OC’s: Glen and TJ with Guests and Ghosts
TJ grunted as he leaned against the pantry door, pretending he was having a hard time shutting it.
Glen chuckled at his partner’s antics and went back to the list he was reading. “According to this receipt, TJ, you were charged for two packages of chocolate puff cookies but there as only one in with the groceries.”
“That’s because I ate a bag of them on the way home,” TJ openly admitted.
“You ate the entire bag of cookies?”
“Yeah, and a good thing too, cause this pantry is about to burst. So are the refrigerator and both freezers for that matter.”
“Well we want to make sure there’s enough in to feed our guests over the long weekend. I’m really looking forward to having the Richmond Gang all together, and for the first time it will be in our own home. We’ve been to Rowan and Jayson’s homes, as well as their cabin, so many times over the years but were never able to accommodate them and their husbands all at the same time due to our apartment being too small. Now we’re finally able to return their generous hospitality.”
“I had doubts of us ever getting this weekend off the ground. We set a date so many times since moving in but something always happened to prevent us from getting it off the ground. We’ve been living here for ten months and are only now having our house-warming party.” TJ rubbed his hands together and crowed, “But it’s going to be a hell of a party!”
Glen smiled at the younger man’s enthusiasm. Truth be told, they were both equally excited to be playing hosts for their best friends.
“Oh, I managed to get most of the pop and all the beer into that old clunker of a refrigerator out in the back porch,” TJ proclaimed.
“I’ll be happy if it runs until the weekend is over, or at least until we get the one in here partially empty.”
“We’d have a better chance of that if someone would quit opening the damn door to see if it’s getting cooler.”
“Who is doing that?”
“Micah is, who else?”
Glen rolled his eyes. “You have got to stop blaming things on this imaginary friend of yours, TJ.”
“Oooh, Micah is far from being imaginary, Glen.”
“Really? And you actually seen him, have you?”
“Yes; well sort of. Maybe more like a vague outline, with him being a ghost and all.” TJ took his partner’s arm and dragged him into the living room. “That’s him!” TJ pointed up at one of the portraits hanging above the fireplace. “While I’ve never seen Jeremiah, I’ve often felt both their presence. Until recently it seemed as if they hadn’t been around on a daily basis for quite some time, but yesterday when I was making up the beds in the guest rooms, I got a sense that one of the rooms was being inhabited again. It was the Victorian decorated one at the end of the hall. It had kind of a lived-in feeling and just felt warmer somehow. You needn’t scoff; if you weren’t so obstinate you’d be able to discern them too.”
“I’ve read their history and will admit they’re very interesting men. I would certainly have enjoyed meeting them had we all lived in the same era, but we didn’t. They built this home together and lived in it for several years. It’s sad to think they had to keep their love for one another hidden.” Glen stepped closer to TJ and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. As they stood studying the faces of the two long-dead men, they thought of how fortunate they were to be living in this day and age in a country where they were free to love openly.
“They must have really loved each other,” TJ softly mused. “Poor Micah died of a broken heart only a few months after Jeremiah succumbed to some illness that was making the rounds at the time.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the phone. Glen dropped a light kiss on TJ’s black wiry curls and walked into the hall to retrieve the handheld.
He returned to the living room with the phone to his ear and a wide grin spreading across his handsome face. “It’s Jayson,” he mouthed to his partner and then concentrated on what the man at the other end of the phone was saying.
“That’s great, Jayson. Hold a sec while I fill TJ in on what’s happening.” Putting the phone to his chest, Glen happily announced, “They’re making good time and are sure they’ll be here in a little over an hour.”
“Ya-hoo!” TJ crowed, dancing around excitedly enough to cause Glen to back out of his way.
“I guess you can hear TJ’s reaction,” Glen laughed into the mouthpiece. “What’s that? You plan to stop for what?”
“Tell them not to bring any more food; there’s no space for it,” TJ called out.
“Oh, that will be fine, Jayson. See you in a bit. Bye for now.” He walked back into the hall to replace the phone, TJ right on his heels. “They’re coming straight here, love, and not stopping to purchase anything.”
“I can hardly wait to see Darby and Riley again. I have so much to tell them.” TJ’s eyes lit up and he grinned suggestively. “Sooo, we have an hour to wait, huh? Gee, I wonder what we can do to pass the time.”
Glen smirked at the thinly veiled hint. Wrapping his arms around his partner, he slipped his hands into the belt-free waistband of TJ’s cotton shorts, then into his boxers to gently squeeze two firm round globes.
“Let’s take this somewhere more comfortable.” TJ giggled and push away to run up the stairs. He divested himself of his clothing as he ran, leaving everything to fall where it may.
Glen followed a little slower as he multi-tasked by picking up TJ’s discarded clothes while removing his own. He entered the master bedroom and was not at all surprised to see his partner on the bed already lubing up in preparation for their love-making. The sight always went straight to his penis, especially when he could see TJ’s hardening.
Dropping their garments in a pile on the floor, Glen stretched out beside his beautiful black lover and pulled TJ on top of him.
TJ gazed down at the man whose thighs he was straddling. “Okay if I ride?”
Glen’s only answer was to grab TJ’s hips and help the other man slowly impale himself on his thick pulsing erection.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Beautiful place you have here, Glen,” Rowan complimented as he looked out the large picture window in the kitchen. He turned to accept the cold beer being offered him. “Lots to do on warm summer evenings; a lovely fireplace and double-size whirlpool tub for relaxing on cold winter ones.”
“Best of two worlds, I have to say,” Jayson observed. “You look out over a lake just like our cabin and yet you have all the amenities that we enjoy in the city.”
“Except for one major difference and that’s my commute. You gentlemen don’t live too far from the airport where you work and both your partners work out of your homes.”
