Friends and Family Series
Jarv Trilogy

Jarv & Todd

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 2

Saturday Morning - The Moorings

Todd was groggy when the alarm clock went off a six a.m. The cold shower woke him up really fast. He dressed and headed down to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. The buzzer sounded for the front gate. Todd glanced at the TV monitor and saw it was Gil. He hit the switch to open the gate.

Todd started frying the Canadian bacon and the cold slices of grits on the grill. He beat the eggs and poured them on the grill. He popped the English muffins into the toaster.

"Good morning," Gil said.

"Good morning to you, the eggs are about ready." Todd filled the plates and served them.”

He sat down blessed himself and offered grace.

"You're a good cook," Gil said. "There is just no end to your talents, is there? Speaking of talent, I think you are a fine artist. Janet is thrilled with her portrait. We all thank you so much. You are not only a great campaign manager, but you're a talented artist as well. We all feel that you are one of the family. I'm going to miss you when you leave."

"I'll be here on the weekends; it's not like I'm leaving for good. I've grown close to you and the family. You and the boys are welcome to use this place any time you like."

"That reminds me, here is a spare gate opener. I've written down the code to the alarm system. The security pass word is Janet if you have any trouble with the security people. I'd appreciate it if you'd keep an eye on the place when I'm out of town. I trust my staff, yet it's a good for them to know that someone is checking up on the place. I've given your name and telephone number to my security people in case of an emergency."

"I'll be happy to keep an eye on the place for you."

Todd cleared the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher. The housekeeper arrived with two bundles of groceries as Todd and Gil left to play tennis.

Todd gave up after an hour; he was not playing well at all and they decided to call it quits.

They walked over and sat by the pool to cool down. "What wrong, Todd?"

"It's a long story and I'm also afraid it's something that could affect our friendship if you knew," Todd said.

"Trust me," Gil said. "I thought we were friends."

"It has to do with George Randolph," Todd said. "I have avoided mentioning him because I know you don't like him."

"You're right; I can't stand the guy and never could. I don't care for his ethics. As far as I'm concerned, he's a snake in the grass. I don't understand why you keep him as a friend, but that's your business."

"George is more than a friend, he's my lover, and has been for some time."

"You're kidding.

"No, it's true," Todd said. "I'm gay and George is bisexual."

"This is quite a surprise," Gil said. "Do you feel like talking about it?"

"I don't mind, maybe it will help you to understand me a little better. I met George ten years ago in New York when I started working with the Young & Rubicon Agency. It was my first job out of college. I was hired as a copy writer in the creative department. George was an attorney in the legal department. It was company policy to run your copy by the legal eagles before we could submit it for release. George was responsible for clearing my copy through his department.

"Whether you care to admit it, or not, George is an attractive guy. The gals in my department were gaga over him. They fought to see who would be the lucky one to deliver my copy to him. At the time, I thought he was sexy myself. Anyway, that was before I met my true love. I was new to New York City, and new to the gay scene. I had come to terms with my sexuality during my junior year in college. It took me quite a while to adjust to my new way of life. New York is the place to be if you've just come out.

"I, like everyone else at the time, was terrified about getting AIDS and was overly cautious with anyone I had sex with. I was from the old school and wanted to get to know the person before I hopped into bed with him. I was also looking for a mate. A friend told me that I was trying too hard. He suggested that I should relax and enjoy the chase. He was right, as it turned out. A year later, I fell in love and married James, the most wonderful person I ever knew."

"What happened to James?"

"It's a long sad story, Gil, are you sure you want to hear my sad tale?"

"Sure, I've got nothing else scheduled today."

"Y&R sponsored a work-study program for all their creative people who were interested in furthering their art appreciation. We attended lectures sponsored by Y&R that were given every two weeks. The lectures dealt with a variety of art related subjects. Well-known artists would address the group and discuss their work. It was a great series and I had the opportunity to meet some extremely talented and creative people. One of the features of this particular program, was to be a series of lectures to be held on the Island of Majorca in Spain the following May. Again, that phase of the program was to be given by some commercial artists best known in Europe. The timing suited me just fine, since I needed the time to save for the trip. The company was paying for the seminar itself, but not for travel, food or lodging expenses. They did work out a special discount package which was quite a bargain. This was to be my first trip abroad and I looked forward to the trip.

