Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 14:37:04 +0000 From: Ben nobody Subject: Berto's Roses 59-beginnings Berto's Roses By Ben Part LIX As it turned out, Berto wasn't the only one who was feeling better. After Berto and I dried each other and dressed, we headed in to the casa to see if we could find some coffee and something to eat. Berto had just begun drinking coffee lately. I drank mine black, but he put so much sugar and milk in his, he might as well have been having a milkshake. Coming in through the kitchen door, we were surprised to find the room empty. The sunroom was likewise devoid of human beings. The cards from last night were neatly stacked on the large round table. We wondered whether the card game went late last night. I also wondered if they really DID play strip poker, and just where that might have led. I saw no signs of and group-grope, so I didn't really think so. Berto came out of the kitchen with our coffee and we walked, hand-in-hand to the garden. The sun had begun to warm the air that morning. It seemed the stormy weather, which had help to create so much destruction, and heartache was behind us. The birds were singing and the roses silently beckoned us. As we always did, Berto and I worked side-by-side as we tended the beautiful plants. The new buds were beginning to open and it cheered my soul to see the resurrection after the storm had caused so much damage. Unlike before, we took the time to touch and, occasionally, kiss. We enjoyed each other's company more than ever and the sexual tension that had built up for so long had given way to comfortable, open affection. We were just finishing up when we heard soft, masculine voices coming from the direction of the break in the adobe wall. We turned to see Jake and Jose walking in from the beach. They appeared to have been deep in conversation until they saw Berto and me. They came nearer and Jose turned to Jake and gave him a big hug. "Gracias, mi amigo." Jose said to him, in a voice full of emotion. "No, problem buddy. I'm glad I could help. You can come to me anytime, okay?" Jake replied. Berto and I looked at each other with wrinkled foreheads, silently wondering what all of it was about. Jose gave me a hug also. It was then I noticed he was no longer wearing a sling on his arm. "Good morning, Ben. Buenas Dias, Berto. Would you like me to show you some things about your new car?" Berto's face lit up like a beacon. "Si, gracias, Jose!" He grabbed Jose by the hand and dragged him off to the carport. I was all but forgotten, but could not feel jealous because Jose seemed to be well on his way to getting back to normal. "Wow, what did you say to him, Jake?" I asked. "I mostly listened and he really needed it. We walked and he talked and we both cried a lot." Jake said. I looked more closely and, sure enough, I could see the tracks of now dried tears coming from the corners of his eyes. Despite some of Jake's past asshole actions, he truly was a good guy. I knew I hadn't been completely wrong about him when we met in Atlanta so long ago. "You're alright, for a jerk." I told him as I drew him in for a strong hug. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself." Jake joked as he grabbed my ass cheeks. "When did all of this with you and Berto happen? Last I remember, he was pretty pissed at you." "Well, It's been coming for quite some time. And the thing at the party was a big misunderstanding." I explained. "Jake can I ask you something? It's been kind of bugging me." "Uh-oh, what did I do now? I thought I was behaving myself nicely." "No, it doesn't have anything to do with you...this time, anyway. It's about Berto and me." "Hey, I have no problem with it at all. I'm not really into twinks, myself, but he is a cutie. I can see how you would have the hots for him." "Screw you, Jake! You know it's more than that. Honestly, you can be so damned shallow." I said crossly. Jake laughed at me. "Just pulling your chain, man. Calm down. I'm really happy for you. If you are both happy with it, then who am I to say anything?" I laughed, too. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. I have to wonder what Manuella would have to say about it, though." I thought aloud. "Ah, so that's what's bothering you? I don't know for sure, but any casual observer would have known that you two have always had "something" between you. I can't say I was surprised when I saw that you two were together. I don't think Manuella would be either. Neither do I think she would be opposed to the idea. She thought the world of you, Ben." I was deeply touched that Jake would reassure me this way. Our relationship had had its ups and downs, but we were still close friends. "Thanks buddy." I said as I gave him another hug. "No problem, man. I'm batting a thousand today. First Jose, and now you. Next! The doctor is in." He joked. I shook my head at him and said. "You're such an asshole, you know that? You can't be serious anymore than I can." I laughed. "Not if I can help it, I'm not." Jake replied. "C'mon. I'm starving." I said. "Where is everybody?" "Sleeping, I guess. I went to bed shortly after you guys. I don't know what time Nathan came to bed, but he woke me around three o'clock and..." Jake began. "And what?" I prompted him with raised eyebrows. "And we fucked like jack rabbits." Jake broke