatever it takes to make him happy."
"My husband and I don't always agree but in this instance we do. I cannot approve of your relationship but I don't condemn it. I've sometimes wondered what kind of girl Neil would marry and whether I would like her. Now I have to adopt a new perspective. And I must confess that, given the fact that my son is gay, I admire his choice of a partner."
"Thank you, ma'am. I'll do my best not to change your opinion of me."
"If only we could change Jeff's opinion," Neil mused sadly.
"Jeff will settle down," Mr. Bailey said. "His outburst tonight was largely due to the surprise. I don't think he'll ever fully accept the reality of the situation but we can hope for a degree of tolerance. He's a good boy but he still has some growing up to do. In the meantime, I hope you will be patient with him."
For the remainder of the teens' two week visit to Oklahoma, Jeff didn't speak to either of them and rarely acknowledged their presence. Except for meals, he would leave the room if they entered. Neil made several attempts to engage him in conversation, always on a topic unrelated to homosexuality, but all questions were consistently ignored as though they hadn't even been asked.
Neil was despondent as he grieved over the loss of friendship with a little brother with whom he had shared so many good times. His parents tried to console him by saying Jeff only needed time to absorb the news and his attitude would soften. However, those assurances were not credible.
On the last night of their visit, Neil and TJ cuddled together in bed. Neither spoke but they both felt a special sense of love and of union.
TJ whispered, "I'm sorry Jeff feels the way he does. And it hurts me to see you suffering. I wish it had turned out differently but we knew he would disapprove."
"Disapproval I could accept but the ferocity of his outburst and being treated like I don't even exist is more than I expected. We were always so close. He was my best friend ... until I met you, of course. For God's sake, he's my only brother and I've lost him!"
Tears formed in Neil's eyes as a perfect storm of emotions overtook him. Tears gave way to sobs. TJ also cried because his lover was in pain. They clung to each other like a drowning man would cling to a lifesaver.
Eventually the emotional storm subsided but they continued to embrace each other for several minutes, Neil drawing strength from his partner.
"You must think I'm a silly baby for crying," the still sad teen said meekly.
"Not at all, my love. It's probably a good thing that you let it out. I know you've bottled it up inside for days. This may sound weird but I'm glad I was with you when all that grief erupted."
Neil hugged his love mate more tightly and replied, "I may have lost a brother but I have you and that's what counts. Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for loving me and accepting my love."
On the last day of their visit, a Saturday, Neil and TJ loaded their suitcases in the car for the ride to the airport. Before leaving the house, Mrs. Bailey called up to Jeff who was ensconced in his room. "Jeff, honey. Come say goodbye to your brother."
"I don't have a brother!" he yelled back.
Mr. Bailey, with steely determination etched on his face, started for the stairs.
"Let it go, dad," Neil said as tears became evident in his eyes. "Don't get mad at him. He may feel he's lost a brother but don't lose him as a son. Can we go now?"
Unlike the drive from the airport, there was very little conversation during the return to the airport. The teens checked their luggage and got their boarding passes before rejoining Neil's parents by the Security Checkpoint. They all chatted for fifteen minutes before Neil suggested it was time to go to the boarding gate.
Mr. Bailey hugged his son and shook TJ's hand, saying, "I hope you enjoyed your visit to Oklahoma."
"Indeed! You've been wonderful hosts and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. And I apologize for upsetting you ... I mean the news about Neil and I."
"As I said, young man, I wish only the best for you."
Mrs. Bailey then tearfully hugged her son with the obligatory request to keep in touch. Then, she surprised everyone by hugging TJ and saying, "Welcome to the family, TJ. May God be with you."
TJ was stunned. Neil was extraordinarily pleased. Mr. Bailey, showing no identifiable reaction, said, "I hope you come back to see us again, TJ." It was not merely a polite comment; TJ knew that was his way of echoing his wife's comment.
He struggled to stem the flow of joyful tears. Still astonished at the hug and the `welcome to the family' comment, he barely managed to find his voice. "Thank you ... for everything!"
As the teens stood in the Security Checkpoint Line, TJ marveled at what happened. Did she really say `welcome to the family'? Did he want to hear it so badly that he imagined it? No. It was not a dream.
"I told you they would like you, TJ. There's no better proof of that than what my mom said."
"You have wonderful parents. How they reacted to the news astonishes me. If there's a gene for compassion and understanding, it explains why you are the way you are. You must have got a double dose."
"Maybe I got my brother's share," Neil joked but his lingering pain was apparent.
Having cleared security and as they walked toward the boarding gate, TJ could hardly contain his exuberance. "Isn't it simply fantastic?" he gushed. "Your parents may not approve but they accepted it! No tears ... no sermons ... no anger! I couldn't be happier!"
"Two out of three isn't bad," Neil replied glumly.
TJ suddenly felt guilty for his cheerfulness as he realized that his lover was still mourning the loss of his brother. "I apologize, Neil, for thinking only of myself. And I'm sorry that Jeff rejected you. We knew he wouldn't approve but the way he reacted was cruel."
"Yes, it was. But it's something we'll have to deal with, isn't it? I mean there are a lot of Jeffs in the world. We'll meet a lot of them."
"Like my father?"
"Perhaps. But let's not dwell on it now. Let's be grateful for my parents' reaction and for each other."
It was late when the plane landed at Dulles airport and the two very tired teens were surprised to see Isabel (the Ryerson's housekeeper) at the baggage claim to meet them. "Welcome home," she said.
"Isabel!" TJ exclaimed happily. "I'm delighted to see you but I thought my mother would be picking us up."
