Jonathan's Legacy Read online

  “Another raid? Oh, come on, did you call them already?”

  Parked nodded.

  “Oh, shoot. You’ve just ruined the livelihoods of at least a dozen guys for the next couple of weeks. How are we going to survive with the cops marching through here every fucking night for the next week or so? The johns will stay away as soon as they see a squad car in the area. Fuck. Thank you very fucking much.” The kid was upset, and he glared at Parker.

  Adam offered an alternative. “Well, if we found Kyle before the cops start to pull up around here, which will be in about—” he checked his watch “—say five hours, it won’t happen, and you can go about your business in peace and quiet. Just saying.”

  Marc gave Adam an incredulous stare, but the kid looked at Adam with an appreciative look. Adam pulled out his wallet and presented the kid with two one-hundred-dollar bills. “These Franklins are yours, as a bonus, if you help us find Kyle. You already have the address. What’s your name, son?”

  “Josh. Name’s Josh.”

  “Nice to meet you, Josh. I’m Adam. Anyway, we’re heading back to the house now. Unless you have any other information for us?”

  “Look, dude, I told you. Ain’t no snitch. Besides, too many eyes around here.”

  Adam got the hint. “You have a phone?” Josh nodded. “Well, then, call us when you’re somewhere more private. All right? We’ll be leaving now. Don’t forget those Franklins…” He grabbed Marc and Parker by the arms and began to pull them away.

  Parker tried to protest. “But he knows something.”

  “Exactly, which is why we can’t stay here.”

  Even Marc was confused. “But, Adam, that makes no sense.”

  “It makes every sense. Didn’t you get his hint? He knows where Kyle is, but he couldn’t tell us. He might have a pimp watching, not to mention all the other kids in hearing range. Maybe even Kyle. If we stick around, we’ll only jeopardize him. He’s willing to help us. I have a feeling about Josh. Let’s see what happens. We need to get back to the house.”

  The other two were confused but had no reason not to trust Adam’s instincts. After all, he, too, had spent some time on the streets and knew the rules better than they did. They walked back to their cars and drove back to the house.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 10 - Josh

  None of the men went to bed after getting home. They sat up in the kitchen, drinking coffee and talking. Parker was rattled by the experience up in Boystown and told Cody what he’d seen, and how miserable he’d felt at having to leave all those kids up there, unable to help them out.

  “There were probably six or seven of them. The youngest looked to be Jeff’s age. I was this close to just grabbing them and bringing them to the house.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t,” Cody said, holding Parker’s hand. “You know social services wouldn’t have liked that much.”

  “Yeah, I know, I know. But I also know you, and I know you’d have felt the same way.”

  Cody leaned over and kissed Parker. “You know that’s not the point, Park. I think we all want to solve all the world’s problems. But the thing is we can’t, and we risk jeopardizing the help we are giving by taking on too much. And I love you for wanting to. That’s why I married you, you big oaf!”

  “Says the man who’s taller than I am? I love you, too.”

  Marc had turned quiet and looked down at the table. Adam had noticed. “You okay Marc?”

  “No, I’m not. I feel like such an idiot. I have this amazing job, I live in this beautiful house, with people like you, Parker, and Cody, and I just remembered our conversation. I feel like such an egotistical bastard.”

  Adam put his arm around Marc. “You’re anything but egotistical. And you do have a right to your own life. That doesn’t make you a bad person.”

  “What are you guys talking about?” Parker looked puzzled.

  Marc was struggling to find the appropriate words. “Please, Parker, don’t get angry about what I’m about to tell you. It’s just that I’ve felt strange these past months, with the home opening, the kids moving in here, on top of everything else that’s been going on over the past couple of years. Sometimes I pinch myself to remind me that it’s all real. The huge house, my bedroom, the credit card. But none of it is the result of my work. It’s all because I happened to fall in love with the right man at the right time.”

