Watching Brad

[KCNine]

Neil,

Where ever you take the story and us, it's going to be great! In my opinion, you have never disappointed us readers.

As indexer stated no matter where the story will go, 'we' would still read it unceasingly!

THANKS!!!

 

[ballentyne84]

Hello Neil,

I've been spending this week spare time reading this story from page 39-51! It was a helluva long ride to catch-up for me, but it's worthed. I've sent my feedbacks and comments to you through pm cause like I said it's a long ride. I can see new chapters have been posted and I know I have to take another ride again to catch up with all the other readers. Okay, I think I better start now....Thanks Neil. You're the 'God of Storyteller'!

 

[gsdx]

WATCHING BRAD
Part 151​

"I never thought I could do anything like that," Nathan said meekly and with a shy smile as he sat back in his chair. He hadn't done anything really, other than to kiss Barry and to stroke his cock a few times, but that in itself had been impressive enough.

I had a hardon, bouncing beneath the surface of the water from what I had just witnessed there in our pool, but I was surprised that Brad didn't. I was to discover the reason very quickly.

"That was so beautiful, Nathan," Brad said beside me, almost in awe. "So romantic."

Leave it up to me to see the erotic side of romance.

Nathan's eyes met Brad's in the glittering candlelight. "Really?"

"Sure," Brad said. "You shouldn't be afraid to show Barry how much you love him. Not here. You know that's the closest you two have come to being intimate?"

"I've always wanted to," Nathan continued, "but I've been afraid to. When Barry started it, I had to do it, just to see if I could."

"How did you feel about it?" I asked.

Nathan sucked in a deep, rapid breath through his mouth and let it blow out again just as quickly, then, as he laughed, he said, "Pretty good, actually. Everywhere we go, I have to be so careful what I do and say." His face turned sad and serious all of a sudden. "All the times we've been here and I see you and Brad being so loving with each other and I wanted to do the same with Barry, but. . ." He paused and his face brightened again. "Well, it just didn't seem proper somehow, but now I feel like I can be myself."

"That was my point, Nathan," Brad said.

"I know. It's easier for some people, though." Nathan cast his gaze toward Barry, who hadn't taken his eyes off him. He was met with a warm but mischievous smile. "I was just going to kiss him, but then I felt like we were at home and. . . well. . . I wanted to touch him so much."

"I thought you were going to do a lot more," Barry told his partner.

Nathan looked away and down at the water in front of him, his white teeth glowing in the candlelight behind an embarrassed grin. "I almost did," he added quietly

"If it had gone that far, Nathan," Brad told him, "we would have left you alone. The whole point of. . ."

"I know, Brad," Nathan interrupted. "The point was to make us feel more comfortable around each other, that we didn't go into panic mode every time we saw something personal. So we don't go sneaking around and hiding in shadows. I know what you're trying to do here, but I. . ."

Nathan stopped speaking, lifting his hands out of the water and nervously picking at the thumbnail of his left hand.

When it became obvious that Nathan had no intention of finishing his thought, Brad asked, "You ‘what', Nathan."

"Never mind." Nathan was obviously troubled by the secret he'd almost exposed.

"Nathan? What is it?"

"Please, Brad," Nathan replied, not looking away from his hands. "Just forget it, okay?"

Brad turned to Barry. "Do you know what he's talking about?"

Barry's response was, "I think so." To Nathan, he said, "When we were changing for dinner?"

Nathan's nod was barely visible in the dark.

"Do you want me to tell them?"

Nathan's response was a small shrug of his shoulders.

Barry turned to us and drew in a deep breath before he began speaking. He spoke to both of us, but it was obvious that his comments were aimed at Brad. "When we were changing downstairs, Nathan and I talked about what you were trying to do. You know, us being more free around each other. He asked me if I thought that meant you might do what you did last night. I think he thought if he. . . you know. . . blew me or jerked me off with you guys watching, you might let us watch you, too."

It was Brad's turn to be shocked. "Really, Nathan?" he asked hesitantly.

There were several long moments of waiting before Nathan nodded his head once, still not looking up from his hands.

Brad slumped in his chair as he looked down at the water in concentration. I could almost hear the wheels of thought turning in his mind. "Well. . . um. . . that isn't exactly what I had in mind with all this." I could see that Brad had been caught totally by surprise. I don't think he'd even considered anything like this. I was just about to come to his rescue when he sat up again and said, "Look. I just wanted us to get more comfortable with each other so we could be better friends. I wasn't really talking about having sex in front of each other or anything. I mean, I'm glad we're being more honest now, but. . . Gee-sus, Murphy. . . I didn't think you'd ask me to do that. I mean, that's something I do for Ted. I don't know if I could do it in front of anyone else. I mean, I already did, but I didn't know you were there."

Brad paused in his monologue as we waited. It was obvious that he had more to say. Finally, it came. "Look. I think we should talk about this when we're sober. I don't think we should do anything or talk about anything like this when we've been drinking."

We all fell into a rather uncomfortable silence until it was broken by Barry's voice. "You know? You're pretty damned smart, Brad." And then he calmly reached one hand and placed it over his cock and pressed it down toward him and flat against his stomach so it was no-longer in view.

Nathan nodded his head. "Yes, he is," he said quietly.