“I didn’t think TJ had a distance to travel,” Rowan commented.
“He doesn’t. He was fortunate enough to acquire his own pharmacy in a nearby town less than twenty minutes from here. I, on the other hand, have another hour’s drive before I get into Calgary where much of my customer base is located. Although, I now only travel there for pre-arranged appointments as most of my clientele are willing to come out to my showroom which is located over our three-car garage. I’ll take you up there before the weekend is over, if you like.”
“Then you work part-time out of your home base, right?” Jayson nodded his approval when he received an affirmative response. “It’s about time you slowed down some.”
Unlike Jayson and Rowan who had owned their homes for several years now, Glen and TJ had found it necessary to put their ownership plans on the back burner while Glen got his interior decorating business established. Glen’s tendency to work extremely long hours, often seven days a week, nearly destroyed his and TJ’s relationship.
“I have,” Glen assured his friend and one time mentor. “And fortunately TJ hasn’t emulated me in respect to developing his own business. He’s not the workaholic I was.”
“He’s just more laid-back, my friend,” Rowan pointed out.
“Laid-back, huh? You haven’t seen him getting ready for a party like the one we’re having tomorrow evening, my friend,” Glen responded with a laugh.
“He’s a hard worker, but has always taken time to smell the roses, although not necessarily by always implementing the best laid plans,” Rowan expanded on his statement. All three men saw the humour in that observation.
“I have to confess that one benefit I enjoy, and happily take advantage of, is TJ getting home before me and preparing supper.”
“God, I hope he’s learned to cook since university! Some of the concoctions he made back then were absolutely revolting!” Jayson shuddered at the memory.
“He’s become a great cook as you’ll see at the party tomorrow night. TJ planned and prepared ninety percent of the menu. At last count, he informed me there will be thirty-two people attending.”
“Well, it may have taken you two almost a year to get this weekend off the ground, but it was worth the wait,” Jayson remarked.
“And I hope it is only one of many trips we’ll be making here,” Rowan added.
“Now that we’re finally settled, we plan to entertain as often as possible and the door is always open to the four of you.”
“Has becoming homeowners lead either of you to consider finally taking the plunge like Jayson and I did?” Rowan inquired.
“I’ve asked him to marry me,” Glen admitted and smiled somewhat sheepishly. “He wants to be sure, so he’s still thinking it over.”
“What the hell is there to think over?” Jayson bluntly asked with a burst of laughter. “You two have known each other for over ten years, dated off and on the first five and have been in a relationship for the last five.”
“I think he’s just trying to torture you, Glen,” Rowan teased.
“That’s completely possible, Rowan. TJ can be perplexing at times. Still, I’m fairly confident he’ll accept my proposal before year’s end.”
“He might just want to settle for nothing less that spectacular; something off the wall. Maybe you can let him know it’s okay if he wears a long white dress and veil,” Jayson facetiously suggested. “I know he isn’t a cross-dresser in the strictest sense, but he certainly revels in dressing up and performing for friends. What better occasion to do so than a wedding?” These men had been best of friends for well over a decade; their level of ease with one another revealed by the nature of their exchange.
“He sure gave a bang-up performance as a hula dancer at our luau a couple of years ago,” Rowan reminded them. “Coconut breasts, grass skirt and all.”
Knowing his friends were pulling his leg, Glen pretended to give the idea some thought by way of payback. “Hmmm, you guys just may have something there.” The thoughtful expression on his handsome face left his companions wondering if he was seriously considering it. That is, until he set their minds at ease by cracking up at the expressions on their faces. “But I highly doubt he’d put on a wedding dress unless there was a good reason. Something like that fund-raiser for The Children’s Wish Foundation he took part in last year. Although only women’s clothing was modelled, all the models were men. It was quite a hit. I highly doubt he’d wear one to his own wedding. Thank goodness too, because he looks so damn hot in a tux. But tell me, Jayson, would you have been able to sanction Riley wearing a traditional gown of white?”
“I don’t think so,” Jayson truthfully replied. “And I definitely wouldn’t be happy sporting the black eye he’d give me if I was foolish enough to so much as introduce the subject.”
“Would you have minded Darby doing so, Rowan?” Glen asked once they got their laughter under control.
“It’s not an issue we’d ever have to face,” Rowan answered seriously. “At the time of our marriage, Darby was still coming to grips with our lifestyle. For a while, he found it difficult to cope with our choice to have a discipline relationship and its’ impact on his self-image and sense of masculinity. We had countless conversations before he was finally able to accept his newly recognized needs didn’t make him any less a man than he’d always been. So to even hint at him putting on a dress, even in jest, would have sent him spiralling. However, he greatly admired TJ for doing so.”
Jayson and Glen both nodded their understanding. Darby was the youngest of the three partners and the one with the least self-confidence, except where his music was concerned.
“Speaking of our partners, I wonder what they’re up to at the moment,” Glen mused out loud. Jayson’s response that he’d last seen them in the living room had Glen frowning. ‘TJ better not be regaling our guests with outlandish accounts about his imaginary ghosts,’ he silently nattered to himself. ‘I gave him sufficient warning not to do so.’
Meanwhile, TJ, Riley and Darby were standing in front of the fireplace and gazing up at the framed artwork above the mantel.
“It’s true!” TJ insisted. “That’s them in the portraits. Don’t tell me you’re gonna be sceptics like Glen.”
Riley and Darby slyly traded looks of incredulity. The entire time TJ had been giving them a tour of his new home, he’d cautiously whispered about a secret he had to share with them. Ghosts were the last thing they’d have suspected.
“I’m expected to keep mum about them,” TJ explained in hushed tones. “I’ll get in trouble if Glen finds out. So now that I’ve told you, you better damn well believe it!”