  “And what’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing.” Marc put up his hands. “You know I loved your grandpa very, very much. I would gladly have given my life for him. But it wasn’t meant to be, and I miss him every day—his smile, his sense of humor, his generosity, his love for me and his family. And I love you guys, too. I never thought I’d have a family, and now I have all of you. Not just family, you’re my closest friends. But I also want to create something of my own, on my own.”

  Parker frowned. “I’m not sure I understand. You are creating something here, with us. Isn’t that good enough for you?”

  “Please, Parker, that isn’t fair.” Cody put his hand on Parker’s again, trying to calm his husband’s temper. “Let him explain. I think I know where he’s coming from.”

  “Oh, et tu, Brutus? Are you on his side now?”

  “I wasn’t aware this was about taking sides. There are no two sides here. We are one family. Just listen to him.” Cody was smiling. He knew that Parker was extremely passionate about the children, and that he got upset by anything that might be construed as personal criticism, as he was so engaged in the venture.

  “Okay, I’ll just shut up, then!”

  “Parker, please. Just try to see it from my point of view,” Marc tried again. “I grew up without any money. I mean, we weren’t poor. Dad had a good job, allowing Mom to stay at home, but compared to the wealth that you and your family have, we were poor. Meeting Jonathan was overwhelming. His—and your—generosity was…is amazing. Whether it was moving from my windowless room that I shared with someone else, up to the huge VIP suite on the Diamond, or moving in here, after Cody’s accident—I grew up in a two-bedroom apartment. Your kitchen is almost as big as that apartment.

  “I married into that money, yes, even though I never sought it out. I’m barely forty-one. I want to make more of my life than just to look after someone else’s kids. I want to create something of my own, something that is about me, my qualifications, my passions. I love you all, and I would never abandon you, but I want to build something that is about me. Can you understand that?”

  Cody nodded, and Parker’s face displayed the mixed emotions and the thoughts going through his mind.

  Cody offered a different point of view. “Park, listen. When we met, I didn’t know who you were. I had no idea you were a Jackson. I fell in love with the quirky, crazy guy who would always joke with our teachers. There were times, at the beginning, when you first introduced me to your family, to Grandpa, that I, too, was overwhelmed. Even I panicked a little. But just as Marc was happy with Jonathan, I am happy with you.

  “This house is ours, the home we’ve built for the kids is our idea. This is about us, together, as a couple, starting a family. I can understand that Marc feels differently. It’s not his idea. We just dropped it in his lap, asked for his help, because it was convenient with him already being here and with our studies. Maybe we were unfair to presume he’d be happy to do it. Maybe we simply assumed he’d be grateful.” Cody turned to Marc and added, “I’m sorry, Marc. I’m sorry if we took you for granted. That was never our intention.”

  “Don’t worry, Cody. I know that, and I never took it that way. It’s just that I’d like to create something that is about me, and my own unique talents. I don’t know what, yet, and in the meantime, I’ll continue to help you around the house and with the kids. Heck, I’ll help you for as long as you’ll allow me to live here.”

  Parker was about to say something when the doorbell rang. “At this time? That’s odd.” A worried look crossed his face as he got up and ran to the fron
t door.

  The others followed after him. Parker opened the front door, and there was Josh, the kid they’d found in the street earlier. And in his arms was Kyle, standing in front of the cab that had driven them here.

  “Oh my god, Kyle, you’re home. Come on in, please. Where’s your key, Kyle?”

  The young boy was bashful. “I, uh, wasn’t sure if I should use it. I figured you may not want me around anymore.”

  Parker pulled the boy to him and gave him a hug. “Oh, kiddo, that’s utter nonsense. We just spent four hours looking for you. Of course we want you back. Come on in. You feel cold. Want some hot chocolate?”

  Kyle nodded and walked past Parker into the house, while Cody paid the cabby.

  Adam smiled when he saw the kid. “Hey, Josh. I owe you. Come on in. I’m sure you’ll want a hot drink, too?”

  “I’ll just take those two Franklins if that’s all right with you.”

  “Come in. For cocoa or coffee at least?”

  Josh nodded and walked into the house. Cody closed and locked the outer door. The relief was visible on his face. All six of them sat down around the kitchen table.