"The first two days in Majorca were a series of structured lectures that dealt with the creative process in modern day commercial art. The next day we were given a bus tour of the island. After that, we were on our own, so to speak. Each participant was given a simple assignment to be critiqued on the last day of our trip. Majorca is an artist's dream, it is absolutely beautiful. I had selected Port Crystal for my assignment. I found a wonderful spot overlooking the harbor. Luckily, I had planned to spend the rest of my time there. It wasn't crowded and local people were polite and friendly. I spent the entire day painting and took a break when I got tired of sitting. I would take my sketch pad and find some interesting things to draw.

"On my second day, this attractive American, about my age, approached me and struck up a conversation. He said he noticed me painting there the previous day and was curious about my work. We chatted for several hours while I painted that morning. Then he left saying he had an errand to run, but would be back later. He returned at noon with a lunch basket. It was a feast fit for a king. We spent the rest of the day together and ended up having dinner at one of the local restaurants. It was a pleasant evening and we parted several hours later. He was not as forthcoming about himself as most Americans are. James was more interested in learning all about me. He was well educated and absolutely charming. Naturally I wanted to know more about him, so I probed until he finally answered my questions. He told me he was from New York and vacationing in Spain with his parents. His folks were staying with friends in Madrid for another two weeks. He didn't care much for the partying and social activities his parents enjoyed so much. So he came to Puerto de Crystal to spend his vacation in peace and quiet.

"When we parted, James asked if he could spend the next day with me again. Naturally, I was happy to have the company. He was a nice, down to earth guy and interesting to talk to. James was quiet and didn't feel he had to talk all the time. He would lie next to me on his air mattress and read most of the time. Or, watch me paint. We broke for lunch and this time found a charming little restaurant nearby. We walked around the town after lunch and returned to my spot overlooking the harbor. James asked me to join him for dinner that evening at his home. When I asked for directions he pointed to the large villa that I had been painting for the last two days.

"James smiled and told me it was only a five minute walk from my hotel. I was surprised. I found out later that he had been watching me from his patio that first day and decided to see what I was all about."

"We spent the next two days together until it was time for me to return to Majorca for my last two days of vacation. By that time I had a crush on James. Our last evening together was very romantic. It was a beautiful evening, a full moon, perfect weather and the view from his patio was breathtaking. After a romantic candlelight dinner on his patio we sat and talked. He wanted my address and telephone number in New York so we could get together when he returned home. I felt that I had to tell James the truth about myself, and how much I cared for him.

"James confessed that he felt the same way about me. That night was the beginning of our life together. He was the most wonderful person and we fell deeply in love. It was a idyllic marriage for the first year. We were both young and had the world at our feet. James was incredibly handsome and the most delightful person to be with. He had one serious problem, no, make that two problems. He was wealthy and easily influenced by the fast jet-setting idle rich crowd he traveled around the world with. James intended to enjoy life before he settled into one of the family businesses. He never had to work, but the sad part was the he was wasting that talented brain living the good life and partying. James could have succeeded at anything he set his mind to, except he never set his mind to anything. He was content reading his books and running the families charitable foundation. He chose his own working hours and took off whenever he wanted. In the beginning it was easy for me to get caught up in that life style. But after a while, I began to see his social set for what they were. They were nothing more than self-indulgent, cruel minded, jaded people who were excessive in their use of alcohol and drugs and sexual partners.

"I knew I had to get away from them and take James with me. I felt they would destroy our marriage and what we had together if I stayed with them. I had seen what had happened to some of the gay couples we met early on. You cannot imagine the quantity and the variety of drugs that were readily available with that group. James and I weren't into drugs, but it was easy to see how one could become addicted. It was not just the drugs, it was the promiscuity, and the boy toys, and bunnies that were always ready to hop in bed with you. You can't believe the number of handsome young men that were available. I thought James was joking when he said, I could have any one I wanted any time I wanted them. It blew my mind; I could not believe people lived that way.

