Please read When We Were Young Ch. 8 and this will make a lot more sense.
Special thanks to kenjisato for the editing, whom I cannot recommend enough.
Comments would really be appreciated.
This part contains M/F and MM/FFFF consensual sex.
**
A lot happened with the family in late May and June 2001. Rich and I got the flooring put down, so Mar and Sharon could move their furniture into the house, after graduation. Linda moved her furniture in, as the lease on her apartment was up.
Linda's dad, Bob, and my dad came up and, with everyone chipping in, hung cabinets, installed appliances and countertops, and got the bathrooms finished. We were basically moving into a brand-new house, courtesy of Miss Ruth. It was a long weekend, but everyone got along well, the only hiccup came when Rich called me Daddy while we were helping Bob and my dad hang a cabinet.
My finger was about to get crushed, when 'Daddy, your fingers!' burst from Rich's mouth. I yanked my hand to safety, Rich's face frozen.
Sharon came to the rescue, kind of. Bob and Dad looked at Rich, confused, and Sharon started laughing and laughing. "Tony likes to pretend he's the boss around here, so we call him 'Daddy', sometimes. Our own little inside joke."
"Ha, ha, very funny," I said, laughing a little and flipping Rich off. He forced a laugh, but looked sick.
Bob and my dad chuckled, and we got back to work, but no way did they buy our story.
Sharon whispered into my ear later that day, "Don't worry, pet has earned himself some discipline," a devious gleam in her eye.
**
I saw Bob out by his truck, taking a break and talking on his cell, and I hustled outside when he hung up. "Mr. Anderson, Bob, you got a minute?"
"Sure, what's up?"
I had decided I needed to ask him for his blessing to marry Linda. An old tradition, yes, but we had a friendly relationship, and it seemed appropriate. That was as far as my thinking had progressed, however, so I ended up just standing in front of him, with no idea what I was going to say.
"I, um, well, you know how much I love and care about Linda, right? The thing is, well, I, you see, hmmpff," struck stupid at a really bad time.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, opening them to see in his eyes he knew. "Let's take a walk, son," he said, and we headed up the tree-lined, shady street.
"All I want to do is make her happy, Mr. Anderson. A few months back, Mrs. Anderson said I looked at Lin the way you used to look at her, and still do sometimes. And she looks at me like I hung the moon? I don't know what that means, but she said it was a good thing."
Bob chuckled.
"I know we're young, but from the first time we talked, we've wanted the same things from life, see ourselves on the same path, and our feelings have only gotten stronger. We both want kids while we're young. Linda wants to climb the corporate ladder and be a big success. I don't want that at all, but supporting other people is something I know how to do very well, and really enjoy. So, I'll work, but make sure the kids get to basketball or ballet or whatever and will take care of them and the house and make sure everything runs smoothly as a family. We fit together and, well, we don't want to wait," finally running out of steam.
We walked in silence for a little while, me getting more and more nervous.
"Tony, when that asshole Ray hurt my little girl, I wanted to kill him. I mean, I really thought about it, went and bought a gun, and planned it in my head. Your job as a father is to protect your kids; make sure they have everything they need to be whatever they want to be, raise them to be kind, respectful, caring adults.
"I failed her. I wasn't there when she needed me, and it just tore me up inside, to see her in so much pain. After Ray, I vowed it would never happen again, that I would watch her closely and keep an eye on the next man she got involved with.
"And then, as soon as she seemed back to her old self, she started talking about you. And I hated you before I knew anything about you; all I could think about was her getting hurt again. At Christmas brunch, you were polite and respectful, and I could see you cared for each other; and I hated you even more, convinced that deep down you were really just like Ray.
"I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but Susan talked to Carmen, concerned Linda was getting involved with another man too soon. And Carmen told her you were okay, that she was helping you deal with something from your past, something that revealed how much you cared about Linda; how much you truly loved her and wanted what was best for her.
"We started looking at Linda differently and realized how happy she was, how grown up she was becoming, how she lit up around you; that you were good for her.
"Tony, we have been expecting this for a couple of months now, and you have Susan's and my blessings; we're very happy for you and Linda. But Tony? You hurt my little girl and I will kill you."
Bob stared at me and I nodded. I wasn't worried, but I understood.
**
Linda and I won a coin toss over Sharon and Rich, giving us the main floor master bedroom and attached bath, which was awesome. Sharon and Rich got the largest of the three upstairs bedrooms, Mar taking one of the smaller rooms.
We had too much furniture, storing the overflow in the unfinished basement, Mar hoping to turn the space into a meeting area for her and Alex's lesbian support group. Once we told Linda, that is. Sharon had other ideas, seeing it as a perfect place for us to play together...and a place where she and Rich would not be overheard.
