“Winging It”

By: Pee Jay
(© 2010-2011 by the author)

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

Chapter 12
“The Right Thing To Do”

Five years brought about a good deal of change at Capitol City Airport. John and Adam were at the top of the heap in the general aviation sector. Their chief competitor, Fischer Aviation, had gone out of business and the guys were elated for the good fortune it brought them. Adam was more impressed than ever with John's steady hand; the demise of Fischer was there to witness and hopefully not repeat.

Within a year of the guys buying the King Air, Don Fischer bought a much older, used Cessna Conquest. It was a twin engine turbo-prop of like kind and class; though not nearly as classy as the King Air, with twenty thousand five hundred hours on the airframe. It was a hastily made decision in an attempt to keep pace with Hughes and it was the beginning of the end for him.

The FAA issued an AD (airworthiness directive) limiting the airplane to twenty-two thousand five hundred hours of flight time on the airframe for commercial operators; and Fischer was a commercial operator. After two thousand hours of use, it couldn't be in commercial service so he was forced to sell sustaining a sizeable loss in the process.

Fischer's next purchase was a Cessna Citation CJ1, which he bought new and that proved to be his demise. It was a VLC (very light class) jet that had a service ceiling of an additional six thousand feet and a maximum cruise speed of an additional seventy-seven KTAS (knots true air speed) over the King Air. He paid two and half times what John and Adam spent and it accommodated three fewer passengers. It didn't make enough of a difference to warrant the additional expense and his corporate clientele began to migrate to Hughes. John and Adam had the competitive edge and his charter business died a slow death eventually forcing him into insolvency.

When Fischer folded, John and Adam invited some friends over for a small get-together to celebrate their ascendency to the throne and; needless to say, there was a lot of jokes and ribbing about who should be sitting on it. Adam insisted that John earned the right to occupy the throne since he controlled the money while John made a case for Adam citing him as the one with the regal deportment.

Fischer's misfortune was their boon and they were positioned to take advantage of the situation. There was one other FBO on the airport and it was much too small to pose a viable threat.

John didn't want to get a big head or become complacent; they were still in a cautious growth mode to his way of thinking. He maintained his tight-fisted grip on the finances, which continued to be a source of angst but worked to their advantage and worked well.

Several months later at the auction of Fischer's assets, John and Adam were there with checkbook in hand. Adam wanted to bid on the Citation but John would hear nothing of it; in John's opinion, even at repro rates, it was still overpriced so Adam yielded to John's wishes.

After a few years of observation, Adam was more than aware of the need for fiscal responsibility; he had come to rely on John's assessment of all things moneyed. They did, however, manage to bid on and pick up a used Cessna 182 at fire sale prices and it proved popular among the rental clientele; it was the weekend pilot crowd as they referred to them.

Unfortunately, Fischer Aviation wasn't the only entity to perish. Jack Felstow, Adam's father, passed away after a rout with pancreatic cancer. After his diagnosis, John and Adam made several trips to Chicago offering their support to the extent they were able. On several occasions, Adam had lengthy conversations with his father during which Jack expressed many of his guarded feelings. He wanted Adam to know how much he was loved and the pride he felt for what his son had accomplished. Those sessions had a profound impact on Adam who longed for his father’s approval.

In the end, Jack passed quickly as the cancer had advanced to stage four shortly after his diagnosis and he elected to forego chemotherapy. Before his death, Jack made his peace with John and recognized the two as a committed couple. He asked John to take good care of his son and John assured him that it was his primary objective. John expressed his heartfelt appreciation telling Jack how much it meant to hear him say that.

When Jack’s time came, John and Adam were there with Elaine at his bedside. He passed away at home with the three of them and Rosie, the Felstow’s housekeeper, maintaining their vigil. The ordeal was hard on Adam so John did all he could to support him and Elaine. They canceled their commitments and stayed in Chicago for the service.

Both Adam and Elaine cried a lot and John did his best to comfort his boy. Adam's mother was despondent; she loved her husband and mourned his passing openly and deeply. She was beside herself and alone for the first time in thirty some years.

Several months after the funeral, Elaine grew increasingly lonesome and bought a luxury Condominium in Springfield so she could be near her son and John; she felt isolated and craved family ties. She and Jack purchased a large home in Florida on an exclusive island a few years before he passed where they established legal residency. Elaine began to spend her winters in Florida and summers in Springfield; she rarely went to Chicago after the funeral preferring the slower pace of her newer residences.

During those years, Adam had enrolled and paid the dues for them to join a gay pilot's group. After talking with John, they both thought it would be interesting and fun. The organization sponsored fly-ins and different events around North America; it seemed like a good time versus the industry events they were expected to attend.

Unfortunately, they hadn't made it to any events to date as the business kept them more than occupied; on holidays and weekends they preferred to relax and unwind at home. They planned to attend some functions eventually when time and circumstances permitted.

One Sunday in early spring, the two awoke at Elaine's condominium in Springfield; she cooked a meatloaf the night before at Adam's request and it came out surprisingly well. The two of them were glad to spend the night away from the airport and work; it was a change of venue and a psychological respite for the most part. They also liked the way Elaine catered to them; it was like having a housekeeper and she enjoyed having them around.

That morning was relaxed and laid back. They lie in bed half awake; in no particular hurry to rise.  "Geez Babe, I think I'm going to have some more of that meatloaf for breakfast. I want eggs on top with hot sauce or maybe ketchup. I miss Rosie's huevos rancheros, too."

