Friends and Family Series

The Lloyd King Story

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 5

The cab dropped them off in front of the Cavanaugh's townhouse in Gramercy Square. It was a large four-story red brick building with ivy growing on part of the facade. Randy rang the bell and the butler let them in. There was a large gathering assembled in the drawing room. Waiters were circulating through the group taking drink orders. Randy led Lloyd to the opposite side of the room where his parents were standing.

"Dad, Mother, I would like you to meet my roommate, Lloyd King." They shook hands and chatted for bit.

"I have you both seated at the head of the table with me," Randy's father said as he took Lloyd aside, "My son told me all about you, Lloyd. I understand you're a good friend of Buddy Robbins and Tommy Bluitté?"

"Yes, sir, we have been friends since we were teenagers. Of course you know that they can't stand one another. I always had to be on guard with them. We keep in touch in spite of their hostility to each other. I've spent many great times with both families. I never did discover why they hated each other. It's really sad, because they really have a lot in common. I think they could become great friends."

Randy's father kept Lloyd by his side for the rest of the brunch. Randy's dad made sure Lloyd met his other guests. By the time the others had departed, Lloyd had the opportunity to meet everyone. Most were personalities that Lloyd had read about in the celebrity columns. In fact, Lloyd knew several of the guests. After the last one departed, Randy, Jr. and Sr., retired to the library while Mrs. Cavanaugh entertained Lloyd in the morning room.

"You've made a good choice, son," Senior said. "Lloyd is an intelligent and sophisticated young man. It's hard to believe he is a homosexual. He knows how to charm the ladies. He is a handsome looking young man. Ten to one, you'll both be invited to a lot of parties this season. Every hostess is looking for attractive unattached males for their parties.

"He is a likeable young man and I have the feeling he will go far once he finds his niche," Senior continued. "He strikes me as an ambitious young man. If he were an attorney, I wouldn't hesitate to find room for him in our firm. I think we can use our influence to help him to find an area where his talents can be put to good use. I'm willing to bet he will end up running his own company one day. Believe me, son, I'm a good judge of talent and Lloyd has it."

"Your approval means a lot to me, Dad. You're right about his talent and drive. Lloyd is certainly not appreciated at Chadwick. He ran me through his whole operation yesterday and I think it's a fascinating business. From what I've been able to observe so far, his business proposals are very creative. I'll be spending the next few weeks studying his entire project. This should give me a better idea of what he's up to. My present thinking is to work with him for a while to observe how he handles his job on a day-to-day basis. Then we will have an overview of the business. After I've made my evaluation, we'll be in a better position to know if Lloyd has the talent to run his own business. If so, you and I can sit down and discuss how we can make it happen. You realize that no matter how this turns out, my feelings will never change toward him. Lloyd is my spouse and my only desire is to help him to reach his full potential."

"That's a given, Randy; I never thought otherwise," Senior said. "I think you are taking the right approach. In view of his thoughts on your wealth we must bring him along slowly. We certainly don't want to overwhelm him, whatever we do. Lloyd is a sensitive person and tends to take things to heart."

"How did you know that, Dad? You've just met him."

"You forget I'm a lawyer, Randy. I've trained myself to observe and to listen to people. Did you know his parents were both born in Canada and migrated to the United States? His mother's families were from Great Britain and he can trace his family tree back to one of the noble families in Spain. They migrated to Canada in the early eighteen hundreds. They had invested their money in the import/export business and made a small fortune. Their children divided up the estate and ran the business themselves. According to Lloyd, his great uncles and aunts ran the business into the ground and squandered their inheritance. Lloyd's father was a promoter in the entertainment business. He owned a string of dance halls in New Brunswick and did quite well, until National Artist Corporation bought him out. They made him an offer he couldn't refuse and that's when he moved the family to the States."

"He didn't get rich over the deal, but he made a nice profit and stayed with the new company. So you see, Lloyd does have an excellent family background, and that makes him a very special person as far as I'm concerned."

Randy chuckled, "Dad, you really give me a charge. It's true, Lloyd is part of the family now, but what difference does his family lineage make at this point, we can't produce any babies together?"

"I know, Randy, but it's nice to know that he's a good fit for you. You both come from good solid backgrounds and that's a plus in any marriage. Does he know about your medical history?"

