Doing Hard Time

[mexamor]

LMFAO You have so much drama, I just love it, I love you babe thanks for the story.

 

[arogersb]

The new chapter’s here at last, cliffhanger and all. Sorry for the delay and happy reading!

~ Chapter 38 ~​

From the Narrative of Harrison Ridgeway IV:

The kiss was simply and breathtakingly amazing. The guy whose tongue was swirling inside my mouth at that very moment was probably one of the most gorgeous on earth. And he was kissing me with a passion – a deep and fierce passion for me that I never knew could exist inside this straight stud.

Which of course is when realization struck me. I suppose I should have grasped it sooner, but my consciousness was drowning in the mesmerizing lime-green pools that were his eyes. Reflected in their depths was a longing both real and raw, that was being sated for the first time. I was gloriously and giddily ecstatic, and this had blinded me to exactly what was happening here. I was being kissed by a straight guy whose girlfriend was in the next room.

With a superhuman effort, I managed to pry his lips from mine and stepped back from him.

“What the fuck was that?”

The blissful look on his face faded to one of confusion. I doubted he knew the answer to my question any more than I did. He opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it again.

“There you are, Harrison.” Liz’s voice startled both of us. I almost jumped out of my skin and automatically took another step away from Carter. Fortunately Liz didn’t seem to notice the tension in the small room.

“I forgot to tell you Carter was changing in here.” She giggled as she noticed her boyfriend was clad in only a towel. “Carter, you should know better than to tempt Harrison like that. You know he’s gay.”

Carter and I looked at each other. His green eyes focused on my blue ones. I could see the pleading look in them. He would explain himself, just not with Liz around.

I managed to muster a laugh. “Don’t worry, Liz, I just came in to get this file.” I held it up as proof. “Not to ogle your boyfriend.” I didn’t underscore the last word, but Carter flinched nonetheless. I gave a wide, false smile and practically ran out of the room. But not before I saw Liz hanging onto her boyfriend’s arm, oblivious to the fact that his wide, horrified eyes were following me out of the room.

Back out in the main room of the café, I felt like I was being suffocated by the enormity of what had just happened. The whole room seemed stuffy. I needed to breathe, clear my head, be able to think. The deck on the beachfront side of the café was ideal. It offered beautiful panoramas of the beach and the sea beyond that. On a normal day I would have enjoyed the view of the sea glinting in the bright midday sun. But today was not a normal day.

I shielded my eyes against the dazzling sun and ducked under the umbrella that shaded one of the several tables on the deck. There were no customers out on the deck; the few who were there were staying indoors, out of the sun. That was just fine with me. Their chatter would not disrupt my thoughts.

And what muddled thoughts they were. On one side there was elation at being kissed by the guy I’d lusted after since the first time I’d laid eyes on him. Then there was confusion. He was supposed to be straight. Then why the hell was he kissing me? He had wanted to do it for a very long time; of that I was sure. There was no other explanation for the fervor with which he’d kissed me.

Underneath it all was guilt. He had a girlfriend. And I had a boyfriend. What the fuck had he been thinking of? And what the fuck had I been thinking of? I knew I’d let the kiss go on for far too long. I’d welcomed it. Did this make me a bad person? It’s not like Josh didn’t satisfy my sexual urges. Hell, he even went out of his way to do so. So why was I behaving like this? I just couldn’t understand it. My hormones went wild every time I saw Carter. With other guys it had subsided almost immediately, but not him. Two whole months, getting to know him better – it hadn’t dulled the way I felt every time I saw him. Even with Caleb it hadn’t been this way. I couldn’t describe the way I felt about Carter, but I knew it wasn’t love.

That was my consolation. My excuse for keeping it from Josh. I was sure he would not handle the fact that I had been ogling another guy well. But these stupid feelings didn’t mean a thing, I argued. Carter was straight, and there was no chance he would reciprocate these feelings, whatever they were.

I had been wrong. Not only had Carter been reciprocating these feelings, he’d acted on them. And I’d let him. And in doing so I’d betrayed my boyfriend and backstabbed a girl who considered me her friend. I put my head in my hands. How was I going to explain any of this?

“Can – can I sit down?” said a husky voice hesitantly.

I looked up. Carter, now fully dressed, faced me from across the table. He was not his usual, smiling self. His green eyes seemed to have lost their ability to reel me in. Now they just looked worried and fearful. In the bright sunlight he looked like a lost little boy, rather than the macho stud that I remembered him as. And that, more than anything else, frightened the hell out of me.

I gestured wordlessly to the seat in front of me. He sat down obediently, fixing those fear-filled eyes on me. He looked like he expected me to bite him or something. If the situation hadn’t been so serious, I would’ve laughed.

“Carter –” I started to say, when he interrupted me.

“Please, don’t tell Liz!” The rich, sexy voice I’d been so enamored by was replaced by what can only be described as a high-pitched squeak. I involuntarily winced.

“Carter,” I said, surprising even myself by how stern I sounded. “Why did you do that back there?”

He just looked down at his hands on his lap and shuffled his feet under the table without replying. Just when I was about to give up on expecting a reply, he said softly, “Because I couldn’t help myself.”

He looked up at me tearfully. “This means I’m gay, aren’t I?”

I wasn’t sure what to say to that. The fact that he’d kissed another guy didn’t necessarily make him gay. I shot a look around to make sure no one, especially Liz, was nearby. I was relieved to spot her behind the counter, inside the café. It gave me more time to discern exactly what was going on here.

Keeping an eye on the interior of the café, I said to him, “Carter, did you … did you have any feelings for another guy before this?”

Slowly he shook his head. I was comforted – until he said quietly, “Only you.” My heart sank. I was so screwed. Somehow I’d managed to single-handedly turned my boss’s nephew gay!

“When – when did this start?” I managed to get the question out, although I was afraid of the answer.

Carter avoided looking at me. “The party after the Surf Fest,” he said huskily.

I stared at him in amazement. “That – that was the first night we met!” I exclaimed. Of course, I had felt something that night, too. But I had never expected Carter to have felt it too. Suddenly the reason for his increased visits to the Surf ‘n’ Sand Café and the curious looks he kept giving me became clear. It hadn’t been a coincidence that I’d seen him a lot more frequently at the café after that night. He’d purposely sought me out, arranging his visits to Liz at the café to coincide with my own.

“All along …” I said, unable to keep the awe out of my voice. Here I’d thought I was the only one.

He looked at me pitifully. “I – I couldn’t help myself. I told myself, many times, I had to stop seeing you, it was just confusing me. But something just kept drawing me back to you. If I didn’t come to the café to see you, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything. My mind kept wandering back to you. How – how beautiful you were …” His voice trailed off.

I was floored by the fact that he had just called me beautiful. I had always thought of Carter as the vision of perfect male beauty. And here he was the one describing me as beautiful. I belatedly remembered that he should have been using that word to describe his girlfriend, and not me.

“Carter,” I said gently, without betraying the extreme worry I was feeling at this point, “don’t you have feelings for Liz?”

“Liz?” he repeated. As though in a daze, he turned around in his chair, to look through the glass at Liz. His face softened; the crease on his forehead disappeared and there was a small smile on his face. “Yes, of course I have feelings for her. I think – I think I might even love her.”

I almost sighed with relief. He loved Liz, and I loved Josh. Neither of us was actually in love with the other. That was good, right? There was no problem here.

But Carter was still speaking. “And I’ve gone and cheated on her … with a guy …” He sounded thoroughly ashamed of himself. I felt the guilt more acutely than before.

“You didn’t cheat on her … not really …” I said it as much to console him as to persuade myself that I hadn’t cheated on my boyfriend by responding to Carter’s kiss.

He stared at me and then, as if it physically pained him to look at me, covered his face with his hands. His words were muffled behind his fingers. “I don’t know what it is I feel for you. I – I only know I can’t go on living like this. Please … help me,” he sobbed.

I was at a complete loss. Here I was, facing a guy who was obviously very confused about his sexuality. How did one help a guy in his situation? I suppose some would say I should know; after all I’d had a girlfriend once and now I had a boyfriend. But I was quite sure I’d never loved Melissa. I’d deluded myself into thinking that, to convince everyone (including myself) that I was straight. She’d never loved me either, only sticking with me for my family name and Dad’s political clout. When the time had come for her to choose, it was not surprising that she’d chosen her homophobic elder brother over me.

But this was different; Liz loved Carter very much, and Carter apparently did love her back. And as much as I might have lusted after Carter, I was not about to leave Josh for him, either.

I reached out and put an awkward hand on his shoulder. He stiffened momentarily, and then relaxed, seemingly comforted by that little gesture. I’d wanted to hug him, but under the circumstances, I figured it would be rather inappropriate. But seeing him like that reminded me that he was younger than me, only just starting his final year at the local university.

“Carter,” I said in the same gentle tone, “I’ m not sure if I know how to help. I don’t think you’re gay; it’s more likely that you’re bisexual.” A hopeful light came into his eyes.

I continued, “But I don’t know which way you’re more inclined.” I hesitated before asking the next question. “You – you said, earlier, you’ve never felt this way about another guy … Have you – have you ever fantasized about having, um, you know, sex? With another guy?” It was an awkward enough conversation without having to conclude that sentence using “with me”.

He looked bewildered for a moment. Then his eyes widened. “You – you mean … No! That’s sick, man!” Then he blushed and looked down. “Sorry,” he said in a small voice. “I know that’s what you guys do, and I don’t think it’s wrong or anything like that, but it’s just … not for me.”

Well, that was some progress, I thought to myself. Or was it? I, too, had once been terrified and a little disgusted with the idea of being fucked up the ass. But now I was more than eager to have Josh’s cock inside me. Maybe it was an acquired taste. So all Carter needed was for someone to show him the ropes, someone like–

What the hell was I thinking? Here was Carter, who desperately needed help before he went around kissing beautiful boys and broke his girlfriend’s heart, and meanwhile all I could think about was fucking him. I felt ashamed of myself. I was also extremely confused. I wasn’t usually this way. Sure, I’d lusted after a few hot guys. I’d ogled hunky, half-naked beachgoers. I’d wondered what Phil would look like out of his suit. I’d been mesmerized by Reid’s nonchalant nudity. But it had never been like this.

“Harrison? Harrison!” Carter’s voice brought me to my senses. Despite his own worries, he looked concerned about me. “Are you okay? You’re not – you’re not angry, are you? I know, I never asked, and I’m not your boyfriend. I’m sorry.”

I blinked. He thought I was bothered by the fact he had kissed me, when I was more bothered by the fact I’d been happy to be kissed by him. He must have misread my expression, thinking I was indeed annoyed with him.

“Please, Harrison, don’t tell Liz. I’m sorry, I really am,” he pleaded with me. “I’ll do anything you want, just don’t tell her.”

I felt my cock lurch in my pants. Of course he hadn’t meant the “anything” that my mind was now picturing, but that didn’t stop my imagination from running riot. I cursed my overactive mind, especially seeing that Carter was on the verge of tears. The urge to hold him in my arms was stronger than ever.

“Shouldn’t you be at work?” The sound of Josh’s voice made me jump. I’d been so focused on consoling Carter that I hadn’t noticed Josh and Reid return to the café.