"She had to fly to Chicago this morning. Your sister had a miscarriage and is in the hospital. Your mother went out to take care of her and her two little girls for several days. Your father is attending a conference in New York. So here I am, welcoming my two favorite young men."
"Is Susan all right?"
"She'll be fine. Of course, she's upset but she'll go home tomorrow. Your mother was quite upset, too. It would have been her first grandson and she's worried about how Susan will cope."
On the 25-mile drive from the airport to the Ryerson estate near Arlington, Isabel inquired about the boys' vacation and the teens were eager to describe what they did and how much they enjoyed it, omitting, of course, the unplanned disclosure of their relationship. Mentioning that would have violated Isabel's insistence on not hearing or seeing any evidence of their intimate bond.
It was after ten when Isabel pulled into the carport at the side of the garage and said, "It's late, Neil. Why don't you spend the night here? You can drive back to campus in the daylight tomorrow."
TJ enthusiastically seconded the invitation and Neil readily agreed with thanks.
"Fine!" the woman grinned. "Sleep as late as you want. I'll fix breakfast for you when you get up."
Both teens recognized the covert message. She knew, but would never admit to knowing, what they would do with the private time together. She suspected that they may not have had a chance while visiting Neil's parents and was pleased to give them an opportunity to be together. She loved her TJ as though he were her own son. She wanted to see him happy and, given the fact that he was gay, could imagine no better partner than the bright, talented, and considerate young man he loved.
TJ expressed his appreciation obliquely, confident that his beloved Isabel would understand the meaning when he said to Neil, "We've already promoted Isabel from princess to goddess but she deserves another promotion. What's better than a goddess?"
Neil chuckled and said, "I don't know. We'll have to invent a title. How about Supreme Goddess?"
"Excellent! Supreme Goddess Isabel it will be!"
"You're talking nonsense!" the embarrassed woman objected as she got out of the car.
Once in the house, Isabel went to her suite above the garage after telling the teens, "Sleep tight."
TJ giggled, which confused Isabel who didn't recognize the unintended meaning of `tight' but Neil was able to control his amusement.
Safely in TJ's room and assured of an entire night's privacy, the two teens joined in an embrace punctuated by kisses, softly at first but soon escalating to deep probes of their dueling tongues into each others' mouths.
Reluctantly, Neil withdrew his tongue and said, "No offense, but you need a shower and I probably do as well."
TJ laughingly replied, "Are you telling me that I stink?"
"I'm just living up to our promise to be honest with each other, even when the truth hurts."
They stripped off their clothes and made their way down the hall toward the bathroom. TJ stopped half way there and giggled, "Look at us -- walking around through the house naked. I haven't done that since I was a little boy. I knew Dad would yell at me if he caught me. Besides, I was never sure that Isabel wouldn't be upstairs to see me."
"Well, you're safe now. There's nobody around to see you but me ... and I like what I see! Smooth, athletic body; handsome face; firm, round butt cheeks; and a meaty cock that sways when you walk."
TJ playfully wagged his cock at Neil and said, "I'll bet you'd like a taste of this, you horn toad!"
"Not now," Neil shot back. "I'll have to wash it first."
Wash it he did, as the warm shower rained down on two virile, young bodies. The result was both predictable and inevitable: TJ developed a very firm erection that pointed to the ceiling. Neil was on his knees giving exceptionally tender attention to the manly rod that twitched and throbbed with every touch. TJ hoped that his lover would lick it, swallow it, stroke it, make it spew the hot, creamy love juice that was accumulating in his low-hanging balls. Indeed, Neil wanted to do it but held back because he had a more fulfilling idea in mind.
Neil stood, leaving TJ slightly frustrated over the abrupt end to his pleasure. "Your turn," Neil said as he thrust his hips forward slightly in invitation.
TJ, dismissing his own pressing need, dropped to his knees and began, almost worshipfully, to wash his lover's flaccid although manly cock and balls. In short order, owing to TJ's expert manipulation, Neil's cock began to inflate, growing longer and thicker and, truth to tell, increasingly eager for the ultimate satisfaction. TJ sensed that. He wrapped his lips around the now firm shaft and prepared to deliver what both he and his love mate wanted.
He was both surprised and disappointed, however, when Neil lifted him to his feet and said, "If you don't mind, my love, I'd like to continue in your bedroom."
TJ then grinned in anticipation. Quickly, they dried themselves and returned to TJ's room, their cocks still erect and bouncing with each step. Once on the bed, Neil cooed, "Fuck me. Please. It's been two weeks since we've done that."
TJ couldn't refuse the plaintive request. Moreover, he welcomed the invitation. Retrieving the lubrication that he had hidden in the bottom of his bedside table, he prepared himself and his lover for the sexual union. Beginning slowly and lovingly, he found the slow, steady rhythm that he had learned his partner favored. Mustering all the disciplined control that he could, he was determined to prolong his lover's pleasure. It wasn't easy. He had to pause, motionless, several times to ease back from the brink of orgasm.
Neil recognized the effort and sacrifice his partner was making and eventually said, "Let yourself go, TJ. Give me your seed."
Gratefully, TJ intensified his efforts. It took only a few fast and deep thrusts before his climax suffused him with erotic delight. He collapsed onto his lover as his buried cock pulsed with several volleys of cum deep into Neil's gripping ass.
They hugged and kissed and reaffirmed their love until TJ's spent cock popped out of Neil's warm, comfortable ass.
TJ had to use his expert hands and mouth to return Neil's cock to readiness but was then rewarded with the same pleasure he had given his lover and a full measure of cream in his bowels.
They awoke the next morning and repeated the mating ritual, aware but not mentioning that it would be their last chance for several days. Neil had to return to campus for summer session classes on Monday.
To be continued.