by H. D. Nels
The return trip took less time than the trip to the airport. Once at the house they got in and showed the Deckers to the guest room. Mary made a pot of coffee and when Jackie came down, John and Martin went out to the backyard.
“So, Jackie, welcome to our home. Tell me about my son-in-law. I know he’s handsome and intelligent. What was he like as a child?”
Jackie, being a typical mother, bragged about her baby’s accomplishments. His first words, first steps. How bright and beautiful he was. Then she paused.
“How old was he when you threw him out like yesterday’s trash?” Mary spoke so matter-of-factly.
She looked Jackie in the eye. “Mine was fifteen when we figured he was not worthy of our love.”
“Same. He told us he was gay, and it froze us inside. Martin let him pack his things, but we turned our backs on him and made him go.”
Mary put her hand on Jackie’s. “I hope our husbands are having this same conversation out back. Our sons are getting married and I’m so happy I could just die. Our decision to throw Michael away resulted in a chain of events that may have led to the death of his childhood friend and later boyfriend. The sad part of the story is Simon’s death. The good that came was the closure of a child pornography ring and my Michael meeting your Barry.”
By now Jackie was totally confused. Mary could see that so she tried to clarify.
“When we parents toss our kids away because they don’t meet our expectations, there are always predators lurking. Here, there was a man who would lure boys into modelling, and later force them into making porn or prostitution. Many ended up dead at a young age, like Michael’s Simon. The predator wanted Michael and Simon tried to protect him. It cost him his life, and he died in Michael’s arms. Barry always kept an eye on our boy to protect him, especially when they confronted the gang leader while helping the police shut the operation down. Your son is a hero as is mine. Oh, and you must meet Simon’s parents while you’re here.”
“You said our sons are getting married. Does that seem right to you?”
Mary laughed out loud. “I would have said it was bull crap before I saw what these boys went through and realized that love knows no gender boundaries. Yep, it is right.”
Jackie’s voice was almost a whisper. “Do you think Barry will want to see us while we’re here?”
“Baby, he sent you both cards five times a year. He misses you, and every time you didn’t reply, it took a chunk of his soul. You owe him that visit, and if you say anything hurtful to that wonderful man, you’ll answer to me. I do make the breakfast around here.” She nudged Jackie before bursting into laughter. “Relax honey. I wouldn’t poison you.”
Jackie stood and hugged Mary. They both had tears. “Our sons only wanted unconditional love, and we, as parents let them down. Now we have to make up for that mistake. Are you with me Jackie?”
“Let’s plan a wedding, Mary, after we water down the testosterone in the backyard.”
It turned out there was no watering-down needed. Both men had mirror conversations to what the women had inside.
Martin was almost giddy. “I can’t wait to see him. I hope he can forgive us the way your Michael did.” He frowned. “We will be in-laws. I don’t think I’m ready for a rainbow flag bumper sticker.”
“No need. Our boys don’t want us advertising them to the world. They want us to accept them. I, for one, am impressed with how much mine accomplished while he was out there on his own. And yours—he owns a gym that is the most successful in the area. Wait until he gets his feet. They own a home together. We got a pair of winners here Martin, and not just in the business sense.”
* * *
“Hey baby, you’re exhausted. Are things still going okay at the gym?”
Barry sighed and curled around Mike on the sofa. He ordered pizza, and they were waiting for delivery.
“Gym is doing great. I love it and I’ve been so lucky to get creative trainers to work there. We charge a basic membership and there is a graduated fee schedule for goal attainment of those members who choose to participate. So far it is one hundred percent. The trainers have to work hard, but the clients are seeing some serious results. They pay, they refer, and we get bigger.”
The pizza arrived while Michael poured club soda and they ate in the living room of their home. Michael was trying to find the right time and a way to bring up a delicate subject. Then he figured what the heck.
