The Future Awaits
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Chapter 30
That evening, Mike calls again. "What's with Luc and Stephan, dad?"
"It's a private matter, Mike. Are they okay?"
"I guess. Both of 'em looked awfully down when they came in, then they went out again."
"They're having a rough time right now and don't need any questions, Mike, so tell Tommy not to ask any either. What they need are friends who don't ask, but are willing to listen if they want to talk."
"I'm glad you told me, dad. I'll clue Tommy in."
"Good. Now get your butt down to studying. Exams are next week."
"Don't I know it. Talk at you later."
The last night of exam week, I find an e-mail in my box when I bring up my computer. Dear Drew and Tor, Mike says you don’t ever attend graduation. It may not be proper to ask, but I wish you both would come to graduation next week if you can. Luc passed everything, and I know it will make him really happy if you're here to see him graduate, cause he doesn't think his folks are coming. We don't know what we're going to do for the holidays. It depends on what his folks do. I want him to come home with me, but if he wants to go home, I'll go home alone. We're still seeing Eric each week. He's helping us a lot. Thanks. Stephan
I show Tor the note. "Well?"
"If our being there will help, why not? We'll make Mike and Tommy go, too. Tell Mike we're coming up, so they won't come home before."
"That's great, dad. Luc's looking kind of down. He ought to be happy to graduate," Mike says when I call him. "Steph already asked Tommy and me to go."
Tor and I wear jeans for the drive up. We'll change in Mike's room, because neither of us is willing to wear a tie any longer than we have to. When we arrive, Luc's already at the admin building with the few others graduating, because the winter ceremony will be held in the auditorium instead of the stadium. We change and the five of us walk over together.
Tor and I are pleased to see Luc graduate cum laud, but Stephan whispers that he would have done better if his grades hadn't fallen because of his problems.
The ceremony is mercifully brief then we rush outside to find Luc. He smiles when we walk up. Stephan gives him a covert kiss and we all extend our congratulations.
"I really appreciate your being here. I didn't think there would be anybody but Steph."
"Drew and I want to take you guys to dinner to celebrate."
"That's great, Tor. I …" We see him looking at a well dressed couple coming our way.
The woman kisses him then the man shakes his hand. "I'm proud of you, son."
"Thanks. This is Doctor Tor Torrence and Doctor Drew Torrence, and this is Mike and Tommy Torrence. You know Stephan."
"It's nice of you to attend Luc's graduation. Your sons have been good roommates for Luc."
His mother looks at us uncertainly. "It's nice to meet you. Lucas speaks often about how kind you've been to him."
"He's a fine young man. If he continues with his work, he will be an excellent teacher. Drew and I wish him much happiness." The smile Tor gives them worries me a bit, because I think I know what's coming. "In fact, we wish him and Stephan as much happiness in their life together as Drew and I share."
For a moment, I think Luc's dad is going to have a heart attack. "You … you're not brothers?"
Tor puts him arm around me. "We've lived together as a couple since we were in high school and, in case you're interested, our sons have charming girl friends." Tor says in a deadly calm voice.
"Then it was you Luc went to see you after … "
"Quite. We were delighted to help him and refer him and Stephan to our pastor who councils some of the gay students on campus." I tell her.
Luc's mother looks at us in shock. "Your pastor!"
"He's marvelous with young people. I hope you will have a chance to meet him." I add. Hell, in for a dime, in for a dollar, and Tor's already tossed in the dollar.
"He is, mom. Steph and I really like him."
"What kind of church has queer preachers?" Luc's dad asks.
"Lutheran among others, but Eric's not gay, if that's what you mean. He's always willing to listen and help others. I know he'll be delighted to help you understand about Luc and Stephan, because he certainly changed my mind when I accompanied Tommy to his confirmation class. Eric baptized and confirmed me when he confirmed Tommy. It would never have happened if he'd been judgmental, but he isn't."
"We may think about it," he says stiffly. "Let's go, Luc."
"Where?"
"To dinner. Then you can follow us home."
"What about Stephan?"
"I'm sure he has things to do." Not once has he looked at Stephan.
"This is my graduation. I want Steph included, or we're going with Tor and Drew."
Stephan puts his hand on Luc's arm. "Go on with your parents, love. I'll go with with Tommy and Mike."
"No!"
"It's the right thing for you to do. I'll see you when school starts again. Go on, now."
Luc suddenly bends and kisses Stephan. "I love you, Steph."
Stephan returns the kiss. "I love you, too, Luc. Have a good Christmas."
As he watches them, I see Luc's father's face turn dark red and hear him mutter, "Oh, good Christ!"
Stephan watches Luc walk away with his parents, then wipes his eyes. "Let's go."
