Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0800 From: John Henry Subject: Growing Up Ry Chapter 25 (Gay/Incest) DONATION: Nifty is a not-for-profit organization that heavily relies on our donations to keep the site free and accessible. Your donations pay for web hosting fees and other day-to-day activities for the wonderful staff of editors/publishers. You can donate on the website at http://donate.nifty.org/ Every little bit helps. DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fiction, and contains explicit sexual content involving adults over the age of 21 and minors under the age of 18, with scenes of incest involving step-parents/step-children, and adopted siblings. If viewing this material is illegal where you live, OR you're a minor under the age of 18, please stop reading this. If you're not sure about the legality, please stop reading until you have looked into your own, local laws. Any likeness or similarity between persons, places, products or concepts are purely coincidental. NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: As of mid-August 2023, I have been using a new email address. Please contact me (copy and paste) at NIFTYJHENRY1988.2@GMAIL.COM. If you've sent me an email prior to mid-August, please forward them to me, since I've lost access to my previous account. All future submissions will also be from this account. This is the third and final book in a trilogy, which starts with my first book, "Growing Up Kyle" and continues with "Growing Up Charlie." It is highly recommended that you read those stories in order before reading this book. You can find links to them, and my other stories, on my Prolific Authors page at nifty.org/nifty/authors.htlm#johnhenry . If you would like to leave positive feedback, contact me at niftyjhenry1988.2@gmail.com. Chapter 25 As surprised as Ry was that Rhonda had arranged the birthday ambush at the restaurant, Ry was even more shocked that Billy and Rick were invited. He guessed that Trevor had something to do with it. She even let Rick hold Bethany, which was something nobody expected. They didn't stay long, since Ry still had to work. Despite how nice everyone and everything was, there was still a tension among them that Ry figured would never go away. "What's it like being a dad?" Rick asked, as he watched Ry rocking Bethany. Ry chuckled uncomfortably. "I'm not technically anyone's dad. This is only temporary until Charlie gets out of rehab and can take care of here on his own." "That could be awhile, you know." "I know, but I'm trying to remain positive." "I wish I had your optimism," Rick said, sounding sad. Ry got the feeling that his adopted father wasn't doubting Charlie's ability to get sober but was mourning his own lost outlook on life. "How are you doing, Dad? Really?" Ry was glad to see his use of the word "Dad" brought a small smile to the man who raised him. "I have good days and bad days, but there seems to be more good than bad." "That's good." "I really miss how things were before...." "I know, Dad," Ry said, taking his father's hand in his own. Despite how he might feel about the major rifts between them, Ry wasn't in the mood to ruminate on the negative, especially while holding his niece. Rick fought back tears, while not letting go of his middle child's hand. "So Billy," Ronda started, "have you two finally set a date for the wedding?" "Not yet," Billy replied, clearly annoyed. "We're both trying to get through school, and Trevor has also been busy at work." "That's what you said the last time I asked." "Yes, which was also last week, and the week before that, and the week before that...." "Can't a mother ask when she's getting another handsome son?" Trevor ignored the complement and said, "We're not in a rush, Ronda. Billy's been studying extra hard for his LSATs and that comes first." "So he's putting his studies ahead of you?" Ronda sounded almost upset. "I insisted, actually. If it was up to Billy, we'd be married by now, but I'm the reason we're not. I haven't decided where I want to go for my masters, and I want to be sure that, wherever that is, they have a law school good enough for Billy. Neither of us will be getting into an Ivy League school, but that still leaves several great colleges to choose from, like USC, UCLA, and the U of O on the West Coast, Boston University, NYU and Columbia and the East Coast." "We're not wanting to go anywhere in the South," Billy added. "And neither of us want to deal with Midwest winters, so Chicago and Michigan are out of the question." "Why don't you stay around here?" Ronda asked. "We want good schools," Billy replied. "The University of Oregon is a possible compromise." "Billy doesn't like hot weather," Trevor joked. "It's also stupid expensive. We were looking at expenses the other night, and fuck...Oregon isn't great, either, but it at least has four seasons." "Yay, more rain," Trevor joked. * * * The rest of Ry's shift was good. Marcus fired David, finally. Ry had been considering it, but he hated dealing with new hires. It also meant that his staff was having to work harder until a replacement could be found. As Ry worked on the pile of dishes David failed to do, he thought back to the dinner. He really wished Charlie had been there, but he wasn't sure how that would've gone down with Rick being there. In the progress reports Ry got from Charlie's counselor, Jason, Charlie was still refusing to discuss their father and anything that led up to Justin's death. In fact, according to Jason, there wasn't much Charlie did talk about. "Is there any insight you can give me about the source of his addictions? Past traumas and whatnot?" Jason asked over the phone. Ry considered sending Jason the hidden camera footage Billy's biological father took for Justin molesting Charlie, especially the video of Justin anally raping the then 9-year-old. Since nobody else knew about the videos, Ry clearly kept them to himself. Instead, Ry sent Jason links to various news articles about the kidnapping and investigation into Justin's and Will's murders. A day or two later, Jason called back, clearly upset at what he had read and further research into what Charlie had been through. "I honestly had no idea," Jason remarked. "Not from around here?" Ry asked. "It was a huge story, so I don't know how you could've missed it, otherwise." "Yeah, I moved here from Vermont a couple years ago, and I don't often watch the news. This is going to be harder than I thought, to be honest." "The only advice I can give is that you don't push him too hard. We'll shut down and you'll never get him back." Ry gave everything time to sink in before adding, "By the way, if you make the situation worse for him or I find out that you've hurt or abused him in any way, I will end you." "I don't appreciate threats, Mr. Barton," Jason replied, sounding bitter. "It's not a threat, Jason. A threat implies a lack of follow through. My family has been through hell, especially Charlie, and the last stranger he trusted ended up surviving on his own flesh while slowly being dismembered. I intend to keep my word, Jason, and you have nothing to worry about so long as Charlie is treated properly and well. Do I make myself clear?" "I have half a mind to terminate his treatment right now." "But you won't, and I know this because you're still talking to me. You lack follow through, Jason. I don't." Then Ry hung up. Since then, Jason had kept Ry up-to-date with everything Charlie was up to, and in as much detail as Ry requested. ***Coming Soon, Chapter 26*** Don't forget that I have a new email address, and to forward any emails you may have already sent me. My new address is: niftyjhenry1988.2@gmail.com