The Man Next Door
 by: Hankster

© 2012 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 5 

The newly melded family, including Jack and Jesse, enjoyed Jane’s dinner to the max.  Everyone laughed and joked and found comfort in love.  Frankie regretted that his mother and step father could not be here, but it was her choice not to come.  Jane and Frankie had invited them more than once.  Even Jack and Jesse, who still lived next door to them, had urged them to come, but to no avail.

Nevertheless, Frankie was grateful for what he had.  He would have enjoyed himself more if he hadn’t had a head’s up from Jesse.  He was afraid of his father’s reaction when he found out that one of the twins was gay.  Eric and Aaron were fraternal twins.  They developed from different sperm and eggs, so there was no reason why they couldn’t play on different teams.  Although Frankie was aware that even identical twins sometimes had different sexual orientations.

But his greatest fear was what Jane would do when she found out that one of her sons was gay.  He hoped that knowing what a warm and loving relationship Jack and Jesse shared, she would be more accepting.  He remembered with some foreboding that it took her a while to warm up to Jesse at the beginning.

Jane and Meg served the dessert, apple pie a la mode, and Frankie began to tremble.  When Aaron saw that everyone was almost finished, and that Meg and Jane were getting ready to clear the table, he stood up.  As the older of the two James’s, he took the initiative. 

“Everyone,” he said.  “Can I have your attention?  James and I have an announcement to make.”  James was sitting next to Aaron.  He stood up and smiled supportively at Aaron.  Aaron hesitated and James smiled at him reassuringly.

“Would you rather I tell them?” James asked.  Aaron shook his head and began.  By now everyone was holding their breaths not knowing what to expect.

“I’ll try to make it quick and painless,” Aaron began and he just spewed it out.  “James and I are gay, and we are in love.  We know for a fact that we will spend our lives together.  Please don’t tell us that we are going through a phase, and we’ll outgrow it.  It isn’t going to happen.  I, we, pray that you can accept us for who we are, and continue to love us.  Please give us your blessing because we aren’t ever going to change our minds.”

In the silence that followed Aaron turned to James and the two boys kissed.

Jane was the first to speak, and Frankie almost passed out.  “I wondered when you would tell us,” she said.  “I’ve suspected since the first time you slept over Aaron.  I was just afraid what your father would think, James.”  She looked at Frankie.  “You still love them don’t you honey,” she sort of begged.

“Of course I do,” Frankie said smiling.  He got up and walked to the two boys.  He put one arm around each of their shoulders, and kissed them both on the cheek.  Now everyone turned to John, waiting for a reaction, any kind of reaction.  Finally he spoke.

“I suspected the truth also, but I didn’t have any real evidence, and I decided to see how things played out.”  He looked at the boys.  “I must confess that I was hoping it was a phase.  All boys experiment.”

“I haven’t,” Eric said.

“Me either,” young Jesse added.

“Shit,” John said.  “I don’t have much choice, do I?  I walked out on one son, and I learned a tough lesson the hard way.  I am not about to lose another son, and a grandson to boot.”  He stood up and joined in a group hug with his sons and grandson.  Frankie was shocked when John said, “I’m happy for both of you boys.  I love you both.”

For no reason at all, Frankie broke away and started to sob.  That got John sobbing, and their wives went over to comfort them.

Jesse could not help concluding happily, that he could expect a visit from Frankie in the next couple of days.

The End

Posted: 02/24/12