  Cody poured the adults and Josh coffee while Parker fixed some hot chocolate for Kyle. “Are you boys hungry?” he asked, and both Josh and Kyle nodded. Cody proceeded to pull out bread, cheese, mayo, lettuce and tomatoes along with some meat and prepared a few humongous sandwiches. He had a hunch the boys would be starving. He put the sandwiches in front of them and they dug right in.

  Adam was the first to break the silence. “Here’s your money, Josh. Thank you, but I hope you’ll at least consider staying the night, get some rest and a hot shower in the morning?”

  Josh gave him a puzzled look as he stashed the bills away inside his dirty, worn jacket.

  “Kyle, whatever possessed you to run off?” Cody asked. “Did we say something, or do something to give you the impression you weren’t welcome?”

  Kyle shook his head, his mouth still full with the food, so Josh answered on his behalf. “He told me that he figured he’d better get out of your house on his own before you grew tired of him.”

  Parker’s face displayed all kinds of emotions. “Oh, Kyle, we will never throw you out. Do you hear me? This is your home now. For all intents and purposes, you, Susan, Amy, and Jeff—you’re like our own kids to us, and you’ve had us worried sick. Please, promise me to never pull a stunt like this again.” He put his hand on the boy’s head and tousled his hair.

  Kyle looked up at him, taking another bite, his eyes showing curiosity, but he still wasn’t convinced.

  Marc gave it a shot. “Here’s the deal, Kyle. You know that Parker and Cody will never be able to have children of their own, at least, not biologically. They sort of lack the proper equipment. To take you into their house, their home, is their way of having children. They see you as theirs, and if I’ve ever seen worried parents, it’s these two. They may not be your biological parents, but trust me, they are on the verge of becoming your real parents, and if you play your cards right, you’ll end up with the best parents a kid could ever ask for.”

  Kyle looked at Marc, incredulously, then looked at Parker and Cody, before he said. “But I’m not gay.”

  Cody had to chuckle at the comment. “That’s fine. Neither is Susan, and, well, the little ones are still too young to know. Just because we’re gay doesn’t mean that we would only want gay kids. As long as you do well in school, do your homework, and your chores, we couldn’t care any less about your sexuality. That’s your business, not ours.”

  “So you’d be fine if I brought girls to the house?”

  This time, Parker laughed out loud, amused by the question. “Aren’t you a little young to worry about that? But yes. We’d be fine if you eventually brought a girl to the house.”

  “Okay, I’ll stay, then.” And that was the end of the discussion.

  Adam took up a new thread. “What about you, Josh?”

  “What about me?”

  “Would you like to stay here?” The question garnered Adam puzzled looks from everyone around the table.

  Josh looked around the room, this huge kitchen, the big massive oak kitchen table. Everything about this room screamed money, although not in a bad way. But the sheer size of the house and the room said more than a thousand words.

  “Dunno.”

  “Well, you should stay,” Marc said. “At least for tonight. Get some rest. Let us launder your clothes. You’re about the same size as Jonathan… We could get you some new jeans, shoes, and maybe even a sweater. It’s cold out.” And he said to the others, “Let me get the upstairs guest room ready for him.” Marc left the room.

  “He seems awfully sure about me staying,” Josh said, still munching on his second sandwich. He’d downed both in no time and still looked hungry. Parker got up and made another one, while Cody took Kyle upstairs. The boy looked tired.

  “Okay, I’m staying. But only tonight,” Josh said between bites.

  “Good. I’m glad. Let me take you up so you can get out of these clothes and get a hot shower.” Adam got up and gestured Josh to follow him.

  Parker remained in the kitchen and began to clean up.

  “Do you trust Adam with this kid?” Parker asked when Marc came back into the kitchen.

