by Linn Edwards
“You haven’t shared this with them?”
“No. Why talk about the place failing? It means so much to Mom and Papa. But he’s eighty-seven, and Mom is not getting any younger. Ten years seems like a long way off but not so much.”
“What’s the plan after dinner?” asked Jeremiah.
“Sex at the hotel, I was hoping!”
“Good deal. Maybe we should take a bottle of wine back with us.”
The dinner at the small riverside winery was pleasant. Ethan had been right. The wine was average but complimented the meal well. Actually, the raspberry wine after dinner was better than the red blend they had with dinner.
Jeremiah stopped by the front desk and asked for a bucket of ice for the bottle of raspberry wine he brought back with him. Ethan came in from parking the car, and they went up in the elevator together. Both ignored the smiles from the front desk as the doors closed.
Ethan kicked off his sandals and flopped on the bed.
“Shower? Together?” Jeremiah suggested with a greedy smile.
“I could be persuaded.” Ethan unbuckled his belt and let his pants drop as he stood, revealing no underwear and an ever-increasing cock. “I didn’t want to go hunting for them in the morning.”
“I noticed the sandals, but didn’t think about you going commando.”
“Socks and underwear were hiding this morning, and I don’t really want to rush out of here tomorrow.”
Jeremiah smiled and kicked off his shoes, tore at the socks, and moved to the bathroom as he stepped out of his pants. In the bathroom, Ethan slid his arms around Jeremiah’s waist and nibbled, kissed his neck.
“I’d ask you to do more of that except for one thing.” Jeremiah pointed to his stand-at-attention cock as evidence of impending need.
Ethan dropped to his knees and took the long, curving cock into his mouth, tongue playing with the bulbous head before going down, taking Jeremiah all into his mouth and throat.
Jeremiah moaned and stumbled back a bit as he succumbed to Ethan. Ethan steadied him by holding onto Jeremiah’s ass. Muscles flexed just under the skin as Jeremiah’s cock exploded in Ethan’s mouth. Ethan continued sucking as Jeremiah got softer then began to grow hard again. Jeremiah moaned again and needed to steady himself against the sink.
Ethan looked up, and Jeremiah saw something reflected in those eyes. Desire? More than that? Jeremiah wasn’t sure what Ethan felt, but he could do this for a long time into the future with this man and be very happy. A warm rush flowed over Jeremiah’s body, as if sending all doubt out of his mind. This was good, and he would do anything to keep even a piece of this long past any article he had to write. Okay, anything?
Ethan woke before his alarm went off in his phone, and he silenced it before it awakened Jeremiah. He lay there, watching the young journalist sleep, and felt both happy and sad. Happy to have made love—and that was exactly what it was, not just sex—with this man, but sad to think they would go their separate ways.
Perhaps they could meet a few times in mutually agreed places for a while. But Ethan was sure long-distance relationships never work except in novels and television shows. The determining factor was where he was going to law school. Well, another determining factor was really Jeremiah. Ethan was sure he was interpreting feelings correctly, but, of course, he was new to all this. He’d never thought about a relationship until after law school and when established. Who would have time? But here it was. Dropped in his lap, so to speak. How did he act on it?
Jeremiah stirred, and Ethan leaned over and kissed him on the nose. The long luscious lashes lazily opened, and Jeremiah smiled.
“It’s pumpkin time for me.” Ethan sighed.
“I need to finish a rough first draft this morning and send it in for comments.” Jeremiah yawned. “Then I’ll be into the restaurant, try to talk to your mother. Arrange with Fergie when a photographer and I can come back and stage the photos for the meals and such.”
“So you’ll be back?”
“You’re not getting rid of me so easily.” Jeremiah laughed. “I was thinking we should do a charity thing for something local when the magazine comes out. Sort of a launch party with food and drink afterhours at Fergies to benefit a local charity. One in mind?”
