WATCHING BRAD
Part XXIV
I was preparing breakfast in the morning when the doorbell rang. Lindsay was too busy watching Sunday morning cartoons to bother, and Brad was still in the shower, so Dear Old Dad had the pleasure of answering it.
"Hi, Mags," I said as I pulled open the door and saw her standing there.
"Sorry to bother you, Ted," she said, "but do you have some coffee and milk and sugar we could borrow until we can get to the store?"
"Does Cali have a cell phone?"
"Yes."
I pulled mine out of my pocket and handed it to her. "Call her and tell her to get over here. Coffee's on already."
"Oh, I can't do that," she said.
"Sure you can," I told her. "You just push this button to turn it on and push these ones to. . ."
Mags laughed. "I know
how," she said. "I just don't want to impose."
"No imposition," I said. "Has Tyler eaten yet?"
"No. We don't have milk for his cereal."
My raised eyebrows and my smile gave her my answer. "Call them."
Mags began dialing, then raised the phone to her ear. A moment later, she said, "Hi, Cal. I'm here with. . . Oh, my!" She quickly turned away and hung her head. Her cheeks turned a bright, rosey pink. "Nothing, Cal. It's just that Brad's here now and all he has on is a towel."
I looked around and there he was, wrapped in a towel that was tenting out with what was left of his morning hardon. He was rubbing his hair dry with another towel. I kissed him and said, "As ravishing as you look, I think you should get changed. We're expecting company for breakfast."
Brad looked down. "Oh!" He lowered his other towel and covered himself. "I. . . um. . . I think. . ."
I winked at him. "Put on something nice for Cali."
First blush of the day, but it was just a shading of pink this time. He disappeared around the corner, heading for the bedroom.
"Okay," Mags was saying when I turned back to her. "I'll wait here then. Bye, Sweetie."
She hung up and handed the phone back to me. She turned slowly at first, then more quickly when she saw that Brad wasn't standing there anymore.
"Come on in," I said.
"He's very. . . um. . . rather big, isn't he?" Mags whispered. I loved her timidity.
I gave her my best understanding smile. "We're used to it around here."
"I'm sorry if I embarrassed him," she said. "It's going to take me awhile to get used to him."
"Don't worry, Mags," I told her. I hoped my smile was reassuring. "He's very gentle."
Mags snatched onto my wrist, pulling me closer. "Is that really him in there?" she whispered.
"Yes."
"Oh, I must apologize to him. I shouldn't be embarrassing him like that." If Mags ever did apologize to Brad, he never told me, and I didn't ask.
"Trust me, Mags. He's just as afraid of embarrassing you. Now, come on." I led her to the kitchen. "Eggs and bacon for everyone?"
"Tyler likes cereal, if you have any."
"Lots," I told her. I opened the pantry door. "Take your pick," I said. I dug out another frying pan, set it on the stove, and cracked open a few more eggs.
Mags set a box of cereal on the counter. "Bowls are there," I said, pointing. "Could you prepare two? Brown sugar is up here and white is on the table. Lindsay likes brown with that."
"Tyler likes brown sugar, too. Do you have any cinnamon?"
Again, I pointed. Lindsay liked cinnamon. "I've never thought of using cinnamon. Is it good?"
"It's delicious," Mags said as she retrieved the cinnamon from the spice rack. "Not much. Just a sprinkling."
"Could you sprinkle a bit on Lindsay's, too? I think she might like it."
Mags replied, "I'm sure she will.
Brad arrived in time to greet Cali and Tyler at the front door. "Lindsay! Tyler's here!"
"I'm watching cartoons, Ty!" Lindsay shouted. I could hear his running footsteps heading for the livingroom.
Brad and Cali appeared in the kitchen.
"Brad?" I said, "Could you set up TV trays for the kids?" Mags was almost finished preparing the cereal.
"Hi, Teddy," Cali said, stepping up beside me and planting a big one on my cheek. "I hear your boyfriend's trying to seduce my girlfriend with his manly wiles."
I had to grin at her. "Well, he
does stand out in a crowd."
"Yeah," Cali said. "From here to Scarborough!"
"Cal!" Mags said, shaking her head, "you're incorrigible!"
"Forget her," Cali said with a nod to Mags. "She doesn't know how to have fun. I do love to tease that boy, though," she said with a wink.
"If he didn't like you so much, he wouldn't come out of the bedroom."
"If I were you, I'm not sure I'd come out, either."
