Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2020 07:39:45 +0000 (UTC)
From: Mike Austin <nasstop@yahoo.com>
Subject: GAY/BEGINNINGS- EDGEWATER DR Ch 29

EDGEWATER DR					by Mike Austin
						nasstop@yahoo.com

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XXIX.

Jeremy dropped me off at the office after our meeting lunch at Olive Garden
(OG) and my first instinct was to call Jack, but held off. Ben came in with
a tenant letter for review and provided a well-timed change of focus from
the scene at the OG. They wanted to review their recent quarterly expense
escalation billing and I advised Ben to call their accounting manager for
any specific issues or to learn of their general concerns; our books were
open for their review and they'd made the inquiry within the terms and
provisions of their lease. Ben was still new at the business management end
of our firm, so welcomed teaching him the appropriate response to a tenant
request and re-enforcement that we have nothing to hide as was evident in
the recent audit. Dad's mantra again being, "honesty is the best policy".
Ben took to his office with his assignment and I was lost in the image of
Jack's shock and surprise when he looked up to see me and Jeremy coming
into the dining room. I'd not quite finishing that flash image when my cell
rang, it was Peter's number and I thought about not answering but decided
avoidance was not in my best interest nor that of the family or
firm. Again, dad's mantra came into focus as I answered, "hello Peter good
afternoon".

Peter began by advising me that Mary and Brandon were also on the call and
I asked for a moment; muted him and summoned Ben to join me NOW. When he
did, I announced that Ben had joined me on the call as well. They did not
acknowledge their youngest son. As I had not covered my business
transaction with Ben, he was uninformed and given this call, it was best
that he had not been. He would have a blank slate from which to form his
own opinion of my transaction with Joyce. Peter continued, that they were
shocked by my deceit and underhandedness and taking advantage of Joyce at
her darkest hour. I raged inside, but let him continue. He rambled on about
my always having been the fair haired son, the chosen one, the golden boy
and that he had been supportive of me when the folks summoned me back from
Europe and interrupted my playtime. In fact I knew that just the opposite
was true and that mom had told me she wanted me to enrich my experiences
and exposure to art and culture before deciding where to settle down and
pursue a life career, but I let him rant. I surmised this was Peter's usual
expression of portraying the underdog, when in a tight situation and
figured his tight situation at this juncture, was a failing business or at
least a serious cash flow problem. Mary started to interject something and
he shut her down. He resumed, advising me that there was no way he was able
to meet the loan pay-offs as per my demand letter and that I was free to
seek any legal remedy, but he had filed for bankruptcy as of my last phone
call and that the loans were listed on his debts with the court and would
likely be discharged along with his bankruptcy; and the family firm would
suffer the loss and it was all my fault. As he rambled on, I made "mouth
mouth mouth" hand gestures to Ben, who looked on in shock. Peter advised me
that the firm would be receiving notices from his attorney and the court of
the debt listing and there was no target date for a resolution, but that he
wanted me to know in person of what I had brought on and the irreparable
damage to the family, and that I should cease any further collection
efforts. With that an email pinged from him with an attachment, the
attorney's letter of the debt listing confirmed Peter's claim and
declaration.  Mary again tried to interject and again, Peter stopped her.
He closed with notice that they would have no further contact with me, that
the distribution of his portion of the firm's income would be governed by
the court going forward and that his son could go to fucking hell along
with me and that disinheritance procedures were being engaged regarding his
QUEER (with emphasis) son. When I looked at Ben, tears welled in his
eyes. That all said, Peter disconnected the call. Ben's mouth dropped open.
I walked to my nephew and gave him a long embrace. He would now always be
on his own and I knew he questioned so many issues at this point, then
looked at me and asked "now what"? I suggested he engage David (our
neighbor) as his representative in any disinheritance or related legal
matters, as I didn't want to commingle the firm's attorney with Ben's
personal issues. He agreed and would cover this with David and asked if I
would mind attending those meetings with David as well? I accepted the
invitation, then urged Ben to go make the call to the tenant accounting
manager as discussed earlier. The afternoon had certainly made a dramatic,
though not entirely unexpected, turn I reflected. Mt next call was to Joyce
to bring her up to date and she broke into tears. I assured her that things
were fine and that there was nothing she could have done to prevent Peter's
situation from having happened, that it was his own undoing by his and
Mary's lavish spending habits that brought him to his present situation.
She calmed down as we spoke further and I urged her to consider coming back
for a visit and that we had a lot to cover and express. She said her month
was full but that she might be able to come down in late September or early
October and I welcomed her anytime. We ended the call with me reminding her
to not let him get under her skin or play on her sympathies for money. She
asked how Ben took the announcement and I told her he was in shock and
emotional during the call, but had regained some focus and was working on a
tenant matter to occupy his mind at present. She urged me to give him her
love. I smiled, assured her I would and hung up. I called the firm's
attorney and recapped the call with Peter, his notices and sent the email
letter from Peter's attorney to document and open a file. Now we would
wait.