"Yes and no. He knows that I was in a sanatorium for a number of years. His only concerns were if I was a threat to him, or to myself. Lloyd accepts the fact that I'm not ready to discuss my medical problems with him yet. I didn't accept Lloyd at face value. I had him checked out after our first meeting. He has an impeccable background and I've also talked to Tommy, Buddy and several of our group that know him. They all give him high marks. I've learned for myself what a wonderful person he really is. I would never have married him if I had the slightest doubt about him, Dad."

"And he accepted you without knowing about your medical background?" Randy related their conversation on the subject.

"He is amazing, that's a lot to take on faith, even if he does love you."

"There is a unique bond that exists between us that I can't explain," Randy said. "I'm convinced that we were meant to be together. We both believe in each other and we know we'll be together forever."

"If you really believe that, then you both should do fine. I wish you well and we will do what we can to help Lloyd move up the ladder."

"I love you, Dad; thanks for your understanding and for being a wonderful father."

"I love you, too, son. Your mother and I are happy to have you back again. There was a time a few years ago, when we thought we had lost you. It's not been a bed of roses for you, son. This dramatic improvement in you over the past several months has been miraculous. Your doctors tell us you're completely recovered and ready to face the world once again. If Lloyd is responsible for this we owe him our debt of gratitude. Work hard to make your marriage work, but remember to include your mother and me in your future plans.

"Today is a memorable day for us, Randy. Not only do we have a healthy and happy son back in the fold, but this is the first time you have joined us for one of  our Sunday brunches in four years."

"God, has it been that long? Don't worry, Dad, Lloyd and I will try to make it for dinner at least once a week from now on. You're the only family I have. It doesn't have to be anything special, just a casual dinner or lunch. I'll talk Lloyd into preparing one of his gourmet meals for you. He claims he is a good cook, but so far I've ended up doing all the cooking. There is nothing to stop you from inviting him for lunch, Dad."

"You really think so? Don't you think he would rather spend his lunch hour with his clients, or business associates?"

"I think you should find out for yourself. My feeling is that he would enjoy having lunch with you. The only way you're going to find out is to ask him, then if you bore each other to tears, you won't do lunch again."

"That's a good idea; he gave me his card and told me to call him any time, I just might do that," Senior said. "Well, I think it's time we rescue Lloyd before your mother devours him."

They went from room to room and couldn't find Lloyd or Mrs. Cavanaugh. Randy asked the butler if he had seen them. He told them that Mrs. Cavanaugh and Lloyd were in the second floor sitting room. They found them pouring over old photograph albums of the family at their home in Greenwich.

"So this is where you two have gotten to," Randy said.

"You know I couldn't resist the temptation of seeing pictures of you when you were growing up," Lloyd said. "It's amazing that you haven't changed that much since you were a senior in high school. You have a lovely family."

"Yes, my parents did a fine job," Randy said. "Lloyd, I think it's time we headed back to the apartment. We can pick up the van on the way home. Excuse me folks, I'll be back in a few minutes," Randy said. "I have to call the rental agency."

"Would you like to join me for lunch Thursday, Lloyd?" Randy Senior asked.

"Yes, sir, that would be fine. I'll have to check my calendar before I can confirm, but I'll certainly call you tomorrow morning with an answer. What time would be convenient for you?"

"Let's say eleven-thirty at my office."

"That will surely be a good time. Would you excuse me for a minute? I need to use the restroom."

Mrs. Cavanaugh said, "It's the second door to your left."

After he left the room, Catherine remarked, "He is such a delightful young man, I know he'll make a good roommate for Randy. I'll sleep much better knowing that Randy has someone around like Lloyd; Water View is so isolated.

"That was nice of you to invite Lloyd to lunch, dear. He has invited us, too, for a home cooked meal two weeks from Saturday, if Randy is free that weekend. I think that's so nice, don't you, dear?"

"Yes, dear, that will be very nice," Senior said.

Randy returned, "Everything is set. We can pick up the van on the way home. We'll be running along. Thanks for the pleasant time; let's do it again without the crowd." He kissed his mother and hugged his father.

"Thank you for inviting me," Lloyd said. "I had a wonderful time and enjoyed meeting you both."

They picked up the van and headed to the apartment.

"My Dad likes you and has welcomed you into the family. He agrees with me that you're sophisticated, intelligent, charming and handsome. I know Mother liked you, or you would never have gotten past the first floor. Dad would like us to join them for dinner at least once a week if we can. We're all the family they have now. They try to keep an eye on me since my brother committed suicide three years ago. It was a tragic loss and we still haven't gotten over his death. You had to know Curtis to understand what his loss means to us."

