“I see good men seem to run in your family.”
“Thank you. I figure you wouldn’t say that to a lot of priests.”
“No, not a lot. A few I’ve known, but not many.”
“We’re not all child molesters, you know.”
“No. I know that. But too many of you follow the idiocy and the homophobia of Rome. Even though Jesus never said one word about homosexuals, I might add.”
“Actually, he somewhat indirectly did.”
“He did? I’ve read the whole New Testament, word for word, and never found one place where Jesus talked about people of the same sex loving each other. I’m not talking about Paul, here. I’m talking about Jesus.”
“Well, then I guess you missed the part where Jesus said, ‘…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’ In this, Jesus was very clearly saying that the Old Law, the Mosaic Law, was superseded by his teaching. Just the same way he very pointedly demanded his followers forgive their enemies rather than utilizing the Mosaic Law of ‘an eye for an eye.’”
“So what you’re saying is Jesus would have no problem with two guys loving each other?”
“Tommy, I believe if Jesus came back today, you wouldn’t find him in any cathedral or church. You’d find him in the gay bars and AIDS wards of the local hospitals. After all, when he lived on earth, who did Jesus spend time with? The outcasts of society. His dislike of the wealthy and politically powerful was well documented. It was his dislike of them that led to his execution.”
“Well…that isn’t your church. I’m sorry, but a friend of mine has an e-mail signature that says, ‘Religion is what’s left after God has left the building,’ and I have to say, I agree totally with it.”
Matt laughed at this.
“I’ve never heard that one! But it’s good. Very good. And, unfortunately, pretty accurate.”
I looked at him in shock.
“But how can you believe those things and still be a priest?”
“Because I try to follow the words of Jesus, not the policy of the church. And because, in the Church’s eyes, I’m sure, I’m not a very good priest.”
“Oh, Father! You are so very wrong. You’re the best one I’ve ever met. If they’d elect you Pope, I’d convert in a heartbeat.”
Matt laughed out loud at this.
“I don’t think there’s much chance of that. They only elect cardinals as Pope and I’ll never be a cardinal. I actually wouldn’t want to be one. I hate church administration. I much prefer working with people.”
“I can see that. We’re alike in that. I much prefer helping people with their legal problems than do the type of corporate law I started out in.”
“Well, there’s more money in corporate law.”
“Yeah, but I don’t care about that. Spend years working at something you hate? Not the way I want to live my life.”
“Tommy, why did Brian avoid me for so long? Was it the gay thing? Did he think I’d turn against him?” Matt suddenly asked me seriously.
“No. It wasn’t that. He knew you knew about him. No, he felt inferior to you. All your education. He just didn’t think the two of you would have much in common and you would basically be disappointed with him for not making more out of himself. I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but I really feel you need to know so you can help him to see love isn’t based on apparent success or failure. Personally, I think Brian is a great success because he’s one of the most loving and honest men I know.”
Matt and I had been standing, leaning against the kitchen counter. Now he moved close to me, took me into his arms and hugged me. I hugged him back. I was shocked, at first, that I felt as safe in his arms as I did in Brian’s. I just wasn’t turned on by it sexually. After a few moments, Matt pulled back and let go of me.
“I hope you don’t mind. I tend to be a rather touchy-feely kind of person,” Matt said.
“Oh! I don’t mind at all. I tend to be that way myself.”
“I have to tell you, Thomas Wells Atherton the Third, I consider you almost as much a brother as Brian is. Does that bother you?”
“God, no! I always wanted a brother when I was growing up ‑‑ especially an older one. But I was an only child. I pushed Brian to call you because…well…I wanted him to have his brother back, but I also hoped we might…well…kind of share you,” I said, looking down and blushing in embarrassment.
“Hey! What are you two up to in here?” Brian voice sounded from the doorway.
“We’re adopting each other,” Matt said grinning. “I decided one brother wasn’t enough.”
“Well, just so long as you only adopt him as a brother ‑‑ he’s mine!” Brian laughed. “We need to put Tiger to bed.”
“Why? Is he trouncing your ass at Space Invaders or whatever it is he plays on that noisy box of his?”
“Hey! That’s not got anything to do with that. It’s way past his bedtime,” Brian said, getting somewhat red in the face.
“I warned you not to take him on. I won’t go anywhere near that box.” I laughed, and then looked up at the clock. “But you’re right. It is way past his bedtime. Come on, Dad and Uncle Matt, we might as well all do this together because I have the feeling he’s going to demand it anyway. That is one boy who just cannot get enough male attention.”
“Really?” Matt asked.
“Yeah, really. I don’t know if he’s too young for it to start showing, but I get the distinct impression Tiger is not going to grow up and get married. Unless, of course, he goes to Massachusetts.”
“There are those who believe our sexuality is actually set before birth. That we are born with the sexuality we will live out. I happen to believe that myself. It knocks the hell out of the theory that gay males choose to be gay. The only thing they choose is whether to act on their sexuality or not. You can’t change someone,” Matt said.
“Well, gay, straight, bi, or even transsexual, it doesn’t matter. We’ll love him no matter what,” Brian insisted.