Again I wanted to phone Jack, but rethought the point to be discussed and
with this added news, knew this was a one on one matter and not a phone
conversation. I wrapped up a few other matters, asked Ben if he'd reached
the tenant's accounting manager and learned he had and was already working
up a list of their questions for my review. I indicated I was heading home
early and that he should join me as soon as he finished up things there. I
felt I could cover the OG matter with Jack before Ben got home. Before
leaving, I reminded him to call David and headed for the elevator. The
drive home was reflective and the many issues of childhood, family events,
people, losses, challenges, marriages, loneliness and fast forward to the
present brought so much into clarity. As I came down Edgewater, I found
Jesus's truck parked in the driveway. I shuddered once then grew calm. I
came in the kitchen door, poured a sweet tea, then sat at the bar. The
rustle and muffled voices upstairs told all and in a minute Jack came down
free-balling in his running shorts, pulling on his T. Jack began, when
Jesus joined us, he too pulling on a T, and looking fearful and caught. I
stopped Jack before he spoke, just raised my hand and advised we, motioning
to Jack and me, had some things to cover, but that I had no issue with
Jesus and this remained between the 3 of us. Jesus was clearly unnerved and
haltingly said good-bye, then left. Jack resumed and wouldn't be delayed
again. "Brad I never promised fidelity, I never asked it or expected it of
you, ours is/was.............an open matter, we..." I stopped him again.
"Jack, I'm fine, I just wish you'd have told me, hell even invited me to
join, the shock at the OG was as much fumbling with the client and not
revealing too much emotion or confusion to him". "Brad I never meant to
hurt you and if I did, I'm sorry, I just have needs and need variety" Jack
said from his point across the bar, then "if you want me to go, I will".
Looking into those deep eyes, "no Jack just the opposite, I never want you
to leave, I need you in my life, to stay in my life, to share my life; we
have a lot to discuss before Ben gets home, but can we agree that you'll
stay"? Appearing somewhat confounded, Jack walked beside me, gave me a deep
hug; his body was firm against mine and for once, I felt far stronger than
this man, secure in my regard of him but also accepting of our shared and
external needs. "Jack there are many changes afoot within my family and the
business and while my and our position is secure, things are in upheaval
right now, not the least of which finds Ben being disinherited by his
family and being further and permanently shunned for being gay. He needs
support and I ask that you be there for him, to the extent possible, as
will I"? Jack nodded yes and hugged me again, kissed my neck and we parted
as Ben pulled under the carport. He came into the kitchen eyes reddened
with tears, Jack reached out to him and hugged his housemate, and offered
simply, "I don't know it all but am there for you Ben" then kissed my
nephew softly. We had a group hug for a good while, in silence.  Ben
advised that he'd phoned David and recapped the nature of the call with his
dad and you, and that you'd suggested I retain him for legal counsel. He
was delighted to help and thanked you for the referral. I then recounted
the long set of circumstances that led to my actions with Joyce, Peter and
the business and then turned to Ben and reminded him that he always had a
home and employment. I went on to advise them that Joyce would be coming
back for a visit in October sometime and that I planned to come out to her,
then. The guys sat open-mouthed at my business actions and plans with
Joyce. I then continued to address the matter with Jack and Jesus at the
Olive Garden, their tryst afterwards and perhaps several times before, my
frankness about Gregorio in the past, with Juan and Rodrigo recently, with
Leroy recently, my obvious desires for Bob and Joe and Jesus as well as in
the past with Jerry. I had no ill will toward Jack or Ben about their
pasts, present and made no presumption about the future or impediments
about future encounters, but only asked for respect and honesty from both
of them. Turning to Ben, I advised him that Jack and I had agreed to buy
your round trip tickets to San Diego and book a hotel for your visit, once
Bob transferred to NAS San Diego and would do the same when and if Joe
transferred wherever. I went on to assure both guys that the business was
sound and well suited for the future. I reminded them of dad's motto and
asked them to promise the same to me. They did. Once done, I asked about
supper, told Jack that he had to cough up the details about Jesus and
anyone else; Ben and I both agreed to share our exploits and we settled on
breakfast for supper. After we cleaned up, I suggested big screen porn in
the bedroom and both agreed.

