Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2006 01:12:05 EST
From: RitchChristopher@cs.com
Subject: the-passion-of-matthew-10

All rights reserved. Copyright held by the author. If you are underage or
are offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language,
please exit now.


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


                            "THE PASSION OF MATTHEW"
                             Copyright Ritchris 2005

                                  A story by

                                Ritch Christopher

                             Literary enhancement by

                                  Les Martin

                                   * * * * *

                                  Chapter Ten


<><><><><><><><><><><>

	Bob and John gave Matt an enthusiastic welcome when Matt walked in
the door leaning on Jim's arm. Both were still doing their best to hide
what they'd been doing just minutes before. John was tucking his shirt into
his jeans and Bob had hurriedly put on one shoe without a sock, so he tried
to divert from the newcomers' attention with a big 'hello' and 'Matt, you
look just great!' Jim and Matt gave each other a puzzled 'what's going on?'
look while the two finished dressing.

	"Thanks," Matt replied.

	"Doesn't he look great?" Jim said. "Hardly looks at all like he had
to spend the night in the hospital."

	The remark pleased Matt, especially coming from his new, as well as
newly-made, friend, Jim and Matt smiled, almost beaming.

	"Ha! I don't look THAT good..." Matt retorted.

	"Want me to get a mirror to prove it?" Jim replied.

	"Uh...no thanks, mirrors are my nemesis. I don't think I've looked
into one since... well, not in a long while."

	"OK, but take from me, Matt, you DO look good."

	"Hey, did you guys have breakfast or lunch yet?" Bob asked.

	"I haven't eaten all day," Matt replied, suddenly realizing that he
really was hungry.

	"Heck, why don't you and Jim sit down at the table while John and I
fix YOU a meal?"

	"No, Bob, please don't go to any trouble for me..."

	"That's bullcrap. You made dinner for all of us the past week, so
it's only fair that we return the favor."

	"I think lunch is a good idea, Matt," Jim interjected before Matt
could decline again. "I'll sit at the table with you and have a bite
myself."

	The idea of Jim sitting next to him encouraged Matt to accept Bob's
invitation.

	"OK! Sure, let's eat!" Matt said.

	"Do you know what you'd like or would you like to read the menu
first?" Bob joked.

	"Bob, I know more about what's in the kitchen than you do," Matt
said. "In the fridge is some sliced turkey. How about frying some bacon and
make Jim and me a club sandwich!"

	"Let's see now," Bob said, "that's turkey, bacon, sliced cheese,
tomato, and lettuce..."

	"On three slices of toast!" Matt added.

	"Gotcha! Come on John, you fry the bacon while I toast the bread!"

	John and Bob went into the kitchen, leaving Matt and Jim alone at
the table.

	"Thanks," Matt said to Jim.

	"For what?"

	"For sitting with me to have lunch."

	"That's no big deal. We eat lots of meals together."

	"But never before when it was just you and me."

	"You like that, huh?"

	"Yes, I do, Jim."

	"Matt, I'm going to talk with Mike and see if I can't spend MORE
time with you. There are many things you and I can do together."

	"I'd like that, too."

	"Little man, you and I have a lot to talk about while we get to
know each other better."

	"Jim, you're not doing this because you feel sorry for me, are
you?"

	"In no way. In all the time I spent with my brother Patrick, I
learned NOT to feel sorry for him. I talked to a psychologist about Patrick
and he told me the worse thing I could do was offer Patrick pity...that
what he needed most was stability, trust, concern, just knowing I'd be
there when and if he ever needed me...I guess you'd call that
security...but MOST of all, love."

	Matt smiled again, teardrops forming in his lower eyelids. Jim put
his open hand on the table in front of Matt. Matt looked at it, then into
Jim's eyes, before gaining the courage to place his hand in Jim's.

	Jim gave Matt a warm look and said, "Now it's my turn to say
thanks..."

	"For what?"

	"You just took the first step in trusting me."

	"I WANT to."

	"I hope you will...more and more."

