Joe studied Dave's face. It wasn't a face that could hide a secret. Why then was he feeling like he was? He looked at his feet. Why was he feeling like an ass? After all, it was Dave that was keeping things from him, not the other way around.
"I saw in the paper that Mrs. Way died."
"Yeah, no more hassles from her."
"The article also said that her entire estate went to one David L. Gates. So that's what Dr. Sanderson was talking about."
"Damn!" Dave grimaced. "Yeah, her lawyer came to see me yesterday and told me about it."
"You've known since yesterday?"
"Yes. The lawyer was there just before the accident."
"That's another thing. If Sue hadn't called me I probably wouldn't have known the details on that. You've known about the inheritance since yesterday and I still haven't been told by you about it. I have to read things in the paper and hear things third hand to find out what's happening in your life. Were you even planning on telling me?"
Dave leaned against the counter and looked at Joe. He didn't understand why he was attacking him. He noted that Joe's eye's were green and suddenly everything was too much for him to handle, the inheritance, the accident, Pete laying in a hospital bed with broken bones, and now Joe going off the deep end on him. He turned and sat down at the table feeling overwhelmed and lost. "Of course, I was planning on telling you. Yesterday. Right after the lawyer left I was on my way home. I was going to call you to ask you to come home. I was going to tell you then.
"I was crossing the street out front when I heard someone yell and suddenly I was knocked off my feet and went rolling. When I heard tires screeching, the only thought in my head was I wouldn't get to see you again. Then, I realized I wasn't really hurt, and that Pete had been hit. Taking care of him was all that seemed important at the moment.
"When things slowed down a bit at the hospital, I tried to get through to you, but got no answer. I called Sue and asked her to keep trying until she got you to let you know I was okay. That's why you heard it from her rather than me.
"Telling you about the inheritance slipped my mind. It wasn't as important as doing everything I could do to make things as good as they could be for Pete and his parents. That money just wasn't important." He looked up at Joe. "Please, don't be upset with me. That's more than I could handle right now."
Joe was ashamed of himself. He had to get a handle on his reactions. Dave was not Eric. Dave didn't have a deceitful bone in his body. He knew there was no reason for Dave to try to deceive him about anything. He dropped to his knees in front of Dave, taking his hands in his.
"Dave, I didn't stop to think about what you might be going through. I just get defensive and paranoid about things. I'm sorry, I have no reason to be upset with you. Forgive me?" He stood and pulled Dave to his feet, and embraced him tightly. "You don't deserve my distrust. I'm such an idiot some times."
"As long as you're my idiot, you're forgiven." Dave's voice was muffled in Joe's shirt. He let out a shuddering sigh, pushed back and smiled at Joe. Joe's eyes were golden. Nothing else really mattered.
"Are you going to help me make dinner?" Dave asked grinding his pelvis against Joe's thigh.
"No, I think I'll just stand here and hold you for a while."
"And then will you?"
"Okay, if you insist." Joe laughed.
* * *
As the two men worked on fixing dinner, Dave filled Joe in on what he had done with his day.
"Do you think that five is enough?" Joe asked. "With all the money at your command that seems like a mere pittance."
"Well, I discussed it with Clyde. Gee, it feels funny addressing a big time lawyer by his first name. Anyway, he thought that five was more than enough."
"Well, okay. By the way I've been thinking." He shot a warning glare at his lover when he saw that Dave was about to make a comment . Dave grinned and turned back to stirring the contents of a saute pan. Joe continued, "I think it's about time that you made Sue a partner in the store. She's worked for you for how many years? Sixteen? Not only does she deserve it. It'll give you a chance to get away."
"I did that today. I also made a big deposit in her personal account, too."
"Oh, that's wonderful, Dave."
"Don't give me the credit. It was your idea."
"Well, it's still a good idea."
Joe laid down the knife with which he had been slicing fresh fennel. He turned Dave away from sauteing onions and peppers, and enfolded him in his big strong arms. After a minute or so Dave pushed back.