I can't believe my eyes when Tommy hugs him and says, "That was a nice thing for you to do, Stephan. You're a good guy."
"Thanks, Tom. You and Mike are good guys, too, like your dads. I hope when I graduate next year you'll all come, cause my folks want to meet you."
"We'll be delighted, Stephan. Thank you." I tell him.
So much has happened, I can hardly believe it's just a couple of weeks before Christmas and the boys are home for the nearly four weeks of semester break. As soon as they are home, I being to sound them out on what they want, only to met with shrugs and, "I dunno," from them and Tor. It's true that we've all pretty much more than we need or want, except for Tommy, and I have that planned. One of the mutual funds I've been putting money in took off like a rocket a couple of years ago, so I've more than recovered what Tor and I spent on Mike's car and Tommy's feet.
After a talk with Tor, I seek out Gary, because I remember his mentioning a cousin of his is a car dealer, and Gary is a good mechanic himself. He seems happy to help me, so we drive to the upper end of the beach to his cousin's dealership. I know Tommy likes Mike's car, and while I can't afford to get him a new one, I think he'll be happy with one the same year as Mike's.
Gary doesn't give his cousin chance to say anything, before he tells him exactly what it is I want. He asserts himself strongly. "We ain't gonna take no piece of shit, neither, Jimmy, cause I'm gonna look it over an' drive it, an' it better be a damn good one, or I'm sticking you with it."
Jimmy looks astonished at the way Gary's talking. "Got one, but it's four years old. Ain't what you want, cause it's a sedan. I'm goin' to a big auction this Friday. I'll look fer one."
"Any colour but red, and it must be no older than two years, with fairly low mileage," I add.
"Hope I can find it fer you. I'll do you right."
"Damn right you will, cause I'll be checkin' the blue book," Gary snaps. "These people is good friends o' mine."
"I will," Jimmy assures him. "Call you Friday night when I gets back."
"Take your truck and bring it back with you, if you find it, cause this here's a Christmas present."
"I wasn't planning on drivin' the truck. I usually let 'em ship 'em."
"If you don't, you ain't sellin' Drew no car, and I want that car to run an' look like it's plum' new."
"You know I sell good clean cars, Gary."
"Shit, I know what you sell. I mean what I done told you. You ain't the only dealer aroun', an' we got enough time to go som'ers else."
"Ain't no call fer that, Gary."
"Hope not. You be sure to call me now."
"I will. You can count on it."
When we get back in my car and drive off, Gary gives me a big grin. "If he can find it, it'll be a good one. Jimmy's a tolerable good mechanic hisself, so he knows his cars. Knows better than to try to screw me, too, cause if he does ain't none of the family gonna buy one from him agin."
"I really appreciate your help, Gary. I don't know one end of a car from the other."
His grin grows broader. "Them's just the kind o' people Jimmy likes to sell to. Course down here most people don't buy too many new ones anyway. Salt air's hard on 'em. It's good you got a garage to keep it in. Where you gonna keep it 'til Christmas?"
"Dave's letting us keep it there. Tor or I will get it after church Christmas Eve and put it in our garage."
Monday before Christmas, Gary comes by the house and asks me to take a ride with him. Mike's curious. "Can I go?"
I think fast. "You want to go with us to get some shrimp?"
"Naa, but why're you going with Gary?"
"Because you said you wanted your car this morning, and Tor has to go to the office to pick up some papers he needs. You and Tommy may be on vacation, but Tor and I still have work to do. I want you guys to finish up the decorating some time today, too."
"Oh. See you guys later then."
Gary gives me an admiring glance. "I swear, Drew, you getting' so's you can lie almost as fast as Jimmy does when he's tryin' to sell a car."
"Have to think fast with a kid like Mike. Sometimes he's too smart."
"He ain't dumb, that's fer sure. Always askin' a lot of questions."
When we arrive at his lot, Jimmy is almost beside himself. "Got one I know you’re gonna love, Doc. It's only got twenty-five thousand miles on it and it's in perfect condition. I been over it myself."
"We'll see," Gary snaps. "Where be it?"
"In the garage. I weren't gonna leave nothin' that nice outside after I done cleaned it up. Come on an' look at it."
It's perfect to my eye. Exactly the same year and model as Mike's, and Jimmy has it shined to perfection. When I look, the interior looks like new, smells like it, too. Gary slides into the driver's seat and backs it out into the sunlight, then examines the top. "No holes, ner split seams in it." He lowers the window and leans out. How much you turn the odometer back, Jimmy?"
His cousin looks hurt. "Ain't touched it, Gary. Got the paperwork to prove it."