* * * * *

"Do you think they're making love down there?" Brad asked as he curled up against me, resting his head on my shoulder and twirling his fingers through my chest hair. Even after two orgasms, his cock was solid once again and pressed against my side. My left arm was bent at the elbow, my fingers stroking the hair on the side of his head.

I laughed. "What do you think, you little pervert?"

Brad laughed with me. "I mean ‘still'."

"You saw Barry tonight. What if you'd been sitting around with a hardon for six hours? Judging by what Nathan said, I'd guess there's a pretty good chance at least one of them is."

Brad shifted himself even closer to me on the bed. "I thought he was going to do it right there in the pool," he said with a hearty chuckle. "Especially after that kiss."

"I'm surprised he didn't."

Brad was silent for awhile and I thought he was finished talking and was ready for sleep. His finger had moved to my right nipple and was tracing a circle around it. Then he asked, "Did I do the right thing, Ted?"

"When?"

"Tonight. The skinny dipping thing. Was that the right thing to do?"

My fingers stopped stroking is hair. "Did it have the results you were hoping for?"

Brad thought for a few long moments, his finger still drawing circles on my chest. I could feel his soft breath blowing warmly across me. "Well, it let Nathan open up enough to kiss Barry and play with his dick, and that's sort of what I was hoping for, but I didn't expect Nathan to ask me to jerk off so he could watch, and I certainly wasn't expecting Barry to be such a. . . such an exhibitionist."

"That surprised me, too," I told him. "But, it might have just been the beer."

Brad's finger stopped moving and his palm flattened itself over my right pec as he propped himself up onto his elbow and looked down at me.

"How can we know for sure, Pops?"

"We can't, Tiger. I suppose if he shows up at breakfast in the morning naked and with his hardon stuck through a bagel, I guess that would be a pretty heavy clue."

Brad smiled, then bent closer to kiss me. I could still taste my climax on his tongue and his climax on mine. When he leaned back again, he said softly, "I just hope I did the right thing. I hope I haven't screwed everything up."

He continued looking down at me, his eyes flicking back and forth between mine. "If Barry had jerked off in the pool, would you have stayed to watch him?"

Brad's question set me aback. I honestly didn't know the answer to it.

"Okay," Brad said when my silence wasn't enough of a response for him, "let me ask you this. If Barry had jerked off in the pool tonight, would you and liked to stay and watch?"

That question I could answer, but I wasn't sure if I should. I did anyway. "Yes."

I lay there terrified of Brad's reaction. All I got was a smile in return. "I knew you would, Ted," he replied. "I just wanted to hear you say it." He gave me a quick kiss before continuing. "I'll do it for you, Pops."

"Do what?"

"I'll jerk off for Nathan if you really want to watch Barry. I'll do it for you, Ted."

And I knew he would. "I think we should wait until we're both sober before we even consider doing anything like that. We'll talk about it later, okay?"

"Okay," Brad said as he settled against me once more. We lay there in silence for a time, thinking. Brad continued his lazy swirls on my chest as I continued stroking his hair. Brad's cock still pressed against me, his hips gently shifting from side to side as he rubbed himself against me.

After a time, I said softly, "Tiger?"

"Yeah, Pops?"

"Would you jerk off for me again?"

* * * * *

We were awakened by a pot or something clanging on the kitchen floor, quickly followed by a muffled oath. I glanced at the bedside clock. It was after ten o'clock. Brad rolled up onto his elbow and looked down at me. He looked remarkably cheery. "Life beckons," he grinned, then leaned down for our morning kiss.

When he leaned back again, his beautiful smile met me, and it was the most wonderful thing to see first thing in the morning. His eyes twinkled in the dull, morning light peeking through the window drapes. "Enjoy the show last night?"

I smiled up at him, but my smile wasn't quite as bright and welcoming as his, I'm sure. "I always enjoy that show, Tiger. I could sit and watch you do that all day."

"Wouldn't you rather join me?"

I rolled onto my elbow so I could talk to Brad face-to-face. "I'm not always up to it, Tiger," I said, "neither literally nor figuratively. You know that. So, I want you to promise me something."

"Anything, Pops," he smiled.

"Any time you feel ‘up to it', just assume that I'm up to watching you, okay?"

"You really like watching me jerk off that much?"

"It's my favourite hobby," I told him.

"Okay, Pops," he said. "I promise." He was still smiling, but it was different now. It was one of his ‘anything for you' smiles he gives me from time to time.

Brad kissed me again, then rolled onto his back and casually pushed the sheet down his body to his thighs. He was most definitely ‘up to it'. He didn't suck himself this time except to moisten the head of his cock, settling instead with merely using his hands that morning. And it wasn't a slow, leisurely session. He had only one goal in mind that morning, and he worked to achieve that goal as quickly as possible.

The best thing about being Brad's age is the fact that he could ‘knock one off' in a matter of minutes. At my age, it takes that long just to get in the mood. People like Brad are always in the mood. Just get it up and whack it down.

Still, as short as it was, it was no less enjoyable to watch. Brad's practiced hands worked diligently, his right stroking up and down that incredible shaft and his left teasing his balls with his fingers. I let my right hand play on his chest as he jerked, teasing his nipples into mini peaks and toying with the valley between his pecs. Within a few very short minutes, Brad was ready for release and I knew the precise moment to lower my head and take him into my mouth to receive his offering.

That is another thing about guys Brad's age. Even after the three orgasms the night before, only a few hours' sleep was necessary to replenish him, and his offering was as sweet and full as every other time.