	Bob and John quietly returned from the kitchen with two plates,
each containing a club sandwich and a pile of potato chips. Suddenly
knowing they weren't alone any longer, Matt quickly withdrew his hand from
Jim's. Bob set the plates in front of Matt and Jim and also gave them each
a cold can of Coca-Cola. John was carrying his and Bob's warmed over,
half-eaten breakfast.

	"Thanks, Bob," Matt said.

	"Did you have time to cook yourselves eggs and bacon?" Jim asked.

	"Uh...no, Jim, Bob and I had started eating and...and then we heard
this noise from outside and uh, we put our breakfasts in the oven to keep
warm."

	"So, Bob, you went outside without your shoes and socks?" Jim
asked, suspiciously.

	"Why did you ask that?" Bob said.

	"Because you were putting your shoes and socks on when Matt and I
came in."

	"Oh, that..."

	"Forget it, guys, it's none our business what you were doing before
we got here."  Jim said with a wry grin. He could see that both John and
Bob were blushing and trying to cover up the real reason for having put
their food in the warmer.

	"So...where is Mike?" John said, quickly, changing the subject.

	"We dropped him off at the site to be with Art," Jim replied.

	"You're not going to the site today?" John asked.

	"No, sir. Mike made it clear that we would have our weekends off
and I'm taking advantage of it."

	"How's the sandwich, Matt?" Bob asked.

	"It's great, Bob. Thanks very much. I still wish you hadn't gone to
all the trouble of..."

	"I won't hear it! I'm just glad you like the club sandwich. That's
all you need to say."

	"You two DO make a good sandwich, Bob."

	"Thanks, Jim." But Bob had to wonder what kind of sandwich Jim was
referring to.

	"Has, uh, has anyone heard from Hank?" John asked.

	"No," Jim replied while Matt didn't answer. "He's probably having a
good time with his friend."

	"I hope so," John said. "I like Hank a lot."

	"I'm just glad he didn't take after his dad. Mike said that Hank's
father was a real tyrant and made life hard for Hank. A man like that
doesn't deserve to have a son like Hank," John said.

	"That goes two ways, John," Bob added. "Hank doesn't deserve to
have a father who doesn't love or appreciate him."

	"Maybe Hank'll meet some nice girl in college and start his own
life and get out of his dad's shadow," John said. This remark caused Jim
and Matt to give each other a 'knowing' glance, as if to say, 'That'll be
the day when Hank marries a girl!'. But neither Jim nor Hank responded
verbally.

	The rest of the meal involved chit-chat type conversation as
everyone ate his meal. After they had finished, John began gathering the
dirty dishes, taking them into the kitchen to wash.

	"Well, guys," Bob said, after John had gone into the
kitchen. "Since Mike and Art are working and Hank is off doing God knows
what, with his friend, It looks like John and I will have to cook supper."

	"No, wait!" Matt interjected immediately. "I can do it...with Jim's
help..."  Matt looked at Jim to get his consent. "Would you like to help
me, Jim?"

	"I'm not much of a cook, but, sure, I'd like to help you."

	Bob was amazed at Matt's response. Never before had Matt offered to
do anything he wasn't asked to do...and Jim? Jim agreed to help him? 'What
the hell is going on?' Bob thought to himself.

	"In that case, Matt, John and I will take you up on your offer. If
there's anything that you need, let me know and I can drive downtown to the
grocery store and pick it up!"

	"That's OK, Bob. Like I said, I pretty much know what we have and
what we haven't got to make a meal."

	"Then I guess John and I can find a baseball game on TV."

	"The Braves are playing the Mets this afternoon," Matt said. "I
like the Braves and follow their schedule."

	"You know, Matt, I had no idea that you were interested in
baseball," Bob replied.

	"I like football the best, especially college games on
Saturday. They'll be starting in about ten weeks!" Matt said.

	"Golly gee, Matt! Which college team do you like best?"

	"The University of Miami Hurricanes! They have the cutest
quarterbacks..." Matt stopped talking but it was too late. He had just
revealed that he thought quarterbacks were cute. Both Bob and Jim caught
Matt's slip-of-phrase and neither of them pursued it with a comment as they
knew it would only embarrass Matt.