"How painful that must have been for you and your parents. You've not had an easy time, my love. I think I may have put my foot in it today. I've invited your folks over for dinner a week from Saturday and completely forgot that our apartment has only one bedroom. I know your mother will want to see the apartment. I should have talked it over with you before opening my big mouth. How can I ease out of it gracefully?"

Randy smiled and took Lloyd's hand, "You did nothing wrong, baby, that was sweet of you to invite my parents over for dinner. We'll be at Water View that weekend. My folks can fly up so they can get a taste of one of your home cooked meals. They haven't been to the old homestead for months; it's about time they went home."

"Your folks still have a place in Greenwich, Connecticut?

"They sure do; I'll take you over there on our next visit. They also have a place in West Palm Beach and on Paradise Island in the Caribbean. There is so much you don't know about me. It will be fun showing you everything and making love to you in every room."

"Do you know why Curtis took his own life?"

"He took his life when he discovered he had an advanced case of AIDS. Curtis was bigger than life, and an all-American in college. Unlike me, he excelled in everything he did. He was a well rounded guy, a jock, and a double 'A' scholar. He was a quarterback at prep school and also at Yale. The pictures of him in the family photo album don't do him justice. Curtis had the good looks in the family. He was a knockout and I wasn't the only one that thought so. Curtis was charismatic and was voted the most popular student in both High School and College. It's not often that you find that combination of brawn and brains in an individual, but he had it all, besides being a gentle and caring person.

"You remind me of Curtis in so many ways, Lloyd. Of course you're a smaller version. You both have that gentle way. Curtis was my idol and my protector. He was five years older, but he never treated me like a kid and never talked down to me like most brothers do. He was my friend, and I loved him dearly.

"He could have had any girl he wanted. They fell all over him and he reveled in the attention. He played the field, never singling out any one girl. As brothers, we always shared the same suite on the second floor when we were growing up. Our parents traveled a great deal when we were younger. I think that was why we were so close. We had each other to lean on, so we never felt alone. Dad even had a small gym added on when Curtis decided to get involved in sports. We never fought, or got in each other's way. Curtis worked out every day, like clockwork. I used to watch him work out. He got a kick out of showing off in front of me. Curtis was responsible for getting me into a physical fitness program. We both worked out together after that.

"There was a period before he took off for college, that we didn't see much of each other, except on holidays and summer vacations. After I enrolled at Yale, we lived at home and commuted to Yale together. The folks kept a studio apartment for us in New Haven in case of emergencies. Curtis was into his post grad studies when I began my freshman year at Yale.

"It was during that period I discovered he was gay. I had caught him masturbating in his room on more than one occasion. At the time I thought it odd. Lordy, he could have anyone he wanted for sex, anytime he wanted. On this one occasion, he had dozed off and I happened to notice he had a magazine lying next to him. To my surprise, it turned out to be a gay magazine. I really became curious after that. So one Saturday, while Curtis was out on the town, I searched his room. I violated one of our cardinal rules, but I had to find out about Curtis. He had several boxes of magazines and video tapes stored in his steamer trunk. Besides that, old Curtis had dildos, condoms, KY gel and all sorts of other gadgets that I was to learn about later. That confirmed my suspicions about Curtis. I watched one of the videos and was turned on by what I saw. I wanted to try some of the things these guys were doing to each other.

"Furthermore, I wanted to catch Curtis in the act, so I bided my time and waited. Sure enough, one Friday night I saw his light come on, it was around eleven. I snuck up to his partially opened door and peeked in. Curtis was watching one of his videos and playing with himself. I stripped naked and waited until he was into it. I quietly walked over to his bed and stood next to him. His eyes were closed and he was pinching his nipples and stroking his testicles. I reached over and took hold of his erect penis. He opened his eyes and stared at me with a look of horror on his face. He was so shocked in fact, that he couldn't speak. His penis started to soften a little and I began to pump it to keep it hard.

"By this time I had an erection as hard as Curtis. 'I want to have sex with you, Curtis,' I said. He didn't say a word he just continued to stare at me. I leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. With that Curtis reached over, picked me up and lifted me on top of him. He wrapped his arms around me and showered me with kisses. Then he reached down and joined our hard cocks together and stroked us until we came. After we cooled down, Curtis was almost in tears. He was lamenting about how awful he felt, and how guilty he felt about leading me astray. He was really hurting.

