After another one or two-word exchanges, Jerry thanked Sara and promised to have her and her partner—whose name Jerry could never seem to remember—out to the ranch soon for what was quickly becoming a biweekly dinner. Outside of his time spent with Jerry and William, those dinners with Sara and Lynn were some of David’s favorite evenings. Before he’d met Jerry, it seemed his social life was defined by expensive restaurants, gallery openings and other late-night activities that seemed to typify the men he’d thought he’d been attracted to. And then there had been the evening he’d spent with Jerry and William.
Watching Jerry’s expression as he hung up the phone, David couldn’t help but feel that his life was about to change again, much as it had after he’d met Jerry and William for the first time.
“Sara said she’ll have to do some checking, but she doesn’t see any reason we can’t take care of Cory until….” Jerry blew out a lungful of air and let himself slump down beside David. “If Cory’s dad is facing criminal charges, he could lose his parental rights, and Cory would become a ward of the court, then child services would become involved, and they’d try a kinship placement. If there was no kin, they’d have to put him in the foster care—”
“Or with us,” David stated matter-of-factly.
“Oh thank God,” Jerry said with a sigh of relief, gathering David into his arms. “I’ve been trying to decide what you would think of all this, and I was pretty sure you’d be okay with the idea of having another kid in the house, but then….” Jerry didn’t bother finishing his thought, opting instead to kiss David thoroughly.
“When will Sara know anything?” David pulled back from Jerry, the smile coming as the thought occurred to him. “Can you imagine what William will do if Cory ends up staying with us?”
“Speaking of our little boy—”
“Oh, shit,” David sputtered as he pushed himself off the love seat. “I put the buoy line up, but we should get in there.”
“Whuh?”
David laughed as he reached down for Jerry’s hand. “Our little boy is teaching Cory how to swim.”
“Right behind you.”
Chapter 14
DAVID watched as William led Cory from the car to the house; the little tour guide was so intent on explaining about Cory’s new room and movie night and his new computer and everything else William could think of that he forgot about his own luggage. David hoisted it over his empty shoulder, not noticing that Jerry had come to stand beside him.
“Well, Dad,” Jerry whispered in his ear, “at least he’s probably forgotten about getting a dog.”
“You’re terrible,” David said with a smile. “I just hope this doesn’t all go horribly wrong.”
“Wrong?” Jerry pulled William’s backpack off David’s shoulder and put his arm around the smaller man. “What could possibly go wrong?” As he led his husband back to their house, Jerry said with a smirk, “Nothing ever goes wrong here.”
“Knock on wood,” David sighed as he tapped Jerry’s temple. “What time is Sara supposed to call?”
“She said she’d call when she had something to tell us.”
“In the meantime, I’ll try to ignore that gnawing in the pit of my stomach.”
Jerry and David were almost bowled over by William. He was pulling Cory along behind, yelling that he was going to show Cory the barn and Jerry’s studio. David turned to see Jerry open his mouth to deliver his usual warning, and then laughed when William reassured his dad that nothing would be touched.
“Do you think Cory will mind if I go and get his laundry?” David asked.
“I’ll let him know when I head out there.”
David stopped on the stairs and turned to look at his husband.
“What?” Jerry asked as he found his progress halted by that look that David always gave him whenever David thought he was hovering. “I want to check on the horses and my studio.”
“Liar,” David laughed before continuing to their bedroom.
“I’m not lying.” Jerry insisted as he threw the bags on the bed and began to unpack. “We’ve been gone for two days and I want to make sure nothing is wrong.”
“And during those two days, Lenore and Harvey were out to check on the place. Remember?” David balled up the dirty laundry from his, Jerry’s, and William’s luggage and threw it in a pile near the hamper. “So either you think they didn’t check on everything or you think they did and didn’t do it right.”
“You know, Mr. Teacher-man, you don’t know everything.” Jerry organized the remaining clothing in piles on the bed and then turned to look at David. “There is also a third option.”
