Love Refound
by: E Walk
(© 2008 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 9

Promises, Promises

While Doug was stopped along the side of the road, he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and punched a number, “Momma Jane, this is Doug. … I will be arriving with two of my friends for lunch. …  We should be there in about 45 minutes. …  Good, we should be there before the late church crowd arrives.  … See you soon.”

Trevor responded immediately, “Where are we going to lunch?  We’ve already been traveling for 45 minutes.”

Doug looked back at Trevor, “I thought we’d go to Alaska for lunch.  I’ve never been to Alaska.”

Trevor started to laugh, “Well, let’s get on with it.  I’m starving.”

I looked at Doug, “I thought you said your parents live in Virginia?”

Doug nodded, “They do.”

Trevor and I started to talk at the same time, so I let Trevor have the floor.  “Mr. Doug, if your parents live in Virginia, where are we meeting them?  There is no way that we can get to Virginia in 45 minutes.”

Doug was so nonchalant, “Trev, I never said that we were meeting my parents.  Besides, my mother’s name is Maria.”

Doug changed the subject, “Trevor, what do you do for fun other than ride horses?”

Trevor thought for a minute, “I guess I’m rather boring.  I like to learn new things and try to get all A’s on my report card, like Trent does.  I guess my hobby is looking at girls and trying to imagine what they look like without any clothes on.  Sorry, Miss Autumn.  Oh, I do play football and swim, but as you said, I’m rather scrawny, so I’ve started to do some exercises to help me develop some muscles.”

Doug surprised both of us, “I guess my hobby is girl watching, too.  I don’t try to imagine what they might look like but rather try to imagine what it be like to live with them and think what our children might look like.”

Trevor interrupted, “So are you a sex fiend or something?  Are you saying that I need to protect Miss Autumn?”

I looked at Doug to see what he was going to say.  It appeared that he wasn’t quite sure what he should say, so I answered for him, “Trevor, Doug and I visited yesterday and he told me he was a virgin and was planning to remain that way until he was married.  I think I’m safe.”

Trevor grabbed his throat with his hand and pretended as if he were choking, “You mean Trent and me aren’t the only two virgins left in the world anymore?”

The conversation was interrupted because Doug was pulling into the driveway of an antebellum estate.  He pulled into the parking lot at the side of the building and we walked to the entrance where the sign announced, ‘This is the house that Will built.  Welcome to Jane’s Place.  The finest dining in the Chattanooga area.’

Trevor looked at Doug, “You, mean we came the whole way to Chattanooga to have lunch?”

Doug flipped back, “Well, your parents wanted to get rid of you for the day, so I agreed to take you out of their hair.”

Trevor had to have the last word, “Yeh, right.”

When we entered the restaurant, we were met by a young lady in an antebellum gown with a hooped skirt, “Have you reservations or are you just popping in for a quick meal?”

Trevor started to laugh, “We being having reservations.  Master Christiansen hath called ahead and spoketh with Momma Jane.”

The young woman was having a difficult time maintaining her composure, “I needth to check with Madame to be sure that you indeed do have reservations.  I hope you haveth enough money to pay for you fare today.”

A tall stately man intervened, “Melody, honey, I’ll take care of these freeloaders.” 

The gentleman hugged Doug, “Well, Duggie, what kind of mess have you gotten yourself into this time.  Let me call Jane so you don’t have to explain twice.  It looks as if I had better call Jeff to make sure the brat with you doesn’t steal the silverware.”

I looked at Trevor and he looked as confused I was.

We were joined by a beautiful lady and a young man who appeared to be about the same age as Trevor.  They both hugged Doug.

The lady greeted us, “Well Duggie, I suggest that you introduce your guests to us so we doth know whom we might be speaking with.”

Doug was laughing, “Momma Jane, these beith my friends, Mistress Autumn Winters and our babysitter, Master Trevor of Fairacres.”

The young man with Momma Jane started. “I beith Jefferson Davis Longworth and I’m starved.  Me and Master Trevor of Fairacres are going to get something to eat before the food has vanished.”

We all made our way to the serving line and it only had limited selections.  Mrs. Longworth explained, “On Sundays, we only have limited selections so that our staff can go to church if they wish to.”

As we were eating, it was as if the two teenagers were oblivious to what the adults were saying. 

Doug explained, “Mama Jane and Dad Will, have been like another set parents ever since their oldest son and I were roommates in college for eight years.  I understand that Tom is getting married in June.  He has asked me to be his best man.”

Mama Jane nodded, “Yep, he and Penny are finally getting hitched.  I’m a little concerned about how they will be able to afford a house in the D.C. area if Penny ever gets pregnant.”

Mr. Longworth chuckled, “Now Momma, you worry too much.  They’ll be fine.”

Doug nodded, “Mama Jane, they’re both survivors.  How are the other three children?”

Mr. Longworth answered, “The twins will be graduating from college this spring and they are planning to get married in June, also.  We’ll probably be moving into the poor house after their weddings. Andy and his partner, Todd, have moved to California and seem to be doing well.  They are both enrolled at the University of California at Berkley.  We have met Todd’s parents and they are okay with the guys being a couple.”