John moaned at Adam's culinary tastes, "Let's stay in bed for a while. You know you're going to have gas from that hot sauce. Why do you eat like that?"

John rolled away from Adam placing a pillow between his legs and pulling the covers over his shoulder.

Adam rolled toward John, draped an arm and leg over him and pulled himself closer to his boy. He savored the down time and intimacy.

A knock came on their door then Elaine said, "Are you guys ready for breakfast?"

"Yeah Mom, I'll have some meatloaf with eggs on top," Adam said.

Elaine let out a groan then left for the kitchen to start the coffee maker and make eggs over meatloaf for Adam; she was thinking about his request and curled her lip.

Adam kissed John on the side of the neck and John uttered, "Mmmm more.”

He slapped John on the butt then rose to go to the bathroom for a morning leak.

"Harder," John said.

Adam climbed out of bed, pulled his boxers on, then went to the bathroom to take a leak.  When he finished, he headed for the kitchen to have coffee and toast with his mother while he waited for his eggs over meatloaf. He sat at the island in the spacious kitchen and pulled the morning paper in front of him. Elaine served her son a coffee then initiated conversation.

"Adam, how long have you and John been living together?"

"I don't know. What's the difference? It's no big deal Mom and it's not like it's going to change any time soon. We're basically married. Mom, I don't want to be with anyone else; C'est lui pour moi, moi pour lui.” What Adam said in French was, “It's him for me, me for him."

Elaine smiled as she worked at the cook top; she liked it when her son spoke French. She taught him herself when he was a boy and he had a near perfect accent. Her parents were bilingual but spoke French at home; she learned English as a young girl but hadn't used it often until she went to school. She was French and proud of her heritage; she and her son were Lemieux's, the last of the line in the States.

"I'm going to make some changes to my will and amend your trust. I want you to think about that."

"What's to think about, Mom? Isn't it more or less what you want it to be?"

"Yes, but you're the sole heir as it stands now and the bank is the trustee. I'm not so sure the bank should be trustee; their fees are high for that kind of thing. I think you can manage it yourself with John's help if that's what you want. And then, there's the question of your heir in the event something happens to you; you need a will, too. There's too much money involved not to have it spelled out."

"I don't know, Mom. John can be a tight ass when it comes to money; that might be a problem. I'm having trouble convincing him I need a new car."

That was all Elaine needed to know. She wanted to make sure her son was provided for and wouldn't squander the money foolishly. She also didn't want the bank dipping into the funds with their myriad fee schedule. If Adam had to consult John before he spent a large sum, then she was sure there would be a reasonable check and balance in place. In her mind, the matter was resolved; she would amend the document and pose it to the guys before she made it official.

"Good morning," John said as he entered the kitchen.

He approached his boy, gave him a quick peck on the head, then patted at Adam's hair attempting to make it lie down. He should have known better but he liked doing it and the soft texture of Adam’s hair; it was a feel good thing for John.

"Did you sleep well?" Elaine asked John.

"Yes I did, thank you. I love the mattress on that bed; it's so comfortable."

"Good, what are you having for breakfast?" Elaine asked as she put a black coffee in front of John.

"Thank you. A bagel and yogurt sounds good to me."

"Do you guys have anything planned for today?"

"No not really, Mom. Why do you ask?"

"I'll pay you guys to take me to Chicago. I want to bring a few things back; my computer, some files, sheets and blankets, and some things for the kitchen—nothing big."

"You don't have to pay, Mom. We'll do it."

"I insist on paying; what else am I going to spend it on? Can we take the King Air?"

"Sure whatever you want. John needs to log time in it to stay current."

They cleaned up after breakfast then made their way to the airport. At the apartment, John and Adam changed into fresh clothing and played around a bit in the bedroom. When they came out, Elaine was standing at the windows overlooking the airport, "I see why you guys like this place. It's interesting to watch the activity out there."

John said, "You should see it at night with snow on the ground; it's beautiful."

John turned the radio on that monitored the control tower so Elaine could have a better appreciation and maybe understand what was happening in front of her.

He walked over to Elaine, put his arm around her, then explained what was happening as the voices came over the radio. He pointed to the aircraft as the pilots communicated with the tower and she began to grasp the logic of the whole thing. John sat her at Adam's desk so she could relax and digest the workings of the airport.

Adam cleared phone mail at John's desk then filed a flight plan for Midway airport while John surveyed their apartment from a stool at the bar. The apartment had proved to be a good long-term decision. They lived there close to seven years and John worked it out in his head; with the money they had spent, it was a little under seven hundred dollars per month. And it was all expensed to the business with the exception of the bar that Adam wanted, which was out of pocket funds.

He loved the apartment and what it stood for. They built it with their own hard earned money and it was theirs and theirs alone; their love nest John often reminded Adam, and was always teased for it. It was the place where they started their life together; together with nothing but each other and whatever the future held.

John recalled the first few weeks he had met Adam and smiled. They had come a long way; and there was a longer road ahead. There was no doubt in his mind that he was up for it; he made that decision long ago. He was in it for the long haul.

As well as the apartment worked out, he thought maybe it was time to move on and buy a house or condominium; something larger and away from the airport. As it was, the business needed the additional space. He decided to wait for the right time then propose it to Adam.

