“Anyway, to make a long story short. I think my late husband and Sean gave me their blessing, in a weird way. I mean, I know they’re dead and probably couldn’t care less, but it feels important to me, to know it’s okay to pursue this. So here’s my suggestion, Marc, and you can thank the boys for the idea. I, we, want you to stay on board, here, with us. We have two empty bedrooms that weren’t going to be used anyway. Let’s get to know each other, slowly, properly. We have all the time in the world.”
Marc was stunned. “Wow, that’s so nice of you. But I, uh, I can’t afford to pay this room.”
Jonathan laughed. “Silly, we’ve paid for the suite all the way to Singapore, and whatever food charges they’ll add, don’t worry about those. You’d be our guest. And that is not debatable.” He blinked at Marc.
“That is quite an offer. I mean, I do have some savings, and I guess I could take a vacation. It’s been a while since I was out of work. I’ve not had much of a personal life. My parents are elderly, and they live in Liege in Belgium. I go visit them a couple of times a year, but since I don’t have an apartment of my own, I usually work double shifts.”
“It’s settled, then? You’re staying here?” Jonathan was elated. He leaned over and gave Marc a quick kiss, before realizing that the boys were staring at them. “Okay. You two better get used to this. It was, after all, your idea.”
Parker laughed, and Cody wondered what the fuss was all about.
“Marc, I believe you’ve already met my grandson Parker and his fiancé Cody. Those two are far too wise for their age, and they have a tendency to meddle in other people’s affairs. Come on, boys, give Grandpa a hug.” Jonathan moved over to Parker and hugged him. He then hugged Cody and kissed him on the forehead. “You, my dear boy, are quite something!” He turned and beckoned Marc. “And you, my dear Marc, have a difficult decision to make…”
Marc gave the boys a puzzled look and followed Jonathan across the room.
“You have to make a choice. Either you move into this bedroom, which is next to mine, or you’ll take this one—” he pointed down the hallway “—next to the boys. They took the one as far away as possible from mine out of consideration for me. I guess they didn’t want me to hear their nightly gymnastic exercises…” A roar of laughter escaped Jonathan’s throat.
“Grandpa! That’s not true…” Parker tried, halfheartedly, but he’d have known that Jonathan was spot on. Parker and Cody’s lovemaking could get quite loud at times, although Jonathan understood how it felt to let himself go completely in the arms of the man he loved.
“I’ll take the one next to yours, if I may?” Marc said.
Jonathan beamed. “I was hoping you’d say that. With a bit of luck, you may not end up spending much time in that room anyway…” Marc blushed, while Parker and Cody laughed.
“Grandpa, you’re impossible. You’re embarrassing him.”
And so Marc Duchesne came to join the Jackson family in their large suite on their continued journey. It took a couple of days for Marc and Carlos to adjust to the change in relationship between them, but they were good friends, and Carlos was happy Marc hadn’t left the ship.
Apparently, news of the change in dynamics and the move from below deck to one of the two VIP suites had been the talk among crew members since they left Antigua, but whenever Marc and Jonathan were out in public areas of the ship, no one let on, and they were treated just as before. People were happy that Marc had finally fallen for someone, and they were equally happy for the kind old uncle. What they thought privately nobody knew. Marc and Jonathan certainly didn’t care.
***
Captain Sverre wasn’t thrilled about the development, from a chain-of-command perspective, but he was pleased that his guest was happier than he’d seen him earlier on the cruise, and he secretly applauded Jonathan for having given corporate a long middle finger for their stuck-up rules. Yes, they were necessary, but no rule without exception. At least that’s what Sverre thought. He didn’t share his thoughts with anyone else.
* * * * *
Part Two
* * * * *
Chapter 13 - Cartagena
“What’s your take on these past weeks? Marc seems super nice.” Parker was lying next to Cody on a pristine beach near Cartagena, Colombia, where the Diamond was docked for a couple of days, before heading north to the Panama Canal and the passage into the Pacific.