“See why I love him so much?” I said to Matt.
“I was way ahead of you. I’ve loved him for twenty-eight years,” he said, walking over and throwing his arm around his brother’s shoulder.
Brian leaned over and laid his head on Matt’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry I didn’t stay in contact, bro. It was fucking stupid of me. Tommy made me realize how much I’d lost by not having you in my life,” Brian said quietly to his brother.
Matt leaned his head down and gently kissed Brian’s forehead.
“It’s okay, bro. You brought me another brother, so I’ll forgive you this time. Just don’t do it again!” Matt said and then reached up and gave Brian a noogie.
“Hey!” Brian yelped.
“I think you deserved that, love. Okay, let’s go get Tiger and get him ready for bed.”
The three of us walked back to Tiger’s bedroom where he was still playing on his PlayStation. He was so lost in his game, he didn’t notice us walk in.
“Time to get ready for bed,” I said to him.
“Ahh! Do I have to? It’s a weekend. Can’t I stay up for another hour? Please!” he whined.
“Tiger, you’ve already stayed up over an hour past your bedtime and you know it,” I said.
“I’ll play ya for it!” He grinned insolently.
“What does he mean?” Brian asked.
“Just watch,” I said quietly. “Okay. I’ll play you for it.”
We threw down and, like always, Tiger did rock (closed fist) and I did paper (open hand) and so I won ‑‑ just like always.
“Booger!”
“Okay, time to get into your pajamas. Do you want a drink of water?”
“No. I’m okay. Are all of you going to tuck me in?” Tiger asked, looking at Brian and Matt.
/> “If you want us to, Tiger,” Brian said.
“OH! COOL!” he squealed.
I’d known this was going to be his reaction. He quickly took off his clothes and put on his baseball uniform pajamas and hopped into bed. The three of us gathered around his bed. Brian went first. He leaned over and kissed Tiger on the cheek.
“Goodnight, Tiger. I love you. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night, Dad! I love you, too.”
Tiger beamed up at Brian.
I indicated for Matt to go next. He, too, leaned over and kissed Tiger on the cheek.
“Good night, Tiger. I’m glad you’re my new nephew.”
“I’m glad you’re my new uncle! Will you come back soon?”
“I would love to.”
Matt smiled at Tiger.
“I’ve got a game Tuesday night,” Tiger, never one to let an opportunity pass, informed Matt.
“Now, Tiger! Matt has a lot of people he takes care of. He might not be able to make your game,” I told him.
“I’m not doing a thing on Tuesday night, Tiger. I’d love to come. If that’s all right?”
Matt looked at Brian and me. We both grinned.
“That’s just fine. We’ll all go out for pizza afterward,” I said.
“Yeah, bro! He’s a great little ball player,” Brian said proudly.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a Little League game. I’ll enjoy it immensely.”
I leaned over and kissed Tiger’s other cheek.
“Okay, pushy boy! You got what you wanted. Now it’s time to go to sleep. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Daddy,” he said, wrapping his arms around my neck and kissing my cheek.
We trooped out of Tiger’s room, me being the last. I was just reaching to turn off the light, when Tiger looked up at me.
“Thank you, Daddy,” he said quietly.
“What for?”
“For bringing Brian to live with us and giving me another uncle.”
“No reason to thank me. I’m just as happy about it as you are,” I said and turned out the light.
When I reached the living room, Matt was standing by the door with Brian.
“It’s time for me to go as well. He’s a great little boy, Tommy. Thank you,” Matt said.
“What for?”
“For bringing me and Brian back together and for giving me another brother and a nephew.”
“You know, Tiger just thanked me for almost exactly the same thing,” I said, reaching out and hugging Matt, who hugged me back. “And I’ll tell you what I told him. There’s no need to thank me because I’m just as happy about it as you all are.”
Brian and Matt then hugged.
“Now, don’t forget, bro! Tuesday night, meet us here and we’ll all go to the game together,” Brian told his brother.
“Don’t worry. I won’t forget. And you two think about what I said. I would love to perform your wedding when the time comes.”
“There’s no way we’d have anybody else,” I said and I truly meant it.
Matt left and Brian turned and took me into his arms.
“God! I love you so much! Thank you for everything,” Brian murmured to me.
“I love you ‑‑ and there is nothing to thank me for. Here I’ve got someone to love me and the older brother I always wanted and never had. Seems to me I got the better end of the deal.”
“Well, lawyers always are tricky that way.” Brian chuckled softly. “Let’s go to bed.”
“Are you tired?”
“Did I say anything about sleeping?”
“Hmm. No, come to think of it, you didn’t.”
And we didn’t sleep. Not for quite a while. We were too busy exploring each other’s bodies all over again and delighting in what we found in each other. Of course, we were sorry the next morning when our little bundle of energy was knocking at the door at just past seven o’clock! However, we spent a wonderful day as a family, taking the ferry over to Sausalito and having lunch before taking it back. Tiger loves to ride the ferry because it goes past Alcatraz Island. Tiger is quite in love with the old prison. I’d taken him there several times.
