The Fremont Saga
by: E Walk
(© 2009 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 43

Blindsided

When we got to the house, Timmy took our few packages and disappeared up the stairs.  Tanner and I went to see what we could fix for dinner.  We decided it needed to be something substantial because Timmy had hardly eaten any of his food at the mall.  We decided on tacos, since Timmy really liked them.

When Timmy came into the kitchen, Tanner asked, “Timmy, why didn’t you put the gifts under the tree, instead of taking them upstairs?”

“I didn’t want Morgan to try to figure out what was in her package.  I saw her shaking the gift from Ben and Grant.”

As we were finishing the dishes, Ron arrived, “Where have you guys been all day?  I tried to get in touch with you.”

Timmy giggled, “We were spending all of Brian’s money, Christmas shopping.”

“Shucks, I wanted you guys to go shopping with me.”

I grinned, “I’m all shopped out.  Tanner, why don’t you go hold Ron’s hand while Timmy, Morgan and I take care of the dishes.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind.”

Timmy pointed his finger at Ron, “You need to have our brother home no later than ten o’clock.”

Ron bowed, “Yes, master.  I will, master.”

I wanted to make a snide comment but thought better of it, because Morgan and Timmy were there.”

After we had finished everything, Timmy and Morgan were looking at a cookie cookbook.  Timmy asked, “What kind of Christmas cookies do you think the people at the home would like?”

Morgan looked at the index and the section she was looking for, “Everyone likes these sugar cookies with frosting and decorations.”

Timmy was looking at the pictures of the different kinds of cookies, “These candy cane ones look like fun.  We could make gingerbread boy and girl cookies.  These cookies with the chocolate kisses look good, too.  Brian, how many kinds of cookies can we make?”

“Timmy, we can make as many as we have time to do.  Let’s see if there is anything we can do, tonight.  Why don’t we do the sugar cookies, first?  Let me see the recipe.

I pulled out mother’s recipe box and found the recipe she used for making sugar cookies. “These have to be refrigerated before we can make them.  Let’s make sure we have everything that we need to make them with, before we start.” 

We did have everything we needed to make the dough for two different kinds of cookies that had to be refrigerated.  By the time we were done mixing the cookies, Timmy was beginning to get tired.  “Timmy, why don’t you get ready for bed and watch some television.  I think there is a Christmas special on.”

Morgan announced, “I’m going to my room to wrap my gifts.  Don’t anyone try to peek.”

Timmy giggled, “I already did.   I guess you’ll have to take mine back.”

Morgan was unfazed by Timmy’s comment, “That’s okay.  I’ll keep it for myself.  I always wanted one, anyway.”

I watched as the two left.  I was sitting there making a list of things that we need to buy to make the other cookies that Timmy wanted to make, when the door to the garage opened.  I looked up and Tanner closed the door and was standing with his back against the door.

“Tanner, what’s wrong?”

“Brian, I almost wish Ron wasn’t going skiing with us.  He wants more from me that I’m ready to share.  I realized tonight that I didn’t love him, at all.  He had given me a blowjob and wanted to do some other things with me, but I refused.  I did condescend and did give him a blowjob, but my mind kept picturing someone else in Ron’s place.”

I was almost speechless, “Tanner, does Ron know how you feel?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure he’s getting the idea.  I wouldn’t kiss him when I was getting out of the car.”

“Tanner, it could be very awkward if we uninvited Ron.  Do you dislike him?”

“No, I don’t dislike him, but I know I don’t want to be more than just friends with him.”

“Tanner, it’s none of my business, but who is it whom you were thinking about when you were fellating Ron?”

“Brian, why can’t you talk like a normal teenager and say blowjob like everyone else?  You don’t get it all, do you.  Brian, it’s you I want to hold and kiss.  When I finally make love to someone, I want it to be you.”

I was sitting there in a state of shock.  Tanner shook me, “Brian, do something.  Scream at me, or something.”

I started to stand, but my legs wouldn’t support my weight and I started to crumble.  Tanner grabbed and was holding me, “Brian, I’m sorry to have upset you, but I couldn’t keep it pent up inside me any longer.  I think I’ve loved you from the day I first met you, but I just didn’t realize it.  I’ll move my things into Ben’s room for tonight, and I’ll leave after the parents get back tomorrow.”