“A third option?” David repeated as he gathered unused socks and underwear and put them back in the drawer. “Well don’t keep me waiting.”
“Or… Lenore and Harvey were here and did a fantastic job and I’m going out to the barn because I don’t want to have to help with laundry.”
David closed the drawer to the mahogany bureau and turned, moving back to the bed to retrieve William’s clothes. “Well, of course,” he said with a solemn expression. “Yes, that does seem much more the likely option.” He passed Jerry, who was readying the suits for hanging in the closet, and leaned up to kiss him gently. “I’m surprised your eyes aren’t brown.” He watched Jerry’s brow furrow and quickly added as he walked toward the bedroom door, “Because you are so full of shit. I’m not sure you even know where the laundry room is.”
“David!” Jerry declared in mock horror. “Language!”
“Oh, by the way,” David said just before he reached the door, “the laundry could always still be here when you get back.”
“Mountain lion, you are the love of my life, the sweetest father to William, an incredible source of inspiration for my art, and the most incredible lover I’ve ever known.” Jerry walked toward him, his eyes full of mischief. “I love you more than you will ever know.” Jerry kissed him gently on the lips. “But you and I both know that you couldn’t let that laundry sit for more than five minutes before it drove you to distraction.”
“Oh really?”
“Uh huh,” Jerry said, and took the pile of clothes out of David’s arms. “Five minutes, I’ll bet you.”
“And if I win?”
“Then I’ll do laundry for a month.”
“You know, Jerrod McKenzie,” David said as he stroked his lover’s arms, his hands working to encircle the pile of clothes. “I’d take that bet, but either way I’d lose.” Taking back the laundry, David turned to the door, calling over his shoulder, “I don’t think William and Cory would appreciate pink clothes three sizes too small.” David watched Jerry head out. Alone in his thoughts, he didn’t hear Cory approach.
“Ah, David?” He was snapped out of feeling rarified by Cory’s voice. “I was wondering if there was anything you needed done, you know, so I don’t feel so guilty about taking so much from your family?”
David offered a sincere smile, the word family still not losing its charm. He looked around for a moment, his smile disappearing. “Where’s William?”
“Oh, he’s still in the barn. I told him I was going to come in and see if I could help with anything.” Cory seemed nervous for some reason, but David let it go.
“You could go up and get your laundry.” David nodded to his left. “If you don’t mind my doing it, I’ll be in here for the next little while sorting and getting the first load going.”
“Sure thing,” Cory said with a smile and then disappeared up the stairs.
David plopped the pile of laundry on the long, narrow table that served for folding and sorting and had barely begun before he heard Cory’s voice again. “If you ever need help, I know how to do washing and ironing, even dress shirts and pants.”
“It’s pretty state-of-the-art here,” David said as he turned to indicate the bright red washer and dryer. “I even have one of those clothes presses.” He opened a lower cupboard and pulled out the clothes press and placed it on the table. �
�Jerry bought it for me as a Christmas present. He has a very strange sense of humor.”
“That must make ironing a lot easier, yeah?”
“I haven’t used it that often. We’re kind of a jeans and T-shirt family.”
“Yeah,” Cory chuckled, “me too.”
“Well,” David corrected himself, “except for weekends like this one where we’re getting dressed up to do something fancy.”
“William showed me some of Jerry’s art.” Cory was rubbing his hands over his jeans and David couldn’t help notice how ragged and worn they were. “It’s really something.”
“Thank you.” Neither of them heard Jerry come back into the house. David noticed Cory jump as Jerry appeared behind, one large hand landing on Cory’s shoulder. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” Jerry took a step back, and Cory backed up toward the door, his demeanor changing almost immediately.
“I’m just going to, uh, go see if William is okay.” David’s heart broke a little when he saw Cory almost run for the front door and the look that the hasty exit left on Jerry’s face.
“Sorry, I know,” Jerry admitted suddenly, “I shouldn’t have touched him. I know.”
“Give it time, baby, he’ll see what a teddy bear you are.” David finished sorting the pile he had on the table and began loading the machine. “I think that boy needs some new clothes.”