	"Me? I like USC," Bob said, quickly.

	"Figures!" Matt answered back.

	"Why did you say that?"

	"Only I know that you'd choose a champion team to be your
favorite. I don't like ANY California teams...baseball OR football. I hate
California."

	"Any particular reason why? Have you ever been to California?"

	"No, and I don't want to go! Any state that would choose Arnold to
be its governor is no place I want to be!"

	"You don't like Arnold Schwarzenegger?"

	"Hell, no! He's too much like Bush!"

	"Whoops!" Bob said. "I won't tackle you with THAT subject."

	"Did you vote for Bush, Bob?"

	"Are you kidding? My dad, rest his soul, would have crawled out of
his grave and haunted me for the rest of my life if I ever voted for ANY
Republican candidate."

	"I'm glad we see eye-to-eye about politics!"

	"You know, Matt, I've never seen you so verbose. You've never told
any of us much about what you like or don't like. It just makes me feel
good to hear you open up and express your opinion. I'd like to know more
about you."

	"You'll have to stand in line, Bob," Jim said. "I have first dibs
on learning more about Matt."

	"OH?" Bob remarked, then followed with, "You know, Jim, no one
knows much about you either."

	"You know enough for us to be co-workers on the pipeline
project. That's all I care to offer for now."

	"Do you play cards...I mean, like Texas-hold-`em?"

	"I've watched it on cable."

	"Would you be interested in playing later?"

	"Maybe, if Matt will play too. Whaddya say, pal? Wanna play
Texas-hold-`em with a fellow Democrat?" Jim asked Matt.

	"What's the limit of the pot?" Matt asked.

	"As high as the sky or as low as a snake's butt."

	"Yeah," Matt replied. "I think I'd like that! But when I beat your
ass, don't get angry!"

	"That sounds like you're challenging me, Matt!" Bob said, grinning.

	"Just don't say that I didn't warn you!"

	"You're on, kid!"

	Jim looked at Matt and said, "You know you haven't rested at all
since I brought you home from the hospital. It would appear that your
afternoon and evening are going to be pretty busy. We have to cook supper
and later play cards. So why don't you go into your room and rest awhile?"

	"Uh...would you go with me, Jim?"

	"Sure, why not?"

	Matt stood up and Jim followed him into Matt's bedroom and closed
the door behind them just as John returned from the kitchen from washing
their dishes.

	"Where are Matt and Jim?" John asked.

	"They...uh...went into Matt's room?"

	"What's going on, Bob?"

	"I have no idea, but whatever it is, it's has changed Matt into a
different person. Did you hear the way he conversed with us at the table?"

	"Frankly, Bob, I couldn't believe my ears. You don't suppose that
some kind of, y'know, 'special' friendship has formed between Matt and Jim,
do you?"

	"It's possible, but for damn sure, something has changed
Matt...Jim, too, for that matter. He never says more than a half dozen
words at the dinner table, but he was all perked up to talk, too...just
like Matt."

	"Did you notice the way they kept looking at each other?"

	"Yep. It kinda reminded me the way WE used to look at each other in
the cafeteria at college."

	"Yeah, but our looks were actually a way to see if we wanted to go
back to our dorm room to have quick sex... Hey! You don't suppose that Jim
and Matt...?"

	"God! I hope so! Wouldn't that be great for both of them?" Bob
said, excitedly.

	"You dirty old man! You always think EVERY guy has a crush on every
other guy...  like the whole male population should be gay!"

	"What the hell is wrong with that?"

	"The human race couldn't survive if all men were gay! We have to
procreate."

	"Well, if you're willing to admit it, we were gay back in college
and both of us procreated!"

	"So every man could be gay as long as he got one woman pregnant?"

	"The world would be a peaceful planet that way."

	"So should every woman be a lesbian?"