The night before Miss Ruth's visit to see the house and meet her new tenants, Mar and I took Linda to TK's, our local bar and grill, for dinner, drinks...and Alex. We were enjoying a pitcher of beer when Mar broached the topic.
"Linda, I've invited someone to join us who I really want you to meet," Mar said.
"Who?" she replied warily.
"Her name's Alex and I'm hoping to start a lesbian support group with her. Her story and mine are actually very similar. She was disowned by her entire family and has had to make her way in the world without any support at all. Certainly nothing like the support you, Sharon, and Sharon's parents gave me; that you all continue to give," reaching out and squeezing my hand.
"And even though she's beautiful and has an important job, she still struggles to meet people and form friendships, connecting with people. We think we can help people who are going through that now. Tony said it was okay, but I wanted to get your approval. It means a lot to us."
"I think it's a great idea, honey. You don't need my permission, but you have it," she beamed at Mar.
"Well, you might not...oh, she's here. I'll go get her," hopping up and crossing the restaurant.
Linda's back was to the entrance and didn't see Alex and Mar talking, eventually heading our way.
"Honey, a favor, for me? Don't freak out, please?" I asked.
"Why would I freak out?"
They reached the table, Mar holding Alex's hand. "Lin, this is Alex. Alex, this is Linda."
Linda's eyes went wide, looking from Alex to Mar, then finally to me, narrowing noticeably. Not happy. "Won't you have a seat, Alex, is it?" she asked, a little frostily.
"Thank you, Linda," Alex answered quietly, still holding Mar's hand.
"Let me explain," Mar said, as I flagged down our waiter and ordered four tequila shots.
"That would be nice."
"First, Linda, I need to apologize for my actions at Sabrina's. It was inexcusable, I deserve your anger, and what Tony did to me. I was completely out of line."
"Thank you, Alex," she answered, tightly.
"Please don't be angry at Mar or Tony, I asked them not to tell you. This support group is very important to me, and I wanted the opportunity to talk to you about it face to face, afraid you wouldn't speak to me if you knew about me ahead of time.
"I grew up in a small town about two-hundred miles south of here, and being gay was unacceptable. Some of my family and friends thought it was a phase, others that I just wanted attention; my pastor and mom thought I was possessed. Nobody thought it was okay.
"My boyfriend was embarrassed and humiliated, teased by his friends, and picked on, everyone calling him gay. So, he decided to 'fuck me straight' one night, which led to him trying to beat me up when I said 'No'. I ended up beating the shit out of him, taking out all of my anger on him, breaking his nose and a couple of ribs.
"I left that night; I would have been beaten up, raped, and possibly worse, by his friends and family, if I stayed. I called home a couple of years later and my dad told me not to come back. 'Go to the big city and get AIDS, for all we care'. Only my little sister will talk to me, trading emails with me.
"I went to Kansas City and stayed with a friend. I attended school full-time and worked forty hours a week waiting tables, got my degree, and have a great job here in town. I made a success of my life...and I still continue to do things like I did to Tony; I just can't help myself.
"That's why the support group is so important to me. I want to help people that went through what Mar and I endured. I also want to find out how to stop doing things like I did to you, and I hope the group can help me."
"How did you and Mar connect?" Linda asked.
"I literally bumped into Tony coming out of..."
"The bookstore," Mar rushed out, confusion on Alex's face. "Just plowed right into each other."
As Mar told Linda about their discussion, I took Alex's hand and squeezed it, putting extra pressure on a ring she was wearing, rubbing it with my finger, hoping she would get the message.
Alex looked confused, then her eyes got big and she nodded.
When Mar finished recounting our meeting at the mall, there was an uncomfortable silence as everyone waited on Linda. I held her hand and smiled, as she formulated her answer.
"Thank you for the apology, Alex, and I'm sorry your journey has been difficult. It was very hard for Mar, and she had people that loved her by her side every day. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been enduring it all on your own. Mar trusts you, which says a lot. You are welcome in our home, but I can't say I won't be watching you closely, at least at the beginning, until I've satisfied myself that I can trust you."
Alex smiled. "I completely understand, Linda, honestly. And thank you, thank you so much."
I ordered more shots and a pizza and Lin and Alex got better acquainted. As we were leaving, I hugged Alex and quietly thanked her for not 'outing' me about the jewelry store. "Your secret's safe with me. I'm happy for you both."
Linda dragged me to our new bedroom that night, and ordered me to undress her, then myself, before lighting candles and bringing her wine. Turning on a small bedside lamp, she propped herself up against the headboard, opened a book, and started reading. "Get under the covers and pleasure me."
"Yes, ma'am," I replied, noting her golden flecks were dull tonight. She was fighting her desire to help Mar on one hand, and her jealousy on the other, justified or not, if I had to guess. Plus, she was reminding me where (and to whom) I belonged, and that she alone knew how badly I longed to be there.