The next morning, Jack wanted to be affectionate, but I needed to get to
the shelter breakfast and to the office and ensure all was in order in the
event the attorney wanted to review files. Fortunately, I had Peter's own
recent audit to share, from an independent source that would go far with
any litigation matters. The leases were all in order, the loan to
Gregorio's parents was secured with their home and property and all the
other business matters were in order and documented. I agreed that Ben had
a steep learning curve to face and insisted he apply his business knowledge
to get on board and fast, in the event he was called to offer a deposition
or participate in any claims by his parents. I once again sought and
received Ben's sanction of my actions and acceptance that he was now part
of the firm and its consequences going forward. At some point in time, the
firm would become his and perhaps Jack's and they had to learn how to fly
high, but always be honest in their dealings with others. Before heading
out, I reminded both guys that I wanted sex details of their encounters,
smiled gave a thumbs up and headed out for the restful ride along Ocean
Drive to the shelter.

I stepped into the open room and was greeted by Tom, my banker and soon by
my attorney who assured me he had no question about my actions or the
firm's position in this matter with Peter. That added a bit of reassurance
and was a comfort. The rest of Tuesday went smoothly as in fact did the
rest of the week, without further word from Peter or his counsel and
certainly not the court. That night, Jack had chicken fajitas prepped and
ready for us hungry men, as we arrived from our daily toils. We ate and
Jack asked about the day's events, I shared their rather benign nature, Ben
added his tidbits and then Jack began. "You see it stared back after that
first site visit by Jesus" Jack claimed our immediate attention. He went
on, "it was sort of odd the way he hung near me as we went over the concept
drawings and urged me to tell him more and then wanted to closely review my
alternate ideas". Jack looked at me, "I honestly didn't come on to him,
Brad". I motioned with my fork to continue, "but before he left, he groped
me and asked to blow me. I was stunned at first and he kept groping me and
well you know what that does to me, so I let him in the suite, out of
sight". Continuing, Jack said "it was tense but exciting and the next day
when he came back for no obvious reason other than sex, I was concerned
about not telling you and was ready to confront the issue, as I wanted to
be honest, but got lost in the different feelings I was having, the
uncertainty and then when he asked me to fuck him, I was all triggered up
and ready to pound and well, just got lost in the moment". "But he looks so
fuckin butch" Ben added? "Trust me, he likes gettin pounded doggy as much
as EVERY BOTTOM I've fucked" Jack admitted and continued "and is very good
takin it". Jack took my hand, "Brad you have to believe me, Jesus is a
great guy, but he's NOT YOU and if you tell me to stop, I will". Shaking my
head no, squeezing Jack's hand in reassurance I replied, "I'm all good, but
would like to watch or participate" grinned and winked. "Me too" Ben
added. "we'll see but you're sure we're good" as he pointed back and forth
to us?

Ben's cell rang, it was Bob, with confirmation of his transfer orders for
mid- September, they were delayed a couple of weeks, we learned. I urged
Ben to assemble a party, with Joe and Bob here at the house and we'd invite
some others, perhaps add David and Jackson as well. Maybe we could target
Labor Day weekend which will give us a couple of weeks to get everything
lined up and Joe can arrange time off for both of them and have everything
on the up and up? "A MAJOR POOL PARTY" Jack added "AND LOTS OF OPEN SEX".

August dragged by in heat and humidity. Work for the new tenant spaces got
underway and the smaller one was ready for move in by September 1. The
large tenant at the new property would be another month, but their plans
were on track. We finally got a court notice and confirmation about Peter's
bankruptcy filing from their attorney. All that would follow a prescribed
course and the firm was, as Peter noted likely to realize nothing from the
courts, but Peter would take a hit on his earnings for the year I'd somehow
ensure. Joyce was still planning on the last weekend of September for a
visit. The plans for the Labor Day Pool Party/Going Away Party for Bob were
all set and moving forward. I made my own arrangements, independent of
Bob's party. The weekend before the Labor Day bash the three of us sat down
and reviewed the party plans and our invitees and they included, but were
not limited to: of course the three of us, Juan, Rodrigo, Miguel, Leroy,
his cousin Little Joey, Gregorio, Jesus, David, Jackson, Joe and of course
the party guy Bob. Fourteen horny guys plus one or two others. All had
accepted their invitations. The open round trip air fare ticket had been
received yesterday Jack advised and a standard room reservation was booked
at the Sheraton San Diego with a view of Coronado Bridge and the bay both
as a gift for Ben whenever he planned to visit Bob. All was set;
housekeeping for Thursday and Friday event set up for the weekend party. We
could coast the rest of the week.