Brad lay there for several minutes afterward, catching his breath and allowing his body to relax again. I leaned over him, looking at his face as my hand rested on his rising and falling stomach. His lovely, green eyes were still closed and his mouth was still open, sucking in deep breaths, and I marvelled once again at how lucky I was to have this man sharing my bed.

His eyes opened and found mine as his lips spread into a broad, thoroughly satisfied grin. "Did that make you happy, Pops?"

"I'll set the alarm ten minutes earlier just so I can watch you do that every morning, Tiger."

"Any time you want me to do it, just ask."

"Consider the question already asked, Brad." I rolled onto him for some serious lip mashing.

* * * * *

Nathan had our breakfast ready for us by the time we finished our shower and brushed our teeth. With the taste of mint on our tongues now, we greeted him in the kitchen as he poured our coffee and began serving our meal. He was dressed in shorts and a light, cotton pull-over. We wore our bathrobes.

Barry was already seated at the table, eating. He had no shirt on and I thought he might be entirely naked, but, as I sat at my place at the table, I noticed with some relief that he was wearing blue underwear. It didn't hide much, but it was there.

Nathan must have noticed my quick glance. "I made him put them on," he said, apparently trying to make light of the situation. "We should have warned Brad yesterday about Barry's idea of ‘comfort' when he brought all this up."

Barry looked at me. "Should I go put on some shorts?"

"No," I told him. "You're okay, I guess." But the subject had been broached and this was as good a time as any to set the guidelines. "Look, Nathan? Would you sit down for a minute?" When he was seated beside Brad, I continued. "Look. Just so we're all clear on this, we didn't have a problem with what you guys did in the pool last night. If it had gone any further, we would have left you alone. The whole idea was to be comfortable around each other - not to have sex in front of each other. Who knows? We might become good enough friends for that at some point, but, at least for now, let's not treat it as a go-ahead to do whatever we want."

Barry rose to his feet saying, "I'll go put on some shorts."

I grabbed his wrist. "No, Barry, you're missing the point. Sit down." I released his wrist and nodded toward his underwear. "This is being comfortable. Just like last night with your erection. You having it and us looking at it all night wasn't the problem. And even Nathan playing with it wasn't a problem. It would have become a problem if either he or you took it to the next step."

Brad took over for me. " Like Ted said, there may come a time when we're good enough friends that we can do it in front of each other, but right now, at least, I don't think it's a habit we should get into right away. It was a little strange seeing Barry running around with an erection last night, but I don't think anyone really minded looking at it. If he's comfortable with that, then I don't think it's going to bother anyone. I'll admit that it would have bothered me if he sat around playing with it all night, though. That's not what I was trying to accomplish with this experiment. Does that make sense?"

"Perfect sense, Bradley," Nathan replied. "I'm sorry for thinking what I did last night."

"Don't worry about it, Nathan," Brad said softly. "I'm glad you told me. I just don't think I'm ready to be that comfortable yet. Right now, I do it for Ted, but who knows? Maybe your wish will come true some day."

Nathan smiled then. "Thank you," he said and he leaned forward and kissed Brad on the lips. It was nothing like the kiss Barry had given me yesterday, but it was enough for Nathan to express his true appreciation. Without another word, he stood up and finished serving breakfast for us and we all sat together and ate it.

* * * * *

Brad was in the bathroom before we left to pick up the kids when I corralled Nathan in the kitchen. "I need you to do me a really big favour, Nathan," I whispered to him.

"Sure, Ted. Anything."

I quickly explained everything I needed him to do and he listened intently, nodding as I spoke. When I was finished, I asked, "Can you remember all that?"

"Of course," he replied. "Leave it to me, Ted. I'll have everything ready for you."

The kids were waiting for us in the front yard when I pulled into the driveway at the house in Maple Grove. Lindsay was seated under a tree reading a book and the twins were playing with some toy trucks in the gardens which still remained devoid of vegetation. Brad had phoned them as I drove to tell them we were on our way.

It had only been two nights since I'd seen them, but it was so good to look at their happy faces once again. By the time I got parked and out of the van, the twins on their feet and running across the yard toward us. And yes, you read that correctly. They were running.

Brad and I knelt next to each other to greet them, but they came to me first and jumped into my arms, almost knocking me backwards. "Jeremy!" I said excitedly as I hugged them both hard. "You're running!"

"It doesn't hurt, Daddy," he replied. His little voice was full of relief and his happy smile was as broad as the horizon.

Justin's smile matched his brother's. "We wakeded up and it doesn't hurt!"

I gave them another hug and a kiss on each cheek before releasing them so they could greet Brad. Lindsay fell into my arms, giving me a much more tender kiss and hug. "Hi, Daddy," she said sweetly, "I missed you."

"I missed you, too, Sweetheart," I told as I returned her hug and kiss. When she leaned away from me, I flashed her my dazzling smile and asked, "Were your brothers good this weekend?"

"Justin broke one of Grandma's African Violets, but it was an accident. I helped her put it in another pot."

"Was Grandma mad?"

Lindsay shook her head ‘no', and then she smiled a devilish little smile. "But Grandma made Justin sweep up the mess. He didn't like it."

Justin climbed back into my arms as I stood up to head for the front door. Brad carried Jeremy, of course. As we neared the tree, I set Justin down and told him to gather up his toys and to put them away. "Aw, Daddy," he complained.