“So handsome, are you able to come to mom’s house tomorrow? No, let me rephrase that. Hey dude, you’re coming to mom’s house tomorrow. And you are the most handsome man on the planet. And we’ll be going first thing in the morning. And you have an amazing body, and that ass, wow. And you are so going to kick my butt.”
Barry frowned. “It’s short notice but I can get the office covered. I’m curious though, why the urgency?”
“Well, I could lie through my teeth but I’d rather be upfront with you. Mom will kick both our asses if you don’t come. Do I need to say more?”
Barry laughed. “Nope, your mother is incentive enough for me. Lead on oh brave one.”
Both men went in Barry’s car rather than on Mike bike. They pulled up to Mike’s parents’ house and as they walked up the path to the door, Mary came out. She was beaming a huge smile. Right behind her, Jackie stepped out the front door. Barry halted and his jaw dropped open.
“Mom?” Jackie bawled like a child. They moved toward each other when Mary intervened.
“No one is to apologize to anyone for anything yet. I need you both to agree before I move.”
Jackie nodded first and then Barry did. Mary stepped aside and Jackie threw herself into Barry’s arms. “Oh my baby, my baby.” She kept repeating it.
She stopped, stood upright in front of her boy, put her hands on his arms, and looked him up and down. “Mary was right. We missed out on great things. May we come to your wedding?”
“Mom, meet your new son-in-law. Michael is the best thing that has ever happened to me. And to everyone else who had ever met him. I know you don’t understand but I love him more than I do the air I breathe.”
She slapped his arm. “I don’t have to be gay to understand that depth of love. Michael’s mother showed me so much, mother to mother.”
Michael looked around. “I was in a daze when I moved out. It really is strange how everything came together. You’ll have to meet the people who gave me my second chance at life. Mr. and Mrs. Hall will come over later. And my late boyfriend, Simon Brule; his mom and dad are coming. It is sad but maybe telling that his parents were the most accepting and lost the most.”
Epilogue
The wedding was almost anticlimactic. It was a formal affair held outdoors on a late summer day. Sharon Hall had baby Michael in her arms, bouncing him gently as the ceremony progressed. Garrett had his arm around her waist. They both felt as proud as parents would be to see their child at this moment in his life, taking his wedding vows. Both knew he wasn’t theirs, but they were proud of seeing Michael up there, promising his life, love, and loyalty to Barry.
Both sets of parents were in tears with joy, seeing their sons forming a bond that will last for eternity. Despite the early beginnings they, all four, knew these boys were in it for the long haul. Mary had brought Jackie around with such zeal she knew who would head the Pride parade in her hometown.
After the reception, the newlyweds left for their honeymoon. They were going to a cottage close to town. When they were lying in each other’s arms later, Barry put his idea into words.
“We’re now officially husbands. The next step is for us to be fathers. How do you feel about the idea? I love kids and know deep down that you would be an amazing father.”
Michael thought for a few minutes. “You might be on to something, but do we adopt? There are other options. Surrogate parenting—I read about that. I’m almost finished university and can work a lot from home once I graduate. Child care isn’t an issue, just the logistics of getting one.”
>
“Let’s put our name in for adoption and look for a surrogate, see which happens first? I’m good with either option.”
Fate had a funny way of making things happen. It turned out that there was an infant girl available for adoption and things just fell into place so they could place her. This was just after they found a surrogate mother who loved having the experience of pregnancy but not wanting the ordeal of motherhood. Those were her words when she signed the contract with the potential fathers. Both guys provided sperm so nobody knew who the biological father was. Within the space of a year, they had a ten-month-old daughter they named Sharon and her two-month-old brother, Garrett.
Both sets of grandparents were as crazy in love with them as their fathers. The men kept in close contact with their godson Michael. The Halls had been very supportive of everything and it was difficult for Michael to put that relationship into a category. They provided a lot of support that would come from most parents and were like friends, mentors, confidants, and protectors. Sharon and Garrett Hall were amazing. Michael swore his children would know them and he would emulate their passion for others.