Sometime later, Adam had taken care of the arrangements for their flight so they made their way to the tarmac then boarded the airplane. Short of the runway, they held their position waiting for take-off clearance. Finally, ATC cleared the King Air so Adam taxied into position then commenced their ground roll pushing the throttles in and pressing Elaine into her seat back.

After lift-off, Adam asked John to go sit with his mother so she wouldn't be alone. He said the flight was under an hour and he would be fine. John agreed then rose from his seat and headed aft to keep Elaine company. She was reading a book when he approached her.

"Can I get you something to drink?" John asked.

"Do you have water?"

"Yeah, we just took off so the refrigerator hasn't had enough time to chill it."

"That's okay."

John brought the water and sat down opposite Elaine with a table separating them. Elaine marked her place then set the book down as she turned her attention to John.

"Well John, who would have guessed we'd be having a conversation under these circumstances?"

"Certainly not me, Elaine; all I ever wanted was to pay the bills and be with Adam. It's worked out well so far. We make a good team."

"I think you do, too. I'm happy for both of you."

"I think I'm going to approach Adam about buying a place away from the airport. We spent a few years in the apartment and it's worked out well. We were able to save money and grow the business. Now the business needs more space and I'm hoping Adam will want more privacy than we've had in the past. I'd like to get him a dog, too; I know he'd love it. I want it to be a surprise."

"What kind of place do you have in mind?"

"Nothing fancy, a townhouse or something like that. We'll need furniture and probably a lot of other things, too. The price of the house is the beginning of the spending if you know what I mean."

"Yeah, do you think you guys will ever use the apartment in Chicago?"

"I don't think so; especially now that you're spending most of your time in Springfield. There's no reason to go there."

"What about your family? Don't they live in Chicago?"

"Yeah, but I haven't been home in like six or seven years."

Elaine furrowed her brow; she had a concerned look come over her, "Why is that John? That doesn't sound good."

"It's my father. He's a bigoted red-neck. He makes Jack look like a die-hard liberal. He's so far right; he's wrong."

Elaine had to laugh at that. John spoke with such conviction and dispatch that she assumed he had given it a lot of thought.

"How about your mother?"

"She knows about Adam. That's about it. We never discussed it."

Elaine turned her head to gaze out the window while she sat quietly for a few pensive moments. She didn't like the situation John described and wondered if she might be able to help reconcile the breach. It was worth a try.

"What if we were to invite them to the apartment for dinner sometime?"

"That's nice of you to offer; but I'm okay with the way things are. I don't feel any great need to see them. Well, it would be nice to see Mom but if the old man comes with; then I'd rather skip it. Neither one of us needs the aggravation."

John and Elaine looked at each other with nothing further to say. John excused himself to go check on Adam. When he reached the cockpit, he closed the door, leaned over spinning the mic away from Adam's mouth, then kissed his boy firmly as he held Adam's head in place. He was feeling the need to be intimate with his lover boy.

"Is Mom okay?"

"Yeah, I just came up here for a little kissy-poo; I'm going back in a minute." Then John gave Adam another kiss.

"You get weirder all the time."

"And you like it in a weird sort of way," John clipped him on the back of the head and Adam laughed as he re-positioned the mic.

John ran his hand through Adam's hair then went back to claim his seat opposite Elaine.

"He's doing a good job up there," John reported as if he were the boss checking on an employee, which made Elaine smile.

After they landed and parked at Midway, Elaine paid to have the tanks topped off and the landing fees. They made the short walk to the car rental counter where she rented a mini-van. At the apartment, Rosie their housekeeper, was dusting and vacuuming.

Adam and Elaine chatted with her while John left to pick up lunch. Elaine tried again to convince Rosie to come live with her in Florida and Springfield but Rosie wasn't quite ready to leave her kids behind. They were grown with families of their own but she was of Hispanic descent with strong family ties. She told Elaine that she would probably go in due course but wasn't quite ready.

Adam decided to work on her a bit and complimented her cooking saying how much he missed it. She grinned and shushed him away with her dust rag; she knew what he was trying to do and appreciated the compliment. She was a soft touch when it came to Adam.

When John returned, the four of them sat at the island in the kitchen eating and talking. When they finished, Elaine had John dismantle her computer while Adam gathered her files and other things then he stacked them in the living room. An hour later and they had everything in the van then bade Rosie adios. She had to give Adam a kiss and hug before they left; he was like one of her own. She had been with the Felstows since he was a toddler.

On the way back to Springfield, Elaine told John about her plans to change her will and Adam's trust. John suggested she talk with his old boss, Will Harris. He told her that Will was brilliant and probably the single greatest influence in their purchase of the business. Elaine said she remembered him and wasn't aware of the role he played in the transaction.

John suggested that she make Will the trustee; he knew if she went for it that Will would be set for life. He would never have to worry about a pension or retirement. He wouldn’t become rich or wealthy either, though his future would be secure. John also knew that Will was capable and trustworthy beyond question; he could be counted on to do the right thing. He was the embodiment of integrity.

Elaine asked John if he would call Will on her behalf and he agreed.

Back in Springfield, they took Elaine home, set up her computer, then helped her put the rest of her things away. When the two arrived at the apartment, they made themselves comfortable and then John thought it would be as good a time as any to talk to Adam about a house.