I smiled nervously. “Uh, yeah. Actually I just came over to get a file I’d left here …”

Josh’s eyes traveled from me to an obviously distraught Carter sitting opposite me. “Is something the matter?”

I glanced reluctantly at Carter, who shot me a pleading look. Sighing, I got up and led Josh away from Carter. Reid followed us curiously, while Carter slumped on the table in defeat.

“Harry, what is it?” Josh asked, more insistently this time. “It’s something to do with Carter, right?”

I turned around to face him and Reid. “Yeah, Carter … he’s – in a bit of a dilemma.”

They both looked at me impatiently. I wasn’t sure if I should proceed, but I’d already started and I couldn’t stop now.

“He’s been having feelings” – I struggled to get the words out – “for another guy.”

They both stared at me in disbelief.

“Carter?” Josh laughed incredulously. “And another guy?”

I nodded unhappily. “It’s been going on for some time now. And today … it sort of got out of control. He – he kissed him.”

I swear their eyes almost popped out of their heads at this last statement.

“Carter kissed another guy?” Josh repeated. Then his eyes narrowed. “Hang on, why is he telling you all this? Because you’re gay?”

Reid, who’d been silent all this while, seemed to grasp it sooner than Josh did. He shook his head warningly at me. Unfortunately, by this point, I was convinced I had to be honest with my boyfriend. I remembered my promise that I wouldn’t keep any more secrets from him. And I certainly did not expect him to react so uncharacteristically.

“The guy Carter kissed … it was me.” I waited in trepidation for his reaction following my admission.

Josh stared at me in shock. Reid screwed up his face.

“You kissed him?” Josh finally said in such a heartbroken voice that it pained me to hear it.

“No, no,” I said hastily. “I didn’t want him to kiss me. It – it just happened.”

Sudden fury blazed in Josh’s eyes. “He kissed you against your will?”

“What? No, it wasn’t like that either –”

But it was too late. Josh wheeled around and, before I could blink, he’d covered the distance between him and Carter. Carter, engrossed in his miserable thoughts, had no time to avoid what was coming. Josh’s fist landed squarely on his handsome face.

The force of the blow pushed Carter to the ground and Josh really started to lay into him. Meanwhile I stood like an idiot watching in fascinated horror until Reid dragged me by the hand towards the two guys on the floor.

“Come on, you idiot, before Josh kills him!” he hissed to me. I saw that he was quite possibly right; for whatever reason, Carter was not putting up much a fight. Letting go of me, Reid struggled to pull Josh off Carter.

Josh was yelling things like, “Don’t you ever dare to attack my boyfriend like that!” I winced and tried to tell him otherwise, but Josh was not paying attention to anything other than clobbering the guy he thought had ‘violated’ me. Even Reid’s strong arms were no match for the wild rage that now consumed Josh. I was more than a little shocked; I had never seen Josh lose it like that.

Suddenly there was a flash of long, flowing dark hair and Liz threw herself between our respective boyfriends. I was stunned by her unexpected entrance, but then there was no way the fracas on the deck could have been missed by those inside the café.

“Get off my boyfriend!” Liz screamed. The sound of her voice seemed to do what Reid and I had failed to do. Josh stopped struggling against Reid’s hold and stared at her.

Liz knelt next to Carter, who was looking rather worse for wear, and glared up at Josh. “What’s he ever done to you that merits beating him up like this?” she demanded furiously.

I knew he was going to say it before I could stop him. “What’s he done?” said Josh incredulously.

“Josh, no,” I begged.

He ignored me and spat, “He forcefully kissed my boyfriend, that’s what!”

Liz froze. Her hands, tending to Carter’s bruised face, slipped as she looked first at him, and then at me. The expressions on our faces must have confirmed there was some truth in what Josh was saying.

Slowly, she got to her feet and then, avoiding all our gazes, ran out of the café, sobbing. Carter whimpered and curled into a fetal position on the deck’s wooden floor. I started to kneel down beside him when Reid said sharply, “Harrison, take Josh inside.”

I looked at him, startled. “But Carter …” I started to say.

“I’ll see to him,” he said firmly. “You take Josh and explain things to him.” He turned to Josh, who was breathing heavily. “Josh, go with him.”

He began to protest, but Reid cut him off. “Go with Harrison.” He gave us both a look that wasn’t to be argued with. Josh gave a final, contemptuous look at Carter. I took his hand and led him back into the café.


From the Narrative of Reid Scott:

“Well, this is a fine little mess you’ve gotten yourself into,” I commented as I knelt down beside Carter.

He didn’t say anything and just curled into a tighter ball.

“Come on, get up,” I cajoled gently. I managed to get a good look at his injuries for the first time. No permanent damage as far as I could see, although he was going to ache in the morning. There was a trickle of blood running from his nose. It was incredible how he still managed to look gorgeous even in that beat-up state. I was glad that I’d been able to stop Josh before he’d really hurt him.

Josh’s violent fury had shocked me too, but not, I suspected, as much as it had shocked Harrison. Josh was naturally protective of Harrison, but coupled with jealousy, it had made an unpleasant combination – at least for Carter.

“She’ll never forgive me,” he whimpered as he struggled into a sitting position.

“Maybe not,” I said matter-of-factly. There was no point beating around the bush. “Why’d you kiss him?”

Carter shrugged, and then winced.

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s why you’re lying here, beaten up by another guy’s boyfriend,” I said sarcastically.

He stared at me briefly, and then looked back down at the floor. “You’re not very sympathetic.”

I sighed. “I’m sorry. But I do ask before I go around kissing other people’s boyfriends.”

“I didn’t mean to!” he protested. “And it’s not like I do it all the time … this was the first time.” He fixed me with those bright green eyes. “You’re gay and you’re always around Harrison. Tell me, truthfully, that you’ve never wanted to kiss him.”

I sighed loudly and decided to take a chance. “Alright. Maybe I have. But there’s a difference in wanting to and actually doing it. I would never have done it because I know how much he means to Josh. And how much Josh means to him.”

Carter’s shoulders slumped. “I knew all that too. But I just couldn’t help myself. He was so close, looking so …” He searched for the right word.

“Vulnerable?” I suggested helpfully. He nodded. “Yeah, I know. Harrison’s air of innocent vulnerability just adds to his pretty looks.” I found myself reminiscing about the one time I’d walked in on a naked Harrison in bed with Josh. How he’d yelped and hurriedly covered himself up. I smiled to myself before remembering where I was.

Carter said miserably, “But I didn’t mean to – to force myself on him. I thought … I thought he might want it, too.”

Harrison had never said that he was forced to kiss Carter. In fact he’d been denying it when Josh exploded. “Josh over-reacted,” I found myself saying. “He didn’t wait to listen to the full story. He just charged at you.” I gave Carter my sternest glare. “He loves him very, very much. More than you or I ever could. You have to understand that.”

Carter nodded. “I – I don’t think I love him. It’s more like … I don’t know … this urge …”

“Lust,” I said. I was no stranger to the feeling; I’d felt it for this gorgeous hunk facing me since the first day I’d laid eyes on him, too. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that Harrison had similarly lusted after him.

“Where does this leave me and Liz?” he asked.

“Do you still love her?”

He nodded. “More than anything. I guess I know that better now than ever before.”

“Then you have to explain it to her. It won’t be easy, and I can’t guarantee you that she’ll forgive you, but you have to try. Liz is a nice girl. Don’t break her heart.”

“What about Harrison?”

“Listen, you’re confused about your sexuality. The strange thing is, I never had any doubt, since I first saw you, that you were straight. But now it would seem that you’re –”

“Bisexual.” Carter finished my sentence for me and smiled wryly. “Harrison also said so.”

“Well, I don’t know if this is any consolation to you, but being a bisexual certainly opens up more possibilities for you,” I said half-jokingly.

He frowned. “After today, I don’t think so. I don’t particularly want to spend my time dodging furious boyfriends.” That reminded us both of Josh. “Will he still be mad at me?” he asked cautiously.

“Who, Josh?” I shook my head. “I doubt he’ll stay angry for long, especially once Harrison explains everything to him.” I paused. “I have to ask, though. Why didn’t you fight him back? You might not have been hurt so much if you had.”

Carter looked downcast. “I did something wrong. It was his boyfriend, and I knew that. But I – I –”

“You thought with your cock instead of with your head.” I smiled. “It happens sometimes. In the future, though …” I let my sentence hanging.

Carter shuddered. “God, no. I’ll never do it again. There’re just too many people I hurt when I do it. It’s not like I really needed it, anyway.” He hesitated. “Will they – will they go away? These feelings?”

I observed him carefully. “I’m not sure about that, either. It’s definitely not going to evaporate overnight, but how long it takes to dull depends on the depth of your feelings towards Liz.”

He gave a start and looked guilty. “Shit, I almost forgot. I suppose I have to go and talk to her.”

“You can’t avoid it. You know where she’ll be?”

He nodded, and then asked, “What if she won’t forgive me?”

I smiled; the way he said that last sentence made him sound almost like a small kid. “I’ve seen the way she looks at you. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is. It might take her some time to adjust, but I’m sure she will come through in the end. She certainly doesn’t have any problems being around gay men.”

Carter got up slowly from his seat on the floor. “Thanks for everything. Saving me from getting beaten up worse, giving me advice … I didn’t realize before that you were so nice.”

I sat frozen as I watched him walk away. Had he just called me nice? That wasn’t right. Since when have I been nice? I suddenly remembered Phil giggling, “I just know you’ve got a soft gooey centre.”

I groaned inwardly. Damn Harrison! This ‘being helpful’ thing was catching. Surely I wasn’t getting soft in my old age?

Pushing the awful thought out of my head, I remembered there were customers in the café with no one to serve them. Sighing to myself, I went inside to deal with them. I wondered how Harrison was getting along with Josh.


From the Narrative of Josh Spencer:

“Josh, you scared me.” Harry took a deep breath and explained, “Out there, when you hit Carter … you scared me.”

I stared at him in dismay. “I was just protecting you! That bastard deserved it.” I said earnestly, “You know I’d never hurt you.”

Harry closed his eyes. “Not even if you thought I was cheating on you?”

I repeated blankly, “Cheating?”

“I wanted to kiss him, Josh. He might have initiated the kiss, but I was a more than willing participant.”

I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. It wasn’t so much Harry’s admission that pained me (although that did hurt), but the fact that he was looking warily at me, as if he expected me to lunge at him.

“Why?” I managed to choke out. “Did I – did I fail you in some way?”

“No, of course not!” He sounded horrified. I felt the couch sink further as he sat down beside me. “You’ve been the most wonderful boyfriend anyone could have. It’s not you; it’s me. I’ve been having these lustful thoughts about Carter for some time now – almost as long as he’s been having them about me. But I would never have acted on them, if he hadn’t first.”

I didn’t say anything; I didn’t know what to say. He looked at me, desperate pleading in his eyes. “But it’s you that I love. I always have. You have to believe me.”

I remained silent.

“Josh, say something,” he begged, tugging on my arm. “Anything!”

Avoiding his gaze I asked, “Do you hate me for hitting Carter?”

He hadn’t expected that question. “N-no,” he stammered.

“It’s because he’s so bloody good-looking, isn’t it? I can never match up to him.” He opened his mouth to deny it but I spoke quickly. “Don’t deny it. It’s a universally-acknowledged fact that Carter Holborn is one of the sexiest guys around.”