“Sure, it’s a program at one of the local churches called Loaves and Fishes. They serve a free hot meal twice a month on Saturdays for lunch, and they always overcook so people can take home food. A couple local bakeries and restaurants donate food. When they can, they have fresh vegetables to take home as well. It’s run on donations, and they could use a new freezer and refrigerator, I’m told.”
“Perfect and food-oriented. Get up and dressed already. I need to work!”
Ethan smiled, stole a long and passionate kiss from Jeremiah, who moaned in the back of his throat.
“You better go quick, or you’re going to be late.”
They both giggled and held each other for one last second and then parted. It felt to Ethan as if something was being ripped from him, but he would focus on that later. They still had later.
Chapter 10
The morning crawled for Ethan. He knew Jeremiah was coming in after noon. His grandfather had texted him that he was coming in also to discuss details about the photos and such. Fergie even noted his mother had deigned to sit down and talk.
Well, Zoe hadn’t said much to Ethan through the morning other than, “Good morning,” and a benign kiss on the cheek.
The kitchen staff noted the change but said nothing. In fact, the kitchen was unusually quiet and subdued. Ethan guessed the rest of them were taking their cue from Zoe.
Certainly, the dining room wasn’t quiet. It had the usual buzz of conversations swirling in the air as well as the pointing and looks Ethan received. Oh, man. Talk about being out of the closet. He felt exposed. But no one seemed surprised. Had times changed so much that this wasn’t a big deal? He hoped so.
His cousin Sadie came in with a cookie delivery and to pick up a second soup for the lunch bar at the pharmacy. They didn’t always supply the soup for there, but this was an emergency somehow, so Zoe made extra vegetable soup as long as it was served as Fergies Vegetable Soup. Ethan carried the two containers of soup to Sadie’s car.
“So, I met your boyfriend the other morning,” she started.
“Not sure you could call him my boyfriend.”
“Well, Gina said the looks you were giving each other were pretty intense.” His cousin laughed.
“Is everyone talking about this in town?” Ethan frowned as he hefted the large hot containers into the back of her SUV.
“Oh, honey, everyone is just happy for you.” Sadie reached up and took his face in her hands. “Sweetie, you are the one family member everyone in this fucking yahoo town likes besides Fergie. Everyone wants you happy, and we all are just glad you found that doorknob on the closet.” She kissed him on the cheek and she noticed the stunned look on his face
“Everyone?”
“You really think no one knew you were gay? Pffft.” Sadie waved her hand at him. “It took some longer than others, but, sweetheart, when you love someone, you know things. Like you and Gina. Never gonna be a romance, but you both love each other. And you knew she wanted—no, needed—to go to that damn dance for whatever reason.”
Ethan scooped his cousin in his arms and gave the short teen a hug. “You are the best.”
“I’ve had an excellent example to live up to and understand something,” Sadie said, punching at Ethan’s chest with her finger. “I plan on majoring in business in college, and I’m going to be the new you here and then be Zoe! I love that place. There’s just one problem.”
Ethan reared back and roared, tears flowing. “Just one?”
“Yeah. I’m not universally liked and loved as you are.”
“You’re cute. You can make that work for you.” Ethan giggled.
“I’m counting on that,” she said with certainty. “Oh, I almost forgot. Herschel said he had
some mail for you he wasn’t leaving at the house but bringing to the restaurant.”
“What?” Ethan was perplexed.
Sadie shrugged. “Said he couldn’t discuss the mail of someone else with me. And you know damn well I tried.” She flounced as only Sadie could and positioned herself on a stack of pillows in the SUV.
So, everyone?
“Could you quit loitering with your cousin and get your ass in here and service your customers?”
Ethan turned to see his mother in the door of the restaurant, smiling. So maybe the freeze was over.
Jeremiah had finished the draft and almost immediately his phone rang.
“You want to go with Dinah when she photographs there?” the senior editor, Jerry Smithers, asked, his words clipped.
“Yes, this is a small town. God bless Dinah, she can be a bit gruff. I’ll be here to smooth things out.” Jeremiah fumbled with the phone and got the earbuds in to continue the call while he put on his pants and shoes.