“Ah, has Glen seen them?” Darby tentatively inquired, glancing at the pictures hanging over the fireplace.
“Are you kidding? He refuses to accept their existence,” TJ scoffed. “I think it’s a Top thing. You know, relying so much on the true and blue, they can’t see outside the box.”
“But you see one of them?” The doubt was evident in Riley’s voice.
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!” TJ declared, his voice beginning to rise in frustration.
“Well, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll wait until I see them myself to believe this wild tale of yours,” Riley stated.
“Fair enough, but be prepared for the younger one to cause mischief. He’s got me blamed for stuff in the past.” TJ grinned at a pleasant memory. “And unless my ears have been playing tricks on me, he’s gotten himself in a lot of hot water, too. God only knows, it serves him right.”
“Are you saying he’s a Brat and these interlopers, real or imagined, are in a discipline relationship?” Riley was astounded, while Darby was rendered speechless.
“Actually, they probably consider us to be the ‘interlopers’. This was their house; they built it themselves a century or more ago.” TJ proceeded to expound on the history of the homes original owners, steadily drawing his two friends into the realm of make-believe.
By the time he was finished, Riley and Darby were eagerly hoping they’d have a run-in with one, if not both, of the Ghosts.
“How are things going in here?” Glen asked, walking into the room with Jayson and Rowan following him. It was evident that he’d startled the three young men who had been huddled together; two paying avid attention to the third. Glen’s eyes narrowed; he had a pretty good idea about what had been discussed just by their reaction to seeing him, but he decided to let it ride for the present.
“We’re going outside for a bar-b-que and would like you to join us,” Rowan informed them. If he too noticed anything suspect, he didn’t mention it and neither did Jayson.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Come sit by me,” Glen issued a soft request to his partner who was looking out the window facing the lake. He patted the bed beside him and was relieved when TJ walked over and sat down.
“Why, TJ?” Glen asked the next morning. With a hearty brunch under their belts, their guests were checking out Glen and TJ’s private dock and boathouse. They’d been invited to make use of the pleasure craft.
TJ shrugged, leaning closer to the man whose arm was resting across his shoulders. “I don’t know.” He knew exactly what Glen was referring to.
“I’m pretty sure you do. It would make things a lot easier if you offered an explanation for doing something you’d been categorically told not to.”
“I just wanted someone to believe me,” TJ murmured, dropping his head even further.
It only took a split second for Glen to pick up on the unintentional clue and the despondency in his lover’s voice. “Just who else have you told, sweetheart?”
“My employees,” TJ reluctantly divulged, mentally crossing his fingers that Glen wouldn’t point out how foolish that had been and how he’d set himself up for ridicule. ‘Because I already know that well enough, thank you,’ he miserably self-confessed.
“How did they react to that?” The query was kindly made, totally without censure or scorn; only a vague sense of loving sadness could be distinguished. Already guessing the answer, Glen compressed his lips. The apparent fall-out was what had him prohibiting his partner to tell anyone in the first place.
“They laughed, and probably joked about it behind my back. All except Sally that is. I could tell she really would have liked to accept what I told them as true.”
“I don’t find that too difficult to believe of Sally. She may be flighty but she has a kind heart. Are you worried about Riley and Darby teasing you?” Glen knew if they decided to tease, Darby would keep it lighthearted and know when to stop; Riley on the other hand could be unmerciful.
“Nah, I don’t think so,” TJ said confidently and shook his head. “They may be having a hard time wrapping their heads around it, but are also kind of curious to learn more.”
“Only the opinions of those who truly matter to you, are important, TJ. If I were you, I’d try hard to ignore the others.”
“Yeah, I don’t have much other choice. I’m sure not gonna fire them for teasing me.” TJ unenthusiastically glanced up and heaved a sigh of resignation. “Guess I’m in your bad books, huh?”
Glen was wishing he didn’t have to make an issue out of TJ’s deliberate defiance, but he’d been left with little choice. If he let it go, all hell would be out to recess before the day was over. TJ was clearly feeling remorseful and needed to make restitution in the straightforward manner they had adopted when setting up the boundaries that governed their relationship; simply because it worked.
“You knew what the consequences would be when you chose to disobey, TJ.”
“Right,” TJ woefully replied and got to his feet. Moving around to Glen’s left side; he paused long enough to shove his sweat pants and boxers down to his knees before lowering himself over his partner’s lap.
“We’re doing this to clear the slate, TJ. To put it behind us and move on, correct?” Glen asked as he gently caressed the two brown globes. Receiving a muffled affirmative response, he raised his left hand and brought it down hard in the first of a dozen stinging swats.
Quickly over, it was far from being a serious punishment but it was enough to free TJ of the guilt he was harbouring. Glen knew his lover was crying more from the emotional release than from the pain of the spanking.
“Are we done here, TJ?” Glen was sure they were but wanted his partner to be just as sure. Once again he received a muffled sound of agreement. He set TJ on his feet, stood up and embraced the man he loved with all his heart. He chuckled softly when TJ rubbed tear-streaked cheeks and a snotty-nose on his shoulder. “Pull up your pants, love, while I change my shirt.”
“In a minute,” TJ murmured, wanting to be held a little longer. He sighed contentedly when Glen obliged. “Is it okay if I answer any questions Riley or Darby might ask about Micah?”
“You may as well now that you’ve let that particular cat out of the bag,” Glen lightly teased, knowing the younger two of their guests would want to hear anything TJ had to tell them, their unbridled curiosity probably already driving them crazy.
“I won’t tell Jayson or Rowan, and I don’t think their partners will want to try explaining our housemates to them.”