"As I said, I'm from the old school and was a monogamist in our relationship. James was the same. I felt that we could end up the same as his friends if we continued to hang around with that crowd. Plus the fact that I felt uncomfortable being supported by James. After a while, I became frustrated and anxious doing nothing months at a time. This is not what a man does. I wanted to work and make my mark in the world. James was understanding and let me return to the agency on a freelance basis as long as I managed to take off long weekends and vacations. As my career began to blossom, I spent more time on the job. The long weekends and the vacations became less and less. The only thing that saved us, on those trips with James, was the times we spent with his parents. They traveled with a different social set. These men and women were movers and shakers in the world and many of the men were successful business men. I felt, if they made it, so could we.

"James could not understand why I needed to prove anything; after all, we were married and he had enough money to take care of me for the rest of our life. James did succeed in changing me. He smoothed the rough edges and taught me how to become a more sophisticated member of high society. He taught me how to select a wardrobe and what attire was acceptable and what was trendy. I learned that taste was the key factor in everything I did, from purchasing my wardrobe to buying furniture. That it's not always the high price tag that determined quality; it was a matter of good taste. He took me on as a special project and spent hours tutoring me. We attended every show, visited every museum and auction around. Not just in the United States, but all over the world. It was nothing to spend a long weekend in Europe to view a special art exhibit in Paris, Rome or London. I can't tell you the number of stately homes we stayed in on our trips throughout Europe.

"Those times with James were the most memorable and wonderful years of my life. Being exposed to all that beauty and luxury rubbed off on me. James was a good teacher. He helped me to appreciate the finer things in life. As I matured, I developed confidence and became comfortable with my new life. Unfortunately, it was that knowledge that became the wedge that drove us apart. I didn't choose the easy life that James and his friends enjoyed. I was more interested in the careers of the businessmen who made the wheels of industry turn. Their views and outlook were more attuned to the real world. My desire to make my mark in the world and to earn my own living became more demanding as the months passed.

"James understood this up to a point, yet he was not willing to give up his way of life. We discovered that we could never come to a reasonable compromise about his traveling. His family and friends were putting too much pressure on him, besides which, James really didn't want to work; he wanted to follow the sun. It broke my heart when we separated because I was still deeply in love with him. James insisted that I stay in the apartment with him, but I couldn't. It was the most difficult day of our lives. It was a tearful and heartbreaking experience and it took all my strength to walk away from him.

"The breakup hit me much harder than I expected. I became so depressed it was affecting my work. That's when I sought professional help. It goes without saying, that I had no desire for sex, or a relationship with another man. I focused my attention on my career and dropped completely out of the gay scene. I found a small studio apartment and devoted my spare time to continuing my education and developing my body. It was during those years I delved into the martial arts. I found it helpful and satisfying. It built up my self-confidence knowing that I could defend myself against any attacker.

"I threw myself into my job and worked my ass off to move up the ladder. It paid off; I was given promotions and larger account responsibilities. As I said, I had met George at Y&R. It was his job to see that the agency wasn't sued, because of any ad copy or misleading claims. Over the years we  became friends. We had lunch on several occasions and shared some inside information that helped us both to move up the ladder. Naturally, in his position, he was privy to a lot more inside information that I could use. George was a likable guy and I had been to his home many times. His wife Sarah and I got along fine and I always enjoyed my visits. George and Sarah had a two-year-old boy with another on the way at that time.

"My last promotion involved heavy traveling. I was out of town most of the time. Being on the road helped a lot. I didn't think of James as much, and the pain became more bearable as time passed. I felt it was time to start dating again. I still had my membership to The Key Club, which was an exclusive gay club that James and I joined when we were married. The membership cost ten thousand per couple to join. Even then, not everyone was accepted. I dressed and headed for the club around ten that Saturday evening. The club had strict dress codes, among other things. Tie and jacket were required.

"I elected to have a drink in the club room. I ran into a couple of guys I had known from the past. The club had a great Jazz quartet playing that night, with an excellent female vocalist. During the break, someone tapped me on the shoulder and asked if he could join me.

"You could imagine my shock at seeing George standing there. I couldn't believe my good fortune. After we finished our drink, George asked me to dance... and that was how it all began. I took him home to my apartment and the rest is history."