He nodded, reluctantly. “But it’s not –”

I didn’t let him finish. “His family’s rich, he has a proper university education … all things which I don’t have. Hell, I don’t even have a family, except for Uncle Caleb, who’s in prison. While Carter’s uncle is your boss, a super-successful accountant. I can see why you prefer him to me,” I said bitterly.

An uncomfortable silence followed my words. Then he said quietly, “One kiss and you’ve completely lost your trust in me.”

“Huh?”

“After all we’d been through together, Josh … at the very least I thought you’d believe me when I said I loved only you. How could I not love you? You’ve been there for me every single time: when you asked your uncle to look after me in prison, when I had to leave home with my Mom, when I stupidly wanted to go and meet my birth mother …”

I looked at him with tears in my eyes. “Do you really love me?”

“Do you still trust me?”

I nodded.

“Then I don’t have to answer that question.” He hesitated. “What was going on between Carter and me … that was just … I guess the word I’m looking for is lust. One of the seven deadly sins, isn’t it?” He smiled wryly. “I’m beginning to understand why.”

“So are jealousy and anger,” I noted quietly. “I’ve succumbed to one deadly sin more than you. And here you were supposed to be able to rely on me.”

“I do rely on you – more than you know. And today’s events haven’t changed that.”

We looked at each other in silence for a long time. Then I asked, “Do you feel I’m being possessive?”

“Only in a good way,” he replied.

“I just love you so much.” There was a brief pause.

Then Harry leaned his head against my shoulder. “We’ve got to stop doing this though,” he said. “It’s not something I want to do, looking at guys other than you in that sense, but sometimes I just can’t help myself.”

“It’s my fault, I guess,” I sighed. “I didn’t give you much of a chance to explore your sexuality.”

Harry snuggled closer to me. “There’s no one I’d rather explore it with than you.”

“Not even Carter?” The question slipped out before I could restrain myself.

“Not even him,” Harry said firmly. I hugged him tight.

Another few moments passed quietly. I enjoyed the sensation of Harry’s warm body against my chest.

“Do you think I screwed things up badly between him and Liz?” I said into the silence.

“Not too badly, I hope.” He turned to face me. “You’re feeling guilty,” he stated.

“I beat him up, and then spilled the beans about him to his girlfriend … so yeah, I do feel pretty bad,” I admitted.

He bit his lip. I knew he wanted to tell me it was going to be okay, but both of us knew there was a good chance it wasn’t.

“Alright, boys, everything okay in here?” Reid poked his head through the backroom door. He took in the sight of us cuddling on the couch. “I take it that’s been resolved,” he observed dryly, before turning to go.

“Wait!” Harry jumped up from the couch. I was sorry to have him leave my side. “How did things go with Carter?”

“He went to talk things over with Liz and, hopefully, make sure their relationship’s still on track.”

“That’s good enough for me,” said Harry. “I’d better be getting back to the office myself. They’ll be wondering why I’ve been away so long for a simple task like retrieving a file. I’ll see you guys in the evening?”

Reid and I both nodded and watched Harry walk out. Reid turned to me with a small smile. “You do remember that we run a café, right?”

“What? Oh.” I got off the couch and went to help him.

“So,” he said casually before we reached the counter area. “Got your apologies ready?”

I cringed. “Yeah, it’s going to be awkward, though.” I looked at him. “You were right, the other day, when you told me not to go overboard.”

He laughed. “Well, you certainly seemed intent to go against my advice in the most spectacular manner possible.” He saw the look on my face and grinned. “Don’t sweat it, I seriously don’t think Carter is going to hold a grudge against you, and as for Liz … you do remember when she first came to work here, she was so disappointed to learn that you were gay?”

I frowned. “If I recall correctly, it wasn’t my sexuality she was disappointed about; it was yours!”

“Really?” he said innocently. “I was sure it was the other way around.”

In spite of myself, I felt a smile tug the corners of my mouth. “Stop it,” I said, punching him lightly on the arm. “The innocent look just doesn’t work for you.”

He sighed exaggeratedly. Then he looked sideways at me. “But you do feel better now, right?”

I nodded. He gave my arm a reassuring squeeze. “It’ll be alright.”


From the Narrative of Harrison Ridgeway IV:

I was practically bursting with curiosity when it was time to knock off work. I’d told Phil about what had happened at the café that morning. He had been a most attentive and responsive audience, interjecting the conversation with French exclamations. Of course he wanted to accompany me to the café after work.

I came to an abrupt halt when I entered the café. Liz was behind the counter as usual, cleaning some glasses with Reid helping her. Josh and Carter … I blinked to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. The two of them were actually sitting on barstools next to each other and having a laugh about something.

Phil gave me a dig in the ribs. “Are you sure you weren’t dreaming about this morning?”

I was shaking my head, feeling dazed by the sudden turn of events, when Reid spotted me. “Harrison, come and join us.”

Phil pouted. “What about me?”

Reid grinned. “Of course I meant you as well. Can’t live without you, can I?”

I grabbed his arm to keep him from getting distracted. “Okay, what is going on here?”

Reid raised his eyebrows. “You expected them to be going at it like cats and dogs on the café floor.”

I blushed. “Something like that,” I confessed.

He grinned. “For a moment there I was worried too. The way Josh and Carter looked at each other before they shook hands … I wondered if they were going to fly at the other’s throat.”

“But I take it they didn’t.”

Reid shook his head. “Josh was most profuse in his apologies. Then Carter said he should be the one apologizing. And they warily eyed each other before shaking hands.” He lowered his voice. “It was more of an effort for Josh than it was for Carter.”

I nodded; I'd suspected as much. But looking at them now it would seem like nothing had occurred between them ... except for some bruising on Carter's face. It didn't, I thought, manage to mar his good looks. But it was safe to say that, at that moment, I was more impressed by Josh's humility than Carter's handsome features.

“And Liz?” I enquired.

“Ah, you little people always hold the biggest surprises.” He gave me a humorous grin and wrapped his arm around Phil. “She warned Josh never to lay a hand on her boyfriend again. At that point Josh and I really thought she was going to quit on us. Then she hugged Josh and told him that she loved her job here almost as much she loved Carter.”

“Wow! Liz said all that?” I almost couldn’t believe it; she was usually so quiet. Something else clicked in my mind. “And she called Carter her boyfriend?”

“Yeah, the whole bisexual thing came as a shock but she said that she knows as well as he does that they love each other. Or something equally soppy.” Reid rolled his eyes. “You know I can’t stand that sort of stuff.”

Phil tilted his head towards Reid and mouthed the word ‘liar’.

I shook my head in amusement and went to sit on the stool beside Carter. “Everything okay?” I asked softly.

He nodded and then cleared his throat nervously. “I hope you’re not upset –”

Josh interrupted from the other side. “Harry’s not upset, are you?” He had a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “In fact, I think I might have to ask you for tips on technique, Carter.”

I was about to shake my head to tell him that he was trying too hard, when Carter laughed. “Nah, I don’t think so. My technique had him trying to get away from me.”

I was extremely grateful that we were able to laugh this off. I suppose it comes of being (relatively) young.

Scanning the room for the first time since I’d come in, I realized someone was missing. “Hey, where’s Mom? Didn’t she come here after babysitting Alan?”

Reid and Josh both looked amused. “Harry, she told us about it, remember? She was going to have dinner with a friend tonight.”

“Oh. Right.” It had completely slipped my mind. “Did she say with who?”

Reid shrugged. “No, but she did say it was at the French restaurant on Main Street.” He looked at his boyfriend and winked at him. “I remember, because I have a delectable Frenchman right here.”

We all groaned. I noticed Carter was frowning. “That’s weird,” he said to no one in particular. “Uncle Adrian said he was having dinner at Gustave’s tonight as well.”

Our eyes met. “You don’t think …”

Josh chuckled as he completed the sentence. “You don’t think they’re getting serious?”

“Josh!” I admonished him. “That’s my Mom we’re talking about! She never even mentioned it to me,” I said, rather sulkily.

“Yeah, because she thought, quite rightly, that you’d freak out at the idea of her going on a date with your boss.”

I glared at Reid for this comment. “I’m not bothered that Mom’s dating!” I said hotly.

“Not even with my uncle?” said Carter in a gently teasing voice.

I glanced at him. “Especially not him.” I glared defiantly at their amazed looks. “What, Mr. Fernley is a nice guy! If she has to date someone, it might as well be him.”

They were all grinning and I realized they’d been pulling my leg. I snorted inwardly. I left them alone for a few hours and now, not only were they the best of friends, they were ganging up on me.

Then I noticed Liz struggling with the trash. She’d been quiet throughout the whole exchange. That wasn’t unusual for her, but I felt a rush of guilt. I went over behind the counter to help her take out the trash.

“Here, let me take that,” I offered.

“No, it’s okay,” she protested, trying to grab the bag back from me. There was a small tussle and then she looked at me quizzically.

“I don’t blame you for anything, Harrison,” she said softly. She grinned suddenly. “But it’s nice of you to offer to take out the trash, anyway.”

I shrugged like it was no big deal. “Least I could do.”

“Can you do it everyday?”

I laughed. “Not unless I get paid for it.”

As it would turn out, taking the trash out that night would be one of the biggest mistakes of my life.

Leaving a laughing Liz behind me, I trudged out into the badly-lit alley and hefted the bag into the dumpster. Rubbing my hands together, I turned to go back into the café when a voice came out of the darkness. “Harrison.”

I stopped. It was a familiar voice, and one that made the hairs at the back of my neck rise.

“It has been a long time, hasn’t it?”

To be continued …​

The chapter’s a bit longer than usual. It took me a long time to write, because there were two ways the story could have gone. The alternative had Carter planning to kiss Harrison all along, to test the depth of his feelings towards other guys. But that made Carter a bit of a cold and calculating character, and less forgivable by Josh’s standards. So I decided this was the better version; what do you think?

Anyway, the next chapter is going to be the penultimate one, so there will be a fair bit of resolution to the story arcs. The story is set to end with the fortieth chapter; I just don’t know if it will be an extra long chapter, or whether it will be split into a medium-length chapter and an epilogue.

Until then, your feedback is greatly appreciated. Please, do take the time to leave your comments. Thank you!

P.S. I love you guys, too

 

[robbieadam]

You and your cliff hangers, you've had me on the edge of my seat. Who could it be? Why is it the biggest mistake of his life? I have so many questions, but the one I want to know most is - When will the next chapter be posted?!

Thanks for the update which by the way was fantastically well written, as always. I wasn't expecting Josh and Carter to make up and become friends. To be honest I don't know what I was expecting. You just get better and better, you've come a long way since chapter 1 all the way back in February. I cannot wait to find out what happens at the end of the story but at the same time, I don't want it to end!

I'm looking forward to Chapter 39 and cheers again!

 

[fbrand12345]

Justin, as usual, great work. I can't wait to finish it and see what happens to everyone

Also, really excited about your next story too.