"Cal!"
"Oh, come on, Mags," Cali said with a grin. "Lighten up! Just because I like the perfume doesn't mean I want to squirt it all over me!"
"All set up," Brad said as he came back into the kitchen.
"Cereal's there," I told him.
"I'll take it," Mags said.
"Toast is ready, too. What does Tyler like on his toast?"
"I'll get it for them," Cali said, and grabbed two slices and went to the table to spread them with raspberry jam.
"Lindsay likes marmalade," I told her.
"I'll get the coffee then," Brad said with a shrug.
Minutes later, the kids were busy eating their cereal and toast and watching TV. We grown-ups were sitting around the small, kitchen table, eating our bacon and eggs.
"So," I said, "how's the move going?"
"Not bad," Cali said, "but Tyler's not handling it too well. Nothing's unpacked or set up yet. He doesn't have anything to do."
"He can stay here," I told her. "Lindsay can keep him occupied, I'm sure."
"You're a Sweetie, Teddy, but you've done enough already."
"And we can do more," Brad said. "We'll watch him for the day. Let you ladies get your house in order."
Cali looked at me. "Where did you find this boy, Teddy?"
"Next door, actually," I said. "He was my neighbour before he moved in with Lindsay and me."
Cali sat back in her chair and turned to Brad. "You don't look old enough to own a house."
"It's my parent's place. I was still living there."
"Really?" She seemed genuinely surprised. "And they're okay with the two of you?"
"Yeah," Brad answered. "Why not?"
Mags spoke. She sounded rather sad. "My parents haven't spoken to me in over ten years. They don't even know where I live now."
Cali reached out and clutched Mags' hand. "Enough of this moribund crap," she said. "The way they treated you, they don't even deserve to have you for a daughter. Besides, you've got me now to take care of you." She leaned forward to give Mags a reassuring kiss.
Brad glanced quickly at me and I could see in his eyes that he suddenly realized how lucky he had been that his parents were so understanding and loving. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
Cali turned again to Brad. "So, Bradley, how much does it cost to feed that thing each week?"
Cali certainly knew how to lighten a mood.
"Hey," I said as the laughter died down. I motioned the others forward into a huddle. "We're having a surprise birthday party on Tuesday for Lindsay," I whispered. "Would you like to come?"
"Oh, Teddy, we'd love to come. What should we buy her?"
"Anything with unicorns or faeries."
"There's enough fairies around here, and Bradley's got enough between his legs to make up ten more." We all laughed again. "We'll stick with unicorns." She turned to Brad. "Speaking of horny things, Bradley, how long does it take to raise the flag on that thing in the morning?"
I wasn't even awake yet and my stomach was hurting. Mags was still wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, her face bright red with embarrassment. Brad just hung his head and shook it back and forth.
Cali looked at me and jerked her head toward Mags. "And you thought Bradley had a monopoly on blushing."
I glanced at Mags and jerked my head toward Cali. "Is she always like this?"
"Pretty much," Mags said, still laughing to herself. "But only with people she likes."
Cali picked up a slice of bacon in her fingers and began munching on it. "So, Teddy," she said, "You didn't tell us. How did you and Bradley meet? Mind you, you probably met his shorts twenty minutes before the rest of him got there."
More laughing and a few more blushes. There weren't going to be many unhappy moments with Cali around.
"Just like I met you, really," I answered her. "I was moving in a few weeks ago and my friend bombed out on me. It was the weekend of that big storm, remember? I was trying to get my furniture off the truck before it rained and Brad jumped in and helped."
"Just a few weeks ago?" Cali asked. "Love at first sight."
"Hardly," Brad said. "Neither of us even knew we liked men yet. At least not until we got to know each other. We just met and became friends and then we kind of fell in love with each other."
"Oh, that's so romantic," Mags said. "I love a good love story like that."
"It happens," Cali said. "Like Mags and me. I married her brother and had Tyler, and then fell in love with her. I'd spent my whole life hiding from myself."
Now I knew why I liked Cali so much. Kindred spirits.
"I knew I was a lesbian," Mags said shyly. "I was just afraid."
"I still am," Brad added, the same hint of shyness in his voice.
Cali placed a comforting hand on Brad's arm. "Trust me, Bradley, you won't stay afraid very long. This is the best kind of happy you can feel."
The room became eerily silent, broken only by the laughter of the kids in the livingroom. Breakfast was finished. Cali took her hand back and rose to her feet. "Well, Honey," she said to Mags, "we've got a pile of work to do. Best get at it."
