Friends and Family Series
Jarv Trilogy
Jarv & Scott
By:
Ron Robbins
(© 2011 by the author)
Editor:
Frank Perry
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's
consent. Comments are appreciated at...
Chapter 1
Dear Justin,
Here it is Labor Day already, where does the time go? It's hard to believe three months have passed since we relocated to Atlanta. Sorry I've been remiss in writing before now.
Our time has been taken up with our careers and the normal problems one experiences when settling into a new location. It's been hectic for both of us. Overall, I must confess, it feels wonderful being married to Scott. He is a delightful person be to around; always cheerful and with an even disposition. Those are some of the qualities, among others, that I love about him. This year has been the happiest of my life.
Scott is ecstatic with the resident program at Emory. He doesn't have the pressure that he had at Bellevue. He keeps normal working hours and is home most evenings for dinner. We've become very domesticated and share the chores as we did growing up. I've cut back on my work load as well. Believe it or not, we have the unheard of luxury of having every other weekend off. However, we both have to keep our noses stuck in textbooks on the weekends. In retrospect, it's like our old high school days when we studied together. I'm enrolled in an accelerated MBA program at Georgia Tech.
Now that we both have more sensible working hours, we have more free time on our hands to do the things that married couples do. Scott wants to buy a house in the burgs within a reasonable commuting distance to midtown Atlanta. Our accountant has been pushing us to invest in a house for tax purposes. He said the property values appreciate rapidly in the Atlanta area and it would be wise to make the investment even if we decide to relocate in three years. We looked at some great homes in our search, but nothing that turns us on. Scott wants a house with a minimum of four bedrooms on a large wooded parcel, with enough room to build a swimming pool and a tennis court. My only requirement is that it's suitable for entertaining.
Most of the places we've looked at are nice, but not on target. Fortunately, our real estate agent finally understands exactly what we want and is not wasting our time showing us places that don't fit our needs. I'm convinced something will turn up in the future.
I didn't take that job with Young and Rubicon, after all. I went with Todd Darlington, at Carnabee, Carter & Darlington, instead. They're one of the more progressive agencies in town. The firm is a full service agency and I'm working directly with Todd Darlington, my old friend from New York. He is a prince to work for and a very creative guy. I've learned a lot since becoming his assistant. The work is challenging and Todd had introduced me to some high-level movers and shakers. Not shabby at all, let me quickly add, however, I still plan to stick to my goal to open my own agency within five years.
I'm anxious to hear about you and Glen. Scott and I would like you to join us for our anniversary this year. You guys mean a lot to us and we want to see you again. Think about it and let me know.
Love,
Jarv
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Dear Jarv,
I must apologize for not writing you sooner. Everything has been pure hell around here for the last three months.
Glen and I will be happy to join you to celebrate your first anniversary. We can only make it for a long weekend, if that is okay with you. We have missed you both and are anxious to see you again. You two will always remain our closest and dearest friends.
Glen and I have a horrendous travel schedule for the final quarter of this year. We will be traveling with the executive VP calling on the family's far flung empire. We both have to prepare a report for the board of directors by mid-January. The trip is really one long meeting after another. I shouldn't really complain; it's a great opportunity to meet all the Marketing Directors in my father-in-law's firms. The best part is being able to be with my beloved every night. I'm now Director of Corporate Marketing for the Lee Companies. I report directly to my father-in-law.
So much has happened that I don't know where to begin. Glen and I became a couple after we graduated in May. Of course, neither of us came out to our families. We continued with the same living arrangement as we had in college. But, that's another story.
Glen joined the family firm, as expected, and I took that job with International Process Chemicals, Ltd., headquartered out of Richmond. I was being fast tracked into management and ended up traveling all over South America with my boss. I learned a lot from him, but the job itself was nothing more than being a glorified translator. At least I had the opportunity to use my foreign language skills and learn how to write progress reports. It would have been fine, except Glen was in Richmond.
I'm absolutely crazy in love with Glen. He is the most wonderful lover in the world and I missed him terribly. Naturally, we both hated the fact that we couldn't be together and our heavy travel schedule was rough on newlyweds. We were lucky to see each other four days out of the month. Those separations almost caused the death of Glen.