Keep up the great work . . . however, keep in mind that if anything bad happens in the next chapter I will beat you down

 

[harry113]

Justin, thanks for another well crafted chapter.
Your writing gets better & better.
Who is in the alley??
Will Harry's friends save him again??
Looking forward to the next chapter!
Harry

 

[smile86]

ok, now i think you just want to be called a cliffhanger queen!

i'm happy all couples are still together and happy, but jesus h christ harry has to be ok!!!!

 

[kcm17480]

Wow that was close. Josh was an explosion. That could put a scare in Harrison. It probably would with anyone. Great chapter. I particularly like Reid's reaction to being called a nice guy. It was like being insulted,LOL.

 

[Craiger]

Hey Justin,
I have a feeling that the story is going to come full circle. There are some very bad people out there. I won't say any more other than I can't wait for the next chapter. This has been one of the best stories in the forum. I am sorry to have it ending.

Craiger

 

[arogersb]

Thanks for all your comments, guys. Richie, it's all your fault for branding me as a cliffhanger queen in the first place, lol. And cks53200, welcome to the board and thanks for your first comment on my story.

The next chapter of Doing Hard Time will be delayed slightly because, as you will see, I have started work on my next story "Junctions". You can see the first chapter in this thread: http://www.justusboys.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177919

I'd greatly appreciate it if you guys would have a look and leave your comments in that thread. Hope you enjoy the new story as well as the remaining chapters of this one.

Justin

 

[arogersb]

Author’s Note: This is the penultimate chapter of “Doing Hard Time”. It will be followed by the fortieth (and final) chapter and an epilogue. There is a major jump in time in this chapter.

Those of you who joined us along the way may not know the back story to the events of this chapter. For this reason I have included exposition in a couple of recent chapters and, of course, a lot more in this one. I hope it clears your doubts, but if you’re still not completely sure what’s going on, you may want to reread Part I of this story.

~ Chapter 39 ~​

From the Narrative of Harrison Ridgeway IV:

I felt myself fill with dread at the sound of that voice. It had been a while since I’d heard it, but it wasn’t easy for me to forget the voice of my one-time girlfriend.

I turned around slowly and reluctantly to face the speaker. “Melissa.”

She smiled; it was not a nice smile. “I was starting to think you’d forgotten me,” she said, the sarcasm in her tone not to be missed.

How could I forget her? The last time I’d seen her was at my trial for a crime I didn’t commit. The real culprit had been her brother, but I had taken the fall. At first she’d asked me to corroborate her brother’s version of events. She claimed that, with Dad’s influence, I’d be able to get off lightly. When I refused to do that, she showed her true colors, at my expense. She became a character witness for the prosecution, testifying about how I’d always been a vicious homophobe, prone to violence. I couldn’t imagine anything further from the truth.

“What do you want, Melissa?” I asked calmly. “Whatever it is, you’ve come a long way from Massachusetts to get it.”

There was a flash of anger in her brown eyes. In the dimly lit alley, they appeared the same inky black as her hair. Of course she was beautiful; I didn’t deny it. There had been a time when I had been completely entranced by her beauty, and failed to realize what her personality was like. Mom and Phoebe had never really liked her, seeing her for what she was – a gold-digger, seeking to gain the affluence and political power that came with dating a wealthy congressman’s son.

In the months that had passed since then, I’d had time to wonder why I’d never seen it before. What had my feelings for Melissa Miller really been? At the time, I’d thought it was love. But now I knew better. What I had with Josh – now that was love. Love that I knew he was fully capable of returning. What I’d had with Melissa couldn’t have been further from that.

“What makes you think I want anything from you? Or that you’re capable of providing it, anyway? The last time I heard, you’d turned into a faggot,” she spat.

Well, she was certainly up to date. “I didn’t think the news had spread to Massachusetts,” I said lightly, trying to make the best out of a bad situation. I still had no inkling how much worse it would get.

“Oh no? Well, it wouldn’t have if you didn’t flaunt it in front of my friends!” She stared daggers at me.

“Your friends?” I stared at her, puzzled. Then I remembered the night of the Surf Fest, almost three months ago. At the party that night, I’d met Carmen Olivares, who was in the same year as Melissa at Harvard. “I didn’t flaunt it in front of Carmen,” I retorted. “I didn’t even remember who she was until she told me!”

“Nice try, Harrison. Don’t pretend you didn’t know it was her. Did you get off with your boyfriend” – she made no secret of the fact that this relationship disgusted her; she shared her brother’s opinion about gays – “knowing the whole campus thought I was your – your – beard!”

For the first time I felt genuinely guilt-stricken. “Melissa, I never meant for …” I stopped, feeling stunned. Was I actually about to apologize to her after all she and her brother had done to me? But I couldn’t quite dispel the guilt I was feeling. Maybe Josh was right, and I was overly sensitive.

I took a deep breath and began again. “I hope you’ll believe me when I say that I never meant for you to be my … beard.”

She stared at me incredulously, and then said quietly, “You expect me to believe that?”

“It’s true,” I pointed out.

She gave a short bark of laughter. “After what you’ve done to me and Michael … Thanks to you, I can’t show my face on campus. Thanks to you, my innocent brother is in prison.”

“Innocent?” I was amazed that she could still think so. “Michael led his friends in beating up a guy so badly that he was in a coma for months! All because Dean was gay!”

“Yes, and you would know about gays because you’re one of them.” She shook her head in disgust. “He got what he deserved, and as far as I’m concerned, that should have been your fate as well.”

I suppose I should have expected that. But it still shook me to hear her speak with such venom. I didn’t know what to say and, as it turned out, I didn’t have to say anything.

“Harry?” Josh stuck his head out of the door. His eyes narrowed as he saw I was not alone in the alley. He stepped out into the alley. “Who’s this?” he asked, eyeing Melissa suspiciously.

I didn’t get the chance to answer. Melissa spoke first. “So this is him? Your … boyfriend?” She gazed at him critically and said to me, “You always did have poor taste.”

I felt a surge of annoyance at this last statement. Josh, however, did not seem to notice.

“Harry?” Josh repeated my name, sounding more puzzled.

“Uh, this is Melissa.”

Josh whirled around and stared at me. I gave a small nod to confirm his suspicions. He took a step closer to me. I desperately wanted to rush to his side and into his arms. But somehow I felt such a brazen display of affection would not sit well with Melissa.

“The lovers are reunited,” said Melissa disdainfully. She turned to me. “What is that he calls you? Harry? So touching.” The sarcasm practically dripped from her every word.

“Do you want to go inside, Harry?” said Josh. It was not a really a question. I felt intensely grateful to him. Somehow talking to Melissa, in a dark alley of all places, gave me the creeps.

“Yeah,” I replied. I started to turn towards the open door.

“Not so fast!” Melissa barked, making us both jump. “You have a lot to account for!”

I reluctantly turned back to her. “Look, Melissa, if you want to talk, we can talk. Just not here.”

“You think I want to talk? Talk? With you?” I flinched at the harshness of her voice. Almost automatically my hand reached out for Josh’s. He was there in a heartbeat, squeezing my hand supportively.

“Leave Harry alone,” said Josh quietly. “He hasn’t done anything to you.”

“Not done anything to me?” repeated Melissa incredulously. “He put my brother in prison. He made me the laughing stock of our university … he destroyed everything I had. And you dare to say he hasn’t done anything to me?”

Josh opened his mouth to say something, but I shook my head warningly at him. I knew it wasn’t wise to provoke Melissa. He struggled with himself, because Josh isn’t one to back down from a fight, but for my sake he listened to me.

“Harry, let’s go,” he said, calmly but firmly. He started to turn towards the door, pulling me along with him.

From the corner of my eye I saw Melissa fumbling inside the large, heavy-looking handbag she had. “You’re not going anywhere.” Melissa’s voice was dangerously quiet as she pulled something out of the bag.

My eyes widened in horrified disbelief when I saw what it was. “Where did you get a gun?”

Josh froze when he heard my words. He looked over to Melissa, stunned. She pointed the automatic at us.

My eyes met hers, and what I saw in them scared me. I shuddered as I remembered Carmen referring to her as psycho-Melissa. With her black eyes cold and lifeless, I was starting to believe it myself.

“Don’t move,” she hissed. “And to answer your question, Harrison, it was Michael’s.”

I could see Josh had overcome his initial shock, and was debating whether he could cover the distance between us and the door before she could pull the trigger.

Unfortunately, so did Melissa. She shifted the weapon’s aim towards him. “Don’t even think about it, lover-boy.”

Josh threw me an anguished look. I knew how he must be feeling. Strangely, I felt calm. I don’t deny that I was scared, because I didn’t know what to expect from Melissa, but I knew one thing for certain.

I stepped in front of Josh. “It’s me you want,” I said. “Let him go.”

The shadow of indecision flickered across Melissa’s face. Perhaps she wasn’t completely unhinged?

My hope was squashed almost immediately. “Get back, Harrison. Or I will put a bullet through you.” Her tone of voice indicated that she meant business, but I still didn’t move.

I fought to keep my voice even, prevent my fear from showing through. “Melissa, are you thinking about what you’re doing? You’re pointing a gun at us, for God’s sake. Put it down, please.”

Her grip on the gun wavered but she managed to hold it steady. My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. I could feel Josh’s tension radiating off his body behind me. Knowing how he felt about protecting me, it must have taken every ounce of his willpower to stop himself from pushing me out of the line of fire. Only my tight grip on his hand kept him from doing that.

“It’s not right,” mumbled Melissa. She glared at me. “You’re a bloody queer, and you get to gallivant freely with your lover, while my brother has to suffer in prison. It would be more than you deserve if I shoot you.”

“Melissa, please. I’m sorry about what happened with Mike, but …” I didn’t finish my sentence.

“But what, Harrison? But it was his fault? It was your fucking fault he’s in prison. If he hadn’t tried to stand up for you that night –”

I lost my struggle to be calm. “He would have killed Dean, and it wouldn’t have been because he was standing up for me, but because he was a bigot, just like you!”

I regretted my outburst almost immediately. Melissa’s face twisted into an ugly expression of pure hatred.

“You fucking faggot, you think you can judge us?” She advanced towards us, and I could see her finger tightening on the trigger.

“Harry, get out of the way,” Josh frantically whispered into my ear. I knew he was terrified that she was going to shoot me.

I resisted the urge to turn around. I knew I had to maintain eye contact with Melissa, try to talk her out of this madness. But I gripped Josh’s hand more tightly than ever, hoping to channel some reassurance into him that way. I myself felt far from reassured.

That was when we all heard Reid’s voice, getting louder as he approached the door. “What’s taking you guys so long? Are you two making out in –”

I couldn’t have been happier to hear his voice, but then I saw that he had startled Melissa. She swung around to face the door just as Reid’s grinning face appeared in it. The grin disappeared almost instantly to be replaced with an expression of shock when he saw the unbelievable scene in the alley before him.

I heard a voice yell, “No!” and then I realized it was my own. I suddenly found myself being pushed roughly aside. There was a blur of movement past me. And then a shot rang out, echoing loudly in the confines of the alley.


From the Narrative of Josh Spencer:

The moment I heard Reid’s voice I knew I had to act. Melissa’s attention was distracted, but I still had to be quick, before she fired. Even as I tackled her, her finger squeezed the trigger. The gunshot was deafeningly loud and I had the sinking feeling that I was too late.

We both crashed to the ground. She lost her grip on the automatic and it went clattering across the dusty ground.