“You want me to take him out tomorrow after school?” Jerry asked as he came up from behind and wrapped his arms around David.
“How about we all go?” David turned around and brought his hands to his husband’s face. “Dinner, shopping, maybe a movie?”
“On a school night?”
“Why not?” David kissed him gently. “Spring break isn’t that far off. Maybe we could even take them out of school on Friday and do something spontaneous and fun.”
“Spontaneous and fun, huh?” Jerry brought his hands so that they rested behind David’s thighs. “I like spontaneous and fun.” Within one swift movement, he hoisted David so that the smaller man was sitting on the washing machine, its noises muffled by the extra weight. “We could be spontaneous right now.”
“Do something we’ve never done before?” David shoved his hands under the waistband of Jerry’s jeans, his hands exploring the contours of his tight butt and put his lips to Jerry’s neck.
“Yeah, I could lock the door.”
“Yeah, and then,” David whispered against Jerry’s ear, “you could help me finish the laundry so I can start dinner.” David felt the hands on his back still, then slide slowly to his sides. “Jerry? Don’t! No tickling!” David pulled away to see the look on his husband’s face. “I’m serious!” David found himself stuck on top of the washing machine; he couldn’t get away, his own legs being trapped in between Jerry’s muscled thighs.
“That wasn’t very nice, you know.” Jerry backed up a few paces to let David dismount, his hands never leaving David’s torso.
“I’ll make it up to you. Promise.” David tried to back away, tried to get to the door, but Jerry was too quick and scooped him up into his arms. “Jerry, put me down.”
“How were you planning to make it up to me?” Jerry carried him out the door and into the kitchen, putting him down slowly as he listened to what David whispered in his ear. “Okay,” Jerry said finally when there was no more whispering, “you’re forgiven.” He smacked David on the ass. “Do you know how hard it’s going to be to wash the car in this state?” Jerry put his hands in his jeans pockets and rearranged himself.
“I’ll be out to help in a minute.” David rolled his eyes at the look that Jerry gave him. “With washing the car, you sex fiend!” He busied himself with gathering the necessary ingredients for their usual lasagna dinner, having it all down to a science by now. By the time he’d boiled the noodles and sauteed the beef and prepared the sauce, he heard the buzz of the first cycle of laundry.
He got the first dryer cycle going, had shredded enough cheese for the lasagna, and even had enough time to get the load of colors going in the washing machine before he heard William giggling outside. When he exited, he found his three boys soaking wet and the vehicles not much cleaner than they’d been before the washing had begun.
“Dinner is in the oven,” he said as he took a seat on the veranda. “Why don’t those cars look any cleaner?”
“He started it!” Jerry stood ramrod straight, pointing at his son, and David thought that he would lose it completely.
“Did not, you big fibber!” William’s indignation was clear, but he threw a sponge and nailed Jerry in the side of the head anyway.
“You’re the fibber!” Jerry picked up the sponge and threw it back at his son, William’s giggles filling the cool night air.
“How did you get all wet?” David stood and took a few steps closer to Cory.
“Collateral damage, I guess.” Cory picked at his wet T-shirt.
“He was trying to save me,” William shouted as he dodged the spray from the hose that Jerry was holding.
“You two tried to gang up on me,” Jerry yelled with a tone that almost had David believing he was the victim in all this.
“Well,” David said as he made his way over to Jerry, “I’m here now, so the big bad savages won’t hurt you anymore.” He’d almost gotten to Jerry’s side when he felt the first drops of biting cold water.
“See?” William shouted as he took cover behind Cory. “I told you so!”
“Jerrod Austin McKenzie!” David kept walking toward his husband, trying to keep his face serious, with that look that told Jerry he’d gone too far. “Are you trying to make more laundry for me?” David could see the uncertainty in Jerry’s eyes. “Do I have to do everything around here? The cars still need to be washed.”
“We were just playing. I’ll do it.”