You know how insecure he was even before we started dating. Well, he completely fell apart when I was away. He couldn't sleep, stopped eating, and became a walking zombie. Of course I knew nothing about this. When we spoke on the phone, he sounded his own cheerful self, but he was putting on a front for my benefit. Glen flew out to Brazil for our first visit in months. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him. He looked terrible. He had lost twenty pounds, and his face was drawn with dark circles under his eyes. I was scared and was about to take him to the hospital. I questioned him about this, but you know Glen, he shrugged it off and blamed it on overwork and stress.
I didn't push it then, he was there on vacation. By the time he was ready to return to Richmond, he looked and acted like the old Glen. He even gained back seven pounds. Our last night together was a downer. Glen broke down and cried. He admitted that he couldn't adjust to our being separated any longer. He told me he was going to quit his job and join me in Brazil. I was really surprised, this was a side of Glen I had never seen before. He always acted rock steady and in control. He cried for a long time before he finally drifted off to sleep. I couldn't fall asleep after that; here was the man I loved falling apart. I decided right then, that I would quit my job and return with him to Virginia. You remember how hard it was for me to break that protective shell of his to begin with. Only trouble was the shell only opened enough to allow me to enter and then closed like a steel trap. That is the way it is with him.
Secretly, I was pleased he felt that way because I missed him so much. I was still holding him in my arms when the sun rose the next morning every minute was precious with Glen. He didn't wake up until seven o'clock that morning. When he did, he acted as if nothing had happened the previous night. Not a word about quitting his job, or joining me in Brazil. He did apologize for the way he acted the night before and assured me that everything would work out when our training programs were over. He was happy when I told him that I was ready to quit this job immediately if he really wanted me back home. That he was more important to me than any job.
Our tight schedules prevented us from meeting again for the next three weeks. Glen was not happy with this at all. I detected a change in him when we spoke over the phone. His mood swings were obvious. He was in a depressed mood one minute and was up the next, then in tears again. He again said he could not bear the loneliness of our being separated. This time I was really frightened, enough so that I called his father. At this point my only concern was for Glen. Mr. Lee acted very calmly over the phone and assured me that Glen was fine. Just a little overworked and he thanked me for my concern.
I became panicky when I did not receive a call from him for three nights in a row. This time I called his father. His secretary reluctantly transferred my call to his father.
His dad admitted that Glen was ill and has been in the hospital for observation for the past two weeks. His specialists, could not bring his chemical imbalance under control and they were concerned that Glen was not responding the way he should. He had now lost a total of forty pounds and was unable to keep any food on his stomach. Of course I knew nothing of this and Glen never told me that he was calling me from the hospital. Mr. Lee said that Glen had asked him not to let me know, because I would worry about him.
Everything fell into place. It explained why Glen sounded despondent and didn't make sense when we spoke over the phone. That's when I exploded. Unfortunately I took my anger out on Mr. Lee for not leveling with me. Glen's dad was smarter than I thought. He must have realized at that moment what Glen and I meant to each other. From that point on his attitude changed. He became more solicitous and calmed me down.
He asked me if I would come back and be with Glen until he recovered. He said he loved his son more than anything in this world and was afraid Glen wouldn't make it. I told Mr. Lee that I would be on the next flight to Richmond. He thanked me and told me not to worry about my job. The President of I.P.C. was a good friend of his and he would handle everything. I made reservations for the next flight to Richmond and called my boss from the airport before boarding my flight.
I was not prepared for what I found when I walked into Glen's room. He was in a suite in the out-patient hotel that was part of the hospital complex. Thank God he was sleeping when I arrived, because I lost it. I cried for some time. Glen looked like he was in death's grip. He had lost fifty pounds, his face was drawn, his eyes were sunken and he his skin lacked any color. He was unshaven, and his hair and nails were long and unkempt. I couldn't believe the change in him in such a short time. I managed to reach the nurse who was in charge of his case and asked a lot of questions. He said that the doctor would have to answer some of my questions the following day, but the family had given me permission to stay and take care of him. I could order anything I wanted for Glen. He said he would be in to see Glen on his rounds in two hours.
My next call was to the beauty shop in the hotel to take care of Glen right away.
I sat down next to Glen on the bed and took him in my arms and held him close to me and kissed him. I keep softly calling his name until he opened his eyes. He smiled and put his hands to my face to make sure I was real. I kissed him on the lips as the tears ran down our cheeks. I told him that a beautician would be up in a few minutes to make him beautiful again.