With his face out of TJ's line of vision, Glen felt safe in rolling his eyes. “Good idea, sweetheart.” He could well imagine the two older men’s reaction to such a tale.
An hour later, Glen and TJ were on the back porch anticipating their guests’ return. Upon their arrivals, all were immediately put to work helping out with last minute party preparations. TJ, in his self-appointed position as director and planner of the event, had assigned tasks to everyone.
Happy to get away from TJ’s hyper mode, Glen, Jayson and Rowan drove into town to pick up extra chairs and a couple of tables from the local recreation centre.
Meanwhile, Riley and Darby assisted in the kitchen, turning out tray after tray of Hor d’oeuvres and other fancy finger foods. As soon as the older men left the house, they took advantage of their absence and began questioning TJ about the phantoms he’d started telling them about yesterday.
It wasn’t long until TJ had them hanging on every word as he detailed many of the problems he laid at Micah’s door, starting from before he and Glen had even moved into the place.
“At first, I thought I was imagining things. Even when I began having nightmares, I’d blame it on being over-tired or a meal disagreeing with me. Glen would accuse me of messing around when I wasn’t and he had trouble believing me when I swore I’d done nothing. It wasn’t until we moved in that I finally clued into what was happening. So far, I’m the only one who’s seen the Brat ghost from hell.”
He continued regaling his friends with more stories and eventually had them laughing hysterically with the antics during last year’s Halloween, as well as the mischief cause by Micah fooling around with various broken appliances they’d put at the curb as trash.
For Darby in particular, it definitely made being stuck in the kitchen more pleasant. He’d never had an interest in the culinary arts, not that Riley outshone Darby’s meager efforts. Certainly not in the way TJ did.
As requested, Riley had been checking over the trays that needed to be cooked at the last minute before serving. “Hey,” he interrupted TJ’s narrative. “Who’s been sampling these things? There are several gaps in among the bite-size pieces of grub that weren’t there a few minutes ago.”
“Not me!” Darby declared. “Yuck! There’s uncooked bacon in some of them.”
TJ stopped stuffing the mushroom in his hand and frowned. “Do either of you guys have a feeling there’s someone besides us in here?”
Somewhat alarmed, Riley and Darby glanced around the room but saw nothing. “That’s not funny, TJ!” they angrily declared in unison, embarrassed at being spooked so easily.
“I’m not kidding. Micah is here, I can sense his presence. He has a habit of pinching treats. Show yourself, Micah. These are my friends and they want to meet you.” TJ paused and waited in the subsequent silence. “Damn it! He’s gone.”
“That sucks!” Darby exclaimed. “I wouldn’t mind seeing him. At least I don’t think I would. Maybe he’ll show up at the party.”
“Where there’ll be safety in numbers, right?” Riley added, not at all sure he wanted to come face to face with a ghost when on his own….providing there was one to begin with.
“Heck, your guess is as good as mine,” TJ stated. “Meanwhile, we better get this finished before our partners return. They’ll want help bringing everything inside and setting it up.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Everything was ready by the time guests started to arrive. TJ took anyone who had not been to their new home before on a brief walk through the main floor and then out to the deck to join the others gathered there. Introductions were repeatedly made until the last invited guest had arrived.
On the deck, a large bar-b-que had been set up along with two tables for the refreshments, plus a bar. TJ’s brother, Garrett, was flipping burgers while his wife, Deanna, and Glen’s sister, Jemma, carried out platters of food. Jayson had taken on the duties of bartender and was busy lining up an assortment of liquor and mixes.
The party seemed to be going off without a hitch. Rowan was handling ‘crowd control’ as he called it and Glen was keeping the music down to an acceptable level. After all, they did have neighbours within a ten mile radius.
Pleasantly surprised by no one asking about the ‘Ghosts’, TJ pulled Sally aside to see if she had anything to do with her fellow employees abandoning the subject.
“Kind of,” she admitted with a soft giggle. “I told them you were just testing them to see how spooked they’d get because you were thinking of having a Halloween party this fall, complete with a spook alley.”
“But such a party hasn’t even crossed my mind, Sally. However, you may have just planted a seed,” TJ laughed, already beginning to fancy the idea.
“You and Glen did a lot of entertaining in your apartment over the years, so with all the space you have now….” She left the rest of her blatant hint unsaid and turned to walk away. “Oh, by the way,” she added over her shoulder, “I want to play a part in the spook alley, especially if you can talk your ghosts into participating.”
TJ laughed even louder. Sally had always been one of his favourite people and he felt blessed having her in his life.
Darby sat just outside the glow of garden lights hanging around the deck. For over an hour now, he’d been fixating on an artificial ice cube someone had dropped into his glass. Staying focus helped to keep the fuzzy atmosphere surrounding him at bay. He knew if he stood up, he’d fall down. He just didn’t know why.
The party was winding down when Rowan realized he hadn’t seen Darby in a while; not since he’d spotted him talking to one of TJ’s employees and his date. He noticed Riley next to the bar and from the pout on his face, not too happy with whatever Jayson was saying to him. Straining his eyes in order to search the unlit areas of the back yard, Rowan finally located his husband sitting under a tree. He strolled over and squatted beside him.
Darby had no idea how long he’d been sitting by himself when his concentration was interrupted. He blinked and looked upward, placing a hand on the grass to steady himself. “Oh hi, Rowan, whatcha doin’?”
“I came over to find out what you were doing, Sweets,” Rowan chuckled. He peered into his partner’s eyes and frowned. “Just how much have you had to drink, Darby?”
“Huh?” Darby glanced down at the glass in his hand, studied it for a moment or two and then turned a confused expression up to the older man. He had never been much of a drinker; usually stopping at two if drinking the hard stuff and rarely more than four beer. “This is my second rum and coke. I haven’t even finished it ‘cause it’s too strong, so it’s taking forever for the glass to get empty.”