"No whining," I told him. "Just do it."

Brad set Jeremy down so he could help. Minutes later, with the toys put away, we sat together in the kitchen, the adults sipping tea and the kids drinking juice. The twins sat in our laps.

"Are you certain you would not like to stay for lunch, Theodore?" Dad asked.

"I'm sure, Dad. Nathan's getting it ready for us back at the house."

"I hate to be a stickybeak, Teddy," Mom said, "but do you think it's wise to leave those two gentlemen alone in your house?"

I had to chuckle. "Barry's a cop, Mom. I don't think he's about to walk off with all our furniture or steal our silverware."

Brad leaned toward me and whispered, "What's a ‘sneakybeak'?"

"I believe, Bradley," Dad replied for me, "the word you would use is ‘Buttinsky'."

Only Dad and his accent could make that word sound so funny. He had me roaring with laughter. The twins laughed and clapped because I was laughing, but Brad sat there wondering what was so funny.

We left after refreshments were finished. Brad had the remainder of Jeremy's prescription in his shirt pocket and Lindsay still carried her book. Both Brad and I had been impressed with how cool the house had felt, even without air conditioning. There was plenty of shade from all the large trees on their property and, apparently, the old house had been thoroughly insulated by the previous owners. As long as Mom kept the windows closed during the day, the inside didn't heat up much at all.

I glanced into the mirror. The twins met my gaze there and smiled at me and waved. I smiled and waved back at them. Lindsay sat in the seat beyond them, still engrossed in her book.

"What are you reading, Sweetheart?" I called back to her.

"Anne of Green Gables," she replied. "It's about a little girl who gets adopted and lives with some people on Prince Edward Island. Grandma lent it to me."

"I know the story, Sweetheart," I told her. "It's a good book. Does Grandma have the other books?"

"No," she replied. "Are there more?"

"Lots more, Sweetheart."

"Do you think they have them at the library?"

"I'm sure they do, Lindsay. I'm sure they would have them at the school library, too."

"Daddy, how do you say the lady's name?" she asked. "You know, Matthew's sister?"

"‘mah-RIH-lah'," I told her.

"How do you say her last name?"

"Cuthbert, Sweetheart. Just the way it looks."

"Thank you, Daddy," she said and went back to reading.

I pulled out my cell phone, motioning Brad to lean closer. "Find Lindsay's birthday," I whispered quietly. "Punch in ‘Anne', with an E."

Moments later, he handed the phone back to me. I glanced at his work and laughed lightly. He had, indeed, typed in ‘Ann with an E'. I closed my phone and slipped it back into my pocket, smiling to myself at how delighted my daughter would be when she opened up the complete Lucy Maud Montgomery collection on her birthday.

Nathan had lunch set out and ready for us when we arrived home. The twins ran to greet their uncles and I was pleased to see that Barry had put on shorts and a T-shirt.

I noticed that the painting was gone. Probably wrapped up again in something or other and sitting on the back seat of Barry's car.

"You had a phone call," Nathan said. "Lori Smith wants you to call her back."

"Andrew!" Justin yelled. "Can Andrew come play on our new swings?"

"Please, Daddy?" Jeremy added.

Nathan caught my reaction. I hadn't included this in my plans. "Wouldn't you rather play with us?" he asked Justin, who was still being cradled in Nathan's arm. Barry was holding Jeremy, and both twins shook their heads emphatically.

Nathan glanced at me again, reading the unspoken question in my eyes, and he nodded slightly. There would be enough for everyone.

I went to him and held out my hands for Justin and he came to me without hesitation. "Let's go call him and see if he can come over, okay?"

Justin beamed his wonderful smile at me and hugged my neck as I went to the phone. My plans for the day had already changed so much. What difference would a few more people make?

To Be Continued​

 

[botboy03]

Very good Neil. Thanks again.

Zac

 

[upyrkilt469]

I like the way the story is going. Keep it, but you know best. Vic.

 

[harry113]

Thank you Neil ... yet again !!!
This is your story & I like the way you are telling it!!
Harry

 

[wyndhampaul]

Thanks, Neil. Perhaps we, your readers, are all "stickbeaks" by peering through the lens of your mind into the lives of this remarkable family.

 

[dougmc]

Neil: I enjoyed the chapter very much. Even this conservative "old fart" liked the way you handled things.

 

[phoenix72]

loved that last update...and the whole story is something i look forward to whenever i visit the site.

way 2 go

 

[gsdx]

WATCHING BRAD
Part 152​

"Hi, Lori," I said into the telephone. Justin was holding onto my shirt collar, his attention fully on my face. I had hoped for something a little different that afternoon, a little more private, but when I looked into that beautiful little face and saw all the happiness and anticipation in those sparkling eyes and that wonderful smile, my own ‘wants' blew right out the window. I would make do for the sake of my children's happiness. Mine would come later.

"Oh, Ted!" she said. She sounded surprised. "I didn't expect you to call back so soon."

"I'm not disturbing you, am I?"

"Oh, no," she added quickly. "Not at all. My Uncle David's here and he wants to meet you and Brad. We were wondering if it would be okay for us to drop over for a visit this afternoon?"

"Well, that's sort of why I called, Lori. The boys want Andrew to come over and play on their new swings. Have you had lunch yet?"

"We're eating now," she said, "but I'm sure Andrew would love to come over and play."