While the beautician did his job, I showered and unpacked and changed into a leisure suit. By the time I walked back into the bedroom Glen was alone again and looked one hundred percent better. I propped up the pillows and crawled into bed next to him and wrapped my arms around him. He began talking and asked me a million questions.
When I told him I was never going to leave him again, he began to cry again and continued for what seemed like an hour. Finally, he fell asleep in my arms and slept for two hours. The nurse dropped by and took his vitals. He smiled and told me that Glen did not need tranquilizers anymore. It took his doctors two weeks to balance his chemical level. I never left his side for the entire time.
After the second week, he was stabilized and well enough to be moved. His dad suggested that we spend the time at his villa in St Thomas. We did, and a month later Glen had regained his strength and put on twenty-five pounds. His dad flew in to spend a week with us. Mr. Lee was delighted with Glen's recovery and we had a great time together. Glen told his dad the truth about our relationship. His dad shocked the hell out of both of us when he told us he knew we were lovers. Mr. Lee offered me a job with his firm, which I accepted. I was pushed into the same management training program that Glen was in. Mr. Lee's only request was that we conduct ourselves as gentlemen and keep our orientation confidential. He welcomed me into the family and was happy he had his son back again.
Here is the clincher, Jarv; he handed us each a set of gold keys and told us this was our wedding present from him and his wife. He gave us the name of the law firm in Richmond with instructions to contact them on our return. On the night of his departure, we had a lovely dinner and drove him to the airport. He hugged us both and boarded his chartered jet back home.
Our wedding present was a three-bedroom townhouse in the most exclusive upscale neighborhood in Richmond. Parked in the garage were two brand-new BMW's. One was a large four door sedan, and the other was a bright red convertible. The house was completely furnished including a smattering of priceless antiques that his mother handpicked for the townhouse. You have to see this place to believe it. Everything is so beautiful. Glen said the antique furnishings were worth more than the house and the cars combined. I can't believe this is happening to me. Glen smiled and took it all in stride and was back to his cheerful, lovable self. God, I love that guy.
Glen is the most lovable person and a real sweetheart. In return, the Lee's got a handsome intelligent son-in-law, ha, ha. I still get a chill when I realize I could have lost my baby. I'm making darn sure that will never happen again; I watch him like a hawk.
I was on the verge of calling you so many times during that stressful period, but it wasn't something I could talk about over the telephone.
I'm sorry that I've dwelled so long on my problems, but you are the only person I can share this with. Anyway, I thought you would like to know the pure hell Glen has been through since we last saw you in May.
Please write and let me know how you and Scott are doing.
Love,
Justin.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Jarv shook his head, folded the letter and laid it on the desk for Scott to read. He called the number Justin had given him and left a message with his answering service.
He began reviewing his list of things he would need for the two guests Scott had invited for dinner. They were due at six. He had already precooked the Boeuf Bourguignon for the main course, the Coquilles St. Jacques for the appetizer, and the Lemon Strawberry Meringue desert. All he needed to complete the meal was fresh green beans, boiled potatoes and French bread. Scott was going to pick up the white wine for the Coquilles, and the red wine and the French bread on his way home from the hospital.
He placed a bouquet of yellow roses on the coffee table in the living room and a floral arrangement on the dining room table. Jarv then set the table for dinner with his Royal Dalton Rose Point China and Scott's mother's sterling flatware and matching candelabra. The antique Hepplewhite mahogany dining table with eight chairs was their first major purchase. The round table could be expanded with one or two, two foot leaves to accommodate up to ten people. Jarv set it as a round table for the night. He used his linen place mats instead of a table cloth, to show the beautiful Mahogany surface. Since he would be serving each plate from the sideboard, he wasn't worried about marring the table surface.
After setting the table, Jarv prepared the vegetables and set out the serving dishes. He had just finished setting the wine glasses on the serving tray when Scott arrived.
"Everything looks wonderful, as always, sweetheart," Scott said as he kissed Jarv, "including you."
Jarv smiled, "Why do you always put me down, you gorgeous hunk?"
"Pip and Grant will be here at six. Anything special you want me to do before I change?"
"Everything's under control, I'll uncork the red wine. You're the bartender tonight, sweetheart. By the way, there's a letter on my desk from Justin. I've left a message on his answering machine."
