Changing Places with Yourself

Chapter 23

Allen was reading and every time he looked up his eyes were wider and wider oh, finally he couldn’t be silent anymore, “The visuals you create, honey they are mind-blowing.  I've seen my share of very racy movies and such, but in chapter 24 or you describe the four play I can almost see a picture of him dripping into her…”

“Great, please don't ruin it for those who have yet to read it.”  I try to stop him before he gets more graphic, “How did you get to chapter 24 already you just started?”

“Baby girl, I've been reading all the juicy parts and with your writing they are JUICY.” He exclaimed as he pointed the section out to Tony, a shirt, and Adam.  By the time they finished reading the passage, they were all sporting semi hard-ons. 

“Wow, Becky.  Even with reading through a s*x manual like the Kama Sutra, how does a virgin write with such clarity?” Tony had to ask.

“My friends say I use pure imagination because I’m not ‘bogged down by the reality of bad sex.’ According to them, the first time sucks beyond the telling.  So, I write how I like it to be, not just for me but all women.” I replied.

Adam look like he was about to say something but Grandpa beat him to it, “One day, my dear, you will meet the love of your life and he will give you more pleasure than you can stand both in and out of bed.” I blush and decide to change the subject, “So, let me show you the pictures of the apartments available.” I pull up the website and show them shots of the two-story apartment that I had added the l last minute in the designs spanning levels 38 and 39.  Mrs.  Stovard fell in love with the kitchen.  It had five bedrooms, each had its own bathroom on the second floor and the main floor had a huge floor plan with two bathrooms, a great living room, kitchen, dining space, office, and small gym.  I offered to let them stay overnight in my penthouse and that way they could check over the other apartments at their leisure.  None of the rooms had been furnished, except for the apartments we use as the display models.  Allen and his mom said they would run back to the estate and grab clothes for everyone.  Jimmy and Judy offered to come along and help.  Asher, Tony, Grandpa, and I were going to head out.  I know Grandpa was going to talk to me once we were alone about the book just a gut feeling, but surprisingly he leaves it alone while we drive over in my Camaro together.  Adam is advised to go ahead and head home for the night because tomorrow will be more hectic than today was, instead he asked if he could come by and see my building.  Grandpa told him to come for dinner at 7 p.m.  And he agreed.  The guys who are all struck by the way the rooms were set up.  I told him if Allen agreed they could move their beds and things into one of the unfinished units on 38 or 39.  We could find a nice two-bedroom on a lower level and just give her a key card for the garage and lobby access to the freight elevator so she could still get up onto their floors or the roof.  That way they could have some privacy and she could come for visits without having to bother them with buzzing her up.  Allen asked how much does this place rent for monthly? “Somewhere between $1,200 to $1,500 a month, except for the two units on 38 setup for my guards to use when they are on duty.” I replied, “You are family, so I can't charge you to stay.”

“If we were living somewhere else, we would most likely be paying more a month with fewer amenities than you offer in your building.” Tony stated, “We want to pay our fair share, besides we’re going to be getting a lot of money back so we can spend $500 a month each for the 4 bedroom unit that you showed us online.”

“Alright, but if any of you ever want to check out a unit with 2 or 3 bedrooms because of romantic reasons.  I will have in the lease that each of you only pays $500 regardless of how many of you are living there.” I disclose to him.

“Romance isn't something we're going to be getting into so you don't have to worry about that.” Asher asserts in a matter-of-fact tone.  The way he said it I decided to have my people look into it since I can see the pain radiating in his & Tony's eyes.  I file a mental note to ask Alan and Amanda about it later.  By now, I’ve figured out that Allen likes guys more than girls given the way he’s stared at Dante’s behind as a serve coffee earlier in my office to everyone.  Lucky for him, Dante was also checking out Allen as well.

When we got inside the building I gave them a tour of each unit type starting with the 2 bedrooms all the way up to my penthouse.  We ended up on the roof where they were mesmerized by the view.  Tony said it was even more spectacular at night when the city was all lit up and Asher said he couldn't wait to see that.  Bruce came up with the others about 20 minutes later, he had dropped their luggage in the penthouse for now.  The four Stovards moved over to sit on the lounge chairs and discuss their next course of action in private.  Tony called me over to ask how much Amanda's rent would be for the two-bedroom apartment I had shown them.  Truthfully, most people want larger sizes so I’d be willing to sell her the unit for $20,000.

“No, that’s too low for so much space.” she tried to say.  I looked her straight in the face and said, “You know, what you’re right $18,000 and not a penny more.  Keep talking and the price will keep falling, Mrs.  Stovard.  We are family now and unlike that asshat, you were married to I don't screw family for money.” Allen laughed, “That’s true you.  Rumor is you haven’t ‘screwed’ even your own husband.” I chuckled, “That statement is so true, in more ways than one.  So, you’re correct.  My prenup has a cheating clause and I could have divorced him taking everything within a week of marriage taking his trust fund from him.  Also, he slept with so many girls in high school and college, I’m not about to let him get close enough to even sneeze on me.  Unlike him, I know how respect is supposed to work.  Hopefully, once we get him clean and sober he’ll straighten up, but I’m not sure I’ll still be his wife when he does.”