Mrs. Longworth looked around as the last customers departed, “Gretchen, tell the people to get out of their costumes and set up for tomorrow.  We’re going to move to the living area.  If you need us, call us.”

We hadn’t even departed from the dining room before there were young people everywhere dressed in Bermuda shorts and tee shirts.  People were vacuuming, polishing and setting the tables.  Mamma Jane explained, “We aren’t open Sunday evenings.  That has always been our family time together.”

We moved to the Longworth’s living quarters and Jeff announced, “Trevor and I are going to go to my room and play some games and watch some videos.  Call us if you need us.”

We sat and visited and suddenly Doug realized what time it was, “Momma Jane and Dad Will, we need to be leaving, since I have to deliver my passengers to their homes and get back to Atlanta in order to be ready for my 8:00 class in the morning.”

Mister Longworth pushed a button and the two teenagers almost immediately appeared.  “Duggie says he needs to leave since he has some work to do before tomorrow.”

Jeff looked a Doug, “Don’t play games with our minds.  We know what’s on yours.”

The three Longworths hugged Doug and it was obvious that they all had a lot of affection for him.  As we were  leaving, Jeff called out, “Trev, I want to come to a show where you whip the adults’ butts.  All of them.”

Jeff’s parents turned to look at him.  He stood his ground, “Trevor  and his horse, Knight of Papillion, are competing on the senior equestrian circuit.  He’s positive that the other people have paid the judges to make sure he can’t win first place by himself.  Last week Miss Autumn tied with him for first place and this week Uncle Doug tied him.  Everybody hates teenagers.”

Doug and I started to laugh and Doug answered, “Jeff, me thinks thou doth exaggerate.  I’ll tell you what I’m gonna do.  I'll swing up and get you and take you to Fairacres so you can see for yourself that it’s Trevor who cheats.  You can spend the night at Fairacres in the grain bins so you can see how Trev and Trent cheat.  I’ll be spending the night with Uncle Howie.”

The two teenagers looked at Doug, “Yeh right, you just want the two of us out of the way while you go wining and dancing with Miss Autumn.”

Doug looked at Mr. and Mrs. Longworth, “Momma Jane and Daddy Will, do you have a problem with me picking up Jefferson and taking him to Fairacres for the weekend?  That way you could go wining and dining and dance the night away.”

Mrs. Longworth pretended as if she was going to cry, “You’re stealing our youngest son away from us so we can’t even celebrate his fourteenth birthday with him.  You’ll probably corrupt him and he will be unbearable to live with when returns home.  We’ll drive to Fairacres on Sunday afternoon wherever it is and save you from having to bring him home.  Gees, I even baked a birthday cake two weeks ago so we could celebrate his birthday.”

Trevor was caught up in the game, “Ms. Longworth, you could always freeze the cake and celebrate Jeff’s birthday later.”

Mrs.  Longworth was ready for him, “I could, but I already ate it.  So this is the year without a birthday cake for Jefferson.”

Trevor responded, “Not to worry, Mrs. Longworth.  I’ll have my Mother order two cakes so we can each have one since I’m going to be fourteen on Saturday.  All I want for my birthday is to win a jumping competition by myself.  Jeff can make sure that Mr. Doug, Ms. Autumn and Ms. Spring break a leg or something.  I’ll take care of my brother, Trent, myself.”

The Longworths were laughing as we hugged them.  Trevor looked at them, we’ll see you next weekend.  We have lots of room at Fairacres so you can spend the night with us.  We’re going to need all of the help we can get to make sure that Ms. Autumn and Mr. Douglas don’t do anything they shouldn’t do.  Thanks for the meal.”

As we were starting to drive home, Trevor sounded concerned, “Ms. Autumn and Mr. Doug, I hope I didn’t offend you with anything I said today.  My parents would probably rake me over the hot coals several times if they heard me talking like that.”

Doug looked in the rearview mirror, “Trevor, there was no harm done today, but you need to be careful around people you don’t know.  I know that Jeff has a habit of saying what he thinks so his parents expect it, but he is very guarded about talking out so that his remarks could be misinterpreted.  Autumn could very well have been offended by the conversation if she didn’t know you.  We both know that you are a very caring person and have had a sudden bomb dropped on you and your family.”

“You need to move past the fact that your Dad and Uncle Howie are going to be more than just friends.  It is up to you and Trent to make sure that both your parents are going to okay.  You need to love them both unconditionally.”

Trevor was almost in tears, “Mr. Doug and Ms. Autumn, Trent and I knew that Dad and Mother haven’t loved each other for some time, so we have no problem with what has happened to them.  Maybe they both can find some happiness.  I really began to get concerned about what was happening when Derek showed up with Austin last week and announced that they were a couple.  After all, Derek is our only cousin.  Then Grandfather and Dr. Butler dropped their bomb shell.  What am I to think?  Are Trent and I destined to be gay, too?”

I turned to look at Trevor, “Trevor, have you tried to talk to Trent about how he feels?”

“Yes.  I tried and he told me I was being silly.  In fact, he said if we were gay, we would probably already know it.”