Adam was sitting at his desk looking out the window over the airport. John sat down at his desk facing Adam. "What do you think about us buying a house or condo?"

"You've been thinking again. Why don't you tell me what you have?"

"Geez, okay, well...the business needs more space. Angie's crowded in down there with her friend that she hired and Larry needs a desk and phone; somewhere he can return calls and talk with charter clientele. We need another work station for the other two guys to share. Ed's part time and doesn't need his own setup; he can share. You and I can put our offices in what is now our bedroom for privacy."

"Babe, why don't we look into buying Fischer's old building; it's still up for sale. That way, we would have everything under one roof."

"Do you know how much the bank wants for it?"

"Nine hundred fifty grand."

"Shit Adam, we just paid Hughes off. Do you really feel like having a monthly note again? And there would be a ground lease on top of that with the airport authority. This is the first time in six years we haven't had that little black cloud called debt hanging over us."

"You've been looking for a deal on a jet. Where do you plan to park it? Our hangar is full. And we're going to have a monthly payment with a jet. Not only that, if a large FBO operator with deep pockets comes to town and buys Fischer's building; they could put us out of business."

"We could park the three 152's outside and stay here. I don't think we could handle a jet and a mortgage; more so if we make Larry a salaried employee."

"Why would we make Larry salaried?"

"If we buy a VLC jet and fly it with one pilot, the insurance will cost more than making Larry a salaried employee. So if Larry becomes full time, then we have the flexibility to buy anything we want and Larry would be at our beck and call. And Larry's getting married; he's going to want the security of a full time job."

"We can hire Marty or Pete from Fischer on an hourly basis; they're already checked out in a Citation and they aren't working."

"Shit Hon, I'm getting numb. Your point about a competitor coming to town worries me. It's a lot to think about."

John had to think for a few minutes. He was aware of the necessity for some debt; he didn't want to compete with a large, syndicated FBO operator either and Fischer's building would be ideal for that. If they bought Fischer's old building, then they would still own the one they were in thereby freezing out the competition barring a major airport expansion. There was no more room on the airport in its present configuration.

"Hon, I like the idea of buying Fischer's old building if for no other reason than to lock out the competition. That means we would have to make this home for the next little while. What do you think?"

"Babe, I love this place. It doesn't bother me at all to stay here."

"I like it, too. Jesus Christ Hon, is there ever going to be an end to owing someone?"

"I don't know. I do know this. If we want to grow, this building won't handle it. If we make the changes you're talking about, then we only accommodate the way things are; it doesn't allow for growth."

"Damn, do you mind if I call Will and ask him to look at the books? It would be nice to have a second opinion."

"Not at all, go for it Babe. Another set of eyes can't hurt and Will's a sharp dude. Why hasn't he made partner? Is it because he's black?"

"I don't think that's it. Will's too nice. You have to be an asshole or SOB to make partner. You know, stab people in the back, kiss ass; that kind of shit. Will has too much integrity for that."

The next day, John called Will and set up a meeting with Elaine and the two of them. They took Will and his wife out for dinner one evening. By the end of the night, Will sold himself to Elaine without knowing it.

She was impressed with his knowledge of securities and trust taxation. Will assured her the information was basic in nature but the bank failed to raise the issues with her. He offered some suggestions about the structure of the trust so as to take advantage of the tax code, since her legal residence was in Florida. He told Elaine he would be more than happy to sit down with her after he reviewed the asset structure of the trust and she took him up on his offer.

John told Will he would email the password and link to their financials so Will could access their accounting files from his home or office computer, which he did.

After careful consideration, Will composed a pro forma for the purchase of Fischer Aviation's building demonstrating the feasibility; his analysis was comprehensive and his conclusion gave the guys the green light to go ahead and make a bid. He presented his findings on company stationery so John and Adam could take it to the bank with a high degree of credibility.

John asked Adam if he could send Will a check in the amount of two thousand dollars for his work pointing out that his former employer charged upwards of ten thousand dollars for that kind of analysis; consulting fees were outrageous. John didn't feel bad about the discount since, for the most part; he dropped the trust account in Will's lap.

Spring was in full swing and Memorial Day was drawing near. Adam had the itch to get out and go somewhere. He wanted to get away with John. It had been a long time since they had taken a trip and been alone together enjoying each other's company and bumming around with no particular agenda. He decided to take it up with John one evening after closing.

"Babe, you feel like going somewhere for Memorial Day weekend?"

"Sure what ya got in mind?"

"I don't know. I want to get away for a few days; just the two of us."

"It's warm enough to go anywhere. How's 'bout we go north?"

"Like where north?"

"I don't know. Let's pull up a map of the U.S. and Canada on the Internet."

Adam clicked away for a couple minutes. John studied his face while he worked. He had to smile; his boy had such an earnest look on his face it was too damn cute. He wondered where he would be if he hadn't met Adam; he was sure there weren't many people as lucky as he. To find the right person had to be fate or luck or destiny; he wasn't sure. One thing he did know; he found the one for him and thanked the Lord above—again.

"Okay, I have a map on the screen," Adam said.

John came around to his side of the desk and knelt on one knee next to Adam's chair placing his arm on Adam’s leg. He gave him a quick peck on the head before turning his attention to the monitor then said,

"Okay, where to, Hon? …

Your wish is my desire,

Say the word and it'll transpire.

I'll go to Sarasota or North Dakota,

Kalamazoo or Timbuktu.