Even though I had the burning desire to make sure both Harry and Reid were okay, I first had to restrain Melissa – no easy task because she was thrashing wildly against my hold, screaming curses. Her fingers scrabbled on the asphalt as she tried to reach for the gun.

“Someone get the gun!” I yelled. A pale hand came into sight and picked up the gun. My eyes followed the arm up to Harry’s face. He looked white and strained.

“Reid?” I asked, not daring to turn around in case I lost my grip on Melissa, although she’d ceased struggling. The fight seemed to have gone out of her.

“I’m okay. She missed me,” said Reid from behind me. I got a look at him; he wasn’t injured, although he was looking more shaken than I’d ever seen him.

Of course the gunshot had been heard by everyone inside the café. Now they all gathered in the doorway looking anxious, eyes wide as they saw me pinning Melissa down.

“What’s going on?” I think it was Phil who asked the question on everyone’s lips.

“Melissa, my ex-girlfriend. She – she pulled a gun on us.” Harry sounded like he still had a hard time believing it. I didn’t blame him.

“Oh my god, are you okay?” Liz asked worriedly.

“I’m fine,” said Reid. “She missed.”

“She fired at you?” Phil was horrified.

“I’m okay.” Phil gripped his arm. Reid looked at him and said gently, “I promise.”

Carter bent down beside me, nodding towards a now-docile Melissa. “You need help?”

“Yeah,” I said gratefully, releasing my hold on her slightly. Carter helped me pull her to her feet. She was mumbling, over and over again, “I didn’t mean to.”

“Is anyone calling the police?” I asked over my shoulder.

Liz waved the phone at me. “I’m on it.”

***​

The police quizzed us and took Melissa away. A quick examination of the alley had yielded the one bullet fired – it was lodged in the wood of the doorframe. A few inches to the side and Reid … well, I don’t want to think about that. Reid told everyone not to fuss over him, but I knew that even he was shaken.

It was a good thing Marcia was away that night on her date with Mr. Fernley. With her heart condition it wouldn’t have been a good idea for her to know first-hand the events of that night. Harry gently broke it to her the next morning.

Until this day I don’t know if Melissa actually meant to fire. Harry insists that she would have given the gun to him if he’d had more of a chance to talk to her, but I don’t think he quite believes that himself. Harry tries so hard to believe the best in people, but I think even he realizes that trust is misplaced in the likes of Melissa.

The public prosecutor filed charges of assault, attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm against her. She was lucky the bullet didn’t hit anyone. She would later be sentenced to prison after failing to prove that she was mentally insane. We were advised to get restraining orders against her when she eventually gets out.

But I’ve gotten ahead of myself. When we finally got home in the wee hours of the next day, we both sat down on the bed.

“Josh,” said Harry in a small voice.

“Yes?”

“I’m so sorry I put you in danger tonight.” He began to cry. I pulled him close to my chest.

I had been expecting this. He’d already done the same to Reid. Reid had sensibly told him it wasn’t his fault, and now I said the same. “You can’t hold yourself accountable for Melissa’s actions.”

He said, between sobs, “I was so scared … if she shot you … I didn’t know if she’d do that to get back at me … oh God, Josh … what would I do without you?” He shuddered as if the thought of permanent separation pained him physically.

“The important thing is I’m fine; we’re all fine.” I pressed him closer to my chest and kissed the soft hair on the top of his head. “You were so incredibly brave, stepping in front of me like that …”

He looked at me with tear-filled eyes. “My life would be meaningless if I lost you, Josh.”

I shook my head slowly. “You didn’t think of my life if I didn’t have you?”

“I – I –” He gulped and stared at me wordlessly.

“Idiot,” I said affectionately and hugged him tightly. “To think that only this morning – or was it yesterday? – I doubted whether you loved me over Carter. I guess this puts any reservations to rest, huh? Nothing like throwing yourself in front of a gun to prove that you love your boyfriend.”

He gave a wan smile. “I guess.” There was a pause. Then he sighed, “Oh, Josh … I love you so much.”

“Me too, babe.” A few more minutes passed in silence as I held him.

Then Harry said suddenly, “Do I have to go to work tomorrow?”

I chuckled. “Honestly, sometimes I wonder if you really like your job as much as you say you do.” I kissed him again. “I think Mr. Fernley will excuse you. Now, let’s get you into the shower.” He giggled as I lifted him in my arms and carried him into the bathroom.

***​

Some time later, I watched him sleep peacefully, admiring how beautiful he always looked asleep. After a while, I reached for my cell phone and punched in Reid’s number. He picked up after the first ring.

“Reid?”

“Yes, Josh?”

“Were you sleeping?”

There was a pause. Then he replied, “No, I’m still feeling a little shaken. I just managed to get Phil to sleep, though.”

“He was worried, huh?”

“Worried would be putting it mildly.”

I smiled to myself in the darkness, thinking wryly about Harry. “We’re both lucky.”

“In more ways than one,” he replied with great feeling.

There was another heartfelt silence. I was first to break it. “I’ll talk to you in the morning. Goodnight, Reid.”

“Night, Josh.”


From the Narrative of Reid Scott:

“Thank you, Mom, for looking out for me,” I said softly as I knelt to lay the pink roses on her grave.

I stood up and dusted off the knees of my trousers. Dad put his hand on my shoulder as we watched Carl lay down his wreath on the grave as well. All three of us stood in silence in front of the pink marble headstone for several minutes, each remembering our own special memories of Isabel Scott.

“Come on, let’s go,” said Dad, breaking the silence. My brother and I followed him back to the car. Dad instructed the chauffeur to drive us to the Surf ‘n’ Sand Café.

I cleared my throat. “It was nice of you to bring me there, Dad.”

Dad glanced at me briefly and then out the window as he spoke. “I know how you feel about your mother, Reid, and how much she loved you, too. With that shooting incident at the café, I thought it was … fitting.”

I nodded my agreement.

Carl remarked, “This is the first time all three of us have come to visit Mom’s grave together. Well, not counting the burial and the last time we were here.” He smiled happily. “The first time together as a family.”

I couldn’t help smiling back at him. “Yes, it is, isn’t it? Dad?”

My smile faded when I noticed Dad’s gaze had not moved from the window.

“Dad?” I repeated more urgently.

He sighed heavily and turned to face us. “Reid, do you still think of us as your family?”

I was stunned. “Of course! Where is this coming from?”

“Are you doing this just because you think it’s what your mother would want?”

“Well …” I realized that had indeed been the original reason. But over the last couple of months, it had changed. “No, Dad,” I said quietly, “maybe at the beginning, but not anymore. I suppose I didn’t know what I was missing until I had you back in my life.”

I looked from him to Carl and took a deep breath. “I guess what I’m trying to say is … I love you both. And I love having my family.”

Dad smiled and squeezed my shoulder. “I want you to know I’m very proud of you, son. I know I was never supportive of your ambitions, but you’ve done well for yourself and, I have to admit, probably enjoyed it a lot more than you would have working for Scottmart.”

I was deeply touched. Not once before had Dad really acknowledged his support for my job or my hobby, although it had been indicated by the fact that he’d kept articles about my successes in each.

“Thanks, Dad,” I said softly. “What are you grinning about?” I directed the question at Carl.

His grin widened. “I think aliens have abducted both my Dad and my brother.” He peered closely at me in an exaggerated manner. “Who are you and what have you done with my brother?”

Laughing, I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and ruffled up his blond hair with my free hand.

“Boys,” said Dad in a mildly reproving tone, which made us stop our horseplay for a moment. But only for a moment; once we saw he was still smiling, we resumed in earnest. And for the first time in years, I felt like I was a kid again.


From the Narrative of Harrison Ridgeway IV:

“Haven’t you had enough?” I asked my nephew, Alan. He shook his head. Groaning, I lifted him up again so that he could touch the star at the top of the tree.

I spotted my sister walking past. Her baby bump was quite pronounced now; she was six months into her pregnancy. “Pheebs! Do you mind helping me out here?”

She smiled evilly and shook her head.

“It’s your son,” I protested.

She put her hands on her hips and glared at me. “In case you didn’t know, heavily pregnant women aren’t supposed to lift heavy objects.”

“Heavy is right,” I muttered, putting Alan down and wiping my forehead.

“Who wants pudding?” asked Mom, emerging from the kitchen with a covered dish in her hands. “Josh dear, do you mind getting the custard from the kitchen?”

“No problem,” he replied, hastening to obey.

“Okay, here is our Christmas pudding.” She unveiled the dish with a theatrical flourish to appreciative murmurs from the assembled guests.

“It looks wonderful, Marcia,” said Walter Scott. Mom had invited him, and Carl, to the Christmas Eve dinner at our place. At Thanksgiving, it had been revealed that the Scotts hadn’t had any celebrations in their home since Isabel’s death.

Mom thanked him for his compliment. “I’ve already soaked it in the brandy. So who wants to light it?”

“Reid, you do it,” I suggested.

He stared at me.

“Yes, you,” I reiterated. Mom nodded her agreement, smiling.

Reid set the pudding on fire, looking a little dazed but pleased. It was his first proper Christmas in years. I had been horrified to discover that Josh didn’t observe it either, since his parents’ death. Mom and I had rushed out to buy the tree and got everyone in the house to take a hand in decorating it.

Once the flames had died down I grinned. “Okay, now you have to serve everyone the pudding. You didn’t think the privilege came free, did you?”

Reid shot me a look of mock anger, but did indeed serve once Mom began cutting the pudding into pieces. I topped two plates of pudding with the custard and handed them to Dean and Marc.

“I’m really glad you guys were able to make it to our house. I know you probably had other engagements.”

Marc smiled. “Hey, nothing’s too good for a friend, right? Besides, this is our first time back to Corona Beach since we moved. What better time to drop in on you?”

“Yeah, with the free food,” added Dean with a wink. “My parents are only having our family dinner on the day itself, so it wasn’t like we had to cut any engagements to make it here.”

Marc gave him a dig in the ribs. “Way to make him feel important, Dean.”

Dean blushed, much to my amusement. Reid, finished with serving everyone else, came over and started to chat with Marc about his new job at the Chicago Herald. I drifted towards my brother-in-law, who was sipping a glass of wine.

“You have to know the babies’ genders by now,” I whispered, glad to have caught him alone. Phoebe always wanted to keep these things a secret until the last minute. I didn’t think I could stand the wait any longer.

Ronald grinned. “It’s worth more than my life to tell you that. Your sister would murder me.”

“Aw, come on,” I pleaded.

He looked around. “Well, since it is Christmas Eve …” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “I’ll give you a hint … Phoebe isn’t worried any more about having three boys to look after.”

“Oh, wow. That means a girl … or is it two girls?”

“Ronald!”

We both cringed. Phoebe had managed to appear out of the blue, a trick of hers that had led to my nickname for her whenever I was annoyed – the witch.

Instead of scolding us she smiled. “We’ve decided to name her Zoë.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. “Wait, you mean your daughter? How come you’re telling me this?”

Phoebe shrugged. “I thought I could save on a Christmas present.” Then she added, “You are going to be Zoë’s godfather, after all.”

My eyes almost popped out of my head. “Godfather?”

She smiled and nodded. “You and Josh. You do accept, right?”