“The party is almost over so how about you and I heading inside, okay?” Rowan confiscated the glass that was still three-quarters full and slipped his free hand under Darby arm, hauling him up to his feet.
Darby swayed and fell heavily against Rowan chest. If his husband hadn’t been holding him, he would have ended up flat on his face. “Man, the world’s spinning. I can hardly stand up.” His speech was slurred and his co-ordination non-existent.
“Only two drinks, huh?” Rowan mumbled his disbelief, setting the glass on a nearby table. He was half-carrying the younger man as they made their way up the stairs of the deck and eventually into the house. They were part way down the hall leading to the stairs and their bedroom when Darby let Rowan know he was going to throw-up. Hastily shoving his husband into the downstairs bathroom, Rowan got the toilet seat up just in time.
Darby dropped to his knees and emptied his stomach contents. When done, he sat panting with his forehead pressed against the cool porcelain. “My head’s killing me,” he moaned.
“Let’s get you up to bed, Sweets.” Rowan helped his husband up and they were just leaving the bathroom when they bumped into TJ who had been saying farewell to a couple of the guests. Rowan quietly explained the problem.
“I’ll be right up with something to help Darby feel better,” TJ offered; concern for his friend evident in his voice.
Once in their room, Rowan quickly stripped Darby of his clothing and gently encouraged him to lie down. “I’m going to get a wash cloth and towel, Darby. I won’t be gone long.” He returned to find Darby sitting up and engaged in a conversation, but couldn’t figure out with whom.
“He says he’s sorry,” Darby informed him.
“Who’s sorry?” Rowan glanced around, his brow furrowed in confusion. There were only two of them in the room.
“Micah is. He said he kept my glass full. He said he was angry for us laughing at him and just wanted to get even.”
“Darby, who is Micah? And where is he?” Rowan patiently inquired.
“He’s one of the ghosts who share this house and he sitting right there.” Darby pointed to the foot of the bed.
Rowan heaved a sigh. “That’s TJ’s cat and it’s a ‘she’.”
Darby frowned and leaned forward a bit. “Oh, hi Miss Muffet. I didn’t see you there. Do you know Micah? Ah, never mind, he’s leaving.”
“Only two drinks, huh?” Rowan grumbled under his breath. “And you’re hallucinating.” He didn’t think this was a conversation he wanted to pursue with his obviously inebriated Brat, so he merely pushed Darby back on the bed and proceeded to wash the sweat from his naked body.
“Be back in a jiff, love,” he softly promised as he left Darby’s side to answer a knock on the door.
“These should do the trick, Rowan,” TJ assured him, handing over two small packets. “One is to settle his stomach and the other is a pain killer. You’re okay using these, right?”
“Yes, I am. Thanks, TJ.” Rowan closed the door and turned to see Darby rolled into the fetal position. ‘This will have its’ advantages,’ he thought as he approached the bed. Removing the foil from the two bullets, he bent slightly, spread the two upturned cheeks and gently inserted one. Fortunately the second was also in place before Darby realized what was happening and whined a protest.
“What did you do that for?” he demanded, turning over too quickly and then wishing he hadn’t as he grabbed his head.
“This method will work better, Sweets. You might not be able to keep down oral meds.” Rowan explained, cleaning his fingers on a wet-wipe that TJ had supplied. He lay down and spooned around his ailing husband. Humming and rocking slight, it wasn’t long before he heard soft snoring coming from the man in his arms. He waited a few minutes more, kissed his love, quietly got up without disturbing Darby’s slumber and tip-toed out of the room.
In the room across the hall, Jayson had firmly settled his husband in bed. It had been an uphill battle as Riley continued to argue about the party not being over.
“I don’t feel so good, Jay. Lying down makes me feel worse,” he griped. “My mouth is dry and my head is beginning to hurt. Can you make the room stop spinning?”
Jayson rolled his eyes in mild exasperation. “I’m going to fetch a glass of water and a couple of aspirin. Don’t get off that bed!” Jayson ordered when he saw his Brat about to do just that. He was in the bathroom running water to get it nice and cold when he heard Riley shouting. Shutting off the tap, he hurried back to see what was going on.
“Get away from me!” Riley hollered. “Leave me alone! Leave me alone?”
Jayson walked through the door just as a pillow sailed across the room. He managed to catch it before it hit him in the face. He saw Riley scrunching himself in the far corner, a look of fear on his face. Rushing over, Jayson pulled the frightened man into his arms. Riley was actually shaking, his breath coming in short bursts.
“It’s okay, babe. I’ve got you. Breathe,” Jayson soothed in an attempt to calm the younger man. “What got you so worked up? I’ve never seen you so rattled.”
“It-it’s…” Riley stammered. “Good, he’s gone. I scared him off.” Riley resiliently shook off the effects of having perceived something he couldn’t explain and even now didn’t quite believe. “I’m okay now,” he insisted, pushing away from his husband. “I must have had more to drink than I thought, ‘cause I’m seeing things. And it’s all TJ’s fault for laying that ghost crap on us. They don’t really exist, do they?” He was embarrassed and needed someone to blame.
“Ghost crap?” Jayson questioned, backing off and giving Riley his space. He sat down and watched his Brat’s anxiously pace and rub his hands through his hair. That is, if stumbling and depending on the wall for support constituted pacing. Fortunately, the space beside their bed was somewhat limited.
“Yeah, TJ’s been telling us stories about the two guys who built this house. He says they still live here. He claims the place is haunted.” Riley was uncertain and needed reassurances. “I shouldn’t have let it get to me.”