"Come on over when you're finished, then. We're having banana splits and TimBits for dessert."

"Okay, but what are those?"

"What? TimBits?" I asked. "Don't tell me you've been in Canada all this time and you haven't hit Tim Hortons yet?"

"Oh, we've been in there," she replied. "I don't know what TimBits are."

"They're the little, round doughnuts with the sprinkles and cinnamon and powdered sugar on them."

"Ah. I've seen those. I didn't know what they were called."

"Well, come over for some anyway. And bring Andrew's swimsuit, just in case they want to go in the pool. Bring yours, too, if you want."

"Thank you, Ted. We'll be over in about half an hour."

"See you then. Bye."

"Bye, Ted."

"Is Andrew coming?" Justin asked after I'd hung up the phone.

"Yup. He'll be here for dessert."

Justin bounced in my lap as he clapped his hands again, turning his head toward his brother, sitting in Brad's lap beside me. Jeremy's reaction was a virtual duplicate.

We all went to the kitchen to have lunch. Lindsay sat beside Brad, as usual, but the twins sat in our laps. Barry and Nathan sat across from Brad and Lindsay. Lunch was an assortment of sandwiches, all cut into triangles and with the crusts neatly trimmed away. There was also a plate of cheese cut into bite-sized squares, a plate of pickles, and another small plate with freshly-sliced raw veggies.

"Thank you, Nathan," I told him, "but don't trim the crusts off the bread next time, okay?"

"I'm sorry, Ted," Nathan apologized. "I thought it would be a nice treat for the kids."

"It is, but I don't want them to get used to it, that's all."

Nathan nodded his understanding. "I'll remember."

I was just reaching for the plate of sandwiches when Justin's arms flew straight up into the air. "Daddy, I'm hot."

"Can't you keep your shirt on until after we eat?"

Justin shook his head with a very firm ‘no', so I grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head, dropping the shirt onto the floor beside me. Jeremy's T-shirt joined it a moment later.

"Better?"

This time his head bobbed up and down.

"Sweetheart, put your book away, please," I said. "You can read more after lunch."

"But I'm getting to a good part, Daddy," she complained. "Diana's sister is really sick and Anne is. . ."

"No reading at the table, Lindsay," I reminded her. "You know the rule."

"Then I'm not hungry!" she shouted as she marked her page with her bookmark and stood up.

"Lindsay!" I shouted. She stopped in her tracks and stared at me. I held out my hand to her. "Give me the book."

She didn't move.

"Give me the book, Lindsay. You can read after lunch, but you know we don't read whilst eating. Now, give me the book and sit down."

Still, she didn't move.

I stood up, lifting Justin with me and handing him to Barry. "Would you please see that Justin eats his lunch?" I asked him. "I have to take Lindsay to her Grandmother's so she can give back the book."

"Daddy, no!" Lindsay cried.

"Then give me the book and read it after lunch or we take it back to Grandma's right now," I said calmly. "Your choice, Lindsay."

The room was deathly silent. Even Justin hadn't objected when I handed him over to Barry. Lindsay stared me down, but I held her gaze until she backed down and set it on the corner of the table. As Lindsay returned to her chair, I said, "Thank you, Sweetheart."

"Sorry, Daddy," she said softly as I took Justin back from Barry and sat down in my chair. Justin settled into my lap and his eyes fell to the plate of sandwiches in front of him.

Brad held out the plate for us. I grabbed a few sandwiches and put them onto my plate and Justin picked out the ones he wanted. For some reason, though, he thought mine tasted better. I would take a bite and he'd twist around with his mouth open so he could have a bite, too. On the few occasions that he would pick one of the sandwiches from his own plate, he would take a bite and then shove the rest of it into my mouth and laugh as I tried to eat the whole thing without choking. That, I suppose, is called ‘fun'.

I should have stopped him, but I hadn't seen the kids for almost seventeen hours and I missed them - and we didn't have a rule about feeding Daddy. Besides, if you saw those lips puckering up for some sugar, I'm sure your heart would melt, too. The twins had missed Brad and I as well, apparently. Both of our hearts melted about a dozen times each during lunch.

We were sitting in the livingroom after lunch when the doorbell rang. Justin shouted, "I'll get it!" and slid out of my arms to the floor before I even knew he was going. I managed to lean forward and shove my fingers down the back of his retreating shorts before he got very far.

"Whoa, there!" I said. "Not without me!" I wrapped my other arm around him and picked him up.

"It's Andrew, Daddy."

"I don't care who it is. You know you're not supposed to answer the door by yourself."

"I'm sorry, Daddy," he said as he settled onto my hip. "Are you mad?"

"No, I'm not mad," I assured him with a hug. "I just want to keep you safe, that's all."

Brad and Jeremy followed us to the door. I opened it to Lori, who stood there with her son in front of her and her hands on his shoulders. Brad Smith stood behind her and, to his left, stood another young man.

"Hi, Andrew," Justin said excitedly, a huge grin on his face. "We're having nanaspits!"

"Hi, Justin," he replied. Then, looking past us, he said, "Hi, Jeremy."

"I don't know how he does that," Lori laughed as she guided Andrew inside. "I still can't tell one from the other."

I held the door as the others passed through. Brad Smith greeted me with a nod, as did the young man who followed him. My Brad led them into the livingroom with Justin and I following as soon as I'd closed the doors.