“Of course!” I replied excitedly. “We’ll spoil her with so many gifts like you won’t believe …”

“Okay,” she laughed, “don’t get carried away now. Alan’s going to be jealous if you lavish all your attention on his baby sister.”

I smiled and picked him up. “Of course I won’t forget Alan; he’s my first nephew.” I kissed his cheek and he giggled. “What’s the other twin’s name?”

Phoebe looked slyly at me. “Now that one you’ll have to wait.”

“That’s not fair!”

“Two and a half months, Harrison … maybe less. Patience –”

“– is a virtue. Yeah, I know. You really aren’t going to tell, are you?”

She shook her head. “Nope. And you,” she glanced sternly at her husband, “are not going to say anything further.”

Ronald held up his hands defensively. “I promise.”

I wasn’t going to get any more out of those two, I knew. Sighing, I went to look for Mom. I found her staring dreamily at the stockings hung from the mantelpiece (I’d insisted we buy them in order to complete Josh and Reid’s Christmas experience).

Feeling mischievous, I asked, “Are you missing Mr. Fernley?”

“Harrison!” Mom tried to sound indignant, but her blushing face gave her away. Strangely enough, in the last three months I’d found it easier to accept the fact Mom was divorcing Dad and dating other men. That the “other man” was my boss didn’t really bother me. As I’d said before, Mr. Fernley was a good guy.

“How come you didn’t invite him? I thought he’d be at the top of your guest list,” I teased.

Mom sighed, a little wistfully. “He had to go to his sister’s place for Christmas Eve dinner. He’s always done it and he didn’t want to let her down this time.” I remembered that Mr. Fernley’s sister was also Carter Holborn’s mother, which was why he wasn’t here either.

Then Mom brightened. “But he said he could make it for New Year’s Eve.”

I groaned. “Don’t tell me you want to have a New Year’s countdown party just so that you can invite Mr. Fernley to it. Book a table at a restaurant on Main Street. You can watch the fireworks at midnight from there.”

Mom looked amused. “Thank you, Harrison. Your expert advice on romance is much needed for a woman who was dating long before you were born!”

It was my turn to blush. Just then I heard a loud beep which I recognized. “Phoebe!” I moaned, spotting my sister taking out her pager. “Can’t the hospital find anyone other than you to call at this time? I thought you were off-duty!”

Phoebe looked puzzled. “Yeah, I am. I’m not sure … hold on.” She pulled out her cell phone, which was also ringing. She looked apologetically at us and flipped it open.

I sighed. It was one of the perils of having a doctor for a sister. I started to turn back to Mom when I heard Phoebe exclaim, “What?”

I looked at her, feeling worried as the color drained from her face. “I – I’ll be there right away,” she managed to choke out.

“Phoebe, what is it?” I asked when she put down the phone. I wasn’t the only one anxious to know what had upset my sister so much.

She glanced at us as if she was in shock. “It’s Dad … He – he’s been in a car crash.”

To be concluded …​

And that’s my last cliffhanger for this story. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I know, the first part is a bit bumpy. To be honest, I had serious reservations about writing that scene but I’d already laid out the plan and inserted the necessary clues into previous chapters, so it was too late to change. I just have to hope I haven’t screwed it up.

You will realize the first part of this chapter takes place in mid-September, and the last narrative by Harrison is on Christmas Eve. So what happened in the three months in between? The answer is: nothing worth writing about. The only excitement was probably Melissa’s trial and sentencing. I don’t think we really needed to know about that. Hence the time leap. There will be a lot more of that in the final installment. So stay tuned and don’t forget leave your comments! Thank you.

The final installment of DHT is due sometime next week. In the meanwhile, I will be updating the second chapter of my other new story, “Junctions”, this weekend. If you haven’t already, you should go and check it out!

 

[robbieadam]

The anticipation is killing me! I can't wait to read the final chapter and discover how it will end. This chapter was excellent, as always. I wasn't expecting Melissa to hold a gun to Harrison, I was thinking that maybe it would be a good thing based on the previous cliffhanger although I did have an inkling that it would be bad! Thanks for the update, I'm looking forward to the final installment!

 

[harry113]

Thank you Justin. You have tidied up the loose ends very well!
What next with Harry's father??
Harry

 

[smile86]

you earned the title of cliffhanger queen!

it was lovely to read about them all sharing christmas together like on big family.

waiting patiently!

Richie

 

[kcm17480]

Great chapter. Got a little worried with Melissa there pointing a gun. Then there is your true to form with a final cliffhanger. Don't know what to think about his father having a car accident. Will have to see how that turns out.

 

[arogersb]

Thanks for all the positive comments, guys. I was a bit worried the gun scene was a bit over the top, so I'm glad it turned out okay. Some time ago, when I was planning this scene, I briefly considered killing someone. Only briefly, before I realised I couldn't bear to kill any of the main characters; I'd grown to love them too much. So the two candidates marked for death are safe.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to share some information which didn't make it into the final cut of this story. Harrison's biological father, Ben, had a younger brother who's gay. In the course of this story, you don't get to meet Uncle Louis, unfortunately. You also don't meet Marcia's mother, Rose Sedgwick. I decided to let you assume the character was dead because I never mentioned her when Marcia had a heart attack. She would have been French Canadian (which was the original reason why Marcia is able to converse in French with Phil; I later changed this to her having learnt the language in college).

Well those are just some random bits of information. Let's see, what else is there? Carter's mother is Annabeth, Mr. Fernley's sister. They have an older brother named Adam who's a divorce attorney in San Diego (Adrian would have suggested him to help Marcia with her divorce, but that got cut out too).

I made complete family trees with years of birth/marriage/death for Harrison's family, both biological and adoptive. But like his gay uncle Louis Forrester, they were excluded from the final draft. You will, however, read about some members of another family in the last chapter. Wait and see ... I promise you it'll be good as I'm trying to make up for letting you suffer through some awful chapters!

Oh yeah, that reminds me - thanks for sticking with me through the series!

 

[arogersb]

Author’s Note: This is the final chapter of “Doing Hard Time”. It will be followed by a short epilogue, to be published sometime this weekend. I know, I said I would publish them together. But that would mean you’d have to wait until this weekend. So I thought I’d let you have this first. And don’t worry, there’s no cliffhanger at the end of this one

~ The Final Chapter ~
40 40 40 40 40​

From the Narrative of Harrison Ridgeway IV:

Ronald drove the four of us – Mom, Phoebe, Alan and me – to the General Hospital. Even my one-year-old nephew was unusually bemused throughout the drive. Josh had wanted to come, but I reminded him that, as the host of the sadly-interrupted Christmas Eve dinner, he would have to deal with our neglected guests. I would have loved for him to be there to hold my hand in the hospital, but I wasn’t sure what the hell I myself was doing there in the first place. Dad would not, I was sure, be pleased to see me. But I had made a promise, and I intended to keep it.

Once Ronald dropped us off at the Emergency entrance and drove off to find a parking spot, Phoebe rushed over to the nurses’ counter and engaged the doctor on duty in conversation. Mom and I watched from the sidelines, deciding not to interfere since we weren’t medical professionals.

I couldn’t hear what Phoebe’s colleague was saying to her, but I could see her expression. Phoebe’s face went from tearful concern to what could only be described as contempt in the course of the conversation. Just as Ronald arrived carrying his sleepy son, Phoebe returned to us.

“Okay, let’s go home,” she announced abruptly.

We all stared at her. “But you haven’t even seen Dad yet,” I said.

“There’s no need to,” she replied in the same cold tone.

“Phoebe!” It was Mom who protested this time. “I know you’re not very happy with your father at this moment, but the man has been involved in a car accident.”

“Accident?” snorted Phoebe. “It was hardly an accident. That car was deliberately crashed.”

Our eyes widened collectively. “Are you saying your father tried to …” Ronald’s question trailed off.

“What? God, no. That would be too much to hope for.”

“Phoebe!” Mom was outraged.

“Mom,” my sister retorted calmly, “you wouldn’t feel that way once you knew exactly what happened. Dad wasn’t the one at the wheel; it was Jenna.”

“Jenna as in Dad’s secretary?” I asked.

Phoebe nodded grimly. Unspoken was the fact all of us, even Mom, knew – Dad had been conducting an affair with Jenna for the last few years.

“But … why would she do something like that?”

“I think it’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? I’ve overheard the two of them talking. Jenna wants Dad to marry her. It would appear Dad promised he would divorce Mom and marry her.”

“But Alistair would never have done that if I hadn’t initiated it,” interrupted Mom.

“Of course he wouldn’t. But then you decided to divorce him, and Dad found that he couldn’t stall any more. He also knows what it will look like if he marries Jenna at this point. It would mean the end of his family values campaign. Jenna isn’t saying what happened, but I think we can all make a good guess.”

“And seeing that his injuries aren’t life-threatening – a concussion and some cuts from the flying glass – we should all just go home,” Phoebe concluded. She looked around as if daring someone to contradict her.

The silence was broken by me. “Pheebs, he’s hurt. And despite everything, he’s still your father.”

Phoebe wasn’t the only one who stared at me in amazement. “Of all people, Harrison, I can’t believe you’re still sticking up for him. After everything he’s done to you!”

To be truthful, I wasn’t entirely sure why I was sticking up for him either. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that I’d never had the chance to meet my own biological father.

I looked down and said, “He’s always been nice to you, though. You were his golden child. Now he needs you, and you shouldn’t let his treatment of me cloud your judgment.”

“Then what exactly should I base my judgment on? I have a son of my own, Harrison. If the man I entrusted his care to abused him, I wouldn’t rest until he was dead.” I felt her hand under my chin as she lifted my head up so that we were face to face. “We might not have a blood connection, but you know I’ve always thought of you as my little brother.”

I looked into her tear-filled blue eyes. “I know, sis. And if you really think that, you’ll do this for me. Please?”

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and looked hard at me. “Alright,” she said finally. “But you’re coming, too.”

I started to say, “I don’t think that’s such a good idea …”

She cut in. “This is Dad’s chance to apologize.”

“Pheebs …”

She didn’t let me complete my protest. “Who knows, maybe this accident has given him fresh perspective on the really important things in life. If he doesn’t … well then, it’ll just make things a lot easier.”

“Pheebs, that’s not fair! You can’t expect him to change overnight.”

She looked at me stubbornly. “We’ve given him plenty of time already. If he doesn’t know it by now, he never will. Can you stay and watch Alan?” This last sentence was directed at her husband. Ronald nodded quickly, looking relieved to be excluded from the confrontation.

I made a last-ditch attempt to wrangle myself out of this situation. “Look, they won’t allow more than two visitors.”

“I’m a doctor on the staff here; I don’t count towards the visitors quota,” pointed out Phoebe. She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the door.

“Mom,” I implored her at least to see reason.

Mom shook her head. “Your sister’s right.”

I reluctantly allowed myself to be dragged to Dad’s bedside. One of his aides was with him.

“You can go now,” Phoebe ordered the aide in a no-nonsense tone. The guy, deciding it was better not to argue with my sister in this mood, scuttled off, leaving the three of us at the congressman’s bedside.

Phoebe’s report of the extent of Dad’s injuries seemed accurate – as far as I could see, he only had a few cuts and bruises. As my eyes met his, he looked livid. I looked away quickly.