"God, I'm glad I married an organized person."
Jarv made one final check of his list, took out the butter and prepared a tray of hors d'oeuvres. He carried them into the living room and set out the napkins."
"Poor Glen," Scott said as he walked in the living room; "he does have a problem. Justin better keep a close eye on him. That chemical imbalance he's experiencing can be tricky to keep under control. So many psychological factors could throw his system off. I'll talk to Pip about it when he gets here."
"I spoke to Todd today about Grant Westerville. He said they are loaded and that Grant has turned out to be a dynamo in the firm. It wouldn't hurt to cultivate them. Early on, Grant was a loose cannon and into the drug scene, until Pip took him in-hand and weaned him off the drugs. Now he's making up for lost time, Todd said. They say the Westervilles own half of Peru and are big in petrochemicals and Agra-chemicals. This should be an interesting evening. Don't forget, handsome, Todd and Gil will be here for dinner tomorrow evening. Have you had time to check your schedule to see what weekend you will be available to spend the weekend at Todd's country home? Todd has been asking for some time now. I hate to keep putting him off."
"Yes, dear; I'm free next weekend," Scott said. "Any more from that hotshot real estate agent we hired?"
"No; if you're not happy with that guy we should find another agent."
"I think we've given him enough time. This guy is concentrating on homes inside the perimeter and doesn't really want to spend the time looking at other places."
The house telephone interrupted them. "That was security; Pip and Grant have arrived," Scott said. "I've transferred the telephone over to the service."
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Scott and Jarv were cleaning up the kitchen after their guests left. "That was a pleasant dinner, as usual, Jarv. I know Pip and Grant had a good time; it was a nice relaxing evening."
"Thank you for being a great host, Scott. Your mother's silver tableware really set off the table. I'm really pleased with the way everything looked. Pip and Grant make an interesting couple. It's nice to have a conversation with two informed people for a change. You were right about Grant; he has a quick mind and is well informed about what's going on in this town. He even volunteered to steer some business my way when I'm ready. I think we should accept their invitation to fly to Peru with them on their next trip."
"Why not, it certainly would further your career and it should be a fun trip. I think it's good to cultivate a nice couple like that. It's hard to believe that they have their own jet; we're talking serious dollars for that Queen Air they own."
"Pip is a hard one to figure," Scott said. "He never speaks about his private life. I learned from Grant that the two families are in business together. You would never suspect them as gay; they act so straight arrow."
"So do we, Scott. They are gay, believe me, baby. While you and Pip were engrossed with that case study of yours, I asked Grant if he and Pip were a couple. He told me they were married in Hawaii over a year ago and that his dad presented them with them with that Queen Air as a wedding present."
"Way to go," Scott said. "I'm looking forward to meeting your boss, the dashing Todd Darlington. Do you know anything about the guy he's bringing with him?"
"Absolutely nothing, Todd asked if he could bring along a guest. He's said he was a close friend and he would feel uncomfortable leaving him home alone. All I know is that he is the District Attorney for an area north of Atlanta."
"That's fine with me, Jarv."
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
"Another successful dinner party, baby." Scott said. “Everything went off without a hitch. There's another jewel you can add to your crown, sweetheart."
"Thanks, Scott. I must be doing something right, because Todd asked me to meet him at the office at six o'clock Monday morning."
"It's obvious he likes your work, or he wouldn't have complimented you the way he did. That Gil is quite a guy, I would hate to face him in court. It’s too bad about his wife. According to Todd, she is holding onto life much longer than her doctors thought possible. That is really tough on everyone concerned. She proves that old saying true: 'Where there's life, there's hope.'
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Jarv signed the security ledger when he arrived at his office building on Monday morning. He took the elevator to the executive offices of Carter, Carnabee & Darlington. Todd was already at work in his office. Jarv tapped on the open door.
"Good morning, Jarv, please come in. I see you're ahead of schedule, which is one of the things I like about you, you're always prompt. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and pull up a chair," Todd said.
"I wanted to thank you for a delightful evening; Gil and I really enjoyed ourselves. This meeting is to let you know how pleased I am with your outstanding performance on the key accounts I turned over to you, but also for your work on the GM account. Your billings are up on every account you've taken over and our clients are pleased with you. I know you've spent a lot of time coming up with fresh new concepts for these accounts and the results are there for everyone to see. I'm amazed that you can do all that and still maintain a four-point average at Georgia Tech. The reason I happen to know is because I just approved the semi-annual invoice from Tech. You've proven yourself to me and I feel it's time to talk to you about your future."
