EDGEWATER DR by Mike Austin
nasstop@yahoo.com
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XXIX.
Jeremy dropped me off at the office after our meeting lunch at Olive Garden (OG) and my first instinct was to call Jack, but held off. Ben came in with a tenant letter for review and provided a well-timed change of focus from the scene at the OG. They wanted to review their recent quarterly expense escalation billing and I advised Ben to call their accounting manager for any specific issues or to learn of their general concerns; our books were open for their review and they'd made the inquiry within the terms and provisions of their lease. Ben was still new at the business management end of our firm, so welcomed teaching him the appropriate response to a tenant request and re-enforcement that we have nothing to hide as was evident in the recent audit. Dad's mantra again being, "honesty is the best policy". Ben took to his office with his assignment and I was lost in the image of Jack's shock and surprise when he looked up to see me and Jeremy coming into the dining room. I'd not quite finishing that flash image when my cell rang, it was Peter's number and I thought about not answering but decided avoidance was not in my best interest nor that of the family or firm. Again, dad's mantra came into focus as I answered, "hello Peter good afternoon".
Peter began by advising me that Mary and Brandon were also on the call and I asked for a moment; muted him and summoned Ben to join me NOW. When he did, I announced that Ben had joined me on the call as well. They did not acknowledge their youngest son. As I had not covered my business transaction with Ben, he was uninformed and given this call, it was best that he had not been. He would have a blank slate from which to form his own opinion of my transaction with Joyce. Peter continued, that they were shocked by my deceit and underhandedness and taking advantage of Joyce at her darkest hour. I raged inside, but let him continue. He rambled on about my always having been the fair haired son, the chosen one, the golden boy and that he had been supportive of me when the folks summoned me back from Europe and interrupted my playtime. In fact I knew that just the opposite was true and that mom had told me she wanted me to enrich my experiences and exposure to art and culture before deciding where to settle down and pursue a life career, but I let him rant. I surmised this was Peter's usual expression of portraying the underdog, when in a tight situation and figured his tight situation at this juncture, was a failing business or at least a serious cash flow problem. Mary started to interject something and he shut her down. He resumed, advising me that there was no way he was able to meet the loan pay-offs as per my demand letter and that I was free to seek any legal remedy, but he had filed for bankruptcy as of my last phone call and that the loans were listed on his debts with the court and would likely be discharged along with his bankruptcy; and the family firm would suffer the loss and it was all my fault. As he rambled on, I made "mouth mouth mouth" hand gestures to Ben, who looked on in shock. Peter advised me that the firm would be receiving notices from his attorney and the court of the debt listing and there was no target date for a resolution, but that he wanted me to know in person of what I had brought on and the irreparable damage to the family, and that I should cease any further collection efforts. With that an email pinged from him with an attachment, the attorney's letter of the debt listing confirmed Peter's claim and declaration. Mary again tried to interject and again, Peter stopped her. He closed with notice that they would have no further contact with me, that the distribution of his portion of the firm's income would be governed by the court going forward and that his son could go to fucking hell along with me and that disinheritance procedures were being engaged regarding his QUEER (with emphasis) son. When I looked at Ben, tears welled in his eyes. That all said, Peter disconnected the call. Ben's mouth dropped open. I walked to my nephew and gave him a long embrace. He would now always be on his own and I knew he questioned so many issues at this point, then looked at me and asked "now what"? I suggested he engage David (our neighbor) as his representative in any disinheritance or related legal matters, as I didn't want to commingle the firm's attorney with Ben's personal issues. He agreed and would cover this with David and asked if I would mind attending those meetings with David as well? I accepted the invitation, then urged Ben to go make the call to the tenant accounting manager as discussed earlier. The afternoon had certainly made a dramatic, though not entirely unexpected, turn I reflected. Mt next call was to Joyce to bring her up to date and she broke into tears. I assured her that things were fine and that there was nothing she could have done to prevent Peter's situation from having happened, that it was his own undoing by his and Mary's lavish spending habits that brought him to his present situation. She calmed down as we spoke further and I urged her to consider coming back for a visit and that we had a lot to cover and express. She said her month was full but that she might be able to come down in late September or early October and I welcomed her anytime. We ended the call with me reminding her to not let him get under her skin or play on her sympathies for money. She asked how Ben took the announcement and I told her he was in shock and emotional during the call, but had regained some focus and was working on a tenant matter to occupy his mind at present. She urged me to give him her love. I smiled, assured her I would and hung up. I called the firm's attorney and recapped the call with Peter, his notices and sent the email letter from Peter's attorney to document and open a file. Now we would wait.
