We Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus
by: E Walk

(© 2008 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 8
Making Plans

As we were driving to town in the Hummer, Hank looked at me, “Steve, we’ll make arrangements for the memorial service at the church and then stop at the mortuary and see what needs to be done to open the grave to bury Bill’s remains.  We’ll stop at the florist and make arrangements for a few flowers.  I know that Bill would not have wanted a big display.  After lunch I’ll take you by your house and then we can go to the house on the hill and get your car for tomorrow when we need to go back to work.”

“Cowboy, why am I going to these places with you?  I didn’t know Bill and it sounds like you know precisely what needs to be done.”

“Look Mr. Michaels, I am not letting you and your cock out of my sight.  If I can’t have it and you, then I’m going to make sure that no one else does either.  Now stop complaining, I want you to be with me that’s why.”

I reached out my left hand and started to rub Hank’s upper thigh.  Hank pushed it away, “Steve, stop that.  I can’t go to talk to Pastor Taylor with hard-on.  Save it for tonight in bed.”

As we entered the church offices, we were met by the office manager, “Hi Mr. Rodgers, beautiful job on Christmas Eve as always.  Are you going to be singing on Sunday again?”

“I’m not sure Pam.  I guess I’ll find out tomorrow night at choir practice.  Pam this is Steve Michaels.  He and his two sons are visiting with me while everyone else is away.  Steve, this lovely lady is Pam Kraft.”

Pam and I were shaking hands as we were approached by the gentleman who I recognized as being the pastor.  Hank shook his hand, “Neil, I’d like you to meet my friend Steve Michaels.  Steve, this is Pastor Neil Taylor.”

Talk about a strong grip, Neil certainly had one. “Guys, come in.  Hank I was so surprised to get your message about Bill’s passing away.  How are the boys taking it?”

Hank shook his head, “I don’t honestly know yet.  They just want to come home as they call it.  They’ll be back on Saturday.”

The Memorial Service was set for Tuesday morning at 10:00.  Pastor Taylor, had one request, “Hank, I would like to meet with Tim, Tad and you after the second service on Sunday for a short time.”

We stopped at a mortuary and Hank said, “I’ve known the director here for a long time and trust him to help me get everything done right.  We may not actually need his help and I know he will give us some good advice.”

We were directed to the director’s office and I recognized Frank as soon as I saw him.  My company does advertising work for this funeral home.  He greeted us by name.  The outcome of the meeting was that Hank could save a bunch of money if we took care of the details ourselves.  Frank even provided Hank with a check list and some forms to be filled out.

The next stop was the newspaper and to make arrangements for the obituary.  I was beginning to realize that Hank had to be really rather intelligent because he had the information to complete the obituary in his head. He specified that all memorials were to be made out to either the church or Tim and Tad’s Education Fund.

The next stop was the florist where Hank ordered two large baskets of white flowers to be delivered to the church at nine on Tuesday.  As we were leaving the florist, Hank had this funny look on his face, “I think it’s time for the games to commence.  Let’s go to your house since it is close by and see what we can find to eat.”

When we got to the house, he suggested, “Why don’t you go check on the house next door while I find us something to eat?”

I checked the Roberts’ house and then went to check on Aunt Jane.  She was fine and her company wasn’t going to leave until next Tuesday. She was concerned about Kevin and Jacob.  I told her that they were enjoying being cowboys.  I told her I would have them stop by to see her when they were in town.

When I got to the house, I could hear noises in the kitchen and went to see what was happening.  Quite a sight greeted me.  Hank was standing at the stove fixing something, wearing just his skimpy briefs and his socks.  I couldn’t help myself, “Honey, I’m home.”

He turned around and he definitely had a part of his body that was inflated or else had packed the front of his briefs with a very large piece of sausage.  “Oh dahlin’ please take off those clothes.  You know how sloppy you are when you eat.”

I figured I could play his game so I shed my clothes, dropped them on the floor, walked over to him and put my arms around him then felt the front of his briefs, “Is this hot sausage going to be my lunch?”

He turned around, “No, it’s going to be your midnight snack.”  He kissed me and pushed me away. “Get us two plates and something to drink; our sandwiches are ready.”

When I sat down at the table, Hank moved his chair so he was sitting very close to me.  So close that our legs and arms were touching.  He smiled, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could be like this all of the time?”

We were interrupted by the phone.  I went to answer it, “This is Steve Michaels, how may I help you?”

I heard a frantic Kevin, “Dad, why didn’t you answer your cell phone?  Is Mr. Rodgers with you?  Ginger and Spice is trying to deliver her new baby.”

“Kevin, Hank and I will be there as soon as we can.  Just relax.”

I started to get dressed, “Hank, Ginger and Spice is delivering her new born.  The guys are frantic.”

We were on our way to the ranch in about five minutes.  We didn’t even clean the mess we had made.  Hank had me drive while he called Dr. Mansfield and told her what was happening; she agreed to meet us at the ranch as soon as she could.