"We were lovers until last night."

"Look, Todd, your being gay does not bother me; I'm not homophobic, and it won't affect our friendship. What happen last night that changed your long affair with George?"

Todd related what happened with his trip to Atlanta and what he discovered. He went on to explain George's initial reaction to his purchase of The Moorings and the reasons why he had to get away from Atlanta. He explained the reason for his depression and the reason for his leave of absence with the agency.

"I realized some time ago that I wanted more out of our relationship. My need for a full time relationship became stronger in the past year. I'm not willing to settle for a couple of nights a week and the occasional weekend. George is not to blame for that. He was honest with me from the beginning; I'm the one who's changed. It was unfair of me to expect George to turn his back on his family and marry me. I know he is not willing to give up his wife and kids. I loved George in my own way, and the relationship we had, worked, but it was pointless to continue any longer. I need to get my act together and find a partner. George was great in bed, but I can buy sex. It's time for me to move on. What hurt the most was the way George went about this. He destroyed any respect I had for him when he used my bed to have sex with another man. That was downright stupid, besides everything else. I know George has no intention of mentioning this affair to me. I could have had serious consequences. Suppose this guy is HIV positive. It bothers me knowing that a complete stranger has been roaming around my apartment. It's an invasion of my privacy. What was George thinking?"

"Was he so pressed for money that he couldn't rent a hotel room?" Gil asked.

"I guess he does live a lavish lifestyle. He makes a good salary with Y&R, but with their expensive tastes, my guess is that they are living from paycheck to paycheck. I'm not too concerned about the AIDS thing right now; I've not had sex with George for three months. My concern is, who else has he been dating?"

"So George does not suspect anything yet," Gil said. "How do you think he will react when the old code doesn't work?"

"Knowing George, he'll say nothing. If he can't get in, he'll think something is wrong with the system. He certainly is not going to call me about it. Anyway, there is really no reason for him to be in my apartment if I'm not there."

"Why don't you have the soiled bed sheets gift wrapped and shipped to his home? He'd sure get the message."

Todd chuckled, "For a nice guy, you sure have a mean streak. Come to think of it, it's not a bad idea. But, I could never do that to George; after all, he was my lover for nine years."

"I hope you've learned a lesson from this," Gil said. "You don't have to tell me, but I'm curious as to how you plan to go about finding a mate."

"I was thinking of going back to the Key Club again, or take out a personal ad in one of the gay magazines."

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Don't worry; I plan to be very careful."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Todd. How can you be sure you won't run into some kind of a nut? It's much too risky; please give this some more thought. My advice is to stick with the Key Club at least there you'll know the caliber of men you'll be meeting. Have you thought of contacting your University, I know they have Gay encounter groups; why not try that route first."

"It's a thought; I'll look into it," Todd said.

"Have you ever thought of going back with James?” Gil asked. "You said you were still in love with him."

Todd smiled, "I still am. God, how I wish that were possible. James died of AIDS. His money played an important part in keeping him alive. It did buy him six years. He spent a small fortune on doctors and new medications. Yet he lost the battle in the end. My poor baby was too physically and mentally exhausted to fight the last battle.

"I was so angry with him for waiting so long to tell me about his condition. I would have gone back to him in a heartbeat if I had known. Eventually I did go back to him, and we shared two wonderful years together. I saw more of James in those last two years of his life that I ever did before.

"I was the senior account executive of two major accounts out of New York City at the time. When we got back together again, we lived like any other normal couple. We did the things we both enjoyed — the opera, the theater, and the museums. We spent summers at his beach house in the Hampton's. In the beginning I cut back drastically on work load to the point where I stopped working altogether. It was a splendid time and we truly became lovers in every sense of the word. We were more mature and cherished the hours we spent together. Many were the nights that I held James in my arms while he read aloud. I guess when you know your lover is dying every second is precious. Even our lovemaking was beautiful. I could hold him in my arms for hours at a time and we never needed anyone else, it was heavenly being with him. In the beginning, his parents were apprehensive about my coming back into his life. They thought I would walk out when his condition worsened. Although they never came out and said it, I feel that they blamed me for James's condition. Who knows, they may have been right. It might have turned out differently, although I doubt it. Anyway, I didn't really care what they thought; my conscience was clear. My only concern was James.