“What is he doing here?” he demanded from Phoebe angrily.

“Harrison,” my sister said, making sure to pronounce my name clearly, “is the reason Mom and I are in here at all. We had half a mind to walk away when we heard the cause of this ‘accident’. So you should be thanking him, not questioning his presence.”

Dad gave a short, derisive laugh. “You expect me to thank him?”

Phoebe glared at him, and then sighed. “No, Dad, that would be too much to expect, wouldn’t it?”

“Phoebe,” said Dad coldly, “I had hoped you came to see how I was doing, and not to further that gay bastard’s cause.”

I flinched at this reference to me, despite knowing it was not the worst Dad could unleash on me. Phoebe saw me flinch and rounded on her father angrily.

Her voice shook with fury as she said, “The gay bastard, as you call him, is my brother. And soon he will be my daughter’s godfather.”

Dad raised his voice angrily. “He is not your brother! And he sure as hell isn’t going to be my grandchild’s godfather!”

“That really isn’t your decision, Dad,” said Phoebe scathingly. “It’s Ronald’s and mine, and we both agree that Harrison and Josh will be the twins’ godfathers.”

“You aren’t going to let two faggots near your children!” Dad shouted.

Phoebe shot a contemptuous glare at her father. “Let me make this clear, Dad. Firstly, Harrison takes the effort to look after Alan, who isn’t really his nephew. Tell me, Dad, when was the last time you actually made time for your grandson?”

“Secondly,” she continued, “Ronald and I decided that it is best for our children to grow up in the company of gay people, learn to be fair and tolerant, and not have the same bigoted views as you.”

Dad’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. I feared that he might be having a stroke or something. My concerns were allayed when he turned to Mom. “Marcia, are you listening to what our daughter is saying?”

Mom returned his angry gaze coolly. “Yes, and she hasn’t said anything that isn’t true.”

Dad’s eyes bulged as he looked from his soon-to-be ex-wife to his daughter. “What is it you expect from me?” he exploded.

“Apologize,” said Phoebe. “To Harrison.”

There was a murderous glint in Dad’s eyes. “I have nothing to apologize for! Especially not to this – this –” He apparently couldn’t find a word terrible enough to describe me.

My sister shook her head in disdain. “You really can’t see it, can you?”

Dad glared back defiantly. I tugged Phoebe’s hand gently. “There’s no point, Pheebs. Let it go.”

One of us had no intention of letting it go. “Damn it, Alistair! Don’t be a bloody fool. You have to realize what you did was wrong. Just apologize.”

We all stared at Mom, making her blush. I think that was the first and last time I heard Mom use the words ‘damn’ and ‘bloody’, and in the space of two sentences. I wasn’t sure if I should be awed or shocked. Mom, who always scolded me for the slightest use of a swear word!

Dad also looked stunned. But not stunned enough to blurt out the apology everyone except me anticipated from him.

I took a deep breath before speaking. “Dad, I really hoped you would change. But both of us already knew that was impossible. For my part, I am sorry” – there were outraged gasps from Mom and Phoebe at this point – “because if I had been the son you wanted, we probably wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Mom interrupted. “Harrison, you can’t blame yourself –”

“I don’t,” I reassured her, “not anymore. I did my best, but it was never good enough. Dad, I’m telling you this for your sake. You don’t know what you’re losing if you let your ego and prejudice get in the way of admitting your mistake.”

“I HAVE NOT MADE ANY MISTAKE!” Dad’s shout brought the nurse rushing into the private room Dad had been given on account of his political position.

She looked disapproving as she faced us. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave –”

“Oh, don’t bother. We’re leaving anyway,” replied Mom. She shot a scathing look at Dad. “If ever there was a man who deserved to spend Christmas in hospital, it’s you, Alistair.” She took my hand and headed to the door. Phoebe made to follow.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Dad asked her. “I’m your father!”

Phoebe turned back to him. “And I didn’t realize until now how lucky Harrison is that you aren’t his real father.” With that parting shot the three of us went out into the waiting room. The look on Dad’s face was so comical I would have laughed if we weren’t in such trying circumstances.

“Oh, Ronald!” My sister immediately threw herself at her husband, sobbing.

Ronald whispered comforting words to Phoebe. I sat down heavily on one of the waitinf room chairs as the full reality of what my sister had just done sank in. “You didn’t have to do that for me,” I said softly.

Phoebe’s head whipped around at my words. “Sometimes I feel like strangling you, Harrison! Don’t go blaming yourself for everything.”

Mom nodded, sadly. “It would have been so simple for him to say ‘I’m sorry’, but no, he had to make life difficult for himself.” She sighed. “Then again, I’m not sure I would have been able to forgive him for everything he did.”

Phoebe looked fiercely at me. “You are not to feel guilty.”

Mom chuckled. The three of us looked at her, waiting for her to enlighten us about what was so funny. “It’s just that, I remember the last time we were here, Joshua said Harrison would blame himself for global warming if he could.”

Ronald also chuckled and a small smile appeared on Phoebe’s face. “That does sound like my brother.”

“Okay, that’s not fair!” I protested. “I’m not that bad … am I?”

They all couldn’t stop grinning. It was infectious and soon I was smiling as well. Phoebe linked her arm through mine. “Come on, let’s go home.”

Ronald slung his sleeping son over his shoulder and checked his watch. “Do you know it’s already midnight?”

My eyes widened. “That means it’s Christmas Day!”

“Well it’s not where I thought we’d be at the stroke of midnight, but it’s the people that count, after all.” Mom smiled at each of us in turn. “Merry Christmas, dears.”

The rest of us echoed, “Merry Christmas.”


From the Narrative of Reid Scott:

“It’s … an envelope.” The revelation was a bit of an anticlimax to me. Phil, however, remained excited as ever, dancing in circles around me.

“Open it, open it!”

“Okay, okay,” I laughed. “Now stop hopping around like that, it’s unbecoming for a guy of your age.”

He pouted, but only briefly. Then he reverted back to hyperactive mode until I finally satisfied his wishes and tore open the envelope to find …

“A flight ticket to Paris?” I looked blankly at him. Then something he’d told me long ago clicked in my mind. “Oh, you’re going for your sister’s wedding.”

He sighed exasperatedly. “Look closely at the number of tickets.”

I discovered there were two tickets. I looked up to find him looking at me in anticipation. “So, will you come?”

“You want me to come with you to France?”

“My family is dying to meet you since I sent them that photo of you.” He grinned wickedly. “My sisters are moaning about your gayness.”

“My gayness?” I repeated indignantly, immediately thinking of effeminacy and other gay stereotypes, which I certainly did not fit.

He giggled. “I meant your sexuality. They think you’re totally hot.” He lightly traced a finger down my chest and gazed up at me with those puppy-dog eyes. “And they’re absolutely right,” he added softly.

I found myself blushing.

“So you agree to come?” he asked, his eyes never leaving mine.

I hesitated for a long time before admitting, “I’ve never done this before … meeting the parents and that sort of stuff. Josh’s parents died before I even came into his life. What if they don’t like me?”

Phil stood on tip-toes to kiss me. “They’ll love you. They’re already halfway there.”

“Well, I don’t know –”

“You have to come, please? Please?”

I couldn’t refuse such an earnest plea, not with him looking at me like that. “Alright,” I agreed, smiling and ruffling his hair. “But you’re going to have to teach me French.”

“All of us in my family speak English, so there’s really no need. But if you want, I can always teach you a little.”

“I’d like that.” I bent down and kissed him, first on the lips and then moving down to the erogenous spot on his neck.

“Um … There’s something else.” The serious note in his voice made me pause. “When we get back from France …” He paused, looking unsure whether to continue.

I looked at him impatiently.

“Willyoumoveinwithme?” His words came out in such a rush I wasn’t sure if I’d heard him right. Once my brain absorbed them, I stared at him.

He cowered under my intense gaze. “It was a stupid thing to ask,” he mumbled, averting his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

I grabbed him roughly by the shoulders. “Were you serious when you asked me that?” I demanded.

He nodded, slowly, and looked away again. “I know you won’t want to leave Josh. I shouldn’t have asked, but I just wanted us to have that closeness you only get when you live together. It was stupid of me.”

I stared at him. A range of wild emotions coursed through me. Six months had gone by since I first met Phil. Six months since I met a guy who reciprocated my feelings, feelings I thought I would never have after Josh broke my heart. I still loved him, but it was now more of a brotherly love than anything else. I knew if there was a single person I loved in the romantic sense of the word, it was the cute, dark-haired Frenchman in front of me.

“I’ll have to think about it,” I heard myself say.

Phil looked up, a strange light in his brown eyes – incredulous but at the same time hopeful. “You – you’ll think about it?”

“I can’t tell you straight away. It’s not just Josh, there’s also Harrison, and Marcia …”

“We’ll visit them everyday, I promise. You’ll see them in the café anyway.”

“That’s true,” I admitted.

“I don’t want to force you if you don’t want it,” he said hastily. “I mean, I don’t want to take you away from the people you consider family.”

Those words convinced me. I wrapped my arms tightly around him and kissed his dark-haired head. “I don’t think I can ever be separated from them, even if I live apart from them. But what I want is to be here with you.”

“Really?” A hopeful smile was on his face.

I kissed him again. “Really,” I confirmed. “I’ll talk to them tonight.”

***​

Harrison was as excited as Phil had been when I told him. Marcia smiled and said she was happy for me and requested that I visit them as often as possible, which I assured her I would.

That only left Josh. I looked anxiously at him, awaiting his reaction. He had been very quiet since I made the announcement.

“Reid, you’re sure this is what you want?” he said at last.

I nodded, still waiting.

He smiled. “I meant it when I said I was truly glad that you have Phil. He loves you, and I know he’ll take good care of you.”

The retort “I don’t need taking care of!” rose to my lips, but I stifled it. I had to admit, it was nice knowing there was someone for you.

Josh walked over and hugged me. “You need to be happy wherever you are. That’s all I want.”

I looked deep into those striking gray eyes and saw only sincerity in them. I hugged him back and tried to discreetly dry my eyes when we broke apart. Josh gave me a knowing smile but didn’t say anything. I knew we had come a long way.


From the Narrative of Harrison Ridgeway IV:

“I won’t be a minute.” Josh glanced into the drugstore and grimaced when he saw the long queue of customers. “Make that ten minutes,” he amended.

I grinned and waved the day’s issue of the Corona Times at him. “I’ll be occupied.”

He nodded and went into the store. I turned my attention back to the newspaper and leafed through its pages until I reached the Births, Marriages and Deaths section. I quickly found what I was looking for.

Phoebe’s twins, both girls, had been born prematurely in the early morning hours of the previous day, and as such, the announcement was only in the March 1st edition. I smiled as I noted their names. As the elder girl Zoë’s godfathers, Josh and I had been allowed to choose her middle name. We both settled on Marcia, after Mom. The younger twin was named Zara Megan.

I made a mental reminder to cut out the notice when I got home, before flipping back to the local news. The second page headline caught my eye.