Hank had me stop the vehicle by the stable door and we went in.  Jacob was holding Ginger and Spice’s head.  “Push Ginger, make the baby come out.”

Hank took over, “Kevin and Jacob, you need to go to basketball practice.  Your Dad and I will take care of this.  The vet is on her way.”

Kevin started to argue, “But Dad R. …”

Hank looked at the guys, “Guys, please go.  This is going to be a difficult birth and I don’t think you are ready to see something this gruesome.  Now please go.”

The guys left reluctantly.  It was even difficult for me to watch what Hank was doing.  Just as the little foal started to appear, Kathy Mansfield arrived and she assisted Hank with the rest the birth.  She stood and looked at Hank, “Hank, you have a beautiful new colt who looks just like his Dad.”

I hadn’t heard Kevin and Jacob come into the stable.  Kevin asked, “Doctor, who is the colt’s father?”

Hank answered before Doctor Mansfield could, “Alhambra is KJ’s sire.”

Kevin was very serious, “I hope KJ isn’t as mean as his dad or his nose is going to be black and blue all the time.”  Kevin stopped, “Mr. Rodgers, why did you name him KJ?”

Hank smiled, “Well if it hadn’t been for your and Jacob’s fast thinking, we might have lost two horses. So I’m naming him for the two of you.”

Kathy started to laugh, “Wait a minute, are you telling me that you and Mr. Michaels are having a relationship?”

Hank was undaunted, “Kathy, we are still in the exploratory stages of developing a meaningful relationship.  We were exploring the possibilities at lunchtime when we were interrupted by things that needed our immediate attention.”

Kevin, Jacob and Kathy were laughing.  Kevin had to make a smart remark. “So you’re saying that we are going to find the house in a state of total disrepair?”

I shook my head, “Guys, we did leave the kitchen a mess, since we were in the middle of eating our sandwiches when Kevin called us.  One of us will need to clean the mess.”  I stopped, “I thought you guys had basketball practice?”

Jacob nodded, “We were on the way to town when the coach called on my cell phone and said that he had emergency and was canceling practice.”

Doctor Mansfield interrupted the conversation, “Hank, while I’m here, why don’t I check the other horses?  Kevin and Jacob can help me while you get cleaned up.  You’re a mess.”

Hank looked at me, “Steve, please go get me a change of clothes.  I’ll take a shower while you’re getting the clean clothes and the guys can help Kathy.”

When I returned to the barn, I heard Kevin say, “Alhambra, you better behave for Dr. Mansfield or you’ll be paying big time.”

I took Hank his clothes and he was a magnificent sight.  I could feel my penis rising to the occasion, but this was not the time or place.  When Hank was dressed, we went to rejoin Doctor Mansfield and the guys.  Jacob was saying, “Dad hasn’t gotten around to naming his horse so we just call her Hey You and she has started to respond.”

Kathy examined her, “She looked at Hank, Hey You is due anytime.  Who’s the father?” 

Hank thought for a minute, “Prince Albert of Calgary.”

Kathy looked at Hank like he was daft, “You’re kidding aren’t you?  P. A. is a grand champion.”  She turned to me, “Steve, you’ve got some royal blood in the expected offspring.”

Kathy finished checking the horses and nodded, “Okay, let’s go to the other ranch and check the horses while I’m here.  That way I won’t need to come back on the 10^th.”

Hank looked at me, “Steve, why don’t you fix dinner since I fixed lunch.  The guys and I will take Kathy to the other ranch, so the guys know what they are up against.”

I was a little miffed because I was sent to fix dinner and my sons were going to help take care of the horses.  When the guys came in, they were talking about the horses and what was going to happen and continued to do so while we were eating.  I had, had enough; I pushed my chair back and stood, “I’m sorry if horses are more important than people.”

“I’ll take the truck to the house on the hill and get my car and go home.  I’ll talk to you later.”

I grabbed the keys and left.  As I was driving back to Hank’s house, I was still feeling sorry for myself and thinking that I had just made a fool of myself, but I was too vain to back down.

When I got to the house, I cleaned the dishes from lunch and went and took a hot shower and just crawled into bed without any clothes on.  I was lying there crying because I was so confused.

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remember is that I was being awakened by two bodies.  I opened my eyes and Jacob and Kevin were standing there.  Kevin asked, “Dad, why are you so upset?  What did we do that was so wrong?”

Before I could answer the guys, Hank came into my bedroom and I turned away.  Hank nodded to the two guys, “Kev and Jake, your Dad and I need to talk.  Please take the Hummer and get your vehicles and I’ll meet you back at the ranch if you’re Dad won’t take me to the office.”

The twins left and Hank shed all of his clothes and crawled into bed and started to spoon me.  I turned to look at him, “Steve, what did we do that upset you.  I don’t understand.”

I was still hot, “Cowboy, it was like you and the guys were totally excluding me from the conversation last night.  You sent me to cook and when you came in all you were talking about was horses.  If we are going to have a meaningful relationship then it must be based on sharing everything that is happening.”

