by Trina Solet
"I'm getting to the story. Mr. Hummel's teeth reminded me of when I lived with this family, the Gordons. After a little while their grandmother moved in with them. She kept her teeth in a glass of water by the bed. These guys also had a fish tank. I wasn't allowed to feed the fish, but Mr. Gordon always called me over to watch when he was feeding them. I would watch the fish chase around after the little flakes. But one night, I got worried about the grandmother's teeth. I thought they might be hungry too so I gave them some fish food."
Both Alec and Teddy looked at him like he was crazy.
"I was very little," Cory said to try to defend himself.
Alec shook his head and then Teddy shook his head too.
"So I shouldn't tell you how the first time I saw old Mrs. Gordon take out her teeth, I cried and hid under the bed?" Cory said.
Teddy let out a tiny laugh then he covered his head with the sheet.
"Are you laughing under there?" Alec accused him.
"Maybe he's scared like I was," Cory said.
Teddy poked his head out to prove he wasn't scared.
"You're a brave boy," Cory told him.
Teddy liked hearing that then he looked up at the ceiling. Following his gaze, Cory saw that the night sky was painted up there.
"My dad did that. This used to be my and my brother's room. Check this out," Alec went over to the light switch and turned off the light. The stars and the moon started to glow.
Teddy watched them for a while then his eyes started to close. He kept opening them, but eventually sleep won the battle. Cory stayed a little longer, watching him to make sure he would stay asleep.
As he and Alec left, Cory asked, "So where is your brother now?"
"He's in L.A. He builds pools."
"Then he's in the right place."
Alec showed him a picture hanging on the hallway wall. Alec's brother was looking very muscular and tanned in a t-shirt and shorts, standing next to an impressive pool.
"He's a hunk," Cory said.
"Hey. Aim some of that admiration my way," Alec demanded.
Cory refused to even look at him. The last thing he needed was to admire Alec any more than he already did.
With nothing better to do, Cory and Alec were lounging around in the living room. Cory felt the buzz of sexual tension being alone with someone who was as blatantly hot as Alec. Alec was sitting low on the couch with his feet up on the coffee table. He showed no signs of feeling anything but relaxed. That just made Cory crazier. Why couldn't he be at least a little bit anxious too? Cory took a deep breath. He couldn't avoid Alec so he better make peace with being horny and being ignored.
It was a cool evening. The back door was open but the screen was closed. Fresh air came through, blown in from the field. Cory could hear birds calling to each other.
"Other than getting to know Teddy, what's your plan?" Alec asked.
"He's my brother. I want to take care of him," Cory said simply.
"That's good. So you want custody."
"Yes. They already have proof that we're brothers."
"They'll be more likely to give you custody if you show them you are a stable individual with a job and connections to a community," Alec told him.
"I don't have any of that crap." That worried him. Cory had been living with friends while he was looking for another job.
"That just means you need to get started on getting some of that crap," Alec told him. "You have a place to live. That's one down."
"I do?"
"You can live here as long as you need to. You are already the big brother in residence. We have the room, and this way you can spend time with Teddy. It benefits everyone." Alec said it like it was no big deal, but Cory was speechless. He thought he would be able to stay there for a few days at most.
"And the mayor, I mean, your mother?" Cory asked.
"Oh, she loves being called the mayor," Alec told him. "And she wanted to reunite Teddy with his family. It doesn't get any more reunited than living in the same house."
Cory wasn't going to take his word for it. He would wait to hear it from Alec's mother and not get his hopes up until then. Seeing that he hadn't convinced him, Alec texted his mother. He showed Cory what she texted back. "Cory can have your room."
"See," Alec said. "She already likes you better than me."
"Do I have a chance in hell of getting a job around here?" Cory wondered.
"Try it and see. The mayor will give you a hell of a reference. She might even pull some strings," Alec said.
Cory was willing to take any job as long as it meant he could stay with Teddy.
A little later, Alec's mom arrived and welcomed Cory all over again, and she insisted he call her Miriam.