CONGRESSMAN RIDGEWAY WILL NOT STAND FOR RE-ELECTION​

Corona Beach, Thurs. – The office of beleaguered local congressman, H. Alistair Ridgeway III (R-CA), issued a statement today that he would not seek a third term in Congress. The last two months have seen Ridgeway’s popularity plummet after his extramarital affair with his secretary became public knowledge following a Christmas Eve car crash.

Ridgeway’s secretary, Jenna Hopkins, 34, revealed that the affair had been going on for years, while Ridgeway was still married to Marcia Sedgwick, his wife of 29 years. The couple’s divorce, initiated by Sedgwick in the middle of last year, was finalized late last month. They have two adult children, both of whom are standing by their mother.

The allegations of adultery have marred the re-election campaign, in which Ridgeway had previously emphasized the importance of family values. A further blow was the revelation that the congressman’s tolerant stance towards homosexuals was little more than an act. He has apparently refused to accept his own son, who last year was wrongly convicted on charges related to gay-bashing. Harrison Ridgeway IV was later exonerated and an embarrassed Ridgeway, Sr. retracted an earlier statement in which he disowned his son.

While no formal announcement has been made of Ridgeway’s replacement in the candidacy for the congressional seat, support within the party is reportedly leaning towards Scottmart CEO, Walter J. Scott. Scott is himself the father of an openly-gay son . . .

I stopped reading and smiled. Reid would not be pleased to learn that he was being made out to be the poster-boy for a political campaign. I pictured Reid dressed formally like his brother Carl and chuckled. He’d look good in a suit, no doubt about that, but he looked even better out of it. Now that was an image that wouldn't make its way into posters for Walter Scott’s campaign. I shook my head in amusement; I was getting carried away. The last time I’d seen him, Walter hadn’t even expressed any interest in running for Congress.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something that drew my attention to the sidewalk. I blinked several times to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. Then my legs moved of their own accord and I stepped out of the car.

“Caitlin, RJ?” I called out to the two kids who were running down the sidewalk. They came to a halt and stared at me. I wondered if they recollected me. It was highly possible that they didn’t.

Then the girl smiled. “Hello, Harrison.”

I looked at her in surprise. “You remember my name.”

She looked indignant. “Of course I remember your name. You knew mine, don’t you?”

Well, that was a different matter. I knew they were my half-siblings. They did not. I had been so elated to see them that it hadn’t struck me until now what they were doing so far from home.

“What’re you doing here?” I asked.

“We came to visit our Great-Aunt,” replied Caitlin. I remembered Sandra saying that she had a great-aunt in Corona Beach. She had stayed in her house while pregnant with me.

I returned RJ’s shy grin and said to Caitlin, “Alone?”

“Of course not! Mommy came with us. She’s locking the car. There she is now.” Caitlin pointed behind me.

I turned around to find myself face-to-face with Sandra Sheldon – my mother. She didn’t say anything to acknowledge my presence. Instead she handed a ten-dollar note to Caitlin. “Spend it wisely, now. And keep an eye on your brother.”

Caitlin nodded and took the proffered note. “Aren’t you coming with us, Mommy?”

Sandra shook her head. “I need to talk with Harrison.” I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when she said that. I was going to get it from her for approaching the children after promising not to.

“Okay, come on, RJ.” Caitlin took hold of her brother’s hand. To me she said, “See you later.”

I nodded, tightlipped. RJ waved goodbye at me. I watched them disappear into the confectioner’s next to the drugstore, before turning back to Sandra, full of dread. I cursed myself for giving in to my curiosity and not staying in the car.

“Do you like them?”

I didn’t expect that question from Sandra. I stared at her.

She stared back. “Do you like Caitlin and RJ?”

I managed to find my voice. “Of course. I adore children. Especially when they’re my siblings.” I gazed defiantly at her, expecting her to contradict me.

Instead she sighed. “I’m sorry about the way things turned out on your visit to Silver Springs. We did not get off to the best start.”

I was stunned into speechlessness.

“It was more difficult for me than you imagine. When you turned up on my doorstep, I didn’t know what to think. I realize now that I was wrong about you.”

I found my voice again. “Why only now?”

She looked sadly at me. “Seeing you, talking to you – even if only for a few minutes – awoke something in me. It was different, all those years ago, when I gave you up for adoption. I didn’t know you then. It was easier to forget I had even had another child before Caitlin and RJ. Then you showed up and it just wasn’t as easy anymore …”

I stared at her, not quite sure what to say. I heard a tinkle as Josh came out of the drugstore, carrying his purchases. He looked in puzzlement at Sandra. I knew that he had not met her before. More importantly, I knew that I had never told Sandra that I was gay. I had serious qualms about how she would take the news. We had just made some unexpected progress in our relationship; I didn’t want to lose it so quickly.

As tempted as I was to lie to Sandra that Josh was just a friend, I knew that wasn’t fair on him. With great reluctance, I said, “Sandra, I’m afraid there’s something you need to know about me. I’m –”

“Gay?” Sandra completed the sentence for me. Her eyes flicked over to Josh, who had sidled up beside me. His eyes had first widened when I mentioned her name, and then narrowed.

I was struck dumb for the second time that morning. Sandra looked at me in mild amusement.

“I do read the newspapers, you know,” she remarked. I noticed, tucked under her arm, a copy of the Corona Times.

The only word I could get out was “oh”.

“And this is your … boyfriend?”

Josh, sensing that Sandra was not here out of animosity, hesitated before offering his hand to her. “Josh Spencer.”

She shook it while saying, “Sandra Sheldon.”

“Wait a moment!” This was just too much for me to take in. “Are you saying you’re okay with me being gay?” I had expected her to run down the street, screaming.

Sandra turned her attention back to me and admitted, “I probably would not have been the best person for you to have come out to. It was easier for me to learn about it from the papers. Your father now …” She sighed. “He would probably have accepted it without blinking an eye.”

It took a moment for me to realize that she was talking about my biological father. “Ben would have accepted me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that my biological father’s attitude towards homosexuality would be so far removed from my adoptive father’s.

She nodded. “Ben’s younger brother, Louis, is gay, like you. He used to get a lot of hostility from our classmates because of it. Ben was always standing up for him. I think he would have done the same for you … you were his son, after all …”

I felt my eyes fill with tears. Josh squeezed my hand sympathetically. Sandra wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and produced a snapshot from her handbag.

“I thought you might like to have this,” she said, gazing at it briefly before handing it to me. I took it numbly and looked down at it. It was obviously an old photograph, showing a teenaged couple smiling for the camera. I recognized the girl with long blonde hair as Sandra, and the guy …

My heart beat faster as I saw my father for the first time. I was a little disappointed to see that he didn’t look a lot like me. His brown hair was the same as mine, but otherwise his handsome, tanned features did not correspond to mine. I peered closely at the photograph, trying to determine the color of his eyes.

As if she knew what I was thinking, Sandra said, “He had blue eyes, a lot like yours actually. But I have to say, your foster mother’s eyes are a much closer match. Interesting, isn’t it?”

I looked up at her and croaked, “Thank you.” I hesitated before asking, “Do you – do you have any photos of Caitlin and RJ?”

Sandra appeared a little surprised at first. Then she smiled and nodded. “This is one I always carry around with me, but you can have it. I’ll get another one.” I took it from her gratefully.

“But you will be able to see them again,” she added.

I looked up from my perusal of the photographs in surprise. From the way she was acting, I’d been quite sure she was only being nice because she wanted to end our relationship.

“I’m afraid we won’t be able to meet often,” she said hastily. “My husband still can’t know about you. And the children … strangely enough, they seem to be quite taken with you.”

“It’s not strange at all,” murmured Josh. It was the first time he’d spoken other than to introduce himself.

Sandra glanced at him. “I suppose you’re right. There are some bonds which cannot be broken …”

The tinkle of another shop door sounded. I knew, without looking, that it was Caitlin and RJ. Caitlin carried a bag of candy and RJ had a lollipop in his mouth. I hurriedly wiped my eyes, recalling the last time I’d seen Caitlin with tears on my cheeks. They looked curiously at Josh, who smiled down at them.

“Kids, wait in the car,” said Sandra. “I’ll just finish talking to Harrison, okay?”

The two kids nodded and turned to go, but RJ paused. “Will you come and play with us next time?”

Caitlin gave her oblivious brother a nudge in the ribs, but I smiled. “Maybe next time.” I glanced at Sandra and was relieved to see that she was also smiling. Caitlin waved goodbye and ushered her brother into the car.

“My mobile number is on the back of the first photo,” said Sandra. “It might not be much, but it’s all I can do at this moment.”

“It’s more than I ever expected,” I replied. Throwing caution to the wind, I stepped forward and hugged her. At first she stiffened, before reciprocating and wrapping her arms around me. “Thanks for changing your mind about me … Mom.”

She broke away. “Your mother is the one who raised you. I can’t lay claim to that privilege, although I very much hope there’s still something left for us.”

There was a lump in my throat. “Like you said, there are some bonds which can’t be broken.”

She smiled, a little sadly, and nodded. “I have to go now, but I will see you again.” She turned to Josh. “And you, too, I hope.”

Josh nodded and we both watched as she got into the car and drove away. RJ in the backseat waved to me, and I waved back. Once the car was out of sight, I turned back to Josh and buried my face in his chest, not caring that this was a public place.

He stroked my hair and whispered, “Well, that was an interesting turn of events. I’m glad she proved me wrong. It was a happy coincidence that she met you here, wasn’t it?”

I wondered if it had been a coincidence. I said out loud, “Isn’t it a bit strange for a married woman to be carrying a photo of her with her high school boyfriend in her handbag?”

Josh’s eyes widened as he took in my meaning. Coincidence or not, I did not think I could feel any happier than I did at that instant.

The story concludes in the Epilogue …​

That’s it for the final chapter. No cliffhangers or anything. Just a good old-fashioned happy ending. Well, not quite the end. There’s still the epilogue. I feel quite pleased with myself for fitting in that bit about Harrison’s gay uncle. The newspaper article was a good way of tying up loose ends, don’t you think? Don’t forget to tell me what you think of this final chapter. Oh, and have a look at my signature pic to see what the guys in DHT look like!

I’ll see you back for the epilogue. Until then, thanks for bearing with me through the forty chapters and keep your comments coming!

 

[harry113]

Justin Thank you.
What a fantastic & beautiful ending to a wonderful story, you brought it all together so very well. Thanks for the pics!!
Look forward to the epilogue. I wonder if we already know someone with connections to Louis??
Harry

 

[kcm17480]

I love the way the story ended. Too bad about Harrison Sr. not really wanting to apologize. Of course he got his just due by having his political career self sabotaged.
I truly enjoyed reading this story. Will look forward to the epilogue.
Thanks very much,
Ken

 

[fbrand12345]

Excellent. Although Phoebe and/or Marcia should have punched Alistar in the face, even if violence isn't the answer .

As always great work Justin. Can't wait to see what the epilogue will bring as well as Junctions.

 

[summerstud]

Justin,
Thanks for writing a great story. As much as I hate to see it end it really is time. You have done an excellent job at tying up all the loose ends. I have been through an emotional roller coaster reading your story. I have read from the beginning and I promised myself that once I read the last chapter that I would comment on it. Great Job! Also, thanks for starting Junctions before this story ended that way we have something else to look forward to. I expect Junctions to be an amazing story also. Great Job Again! Talk to you soon.

John