I tried to keep the surprise out of my face when I was introduced to Lori's uncle. To me, he looked like her younger brother. He was shorter than Lori, the top of his head at about the same level as my chin. He was rather slim, but well-built and surprisingly muscular. His arms, legs, and chest looked solid beneath the snug, faded cut-off denim shorts and the skin-tight, sleeveless T-shirt he wore. He was darkly tanned and his hair was almost white, but neither looked artificial, both appearing to be a direct result of many hours in the sun, and both accenting his features perfectly. He had blue eyes which almost matched the colour of the twins' eyes except that his pupils were abundantly specked with grey, giving them a rather fascinating and magnetic appearance.

"Ted?" Lori said to me. "This is my Uncle David."

As we shook hands, David flashed a brilliant smile at me, made more brilliant by his tan. Apparently he saw the surprise in my face, the surprise I'd tried to hide.

"Nice to finally met you," he said pleasantly. His grip was as strong as I expected it would be. "I know, you were expecting someone a little taller, right?"

There was no disguising my surprise now. That isn't what I had expected him to say. "Well, no, actually."

"Ah," David responded. "Older then." He laughed. "I was an afterthought," he explained. "Dad had too much to drink one night, I guess. My brother, Lori's dad, was seventeen when I was born. I was only two years old when Lori was born."

"Okay," I said. "So that would make you. . ."

"Twenty-one!" Lori said quickly. "And you sleep on the floor if you do that finger thing again, Uncle David!"

"What finger thing?" Brad asked.

"This one," David said as he swiftly stuck up two fingers on his right hand, then dropped one and stuck up his other hand with his fingers and thumb extended, but not before Lori gave him a friendly smack on the back of the head. So, he was twenty-six.

"Just like Lori said," I smiled. "Twenty-one."

David laughed again and said, "Got a spare sofa I could borrow tonight? I think I'm gonna need it, and I don't take much room."

He was certainly not what I expected, but I was already beginning to like him. He might have been short, but I got the immediate impression that he could handle himself in any situation. I, for one, wouldn't want to tangle with him in a dark alley. Well, not fisticuffs, at least. Perhaps I would understand better after I got to know him, but, at that moment, I simply couldn't figure out why anyone would want to leave him as his boyfriend had done. I mean, it couldn't have been his height. They had lived together for quite some time. It had to be something else - something I didn't know about yet.

Lori introduced David to Brad before handing over the rest of the introductions to me. When I introduced him to the twins, he grinned and licked his thumb before drawing a circle on Justin's forehead, then licked it again and drew an ‘X' on Jeremy's. "Now I can tell you apart as long as you don't wipe that off."

It was so funny seeing the boys try to look up at their own foreheads, then, looking at each other as they tried to see what David apparently could see. As one, they reached for their own foreheads, ran their fingers across them, and looked at their fingers.

"Well, that's done it," David laughed. "Now I can't tell which one is which. You'll just have to tell me when I ask, alright?"

The twins nodded at him and smiled.

We set the twins onto the floor and sent them off with Andrew. Soon the three shirtless boys were playing with the Hot Wheel set near the patio doors. Andrew had talked his father into letting him take off his own shirt as well.

I finished the introductions, then Brad and I sat on the sofa with Barry sitting beside me, leaving room for Nathan when he returned. Brad Smith had the settee all to himself for the moment and David sat in the single chair near the fireplace. Lindsay sat on a cushion on the hearth, still engrossed in her book, the matter at lunch long forgotten. Lori and Nathan were busy in the kitchen "building banana splits" as Nathan had put it.

"I don't ‘make' them," he had said. "I ‘build' them."

"Well, think small when you build them for the kids," I reminded him.

"Yeah," David added with an impish grin. "Think ‘boyfriend' when you build for the grown-ups. Think ‘David' when you build for the kids."

I turned my attention to our new guest. "Lori told me this is your first time in Canada."

"Yeah, it is," David replied.

"So, how do you find it?"

"I don't," David said as he began to laugh. "I just open Lori's front door and there it is. I don't even have to look for it."

From the kitchen came Lori's voice. "Give it up, Uncle Dave! It wasn't funny this morning and it's not funny now!"

That made us all laugh.

"Seriously, though," David continued, "I haven't really seen much of it except what I drove through getting here. I saw a who-o-o-ole lot of one interstate."

"Freeway, Dave," Brad Smith corrected.

"Oh, yeah. You guys have provinces, don't you? It was a nice drive, though. Got lost when I got here and Brad had to come get me. Got pulled over, too. Man, I thought I had those speed numbers figured out. I sweet-talked the cop out of giving me a ticket, though. I shouldn't have much of a problem up here if all the cops are push-overs like that skinny little twerp. Bat your eyes a few times. Flash him a smile. Tell them you're American. They melt like butter."

He gave us a visual demonstration.

"I'm not melting," Barry said sternly from his place beside me.

"Why should you?" David grinned. "You're not a c. . ." The smile suddenly washed from his face. "Oh, shit," he whispered.

Barry tortured him with his glare for a few more tense seconds and suddenly started laughing. "Relax, David. I'm really a cop, but we're not all skinny little twerps. But we're pretty understanding with Americans when it comes to metric, even if they aren't as cute and cuddly as you are."

David relaxed noticeably. "When's your next shift and where's your beat? I wouldn't mind being handcuffed by you and carted off to jail. You do use handcuffs up here, don't you?"