"When his father saw how much James' condition improved after our reconciliation, they asked me to take a leave of absence from Y&R and spend all my time with James. My first reaction was to turn him down. I had saved a nice nest egg and I intended to live off that until it ran out. Mr. Stratford made a very convincing argument why I should allow him to give me a monthly allowance and to stay home with James. I knew the Stratford's were well off, but I never knew how wealthy they really were until his dad and I had that talk. My only concern was James, so I accepted his offer. That took a big load off my shoulders. I could always find another job but I still needed my savings to live on until I started working again. James' condition did improve for a time and he began to put on weight and looked healthy again. We were all encouraged with his improved condition. I felt that he was beating the odds.

"Almost one year later, he had a relapse and slipped back to the way he was before. We could see he was losing weight and he was getting weaker. He began spending more time in bed than ever before. I'm glad that I was with him every day. His waking hours were becoming shorter daily. James had round-the-clock nurses by then. I think our love grew even stronger if that were possible. One evening we were all sitting in his den watching TV. I was sitting on the sofa with James cuddled up in my arms. His folks were sitting in the two club chairs. When the show was over James turned off the set and said something I will never forget."

"James said, 'Mother, Dad, I want to set the record straight while I still can. Todd did the right thing when he left me to pursue his career. He has carved his niche in the world and has become a better man because of it. He's made something of his life. I was the one who wasted my life. I love him more today than I ever did before. I've finally learned at the eleventh hour of my life, the true meaning of love and what it means to share your love and your life with your spouse. We both have crammed as much happiness as possible into the time I have left. I'm truly blessed to have the three people I love the most in this world with me now. Take care of each other and try to look upon Todd as your son-in-law. My only regret in this life was not taking Todd's advice. It was always my intention to get back together with Todd, because I never stopped loving him. He has made these last years with me as happy as he could and I am very grateful. I never knew how wonderful life can be when you're sharing your life with your true love. My love for him will never die. I will love him for all eternity.'

"'Now, if you'll excuse me I'm very tired; I think I'll get ready for bed.'

"He got up and kissed his parents. I put my arm around his waist and helped him into his bedroom, and then I went into my bedroom and cried for a good half-hour without stopping.

"As I said, it was a very peaceful time for us; I read to him and shared my life with him. We slept together up until the time he lost control of his bowels. It was not long after that, that James died. I will never forget the night he died. We were lying together in his bed that last night. I laid down the book I was reading and took him in my arms and continued reading to him. That night, I felt him squeeze my hand and I kissed him on the cheek as he closed his eyes to sleep. I read until I finished the page, then closed the book. I realized after I stopped reading that James was not breathing. I kissed him for the last time and called the nurse. She confirmed what I already knew.

"Even though I knew the end was near, I still thought we had some time left. I guess we all think there is hope until that last breath tells us otherwise. The moment he left me, I felt empty; the love of my life was gone, and I missed him. I called his parents and broke the news. His dad asked me to have his nurse take care of James and he would call the funeral home. They would take care of everything from now on. They insisted that I take a cab over to their apartment and stay with them until after the funeral. I took their advice, because I could not bear to watch them remove James' body.

"His parents were very kind to me and we all had a good cry. After his mother went to bed, his dad poured us both a stiff brandy and we sat and talked about the good times we had together. We cried some more and went to bed around one o'clock. I took my sedative and did not awake until noon the next day. We all dressed and drove over to Campbell's Funeral Home to view James' body. The three of us walked over to the casket together. We were pleased with the restoration work they had done with James' face and hands. He looked like he did two years ago, it was amazing. At that point the Stratfords decided to have an open casket service since he looked so well. The cause of death was listed as cancer. The guests were not only the Who's Who of Manhattan, but people came from all over the world. I could not help gaping at some of the important people who came to pay their respects to the family. Some of the old friends James and I knew made appearances as well. Three days later he was laid to rest in the family mausoleum.