	"Sure, if she wanted company. I've seen lesbian porn flicks and
they do the same things to each other that men do to them, only it's nicer
and softer. It's more sensual to watch them suck on each other's
nipples. When a man does it, it's like he's finally in bed with his mother
and wants one more mouthful of mother's milk!"

	"Jesus! You're impossible."

	"That's why you still love me. You do, don't you, John?"

	"Probably."

	"Jim wanted Matt to take a nap before they start preparing
supper. I told them that we would probably watch the baseball game on
TV...but we don't have to..."

	"You have some better entertainment in mind?"

	"Well, as long as Jim and Matt are in his bedroom and Mike and Art
are at the site, what's wrong if we decide to take another nap like the
last one?"

	"I SHOULD say, 'no', but I won't! Why don't you turn on the
baseball game on the living room TV and we can sneak quietly into OUR
room?"

	"It's a deal! Speaking of deals...Matt and Jim are going to play
Texas-hold-'em after supper with us!"

	"Are you serious?"

	"Serious as a wet fart in an elevator!"

	"I think there MUST be something going on between Matt and
Jim...more than I thought."

	"You heard Hank last night saying how Matt told him he was in love
with him."

	"Yes."

	"I wonder what's gonna happen when Hank gets back and finds out
that Matt has focused his attention on Jim?"

	"Hank will probably be relieved."

	"Think so?"

	"I KNOW so. Come on, turn on the TV and let's get into the
bedroom!"

<><><><><><><><><><><>

	"I hope I didn't embarrass you in front of Bob by asking you to
stay with me for awhile in my bedroom," Matt said as he lay on his bed.

	"I wasn't embarrassed. If anything, I was flattered that you
asked."

	"Why so?"

	"It's just that I know your bedroom is your private domain and
where you like to be alone. As I said in the car, there have been many
nights I've wanted to come in here just to see if there was anything I
could do to help you while you were having one of your coughing spells."

	"Why didn't you?"

	"I guess I didn't have the nerve. I wasn't sure how I would
react. I mean, I wasn't sure if I was ready to assume some of the duties I
did with Patrick."

	"I can understand that."

	"So, what can I do for you? Would you like me to read to you while
you fall asleep? I can turn on the Braves game if you like."

	"No. Would you mind if I asked you to sit on the side of my bed and
talk to me?"

	"Of course I wouldn't mind."

	Jim sat down on the bed and it just seemed natural for Jim to offer
his hand to Matt as he had at the table. Without a moment of hesitation,
Matt placed his hand in Jim's. It seemed the right thing to do for both of
them.

	"It was your idea, Jim, that we get to know each other better."

	"So it was. What would you like to know about me, Matt."

	"You told me that your parents are both dead and that Patrick was
your only sibling. Do you have any cousins or a special uncle or aunt like
my Uncle Mike?"

	"Nope. I'm the last of the Cummings. I have no grandparents and my
mother and father were only children. So there's only me."

	"Have you ever been married or engaged?"

	"Married? No. Engaged? Once."

	"What happened, why didn't you marry the girl you were engaged to?"

	"It's a long story and if I reveal the details to you, it might
tell you more about me than I want you to know for now. What about you? Did
you have a girlfriend before you went to Iraq?"

	"I had several but no one girl in particular."

	"Were you serious about any of them?"

	"One...Wanda...Wanda Sells."

	"What happened with her, Matt?"

	"Oh, we were going pretty steady. I mean, we'd had sex several
times and we seemed compatible with one another. The two of us spent three
whole days and nights together before I left for Iraq. We told each other
that we loved one another and she said she'd wait for me...no matter how
long I was gone..."

	"Then your accident occurred, right?"

	"Yep!"

	"Did you call her or try to see her when you got back?"

	"What do you think?"

	"You didn't want her to see you the way you look."

	"Exactly, Jim. WOULD YOU?"

	"Probably not."

	"Jim?"

	"Yeah?"

	"I...I think I should tell you about James, that is, if Hank hasn't
already told you about him..."

	"I've hardly talked with Hank since he arrived. So, 'no', Hank told
me nothing about James. Who is he?"