Again I wanted to phone Jack, but rethought the point to be discussed and with this added news, knew this was a one on one matter and not a phone conversation. I wrapped up a few other matters, asked Ben if he'd reached the tenant's accounting manager and learned he had and was already working up a list of their questions for my review. I indicated I was heading home early and that he should join me as soon as he finished up things there. I felt I could cover the OG matter with Jack before Ben got home. Before leaving, I reminded him to call David and headed for the elevator. The drive home was reflective and the many issues of childhood, family events, people, losses, challenges, marriages, loneliness and fast forward to the present brought so much into clarity. As I came down Edgewater, I found Jesus's truck parked in the driveway. I shuddered once then grew calm. I came in the kitchen door, poured a sweet tea, then sat at the bar. The rustle and muffled voices upstairs told all and in a minute Jack came down free-balling in his running shorts, pulling on his T. Jack began, when Jesus joined us, he too pulling on a T, and looking fearful and caught. I stopped Jack before he spoke, just raised my hand and advised we, motioning to Jack and me, had some things to cover, but that I had no issue with Jesus and this remained between the 3 of us. Jesus was clearly unnerved and haltingly said good-bye, then left. Jack resumed and wouldn't be delayed again. "Brad I never promised fidelity, I never asked it or expected it of you, ours is/was.............an open matter, we..." I stopped him again. "Jack, I'm fine, I just wish you'd have told me, hell even invited me to join, the shock at the OG was as much fumbling with the client and not revealing too much emotion or confusion to him". "Brad I never meant to hurt you and if I did, I'm sorry, I just have needs and need variety" Jack said from his point across the bar, then "if you want me to go, I will". Looking into those deep eyes, "no Jack just the opposite, I never want you to leave, I need you in my life, to stay in my life, to share my life; we have a lot to discuss before Ben gets home, but can we agree that you'll stay"? Appearing somewhat confounded, Jack walked beside me, gave me a deep hug; his body was firm against mine and for once, I felt far stronger than this man, secure in my regard of him but also accepting of our shared and external needs. "Jack there are many changes afoot within my family and the business and while my and our position is secure, things are in upheaval right now, not the least of which finds Ben being disinherited by his family and being further and permanently shunned for being gay. He needs support and I ask that you be there for him, to the extent possible, as will I"? Jack nodded yes and hugged me again, kissed my neck and we parted as Ben pulled under the carport. He came into the kitchen eyes reddened with tears, Jack reached out to him and hugged his housemate, and offered simply, "I don't know it all but am there for you Ben" then kissed my nephew softly. We had a group hug for a good while, in silence. Ben advised that he'd phoned David and recapped the nature of the call with his dad and you, and that you'd suggested I retain him for legal counsel. He was delighted to help and thanked you for the referral. I then recounted the long set of circumstances that led to my actions with Joyce, Peter and the business and then turned to Ben and reminded him that he always had a home and employment. I went on to advise them that Joyce would be coming back for a visit in October sometime and that I planned to come out to her, then. The guys sat open-mouthed at my business actions and plans with Joyce. I then continued to address the matter with Jack and Jesus at the Olive Garden, their tryst afterwards and perhaps several times before, my frankness about Gregorio in the past, with Juan and Rodrigo recently, with Leroy recently, my obvious desires for Bob and Joe and Jesus as well as in the past with Jerry. I had no ill will toward Jack or Ben about their pasts, present and made no presumption about the future or impediments about future encounters, but only asked for respect and honesty from both of them. Turning to Ben, I advised him that Jack and I had agreed to buy your round trip tickets to San Diego and book a hotel for your visit, once Bob transferred to NAS San Diego and would do the same when and if Joe transferred wherever. I went on to assure both guys that the business was sound and well suited for the future. I reminded them of dad's motto and asked them to promise the same to me. They did. Once done, I asked about supper, told Jack that he had to cough up the details about Jesus and anyone else; Ben and I both agreed to share our exploits and we settled on breakfast for supper. After we cleaned up, I suggested big screen porn in the bedroom and both agreed.