Michael graduated from University and got hired on by a prominent engineering company famous worldwide for innovative structure designs.
Using his talent, he found an ideal way to honour his own substitute parents. It happened when the city had put out tenders for a pedestrian bridge over a river to replace one destroyed in a recent flood.
Michael had an idea in mind, along with the inspiration to dedicate it to the Halls. He got the specs from the prospectus and set to work on the design. It would reflect their vision for the future, their dedication to youth, and their solid connection to each other. They would call it the Sharon and Garrett Hall Unity Bridge and it would be an architectural masterpiece.
My name is Michael Hall. My parents conceived me, delivered me, named me and are wonderful. Today is my fifteenth birthday and to celebrate my godparents Michael and Barry are coming by later with their kids Garrett and Sharon. They are my best friends and their grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Ward will come too. The surprise for mom and dad to celebrate my birthday is so amazing. Mike designed a pedestrian bridge for the city and today it is opening and being dedicated to Garrett and Sharon Hall. Mike is an engineer, just like my dad and he’s good at it. He doesn’t mind telling me that, anyway. I also plan on introducing my boyfriend Ryan. I bet they’ll all be surprised.
Michael re-read his Instagram Post before he pressed ‘Send’.
The End
Other H.D. Nels stories include:
Aloha Party: Jacob Richardson moved out west after his parents and older brother rejected him for being gay. He remained close to his big sister, Lynn, but kept his sexuality from her for fear of more rejection. Lynn planned an Aloha party as an early Christmas get-together inviting Jake and her brother-in-law Mitchell. Her real motive is to have a Jake and Mitch get together before she succumbed to the disease ravaging her body. The guys did not disappoint!
Diving in Head First. Keith has just landed his dream job as a commercial scuba diver for Discovery Divers, but life tosses him a curve ball when his parents kick him out after they discover he’s gay. In one short morning, he finds himself homeless and alone. Luckily, a new colleague named Gerard steps in and offers to house Keith temporarily on his boat.
Gerard inherited the Lady Bertha from his dad and leases it to Discovery Divers, with himself at the helm. He’s financially independent and satisfied with his life. Now if he can only figure out his sexuality. When the handsome Keith needs urgent help, he is only too keen to assist.
When Gerard finds out what happened to Keith, he goes out of his way to help his new friend. In return, Keith goes the extra mile to help Gerard clarify the pesky question of his sexuality.
Destination Elk Pond. A story based in the 1980s. No sooner does flight service specialist Sam Hare take up his post in Elk Pond than he’s warned to watch out for handsome pilot brothers Brett and Randy Edmond. As he settles into his new job and gets to know Brett better, his meddlesome landlady is taking bets on which brother he’ll fall for. When Sam finds out about the wager, he’s furious and humiliated and decides to resign. But a serious accident sends him and the brothers on a rescue mission, drawing them closer together.
Then Sam’s best friend Mike comes to visit and falls in love with Randy. In the meantime, Brett’s relationship with Sam deepens. Suddenly it isn’t so easy for Sam to leave town. With clear skies ahead, will Sam stay grounded in Elk Pond or will he take flight?
If the Spirit is Willing. When Martin Provost comes out to his family, his parents accept him but, surprisingly, his twin sister does not. On his way home, Martin’s car is hit by a truck that crosses into his lane. He survives the accident, but barely - he is unresponsive.
Anthony Carsen is a widower trying to deal with his partner’s suicide. He lives near the scene of Martin’s accident and rushes to help, though he thinks he might be too late. Though Martin’s body is in a coma, his spirit is drawn to Anthony, and soon the two fall in love. But Martin’s isn’t the only presence in Anthony’s home, and soon other spirits make their presences known.
Martin isn’t dead, but his life is fading fast. Can Anthony convince his spirit to return to his body? Will Anthony’s late partner leave him and Martin in peace to pursue their love? If the spirit is willing.