"The onions are going to scorch."
Dave smiled and patted Joe's beloved rear end. The intercom chimed. Joe answered it.
"Miz Morrow is on her way up, Joe." Tim's voice came through clear.
"Thanks, Tim. Oh, you don't like pasta with Sausage and Peppers, do you?"
"Nah." He chuckled. "You know Joe for a smart guy you sure can ask dumb questions."
"Hey, you insult me - you don't get fed."
"I just said you are a smart guy," Tim whined.
"Yeah, but I ask dumb questions. Huh?"
"I'm hung no matter how I answer."
"That's what Johnny tells me."
"What?" Tim squeaked. "Johnny told you that?" Tim was glad that Joe's end of the conversation could only be heard through his earphones.
"Gotta run, Tim, Sue just arrived." Joe closed the connection. Chuckling to himself, he trotted over to the elevator.
"Hey, new partner," Joe said giving her a big hug, "congratulations, and welcome."
* * *
The Tower was situated so that it could be seen from the far end of the main promenade that ran the length of the campus. The Petersons left their hotel and strolled to the middle of the campus and turned left onto the main promenade. They stopped and gazed at the concrete and glass structure. It was at once delicate looking and at the same time it had a strength about it that was truly impressive.
They walked towards it not realizing it was still three blocks away. They could see what they thought were bushes on top of the building surrounding the Penthouse. As they got closer the building loomed over them. They timidly entered the grand lobby. The guard desk stood empty in front of them. They looked around while waiting. George studied several award plaques on the wall. They were all awarded to a J.V.Paolini, Architect/ Builder.
The young guard came around the corner. When he saw them, he smiled. "Mr. and Mrs. Peterson?"
George caught off guard cleared his throat. "Yes, yes we are."
"Dave and Joe are expecting you. If you'll just step into the opened elevator around the corner here, it will whisk you up to them."
They scurried over to the elevator, afraid the door might close before they got to it. Elevators always do that kind of thing. They stood inside waiting. There were buttons, but no indication of what they might do if pressed, besides they had no idea where in the building Dave lived.
Without warning the door quietly closed and they could feel the gravity increase as they were rushed up the inside of the building. The gravity decreased without them noticing. The door opened. Dave was standing there smiling, with his hands extended in welcome. They sighed with relief and stepped out to accept his warm hospitality.
"Welcome to our humble abode, Pat." He hugged her. "George." He shook his hand. "Come meet the others and then I'll give you a tour if you like." Dave couldn't help but note how their eyes continually bounced over everything.
"I would love that, Dave. I've never seen a private home that was so beautiful, so luxurious," Pat gushed.
Dave smiled. "Why thank you, Pat."
They stepped through large glass doors into a garden. The trees they had seen from the ground were now over their heads.
"We're on top of the building, George. This is the penthouse we could see," Pat whispered, her voice full of awe.
Dave smiled, remembering the awe he'd felt his first time up here. "Joe, Sue, I'd like you to meet Pete's parents, George and Pat Peterson. This is Sue Morrow, my store manager and business partner. And this is Joe Paolini, my partner." Sue shook hands with them and complemented them on having such a fine upstanding son.
"It's nice to meet you, George, Pat," Joe said, shaking hands with them. "Your son has made me one grateful happy man. You must be very proud of him."
They weren't certain that they comprehended what he meant, but they were certainly proud of their son.
"Joe are you the J.V.Paolini mentioned on the award plaques down in the lobby?"
Joe smiled. "Yes, I am, George."
"Impressive. Very impressive."
They all talked and visited over hors d'oeuvres and a light white wine. Dave excused himself and went to the kitchen. Pat followed him, offering to help.
"I think I have every thing under control, but if you want to dress and toss the salad. I ----."
Joe rushed into the kitchen.
"I forgot about my brother-in-law."