The rest of us stood as well. "Don't worry about Tyler," I told Cali. "We'll take good care of him."
"I know you will, Teddy." Cali was the kissiest person I've ever met, but this time, I got a big hug out of it as well.
Brad got the same treatment plus a pinch on the cheek to boot. "You know I'm just teasing you, Sweetie."
Brad smiled. "Yeah, I know."
"That's good," Cali said. She started to leave and turned back. "Oh, by the way, Bradley, until I get my clothes line up, could you just stand in your front yard, point it my way, and think of Ted?"
They were probably half-way home before Brad and I stopped laughing.
* * * * *
It was just after lunch that Warren phoned. Brad and I were out digging up our yard when Lindsay called at us from the door. I kicked off my shoes outside and headed for the phone.
"Hi, Warren."
"Hey, Teddy," he said with welcomed cheerfulness. "Doc says I'm a stone's throw from the edge of the woods. C'est bon, n'est pas?"
"Wonderful news, Warren," I said. I'm sure he could hear the relieved grin in my voice.
"I'm here, too, Ted," Bill said.
"Hi, Bill," I said. "Warren keeping you busy?"
"Not me," Bill quipped, "but he keeps the night nurse on his toes."
"He looks just like Chris O'Donnell and he smells like vanilla custard."
"With a cherry on top?" I asked jokingly.
"Whipped cream," Bill joked back.
Anxious to change the subject - my stomach still hurt from Cali's visit - I asked, "Any idea when you can go home?"
"Not for awhile yet, Teddy. Doc wants to keep me here until I can lose another five kilos."
"Well, just keep doing what you're supposed to be doing, pal," I said. "I expect you to be sitting in the front row when my little girl walks down the aisle."
"You can count on that one, Teddy. Life is good, and I almost convinced myself to die. This boy is going to be around for a long time yet."
"I hope so," I told him honestly.
"Speaking of Lindsay," Bill interrupted, "how's she holding up?"
"Great," I said. "She's sitting here playing Nintendo. I've got her back into dance class. I didn't know Connie hasn't been taking her for the past two months."
"Oh, Teddy, why didn't she tell you?"
"Because," Bill jumped in, knowing instinctively that it would be difficult for me to talk freely. "Connie probably told her she'd get a spanking if she did. Am I right, Ted?"
"More than that, Bill. A lot more."
"That you wouldn't love her if she told you." He knew Connie too well.
"Yup."
"I'm so sorry, Ted. I can read people, but I never saw that in her," Warren said. "She fooled a lot of people. And what she did to Lindsay. . ."
"She excelled at that," I said, "but it's all over now."
"Lindsay's doing okay now?"
"Just great. She's playing Nintendo with a neighbour boy who moved in a few houses down the street. We're keeping him busy so Cali and Mags can unpack and do some shopping and stuff."
"Oooo," Warren exclaimed in his favourite ‘interesting' voice. "Cali sounds cute!"
"He's a she, Warren."
"Oh," he said, disappointed. Then, "Oh!"
"Yeah," I said. "They were here for dinner last night and breakfast this morning. They're great people. You'd like Cali. She teases Brad better than
you do."
"My kind of gal!"
"How
is Brad?" Bill asked.
"Great. He's outside now digging up our front yard. He's doing some landscaping."
"You mean ‘our' as in ‘you and Lindsay
and Basket Boy?" That was Warren.
"Yes, Warren. This is our house now."
I heard a sigh, and then Warren became the ‘serious' Warren. "Please tell me you're happy, Ted. I want so much for you to be happy."
"I'm very happy, Warren. And Brad's very happy, too."
"Then I'm happy for you, Ted. You deserve it after all this time."
"No, I don't, Warren. I have Lindsay now, and I have Brad, too. No-one deserves this much happiness."
Bill's voice cut in. "Many people don't have any, Ted. You spent twelve years trying to find it with Connie, and she almost took what little you had away from you. Enjoy it now. You're not being selfish."
Warren spoke up again. "Like I said, Teddy, you deserve it. I've got the doctor here now, waiting to shove something else up my ass, so I have to go. You take care of that family, you hear me?"
"I will, Warren. Thanks," I said. "Love you both."
Lindsay shouted, "Bye!"
"We love you, too, Teddy, and say ‘bye' to Lindsay for us."
"I will. See you later, eh?"
"Bye."
