Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2019 10:06:02 -0500
From: Mac Rountree <mcjameson.rountree@gmail.com>
Subject: Apple of Your Eye 10

Thank you for your contribution to nifty.org and for reading the story
about Erick and Todd.

Mac


Tuesday, December 10
The Light of Love


Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.
      Psalm 21: 13


"Come on, come on.  You can do it."

Todd was standing on the pool deck with a stopwatch.  He had decided that
they would time each other to best their own records rather than compete
against each other.  Todd had helped Tayloe train when they were in high
school and knew what to do.  Plus, he was a much stronger swimmer than
Erick and it was unfair for them to compete against each other.

Erick was gasping for breath when he finished his final lap but also had a
huge smile on his face.  Todd dutifully wrote down the time.

"One more and we will have baseline times for you.  Are you ready?"

Erick grinned, gave two thumbs up and positioned himself for the next swim:
the butterfly.  He knew that this was his strongest.  Todd gave the signal
and Erick's body sliced into the water.  Midway down the lane he got a
cramp in his leg and he convulsed.  He was taking in water.  He felt
himself sinking until a pair of arms scooped under him and brought him to
the surface.  Erick was thrashing about because the pain was so crippling.
Todd efficiently got him on the deck and turned him on his side until he
puked out the pool water he had taken in.  His leg was still cramped and
Todd very gently started massaging it. Erick's arm was thrown across his
eyes as the aftershocks of pain coursed through his body.  When Todd felt
the last quivers erode and was able to flex the leg without Erick wincing
in pain, he finally stopped.  He then leaned over and kissed Erick on the
lips.

"Do you feel better, baby?"

Erick muttered that he thought so.

"Can I help you get up?  No more swimming today."

Erick took his arm away and Todd could see the tears in his eyes.  He knew
it had been a bad, painful cramp.  Todd very gently helped Erick to his
feet and then to the shower.  Erick was favoring the leg and Todd figured
that it would take the rest of the day to work out the cramp.  While Erick
was teaching, Todd went to the pharmacy to pick up pain relievers, vitamins
and minerals that he knew that Tayloe had taken when he was a swimmer.  He
almost bought a pair of crutches but decided he didn't want to make more of
this than it was.  He did however purchase a cane.

When he left the pharmacy, he headed back to campus to meet Erick at his
office before they went to lunch.  Todd saw Erick walking down the hall
being assisted by a man. Todd stayed behind to watch them.  When they got
to Erick's office, the man took the office keys and opened the door.  When
Todd approached the door, he saw the man helping Erick into his chair and
then kiss him on the cheek.  Todd caught his breath.

Erick jolted in his chair and the man looked up.  Todd recognized him as
being a football player.  Todd told himself not to get upset.  He pushed
down the gorge of jealousy and he somehow maintained his cool.

"I see you found someone to help you.  That is good."  Todd looked at the
football player.  "My name is Todd Reynolds, I am Dr. Erickson's partner.
I don't believe we have met."

Nash stepped around the desk and looked Todd in the eyes.  "Hi
Mr. Reynolds, my name is Nash Gillette.  I am glad that you got
Dr. Emmanuelson a cane.  He was having a hard time walking and I couldn't
let my favorite professor fall in the hallway."

There was no guile or guilt in Nash's face or statement.

"Did he tell you how he hurt his leg?"

"Yes, he told me the two of you were swimming when he got the cramp.  It is
a good thing you were there to help or he may have drowned.  You know,
there is a whirlpool in the gym.  That may be helpful to his leg."

Todd stopped his racing mind and appraised the man standing in front of
him.  He didn't respond to the comment about the whirlpool.

"I think I recognize you.  Aren't you on the football team?"  Nash
nodded. Todd stood looking at the big hunk of a boy/man. "Would you like to
join us in our morning swim?  We start at 7 and are finished by the time we
have our first class."  Nash smiled and said that he would like to join
them but didn't have any swimwear.

"Well, one thing is for sure.  Ours are too small to fit a big guy like
you.  Check with the swim coach to see if the school has one you can
borrow."

"I sure will.  That is really nice of you.  One more thing.  I hate to be a
nag, but I really believe that Dr. Emmanuelson would benefit from the
whirlpool this afternoon.  Do you mind if I take him in for our doc to look
at his leg and have him soak for a while?"

Todd looked at Nash and wondered why he was asking him the question instead
of Erick.  Todd pondered the question.

"Let me get his swimsuit from the car.  I am glad that you are willing to
help the old man professor this afternoon.  Do you think when we get as old
as him that we will start having those problems?"  Todd looked directly at
Erick and smirked as he asked the question.

"I don't know, but I can't think of anything greater than being like Dr.
Emmanuelson when I get his age.  He is perfect."

Erick blushed and Todd felt like he was sinking into the abyss of green.
He knew he could trust Erick but didn't know if he could trust Nash.

"Let me get his suit."

"Where did you park?  We will follow you out and then I will take him
straight to the gym."

