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

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Chapter 14

No More Bombs Please

I put two fingers in my mouth and whistled, “Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention, please.”

When everyone was quiet, I went and knelt down in front of Mr. and Mrs. Summers, “Mr. and Mrs. Summers, I would like to ask for your permission to ask your daughter, Autumn, to marry me.”

Everyone was caught by surprise by what I had done and were watching to see what Autumn’s parents might say or do.  I’m sure no one was ready for the response I got.  Mr. Summers sighed and pulled the back side of his right hand across his forehead, “Pheesh, Son, you have our permission to ask her to marry you.  You have no idea how relieved we are that we won’t have to worry about her anymore.”

Autumn frowned, “D..ad!”

Mrs. Summers added, “We were beginning to think she was going to be an old maid, and now we have some hope of having some grandchildren.”

Everyone was laughing especially Trevor and Jeff.

I went and knelt down in front of Autumn, “Miss Autumn, I would like to ask for your hand in marriage, if you will have me.  I slipped an engagement ring on her ring finger.”

Autumn looked at the diamond and just stood there not saying anything.  Finally Trevor couldn’t stand the silence, “Miss Autumn, did the cat take you tongue?  What‘s your answer going to be?  Are you going to take this man to be your husband or not?  If you are, say I do.”

Autumn had tears in her eyes but she finally said, “I do.”

Uncle Howie announced, this calls for a celebration.  Trevor and Jeff help me bust out the champagne that’s in the wine chiller.”

Trevor and Jeff returned with two trays of glasses filled with champagne and they started with Autumn and me, “A glass of the bubbly for the newly engaged couple.”

Jeff looked at Autumn’s hand, “Hey everybody, Uncle Doug gave Miss Autumn an ice cube instead of a diamond.  It has to be an ice cube because I’ve never seen a diamond this big before.  Trevor, we’ll have sneak into Miss Autumn’s house and steal it.”

I looked at the two 13/14 year olds, “You two are going to get something you won’t like very much if you don’t stop giving us a difficult time.”

They served the champagne to the others.  They looked at Mr. and Mrs. Nixon as if asking if Trent, Cyndi and they could have a glass.  Mrs. Nixon made a gesture that would indicate a little.  Uncle Howie stood and raised his glass, “To the happiness of Autumn and Doug.”

Everyone raised their glasses and shouted, “Here. Here.”

When we were sitting down, Autumn looked at me, “Doug, please don’t drop any more bombs on me.  Perhaps we should make some decisions together if we are going to get married.”

“Autumn, I apologize, but this was something I had to do.  I promise that from now on, we’ll make the decisions together.  We have to do that if we’re going to make our marriage work.”

Trevor started, “Hey, Trent, did you see what you have to do when and if you ever decide to get married?  Just call the bomb squad and Jeff and I’ll be there to serve the champagne while you’re crawling around on hands and knees asking for Cyndi’s hand in marriage.  I’ll make sure the ice maker is working overtime.”

Autumn had her head on my shoulder laughing because of the Trevor antics, as were the other adults.

Jeff interjected, “Hey Mr. Willingham, you need to find out when the arena is going to be free so Trevor and I can get Miss Autumn and Uncle Doug and their horses there on time.  Mr. and Mrs. Summers, you need to make sure that Miss Autumn can find a white outfit that she can wear while she’s riding on a horse.  Mr. and Mrs. Christiansen, you need to find a tuxedo that would be suitable for Uncle Doug to wear while he is saying I do.”

Trevor continued the roast, “Miss Autumn, we need to decide what color flowers you want the horses to have around their necks when you ride them to the altar so Cyndi’s dad can have the right kind of flowers on hand to make the horses’ leis.”

Mr. Nixon stopped anymore frivolity, “Guys, I think you have sufficiently embarrassed Miss Autumn and Doug, and I think it is time for you to pull in your tongues.”

Mrs. Mitchell stood, “It’s getting late and if we're going to early church in the morning, I suggest that it might be time to head on back to Fairacres.  It has been a busy and exciting day.”