“I like him. I mean, it can’t be easy for him, being around all of the people he used to work with and suddenly being a guest. Not to mention the gossip. But he doesn’t seem to care, or at least he doesn’t show it.”
“He and Grandpa seem to get along famously. I can’t believe the luck Grandpa has, to have met someone who doesn’t see his age, his old body, the short time they might have together. Makes you think about us, you know? Will you still love me when I’m old and gray?”
“Park, baby, don’t you worry. Unless there’s some magic progress in medical treatment, I’ll still be blind, and I won’t see you age…” Cody laughed at the prospect. “Which is more than I can say for you. Will you still love me when I’m old and wrinkly?”
Parker got serious. “Of course I will. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could ever keep me away from you, Cody. I love you too much. You’re stuck with me, no matter what!”
“No matter what?” Cody was teasing him now. “What if I ended up in a wheelchair, a complete basket case, unable to leave your bed. Would you still be with me then?”
“Don’t make fun about such things, Cody!”
“I mean it, though,” Cody insisted. “Just imagine me getting sick, for whatever reason, and you ending up with a blind cripple, bedridden. I sure as hell wouldn’t want you to stick around. I think I’d disappear.”
“Why? Why wouldn’t I want to stand by your side? I love you, Cody.”
“I know you do, Park. But that’s hardly the point. I doubt you’d love me very long. I mean, it must be difficult enough for you to be with me now—”
Parker put his hand on Cody’s mouth to shut him up. “Now listen to me, Cody. No, no, and no! You are not a burden to me. You never have been, and you never will be. I don’t care that you’re blind. Would I be happy if you could see someday? Sure, of course I would be. But your eyesight, or the lack thereof, is not a factor in my affection, my love for you. You must understand that, get it into that thick skull of yours. Once and for all, because I will not have this conversation again.” Parker was hurt and angry. “It offends me that you’re suggesting I only love you out of pity, or that I might grow tired of you.”
“I’m sorry, Park. That’s not what I meant. I know you love me. But since we are talking about this, let’s finish this conversation. Because I need you to understand that I love you, too, and if something were to happen to me, I’d want you to do what your grandpa has. Move on. Remember our good times, but don’t stick around. I’d hate to be the reason why you couldn’t live your life any longer.”
“Jesus, Cody! Why are we having this conversation? I love you, and I would never leave you. Ever. Besides, what Grandpa is doing is different. He’s a widower. He and Granddad were together for more than sixty years—happy years, mind you. And Grandpa didn’t leave Granddad when he got cancer. He stuck by him. And I would stick by your side!”
“Thanks, Park. I appreciate the sentiment, but still… The thought of you having to be at my side if I were sick? I wouldn’t want that, simply because I love you too much.”
“What would you do? Go back to your mom’s? Wreck her life?” Parker’s anger was starting to show. “At least I have a choice, and I make it with my eyes open. Your mom wouldn’t.”
Cody’s response was enigmatic at best. “There are other options, you know?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing, nothing really. Let’s not talk about this anymore. You’re right, anyway. It’s just hypothetical.” Trying to change the subject, Cody reverted the attention back to Jonathan. “So, when
are Grandpa and Marc going to meet us?”
“I think we said two p.m., right? Carlos made reservations at this little café in the old town.”
“Right,” Parker agreed. “We should probably start to get ready. Grandpa doesn’t like it when you’re late. He’s never been very patient, which is why I’m kind of surprised Marc still hasn’t moved in with him already. I mean, it’s been two weeks, and they still have separate bedrooms…”
Cody laughed. “Not that he spends much time there, though…”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, just that I can hear him leave his room and walk over to Grandpa every night. And then, in the morning, just before you and I get up, he returns to his room. You know how lightly I sleep. They’ve been doing it ever since Marc moved in. I think they keep the charade up for our sake. Maybe they’re afraid we’ll judge them. You were kind of mean that first night, when Grandpa told you about Marc…”
“I know, and I have apologized. It was just the surprise. I’m sure you’d feel the same. Just imagine if your mom suddenly decided to remarry. It would have been weird enough when it’s your parents, but your grandparents? I mean, seriously. Grandpa and Granddad were always my idols, and I never once saw them apart. They were always together, always.