There was a knock on the door and I yelled, “Come in guys.”

Kevin and Jacob came in and sat down on the sides of the bed.  Jacob started, “Dad, we don’t understand what set you off.  The two of you are acting like high school kids.  Would you please kiss and make up and then both of you need to get your butts to work so you can continue to spoil us?”

Kevin had to add his two cents, “Dad, I think you were upset because we were talking about horses last night.  Dad, you need to realize that what happened yesterday had our adrenalin pumping.  You sure threw a block in the way of much happening after you rushed away.  Even the dogs were moping and Dad R. cried himself to sleep.”

Hank put his hand over Kevin’s mouth, “Too much information kid.  Now you two get out of here and get your butts back to the ranch so you can earn your money I’m paying you.”

As the two guys were leaving, Jacob turned and threw up his arm with a clinched fist, “Whatever you say Daddy Rodgers.”

When we heard the guys leave, Hank rolled toward me, “Steve, your, or should I say our, sons threatened to relieve me of some of my body parts if I didn’t come here this morning.  I apologize for what happened yesterday.  I never meant to exclude you from the conversation.  Steve, I’ve fallen totally in love with you and your sons.  If you want to take me and use my body, you can do so, now.”

I started to cry again, “Hank, I can’t do that in this bed.  This is where Kevin and Jacob were conceived.  I’m sorry, I just can’t do that.”

Hank kissed me and it wasn’t a gentle kiss, “Mr. Michaels, I respect your feelings and am issuing you a rain check for tonight at the ranch after I get home from choir practice.  Now let’s take a shower and you can take me to get the truck so we can go to work.”

Hank was getting out of my car at the house on the hill and I realized we had not eaten breakfast, “Cowboy, we need to stop for something to eat.  I’m running late so it has to be quick.”

Hank looked at me, “We can stop at McDonald’s and have and Egg McMuffin or at Burger King for one of the breakfast meals.”

I wanted say to yuck but decided to be conciliatory, “You decide.  I just need some coffee and some food.”

Hank pulled into a diner that I didn’t know and parked so I parked beside him.  As we walked in and the lady behind the counter yelled out, “Hank’s here with a friend; two fried egg sandwiches with a side order of hash browns and some fresh fruit on the side.”

Before we even sat down we had a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee in front of us.  I was enjoying the coffee when the waitress brought out the sandwiches and things.  She refilled the coffee cups and put her elbows on the counter. “Hank, I think you owe me an explanation before I get jealous.  The only other persons you come in here with are Bill and Dusty and occasionally Danny and David.  You better come clean with me.”

Hank was laughing, “Ellie, Mr. Michaels and I have only known each other for less than a week.  Wait until you meet his two sons, you’ll be doing a strip tease on the counter.”

Ellie was giggling, “Yeah, and I would drive all of the customers away.”

Our conversation was cut short because some other customers arrived and Ellie went to take care of them.  Hank threw down a $20.00 bill and we left the diner.  Hank looked at me, “I’ll call you this afternoon.”

I didn’t have very good vibes as I drove to the office.  I had no more than sat down than the president came in.  “Steve, what are you doing?  Revenues are down ten per cent from last year.  You and the Graphics Designs Teams aren’t doing your business.”

I was incensed. “Look Janet, you and your golden boy Joey aren’t doing your work to bring in any new clients.  I have just about had all of the bad mouthing I can take.  Ever since your golden boy arrived, business has been going down.  Either you and he get out of the business or I’ll sell my shares to one of the big boys and make a mint.  I happen to know that Joey boy has been soaking you for every penny you have, and that you are broke.”

Janet turned around and left and yelled back, “Go ahead asshole; I’ll make sure that everyone knows that you caused this company to collapse and you’ll never get another job.  You are worthless, I tried to lure you into bed but I wasn’t good enough for you.”

She slammed the door.  I was really angry now.  I called Hank’s work number and the receptionist told me that Mr. Rodgers was in a conference.  I was just about to hang up when Hank answered, “Steve, what’s the problem?”

I told him what had just happened and he responded, “Steve, meet me for lunch at The Bread Basket at twelve and we can decide what to do.” 

To be continued... 
 

Feedback always welcome:     

 Editor's Notes:  And here we have yet another wonderful chapter to devour. 

Well things are looking a bit down, in paradise,  I think that Steve and Hank can figure out what to do to solve the problem, but when a woman is scorned, she can, and often does, make life more difficult for everyone, and especially the one who scorned her.  It seems to me that Janet is really bad news in more ways than one, and it would be a very good idea to break all ties with her as soon as possible.

At this point, I am almost sure that Steve and Hank will make their relationship work out well, and the boys all need both men to be there for them.  Take note that everyone that cares for either Steve or Hank, or both, seem to be fine with them seeing each other and building their relationship.  I am sure that it is obvious to anyone that cares to notice that they make a beautiful couple.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 10/03/08