"Go on, move your stuff out," she told her son. "We can't have Teddy's brother staying in that itty-bitty room."
"The room is fine. It's great," Cory told her. It made him smile to see how Alec and his mom teased each other. Neither took the other one seriously, but the whole time they had a fond look in their eyes.
When Miriam found out about Cory telling Teddy he was his brother, she wanted to hear all about it. Cory was worried that she might be unhappy that he did it without telling her first.
"I would never want to stand between you and Teddy," she said. Seeing the picture of the two of them Alec put up on the mantle, she nearly cried. Teddy had really touched her heart. She wanted for him what she had given her children, a home and a family, and Cory did too.
That night, Cory couldn't go to sleep without looking in on Teddy. As he stood in the doorway of Teddy's room, Cory wasn't sure he could go to sleep at all. Too much had happened, and it all centered on that little boy. The light from the hallway illuminated Teddy's peaceful, sleeping face. Even as he looked at him, Cory had to remind himself that this was real. That was his little brother.
Looking at Cory's small hands clutching at the edge of the covers, Cory thought about the yellow cab. He looked around for it and found it on top of a wooden chest. He picked it up like it was sacred and brought it closer to the light coming in from the hallway. It didn't look familiar to him at all. As he held it, he wondered what it meant that the car had been passed on to Teddy. While he tried not to read too much into it, it was too tempting not to. That car was the thing that had linked them.
It chilled Cory to think that one little detail brought him to Teddy. If it wasn't for this toy car, they would never know they were brothers. They would still be apart, alone in the world. Cory didn't remember the yellow cab, but he must have held it in his hand, played with it. The proof was found inside.
Once the police got involved in Teddy's case, everything he had with him was examined – his tattered shoes, every piece of clothing, the dirt under his fingernails. They looked for evidence and tried to trace his belongings. When they looked at the yellow cab that Teddy was holding when he was found, someone noticed that the doors were glued into place. The doors were the kind that opened, but they had broken off and been glued shut. The space where the doors once opened was just big enough for a child's finger. When the police pried open the car doors, they found a fingerprint inside – Cory's. Later, a DNA test confirmed a connection. Teddy and Cory were half-brothers.
Cory remembered sitting speechless when he heard the news that he had family, a little brother who needed him. He had to remind himself to breathe. He wanted to cry and laugh. But as too many emotions threatened to overwhelm him, he felt determination grow inside him and push aside everything else. He and his brother were going to be a family.
Chapter 6
When he woke up early next morning, Cory could hear someone moving around in the hall just outside his room. The lightness of the steps told him it was Teddy. He got up and opened the door. Still in his pajamas, Teddy stood in front of his door holding a drawing. He seemed anxious.
"Good morning. Did you draw something?" Cory asked him.
With a deep frown, Teddy handed him a drawing. Cory gazed at what looked like a
chicken with undersized wings. The drawing had Teddy's signature in purple crayon in one corner.
"So you can draw a bird. Can I keep it?" he asked Teddy.
Teddy nodded. He was bright eyed as he looked up at Cory.
"Thank you. I'm going to put it on the wall right over there next to the bed," Cory said and pointed out the spot.
Teddy looked even more pleased now.
"Is Alec up?" Cory asked.
Teddy looked toward his closed bedroom door without saying anything. Cory guessed that he wasn't. He didn't know Alec, but Cory had a feeling he wasn't the type to get up too early.
"Let's get dressed, OK," Cory said to Teddy.
It turned out that Alec's mom was already gone for the day. When Alec got up, they all had breakfast. It was cereal all around. Alec got Teddy's vitamins then for some reason looked long and hard at Cory.
"Maybe Cory should have one. He looks a little undernourished," Alec said with an evil smirk.
After looking at Cory, Teddy handed him a vitamin. Cory scowled at Alec as he chewed it. That didn't stop Cory from showing Teddy's new drawing to Alec. Cory said, "Look, it's a bird." He didn't want Alec to call it a chicken or something.