Anywhere to be with you," then John gave Adam another peck.

"What a twit," Adam said. “Who are you now; Wordsworth or something?” Then he pushed John over on his back and climbed on top of him; both of them laughing and kissing.

John wrapped his arms and legs around his boy then kissed and squeezed him, saying, "Ya gotta admit, ya love this twit."

"Yeah I do," Adam said then attacked John's mouth.

After a couple minutes of making out, Adam rolled off John onto his side while they stared into each other’s eyes. John brushed Adam's hair off his forehead running his fingers through it then kissed him. Adam wrapped his arms around John and the two of them lay quietly on the floor neither one needing to speak; secure in the knowledge of what the other was thinking and feeling.

A few moments passed then Adam said, "Let's go to Vermont.”

"That's a long haul; why the sam heck do you want to go there?"

"Will you marry me?"

John got the picture real quick and broke into a big ole goofy grin. He said, "Of course I will," then kissed his lover boy on the lips. He couldn't stop grinning though. His boy's request was so romantic, and sincere, and heartfelt, and—he couldn't finish the thought he was that moved. God! He loved Adam something fierce; there simply weren't words for it.

Adam was overcome with emotion at the spontaneity of his question. His feelings had welled up and escaped him without the least bit of forethought. He had asked John to marry him! Had he really done it? Of course he did; and meant it—every word of it. There wasn't anything in the world he desired more completely or categorically than to belong to John and John to him.

It didn't matter that it wouldn't count in Illinois. What mattered was that somewhere, somehow he could proclaim his true feelings for John in an overt, demonstrative way and have it acknowledged. There would be a transcript; a document that attested to the fact. It would be a declaration of their love on record for anyone to witness who cared to look. A record to persist and verify through time to posterity that it had happened, that it was real, that he had lived and loved—that he had loved John. It was right and fitting and made him swallow hard.

"Hon, there isn't anything in this world that would mean more to me."

"Same here, Babe; I guess we know where we're going," Adam said with a chuckle.

"I always knew where I was going."

"And where is that?"

"Nowhere. I was always going to be here with you. I'm your sidekick; I mean sidetwit," then John tightened his arm around Adam and kissed him.

They decided to call Elaine and invite her to accompany them. She readily accepted and approved; there was a hint of excitement in her voice, too. She was aware of the change in Vermont law but it never occurred to her that John and Adam would do something like that; she liked the idea and began to think of a wedding present. It would be a legitimate reason to do something nice, something very nice.

They called Jim and Dave, told them of their plans, and then invited them to go along. Adam asked Jim if he would be his best man then suggested Dave could do the same for John and they all liked the idea. They weren't able to commit over the phone but were excited about the news. Jim said they would get back to them in a couple days.

John wanted his mother to go. He wasn't sure how to get around the old man but decided to call her anyway; he was thrilled beyond belief and wanted her to be there. It was evening and he knew his father would be home; he was hoping his mother would answer the phone as she usually did so he decided to place the call.

"Hello?"

"Hi Mom, it's John."

"Hi John, it's good to hear from you at long last. How are you?"

"I'm good, Mom. No, I'm fantastic. Are you busy Memorial Day weekend?"

"No we don't have plans; nothing out of the ordinary. Why do you ask?"

"I'm getting married, Mom." John sat in place, on edge, waiting.

Her response didn't come quickly; the line was quiet for a few moments. Then she asked, "Who are you engaged to?"

"Mom, you know who I'm living with. We're getting married and I would like it if you could be there. We never talked about it but I love him and we're getting legally married. It would be nice if you could make it. If you don't want to come, well; I guess I’m disappointed but understand."

A few moments later and John's mother said, "I would love to come. I'm happy for you. What are the arrangements?"

"The ceremony will be held in Vermont sometime over Memorial Day weekend."

"This is rather short notice. It’s going to be expensive to get a room and book a flight."

"We'll pick you up at Midway and we have your room covered; it's not a problem."

"What do you mean pick us up at Midway?"

"We have an airplane, Mom. We'll pick you up and fly you there ourselves." His mother’s use of the term ‘us’ didn’t go unnoticed.

"You're full of surprises. That would be nice; we won't have to buy airline tickets."

"I'll check with your father and let you know. I’m sure he hasn’t made any plans. If he has, I’ll make sure he changes them."

"Mom, I would rather not have him come. You're more than welcome if you can make it; otherwise forget it. We don't need his condescending, red-neck attitude. I'm getting married to the person I love and want to spend the rest of my life with. Mom, I don't want anything to spoil it; leave the old man home. Can't you think of a reason to go yourself? Tell him you're coming here for a visit or something."

"Okay, I'll think of something. I'll call you this week."

They said goodbye then hung up. John was ecstatic as he looked at Adam.

"This is going to be great. I can't wait, Hon," John said then walked over to hug Adam.

Adam wrapped his arms around John as he buried his face in the small of John's neck; he was so overcome with emotion that his eyes were tearing up as he held on. John began to stroke Adam's back and run his fingers through his hair. He relished the feel and warmth of him; he was a perfect fit as he held his head against Adam’s with his eyes closed.

Adam was experiencing similar emotions. He held on to John as though he were going to get away or some daffy thing. He was sinking in a quagmire of sentiment.

John pulled his head back then kissed Adam.

Adam said, “Are you okay?"