The next morning, Jack wanted to be affectionate, but I needed to get to the shelter breakfast and to the office and ensure all was in order in the event the attorney wanted to review files. Fortunately, I had Peter's own recent audit to share, from an independent source that would go far with any litigation matters. The leases were all in order, the loan to Gregorio's parents was secured with their home and property and all the other business matters were in order and documented. I agreed that Ben had a steep learning curve to face and insisted he apply his business knowledge to get on board and fast, in the event he was called to offer a deposition or participate in any claims by his parents. I once again sought and received Ben's sanction of my actions and acceptance that he was now part of the firm and its consequences going forward. At some point in time, the firm would become his and perhaps Jack's and they had to learn how to fly high, but always be honest in their dealings with others. Before heading out, I reminded both guys that I wanted sex details of their encounters, smiled gave a thumbs up and headed out for the restful ride along Ocean Drive to the shelter.
I stepped into the open room and was greeted by Tom, my banker and soon by my attorney who assured me he had no question about my actions or the firm's position in this matter with Peter. That added a bit of reassurance and was a comfort. The rest of Tuesday went smoothly as in fact did the rest of the week, without further word from Peter or his counsel and certainly not the court. That night, Jack had chicken fajitas prepped and ready for us hungry men, as we arrived from our daily toils. We ate and Jack asked about the day's events, I shared their rather benign nature, Ben added his tidbits and then Jack began. "You see it stared back after that first site visit by Jesus" Jack claimed our immediate attention. He went on, "it was sort of odd the way he hung near me as we went over the concept drawings and urged me to tell him more and then wanted to closely review my alternate ideas". Jack looked at me, "I honestly didn't come on to him, Brad". I motioned with my fork to continue, "but before he left, he groped me and asked to blow me. I was stunned at first and he kept groping me and well you know what that does to me, so I let him in the suite, out of sight". Continuing, Jack said "it was tense but exciting and the next day when he came back for no obvious reason other than sex, I was concerned about not telling you and was ready to confront the issue, as I wanted to be honest, but got lost in the different feelings I was having, the uncertainty and then when he asked me to fuck him, I was all triggered up and ready to pound and well, just got lost in the moment". "But he looks so fuckin butch" Ben added? "Trust me, he likes gettin pounded doggy as much as EVERY BOTTOM I've fucked" Jack admitted and continued "and is very good takin it". Jack took my hand, "Brad you have to believe me, Jesus is a great guy, but he's NOT YOU and if you tell me to stop, I will". Shaking my head no, squeezing Jack's hand in reassurance I replied, "I'm all good, but would like to watch or participate" grinned and winked. "Me too" Ben added. "we'll see but you're sure we're good" as he pointed back and forth to us?
Ben's cell rang, it was Bob, with confirmation of his transfer orders for mid- September, they were delayed a couple of weeks, we learned. I urged Ben to assemble a party, with Joe and Bob here at the house and we'd invite some others, perhaps add David and Jackson as well. Maybe we could target Labor Day weekend which will give us a couple of weeks to get everything lined up and Joe can arrange time off for both of them and have everything on the up and up? "A MAJOR POOL PARTY" Jack added "AND LOTS OF OPEN SEX".
August dragged by in heat and humidity. Work for the new tenant spaces got underway and the smaller one was ready for move in by September 1. The large tenant at the new property would be another month, but their plans were on track. We finally got a court notice and confirmation about Peter's bankruptcy filing from their attorney. All that would follow a prescribed course and the firm was, as Peter noted likely to realize nothing from the courts, but Peter would take a hit on his earnings for the year I'd somehow ensure. Joyce was still planning on the last weekend of September for a visit. The plans for the Labor Day Pool Party/Going Away Party for Bob were all set and moving forward. I made my own arrangements, independent of Bob's party. The weekend before the Labor Day bash the three of us sat down and reviewed the party plans and our invitees and they included, but were not limited to: of course the three of us, Juan, Rodrigo, Miguel, Leroy, his cousin Little Joey, Gregorio, Jesus, David, Jackson, Joe and of course the party guy Bob. Fourteen horny guys plus one or two others. All had accepted their invitations. The open round trip air fare ticket had been received yesterday Jack advised and a standard room reservation was booked at the Sheraton San Diego with a view of Coronado Bridge and the bay both as a gift for Ben whenever he planned to visit Bob. All was set; housekeeping for Thursday and Friday event set up for the weekend party. We could coast the rest of the week.