“Okay, why the personal interest here? I didn’t get through the first two paragraphs of the piece without realizing you saw this place as close to Norman Rockwell as you could get. What gives?”
“Nothing gives, but if this is going to be the feature to end the series, it needs to be done right.”
“Uh, huh! Again, what gives?”
“Look, you said the first of the series was too dark, so I lightened up the approach on this one as a balance.”
“Balance?” Jerry laughed. “Look, I’m going to do an edit on what you sent and shoot it back to you for you to continue in the not-so-Rockwell vein. Okay?”
“I’ll read the edits.”
“I hope he’s worth all this.”
“What?” Jeremiah asked.
“This Ethan guy. I didn’t think it was the geezer who started the place. He’s, what, ninety?” Jerry laughed.
“Fergie’s eighty-seven, and mind your own business.”
“As long as you do the job, I couldn’t give a fuck, but, really, ditch the Rockwell approach.”
Jeremiah could almost see Jerry punching the End button hard on his phone. Jeremiah sighed and packed his gear, taking his SLR camera so he could show Jerry why there should be some Rockwell in the piece.
Chapter 11
Fergie came into the restaurant with laptop in hand, moved a couple tables together, and sat down, looking every bit in command. It was getting late, and the lunch crowd was thinning. Seniors were ordering carry-out for their evening meal—the wonders of microwaves. Another wonder emerged as Zoe brought out what they called Fergie’s Bible. An ancient loose-leaf notebook with yellowed and new pages, probably a good three inches thick. It was the repository of all that made the restaurant hum: the recipes. Ethan stood in shock.
Fergie looked at his daughter. “You joining us?”
“Do I really have a choice? I’ll just alienate you and Ethan, and I really don’t need a lecture from Sadie again.” Zoe sighed as she sat down.
“Sadie?” Ethan put out four coffee mugs.
“After all that hugging you two did on the curb, she called and ripped into me. I really don’t need that from a sixteen-year-old,” Zoe began. “But she made some valid points, so I’m willing to hear all about this.”
“She’s eighteen, Mother.”
“Since when?” Zoe was earnest in her confusion.
“Last month. We had a party here.” Fergie laughed.
“Well, she looks twelve,” offered Zoe.
“And the mouth of a forty-year-old,” said Ethan as they all turned, hearing the jangle of the doorbell.
It was Jeremiah, and Ethan couldn’t help having a big sappy smile for all to see.
“Is the brain trust for Fergies Inn present?” Jeremiah sat down next to Ethan, who poured a mug of coffee from the vacuum-sealed carafe he had placed on the table.
“Not sure how much brain any of us have at this time of day,” started Zoe. “But I think I need to apologize and introduce myself. I’m Zoe, Ethan’s mother, and I supposedly run this place.” She rolled her eyes in Fergie’s direction.
“For the most part,” Fergie said. Everyone laughed.
“So you’re all in?” Jeremiah asked cautiously.
“I’m not going to contest the article, but not sure on the mail order thingy.”
“The mail order is between you guys. I’m just here for the feature.” Jeremiah pulled out his camera. “I want to get a few shots of the place so Dinah can make some plans on lighting and for her own unique style.”
“When is the formal picture-taking going to be?” asked Fergie.
“About a month from now, I think. Depends on some other logistics.”
Zoe looked at Jeremiah. “Ethan says you’re coming back for that?”
Jeremiah smiled. “Yeah, I kinda like this place and want to make sure it goes according to my vision and not Dinah’s. She’s a wonderful person, but sometimes is too artsy, if you know what I mean.”
“Kitchen is still open, so order something,” Zoe commanded as Jeremiah walked around, taking shots of the dining room, perspectives from the counter, and the kitchen.
He ordered something to eat—the Fergie burger and onion rings. Zoe added slaw to balance out the meal. Ethan sighed in apparent relief.
The door jangled again, and they turned to see the mail carrier, Herschel, coming in with a huff and puff. “You guys still open?”
“For you, sure,” said Ethan. “Especially since Sadie said you had something for me?”