"Okay. Get in, Drew, an' let's take 'er out on the road."
Once we've crossed the bridge and are on open highway, Gary stomps on it. The car picks up instantly and runs quietly. He slows and turns the wheel back and forth, then smiles. "Steerin's good an' tight, an' it sounds like it oughta." He turns around. "I'll Iook under the hood when we get back, but I think this here is what you was looking for. I'll make Jimmy show me what he paid fer it. Blue book says it oughta sell fer about ten in good condition and I think this one is better 'an that, but he probably didn't pay more'n eight-five, er nine. How much you willin' to let 'im make on it?"
"I have no idea. What do you think is fair?"
Gary thinks for a minute. "Wouldn't give 'im more'n a thousand, if that. But he did haul it back on his truck, so he's out a little bit there."
"I can go eleven, tops."
Gary grins. "Say ten-five. Jimmy'll squeal like a stuck pig and carry on like you was robbin' 'im, but he'll be plum happy to get it. He'll put on a good show, just don' you fall fer it."
Jimmy wants eleven-nine. I counter with nine–five and the bargaining begins. He swears he's losing money when he comes down to eleven. I offer ten-five and he looks as if he's about to cry. He wrings his hands and says it's impossible.
"Cash."
His eyes betray him, and though he tries again, I stand firm. A few minutes later I write him a cheque and own a car. I thank Gary for his help and drive it to the license bureau for the plate and registration it needs. I had already arranged coverage with our insurance company, so it's a matter of a quick stop by their office for them to fill out the final paperwork. I'm almost at Dave's when I remember what I told Mike, so I stop off and buy some shrimp to have for dinner. Fortunately, Mike's gone when I get home after walking from Dave's house, so I don't have to answer any questions about why it took me so long to buy a few shrimp.
Christmas Eve, Mike plays for midnight Mass in a way that thrills me. I can tell Tor's equally as proud of him. The only pang of regret I have is when the boys and I kneel for the Eucharist without Tor beside us. At the end of Mass, we listen to Mike play the postlude, then assure Dave and Martha we're looking forward to our Christmas with them.
After breakfast Christmas morning, we sit around the tree to open our presents. With the big needs of the boys taken care of the previous year, our gifts are an exchange of little things. Tommy's biggest gift is from Mike, but despite his brave face, I can see disappointment at the few tokens he has received. When the last gift has been opened, Tommy starts to get up from the floor, but Tor stops him.
"Tommy, I think I found one that belongs to you." He holds out a thin box about two inches square.
Tommy slowly pulls the tissue paper from it and opens it, staring incomprehensibly at the set of keys. "What you give me another set of keys to your car for, Mike? You already gave me a set."
Mike looks at him in surprise. "I didn't."
Tommy looks at Tor and me. "You'd better look in the garage, babe," I tell him.
We follow Tommy out. Tor keys the remote and the door goes up slowly. Tommy's looking at a duplicate of Mike's car, except this one is dark green. "How come you painted your car, Mike, didn't you like red?"
"You're crazy, Tommy." He points to the other side of the garage where his convertible is. "There's mine." I see comprehension dawn. "Wait a minute!" Mike yells when I nod at him. "That's your car, Tommy."
Tommy looks bewildered and shakes his head. "Ain't no way."
Tor and I step up beside him and put our arms around him. "Merry Christmas, son," Tor says.
Instead of rushing in to look at it, Tommy bursts into tears and hugs us both so tightly I'm almost breathless. At last he composes himself enough to get in and back his car into the daylight.
"You like it?" Mike asks, as Tommy looks it over.
Tommy sheds a few more tears. "It's … it's just like yours, Mike."
"We try to treat you guys alike, Tommy. Tor and I love you."
He hugs me, then Tor, tears flowing once more. "I ain't never dreamed I'd have a car good as this, cause ain't nobody ever loved me so much before," he gasps out.
His face is so radiant when he drives us all to Dave and Martha's for our Christmas dinner with them, Tor leans over and kisses me. "Good thinking, love."
"Thank Gary, too. He's the one responsible for getting an exact match for Mike's," I whisper back, shivering. It's a raw day, but Tommy wanted to drive it with the top down.
I come close to having to use brute force to get the boys to take down the Christmas tree. I've already removed the other decorations with Tor's help, but Tommy is particularly reluctant. "Why, babe?"
"Cause I don't want it to be over. Last Christmas was the first real one I ever had. You know, being with people who love me and all, but I couldn't believe you all really loved me that much. I ain't never goin' to forget that, ner this one." He hugs me. "I love you so much, dad."
I return his hug, thrilled that he's finally convinced we love him as much as Mike. "I love you, too, son."
To be continued...
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