"I'm great. I'm so damn happy," John said then kissed Adam again.

"I'm proud to be with you, lucky to be with you and miserable when I'm not," Adam said, his voice cracking.

"Come here," John said leading Adam to the couch. He sat down then reclined pulling Adam on top of him.

That weekend, Jim and Dave dropped by and told the guys, over pizza and beer, that they made some changes and would be delighted to go. Dave wanted to know how to dress for the occasion, which initiated an hour of discussion.

John wanted to keep it simple. He thought a sport coat with a polo shirt would be fine and Adam liked that, too. Jim and Dave were trying to get them to go the tuxedo route so Adam made the final decision; it was going to be informal. He said if Jim and Dave wanted to go formal, then they could do it at their wedding and that was that.

Elaine got word of John and Adam's plans for the Fischer Aviation building from Will and began to negotiate, through her attorney, for the purchase of the building. It was going to be her wedding present to the two. The deed would be entitled to both of them personally so the business would have to pay them rent. Furthermore, in the unlikely event something happened to the business; they would still have the building. She hoped the deal would close before the ceremony. As it turned out, there wasn't sufficient time to consummate the sale so she had her attorney compose a pseudo-deed to place inside the card she planned to give them along with a check.

As the weekend drew near, John couldn't help but notice how the excitement began to crescendo in his boy. Adam wasn't antsy or nervous; he was animated and spirited. He couldn't wait for the affair to be under way; the anticipation was driving him nuts.

John, on the other hand, was calm and relaxed; he knew what he wanted and was secure in the knowledge that he was going to get it. He was going to belong to Adam and Adam was going to be his beyond any question or doubt; without reservation. As long as he was able to sustain life, he would belong to Adam.

The Friday they were to leave for Burlington, Vermont; they had no obligations for the day. John was first to rise and quietly left the bedroom while Adam slept. He started the coffee maker then went to the windows to look out over the airport. He heard someone entering the building downstairs and decided to go see who was early for work.

When John reached the bottom of the stairs, he turned toward the office to see Larry booting up the computer.

"Morn'in, Larry."

"Morn'in, John. So this is the big weekend huh?"

"Yeah. You know Larry, I'm happy to do it, eager in fact; even if it isn’t valid in Illinois."

"Then what's the big deal?"

That got John heated up.

"The big deal is, LARRY, that there's an official record that goes on file and one we take home. We become a legal couple in the State of Vermont. It means we're married; we're committed to each other. It says we're not an offshoot or aberration of someone's version of the way things should be. I belong to Adam and he belongs to me until one of us dies. That's the big deal."

"Easy John, it's cool with me. No need to get geared up."

"Well you asked and there you have it. And that's the way it is; like it or not."

Larry was taken aback by the emphatic fervor of John's response. He was all for the guys; yet John's rash account and compelling counter left him a little astonished. He knew he was out of his league when sparring with John; he was also aware of John's signature on his paycheck.

"I'm happy for you John and I mean it."

"Thanks Larry, and thanks for watching things this weekend. We really appreciate it. Do you still have a key for the apartment in case you need something up there?"

"Yeah, I keep it on my key chain."

"Okay, feel free to make a sandwich or take a beer, anything you want."

"Thanks."

John went upstairs to get a coffee and wake Adam if he were still asleep.

Adam was coming out of the bathroom, so John decided to pop a couple bagels in the toaster and fix Adam's coffee for him.

"Here's your coffee."

"Thanks, who's downstairs?"

"It's Larry the stooge," John said shaking his head.

Adam chuckled, "Why is he a stooge this morning?"

"The dumb ass asked me what the big deal was with us getting married and the idget is doing the same damn thing in a few months; like I should have to spell it out for him or something—go figure."

John took a stool next to Adam at the counter and they had a quick breakfast.

"Hon, I ordered seven meals from Airline Caterer's at Midway,” John said. “They'll have the meals at the general aviation terminal when we get there to pick up my mother."

"That's cool. Tomorrow's the big day, Babe."

"You know what? It's a big day and a big deal to me and I'm excited. The thing is, it's been a long time for you and me and it seems like we should have done it ages ago. I guess what I'm trying to say is; nothing is going to change in my mind. I'm going to continue being, doing, and living as I have—with you. That's the way I want it and always hoped it would be. The ceremony will be nice; it will be a testimonial for us, an occasion to tell others the way we feel."

"Me too Babe, I want the same thing. Do you think it will ever change?"

"I can only speak for myself and the answer is unequivocally no. After tomorrow Hon, it's till death us do part. Are you okay with that?"

"I am. I want it more than anything; that's why I asked you."

The buzzer from the side door downstairs rang and Adam got up to answer it. He let Jim and Dave in so John took that as his cue to start his routine in the bathroom. He retrieved clean underwear from the bedroom and said hello to Jim and Dave as he headed for the bathroom. Dave gave John a pat on the ass as he crossed the kitchen in his underwear so Adam clipped him on the back of the head.

Adam entertained the guys until John was done. When John was packed and dressed, he emerged from the bedroom looking like a million bucks, which wasn't a stretch; they were both millionaires by their own doing. Unfortunately, a million dollars wasn't all that much anymore.

John refilled their coffee cups and chatted with them as they waited for Elaine to arrive and Adam to finish in the bathroom.

Jim said, "Are you nervous?"

"Not at all," John replied. "Now other people will be aware of what we already committed ourselves to. How do you see it, Jim?"