“Right,” David said through a frown. “Give me the hose.” The laughter erupted from David almost as soon as he had the hose in his hand. “Reload the torpedo tubes. Fire sponges at will!” David backed up so that Jerry couldn’t get at the hose, ignoring the jibes from Jerry about playing dirty. David howled with laughter as both Cory and William proved too quick—and far too accurate—with the sponges for Jerry to escape them.
And as the giggles and laughter filled the air that glowed purple and orange with the setting sun, David forgot that it hadn’t always been like this.
DAVID and Jerry heard the giggles as they climbed the stairs. Jerry had told them to go to bed almost a half-hour ago, but David knew he’d probably make a few more trips upstairs before he actually succeeded in separating them. Jerry walked softly, trying not to alert them to his presence, and stood outside William’s bedroom door for a few seconds before pushing on it gently. David backed up a little, content to watch Jerry be the dad.
William and Cory sat side by side at the computer. They were both huddled there in front of the screen, doing their best to keep their voices down as William was translating an e-mail from Frau Zimmerman. Jerry watched as one photo after another of little children flashed across the screen, listening to William tell Cory about Frau Zimmerman and her grandchildren. He couldn’t see the photos very well, but Jerry assumed that the children must have been doing something goofy to have William and Cory as amused as they were.
He waited as long as he could and then knocked on the door, pretending that he’d just arrived. He couldn’t even open his mouth before William was holding onto Cory’s arm and looking up at him forlornly, as if they were victims of some cruel injustice that would see them separated forever.
“Please, Dad, just another five minutes. Please?”
“You asked that a half-hour ago.” Jerry stood, arms crossed over his chest, and smiled at their bright, shining faces. David had to suppress a smile as he watched William wrap Jerry around his little finger.
“I know, but now I mean it.”
“So, you didn’t mean it before?”
“Yes.” William frowned as if he wasn’t quite sure what the questi
on meant. “Well, no, but I mean it now. Please?”
“It’s okay, Jerry,” Cory said as he stood up, his hand patting William’s. “We’ll listen this time.” Cory turned to William. “We can finish them tomorrow, Billiam. We don’t want to make your dad mad.”
“He’s not mad,” William corrected and turned further in his seat. “He’s the best dad, ever.”
“Nice try, cowboy,” Jerry chuckled. “Okay,” he said finally after a deep sigh, “the next time I come back up, it’s lights out. Right?”
“Thanks, Dad!” William hopped off his chair and ran to wrap his arms around his father’s waist.
“Right,” Jerry huffed, “just make sure you remember that the next time I come in here.”
“We will,” William said reassuringly.
Jerry shook his head as he exited the bedroom to find David standing a few feet behind him. “What?”
“I didn’t say anything,” David protested as he walked toward the stairs. “But I would have to agree. You’re the best dad, ever.”
“I think I scared him again,” Jerry whispered as they made their way to the kitchen.
“Who? Cory?”
“You should have seen the look on his face when I was in there.” Jerry eased himself into one of the kitchen chairs. “Am I that scary?”
“Of course not,” David said with a consoling laugh. “But until we know what he’s been through, we won’t know why he’s so….”
“Shit scared?”
“No,” David said as he slapped at Jerry’s forearm. “Why he’s so hesitant around you.”
“I don’t get it.” Jerry scrubbed at his face with his hands as David moved back to the counter to finish fixing each of them a mug of tea. “He’s not that way around you.”
“Ah, yes, you see because I’m adorable.” David turned and beamed, pushing his fingers into his cheeks to make dimples.
“And sexy as hell,” Jerry muttered.
“Well, there is that too.” David walked back to the table, and Jerry pushed his chair out so that David could sit on his lap. David wrapped his arms around his husband and buried his face in the soft cotton of Jerry’s T-shirt, inhaling deeply the scent that made him feel both electrified and safe at the same time. “I tell you this, Mr. Jerrod Austin McKenzie, you are the most incredible man I have ever met. I love you, William loves you, and Cory will love you too.”
An Earlier Heaven Page 13