He pulled out the tea cart and set a place mat and silverware on it. He grabbed a plate and filled it with Penne pasta that had been mixed with the sausages, peppers and onions. He quickly dressed the salad with a vinaigrette, tossed it, and filled a salad plate with some of it. He placed it and a glass of Chianti on to the cart.
Pat stood to the side watching him. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she asked, "Why isn't he joining us for dinner?"
"He's on duty at the desk."
"How many sisters do you have, Joe?" she asked, not to be nosy, but to cover her discomfort standing in the kitchen with two men busy putting a big dinner together while she helplessly watched.
In his rush to get the cart ready and down stairs before dinner was on the table the question confused him, he paused and looked at her.
"Two, but Tim's not married to either of them."
"But you called him brother-in-law."
"Yeah, he is." Joe found himself being aggravated by her nosiness. "He and my brother Johnny, who is a police detective, just hooked up." Joe turned back to what he was doing.
"Oh," she said. Feeling like she'd been dismissed, she quietly slinked back out to the patio. She sat close to her husband. A moment later, Sue excused herself to use the 'necessary' before dinner.
In the kitchen Dave had stopped what he was doing and stared at Joe. "That was not kind, Babe."
"What?"
"She wasn't prepared to hear what you told her. You shocked her."
"You think I did?" He was still a little irritated.
"I know you did. I was watching her reaction."
"You think I should go apologize?"
"No, I guess not, let's see how she manages it."
As soon as Sue had stepped into the house Pat turned to her husband.
"George, Joe just told me, like... it's no big deal, that big guard in the lobby is married to his brother who is a police detective. And he's making up a dinner for him, too."
"That's good of him. He must like the young man."
"Don't you get it, George? The guard is a homosexual." She thought for a moment. "Do you think that Dave and Joe are, too?"
"Does it really matter, Pat? They are good men. I like both of them."
"Even if they're queers?"
"Doesn't matter to me. We know several men at home that are that way."
"Who, besides my abominable brother?"
"Pat, I'm not going to tell you. You're obviously already upset by this."
"Well, it's not normal. And God doesn't approve of them. Reverend Gibson said so again just last Sunday."
George had put up with his wife mindless biases for years. With the stress of nearly losing his only son, he'd finally had enough of Reverend Gibson's poisonous preaching and Pat's passive acceptance of it. "Has God made a mistake here?" he asked her.
"God doesn't make mistakes," she declared.
"But he made us, right?"
She hesitated to answer, not sure that she was liking where he was leading.
"So if God made us the way we are, then he obviously made Dave and Joe the way they are. And God does not make mistakes. Think about it, Pat. And while you're at it consider how you would react if your son were to tell you that he is gay, too."
"Pete? Queer?" she squeaked. The horror of the thought filled her eyes.
"I didn't say that he is, Pat. I just suggested that you should consider how you would react. You love him as he is. If he were gay, would he be different than what he is now? These are good men who have invited us into their home to share a meal with them. Please, behave yourself and be nice to them."
Dave stood at the door, having come to tell them that dinner was ready. He had heard most of the conversation. His heart warmed toward George. He was a good man. Dave made a little noise to let them know he was there, then said, "Dinner is on the table." ~~~
Joe and Dave were seated at each end of the table with Sue on one side and George and Pat on the other. Pat was quiet all through dinner. She was obviously in deep thought. As they finished with dinner she spoke up for the first time since they had sat down. "My, that was delicious. You said that it is an Italian dish? I thought it had to have tomato sauce on it to be Italian."
Joe laughed. "Heavens, no. You know, Pat, Dave is putting together a book of my mother's recipes. As soon as it gets published I'll send you an autographed copy."
"That would be lovely, thank you, Joe. Dave, do I still get a tour of your beautiful home?"
"Certainly, let me turn the coffee on and we'll do it before desert."
He went into the kitchen and pushed the button on the coffee maker. When he re-entered the dining room Pat stood up to join him. Joe led Sue and George out of the dining room and closed the double doors on the aftermath of their dinner. Back out on the patio they continued their discussion, while Dave took Pat through the comfortable masculine den. It was all warm woods and brown leather. The walls were filled with books. Pat was fascinated by the flat screen TV hanging on the wall. She ran her hand over the back of a big cozy looking club chair. The leather was so soft and supple.