Alec looked over at Teddy with a smile.
"Did you draw this for your big brother?" Alec asked.
Teddy looked shy then he nodded.
After breakfast, Cory decided they should take a walk into town. That way he could get to know the town and get to know Teddy too.
"Want to take a walk with me? Alec can come too if he wants," Cory offered.
"You guys should go. Teddy knows his way around pretty well. He won't let you get lost," Alec said.
As they left, Teddy looked like he took his duty of not letting Cory get lost very seriously.
"Bring Cory back safe," Alec yelled after them.
Cory waved to him as he and Teddy turned from the driveway and went up the road. To make Teddy feel more at ease, Cory had included Alec in his invitation. Not that Cory would have minded if he came along. But unlike Teddy, Cory couldn't be completely relaxed around him. He had never spent much time with a guy who was so blatantly good looking that he couldn't help being a little arrogant about it. Cory didn't really blame him for that. He just didn't want to stroke his ego any more than he already had. That wasn't easy. He felt like he was giving himself away with every look that lasted longer than it should and with every averted gaze. The looks Alec gave him didn't help. Cory knew he was just teasing him, but he still got hot when Alec leered at him playfully. Bastard. Alec was like someone who plays with a loaded gun. Didn't he know any better than to flaunt himself and stir up a guy like Cory? It would serve him right if Cory snuck into his room one night.
Cory turned to Teddy, who was walking alongside him, taking big steps.
"Good thing I have you to keep me out of trouble," Cory said. For his sake, he wouldn't do anything to embarrass himself with Alec.
Teddy looked up at him with a serious expression then looked straight ahead. Cory had noticed that he didn't mind taking charge. One of these days Cory might have to remind him that he was the big brother. For now, he was happy to let Teddy play the tiny general.
*
When Cory mentioned going into town, Alec had wanted to go with them, but he decided to let the brothers bond. He looked after them with more longing than he expected. Sure, he had gotten used to having Teddy all to himself and being the one he turned to. Now there was also Cory. Alec had woken up with Cory on his mind and jumped out of bed more eagerly than usual, but not any earlier. Watching Cory walk away wasn't what Alec had looked forward to, though the sight of his ass was damn delectable. Alec mentally stripped off his loose fitting jeans and put him in a pair of tight ones. Then he stripped those off too and just feasted his eyes on naked perfection.
Alec groaned, slapped his forehead and scolded his imagination. He told himself to keep it zipped, keep it buttoned and keep a lid on it. Cory wasn't a recreational activity. He was Teddy's only family. But why did Cory have to have those eyes and that slim, fuck-me body. It was not fair. Alec had no practice resisting temptation. When presented with temptation, he just said, "Yes, please." If it weren't for Teddy, Alec would be luring Cory into his bed. Maybe he would have already done it, and this morning, he would have woken up next to him, tangled in the same sheet. Too bad that wasn't going to happen. Alec cared about Teddy too much to risk his peace of mind. Teddy needed Cory more than Alec needed to get some. That was a new concept for Alec. Usually nothing could beat getting what he wanted. What was happening to him? Alec looked around him in dismay. He was back living in his childhood home and denying himself a sweet fuck. Had he been body-snatched? Alec headed straight to the den and took a brush in his hand. If he painted anything other than naked men, he would know for sure.
*
With Teddy setting the pace, they reached the edge of town in no time. Cory was now more familiar with Seaview Pines, and it seemed the people of the town were also more familiar with him. As he and Teddy walked along Main Street, he got fewer curious stares and more casual greetings. When they passed Carla's hair salon, the ladies waved, and a voice from inside called out, "Hey there, Cory and Teddy. Stop by any time!" A blonde woman waved a gloved hand at them.
Noticing Teddy's shaggy hair, Cory stopped and turned to him.
"Do you think you might want to get your hair cut?"
Teddy touched his hair protectively.
"You don't have to, only if you want to."
Teddy looked at Cory's short hair and got a determined look on his face.