That was the signal for everyone to leave.  I took Autumn back to her spread and when we got to the front door, she looked at me, “Doug, I think we need to talk.”

I escorted her into the house and we sat on the sofa in the living room.  Autumn started, “Doug, I do not enjoy being manipulated and I told you earlier we need to make decisions together from now on if we are going to make a marriage work.  How are we going to keep the farm going if I’m working and you are sixty miles away?  We can’t afford to hire help because the operation isn’t big enough to support that like Fairacres, and we won’t have two teenaged sons who can help us.  Doug, there are so many things to consider.”

Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the Pearsons, Adrian and Spring.  Mrs. Pearson was the first person to notice the ring on Autumn’s hand, “Well, my stars!  While the guests are away, the locals will play, huh.  Doug, I’m so happy for you and Autumn.  Now I won’t have to worry about you being a lonely boy anymore.”

I couldn’t help myself, “Mom, you’re even worse than Trevor and Jeff.  Autumn’s and my self esteem is already battered and bruised after the roasting the two of them gave us tonight.  They have us getting married on horse back.”

Dad Pearson started to laugh, “Well, it would be a lot cheaper than a big church wedding with a formal reception.  Just think of the money the guests will be able to save because they won’t have to buy new clothes.  Old jeans and boots could be the dress of the day.”

I stood, “On that note, I need to go, if I am going to be forced to go to early church in the morning.  Autumn, I’ll pick you up at 8:00 in the morning.  Better be prepared to be terrorized by two teenagers.”

Autumn walked me to the door. I hugged her and kissed her and we just looked at each other but said nothing.  There was no reason to talk.

As I was driving to Fairacres, I suddenly realized that I had probably been too assuming and was feeling guilty.  My parents had always decided everything together.  I could almost imagine what they might have to say to me when we were alone.

When I entered the house, I was met by Trevor and Jeff.  Jeff put his arms around me, “Uncle Doug, I apologize for the way we acted tonight, but you totally took us by surprise.  Is Miss Autumn upset with us?”

I hugged both guys, “Guys, she’s not upset with you.  She’s a little upset that I didn’t consult with her before I made some major decisions.  In fact your antics tonight lightened the situation.  If it hadn’t been for the two of you and Mr. and Mrs. Summers being so accepting, I don’t think things would have turned out so well.”

I could tell that Trevor had something on his mind, “Mr. Doug, can we please go to your bedroom and talk where no one can hear us?”

I didn’t know what to expect, “Why the secrecy?  There doesn’t seem to be anyone around, but if it will make you feel better, we can go there and talk.”

Trevor started toward the stairs, “Trent isn’t in yet, so he can turn out the lights and lock up when he gets here.”

I was having reservations about what was going to happen as I followed the two guys up the stairs.  When we entered the bedroom, the two guys sat down on the settee that was in the room so I sat on the bed facing them.  “Okay guys, what is it that you want to talk about?”

They looked at each other, and by some sort of signal, Jeff started, “Uncle Doug, you admitted that you and Captain Adrian messed around when you were younger.  What exactly did you do?”

I let out a deep exhalation of air, “Guys, that a rather personal question to be asking me.”

Trevor was almost sobbing, “Please tell us, Mr. Doug.  Please tell us what you did when you were together?”

“Guys, I’ve already told you that I have never been penetrated in my rectal area and I have never penetrated anyone else.  So I would suggest that anything else is okay as long as the party you are with has no objection.”

Jeff was scowling, “Uncle Doug, you aren’t answering our question.  Did you and Captain Pearson ever kiss each other?”

I got up from the bed and went to the settee and sat between them and grabbed them and pulled them as close as I could.  I started with Jeff because I knew him the best and kissed him on the lips and forced my tongue into his mouth and he started to reciprocate.  I pulled away and turned to Trev and did the same thing.  “There, does that answer your question?”

Both guys were showing definite erections in their jeans.  I looked at them, “I suggest that you go take care of the problems that are showing in your jeans.  I need to get some sleep before we go to the early church service; now get out of here.”

Both guys hugged me as they departed.

I took a shower and went to bed thinking of how I could get revenge on the two young teenagers for what they had done to me, in the morning.”