I pushed Tanner against the wall, “Damn you, Tanner.  You're not going to do anything different.  We’re not going to spoil Timmy’s Christmas.  We’re going to act as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening.  By the way, did I taste good when you were giving me a blowjob?”

Tanner was able to reverse our positions because he was stronger that I was.  “I’ll tell you when I've tried the real thing.”

I was totally unprepared for what happened next.  He leaned forward so could kiss me.  It was not just a gentle kiss at all; his tongue forced its way into my mouth.  To make matters worse, I was responding.  Tanner touched my crotch and pulled away.  “It seems little Brian is willing to play even if big Brian isn’t.”

Tanner started toward the stairs, “Don’t worry, Brian, I’m not going to tell anybody else how I feel.  Come on, we want to hear the next part of the Christmas Carol.”

As I was going up the stairs, I was thinking, “Tanner and I need have some time alone to talk.  It’s going to be difficult to act like nothing has happened.  I’m betting that Timmy will be the first to realize that something is wrong, well maybe not wrong, but different.

As I was about to go into the bedroom, I heard, “Roll with the punches, Brian.  You could do a lot worse than to have Tanner as your lover.”

I stood there thinking about what Grandpa Nappy said.  ‘Is Grandpa Nappy telling me something?’

Timmy and Tanner were lying on the bed waiting for me.  Timmy looked at me, “You can take your shower after you read about the ghost of Christmas Present.  Hurry up, me and Tanner are waiting.”

When I finished reading, Timmy was almost crying, “Brian, is something bad going to happen to Tiny Tim?”

“Timmy, I'm not going to tell you anything.  That would spoil the rest of the story.”

I went to take a shower and I took some clean briefs with me which I didn’t usually do.  When I was getting into bed, Timmy asked. “Brain and Tanner, did you guys have a fight?  You’re both acting different.  Are you mad at me?”

I looked at Tanner, “Timmy, Tanner and I didn’t have a fight, and we’re not upset with you.  We’re just tired.”

Timmy sat up and shook his head, “Brian, I know that Tanner loves you.  I hear him talking in his sleep, sometimes.  He told you tonight, didn’t he?”

Tanner answered, “Timmy, I did tell him, but he isn’t in love with me.”

Timmy lay down, “Don’t worry, he’ll realize that he loves you, soon enough.  Until then, be the best friends that you can be.  You’re going to need each other.”

Tanner sent me a message, “Until that day, I’ll be waiting.”

Talk about a sleepless night.  I think Tanner and I both had one.  That didn’t spare us from having to go running the next morning.  When we returned to the house, Morgan was actually fixing breakfast. She grinned, “I figured it was the least I could do.  What’s on the agenda for today?”

Timmy looked up at Tanner and me, “We’re going to make cookies until it’s time to go to pick up the rest of our gifts.  Tanner is going to make lasagna for dinner, while we decorate the cookies  We have to go to the store to get some things, before we can make any more cookies.”

Tanner acted surprised, “If I’m going to make lasagna, then I need to go to the store to get some things.”

Timmy giggled, “Take Brian with you, while Morgan and I do the dishes and get the things ready to start the cookies.”

Tanner bowed, “Whatever you say, master.  Come on, Brian.  Let’s bust out of this place.”

As Tanner and I were going to the grocery store, Tanner asked, “Brian, are you angry with me.”

“Tanner, I’m not in the least bit angry.  To be honest with you, I should have realized what was happening.  As I was going into the bedroom last night, Grandpa Nappy told me to roll with the punches and Timmy nailed the coffin lid closed when he seemingly has no problem with you loving me.  You’re going to need to give me some time to process everything that has happened.  I feel as if I’ve been living in a fishbowl in my own little world.”

Tanner laughed, “You don’t live in a fish bowl.  You live in a gigantic aquarium.”

When we got home Timmy and Morgan were ready to begin and Timmy lit into Tanner and me.  “Where’ve you guys been?  We’re tired of waiting.”

We made all the cookies we had mixed and we were all covered with flour.  There was even flour on the floor and it was slippery.  Timmy looked at the clock, “Let’s get cleaned up so we can go get the things we bought.  I don’t want to eat where we did yesterday.  I didn’t like that food.”

I looked at Timmy, “We don’t need to go to Westroads.  Everything we need is at the Regency Court.  Maybe they have a restaurant there.”

We went to Borsheim’s first, and Morgan was awed, “What a neat store.  Did you buy my Christmas present here?”