"David, please," Brad Smith said in frustration. "You're embarrassing our hosts."

"Oh, lighten up, Brad," David replied. "Lori told me it was different up here. I get enough of that crap back home. For once I thought I could be myself."

I jumped in quickly. "You're not embarrassing us, David. I don't know what it's like in the States, but feel free to be yourself while you're here. All I ask is that you mind the children."

"Don't worry. That's as risqué as I get around kids."

As we waited for the banana splits, we talked and discovered that David worked in residential construction and roofing. That explained his tan and sun-bleached hair. And the muscles. Lifting all those concrete blocks and shingles, I suppose.

"Been at it since I finished high school," he said. "Good, honest work and it keeps me in shape. Mind you, being so small, I get to do all the fun stuff like working the rafters and attics and crawling around in crawl spaces and stuff like that. But the money's good and I get Winters off."

My Brad asked him how he got time off work to come up here during the busy season. David explained that the contractor he worked for was ‘restructuring his company' and a few deals had fallen through as a result. "Personally," he added, "I think the guy's drinking his company into bankruptcy. I'd already been off for a week before I came here and I spent a few days just handing out resumés. I think I'm getting out while the getting's good, but the new companies take one look at me and don't think the little runt can do the job and the doors close before I can even get my foot inside. It's a pisser being so short."

I had the sudden urge to go to him and give him a reassuring hug, but he stopped me dead in my tracks. "But there's nothing I can do about my height. I found a job once, I can do it again. I can haul brick and lumber right along with the best of them. They may be big enough to tromp me under foot, but they sure can't bring me down. I know what I can do and I'll be damned if I let anyone tell me otherwise."

Everyone liked David - especially his sense of humour. He was always smiling and he was always moving, but not from nervousness. The guy simply had a lot of energy. I thought, "Now, there's a someone who could keep up with the twins." He wasn't what I would particularly consider to be handsome, but he certainly wasn't ugly, either. He was even better-looking than average. ‘Good looking' is a good term for him. Whatever term you wish to use, David most definitely didn't hurt the eyes to look upon - especially the way his shorts bundled up at his crotch when he sat down - and his effervescent personality and his twinkling Santa Claus eyes made him one of the most delightful people I'd met in a long, long time. He may have been short, but there was nothing boyish about him. Despite his stature, he was every bit a man. By the time we were ready to eat dessert, it was like we had been friends for years.

Nathan came in with a platter laden with TimBits and Grandma Hayes' famous chocolate chip cookies and set them on the coffee table, then asked me, "What will the kids drink? Lori's getting milk for Andrew."

"Milk all around, then," I replied.

Nathan took the other orders for refreshments, then left once again for the kitchen. I called the kids to gather around the coffee table and Justin came over and climbed into my lap and gave me a big hug around the neck and a kiss on the lips. Brad was receiving similar treatment from Jeremy. "Can I sit on you, Daddy?" Justin asked.

Before I could object, Brad grabbed Jeremy in his arm and moved from the sofa to the floor with Jeremy settling into his crossed legs. I had no choice. Down onto my knees I went with Justin perched on my thighs.

Andrew stood on the other side of the table, looking from one twin to the other, and looking rather dejected. "C'mon, Andy," David said as he jumped up from his chair. "You can sit with me."

David stepped beside me, standing with his back to Barry, crossed one foot behind the other, and settled easily to the floor, sitting Indian-style like Brad and wriggling himself between Barry's legs. Barry had to spread them to give David enough room, but he was laughing as he did so. David grabbed his delighted grandnephew under his arms and lifted him into place in his lap.

"Are we quite comfy, David?" Barry asked.

David looked around at him. "Quite comfortable, thank you, Mr. Policeman. Mi-i-i-ighty comfortable indeed." He glanced at me long enough to flash a quick wink and smile. "Nice legs," he whispered, then set about tending to his nephew.

I had to call Lindsay twice to get her attention away from the book. She stood up finally and almost carried the book with her to the table, but though better of it and set it on the hearth after marking her spot with her favourite unicorn bookmark.

"Daddy," she said as she sat down across from me, "what's ‘EYE-puh-sack'?"

"I don't know, Sweetheart," I told her. "I'll have to look it up later. Was that in your story?"

"Yes," she replied. "When Diana's sister was sick, Anne made her drink some of it and it made her better. That's how Diana's mother let them be friends again."

"I know what it is," Lori said as she set a tray of drinks on the coffee table. "It's a liquid you give someone who has been poisoned. I-P-E-C-A-C. It's pronounced ‘IH-PIH-kak'. It induces. . . well, it would make the little girl sick to her stomach. It's not used much anymore."

"Thank you, Lori," Lindsay replied politely, then pronounced the word several times to herself, logging it into her memory.

"You're quite welcome, Lindsay," Lori said as he began handing out the drinks. Lindsay repeated the pronunciation several times to herself. Behind her, Nathan arrived with a large tray of toppings for the splits, setting it beside the cookie dish, then he and Lori went back to the kitchen to fetch the ‘nanaspits'. All four kids busied themselves munching on their favourite TimBits.

"Nathan," I said when he returned with his tray, "where did you get this stuff?"

The dessert dishes were clear plastic and the spoons were white, but they looked like real banana split dishes and spoons.

"When you told me you wanted banana splits, I went out and bought them," he explained. "A few extra toppings, too. No children eat banana splits out of cereal bowls as long as Uncle Nathan is around."