"Let's go to Carla's," Cory said and watched Teddy turn decisively like a little soldier.
It turned out that the blonde woman was Carla, and she already knew Cory was Teddy's brother.
"Don't be surprised," she told him. "A hairdresser finds out everything first. So what can I do for you boys?" She took off her hair-color stained gloves.
"If you have time, I think Teddy might want a haircut," Cory said. Teddy nodded once to confirm it.
"I'll make time. I've been dying to get my hands on these golden locks," Carla said as she eyed Teddy's hair.
"Oh, no. Leave it long. It looks so cute," one of the ladies under a hairdryer said.
"It was Teddy's decision," Cory said as he watched Teddy climb into the chair then widen his eyes at his own image in the mirror.
"Do you have any work that needs to be done here, sweeping up or anything?" Cory asked as Carla got Teddy ready for his haircut.
"Sorry, hon. I do it all myself. But Liza at the All Apparel will take you on for sure," Carla told him with a wink.
Cory heard the other ladies laugh so he was pretty sure she wasn't talking about a real job. The ladies seemed to be making fun of this Liza more than him. In the meantime, Teddy was covered up and wet haired, ready for his haircut. Cory went over to stand next to him.
"How do you want it, hon?" Carla asked Teddy. She showed him some pictures, but Teddy kept looking up at Cory. Finally Carla figured it out. "Like your big brother. Of course. You'll be the spitting image."
Hearing this, Teddy sat straight and put on a face that said, "Go ahead."
When she was done, Teddy's hair was blow-dried and even a little moussed. Cory leaned down next to him so they were framed together in the mirror.
"Pretty good, huh?" Carla said, proud of her work.
"Could you take a picture of us?" Cory asked her, offering his phone.
"Sure will. And one for my wall." Carla took out her own phone and pointed at the wall where pictures of customers were displayed.
Once their pictures were taken, Teddy went over to look at the pictures on the wall. When Cory joined him, he spotted one of Alec and his brother as teenagers. His brother had his arm around Alec, but they didn't have matching haircuts. Alec's was practically a buzz cut. His brother's hair was longer, styled to show off the wave in his hair.
"That's Alec and his brother," Cory said pointing it out to T
eddy.
Seeing which picture they were looking at, Carla said, "I'll be sure to put yours right next to that one."
When they went back out on the street, a girl about Cory's age stopped in front of them. She was wearing a men's work shirt over a pink t-shirt and tight jeans and had her mousy brown hair in a pony tail.
"Hey there, Teddy. Long time no see. Almost didn't recognize you with the new haircut. Looking good. Mrs. Slozek always asks about you," she rattled off. "And who's this?"
"I'm Cory, Teddy's brother," Cory introduced himself.
Teddy ducked his head and smiled shyly. She chuckled at his shyness.
"Nice to meet you. That's great. I'm Bonnie Carlton. So how come he was just standing there? Do you know? I'm driving by and I'm like, 'Check out the little hitchhiker.'"
"You're the one who found Teddy," Cory realized. He remembered Alec mentioning her name.
"Sure. I make deliveries for the Smorgasbord, the grocery store. I was driving from the Pooles to Mrs. Slozek when I spot Teddy like some mini-hitchhiker with all his things by his feet. What a sad sight. He was looking up the road like he was waiting for whoever left him there to come back for him. So I went whoosh!" She acted out turning the wheel sharply. "I told him to hop in, but I wasn't sure what to do at first. I figured I'd take him into town. But I only had Mrs. Slozek to deliver to and her perishables in the back on ice. The woman likes her fish. So I took him along. Mrs. Slozek tried to give him some cookies, but he only looked down at his feet, didn't take them. Then I drove him back to town, took him to the sheriff. And he yelled at me for driving the kid all over instead of calling him right away. He was all 'A crime has been committed!' Probably scared the kid half to death."
"Damn it." Cory didn't like the sound of that.
"He always yells. Sheriff Hutchins is always freaking out about something. The mayor and Alec took charge of Teddy after that. So it was OK."