Timmy feigned innocence, “Morgan, we decided not to get each other gifts.  We bought Mother’s gift here.  There’s Mr. Shellenberg.  Let’s go say hi.”

The gentleman smiled when he saw Timmy, “Hey Timmy, let’s go see if your things are ready.  Who’s the young lady?”

“If you’re talking about Morgan, she’s our sister.”

We went and to pick up the packages and Timmy looked in the bag, “It looks like everything is here.  We need to go to Parsow’s to get Dad’s present.  Thanks for helping us, Mr. Shellenberg.”

I got Mr. Shellenberg’s attention, “Why don’t the rest of you go get Dad’s gift.  I’ll check with Mr. Shellenberg about a place to eat.”

After the others had disappeared, I turned to Mr. Shellenberg. “Sir, I want to buy a simple friendship type ring for a friend of mine.  His fingers are a little larger than mine but not much.”

“Brian, how much do you want to spend?”

“Cost isn’t a problem.  I just want it so it’s not gaudy.”

He pulled out a  set of rings on a rod and checked the size of my ring finger on my right hand.  He pulled out a tray of rings and asked, “Do you see anything that you like?”

I pointed to one, a simple one that had a small diamond in it, “That’s the one I’d like.  We need to complete the transaction quickly before Timmy comes looking for me.”

I was walking out of the store when I met Timmy and his entourage.  I took the offensive, “Mr. Shellenberg says that there is a small restaurant at the end of that corridor that is run by a young man and his Dad.  He recommends that we go there.”

We walked into the restaurant which wasn’t very big and the tables were all full.  A young man looked at us, “There is a table that’s going to be free in just a minute.  The people are trying to split the bill.”

Timmy picked up a menu, “Brian, what is a Reuben sandwich?”

I looked at the simple menu, “Timmy, a Reuben sandwich is made with corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese.  It’s heated and is really gooey.  I really like them.”

When we were seated, the gentlemen put a glass of water in front of each of us.  He started to hand us a menu.  Timmy shook his head, “We know what we want.  I want a Ruben sandwich and Morgan wants an order of your home made potato chips.  We’ll share our lunches.  I’ll have a glass of lemonade.  We don’t want to eat too much, since Tanner made us homemade lasagna for dinner.”

The gentleman looked at Timmy, “Did he use cheese that came from a sack?”

Timmy didn’t catch the man’s innuendos, “No he got the cheese from a container that said cottage cheese.  If it’s in container, why is it called cottage cheese?

The young man shrugged his shoulders, “Beats me.  Young lady, what would you like to drink?”

“I’ll have a coke, please.”

Tanner and I had the same thing as Timmy and Morgan and it was very good.  When we had finished, the gentleman came to the table, “How about some apple strudel.  No one seems to be buying.  I’ll even throw in a scoop of vanilla ice cream.”

Timmy grinned, “Okay, we’ll help you get rid of it.”

The young man returned with four helpings of apple strudel a la mode.  Timmy took a bit and started to wave his hand in front of his mouth, “Mister, this is still hot.  I thought you said people weren’t buying.”

The man laughed, “The reason people weren’t buying it was  because I just took it out of the oven.”

Needless to say, we licked the platters clean, and the young man brought our check and Timmy grabbed it.  Mister, put lunch on my card.  We had a fun time.”

The man brought a folder to Timmy and he looked at it.  “Brian, how do I leave the man a tip?”

“Timmy, you sign the ticket and I’ll leave the ten cent tip for the man.”

I slipped a bill into the folder and the gentleman took it and thanked us for coming.

As we were walking to the car, Timmy let out a loud belch, “Excuse me, I think I ate too much.”

When we were about to get into the car, Tanner asked, “Brian, are you still upset with me?”

“Tanner, I’m not upset with you for turning my world upside down.  I just need some time to get used to the idea that I could actually love another man.  Tanner, I love you and Timmy very much, but you shifted the level of that love to a whole different level.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  I must admit that in my mind, I sort of hoped that Brian could love Tanner.  I kinda saw them as loving each other.  I didn't know for sure that either of them felt that they were in love with each other, but I did suspect that Tanner might be in love with Brian.  I think down deep, they were both having feelings about each other, but Brian hadn't considered the possibility that he might be able to love another guy, that way. 

I wonder who the guy in the restaurant is. Are we going to see him again?  I guess that, once again, we are going to have to wait for another chapter, before we find anything else out.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher  

Posted: 10/15/10