"The day after the funeral, the Stratfords and I went to their attorney's office to hear the reading of James' will. I really did not want to attend, but they insisted. I thought it was odd that his attorney had made that point to me at the funeral home. James' attorney was his fraternity brother; they had attended Princeton together. I didn't care for the guy, because he always treated me as an outsider.

"He dispensed with the usual jargon and got to the meat of the will. 'To my family I leave my shares of Stratford Industries. I also have prepared a schedule of the paintings and antique furniture they have loaned me from their private collection. The balance of my estate I leave to my companion and friend, Todd Darlington.'  

"Needless to say I was in a state of shock. I turned to look at James' parents with a shocked look on my face. They nodded their heads and smiled. I was speechless. I sat glued to the chair.

"The Stratfords rose and hugged me and they left the room, saying they would see me back at their apartment when I finished up here. I just nodded my head because I was speechless.

"After they left, Kevin got down to specifics. James had left me his penthouse, the Porsche, his boat, the beach home in the Hamptons, and his villa in St. Thomas. Not to mention the money in his two savings accounts and the contents of our joint safety deposit box. The most shocking gift of all was the trust fund he had turned over to me. I sat there and stared at Kevin until he finished. I lost it all, I couldn't stop the tears. I was embarrassed to show any emotions in front of Kevin, but I couldn't help it. It was too much of a shock. My beautiful soul-mate was gone and he had to make one last gesture to show me how much he truly loved me. It took me quite a while to compose myself again.

"Kevin poured me a glass of water and waited patiently, until I could talk again. He pushed two envelopes over to me. 'The smaller envelope contains your safety deposit keys. The second envelope contains your copy of the Will and your checkbooks and savings-account cards. The accounts have been transferred into your name.' Kevin smiled warmly, 'I can imagine what you are going through right now. It's quite a shock isn't it? James and I have been close friends since prep school and I know all about you. I'll be honest with you, Todd. I advised James to change his will after you walked out on him five years ago. Quite frankly, I thought he was well rid of you at the time. Of course after he told me about your life together and why you left, I began to view you in a different light. It is easy to see why he left you his estate. You must have loved him very much to give up your career to be with him these last years of his life. I couldn't have done what you did for these last months.'

"'I know James died a happy man because of you. The reason I know that is because he talked about you all the time. Our last conversation was three weeks ago. I still can't believe that you slept in the same bed with him every night. Very few of us are fortunate to die in the arms of our lover. His folks told me about that. If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here for you. James was an old, dear friend and I will miss him.'

"I was touched by Kevin's kind words and told him that if he loved James the way I did, he would understand. The odd thing is that Kevin and I have become friends and have lunch together every month.

"We still manage to have dinner in town on the anniversary of James' death. His parents really shocked me when they signed over the contents of his condo. Those antiques and the paintings are priceless. They still treat me like their son and we talk every week. They are part of my life and I love them.

Gil said, “I’m sorry you lost James; you both sounded like the ideal couple after he straightened himself out. I take it that those paintings hanging in your penthouse in Atlanta are the real thing?"

"Yes and the antique furniture is original as well."

"My God, Todd, you're a wealthy man!"

"Yes, James left me a rich man in more ways than one. Naturally, I sold the car and the yacht. I lease out the house in the Hamptons. I kept the condo in St. Thomas and the apartment in Manhattan."

"God, you've had a sad, yet interesting life," Gil said. "I compliment you on your achievements. It's obvious you became successful in your field, and you've acquired wealth along the way, but other than the few years you spent with James, I have the feeling you're still an unhappy and lonely man. I could be wrong, but my feeling is that the reason you push yourself so hard is so you won't have to face the fact that you are alone."

"You're right in a way. I guess that's why I bought this place. At least I don't come home to an empty house any more. I have some friendly neighbors and good friends like you. I've been a workaholic for so long, I find it difficult to make the transition. I'm trying though. I've cut back on my work load and have involved myself in projects that will occupy my leisure time. As you know, I've taken up painting again and I'm thinking of taking piano lessons again. At least this will allow me to direct my energies into more worthwhile pursuits."

"That is a smart move; you're too young to retire."

