Soldier

by AKM Miles

  Dillon smiled at the thought and said, “I’m not sure. It’s my dream come true, you know that. Let me make some calls and talk with Daniel about it and see what he can find out about other cases like ours.”

  Maybe they could find a way. Hell, maybe it would be all right. They could be worrying for nothing, but they couldn’t take any chances.

  “I mean, I don’t know who’d come forth and cause a problem. Not the people at Daniel’s shelter. Not Daniel, for sure. He’s the one who places them with us. He’s the one who keeps tabs on them and he’s thrilled with their progress with us. Tommy already knows and, I gotta tell you, I nearly fell out yesterday when he told me he’d watch the boys so I could go be with you 'til you went to sleep. He said you needed me for a while so you could rest easy. He’s something else.” Dillon was a little misty-eyed as he talked about the boys he clearly loved so much.

  Soldier nodded and said, “Yep. They’re all amazing. Let’s get the house thing taken care of and see about this creep. See if they catch him. Make sure the kids are protected, especially Tommy, for the next few days. We’ve got a lot to think about, a lot to do.

  “I’d love to be able to sleep in your arms every night, right down the hall from the boys, everyone safe and secure. But for a while, you have another little sleep partner. I’m ashamed of being jealous of a troubled little boy.” Dillon obviously wanted to crawl up on Soldier’s lap and take some of what they both needed.

  Soldier laughed and touched Dillon’s hand. He moved his finger along the back of it where it lay on Dillon’s thigh, traced down and between each finger, then pushed against it so Dillon would turn it over. Soldier slid his finger across Dillon’s palm and up to the inside of his wrist. Soldier grinned as he noted Dillon’s rapid heartbeat and increased breathing.

  He was being unfair to both of them. This was going nowhere, but it felt good to caress his lover, if only on his hand. Dillon closed his hand around Soldier’s and slid their palms together, twining their fingers. Soldier squeezed and they smiled at each other. Soldier knew they both badly wanted to do so much more.

  “Let’s get this day started. Shall we take them to McDonald’s for breakfast? They’ll like that. Then we‘ll make some calls from there while they play on the stuff.” Soldier rattled off ideas for things they needed to take care of this morning. “We can set up a few places to look at. You check with Daniel about us being together. I’d love to start out the way we want to continue, you know. Not just spring it on them later. Be honest with them from the beginning. This will be a new beginning for all of us. I think they can handle it. You ready for this?”

  “I’ve got you. I’m ready for anything.”

  Soldier’s heart turned over at the simple statement. “Ah, now that’s ‘I need a kiss’ kind of talk, so watch it.” Soldier threatened. “Let’s get ‘em up and moving.”

  They moved the couch back and each went to their rooms and got the kids up and ready with promises of breakfast and a play area. They asked for a couple of notepads and pens from the front desk and borrowed a phone book to take with them.

  Breakfast was very productive. Soldier called Daniel’s realtor friend and they had three houses to look at, two that were close. He made an appointment with the woman and checked in with Officer Jansen.

  Jansen was back to work today but said the dogs were fine. Soldier told him they were looking at houses and would get back to him. He was told to take his time and do what he had to do for the kids. The man had done a complete turnaround. He asked if there was any news on the arsonist and was told there was none.

  Soldier could hear Dillon talking with Daniel and he nodded a few times and smiled a little. Soldier hoped it was good news. Soldier was serious about coming clean with the boys and not hiding any more.

  Like he’d said, they would not do anything in front of them, but to be able to get up together, sleep in the same bed, just touch each other occasionally would be wonderful. Soldier doubted that, with what the boys had been through already in their young lives, living with a gay couple would traumatize them. They were a pretty savvy bunch.

  Dillon told him that Daniel had checked around and there were other homes sort of like theirs that were being run by gay couples. It wasn’t unheard of, by any means. They didn’t have to jump through any hoops to get set up, just needed to take care of the kids and bring them up well. Not a problem. It felt like a huge load had been lifted. If they could be together, they could handle anything.

  They gathered the boys and headed out to meet the realtor at the first house. Not a possibility. On to the next one. Nope. When they pulled up at the last house, the kids were all bug-eyed. It was very large and had a fenced-in yard that would make it perfect for kids and dogs. They all went in and the kids scattered. He told them all to be careful and not mess up anything, but he knew it wasn’t necessary. Their boys weren’t rambunctious. Yet. They would get there as they got more comfortable. Let ‘em.

  The realtor explained that the owners of this house had moved suddenly and were really wanting to sell it, but had agreed to put it up for either rent or for sale in order to move it quickly.

  Soldier checked it out and liked what he saw. It was only a few blocks from where they were building and it was certainly big enough. He decided to furnish it and buy it, instead of renting it. They’d be there for months and then he could either sell it or rent it, maybe even offer it to Daniel for another place like theirs. He’d see. He went to tell Dillon and see what he thought. Dillon’s eyes matched the boy’s earlier.