“Yeah, yeah,” huffed the mail carrier as he sat down at a nearby table. He swung his still-bulging mail bag onto the table and pulled out several large Manila envelopes bundled together. “I figured you’d want these as soon as possible. Wanted to get here earlier but—sorry.”
He handled the bundle to a perplexed Ethan, who sat across from Herschel.
“I thought you’d want to see the top one first. Congratulations, kid.”
“How do you know what in this? What are they?” asked Ethan.
“I’ve been carrying long enough to know acceptance and scholarship information is sent in these kinds of envelopes. Refusals are in regular letter envelopes.”
Everyone crowded around Ethan as he just stared at the bundle. Jeremiah put his hand on Ethan’s shoulder.
“Well, go ahead and open the damn things!” Zoe commented.
With shaking hands, Ethan removed the rubber band from the ten envelopes. On top was one from Columbia School of Law. He stopped and stared.
To break the tension, Fergie asked, “How many did you apply to anyway?”
“Fifteen. All across the spectrum.” Ethan continued to stare.
“There’s, what? Ten there?” Fergie nudged the pile closer to Ethan.
Zoe and Jeremiah said nothing, but Ethan felt the squeeze of Jeremiah’s grip on his shoulder. Ethan took a knife out of the set-up wrapped in a napkin and slit open the one from Columbia.
Jeremiah read over his shoulder aloud. “After careful consideration of many things, we would like to extend an invitation to attend Columbia School of Law. Enclosed is the offered scholarship and other financial aid information. While we understand you want to defer entry for a year, we must have your decision and signed paperwork and check by the date on the scholarship information. Again, congratulations and welcome.”
The room was silent. Ethan’s eyes welled up as did everyone else’s, including Herschel.
“See, kid? I was right. You did good, Ethan.”
A cheer went up from the kitchen as customers, employees, and everyone rushed to shake a stunned Ethan’s hand.
“Columbia is in New York City?” asked a tearful Zoe. “Oh, Ethan, you’ll be all alone in such a large city.”
“No, he won’t, Zoe,” stated Jeremiah. “My apartment is close to Columbia. I did my Masters in Journalism there. I’m in and out of town a lot on assignment, so it would be nice to have someone there all the time.”
Ethan looked at Jeremi
ah with a raised eyebrow, and Jeremiah nodded.
“Problem solved then!” declared Herschel.
Zoe looked pensive. “Yeah, problem solved. I guess.”
Ethan could tell the realization of changes in their lives were coming to full view for Zoe, and a year wasn’t that long.
Fergie wiped some tears from his eyes. “Whatever the scholarship doesn’t cover, it’ll be there. I am so fuc-eh-freaking proud of you.”
“So do I have a roomie?” asked Jeremiah.
“Oh, yes, if you are sure.”
“We have a year to get ready. It’ll work.”
Jeremiah sounded so sure, it made Ethan relax and horny all at the same time. He smiled, but he was hoping no one saw what was making him smile as he crossed his legs.
Later, in Jeremiah’s hotel room, they rested in each other’s arms, with their legs wrapped around each other. Both breathless from intense and sweet lovemaking.
“We have time to build a relationship now. I want this so much. I was even considering going wherever you went to law school and work from there, if you’d have me.” Jeremiah looked deep into Ethan eyes for a reaction.
“And I was thinking of maybe not going to law school. I really don’t want to lose you and for this to end,” whispered Ethan into Jeremiah’s ear and biting it softly. “We can have a full course of a relationship and dessert, too,’
“And gravy,” offered Jeremiah smiling. “I’ll want gravy, too.”
They kissed and snuggled in for the night.
THE END
ABOUT LINN EDWARDS
Linn Edwards worked the entertainment industry in Los Angeles for eleven years during the ‘80s and ‘90s in a myriad of positions and responsibilities. Also, he was a freelance television writer in primetime and did an amazingly short stint in daytime. He settled into a corporate job dealing in contracts and unions for what was, at the time, considered a “mini-major” studio.