“I must admit, I’d find such a tale hard to swallow,” Jayson calmly responded. “TJ must have been pulling your leg. Come on, let’s go downstairs and ask him.” He got up and placed an arm around Riley’s shoulders. Together they went in search of an explanation.
Glen, TJ and Rowan were bringing the last of the party paraphernalia in from the deck when Jayson and Riley put in an appearance.
“Look who’s just in time to help put some leftover in containers and into the refrigerator,” Glen announced with a broad smile.
“Many hands make light works,” Rowan piped up, setting an oversized serving dish containing veggies, cold cuts, cheese, crackers, fruit and dip on the counter.
“I have to say your timing is impeccable, because this is the last of it. The rest is already put away,” TJ informed the late comers. “Even the bar has been cleaned up, Jayson. Some bartender, leaving your job before it’s finished,” he teased.
“Everyone’s cleared out so soon?” Jayson asked. “It’s not even midnight.”
“Some, like our family members, either had a way to travel or had children waiting for them,” Glen explained.
“Or maybe it’s a mutual fear of their vehicles turning into pumpkins,” Riley joked, helping himself to a piece of fruit and popping it into his mouth. “I’m still hungry. Can some of this stuff be left out?”
“Swallow before talking, babe,” Jayson advised. He walked over to the fridge and took out a couple of bottles of water.
“It’s been a long day. Is anyone up to just chilling out? We can grab some of finger foods and a drink to take with us into the living room,” Glen suggested and was immediately taken up on his proposal.
“Got a question for you, TJ,” Jayson spoke up once everyone was comfortably seated, drinks in hand and their plates piled high. “What is this business concerning ghosts?”
TJ glared at Riley while Glen looked up at the ceiling and bit back a smile.
“What? You don’t believe in the supernatural, Jayson?” TJ answered with questions of his own, in hopes of creating a diversion. Not getting a response, he asked Rowan the same question.
“Hmm, I suppose anything’s possible. Why? What’s this about?” Rowan glanced back and forth between the four other men in the room. “Wait a minute. It wouldn’t have anything to do with someone by the name of Micah, would it?”
“Yeap, it would.” TJ brightened right up. “Did you see him?”
“Nooo, but Darby thinks he did. Of course the man was as drunk as a skunk at the time. I’m sure once he’s slept it off he’ll not remember talking to….whoever.”
Riley had been starting to doze off, but his eyes widened when he heard this bit of news.
“He was talking to Micah? That’s great!” TJ was getting more excited by the minute. “See, Glen, I’m not the only one who’s seen one of our ghosts.”
Glen closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead as if he felt a headache coming on.
“How did Darby get so intoxicated, Rowan?” Jayson asked. “I only served him two drinks and from what I saw, he spent most of the evening nursing the second one.”
“I have no idea. He claims Micah kept refilling his glass, and for some reason didn’t seem at all fazed by supposedly seeing an apparition of sorts.”
“You know, Micah would have had to materialize to pour something into a glass; the same as when he pinches food, and he’s real good at doing it on the sly. Does this mean you don’t have a problem with Darby believing in ghosts?” TJ wanted to know.
“Doesn’t bother me one way or another,” Rowan stated pragmatically. He smiled softly, remembering something from his past. “When I was twelve, my parents purchased an old farmhouse a short distance from town. I don’t quite recall how it all came about, but my younger sisters were convinced there was a ghost in their bedroom. They said her name was Abigail; that she was very unhappy and cried a lot. They were not at all frightened by her, not that I recollect her ever materializing. They felt only compassion for her. As they grew older, my sisters eventually just talked less and less about her. It might have something to do with my not finding it difficult to believe the line from Hamlet that reads ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy’.” That about summed up Rowan’s take on the subject.
“Well, I’ll admit I’d certainly be more than a little disconcerted if Micah was a malevolent spectre, but he isn’t. Neither is Jeremiah. Sure, Micah can be a real pain but he probably wants a friend and doesn’t know how to go about getting one. And there isn’t much encouragement from that closed-minded guy over there.” TJ jabbed a finger in Glen’s direction.
“I’m not totally refuting their existence, TJ. I haven’t seen them or even signs of them. But I’m okay with you believing in them.”
“No signs! Are you kidding? What about….” TJ went on the list several of Micah’s misdeeds, much to the amusement of Jayson, Riley and Rowan.
“I think this is an issue we’re going to have to agree to disagree on, my love,” Glen declared, firmly bringing the topic to a close.
“Well I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m off to join my husband in bed,” Rowan announced, getting to his feet and gathering up the dirty dishes to carry into the kitchen.
“Good idea. I think it’s time we all hit the hay,” Jayson agreed, following suit.
“I’m ready to,” TJ piped up, accepting a helping hand from his partner. “I’m beat!” he tiredly admitted, leaning against the slightly bigger man for a few moments.
“Tomorrow’s our last day here and we don’t want to be too worn-out to enjoy it,” Riley commented around a huge yawn that made his eyes water. He had been quiet throughout the discussion, still slightly embarrassed and a little bewildered over his earlier scare. He was undeniably relieved that Jayson hadn’t mentioned it. He quite willingly got up and walked out of the room behind the others, looking forward to curling up in bed with his husband.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
TJ was anxious for his friends to put in an appearance. He knew they were finally up because he’d heard the showers running.
“Are those eggs ready yet, pet?” Glen asked as he placed an entire pound of cooked bacon on a paper towel-covered plate.
“Almost; I got the cheese grated and just have to add these veggies as soon as I get them chopped small enough. Can you butter the last of the toast?” Both men were multi-tasking in order to get brunch on the table while everything was still reasonably hot.