"I loved him more at that moment, than I ever did before. He ranted on for a while. I waited until he got it all out of his system and laid into him. I reminded him that I seduced him not the other way around. 'Why should we be ashamed, or sorry, for something that we liked and that felt good?' I asked. After that I explained to him that we were both healthy young males and it was a natural thing to experiment with sex. If he really loves me as a brother, he would indulge me and not let me find out on the streets.

"Oddly enough, he didn't argue with me after that and we had wonderful sex together. Curtis had a beautiful body and I explored every inch of him. After graduation, Curtis joined the family firm and moved into his duplex in Manhattan. That fall I became engaged to Dotty and was to be married the following June. We continued to have sex every week right up to the night before my wedding.

"Curtis was my best man and I'll never forget that last night we made love together. It was a very emotional experience for both of us. We both cried in each other's arms. We had sex several times that night. We both realized that the relationship was over, at least that is the way Curtis wanted it. I pleaded with him to see a shrink. I couldn't understand why he refused to have sex with me after that. After all we were brothers and I liked having sex with him. I didn't see anything wrong with that.

"That's when he became uptight once again. He said what we were doing was wrong and against the law, besides being immoral and unnatural. The only reason he went along with my demands in the beginning was because he didn't want to see me experiment with another man. I knew from that statement that Curtis was in denial. We talked many times after that but he still refused to discuss his personal life with me ever again. I tried to tell Dad in a nice way that something was bothering Curtis and he needed professional counseling. Naturally, I didn't want to tell my father the truth.

"When I learned that he overdosed on sleeping pills I was devastated. My best friend, my knight, my loving brother was gone. The loss was almost too much to take. I felt guilty because I didn't do more to help him. I should have told my parents the truth about Curtis a long time ago. Maybe he would still be alive today if I had.

"After Curtis was buried I was a complete wash out. Dotty and I took off for Greece for an extended vacation. It was just what I needed. I was able to adjust somewhat to Curtis' death. When I finally did return to work three months later, I received a call from Curtis' attorney. He said it was urgent that I meet with him as soon as possible. Naturally, I dropped everything and made an appointment for that very day.

"The attorney informed me that I was the sole beneficiary of Curtis' estate except for the usual bequeaths to charities. The Will contained one restrictive clause that surprised me. The clause stated that I was not to receive the bulk of the estate for five years unless I divorced prior to that period. In that event, the restrictive clause would be nullified. Curtis had set up a separate account to cover the taxes, insurance and maintenance on his duplex. The attorney handed me a copy of the Will and two sealed envelopes that Curtis requested I open in private. The attorney said he would not file the Will until I examined the contents of the envelopes. He apologized for the delay, but Curtis's instructions were very specific. That was the reason he could only contact me in person. 'I'll have to continue this later, baby, it's time to do our food shopping'."

Randy found a parking spot a block from the food store. They returned to the apartment with their purchases and began loading the van with Lloyd's winter wardrobe for the trip to Greenwich the next morning.

"Well, I'm glad that's out of the way," Randy said. "I've been wondering baby, do you really think this apartment is going to be big enough for the two of us?"

"It is a little cramped, but I think we can get by for now. We're only going to be sleeping here during the week; our quality time will be spent at Water View. Besides which, the company pays the rent on this place. As long as we're together I really don't care where I live."

"That's all I wanted to know. I have one call to make before we move another thing."

Randy was back in a few minutes. "Scratch dinner at home, there's an apartment I want you to see. Then I'm taking you to dinner at one of my favorite little restaurants.

"I'm all yours today, whatever you want to do is fine with me."

"We've had a long day and I don't really feel in the mood to cook dinner tonight. Let's just relax the rest of the day, all right, baby?

"As long as you finish your story about Curtis," Lloyd said.

"I promise, let's go."

They arrived outside a stately old high rise building on Central Park South. The doorman greeted Randy, "Good evening, Mr. Cavanaugh, so nice to see you again. The manager asked me to give you this envelope."

"Thanks, Walter, this is Mr. King, you may be seeing a lot more of him in the future," Randy said, as he opened the envelope. He found the key and a card that contained the six letter alarm code. The elevator stopped at the top floor. There were only two doors, one on either side of tastefully decorated entrance foyer. Randy unlocked the ornate bronze art deco entrance door and punched in the code on the wall-mounted touch-pad next to a painting. The circular foyer they entered was spacious and beautifully furnished. The ceiling rose almost ten feet and ended in a beautiful glass domed skylight. On the opposite wall was a circular staircase that led to the lower level.