"Where do you see yourself in five years, Jarv? What are your aspirations?"
"I'm already into the third year of my ten-year plan, Todd. You've worked with me for almost a year now and you know what I'm worth to this firm. The only reason I'm staying with this company is because of you. You have the best creative mind in the business. I've learned a lot since we've been working together. I intend to learn a lot more in the next two years."
"Todd, I've always been open and above board with you from the beginning. What I told you in our first meeting has not changed. Let me lay it out for you from my perspective. There is not a week that goes by that I don't get a call from some recruiter wanting to know if I want to look at other opportunities. I've had dinner with a few VPs from the big three agencies in town. Some are offering me tantalizing opportunities with nice incentive packages and sign-on bonuses. They sure know how to paint a rosy picture. Yet, as tempting as their offers are, I will never leave you to work for a competitor. When I do leave it will be to start my own firm."
"Are you implying that you will be leaving me after two years, Jarv?"
"When the conditions are right, I'm out of here. The only thing that would hold me back is the financing. I need to make a lot of money, Todd, enough to afford the lifestyle I want. I want the whole ball of wax, Todd. The estate in the subs, the penthouse in town and a Caribbean villa with my sailboat tied up to the dock. That's what I want and that is exactly what I intend to have. My dad died in his early thirties before he could enjoy the fruits of his labors. I expect to be a millionaire before I reach thirty. In two years I plan to start a family and I intend to be a full time parent to my children. I've been blessed with a creative mind; I have the drive needed to accomplish my objectives. I'm willing to work hard to get what I want. Unfortunately, that will not be possible in this firm."
"Thanks to you, I will have my MBA shortly, in addition to my proficiency in the Spanish language. You've made a wise investment in me, Todd. I've have already doubled the billings on the accounts I've taken over from you. This firm has made a nice profit on me so far. Don't you think your competitors don't know this? The last offer from the Omni group was $150,000 base salary with a bonus of $60,000, for every million dollars of new business I bill, plus all the perks of stock options etc., etc. That's more than double the salary I'm making here. I'm intending to push myself as hard as I can to expand my knowledge and to make money. In return, you are going to be my mentor and teach me everything you know about this business, but this company has got to come up with a better package that I'm currently making."
"Can you relocate to New York?" Todd asked.
"Again, that's going to depend on the position and the money. As long as I can commute to Atlanta on the weekends, but I cannot move from Atlanta for at least two years."
"What's holding you in Atlanta, if you don't mind me asking?"
Jarv smiled, "My spouse for one, and my MBA for another."
Todd smiled and nodded his head, "Are you willing to take on heavy overnight travel?"
"That's fine, I have no problem with that," Jarv smiled and said, "I think Scott will go along with that."
Todd raised his eyebrows, "How long have you and Scott been lovers?"
"For more than two years now. Scott is my stepbrother and my spouse. He is the reason I can't leave Atlanta. Scott has no objection to relocating after he graduates from Emory. That's another reason I need to earn some big bucks. I want to set him up in his own practice after he finishes up at Emory and that takes big bucks."
"I had the feeling you two were lovers," Todd said. "But then I thought, no you couldn't be; it was my imagination playing tricks on me. You were just brothers and nothing more." Todd smiled, "You can't beat that cover. Gil thought I was crazy when I told him you two were more than brothers."
"Scott thinks Gil is a great guy, and they get along like two peas in a pod."
"Gil said that Scott is looking for a home in the burgs, but I told him that unless you are willing to spend $500-thousand, or more, you should stay where you are for now. At least until Scott finishes up his specialty program. You and Scott are welcome to spend the weekend with me anytime you like. I can use the company."
"Great, Scott and I love the water, and he can putter around in your garden."
"Look, Jarv, I want to discuss my plans for your future. If you continue to grow as you have, I'm going to offer you a partnership in the New York division. In the beginning, you will be working with me and Steve. I plan to promote you to VP as soon as you learn the ropes. As soon as you have a good handle on the Chevy account, it's yours. The job is going to require a lot of travel. You'll be working with high-level corporate executives out of New York and visiting their operating plants scattered all over the country, as well."