Doug nodded, “Trevor, I happen to agree with Trent on that point.”

I started to laugh, “Trevor, look at it this way.  In your grandfather’s generation, he got the genes that caused him to be gay.  In your Dad’s generation, he inherited them.  Derek has already taken them for your generation, so therefore we need to worry about your and Trent’s sons, if you ever get married and have any children.”

Trevor was quiet as he absorbed what I had said, “Wait a minute.  Now you’re telling me that I shouldn’t get married, and if I do, we shouldn’t have any kids?”

Doug was laughing so hard that he pulled onto the shoulder and stopped, “Look you two, I can’t concentrate on driving with talk like this.  Autumn, it’s a good thing you’re a psychologist and not a philosopher.  Now even I’m afraid to get married.”

“Trevor, being gay doesn’t make you a different person.  In fact some ways it can be a good thing as in the case of Autumn’s brother.  Austin has been searching for the right person and enjoying life to the max, but now that he and Derek have gotten together, he has settled down and is starting to act more responsibly.  Trevor, does that make sense to you?”

Trevor thought for a short period, “I guess so.  I think what you said was that Mr. Austin was shacking up with anything that moved, but now that he has found out how neat my cousin is, he has settled down.”

I looked at Doug, “Dr. Christianson, you would not make a good psychologist or philosopher.  It’s a good thing that you’re getting in your doctorate in the school of hard knocks and comedy.”

Trevor laughed, “Good comeback, Ms. Autumn.  Home, James, I have some homework to do for tomorrow.”

When we pulled up in front of the Nixon house, Leonora and Trent were sitting in front on the veranda.  Trevor looked at us, “I think they’re waiting for us for some reason.  This is not a good sign.”

Trevor opened the car door for me, and the three of us walked to the veranda, and Trent started, “Where in the world did you go for lunch?  You’ve been gone forever.”

Trevor was so blasé, “Mr. Christiansen said we were going to Alaska, but he got lost and we wound up in Chattanooga where we had lunch at this dive called Jane’s Place where we ate for nothing.”

Leonora looked very skeptical, “Trevor, I’ve eaten at Jane’s Place and it’s one of the finest restaurants in Chattanooga.  It’s rather expensive.”

“Mom, I’m not lying.  We didn’t pay a cent and we even ate with Momma Jane and Daddy Will Longworth and their son Jefferson Davis.  We went to the their living area and visited for a while.  I invited Jeff, well actually, Mr. Doug invited Jeff to spend the weekend with us.  That’s okay, isn’t it?”

Leonora looked at the two boys, “Sons, you go take care of the horses since the help has the day off.  I would like to talk to Autumn and Doug for a couple of minutes.”

The two guys left to change clothes presumably.  Leonora didn’t waste anytime.  “Did the subject that Trevor thought he was going to be gay come up today per chance?  Trent just told me that Trevor is very confused.”

Doug answered, “Mrs. Nixon, after today, I’m sure that he will be even more upset.  Autumn informed him that he and Trent had escaped the gay gene, but now we had to worry about their children.”

Leonora got the funniest look on her face, “I think perhaps you need to explain what happened in detail.”

I let Doug describe what had happened during the course of our day and by the time he finished Leonora was laughing as I had never really seen her laughing.  She sputtered, “I think you two are just what the doctor ordered.  Thank you for helping Trevor.  I hope the two of you will listen to Trent if he comes to you, also.”

She got out of the swing where she had been sitting, “We’re having a party for Trevor on Sunday at two.  It is a surprise because he asked us not to do anything in light of what has been happening.  Rob and I were hoping that it would help him get over what has been happening.  I think with your help today, it will be fine.  We have told the invitees that we don’t want them to bring gifts.”

“We have hired a D. J. so the young people can dance.  We’ll be serving typical teenager food.  I think that Trevor would really appreciate if you could be here.  For some reason, he has attached himself to the two of you.”

Doug looked at Leonora, “Ma’am we aren’t trying to usurp you from being his caregiver.  I have no idea why he has chosen to be attached to us.  I do have a favor though.  Jeff, who will be spending the weekend with you is also going to turn fourteen this next weekend, also.  Perhaps you could arrange to have two birthday cakes.  I’m sure that you will like Jeff.  He is really a neat young man.  I’ll call Momma Jane and Dad Will and tell them about the plans for the weekend.”

Doug looked at his watch, ”I really need to get back to Atlanta since I need to be ready for tomorrow.”

Leonora hugged both of us and whispered, “Thanks for caring.”

As Doug and I were walking to his car, the two teenagers were returning from the stables.  They approached us and Trev hugged both Doug and me, “Thanks for spending time with me today.  I feel much better about myself.  I’ll talk to you later.”

To be continued... 
 

Feedback always welcome:      

Editor's Notes:  That was a very nice chapter.  We seem to have met another nice teenager. Jeff seems to be a very nice young man.  I think we are going to see more of him, at least I hope so.  E Walk's stories are always so loving and full of life, that I am always drawn right in. I am ready for more.  Please, Sir, May I have some more?

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/16/09