"Let me show you this level first before we explore the lower level." Randy gave Lloyd the grand tour of the duplex. Directly ahead was a set of French doors that led into the living room. One end of the room was completely covered with draperies that ran from ceiling to floor. Randy pressed the button on the small control panel on the wall and the draperies opened revealing the sheers behind. He pressed another button and the sheers opened. He pressed a third button and the fabric covered blinds slid into the ceiling revealing the glass skylight. The view of Central Park was beautiful. In addition to the large living room; there were two powder rooms, a library, a sitting room with a wood burning fireplace, a formal dining room and a large modern kitchen with a butler's pantry, a walk-in pantry and finally a large utility room. Beyond the kitchen was a spacious landscaped patio with a built in barbecue and wet bar. The patio furniture was covered in heavy plastic.

Randy opened the gate to the elevator and they rode to the lower level. On the lower level was the master bedroom suite contained a well appointed sitting room, with two large couches, a bath with whirlpool, a walk-in shower, a separate exercise area and 'his and hers' dressing rooms. There were two additional large bedrooms on this floor, each with its own bath. The other rooms included a computer room, a large family room with floor to ceiling bookcases, a second utility room, a laundry room with a heavy duty commercial washer and dryer, and another large storage room. At the end of the hall was a sliding glass door that led out to a smaller landscaped patio. They took the elevator to the upper level again.

Randy led Lloyd back to the living room and said, "Well, sweetheart, what you think of this place? Don't worry about the furniture. Everything on this level is from a rental company. Even the paintings are reproductions."

The two large Sergeant paintings were lit by the most modern lighting system Lloyd had ever seen.

"Everything is absolutely beautiful and so tastefully furnished; the architect who designed this duplex made good use of the space and was wise enough to including enough storage space."

"Would you like to live here, or would you like to see some other apartments before making up your mind?" Randy asked. "There are so many to choose from."

"Are you crazy? I love this duplex," Lloyd said. "I'm sure there are a lot out there, but this duplex is perfect in every way. It's in an ideal location and it is absolutely beautiful. Is the furniture included with the rental?"

"No, we'll use our own furniture," Randy said. "Now you're absolutely sure about this place, you're not saying you like the place to please me?"

"No, I really love this place."

"You're easy to please, my little one," Randy said, "Well, my love, I'm glad you like it because it's yours from now on. I'll bring the inventory home tomorrow. I'll have this lot cleared out, and the good stuff delivered by the end of the week."

"Randy, what do you mean this is mine now?"

"This is your wedding present, my beautiful, wonderful lover. You own it lock, stock and barrel as soon as the papers are signed. This is the duplex Curtis left me in his will. He spent a lot of money on the place. Now if you ever leave me, you can sell it and become an instant millionaire. I'll have the deed transferred over to you next week."

Lloyd was stunned; he could not speak and he could only stare at Randy in disbelief. Randy took him in his arms, kissed him and held him.

"I can't accept this gift; I couldn't afford to maintain this duplex on my income. I'm sure the taxes alone would take half of my salary every year. In any event, this gift has gone well beyond the bounds of what we talked about."

"Calm down, baby. You don't have to worry about the taxes, or anything else. All the expenses are paid for out of my brother's trust fund. Have you forgotten our little talk earlier? You're my spouse and from now on I'm taking care of you. Have you forgotten your marriage vows already? You took a solemn vow to accept me for richer or poorer, for better or for worse. This is the better part. You said you wanted to be accepted in my social circle as a man of means; this property will do that for you baby. I love you, Lloyd. You are my pride and joy, my friend and my spouse. You are entitled to this and much more. I had been racking my brain to figure out what to give you for a wedding present. I know how touchy you are about money, but I will be very hurt it you don't accept this gift in the spirit it's given. I know Curtis would have wanted you to have it.

"My dear brother stole this duplex at four million and spent another several million fixing it up. The furnishings are worth another five million, probably more in today's market. You are a man of substance, my love, and can walk into any bank and get a five million dollar line of credit without any questions asked."

The tears were running down Lloyd's cheeks, and he could not control himself. He threw his arms around Randy and buried his face into his chest, and began to cry. Randy held him until he stopped crying, then he led him over to the sofa and sat. Again, Randy held him in his arms and kissed him until he regained his composure.