“I think, as kids, we saw them more as one entity than two people. Not in a bad way. It’s just the way they were, so close, so much in love, even after all those years. When Granddad died, it was so hard on Grandpa. For a while, we were afraid he might just give up and die. But as miserable as he was, and he was in bad shape, it was as if there were a tether keeping him around. Something that kept him from going, from joining Granddad on the other side.”
Cody smiled. “I think you’re imagining things…”
“No, seriously. It’s hard to explain. It’s just a feeling I had, during those first weeks after the funeral, that Grandpa really didn’t want to live anymore, but couldn’t die, for some odd reason. And now look at him. Are you serious about Marc spending his nights there? Jesus, Cody, the old man seems to be seeing more action than we do…”
Cody leaned over and kissed Parker. “Are you complaining, babe?”
***
“Jonathan, come here, have a look at this.” Marc pulled at Jonathan’s arm. The two men were strolling through the old town of Cartagena, enjoying the beautiful old city, and each other’s company. Marc had just discovered an antique store that he wanted to check out.
“Yes, dear, give me a second.” Jonathan was trying to respond to a text message from Rick back home. He’d stayed in regular contact with the kids throughout the cruise, but he still hadn’t told them about Marc. He wasn’t sure if Parker had mentioned anything to Jeanette; none of them said anything if he had. Their conversations usually revolved about the mundane updates—“how are you?” “are you eating enough?” “Is Parker looking after you?” “are you looking after the boys?”—and that sort of thing. Jonathan had tried to avoid vid-calls ever since Marc had moved in with them, for fear that his happiness was oh-so obvious on his face.
Because happy he was. Unbelievably happy. And virile. The nightly lovemaking to his much younger lover was invigorating, and so was once again falling asleep next to a man, waking up with a man, although that was a rare privilege, as Marc insisted on going back to his room every morning. That made Jonathan incredibly sad, yet he understood the need for discretion. They had to consider the boys’ feelings. He was, after all, a bit of a role model, and Parker hadn’t exactly reacted positively when he’d first told them about Marc.
That first reaction hurt Jonathan, still, after more than two weeks. He’d told Marc about it that first night, and when he’d woken up in the following morning, Marc wasn’t there. For a second, he had panicked, afraid that Marc had left him, but he’d only returned to his room at dawn, and he’d continued to do so, every day since. The boys had no clue; they thought that he and Marc were merely taking it slowly, getting to know each other.
“Hah!”
“What, dear?”
“Oh, sorry, Marc, I was just thinking aloud.” Jonathan joined Marc and gave him a peck on the cheek. “I think we should tell the boys the truth. I’m tired of hiding. We’re in love, and there’s no reason why you should keep your room, unless you want to, of course.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind the charade. In fact, it’s a little exciting to sneak about.” Marc chuckled.
Jonathan laughed and put his arm around Marc’s waist. “So that’s how you see this? Is that what I am to you,” he teased. “A mere excitement?”
Marc turned in mock offense. “Well, I am, after all, only your toy boy, a distraction, a play thing, am I not?” He kissed Jonathan.
Jonathan laughed. “That you are, and so much more. I never thought I’d find love again, not at my age, not after Dan, but I’m rapidly falling in love with you. I know that feeling well, and it is most welcome. Thank you, thank you for walking into my life.”
“It is I who should thank you. I’ll never forget the day when I noticed your name on my appointment list for the day.” Marc smiled at the memory as he recounted it to Jonathan. “Like all staff members, I received the memo from headquarters about our VIP guests, and your name stood out. I don’t know why. We’ve had so many VIPs before, and never once did I do an online search for their names, but your name—” Marc considered his words “—it reminded me of my favorite book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Remember I told you about it? I’d just re-read it a couple of weeks before this cruise began. I love it so much, there’s so much to learn about life; it’s so inspiring. So I looked you up, online. And I found you. There was a lot of information about you online, the work you do with your foundation, Dan, even your kids. Without realizing it, I was spending hours, just reading articles, and looking at pictures of you. I remember one picture in particular. I don’t remember in what circumstance it was taken, but you were young, and so handsome, holding a baby. Dan was standing next to you, holding you, and you were both looking at the child, so happy, so content. I think that’s when I fell in love with you…” Marc blushed. “I’m sorry, I should have told you earlier. This makes me sound like a stalker, doesn’t it?”