  “You can do that? Just buy it, fill it up, then maybe give it away? I don’t think I grasp the scope of your wealth quite yet.”

  “Uh. That’s something else I want to talk to you about. You need to learn to think of it as our wealth. I’m putting your name on everything. I told you I was serious about us. I’m not alone any more. We’ll own it all and spend it however we want. We have enough that we can put all these kids through any college they want and take care of any others that come along and never want for anything ever again.”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “Dillon, do you doubt me?” Soldier was really thrown. He’d thought that Dillon was as committed as he was.

  “Soldier, I will follow you to the ends of the earth. I’ll participate in any venture you come up with.” There was complete conviction in Dillon's words. “I love you more than life itself. I want us to be together forever. I don’t doubt you. I just never expected to be... wealthy.”

  “Well, you are, Dillon. I love you, too. You are now just as wealthy as I am.” They looked up when they heard a noise and Soldier nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw all the boys lined up along the rail overhead. They had obviously heard every word. So, too, had the lady realtor who was standing on the stairs. Dillon and Soldier looked at each other, neither knowing how to start the next conversation.

  Soldier took it. “Ma’am, could we have a few minutes with the boys alone? We’ll be right out. I’m going to want to purchase this house outright, if that’s possible. I’d like for you to help us find someone to help furnish it for us. Can you do that? Or are you bothered by what you heard?” He’d start right now, finding out now how people handled their situation.

  “Not in the least. I’ll work with you on buying the house and I know just who you need to furnish it with these boys in mind. Take your time. I’ll be in my car, working on some papers.” She smiled at the two men, who sighed in relief.

  Soldier looked up at the boys. They were all watching him quietly. He motioned them all down and they filed down the stairs, looking at Dillon and Soldier, back and forth.

  “Let’s all sit in a circle on the floor of our new house and have a talk.” They all sat down and Soldier thought about sitting across from Dillon and having the kids spread out between them, but then he changed his mind and sat down right by Dillon. “Okay, I know you heard us talking, so who wants to go first? I’m sure you have questions for us. I promise
you we’ll answer you honestly.”

  “You guys know I’m okay with it,” Tommy said.

  “Does this mean we can’t all stay together anymore?” Randy asked, showing that he was not really sure what was going on.

  “Not at all. Here’s the deal. I know some of you are young and may not understand, but I believe in being honest. Dillon and I like each other... a lot. No.” Might as well go the whole way. “We love each other. We want to live together. I want to be with you all the time, all of you.” This is where might get a little hard for some of them to understand. He hoped he could explain well enough.

  “Some people don’t like for two men to live together, to love each other. Some people think it’s wrong and they’ll say bad things and maybe even hate us. But some people, like the lady outside, don’t think anything about it. How do you all feel about it?”

  “What’s it mean? Why do people think it’s wrong?” Gom asked.

  “A lot of people think only a man and woman who are married to each other should live together. That’s okay for them to believe that. But sometimes, people can’t help who they love.” His eyes cut to Dillon and he couldn’t hide the smile on his lips or the love in his eyes.

  “Dillon and I want to live together in the house with you all. We don’t want anyone to leave. We want to raise you all together just like we are now.”

  “So what’s the big deal? If nothin’s different, then why we sittin’ here?”

  Leave it to Jack.

  “Because if we’re to be honest and live like a gay couple, which we really are, then we would sleep in the same bed, live in the same room.” Soldier wanted that firmly established. That was a necessity as far as he was concerned. “The rest would all be the same as usual. We’d cook breakfast for you all, take you places, do things with you, help you when you’re scared, do all the things we do now. We’d just be happier doing it because we’d be together. Right, Dillon?”

  “Most definitely. Nothing would change for you all. We both love you all just like always. We just want to be able to be considered a couple.” Dillon looked uncomfortable, like he hoped he'd gotten that out right.

  “You gonna be kissin’ and smoochin’ and all that stuff like I seen my mam do with her fellas?” This came from Jack.

  “We’ll try not to do that in front of you all. We’ll certainly be kissing each other, but it’s a private thing.” Hopefully it will remain so. “I can’t swear one of you might not come in and catch us sometime, but we will not do anything else in front of you, I guarantee you that.”

  “So, then, who cares? You still like us, right?” Jack again.

  “Dillon and I both love you all. You boys have come to mean so much to me in the little time I’ve known you. It’ll only grow through the years. There’ll be people who call us names and may say things to you and, if that happens, you let us know. Remember how the policeman that has our dogs first thought we were doing bad things to you all?” When they all nodded, Soldier went on, “There’ll be people who think we would do things like that. They don’t understand that being gay means you like other men, not little boys... like that. We would never do anything wrong to any of you.” He looked at Tommy and smiled, glad they were on the same page.