"The only way I can keep you, and offer you the package you're looking for, is for me to transfer you to New York. I have complete control there. My partners are short sighted, they would never go for the package Omni offered you. I don't want to lose you and I feel you are worth every penny they're offering. Any new account you bring into the agency, you will receive a commission, in addition to a percentage of the gross profits of the New York Division. Also, you will be allowed total creative control on any new account you bring in, unless you elect to turn it over to a staff AE. If you leave us you will still receive your commission on your accounts. Naturally, you'll receive all the incentives: unlimited expense account, stock options and the use of the company time-share villa in the Caribbean. I wish you would talk this over with Scott and let me know your answer next week."
"It's a great opportunity, Todd. Scott will go along with anything I want. But, I plan to discuss it with him tonight."
"Of course, I'll even help you land any new accounts. Are you and Scott going to be free this weekend?"
"As far as I know right now, we're open." Jarv smiled, "One more question, is the New York division owned by you or the corporation?"
"It's owned by the corporation, but I have P&L responsibility."
"I enjoy working with you, Todd. It's been an education just to observe you at meetings. You have an extraordinary talent and you have helped me a lot. I'm flattered that you've taken a genuine interest in my career. You're a decent person and I trust you. Please don't take this the wrong way, but you remind me so much of my dad. He was a wonderful guy and I still miss him. Let me say that you'll never have anything to fear from me, Todd. I will always be up front with you. I will have my answer by Wednesday."
"Thanks for the compliment, Jarv. I felt from the day you walked into my office that we would work well together. We're going to blow them all out of the water, mark my words."
Jarv smiled as he stood and extended his hand and took Todd's in both of his. "You and I will be partners one day, Todd. Burn that into your memory." Todd stared at Jarv without saying a word. Jarv released his hand and smiled and left.
Todd shook his head and thought to himself, 'There is one remarkable young man and I believe him. I could see that in his eyes.' Todd smiled. 'Yes sir, I admire that young man.'
Later that evening when Todd and Gil were making out on the sofa, he related his conversation with Jarv. "I had a meeting with Jarv this morning to congratulate him on his performance and to discuss his future with the company, and he ends up telling me what his plans are for our future. I'm telling you this guy has a pair of balls. The marvelous thing about Jarv is his self confidence. He has no doubts about his abilities. This twenty-three year old talented genius knows where he will be ten years from now. The scary thing is I have no doubt at all that he'll do exactly as he says. I know we can never hold on to him."
"Why are you letting this bother you, baby. You have more money than you'll ever need. Anyway, didn't you say you were going to retire and let the young bucks, like Jarv, go for the gold? What is really behind your interest in Jarv? Do I have anything to worry about, Todd?"
"Absolutely not, sweetheart. Granted, he is one handsome young man, but I'm not attract to him in that way. Jarv is a carbon copy of me when I was his age. I feel the same way toward Jarv as I do for your sons. If I had a son I would want him to be just like Jarv. He sees me as a father figure anyway. I thought I was burned-out and tired of the rat race, but he makes me feel young again. He gets my creative juices flowing again. Do you think it's wrong to want to latch onto his rising star? Does any of this make sense to you, Gil, or is this a case of me trying to be young again?
"I think Jarv is a personable young man; he's intelligent, creative, dynamic and a workaholic, just like you. Maybe subconsciously, Jarv is the son you never had. It's obvious he thinks very highly of you. Look, baby, if Jarv is everything you say he is, be his mentor and go for it. I think you could become great partners. It's a good match. If you can keep him on track all the better. Jarv appears to be a remarkable man. He acts and thinks like a man twice his age."
"I'm glad I married a mature man like you," Todd said, "You always manage to put things in prospective for me."
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Jarv was on cloud nine after his meeting with Todd. He called Scott at Emory Medical, "Doctor Purdey, are you free for dinner tonight? I wanted to be sure before I made reservations for us at The Ritz Carlton."
"I can rearrange my schedule; you know I wouldn't miss a free meal, not on my salary. It must be good news, you sound excited."
"I think it is, but a lot is going to depend on what you have to say. I can't wait to tell you. See you around four-thirty. We have to stop at the market on the way home."