"I think it's great. I see it as a lifelong commitment, something permanent."

"Same here. And for that reason, I'm excited; but nothing changes for me. It's always been that way as far as I was concerned."

There were footsteps on the staircase from downstairs and John recognized them; it was Elaine plodding along at her own pace, one-step at a time as she made her way upstairs.

John rose, went to the stairs, then descended half way to assist her. In the kitchen, Elaine thanked John while he escorted her to a stool at the breakfast bar. When she was seated comfortably, John fixed her a coffee with cream and sugar; he knew how she took her coffee, it was a typical French recipe.

The kitchen was quiet when Elaine sat down then asked, "Are you ready for this, John?"

"Elaine, it's not a question of being ready."

He walked around the counter to Elaine, put an arm around her, then whispered in her ear, "I love your son until the day I take my last breath and then some if that were possible. I will never do anything to hurt him and that will never, ever change. That's what this weekend is all about, Elaine."

Elaine smiled. She knew John was of one mind and she liked the sound of it; her son was loved and she liked that, too. He was cared for beyond the affection she could offer as a mother; Adam had a partner—a significant other. She welcomed the scenario and the idea; she wanted her son to be happy and it appeared he was.

"Okay let's get going," Adam said on his way to the bedroom to dress and pack.

He was traversing the kitchen in his underwear and John watched him intently as he disappeared into the bedroom.

Elaine noticed John's fixated stare on her son and kept it to herself. She didn't fully understand the attraction and didn't disapprove of it either; she wanted all the best for her son. If that meant John, then she was all for it. After all, John was going to be his husband the next day and her son in law. It was strangely odd though not surreal. She knew John and liked him, respected him even. If John were Adam’s choice, then she was eager to endorse their union.

John excused himself then left to retrieve the King Air from the hangar and taxi it in front of the FBO. Jim helped Elaine downstairs then into the plane while Dave followed with their luggage. John stocked the on-board fridge with beverages and condiments for coffee and tea.

Adam took a few minutes to file a flight plan and say goodbye to Larry. When he climbed into the plane, John took his bag; placed it in the cargo area, and then sealed the door.

Adam told John he had the zip locks of cash from the freezer in his bag and John nodded. John asked Dave and Jim to move to different seats so the weight and balance of the aircraft would be optimized and they complied then they were ready to go.

Adam went through the checklist then fired up the engines, one after the other, and they were under way. They held short of the active runway for their traffic to land then were cleared to go by ATC. Adam taxied on to the runway, then goosed the throttles thereby commencing their ground roll. As soon as they lifted off, Adam sucked up the gear and banked into a steep climb out of the airport traffic pattern. The twin Pratt & Whitney 1,050 SHP (shear horsepower) engines hauled them skyward with the ease and grace that befitted the aircraft.

When they leveled off to a cruise-climb, John grinned at Adam's cocky move and said, "Nice maneuver, Ace; I hope Larry didn't see that."

"Oh, I'm sure he did and if he ever tries it; I'll fire his ass."

They both chuckled then John went back to the passenger cabin to check on the others. He showed everyone where the fridge and coffee maker was and the door to the bathroom. He indicated the door to the cargo area and said they could go back there anytime they wanted because it was pressurized like the rest of the cabin.

He paused in front of Jim, who was white as snow and gripping the armrests with both hands.

"Are you okay, Jim?"

Dave said, "Check his underwear; that departure scared the you know what out of him."

John turned his attention to Adam's mother, "Are you okay, Elaine?"

"I am now. Tell that son of mine, I'm going to choke him if he ever does that again."

John couldn't resist a grin; it looked like the passengers were a mix of fright and ire as a result of Adam's barnstorming.

"How about you, Dave?"

"I'm fine. Let's go vertical next time."

Elaine gave Dave a noxious look, "Don't encourage him.”

John went back to the cockpit and put his seat belt on.

"I don't think you should do that again,” John said to Adam. “Jim is about to pass out and your mother is ready to choke you. Dave wants to go vertical next time."

Adam seized the moment. He opened the intercom to the passenger cabin then said, "Good morning everyone, this is your captain speaking. Thank you for flying Turner-Felstow Airlines; we appreciate your business. There will be no talking en route today; your crew is nursing a hellacious hangover. A portion of our trip will be over water. Therefore, all of you that can swim please sit on the right side of the airplane; and all of you that cannot, please take a seat on the left side. Thank you again for choosing Turner-Felstow Airlines. Oh, and if anyone knows how to get to Burlington; we could use your help up here. Thank you again and please be quiet."

John and Adam were both laughing aloud as they imagined the look on Jim and Elaine's faces. Adam needed to make a trip to the bathroom or wet his pants so John lifted his headset from the yolk and put it on then flew the plane. Actually, he watched the plane fly itself as he monitored the instrument panel. He verified the waypoint from the VOR (very high frequency omni-directional range) with the chart on the clipboard.

Adam was hunched over as he made his way aft to the restroom. As he passed Jim, he couldn't resist a smile then Jim punched him in the arm with a good deal of force. As he passed his mother, Elaine hit him with her book twice and he was laughing his ass off. Dave couldn't resist getting into the act and clipped him on the back of the head as he turned and twisted trying to get past them, his arms raised in self defense.