I woke up early and no one was up, so I went and knocked on Trenton’s door.  He came to the door in his briefs and I thought to myself, ‘What a fine looking young man’.  He looked befuddled.  “Trent I need your help to get even with the two 14 year olds.  After the way they treated me yesterday, I have to get even!”

After I told him what had happened, he suggested, “I know what we should do, get your clothes on and I’ll meet you outside their bedroom door in five minutes.”

When I arrived at Trevor’s bedroom door, Trent was standing there with two pieces of heavy string.  He opened the door and Trevor and Jeff were still sleeping.  They were both naked and Jeff had his arm on Trevor’s torso.   They were both sporting morning wood.  Trent made the two strings into lassoes and he handed me one.  He pointed for me to go to the side of the bed where Jeff was sleeping.  I watched as he put the lasso around Trevor’s wood and testicles.  I followed his lead. 

Trent yelled, “Pull hard boss, and we’ll castrate these critters before they can cause the disease to spread.  We’ll have to place them in quarantine and restrict their dietary intake to pure water for thirty days.” 

Both guys reacted to the tension they were feeling.  Trevor responded first, “If you don’t stop, I'm going to be going to the bathroom on the floor and I am not cleaning it up. We’re going to report you to the S. B. N. T. B. P.”

Trent pulled tighter, “What does that mean?”

Trevor shouted, “Please stop.  It means that we’re going to report to the Society for Being Nice To Birthday People.”

I looked at Trent, “I thought we just celebrated your birthday and it’s not mine.  So who’s birthday is it?”

Trevor responded, “Mr. Doug, it’s Jeff’s and my birthday.  You must be getting senile.  We discussed this when we were in Chattanooga last Sunday.”

I played innocent, “I guess I have had too many other things to worry about and it slipped my mind.”

Jeff had to add salt to the wound, “I can hardly wait to see how much Miss Autumn’s ice cube has melted overnight.”

Both guys disappeared into the bathroom so Trent and I went to start breakfast.  We were joined by Austin and Derek.  Austin was laughing, “Why were Jeff and Trevor screaming?”

Trent looked at them, “Because we were castrating them.  Now get in here and help us fix breakfast or you two will be next.”

I was thinking to myself, ‘I love these three guys, I hope Autumn and I can have three sons like them.’

Mis’ Nixon and Mis’ Mitchell came in and Mis’ Mitchell moaned, “There sure is a lot of commotion in this house.  How’s a woman supposed to get her beauty sleep.”

Trent looked at his aunt, “Aunt Louisa, if you got anymore beauty sleep, there wouldn’t be any reason to hold any Miss or Mrs. or whatever beauty contests again.  They would just send the awards to you.”

Mrs. Mitchell was so cool, “Now I understand why they are considering sending you back to kindergarten.  You have to be dyslexic.”

Trevor and Jeff had been standing there listening, “Aunt Louisa, would you spell that word for me?  I need to go check and see what’s wrong with Trent and Mr. Christiansen that made them feel compelled to torture me and Jeff this morning.  That way I can warn Miss Autumn of the problem that her fiancé has.”

After we had finished eating our breakfast, I looked at Trev and Jeff, “Since you’re already dressed, why don’t you take care of the dishes while the rest of us get ready to go to church?”

Trevor looked at me, “Who do you think we are, Cinderfellas?  I suppose you’re the Fairy Godfather.”

I answered, “No, I’m the Wizard of Do It or Else.”

The two guys squinted their eyes at me, “Okay, boss.”

When we were getting ready to depart for the church, Jeff and Trevor announced, “We have to go with Mr. Christiansen to make sure that he and Miss Autumn are acting in an acceptable manner.”

When we pulled up at Autumn and Spring’s house, the guys jumped out of the car as I went to get Autumn.  I had no idea what they were planning.  When Autumn and I approached the car, they both started to bow, “Good morning, Lady Godiva, it’s so nice that you could honor us with your presence today.”

As we were driving to the church, Jeff and Trev were leaning on the back of the seat and Jeff asked, “Miss Autumn, may I check to see if your engagement ring has started to melt yet?”