"In fact I just hired a talented young tiger by the name of Jarvis Purdey to be my assistant and handle my accounts. I have a gut feeling that Jarv is going to be a man to be reckoned with one day. I'm hoping he will be able to take over all my accounts. I knew Jarv from my Y&R days in New York. He reminds me a lot of James and he is one of the most handsome young men I've ever met, not to mention that he is extremely creative; he has a talent to be admired. Get this; his goal is to be a millionaire in five years. That should tell something about his priorities."

♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦

During the next several months Gil and Todd were constant companions. The election campaign was in full swing. Thankfully they were compatible and developed a good working relationship. Gil trusted Todd's judgment and followed his advice. Todd blocked out a week late in September and made sure that the staff took that week off as well. Everyone needed the time off to prepare for the grueling weeks that lay ahead. Todd told Gil they needed to get away together for some final image polishing.

Todd knew Gil would insist on using every minute for the campaign trail. So with Janet's blessing, he hatched a plan to spend that week at the place in St. Thomas. They had to keep Gil in the dark until the day they were to leave. Janet had the butler pack Gil's suitcase with the clothes he would need for the trip. Todd booked them on the six o'clock flight for Friday evening.

Todd drove the BMW into Atlanta, telling Gil that he needed him in Atlanta to work on the new speech he had written. As luck would have it, Gil fell asleep shortly after they left Cranstonville and did not wake up until he heard the jet noise as they entered the airport.

"What are we doing at Hartsfield International?" Gil asked.

Todd said, "To catch our flight to St. Thomas. Our plane leaves in an hour. I decided we both needed some R&R before the final push." He found a good parking slot and popped open the trunk.

Gil shook his head and smiled, "You never cease to amaze me. You're just full of surprises. I take it that this will not be a working weekend?"

"Right, this is strictly a do-nothing weekend. A little tennis, maybe some scuba diving, some sailing and working on our tans. Plus, eat a lot of great food. But, mainly resting and absolutely no politics," Todd said.

Todd's male housekeeper met them at the airport and drove them to the villa at the Virgin Grand Hotel complex where they changed into their casual clothes.

"How about dropping by the Activity Director's desk and reserve a sailboat for tomorrow?" Todd asked. "We can also grab some brochures and plan the rest of the weekend."

"Sounds great to me," Gil said. "I'm in your hands, Tiger; anything you plan is fine with me. Just keep it simple and relaxing. Don't feel we have to keep busy every minute."

Todd showed Gil around the entire complex. From the main lobby to the beach and they checked out the lounges and restaurants that were available to the guests. They ended up at the Smugglers cocktail lounge that overlooked the beach for a nightcap.

"This is a fantastic place and the weather couldn't be better. It's hard to believe that all this is only a few hours away from Atlanta," Gil said. "I really appreciate this, but I'm really beat tonight; I hope you don't mind if I head back to the villa and hit the sack?"

"Good thinking; I'm not used to these strong drinks yet," Todd said.

The weather for the next three days was perfect. By the time Saturday rolled around, they were well rested and were sporting beautiful tans. They had saved the last day for shopping in Charlotte Amelia, the main shopping area in St. Thomas.

They spent most of the morning going from shop to shop and had lunch in a charming restaurant that overlooked the town. Todd ordered a bottle of wine. Their table was out on the terrace where they could watch the smiling tourists walking from store to store, taking advantage of the duty-free shops.

There were four large cruise ships in the harbor and the cabs were busy shuttling the passengers from the ships.

"This has been a delightful vacation," Gil said. "Now I hate to leave; I would like to stay longer. I could get used to this place very easily. You are a great guy, Todd, and I think George was a jerk for spoiling what you had together. Take it slow finding a lover this time, Todd. If you look hard enough you'll find another James. For God's sake, be careful of anyone you find through a dating service or from ads in the newspaper."

"Thanks, everyone needs a little reassuring and it means a lot coming from you. I've enjoyed this week too. I've no doubt that we are going to win this election. You are a sincere and honest person and it comes through in every speech you make. Why can't I find a nice guy like you for a lover? You have everything I'm looking for in a mate."

Gil smiled, "I'm flattered, but as I said before, you'll find the right guy, just give yourself time."

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To be continued...

Posted: 03/30/12