"Jesus Christ," Adam said. "This is a surly bunch we have.” He was laughing all the way. "We have to raise our prices to weed out the riff-raff."

When he finished in the bathroom, Adam made his way back to his seat in the cockpit, "Geez Babe, with friends and family like that; who needs enemies?”

John was smiling; the cockpit door was open and he witnessed the scenario.

"I guess you know how they feel about our departure."

"Yeah, but it could have been you. And there they go blaming me before they knew for sure."

"It was the look on your face; that devilish grin was a dead giveaway." John knew Adam was an easy read; he couldn't keep a secret or tell a lie if he had to and John loved him for it.

It was a short flight to Midway, about forty minutes and the traffic was horrendous as they neared Chicago so they quieted down when Chicago Center handed them off to approach and departure. Another fifteen minutes and John had them on the ground taxiing to the general aviation terminal.

They parked the plane then everyone got out to stretch their legs. John was first inside and went to the counter to order the tanks topped off; it would be a non-stop flight to Burlington with full fuel. He asked to have the meals placed on board and turned to survey the room looking for his mother.

She was sitting in the middle of the terminal next to John's father looking out the window. They obviously hadn't seen him get out of the King Air. Adam was standing next to John.

"Hon, she brought the old man with her."

"He probably wants to say hello before we leave."

"I hope that's all he wants. Son of a bitch, I feel like going home; I don't want to do this."

"Come on Babe, I'll go with you. It'll be fine." Adam cradled John in his arm to reassure him.

They walked toward John’s parents. Before they noticed, John said, "Hi Mom and Dad, have you been waiting long?"

"JOHN," his mother said a little too loud as she leapt out of her seat with her arms outstretched.

She hugged and kissed him profusely and he loved it; he was all smiles and happy to see his mother after such an extended period. He guessed it was seven years more or less, as his eyes grew moist. He embraced her with the zeal he reserved for Adam; John missed his mother.

When she finished, she held him away and said, "Let me have a look at you; it's been much too long.” After a moment, she said, “You look better than I remembered; you're so handsome," then she cupped his face and kissed him again.

John's father stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him; he was a large, tall man and John's head rested under his chin.

"How have you been son? It's been way too long since we've seen you," he was misty eyed, too.

"I've been good. There's some people I'd like you to meet," John said as he pulled away.

The embrace was definitely out of character for his father and it made him uncomfortable. By that time, Elaine along with Jim and Dave were standing there watching John's reunion with his parents.

"Mom, Dad, this is Adam Felstow. Adam these are my parents Mary and Ron." Ron shook Adam's hand then Mary took her turn shaking his hand and giving him a quick peck on the cheek saying, "It's nice to finally meet you.”

John made the other intros then the group chatted for a few minutes. When the conversation subsided, Ron said, "Can we have a couple minutes with John?"

Everyone acknowledged his request then made their way to the King Air. Elaine stopped at the desk to pay for topping off the tanks, the meals, and the landing fees. Adam stayed at the counter to keep an eye on his boy; John noticed and was glad to have him nearby.

Ron began, "John, I don't know what we've done to alienate you but I want you to know that you and Adam are always welcome, anytime. And I know the story John; it's perfectly okay with me, in fact I'm happy for you."

"What about all those comments you made over the years? Have you suddenly changed your mind?"

"Had I known the score, I wouldn't have made them and I'm sorry that I did. I didn't know about you. I wish you would have told us; things could have been different. John that's mindless construction talk and more kidding than anything. That doesn't make it right or reflect the way I feel about you. I want to say that I'm sorry you felt that way and, I guess, I understand why."

Mary, John's mother, offered her account and apology as well. She said that his father had a suitcase in the car and asked if he could come if there were room. She said that his father wanted to be a part of the most important day in his life. It was all too much for John; he was having trouble processing everything. In the end, he agreed with no good reason to object.

Adam could see the powwow breaking up and made his way to his handsome hunk. He put his arm around John's shoulder and smiled at him and John smiled back. Ron went to retrieve his suitcase from the car so Adam excused himself to escort Mary to the airplane.

When his father returned, John accompanied him in the direction of the King Air. When it became obvious which plane they were going to board, he stopped in his tracks.

"Is that the airplane?" Ron asked in amazement.

"Yeah, it's a King Air by Beachcraft. Pretty nice huh?"

"Nice? It's...it's...John I don't know what to say. It's magnificent. My God, how much does something like that cost?"

"We paid a little under two mil," John said proudly. "We own it free and clear."

Ron looked at his son astonished then returned his gaze to the King Air. He couldn't believe his kid owned an airplane, not to mention one costing two mil! He was overcome with emotion. He was beaming with pride and the grin on his face was enough to win a thousand hearts. At that moment, he was the proudest parent on Earth. He wondered what else he missed in his son's life and felt a pang of guilt. He put his arm around John then they crossed the tarmac to board the plane.

Inside, John retracted the stairs then sealed the door. He placed his parent's suitcases in the cargo area. He re-configured a seating area so his father had adequate legroom then told everyone to buckle-up. As he made his way to the cockpit, Jim gave him a wink and John smiled back; things were looking up.

Adam went through the pilot checklist then fired up the engines and they began to taxi toward the active runway.

John closed the door to the cockpit and sat down next to his boy with a sigh.

Adam looked at him with affection and smiled; he stroked John's thigh then said, "Next stop Vermont.”

To be continued...

Posted: 05/06/11