Jarv worked through the lunch hour and left the office around two. He checked with his answering service. He was relieved to hear that Justin had returned his call. Fortunately, he left his office number. Jarv dialed the number and spoke to Justin's secretary. He was in a meeting that would be over by three o'clock at the latest. Jarv returned the other six calls and headed for the bathroom to take a quick shower. He was blow-drying his hair when the phone rang. It was Justin on the line.
"Hi, baby," Jarv said. "You don't love me anymore?"
Justin laughed, I'll always love you, beautiful. Sorry I didn't return your call sooner, but Glen and I just returned from St. Thomas. We've been busting our humps for the last two months and we needed some R&R; what's up, Jarv?"
"A lot; first of all, go ahead and make those reservations for New Year's Eve. Is our favorite person back to normal again?"
"Yes, thank God."
"Both Scott and I were in a state of shock when we read your letter. Scott wanted to talk to you about it, but he is still at the hospital. Maybe he can get you at the office during the day, is that okay with you?"
"That's fine."
"I may be up in your neck of the woods in a couple of weeks if everything goes as planned. My Boss wants me to relocate to New York in two years. For the present, I'll be commuting between Atlanta and New York until we make the move. My only concern is Scott; it may put a strain on our love life. But, we've met some nice gay couples in Atlanta, and I'm hoping Scott can lean on them if he gets too lonely."
"Once I become established up there, I would like to get together and talk about the possibility of doing some business with the Lee organization. It would give me the chance to see you and Glen more often, I really miss you guys."
"Look, I'm sure Glen would be amenable to using your advertising agency. In fact, your timing couldn't be better. My department will be putting a bid package together in a couple of months. Tell you what, if you get your butt up here and visit us, I just might let you read the rough draft I've been slaving over. I'm sure Glen will be happy to talk to his daddy about you."
"You're a sweetheart; thanks, Justin. Do you and Glen plan to attend the Princeton Alumni get together next year?"
"We have already made our reservations; I hope you and Scott can make it."
"I'll owe you big time," Jarv said. "If everything goes as planned, I should be able to make it in two weeks; can you put me up for the night?"
"Just let me know the day and flight time, and we'll pick you up at the airport."
"Thanks, Justin."
Jarv rubbed the oil on his skin and headed for the dressing room.
Jarv jumped, when he saw Scott, "You scared me; I didn't expect you home so early."
"It's ten after four, baby. Come to papa, you beautiful creature." Scott took him in his arms and kissed him tenderly, forcing his tongue in his mouth. He ran his hands slowly up and down Jarv's soft skin. He kissed him on the ears and down his neck. He could feel Jarv's erection pressing against him. "God, I love you, what time did you make the reservations for?"
"Six-thirty," Jarv answered.
"Good, we have plenty of time to make love."
Jarv undressed Scott and led him over to the bed where they made love.
"If only you arrange to meet me every night this way." Scott said. "What did Todd have to say this morning?"
Jarv sat up and faced Scott as he told him about Todd's offer. Scott listened without comment until Jarv had finished.
"I'm happy for you, Jarv; this is what you've been hoping for. I can see why you were so excited this morning. This may sound selfish, but I hate the thought of your being gone so many nights a week. I like holding you in my arms every night. I'm going to miss that. New York would be as good as anyplace else to establish my practice. My next question is what happens if you're not happy with the new job? It may sound great right now, but a lot can change in a few years. Look, Jarv, I'm not happy with the idea of you being gone so much of the time. Yet, I'm not going to stand in your way if this is what you want."
"Thanks, Scott, I was on cloud nine all morning after speaking to Todd, but now it's dawning on me what I have to give up. I'm torn between my love for you and my desire to get on with my career. Granted, I have my own selfish reasons as well, but I want more out of life than my parents have. I want to enjoy the same life style that Grant and Todd have. Is that so wrong? I also need your support and your love to see me through these rough times. Todd is giving me the opportunity to move up the ladder and to make a good living. I will have an unlimited expense account, so that means you can fly to New York as often as you like. We are going to be wealthy one day, my love, and we'll have everything while we are still young enough to enjoy it."
"You make it sound wonderful, but remember we can live very comfortably on what we will both earn now without you having to kill yourself," Scott said.
"That's true, but I'll never know how far I can go, if I don't try, Scott; I must try."
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
To be continued...
Posted: 04/06/12