And it was done. Warren was almost out of the woods and I prayed he'd make it the rest of the way. I had a feeling, though, that he would. Warren was too stubborn to die now, especially since he'd come so far.
"I'm going back out to help Brad. Do you two need anything?"
Lindsay paused the game. "Could you make another sandwich, Daddy?"
"But you just had lunch."
"I know but Ty. . . I mean, I'm still hungry."
I smiled at her cleverness. "Sure, Sweetheart. What kind of sandwich do you want?"
She glanced at Tyler and he whispered in her ear, "Peanut butter and banana."
Lindsay looked up at me again. "Peanut butter and banana. And could you make one with jam instead of banana? I'm
really hungry, Daddy."
I kissed her forehead. "Sure." For good measure, I kissed Tyler's forehead, too. But Lindsay got the biggest one.
A few minutes later, I set one plate on the coffee table with two different sandwiches on it. But there were two glasses of cold milk.
* * * * *
Cali arrived later that afternoon to pick up Tyler. He didn't want to go, but finally relented when I promised him he could come over and sleep on air mattresses on the floor some night. We cleaned up the tools, then got cleaned up and dressed. I took everyone out to Burger King for supper. I drove through Tim Horton's on the way home and bought a box of Timbits and a half dozen apple fritters. We hadn't had any in a long time, and I figured all that digging had worn off at least a pinch of my Timbit tummy. I deserved the treat.
With my help, the yard was almost ready for Brad's landscaping. The rest would be up to him, and he'd get on it first thing in the morning.
Lindsay was in bed and sound asleep by eight-thirty. By nine, Brad and I were sitting naked in the hot tub for the very first time. Man, it was better than I could have imagined, and I didn't begrudge a single penny of the privacy fence.
Brad sat opposite me, leaning into the corner. His feet were playing with mine and our toes danced to the music of the bubbling water. He just sat there, his arms spread out on the rim of the tub, staring at me for the longest time.
"You are so beautiful, Ted de Villiers."
I bowed my head in mock humility. "Aw, shucks. I bet you say that to all the guys." But, when I looked back into Brad's face, it was nothing but sincere.
"No, I don't." He stood up and moved toward me, his hardon pointing the way. He stopped when he was standing in front of me. "When I look at you, and when I think about what a wonderful man you are, this happens to me."
He bent at the waist and his lips found mine. It was a savage kiss this time, full of the passion we both felt for each other. It was loud and it was noisy and it was beautiful. We explored each other like never before, and we did it with the ferocity of two hurricanes coming together. I found myself moaning into Brad's mouth, and his own grunts of excitement blended with mine, echoing back and forth between us. I sucked desperate breaths of air through my nostrils as I pulled his face closer to mine.
I finally pushed him away. I needed him, and I was going to take him. My hands grabbed his hips and pulled him forward and into me. It was getting easier each time, and the head of his cock soon found itself lodged inside my mouth. One hand wrapped itself around his shaft, the other tickled his balls from underneath. I sucked his cock and I teased it. My tongue traced him and dug into the tiny slit at the tip. His hands found my shoulders and Brad held on. My jaws strained, but I was getting used to his size and there very little pain anymore.
Within a few minutes, the swelling began, and I prepared myself for his release. It came with all the power and strength his youth could give me, and I was greedy in accepting it. I could hear his groans of pleasure above me, and I was sure our neighbours could hear him as well. I didn't care. His happiness was the only thing that mattered.
When it was over, I held his cock in my mouth until it softened and Brad had caught his breath. And then he pushed me away, wrapped one arm around my back and hooked the other under my legs, and he picked me up. He stepped out of the hot tub without even a swagger and flipped the switch to ‘off' with his toe.
He carried me to the back door. I slid it open and he stepped through. I slid the door closed again and locked it. We were dripping on the carpet, but I didn't care. Brad carried me around as I locked the front door and turned off the lights, and then he took me into the bedroom. I closed the door and he took me to the bed and laid me on it. I could feel the sheets absorbing the moisture from my body. I flipped on the table lamp beside me.
Brad released me then and climbed onto the bed between my legs, pushing them apart with his knees. He bent forward and captured my cock in his gentle fingers and his lips joined them a moment later.
He sucked me to my own orgasm and he accepted it as I had accepted his. With a happy smile on his face, he lay down beside me and kissed me. My hand found the lamp and I turned off the light. Our lips were still pressed together when I fell asleep.
To Be Continued