"You have made me so happy," Lloyd said. "It's not only your wonderful wedding gift; it's because of your deep love for me. I never dreamed I'd find a man that would love me enough to want me to grow, and give me the support and the means to succeed. To me that is the true meaning of love. You are the most unselfish man I have ever known, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have you as my partner for life. As a man, I feel torn and inadequate because I am not able to reciprocate. Don't think for a moment that I'm not aware of the subtle way you are lifting me up to your level. I love you all the more for that.

"The brunch at your parents' home today opened my eyes to what it means to be married to you. Your family is pretty high up there on the social register. I lived a vicarious existence when I was in the company of Buddy, or Tommy. It was exciting to live in such luxury for those fleeting visits. Yet I knew the fairytale would end with the weekend. Yesterday's fairytale has become my reality today. Everything you said about your wealth became crystal clear as I stood next to your father today. As I stared at you from across the room, I knew that I would do whatever it took to hold you. All that I have learned has been in preparation for my marriage to you. Buddy had taught me everything except how to act when I married a wealthy man. Now my love, that part of my training is in your hands. My gift to you will be to learn from you and your family and to become the equal partner that you need in your life. I'm going to accept your generosity in the loving spirit it's given. Be patient with me; it's going to take time and there are bound to be incidents like this one, but I promise to do better."

Randy said, "Now I realize why I love you so much. You really are deep. My dad was right on target about you. I need you, Lloyd; never stop loving me. It's a pity you and Curtis never met; he would have changed his mind about a lot of things."

"This is so delightful, lying in your arms like this. I like this place already, the view is spectacular. Are you comfortable, my love?"

"Very. Do you still want me to take your winter wardrobe to Water View? Or would you prefer to keep them here?"

"Let Kim take them to Water View."

"What do I say to the Chadwick's about my apartment?"

"Whose name is on the lease?"

"Everything is in my name including the rental furniture. As I recall, they require a 30 day cancellation notice."

"That's fine. When we get back, you can notify the manager that you will be vacating the apartment as of this week. They are free to show the apartment at their convenience. I'll make arrangements to have your personal things packed up and moved over here by the end of the week.

"Now, what's that worried look for?" Randy asked. "I'll have the movers take care of everything and hire a cleaning service to clean both places." Randy smiled, "Don't worry baby, you can pack up your pornographic flicks and sex toys."

Lloyd chuckled, "You're the only sex toy I have to move. I hate to disappoint you, handsome, but I've never kept that stuff around. Everything is happening so fast and it bothers me that I can't be around to help. I hate to see you burdened with all this."

"Look, baby, I want to do this, it makes me feel useful again. Anyway, I want to do it for you. Tomorrow you tell the Chadwick's that you're giving up the penthouse. Tell them you're going to share an apartment with an old buddy for the same rent and they will be saving on the furniture rental. We can have my financial manager handle Chadwick's. Now is there anything else I've forgotten, baby?"

"You seem to have thought of everything. How about dinner? I'm starved!"

The Italian restaurant was charming and the aroma of fresh baked bread and garlic coming from the kitchen smelled wonderful. The owner's wife made a big fuss over Randy and showed them to a table for two in the rear of the restaurant. It was a cozy intimate restaurant with subdued lighting. They ordered a bottle of rosé wine with their antipasto. The chef came out and suggested the veal specialty which they both ordered.

"What's wrong, baby?" Randy asked. "You're staring at me again."

"I can't believe that I've married the man of my dreams. God, you're even better than I ever dreamed of. I love everything about you. The nice part is I keep discovering more wonderful things about you every day. You have an exceptional talent for organization and a very creative mind. Yet you're the most caring and affectionate man I have ever known. I'll treasure this weekend for as long as I live. I don't think I could ever live without you."

"Don't worry, Lloyd, you'll never lose me again. You make me feel ten feet tall. You're the one who has given me a reason to live again. Now I have a partner who believes in me and loves me above everything else. I know you will always be there for me. You have become my anchor and my lover. I want to take care of you and protect you. I've never felt this for anyone in my life before. You have found the key to unlock the door to my heart, a door that I thought had closed forever."

"I will never forget the joy of seeing you again at Water View, meeting you as I did that Sunday morning was miraculous. Our fate was decided on a sidewalk in Manhattan. It has taken seven years to find one another again. I guess our time had not come at that first encounter. We both needed that time to develop and mature."

"I agree. That was definitely true in my case," Randy said.

They finished their dinner and headed back to Lloyd's apartment. Lloyd called the building manager canceling his lease. He dashed off an email letter and forwarded it to the furniture rental company. 

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To be continued...

Posted: 09/21/12