	"It's funny, but his name was James, but I called him, 'Jim', just
like you."

	Jim smiled and gently gripped Matt's hand. "Tell me about James or
Jim, Matt."

	"I told Hank all about him, so I guess it's all right to tell you
if we're gonna share secrets with each other."

	"Thank you."

	"Well, you see, Jim was my buddy over in Iraq. I mean, I didn't
know him until we got over there and were assigned to the same unit. His
bunk was next to mine and in the evening, when we weren't out in the field,
Jim and I would sit on the sides of our bunks, share a cigarette, and talk
with one another. We became close buddies. When it came time for the
sergeant to pair us off in partners, it was only natural that Jim and I
stuck together. I mean when you walk down the streets in Iraq, one guy has
to look forward while the other walks behind you backwards so that we're
covering each other all the time. At nights, we'd go on a run and dig
trenches, big enough for two guys. Jim and I always shared the same trench
or as they used to be called, 'foxholes'. Some times, we stay there for
hours or until the sun came up. The trenches were very small and Jim and I
buddied up together. It was scary as hell to see all the mortar and
firebombs going over our heads and bullets flying from all different
directions. We were both scared. Hell, I think everybody and his buddy were
as scared as we were. I mean, I know Marines aren't supposed to be scared
of anything, but the guy who said that first had never been to Iraq. Many
nights Jim and I thought we wouldn't live through the night. That's when we
became even closer. It was like, if this was our last night on earth, what
was wrong with two guys helping each other to get off, one last time."

	"So you're saying that you and Jim had sex in your 'foxhole'?"

	"Shit! If the truth be known, probably every guy in our unit had
sex for the last time with his buddy. I mean, there's a certain camaraderie
between soldiers that women and most straight guys could never fathom or
understand. Believe me, Jim, there are no queers in a foxhole. You're
clinging to the last person you're ever going to hold. None of us ever
talked about it, but I'm sure as hell we were ALL doing the same
thing. Married guys were holding onto other married guys for dear
life. They'd never do anything like that under normal circumstances...but
when you're about to die, nothing matters anymore. You just hold on to the
person you love the most at the time."

	"You don't have to be ashamed of that, Matt. I'm sure I would've
done the same thing in your situation."

	"Jim, you see, when we got back to camp, Jim and I still felt the
same way about each other. Don't laugh, but Jim and I were in love with
each other."

	"Is he still in Iraq? Has he tried to contact you?"

	"No, he can't Jim. When I got burned, Jim was killed in the same
accident."

	"God, I'm sorry, Matt."

	"Jim and I had talked about getting an apartment or a small house
to share when we both got back to the States. It's crazy as hell, but I was
straight as an Interstate highway before I met Jim. But after the first few
times we held each other and fell in love, I knew I was gay ...or at least
BEFORE the accident."

	"What about NOW, Matt? Do you feel that you have gay inclinations?"

	"I have NO inclinations now, Jim...gay OR straight. No man OR woman
could ever look at me and fall in love. I might as well join a monastery
and become a monk. I'm sure that even monks have stronger sex drives than
I."

	"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure of that..."

	"Meaning...?"

	"People see what they WANT to see. I mean, if relationships
depended on how someone looks at another person, there would be no
relationships. Patrick expressed some of the same things you did. He KNEW
he'd never be involved in another relationship...and he was probably right,
since Patrick was a total care victim. But you see, Matt, living day after
day with Patrick, I had to get to know him under the surface. He no longer
looked like Patrick to me, but I knew he was still there, inside, hidden
beneath his scarred skin. When he finally let me get inside him, I found
the Patrick I once knew and we became brothers again, like before. All it
took was Patrick learning to trust me again."

	"You know, Jim, I think I see what Patrick saw in you. I...I think
I could trust you."

	"You've already showed that you trust me by telling me about Jim."

	"You're right..."

	"Matt, can I ask you a really personal question?"

	"Sure...what else do I have to hide, now that you know my darkest
secret?"

	"Since you've been back home, has anyone held you in his arms?"

	"...no."

	"Would you let ME hold you?"