Nash quickly moved behind the desk and helped Erick out of the chair.  He
assisted Erick down the hallway while talking with Todd.

They reached the car and Todd got the gym bag from the trunk.

"The suits are still wet.  There are only our speedos and towels in the
bag."

"That will be great.  Hey, I will bring him home later this afternoon so
you don't have to come back to campus.  If he can stand it, I will get in
my exercise routine while he is here. He can't spot me with his bad leg but
it would be great to have him there with me.  He is a great inspiration.
That is, if that is okay with you."

Again, Todd noticed the questions were coming his way.

"That would be great.  Why don't you plan to stay for supper?  I have made
some chicken barley soup and we can have salad and bread.  It is a simple
meal and may not be filling for a big boy like you."

Nash grinned from ear to ear.

"You can count on it.  This is just so terrific."  At that point he let
loose of Erick and grabbed Todd and held him in a bear hug.

Todd stood and watched them walk toward the gymnasium.  Erick turned his
head, gave Todd a wave, and then stumbled on.

Todd kept thinking he needed to take deep breaths. The green monster was
beating at the gates.  He felt that he had nothing to worry about but Nash
was an incredibly handsome man and he couldn't seem to keep his hands off
of Erick.  Would he need to help Erick put on his swimsuit?  Would he try
something with his boyfriend?  Todd decided he wanted a different track
playing in his brain and started to review mathematical equations.  He
chuckled thinking that would make most people sick to the stomach but he
enjoyed those mental gymnastics.

When Erick and Nash arrived at the apartment, Todd had dinner ready.  He
had also chilled a bottle of Viognier for them to drink.  Erick looked
exhausted and Todd knew it would be an early night.

"How's your leg?"

"His leg is much better.  I had the doc look at it and I was right that he
needed the whirlpool.  The doc gave him a list of vitamins and minerals to
take if he is going to swim each day."

Todd smiled at Nash's statement given that the question had been directed
to Erick.  He figured this was just Nash's personality.  The green haze was
pushed back.  Todd looked at the list and it was identical to what he had
purchased earlier in the day.  They sat at the dining room table and Todd
brought the supper in.  He also had a supply of pills for Erick.

"Todd, that is too many."

"No, it isn't.  You are going to frontload the meds and then we will even
it out.  That way it will get into your system faster.  Trust me, I am a
math major."

They all laughed.

Nash quickly went through his bowl of soup.  Todd asked if he wanted more
and Nash readily agreed.  Todd turned to ask Erick who said that one bowl
was enough.  He smiled when he said that but he could have easily devoured
the entire pot of soup which was a testament to Todd's cooking.  When they
finished dinner, Todd lit the Advent candles and explained to Nash what
they were doing.

"I'm an Episcopalian, Mr. Reynolds, so I am so glad to be doing this.  I
saw you guys at Bruton Parish on Sunday."

Todd asked Nash to lead the prayer and to read the scripture.  He looked
like a choir boy with his expression of awe and reverence.  Nash talked
about his belief in the power of scripture and it had been a mainstay in
his life.  He then spoke about playing football in high school and being
recruited for the team at W&M.

"I hope I have the power to be honest with my parents when I go home for
Christmas.  I think I have decided that I am going to come out.  It is too
painful to continue to tell lies.  My brother will probably disown me and
my sister will tell me that I am mistaken but I have to believe in the
power of God to get me through this.  I am so lonely and I can't have a
boyfriend unless I come out.  I will not force someone else to live in my
closet."

"What about your parents?"

"I already know they will disown me.  They are Episcopalian on Sunday
morning but on Sunday afternoon and evening they go to a Pentecostal Church
over in Rockfish Valley.  It is far enough away from Charlottesville that
their friends don't know what they're doing.  They continue at the
Episcopal Church because my dad is a big-time lawyer in town and it is
important to his business that he goes to church there.  He says he hates
queers."

Todd looked over and the big guy was quietly crying.  Todd immediately
jumped up and went around to table to hug Nash.  Erick got up and was
standing with his hands on Nash's shoulders when he starting singing the
Kaddish.  All of the tension in the room dissipated as the three men hung
together.  When they finished, Erick leaned over and kissed Todd.  Then he
told him how much he loved and needed him.  Nash put on his jacket and was
preparing to leave.  He smiled and pulled a speedo from the pocket in his
jacket.

"Look what I have!  They found one in my size.  They were going to send it
back because so no member of the swim team is my size.  The coach gave it
to me and said he was glad that I was swimming."

"Well, we will see you in the morning."

One again there were hugs and then Nash asked Todd if he could kiss them
good night.

Todd leaned into the big guy and kissed him on the mouth.  Nash started
grinning.  Erick locked lips with him also.

Nash beamed.  "There is power in the spirit of love.  I will see you guys
in the morning.  Good night, Dr. Emmanuelson.  Good night,
Mr. Reynolds. Don't be late."

Suggested Music:
"I've Learned to Respect the Power of Love"
Performer:  Stephanie Mills
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_PJAljyx94