“Hmm, smells good in here!” Rowan enthusiastically complimented as he walked into the kitchen. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Yeah, mind pouring out six glasses of OJ?” Glen requested. “The table set and we’ll be ready to sit down in a couple of minutes.” He grinned at the sound of two young men galloping down the stairs and jumping off the last two. “Obviously those two Brats aren’t the worse for wear after last night’s over-indulging.”
“Jayson’s bringing up the rear,” Riley announced, sliding into the room in his sock feet seconds before Darby. “I won!” he crowed.
“You shouldn’t be racing in the house in the first place, young man,” Jayson scolded, coming in just as Riley slammed into the counter and knocked the air out of his lungs.
Darby smirked and sat down at the table, picked up the glass of juice Rowan set in front of him and drained it. “I’m starved! I didn’t eat much last night at the party.”
“That’s probably why the liquor hit you so hard, Sweets.” Rowan readily accepted that as the reason for his husband being so drunk after only two drinks. Fortunately, Darby had apparently slept it off.
“What’s your excuse, Riley,” Jayson asked his husband who was loading up his plate.
“Beats me! I thought I’d eaten plenty and I only had four beers. I can usually handle more.” He merely shrugged his shoulders and chewed on a piece of bacon. “I feel great now, so whatever happened will have to remain a mystery.”
‘You keep thinking that, buddy,’ TJ thought. ‘Too bad there’s something else on the agenda or we’d be clearing up that so-called ‘mystery’ here and now.’ He was far from thrilled with having to wait but had no control over it.
“We better get a move on if we want to get in a game of golf before the temperature rises and it gets too warm to play comfortably,” Glen suggested, happy at the sight of everyone digging in.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
TJ and Riley were stretched out at the end of the dock with their feet dangling over the edge, and complaining about the heat.
“At least it’s a bit cooler than in our home town,” Darby commented, peeling the bark of a twig he was toying with and tossing it into the water. He was sitting nearby yet seemed miles away as he gazed out over the lake.
“Thank God Jayson suggested we come back early and leave them to finish up the last nine holes,” Riley murmured, closing his eyes against the glare of the sun.
“Probably thought some of us were hung-over,” TJ teased. He suspected his friends of being a little weary, but not suffering any other lingering effects from the party. “Although it would have been with just cause; after all, you guys were pretty blotto last night. Darby. Hey, Darby, I’m talking to you, man,” TJ’s raised voice succeeded in getting the other man’s attention.
“Whaaat!”
“There’s a rumour around that you met Micah. Is that right?”
“I’m not sure,” Darby shrugged his shoulders. “I was probably dreaming at the time.”
“Rowan specifically asked about Micah. He said you were having a conversation with someone supposedly sitting on the foot of your bed.”
“I was kinda out of it at the time, TJ. Rowan told me it was your cat.”
“Regardless, the question remains. Do you now believe we have ghosts?”
“I’m not saying you don’t, I’m just not admitting to having actually seen one of them.”
“What about you, Riley?” TJ asked as he poked the dozing man beside him in the ribs.
“Huh? I haven’t seen nothin’.”
“Oh yeah? Then why were you shouting after going upstairs to your room and who did you chuck your pillow at?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Despite his denial lacking conviction, Riley planned to claim ignorance as far as any potential sighting of the supernatural was concerned. He preferred the subject be dropped.
TJ pressed his lips together to avoid lashing out. He was annoyed and disappointed by his friends not supporting his assertions of there being two other men, albeit dead ones, sharing his and Glen’s home. “Hell of a lot of help you guys are,” he muttered, pushing himself to his feet and glaring down at his companions. “I’m going inside to get something to eat. If you’re hungry, there are plenty of leftovers.”
Darby’s stomach answered the call and he got up to follow. “Wait up, TJ. Look, I’m sorry, but I really can’t remember much of anything once Rowan got me upstairs. Honest.” He felt bad for having upset his friend.
“It’s okay, Darby. Maybe Micah will put in another appearance before you leave in the morning.”
They were filling their plates when Riley decided to join them. He’d deliberately taken his time in hopes that they’d changed the topic of conversation.
“I think our spouses are home. I heard a vehicle coming down the lane,” he informed Darby and TJ. Glancing over the array of food on the table, he shook his head in amazement. “Think you’ll ever get this all eaten, TJ?”
“Probably not,” TJ muttered. “We somehow must have gotten the idea we were expected to feed a small army. We’d end up throwing a lot more out if many of our guests hadn’t taken some home.”
“We can always pack a lunch for our trip tomorrow,” Darby suggested. “This is all so good,” he complimented, shoving a large forkful of seafood salad into his mouth.
Just then car doors were heard slamming to announce the arrival of Glen, Jayson and Rowan.
“Finally!” Darby and Riley chorused. There were plans in the works to spend a fun afternoon on the water.
TJ groaned with the realization that any strategies he had for trying to conjure up Micah would have to be put on hold, and he felt his frustration mounting. His sour mood would have to be squelched if he didn’t want to turn their guests’ inability to believe in ghosts into a painful trip over Glen’s knee. Maybe Micah would be willing to help out.
It was much later in the day before an opportunity to converse with Micah unexpectedly arose.
TJ was brushing his teeth in preparation for retiring for the night, when he glanced up into the mirror and saw the man he’d been wanted to speak with standing behind him. He was pleased to realize he was no longer shocked when Micah put in appearance, heedless of the time or place.
“Hi Micah, it’s nice of you to finally pay a call. I was expecting you to show up to the party last night. I mean literally ‘show up’.” TJ kept his voice low so as not to attract Glen’s attention.
“I was there, and so was Jeremiah for a little while. He left but I stayed on.” Micah fidgeted self-consciously.
“Why didn’t you let me know you were present?”
“I was upset because I had heard you and your friends laughing at me earlier.” A touch of sadness was seen in Micah’s eyes.