	"Are you sure you want to?"

	"Absolutely."

	"Then, OK."

	Matt raised up to a sitting position in his bed while Jim leaned
forward and put his arms around Matt. As soon as Jim touched Matt, both of
them felt the quiver running through Matt's body. Slowly, Matt took his
good arm and his short arm and put them behind Jim's back and silently,
without moving another limb or muscle, the two embraced. Matt sighed and
began to cry.

	"Ssh...ssh...hush now, Matt. You're safe...safe in my arms."

	Through his tears, Matt sobbed. "I've waited so long for this. I
wouldn't care who it was...man, woman, child, or old person...just ANYONE
to hold me like this."

	"You need to be held, Matt...and often. That I can do for
you. Matt, look into my eyes."

	Matt pulled back so that his face was only inches away from Jim's
and the two stared deeply into each other's eyes. "Now I want you to say,
'I trust you, Jim...heart and soul...I trust you..."

	Slowly, but deliberately, Matt repeated what Jim had asked,
word-for-word.

	"I...trust...you...Jim...heart...and...soul...I...trust...you."

	When Matt had finished his announcement, Jim put his head forward
and carefully kissed Matt. Matt wanted to pull away and scream. Normally,
he would have, but something deep inside kept him calm. Perhaps it was
Jim's tranquil composure that caused Matt to relax and submit himself to
the best moment he had known since he'd returned.

	The kiss was finally broken and Matt quietly asked, "Why did you do
that?"

	"Because I wanted to...but mostly, because you needed to be
kissed."

	"You weren't repulsed by the way I...?"

	"Ssh...don't say it. Be quiet and let me kiss you again..."

	Matt closed his eyes and eagerly anticipated the feeling of Jim's
lips pressed to his. The two held this kiss much longer than the
first. Matt could feel himself becoming aroused in his pants and drew his
face backward.

	"Jim, I...I thought you were straight."

	"I thought I was too, until...well, you asked me earlier why I
broke off my engagement before I got married."

	"Yes?"

	"Well, after one or two dates when we spent the early part of the
evening at her house, I met her brother. On about the third date, I
discovered I wasn't going to her house to see her. I was more interested in
her brother."

	"So what happened?"

	"Well, her brother and I didn't crawl into a trench or a
foxhole. One night when she was downtown getting her nails manicured, I
made a play for her brother and he responded just the way I had
imagined. We hurried to his bedroom to have sex. I won't describe what the
two of us were doing when she caught us in bed together. That ended the
engagement!"

	"Did you ever see her brother again?"

	"No, she was so angry she ran to tell her parents about what she
had seen. Her father kicked her brother out of the house that very night
and he headed west toward California."

	"And you never saw him again?"

	"Oh yeah! I saw him MANY times, only it was on a screen in the
movies. He apparently found the best way to get a movie career was to drop
his pants or drop down on his knees."

	"Is he famous? I mean, you know what a big movie buff I am. I'm
sure I've seen him too."

	"I'm sure you have. Only I saw him in a different way than most
moviegoers. I saw ALL of him."

	"Who is he? TELL!"

	"I will, some day, but not now. I know I just kissed you and told
you all about him, but I'm not ready to reveal his name to anybody."

	"So you're gay now?"

	"I'm pretty sure I am, but I've had no other partners since him. I
tried dating a few women after he left, but somehow the female sex organ
did nothing for me after that."

	"So you've had NO sex at all since him?"

	"That's right...sad, isn't it? You blame the way you look for
having no affairs or sex. So what's my excuse?"

	"I wouldn't know. If I had YOUR looks, I'd be a gay Romeo! So what
IS your excuse?"

	"I just haven't met the right guy, I guess...up till now..."

	"You...you don't mean me, do you?"

	"Maybe, but only after we get to know each other better."

	"God, Jim, I don't know what to say..."

	"Why don't you relax for now while I go look in the kitchen at some
of Mike's cook books and get some idea of what we're gonna fix for supper."

	"JESUS CHRIST! You think I can go to sleep after you've just kissed
me two times?"