Jonathan shook his head. “No, don’t worry. I’ve lived in the public eye for such a long time. I’m used to public scrutiny. So the cruise line sends you information about the passengers?”
“Yeah, they do, but only for suite guests, our VIPs. It isn’t much. Just your names, and some of the preferences you mention in your pre-cruise questionnaire. Most staff members don’t even read those memos, but the butlers must, and the senior officers. I just read it in case one of the VIPs wander into the spa. It makes it easier for me. Or, at least, it used to…”
Jonathan smiled. “Interesting. I recognize that photo, by the way. It’s the first picture we have of Jeanette, my daughter. I had no idea it was online. Then again, nothing surprises me these days. That picture is almost fifty years old. I was thirty-two when she was born.”
“And you were so handsome.” Jonathan waved Marc’s compliment away. “You still are. When I saw you in the reception area, waiting for me that day, I immediately knew who you were. You’re so tall, and so very handsome…”
Jonathan laughed and blushed. “Oh come on, I may have been, once, but not anymore…”
“You’re wrong, Jonathan, so very wrong. You see, beauty isn’t just what you see on the outside, your reflection in the mirror. It’s what we do, the legacy we leave behind, our actions, our beliefs.”
“What did you read about me that left such a deep impression?”
“Oh, the work you did for homeless children, particularly gay kids. I can only imagine what it must be like, not to be loved by your parents. I’ve been lucky. My parents have always accepted me for who I am. But it breaks my heart that there are mothers and fathers who do not love their children, people who care more about what having gay kids means for their public image than they care for their own offspri
ng. It’s so painful. I’ve never had children, probably never will. I’ve never had the luck to meet anyone before. Before you, my relationships never lasted long. And I feel that kids need stability, don’t you think?”
“I do,” Jonathan responded thoughtfully. “And I completely agree with you. I recall when we adopted Rick. Back then, adoption for a gay couple was still a bit of a thing, and we decided we’d try surrogacy the next time.” Jonathan looked around, and saw a café. “Would you like a drink? I need to sit down for a while.”
“Sure, if you tell me about Jeanette.”
Jonathan smiled. “That’s the plan.”
They walked the short distance to the café and sat down at one of the small tables on the sidewalk. A waitress came to take their order, and they both ordered fresh lemonade, a specialty of the place.
“Where were we?” Jonathan pondered. “Jeanette, right. Dan was already forty-three at the time, and we decided that he should be the biological father. There would always be time for me to have my own child, later on, or at least to father it. So we began with the process of finding a surrogate, which wasn’t easy. The legalities of the process are complicated, and we wanted to make sure we didn’t end up in a custody battle after the child was born, particularly since we had already begun to surface in the papers. We’d just started the foundation, and journalists still remembered the case with my father and connected the dots. There was a lot of juicy press back then. We found an agency to help us, and they connected us to a surrogate and an egg donor, a young grad student on the West Coast. She wished to remain anonymous, so we don’t know who she is.”
“So how did you get in touch with her?” Marc wondered.
“The process is very similar to that of a sperm bank. Various clinics not only collect sperm, they also have a list of potential egg donors. Some freeze them, like sperm, but in this particular case, the eggs were harvested fresh. Don’t ask me about all the medical details, but I think they got a dozen good eggs that were then fertilized with Dan’s sperm. We lost a few eggs in that process, but we had enough to do a few runs. We were lucky, and the surrogate, Mindy, got pregnant after the first embryo was implanted. The rest is history, and now, forty-seven years later, Jeanette is a mother herself to four kids, Parker being the oldest.”
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