  “We’ll protect you with our lives, I swear it. It’s okay for us to help you get dressed, or the little ones to shower, or whatever. It’s just like having two dads instead of a dad and a mom. You’re safe with us in all ways.” Soldier had to have their understanding on this. He wanted no worries from his boys about their safety. “Do any of you doubt that? If so, let me know now and we’ll deal with your fears. Any problems? Questions?” Soldier held his breath. He knew the little ones weren’t able to understand it all, but he figured the others were pretty knowledgeable about the ways of the world.

  There was silence for a long while then Gom looked at Soldier and asked in that little voice of his, “Do you mean I can’t sleep with you anymore... you know, when I can’t sleep for a long time?”

  “No, baby, it does not. Come here.” Soldier gathered Gom into his lap and hugged him. “I will always be there for you. Listen up, now. Here’s how I see it going. This does not mean that Dillon and I will go in our room and lock the door and not be available to you all. We will go in and close the door. If you need one of us you knock... you always, always knock good and loud, and we’ll tell you when you can come in.” He was mentally crossing his fingers, hoping this would work and no one would forget and be traumatized for life.

  “We will never ignore you or not answer you. It doesn’t mean we want to be away from you all, it just means we want to be alone together some, too.” Soldier looked down at his buddy in his lap and said, “Gom, we’ll shop for another chair and, when you need me, we’ll sack out in it just like before. Dillon will probably be glad to get away from my snoring.”

  “You don’t snore, Soldier,” Gom protested.

  Soldier laughed and kissed the top of Gom’s head. “So, do any of you have a problem with us being together as a couple?” He waited and looked around. They all shook their heads. “Will you promise to come to one of us with any problem or question you have about anything at all?”

  “Yes, sir. We -- at least I -- don’t care if you’re gay. We’re glad you make Dillon happy and that he makes you happy, too. We want to stay together with the two of you, right guys?” Thank the Lord for Tommy.

  “Yeah. I don’t care. Long as you don’t make us leave... and you don’t leave us either.” That was Jack again.

  “Wow. You guys are great. I’ve been so afraid you would not like it and that it would be a problem for you.” Soldier smiled as he breathed a sigh of relief that things had gone so well.

  “You all make me so happy to be part of this... can we say we’re a family? Would you like that? The name of our house is going to be Scarcity Sanctuary. It will be where boys like you come to be helped just like you all have.” He thought a second and went on to relieve their minds that nothing was changing in the immediate future. “We won’t take in a lot of new kids right off. It’ll just be us for a while. You all will be part of the building and planning of the whole thing. What a project, huh? You’ll still call us Dill and Soldier, but I already consider you all my kids.” He really did think of himself as a father to these boys. It was amazing how that much emotion could grow in so short a time. “I know Dillon does, too. I’m just glad he has agreed to share you all with me.”

  Dillon had been silent through all of this and Soldier suddenly felt bad that he’d monopolized the whole thing. He turned to Dillon and said, “I’m sorry. I’ve taken over again. I didn’t mean to leave you out of it. I just spoke for both of us like I had a right to.”

  “You do. You said everything right. I wouldn’t change a thing. Are you all as happy as I am that Soldier came along?”

  A chorus of “yeah” followed, and all the boys headed for Dillon and Soldier and toppled them over, crawling on them and hugging and laughing. It was wonderful fun and so welcome. Whew. Another hurdle conquered. On to the next one. Bring ‘em on. Soldier felt like he could tackle any problem now.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Soldier was so excited that he was shaking. He and Dillon were going to spend hours together, alone. Daniel and some other staff members from the shelter were taking the boys to the park, and then to supper and a movie at the shelter. Daniel would bring them back to the house when the movie was over.

  The boys were excited. They liked Daniel and, since they had been in the house for over two weeks, they were comfortable knowing they would return to safety.

  Soldier was on his way to their new home now from the construction site. He spent some time there each day. The crew was still clearing the mess and leveling the area. They had all spent days working on the plans, including the boys in some things, and all were happy with the final plans. Even Daniel had been part of the planning, putting his seal of approval on the way they had set things up.

  Soldier
finally made it into the driveway in his new truck. He’d needed something besides the Hummer so they would both have something and the Hummer held them all easily. The new truck was handy for working.

  Soldier walked in and stood a moment looking at Dillon. “Is it true? We’re alone for hours? All alone? How did you manage that?”

  “Daniel came up with the idea, bless his heart. He and the others are going to keep the boys 'til later tonight. They’ll be very diligent and watch out for Tommy’s people and make sure he’s safe. So, sexy man, what do you want to do... first?” Dillon’s voice held sweet seduction.