TJ thought back to yesterday and remember the scene Micah must have witnessed. “Oh, Micah, I admit we were seeing the humour in some of the stunts you’ve pulled but we were not laughing at you. I would never deliberately hurt your feelings. You should have let me know you were there and we would have included you in the fun.” TJ grinned at an after-though. “Okay, that would only have been after Darby and Riley got over the shock of seeing you.”
“Well, it angered me and I behaved badly. So I’m here now to apologize for playing mean tricks on a couple of your guests. Darby let me express my regret, but Riley chased me away.”
“I knew! I knew it!” TJ gloated seconds before his hand flew up to cover his mouth. He waited for a moment and was relieved when Glen didn’t call out from the next room. He tiptoed over to the door, noiselessly opened it a crack and looked out to discover Glen sleeping, his book lying face-down on the bed. He turned back to his visitor to continue their conversation. “They denied your visits, you know. Although I can understand Darby being too drunk to remember, I bet Riley was too mortified to let on. You gotta reveal yourself to them again, Micah, and this time, I want to witness their reactions.”
Micah emphatically shook his head. “I can’t, TJ. I dare not defy Jeremiah again; at least not today. I really got in a lot of bother for my retaliation exploits and I’m still recovering from my partner’s extreme displeasure in what he called my dastardly deeds. I’ve been forbidden to materialize in front of anyone other than you.” He shifted to relieve the discomfort being aggravated by his tight pants but resisted the temptation to reach around and rub his sore backside.
“Well, I won’t say I’m not disappointed, Micah. It would have been neat to have someone else believe in you guys. I do appreciate your predicament though, having been on the receiving end of ‘bother’ myself.”
They studied each other for several moments, both wanting to tender the same appeal but agonizing over the thought of being rejected.
“Do you think….” they jointly began, then chuckled softly before TJ cautiously ventured forth.
“Do you think we can be friends, Micah? After all, we are sharing this home you and Jeremiah built. I’m getting rather use to you hanging around. Hell, I think I’d miss you if you left for good.”
Micah nodded, a happy grin spreading across his face. “I’d really like that. I don’t think Jeremiah will mind but what about your partner?”
TJ shrugged. “Who knows? Glen just cannot seem to acknowledge that you two guys not only exist, but that you do so in this very house right alongside us. Until he does, we’ll have to develop a friendship without him. It isn’t the way I’d like it to be, but I’ve no control over what he wants to believe, right?”
“Maybe Jeremiah and I can help with that,” Micah offered.
“Not if it means scaring him to death,” TJ declared with a burst of laughter. Although he wouldn’t want Glen deliberately frightened, he could still see the humour in that particular scenario.
“Then I’d be best forgetting that idea,” Micah suggested after reconsidering. “It will probably enhance my own well-being if I do.”
“Hey, you want a treat?”
“Sure!”
“Then meet me down in the kitchen.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Psst, Micah; show yourself if you want this,” TJ said as loud as he dared for fear of waking Glen and their guests. The five of them were refusing to acknowledge the ghosts and besides, he didn’t want Micah getting in any more trouble.
TJ felt the bowl being grabbed and let it go, smiling as Micah slowly become visible.
“From now on when you want something, just ask. But no more tricks, got it?” TJ watched spoonfuls of ice cream disappearing into the mouth of the rapidly bobbing head. “I’m fed up with Glen and me blaming each other for the weird things that happen around here. So it’s a truce between us. If you want, our partners need never know.”
Two Brats’ eyes widened as duplicate throat clearing was heard a little too close for comfort.
Startled, Glen glanced to the right of where he was standing just inside the kitchen door. He sure as hell didn’t think the room had the acoustics to produce an echo. So who in blazes simultaneously cleared their throat when he did?
He was staggered when a man who looked vaguely familiar gradually materialized. He watched open-mouthed as the large gentleman wearing a by-gone sea captain’s uniform walked over to a younger man also dressed in attire from another era, and wrapped an arm around him.
Then he noticed TJ’s face-splitting grin. Had his life depended on it, Glen was unable to utter a word as he looked back and forth between his partner and two…surely they weren’t the ‘Ghosts’ TJ had been going on about.
‘I mustn’t be fully awake and my eyes are playing tricks on me,’ he managed to convince himself. TJ’s voice quickly destroyed that badly hoped-for delusion. He shook his head in utter amazement, blinking his eyes several times as if doing so would make the apparitions disappear.
“You finally see them, don’t you?” TJ smugly inquired.
Going over the stand next to his own Brat, Glen easily picked-up on the over-protective mode Jeremiah was in. He’d seen Jayson and Rowan behaving in a comparable manner on occasion.
“This is positively incredible! They’re real! Well, as real as ghosts can be, I guess,” Glen murmured, completely dumb-founded.
“Well you can’t say I didn’t try to tell you,” TJ was in his glory rubbing it in. “But we’re not going to tell anyone else. They can’t wrap their minds around it anyway so it’s a waste of time and just pisses me off.”
Micah was staring wide-eyed at Glen, while Jeremiah had a self-assured smile on his face.
“No,” Glen agreed. “Telling others isn’t necessary. No need opening ourselves up for ridicule. I am so sorry, my love, if I ever seemed to do that to you. It was just so damn impossible, or so I thought. But apparently I was wrong. I think this is going to take some time to sink in.”
TJ exuberantly hugged his dazed lover. “As long as you see them now, that’s all that matters to me. Oh, and while you may have doubted my claims, you never once belittled me for having made them. If it’s all right with you and Jeremiah, can Micah and I be friends?”
Two alpha males sized each other up, liked what they saw, courteously smiled and decisively nodded their heads.
The End
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