out in a huge grin. "Now why doesn't that surprise me?" I commented. Jake chided me. "You think you should be the only one getting some hot ass around here? Speaking of hot ass, Randy and Wade were getting rather amorous with each other just as I was going to bed last night. No wonder they aren't up yet. Is that kid really as hung as you said he is?" "Oh yes. He sure is. It boggles the mind to look at it." I said without exaggeration. " I just gotta get a look at it, up close and personal." "Well, that's up to Wade and Randy, my friend. Just don't go causing problems between them, okay? Jake held up three fingers. "Scouts honor, man." I snorted. "Like you were ever a scout." "I was!" He countered." I made it all the way to Eagle Scout." "Whoopty-fricken-do! So did my oldest brother and he was a child molester." I said with just a little too much bitterness. "Really? How do you know? Was he arrested and everything?" "No. I was one of his victims, so was my sister. He's straight, too. The vast majority of them are." "Wow, I'm sorry. I had no idea." Jake offered. "No problem. It was a long time ago." I changed the subject. "Let's get some breakfast going." I poked around the cabinets and the refrigerator and found the makings of a good, old-fashioned Southern breakfast. There was even a large package of grits. Leave it to Randy to find that in the middle of Baja California, Mexico. I found a big pot and started some salted water to boil. I also cut up and fried some smoked sausages and grated some cheese. Jake cut up some fresh fruit for a salad and then I sent him to see if the rest of the world was alive yet. After I added the grits to the boiling water and gave it a quick stir, I walked out to the carport to ask the Berto and Jose if they hungry. I found them both up to their elbows under the hood of the T-bird and chattering away in animated Spanish. They were having a great time and I hated to interrupt them. "Hey guys, would you like something to eat? I have breakfast just about ready. By the time you get cleaned up after digging around in that engine it should be on the table." I told them. They both stood and showed me their hands. Instead of the sticky black goo I expected to see on their hands, they were completely clean. I walked over to look at the car and saw that the engine and all of the components under the hood were pristine. It looked like it had just rolled off the assembly line. I should have known. "Uh, never mind. Breakfast will ready in a minute." I mumbled. They both acknowledged me and I returned to the kitchen. Randy wandered in shirtless and barefoot wearing only his boxers. "Hey Ben." He kissed me in greeting "You didn't have to do all of this. You should have woke me up." "I like to cook sometimes. Why don't you set the table?" I suggested. Randy nodded and began pulling plates from the cabinet. He grabbed a hand full of flatware and headed to the sunroom. I watched his narrow ass move under the thin material of his short. Hot ass indeed! Ricky came in, fresh from the shower. His hair was still wet when he gave me a good morning hug. "Miguel will be down soon. Where are Nathan and Wade?" He asked. "I left Wade in the shower. He should be done soon, too. Want me to make some juice?" Randy offered. "Yeah that would be good." I turned to answer Ricky. "Jake went to wake up Nathan. Apparently they had quite the active night last night." "They weren't the only ones." Said Ricky, wagging his eyebrows in Randy's direction. "You should have heard those two last night. Made me horny just listening to them." Randy blushed. "Yeah we did get a little loud, sorry." "He's just jealous, Randy." I laughed. Ricky nodded. "Si, I am jealous, and not just because Wade is hung like a burro. Jose is not up to doing anything like that, yet." I hugged Ricky to me. "He'll come around, amigo. In fact, he seemed to be much better this morning. He and Jake took a long walk on the beach and talked. He seemed much more like the old Jose. He and Berto are poking around the T-bird this morning." "Bueno! I wondered where he wandered off to so early this morning. I will have to thank Jake later." Berto and Jose came in from the carport. Berto kissed me and picked up the platter of sausages then lifted the lid of the pot. "What is in here?" He asked. `It's called `grits'." I told him. I hope you like them. How do you like your eggs cooked?" "Mama always made them fried so that they bleed when you stab them with a fork. I like them that way." He said. "Over easy. Me too." I took orders from everybody else as Miguel, Nathan and Wade wandered in. Soon we were all seated at the table and enjoying our breakfast. As I looked around at his room full of handsome men, black white and Latino, I noticed that we had all arranged ourselves as couples. Randy was beside Wade, Jose by Ricky, Jake sat by Nathan and Berto was with me. The only exception was Miguel. I thought, "We'll have to do something about that..." I need to make a correction. I erroneously stated that Danny is a fellow writer at Nifty. In fact it is Tony is the writer and "Danny" is (one of) his stories he has posted. Look for it in the "Beginning" section. Sorry about that, Tony. If you get the chance, why not read my other stories on Nifty. Just click on the "Authors" link and scroll down to find "Lyle Benton". Thanks, Ben