The kids had a ball selecting their own toppings for their desserts, and there was quite the selection: chopped nuts, peanuts, Maraschino cherries, chocolate and butterscotch syrup, fresh strawberries, coconut, and even whipped cream. Truth be told, the adults had just as much fun decorating their own, and even more fun eating them. I love watching kids eat ice cream. It's often a case of too much on the spoon and not enough mouth to go around it.

Of course, by the time we were finished, the boys looked like they could do with a quick trip through a car wash. As prearranged, I nodded quickly to Nathan and he nodded back, then Brad and I carried the twins to their bathroom, followed by Lori who was now carrying Andrew. I held the twins as Brad washed their hands, faces, and bellies, and pulled off their shorts that were now spotted with ice cream and chocolate syrup. He dropped them into the laundry hamper.

"I'll get clean shorts for them," he said.

"Wait a sec, Brad," I said. Then, to Lori, I asked, "You brought Andrew's swimsuit, didn't you?"

"Yes. It's in the livingroom."

"Why don't we just dress them in their suits, then? I have plenty of sun block here."

"Good idea," she replied. "I never thought to bring extra shorts."

As Brad and I headed for the bedroom, Lori called out, "Brad, could you bring me Andrew's swimsuit, please? It's in my purse."

Nathan hadn't yet returned to the livingroom by the time we got there and we sat down again. The boys were dressed in their swimsuits and anxious to get outside to the swings, but I told them they had to wait for Uncle Nathan. He came in shortly afterward and I stood up, handing Justin over to him. "I'll be right back," I assured my son.

I hurried down the hall to our bedroom, returning only seconds later to find everyone seated and waiting and undoubtedly very curious about what was going on. I was the only one still standing. I circled the sofa, stopping near the end where Brad was sitting with Jeremy.

My eyes fell on Brad's face and stayed there. Everyone else's eyes turned to him as well.

And then I spoke.

"Would you hand Jeremy to Barry and come here, please?" I said to Brad, the man I was going to marry in only six days.

Brad looked mystified, but nodded once, stood up and handed Jeremy over to his uncle, then came to stand in front of me. I took his hands in mine and turned us so everyone could see us. Brad stared into my eyes and I into his, and I never felt more in love with him than I did at that moment.

He stood there, breathing deeply through his nose and waiting for me to continue. The room was so quiet that I could almost hear his heart beating. I could certainly hear mine.

Brad didn't have to wait long.

To Be Continued​

 

[wyndhampaul]

You and your cliffhangers!!!!!!!!!! Oh well, now I have to wait 'til early Saturday morning. Thank you anyway, a delightful chapter.

 

[Kyanimal]

Brad didn't have to wait long.

Gee-sus Murphy! I'm right there, and then I'm "kicked out", and not "there" anymore! Brad may not have to wait, but I do!! NOT FAIR!!!

Yeah!, Neil, Your words get me THAT involved!

Will I wait? You Betcha!!! (How can I possibly not??)

Lookin' forward to Friday! (Not because it's the weekend! With my schedule that's not even a consideration!) I want to be back "there" again!

THANK YOU!, Neil!! (May I have "another", Sir?)

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz

 

[botboy03]

Ah, a cliffhanger again. David wasn't what I was expecting either Neil. Thanks again!

Zac

 

[upyrkilt469]

You did it again, Neil. A great chapter then you had to end it with a cliffhanger. Thanks it was a good way to keep us coming back for more. Vic

 

[jastwa]

I can hardly waited to read the next Chapter, as for now I better go pee befored I do all over myself

 

[gsdx]

David wasn't what I was expecting either Neil.

Actually, David wasn't what I was expecting, either. Until Ted opened the door and saw him for the first time and I started writing it, that's where the image came into my mind.

I'm just about finished writing next Monday's chapter (Part 154), and I will give you a little hint: I'm completely blown away with what David has done for this story. For one, he's given me two chapters which I hadn't anticipated writing. For another, there are more chapters in my mind for him now and he'll fit in perfectly for what I already have planned.

One final hint, I suppose. Ted and Brad have one week to their wedding. If all goes as planned, that's how long you will have to wait for it.

 

[harry113]

Another cliffhanger Neil !!!!
Whatever is going to happen ... and in front of the kids too ???
Thank you for another great chapter
Peace & Love
Harry

 

[Kyanimal]

One final hint, I suppose. Ted and Brad have one week to their wedding. If all goes as planned, that's how long you will have to wait for it.

Gee-sus Murphy! A Cliffhanger within a Cliffhanger??!!

Have you NO Pity, Neil???! None at ALL???!!!! ( )

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz

 

[gsdx]

One final hint, I suppose. Ted and Brad have one week to their wedding. If all goes as planned, that's how long you will have to wait for it.

Gee-sus Murphy! A Cliffhanger within a Cliffhanger??!!

Have you NO Pity, Neil???! None at ALL???!!!! ( )

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz

Sure, I have pity, Chaz. It's a pity I don't want to make you wait for another month and a half!!

 

[justdoitinnj]

This is just shear torture !
What is Ted going to say to Brad?
This is worse than any soap opera I've ever watched.
I feel SO attached to these people.
C'mon Ted, spill the beans already ....geesh !
Is it Friday yet?
And then Neil says "if all goes as planned"
Hmmmmmmmmm