  “I think the fact Josh brought Kyle home is a sign, and Adam picked up on it. Not sure what it means—if the kid wants to stay here or if he’s simply ready to leave the street. Think about it, Parker, who would want to live on the streets forever? Nobody. People live on the street because of circumstances beyond their control. For adults, it’s usually an illness, often mental, like PTSD, that makes it difficult, if not impossible, for them to hold on to a job, or even live through an average day, particularly if they don’t have any healthcare or can’t afford the medication. For kids, it’s usually a broken home… When the street seems safer than your own house, it’s a pretty scary thought.”

  “Hmm, he better be right about this. I’m not too thrilled about having a complete stranger in the house. What if he’s up to something bad?”

  “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Adam has a sixth sense about these things. Besides, I can stay up. I’m too wound up to sleep anyway, and Adam needs to get back to the city in an hour or two. We might as well make an all-nighter out of it, in case you and Cody want to get some shuteye?”

  “That would be great, yeah. I’m beat, and I have finals today. Oh, and Marc? I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  Marc gave Parker a big hug. “Don’t worry, Step-Grandson. I know you have a heart of gold. Don’t you worry about me. It takes more than that to offend me.”

  “Well, if you need money for your project, let us know. We’d be happy to help.”

  Marc laughed. “Don’t get me wrong, but that’s exactly what I wouldn’t do. Go to bed now, kiddo. Adam and I have things under control.”

  ***

  “Are the kids all asleep?” Marc was lying on his bed, dressed in sweatpants, when Adam walked in.

  “Yeah. Cody said Kyle was completely exhausted and fell asleep before his head hit the pillow. Josh seemed grateful for the warm and comfy bed, too, and if I’m not mistaken, I heard Parker snoring on the way back here. How are you?”

  “I’m good, but I’d be even better if you locked that door and came here.” Marc patted the space next to him in bed.

  “Oh, Marc, I think I’m too tired for what you have in mind.”

  “Just get undressed and come here. Remember, I’m a massage therapist. Let me work on your back a little, work out some of that stress.”

  Adam was about to protest, but Marc got out of bed, stripped out of his sweats, and approached Adam in the nude. Adam looked at the man, his boyfriend, approaching him and had nothing to say. He just stood there. Marc came up to him and began to undress him, shirt, belt, jeans, shoes, socks. Adam complied, enticed by the handsome man in front of him and by his own body send
ing all kinds of signals to his tired brain. By the time Marc had him completely undressed, he was sporting a hard-on.

  “Marc, are you sure you want to do this? I mean, we said we’d take it slowly.”

  “Fuck slowly. I want to give you a massage, and from the looks of it, it’s already a happy one.” Marc kissed Adam passionately and pulled him across the room.

  Adam complied and got on the bed and lay on his stomach. Marc climbed on top of him and began to work on him. They had spent several nights together, but despite dating for months, they’d never had sex.

  That was highly unusual for Marc. All of his relationships had always been extremely physical, most of them purely physical, sexual. It had only been with Jonathan that he’d felt more, that metaphysical connection of heart, mind, and soul, where sex could be more than just lust, getting your rocks of. Yet even with Jonathan, sex had been a regular part of their relationship from the very beginning. With Adam, things were different, and Marc was unsure if it was because of him mourning Jonathan or if it was Adam.

  Adam’s body was warm to the touch, and Marc’s cock rested between his boyfriend’s ass cheeks, fully erect, as he massaged Adam’s back. Originally, he hadn’t even thought about sex, but seeing Adam’s erection and his own reaction to it, he was considering the option, hoping even, despite Adam’s words to the contrary.

  Adam’s back was a mess. “Why haven’t I worked on you before? You are so tense. You have more knots on your back than my favorite Christmas sweater. Remind me to give you massages more regularly.”

  For a second, Marc feared Adam had fallen asleep, but he was still responding to his touches. Slowly, he worked his way farther down Adam’s back, to the small of it, and on to his ass cheeks. Adam’s ass was deliciously round and muscular, and Marc could see the results of years of working out regularly. He scooted down a bit and got in between Adam’s legs, spreading them a bit. He was still massaging Adam’s gluteus, but inside him, his lust was slowly gaining the upper hand, and before long, he couldn’t resist and dove right in. He began to rim Adam, driving the latter to moan with pleasure.