After church, Mrs. Nixon whispered to me, “Do you suppose that you and Autumn could keep the two guys away from Fairacres until two o’clock.  That will give us time to set everything up.  If you could keep them entertained until about two thirty, that would even be better.

I told Autumn what they wanted us to do, and we decided to go to Atlanta to a fancy restaurant for lunch.  The restaurant was in a mall and the guys had no problem looking at the merchandise that was available.  In fact they both bought several things.  While Autumn and I were looking around we ran across a novelty store that had a poster of a horse that that had the parts of a horse’s anatomy labeled.  We had the clerk put it in a tube so the guys wouldn’t see it.

We stopped at a card shop and bought two funny cards and wrote notes in them.  We had just finished the notes when the two guys met us at the appointed place at 1:30.

When we pulled into the area in front of Fairacres, there were cars scattered everywhere.  Trevor was upset, “What’s going on?  Did something happen to Mother?  He jumped out of the car and ran into the house.  Trent came and got the rest of us and led us to a covered tent area in the backyard.  Trevor came out the back door, “Where is….”  and he stopped as if suspended in space and the DJ started to play Happy Birthday.

Mr. Nixon went to the microphone, “We would like our guests to join us in singing Happy Birthday to Trevor Nixon and to Jeff Longwell.”

Jeff leaned against me, “Uncle Doug, why didn’t you warn us.  My parents are even here, and they never leave Chattanooga.” 

He hugged us and went to hug his parents.

The DJ put on a slow dance and Autumn and I went to the dance floor and that was all it took to get people to start to dance.  After the dance, Autumn and I went to get the gag gift at her ranch, since we hadn’t had a chance to get it without Trev and Jeff seeing it.

We placed the gifts on the table with the birthday cakes.  Yes there were two cakes.  One had the words Happy Birthday Jeff and the other had Happy Birthday Trevor on it.

We watched and Jeff seemed to fit right in with Trevor’s friends and both guys were dancing with young ladies.  At intermission, Austin and Derek started to cut the cakes and Trevor and Jeff opened their gag gifts.  Jeff opened his first and both guys started to laugh.  Jeff turned to us, “Miss Autumn and Uncle Doug, I’ll get even with you for this.”

When Trevor opened the package with the trophy the balloons he got the funniest look until he read the inscription on the trophy.  He read it so everyone would know what was happening, “Awarded to Trevor Nixon for winning the Balloon Water Battle of the Century.”

Mrs. Nixon decreed, “The water battle of the century will have to take place at a later time.  It is time to eat.”

Trevor finally saw the little red package and read the note.  He showed the note to Jeff and quickly put the package in his pocket and went to get something to eat.  The caterer’s were from the club, and as Trevor would say, the Eating Frenzy was on.  My parents had met the Longwells before so they had made sure they were introduced to the other adults. 

After the last of the teenagers had departed, Trevor and Jeff disappeared.”  When they returned, they had Jeff’s luggage with them so that they wouldn’t have to explain why they were gone.  They motioned that they wanted to talk to me away from everyone else.  I walked to where they were standing and Trevor was so serious.  “Mr. Doug, next time could you get us a larger size.  We probably need the magnum size.”

Jeff added, “Yeah, these things are so tight that they‘re strangling us.  It’s even tighter than the lassoes that you and Trent had on us this morning.”

We were laughing so hard that everyone was looking at us.  I whispered, “Guys, I’ll try to do better the next time.  We should probably get back to the others or they’ll realize something is going on, and I don’t think any of us want to explain why we were laughing.  I think some of them might be getting ready to leave.”  

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  There certainly was a lot happening in this chapter.  I just might have to read it again to make sure that I didn't miss something.  Autumn and Doug seem to have decided to get married. That was nice. I do believe there will still be a lot of decisions that need to be made. 

It looks as if there really is something special between Trevor and Jeff.  I can hardly wait to see what will happen next time.

E Walk has yet to disappoint me when it comes to his stories, so I will just sit back and wait impatiently for the next chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 02/27/09