He opened the door to one of two guest bedrooms. It had a bit of a softer feminine touch. Pat raised her eyebrows as she gazed about the room. Dave read her expression. "Joe's mom insisted on doing this room. She isn't too fond of what we've done with the rest of the house. So she wanted a room that she can be comfortable in when she comes to visit."
Pat giggled. "I can understand her point of view. This place is like a men's club."
Dave opened the door to the next bedroom. Pat giggled again. "See what I mean?"
Dave was still chuckling as he led her through all the workout equipment in the gym to the door leading into the big luxurious master bathroom. "My, I think this bathroom is bigger than my living room" Pat muttered in awe. When Dave pointed out the sauna and Jacuzzi.... Pat just gasped.
When he opened the door into the master bedroom Pat peeked in and gasped again, "Now this room I wouldn't mind having in my house," Besides being a huge room it was all done in dark green and exotic woods. The two outside walls were glass covered with floor to ceiling drapes that reminded Pat of looking up through a forest of trees. One inner wall had a big four door French Art Deco Armoire. Dave opened it to reveal a state of the arts music center. Pat couldn't keep her eyes off of the California King-sized bed that sat on a dias in the center of the room.
"Dave?"
Dave closed the doors to the armoire and turned to her. "Yes, Pat?"
"May I ask a completely out of line question?"
"Certainly, however, I don't promise to answer."
"May I sit down?" she asked, looking at the two comfortable looking club chairs across the room.
"Of course, I'll join you."
Pat sat primly on the edge of the chair. Dave sat back and tried to look relaxed, as Pat rubbed one hand in the other.
"You and Joe, are you--are you gay?"
"Yes, Pat. We are mates."
"The reason I asked is...... I think you overheard the conversation I was having with George when you called us to dinner."
"I think I heard most of it, Pat."
"Then you know I have a gay brother. We were very close growing up. Our parents died within a few years of each other while I was still in my teens. It was when Sam went off to college that he started growing distant toward me. When he told me that he was gay I felt like he had betrayed me. I took it very hard. I told him I never wanted to speak to him again. I see that sad look in his eyes when he sees me in town. We live only a few miles apart and we don't speak. I thought I was doing the Christian thing closing him out of my life. Our preacher spouts hell's fire and damnation. I have tried to believe him. But deep in my heart I've suspected he's wrong. George showed me tonight that I am. God made my brother the way he is and I am in the wrong in closing him out of my life.
"Now as I think about my son. I know in my heart, he's like you and Sam. He's never shown any interest in girls. God made him that way. It's my duty as a good Christian to love him and give him what help I can."
Pat dabbed at her leaking eyes and sniffed. Dave handed her the box of Kleenex that was on the table next to him.
"I don't know why I'm telling you all this. You're a very kind good man, Dave. Petey, has raved about you in his letters. You are his idol."
"Well, Pat, I don't know about being his idol, but I do know that Pete is a fine young man. He's brilliant and a good worker and a fine student. He's going to make his own way in life. He does need one thing from you and George, though...." Pat looked at him expectantly. "That is your unconditional love and acceptance. He probably needs that more than anything else right now."
"Thank you, Dave. And thank you for helping Pete."
They stood. He gave her a big heartfelt hug. "I'll give Pete all the help I possibly can. He deserves it, for sure."
Joe opened the bedroom door and stuck his head in. "We're all starving for our desert out here."
"We'll be right there, Babe." Dave turned back to Pat. "Are you okay? Ready to go back in?"
"Yes, I'm ready. I really appreciate your kindness, Dave."
A few minutes later after Joe had served up the desert, George looked at his wife's red-rimmed eyes and then at Dave. Dave smiled and nodded. George winked at him and smiled back, then stuffed a big bite of Chocolate Gateau into his mouth.