Finding Thomas’s Soulmate. Thomas McDougal has a family who is determined to find him a partner. Early efforts resulted in Warren Banfield coming into contact with the family. A friendship developed and evolved quickly. They shared camping and a sudden snow squall, survived another family scheme, but it was their hidden love for each other that drove them apart. A scheme by Thomas's mother that involves a stripper and a surprise birthday party, topped by a hiker hoping for a quickie before his partner came to join him for the weekend, makes Thomas realize that he is miserable without Warren. It takes a monumental effort by Thomas's brother and his boss, Valerie, to try to make something obvious for most everyone evident to a pair of stubborn, love-sick men. Their journey includes star gazing, breakfast sharing, and sticky sleeping bag antics but, eventually, with the help of the mayor of the city, can two stubborn men become aware that they are madly in love with each other?
Help Line. Ian thought he had a boyfriend, Rene, but the guy left him for another man and trouble with the law. He agrees to community service. His friend and assistant Janet takes him to a gay bar after the court appearance. A handsome bartender, Brody, suggests a crisis line, which Ian embraces. Things get serious between Ian and Brody. Eventually, a conflict with another volunteer followed by an intense Help Line call leaves Ian conflicted. Helping a friend who falls leads to a visit to emergency and results in both Brody and Ian meeting Colby. The three become friends, which evolves into something more. Ian has to deal with his jealousy over how Brody and Colby interact. An argument helps clarify feelings between the three, but Ian has to decide if he can love two men, and worries about their families' reactions.
A Real Family. Successful lawyer Russell Bennett struggles with three issues — he’s alone, having lost his immediate family to cancer; he’s also susceptible to the disease; and he’s infatuated with his doctor, who represents everything he could ever dream of in a partner.
Dr. Peter Wilson has realised his dream of providing a safe and caring medical space for the LGBTQ population. But he’s conflicted between his personal interest in Russell Bennett and the need for professional conduct. But when Russell’s test results come back, the results are sobering. The two decide to confront Russell’s cancer treatments together. But it isn’t happy ever after yet. A well-meaning friend arranges a reunion between Russell and his estranged father. Soon after, they meet two young orphans who’ve had their own tragedies.
With the adoption process ongoing, they all have to adapt to their new family dynamics. Then they adopt another child whose paternal grandparents take legal action to gain custody. Can Russell
and Peter weather the storms as they struggle to build a real family?
Elements and Elephants. Jack Bisson is a welder from Calgary, sharing a business with his brother and disapproving, emotionally distant father. Rather than celebrating his birthday with his family, Jack prefers to avoid his father and spend the evening out on his own. Jack’s meets Willem in a gay bar, a meeting that will change his life significantly. Willem de Vries is a South African on a temporary work permit in Canada. Although smitten with Jack, Will’s insecurities lead him to abandon Jack when he suddenly returns to South Africa.
Jack follows Will, determined to learn what went wrong. When they meet again, they resume their relationship, rebuilding their trust in a remote corner of the South African wilderness. Then disaster strikes. Seriously injured Will has to fight for his life. Will he survive, and will Jack be able to endure the prospect of losing Willem once again?
Life Through a Bottle. Bryce lost his wife and along with her his will to carry on. While reminiscing through a bottle of wine he recounts their joys and sorrows. Shutting out family and friends, going from job to job, Bryce is barely existing. A forced family reunion along with a welcome surprise brings him a spark of hope.
Other stories coming for re-release include:
Matt and Joe and Mistletoe. Matthew Podiluk is working undercover to stop a gang that has been preying upon victims of accidents. He prefers older men who are young at heart and is working on a case as an Emergency Medical Responder.
Silver fox, Joseph Hanson, is a fifty-something gay man mourning the loss of his wife of some thirty years in a robbery gone wrong. As he leaves a regular pub, a car hits him and he is seriously injured. Matthew is the first responder.