	"You're a Marine, Matt. Marines are supposed to know how and when
to restrain themselves...so start restraining while I go recipe hunting!"

	Jim leaned forward to kiss Matt on his forehead and walked out of
Matt's bedroom toward the kitchen. It took Matt a very long time to let
everything that just happened sink into his psyche. He was shocked and full
of disbelief. Did what happened REALLY happen...and to HIM? Was he dreaming
or was it real? Matt got off the bed and went to his door and locked it. He
HAD a reason to jerk off now...maybe two or three times before he could
sleep!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

	Lance slept undisturbed right through the dinner hour. He was
awakened by the sound of his cell phone ringing. It took him a couple of
seconds to get his bearings straight as to where he was and whom was he
with. On the third second, he realized that Hank was gone. The cell rang
three more rings before Lance answered it.

	"Hello?"

	"Lance?"

	"Oh, hi, Lois...How's your mother?"

	"Oh, Mother is fine, thank you. Where are you?"

	"Uh, I'm in Atlanta, just where I told you I'd be."

	"Lance, just how far is it from Atlanta to Philemon, Georgia?"

	"Pardon?"

	"I said, 'PHILEMON, GEORGIA."

	"I thought that's what you said, but why are you asking?"

	"Because I just happen to know you're IN Philemon and not Atlanta!"

	"How do you know that?"

	"I not only know WHERE you are, but I know WHAT you've been doing
and WHO you've been doing it with!"

	"How do you know anything?"

	"Because I had you followed, that's how!"

	"Why the fuck did you do that?"

	"I just got suspicious after I had a long chat with Marcel from
Antoine's, the place where you pick up the drapery swatches last week. You
DO remember Marcel, don't you?"

	"Vaguely."

	"That's strange, Marcel said that he knew you intimately."

	"That's nonsense, Lois. Some greedy frog is trying to blackmail me
for your money."

	"Oh, Marcel's not asking for money. You see, I paid him in advance
to make a video tape."

	"You what?"

	"Sorry, dear."

	"You really are a cunt, Lois."

	"I have one, but you don't seem to be interested in it!"

	"Lois, why are you doing this?"

	"Just trying to protect my family, Lance. You ARE my husband,
remember?"

	"Christ! How could I forget?"

	"Do you know a certain business man at home named Martin Lazarus?"

	"No, Lois, I'm afraid I don't!"

	"I'm sure you know his son, Hank! That is who was fucking you last
night, this morning, and this afternoon, isn't it?"

	"Lois, leave Hank out of our squabble. He's an innocent kid."

	"He's the third party in our adulterous triangle. I DO think his
father should know what his son is doing to wreck my marriage."

	"Lois! You wouldn't dare call Martin Lazarus, would you?"

	"As fast as I can run my finger down through the 'L's' in the phone
book, darling."

	"Lois, please don't!"

	"Lance, I simply can't let some ho-mo-sex-u-al cause me grief. I
mean, I might have to file for divorce and that means I'd have to give you
half of my estate and I'm sure as heck not going to do that. When you
married me, Lance, that was for life. You're mine, honey, through thick and
thin. Since I can't 'out' you...I believe 'out' is the 'in' expression,
isn't it?...so I might as well 'out' your little boyfriend!"

	"Lois, you do that and I swear I'll kill you."

	"Darling Lance, do you think you can spend my money while you spend
the rest of your life in prison? Of course, you'd probably like
that...dozens of men waiting to butt-fuck you!"

	"Lois, what the fuck do you want, then?"

	"I just want you to come home and be my 'loving husband' when we go
to the country club, the opera, the theatre, and other social functions. I
want you close to me at ALL times...BUT if you should develop a new
interest in a young boyfriend, then I'll be forced to call his family!"

	"Go to hell, Lois!"

	"I will, Lance, and with YOU by my side!"

	Lance threw his cell phone across the motel room, seeing it hit the
wall, and break into a dozen pieces. He lay there, dazed.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

(To be continued in "The Passion of Matthew" chapter eleven.)