Dinner that night was quiet. Just the three of us. But it felt so much like we were truly a family that it was one of the most wonderful dinners I could remember. Brian and I tucked Tiger into bed and then went to our own bed. We made love again but only once ‑‑ falling into a deep sleep soon after we both came.
Chapter Eight
A couple of weeks after Matt’s visit, I was sitting at my desk working when my secretary knocked and came in, closing the door behind her.
“Mr. Atherton, there’s a priest here to see you. A Father Baldwin. He says you know him?” she asked.
Knowing it could only be Matt, I asked her to show him in.
“I’m really sorry to bother you, Tommy, but I really need your help with something,” Matt said, holding out his hand to shake mine.
I immediately brushed his hand away, moved closer putting my arms around him. Matt didn’t miss a beat. He quickly wrapped his arms around me as we hugged.
“You’re my brother, remember? We don’t need to stand on ceremony with each other. Now, what can I help with?” I said, directing him to the couch.
“I say mass every Sunday for a small Dignity group.”
“Dignity?”
“It’s a group for gay Catholics.”
“Oh, yes! I remember. There’s a group like them in the Episcopal Church called Integrity.”
“Exactly. Though the Episcopal Church is far more hospitable to Integrity than my church is to Dignity. The mass I say has to be in someone’s home because they aren’t allowed to meet on church property.”
“Matt, you’re just never going to endear me to the Roman Church if you keep telling me things like this.”
“What I’m about to tell you will endear you to the military even less. There’s been a man coming to mass for about two years now. No one in the group knew it but me, but he’s a marine. In fact, he’s one of the local marine recruiters. He’s about to retire and the Marine Corps is trying to bring him up on charges for being gay so they can strip him of his pension. It seems someone must have seen him at one of our services and somehow reported him. That’s the only thing he can think of that would have put the Corps onto him.”
“Did he have sex with anyone within the service who could have told?”
“According to him, no. But listen, I figured this is just the kind of case you said your office handles. I’ve brought him with me. Could you talk to him?”
“Of course! Where is he?”
“Out in the waiting room. Let me go get him.”
As Matt went out, I grabbed the phone and buzzed my partner.
“Ted, are you busy?”
“No. Not particularly. Why?” he asked.
“Well, because Brian’s brother Matt’s brought us a marine who’s in trouble with the Corps and I thought you’d be best to sit in on this.”
“I’ll be right there!” he said, and the phone disconnected.
At that point, Matt came back through the door with a man in tow who even I, who was no expert on the matter the way Ted was, could immediately tell was a marine. Even in civilian clothing, the ramrod straight bearing and the high and tight haircut were a dead giveaway. He was tall, about six feet, with steel gray hair, and a body most males half his age would give anything for. He looked like a marine poster boy, only now ready to retire. All in all, an extremely handsome older man.
“Tommy, this is Chief Master Sergeant Dalton Kensington. Dalton, this is Thomas Atherton.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Sergeant,” I said, reaching out my hand.
I wasn’t used to marines or to the strong handshake I received!
“Thank you, Mr. Atherton.
“Please, call me Tommy.”
“All right, Tommy, and please call me Dalton.” I could hear the velvet soft sound of a southern or
perhaps mountain accent ‑‑ something I have always found attractive in a man.
“Let’s sit down. My law partner is on his way. He has some experience with military matters and with the Marine Corps in particular.”
It was just at that moment Ted came through the door. I was just about to introduce everybody when I saw Ted stop dead in his tracks like he’d been hit by a train. At the same time, I saw Sgt. Kensington freeze in place as well. The two men looked at each other for a moment without exchanging a word.
“Dalt? Is that you?” Ted asked, his voice low but with very strong emotions behind it.
“Yes, Ted. It’s me. Long time, huh?” Sgt. Kensington said, with what sounded like resignation and deep embarrassment in his voice.
“Yes. It certainly has been.”
“I didn’t know this was your office. Father Baldwin brought me here. If you’d rather I went somewhere else, I can certainly understand.”
“NO!” Ted exclaimed. “Why in God’s name would you think that? If you’re in trouble, I certainly want to help.”
The two men stood there just looking at each other. I figured I needed to know what the hell was going on here. It was obvious Ted knew Sgt. Kensington and there was some past difficulty in the relationship between the two of them, but I didn’t know any more than that.
“Uhh…Matt? Dalton? Could you please excuse us for a moment?” I said. “Ted, I’d like to speak to you ‑‑ privately!”
I hustled Ted out of my office and into my secretary’s office. There I asked her to get coffee for Matt and Dalton while I maneuvered Ted out into the hall.
“What was that all about?” I asked.
Ted looked at me and I could see deep pain in his eyes.
“That is more than twenty years of heartache.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a long story,” Ted said quietly, hanging his head.
“Well, give me the Reader’s Digest version. I’m not going to take him on as a client without knowing what the fuck is going on between the two of you.”
“Nothing! There is nothing going on between us. That’s the problem.”
“Okay, enough riddles. Start at the beginning and tell me everything.”
Rock Paper Scissors Page 12