Amanda patted my leg in sympathy, “You can’t put your life on hold, especially if you’re not in love with him.”

“Thanks for letting me have a mini venting session.  Well, looks like it’s a full house for dinner, I should head down and start cooking.” I say as I got up.  I motion the others to join them and called out instructions to Steve and Dylan to set up a long table on the roof for the food and a second one for everyone to eat at.  “Hope you guys are in the mood for Italian, because I make one mean lasagna.” I express, before waving off Mom and Amanda’s offers to come help, “You both should stay and bond, trust me, I have several guards who are more than willing to stand in line for kitchen duty.  If only to make sure that I prepare enough for them as well.”  To which Bruce and two other guards standing close by cheered, it seems everyone loves my cooking.  “Thank you, chef Annie!” I think as I head to my kitchen with three guards joining to “help” as I had predicted.

I had them get out to 4 of my biggest pans from the top shelves of the pantry.  For the main lasagnas as well as 3 of the medium-sized for their lasagnas.  I included a vegetarian version just in case.  Two took down the 3 pans of theirs to cook in their ovens to leave more space in mine.  I started on the garlic bread while the last ran to the closest store to salad fixing along with wine that would complement the meal.  I searched around and found that I had all the ingredients to whip up a tiramisu for dessert as well.  If I hadn’t located enough ingredients to make dessert, I would have had guard 3 grab something from the restaurant while he was downstairs.  Due to the fact, I cook for my guards most nights, I keep a lot of staple foods on hand for various cuisines.  They know the only type of food that I refuse to cook is seafood because I just don’t despise fish of any kind.  So, if they want anything like that for dinner they just call Gregory from downstairs.  He loves to be able to come up and be their personal chef as long as he can use my BBQ grill and smoker.  As soon as everything is cooked the guys start taking it up and by now Adam has arrived.  He is led to the roof as I am finishing the salad, he had brought two six-packs of beer with him, which was great since my guys haven’t had time to restock after Tony drink so many last night.  The wine was already being poured when I arrived and Grandpa had his signature whiskey in hand from my bar.  As we all sat down to eat, somehow Adam ended up right next to me.  He was on his best behavior given the fact Bruce decided to sit on his other side and kept glaring at Adam if he overtly tried to flirt with me.  I’m glad he kept his hands to himself, which meant none of my guys had to break his fingers.  After everyone finished eating we all continued talking for a few hours.  He decided to go home to get some rest and the rest of us headed to my living room. 

Amanda asked how I figured out the secret she kept for so many years.  I told her about how for a moment I thought Tony was Evan when he rescued me and after getting a better look at him without the sun blinding me a bit I was sure something was going on.  “I had one of the bottles he drank from last night taken to the lab.  Then he showed me pictures of his brothers and you.  Adam takes his father and when I saw your face I knew the boys all favored their biological fathers.  I didn't know that Albert was such an asshat to them because he knew weren't his.  I mean because his DNA didn't flow through their veins doesn't mean that he should have treated them the way he did.  If I had known when I first got here I would have ruined him right then and there.

Grandpa reached out and grabbed me in a great big hug, “I knew there was a reason, and we love you so much just like you're our own.”

“My devious mind?” I joked back.

He laughed, “Yes, that and you are fiercely protective of those you love and call family.  I have to say our lives are better for knowing you, Becky.  We thank God every day for bringing you our way.”

Jimmy and Judy agreed.  Judy hugs me while saying, “I finally got a daughter.”

I hugged her back proclaiming, “Hey, don’t forget these 3, chances are they can give you some grandchildren, once they meet the right ladies or guys.” I looked at Allen who blushed.  Yep, he's as gay as Troy and Zack.

Judy gushed at the thought, “That’s right.  Okay, boys spill, anyone special in your lives?”

Tony looked very sad, “My girlfriend of 2 years, dumped me about 3 months ago and then dropped off the face of the Earth.”

Asher had a similar experience when his girl dumped him just last month and vanished.

Judy rushed over to them both and gave them motherly hugs.  While I gave Bruce a “find them” look to which he nodded and headed out to do what he does so well.

Allen stammered, “Father wouldn't approve of my special someone.  I was forced to break things off with him.”

Judy looked outraged at hearing that, “What's his name? And when can we meet him?”

Allen was flabbergasted, “You guys are okay with me liking men instead of women?”

Jimmy reached over and took his hands in his own, “Allen, the heart wants what the heart wants regardless of gender.  I know that man has been keeping you virtual prisoners dependent on his good graces, but I’m telling you regardless of what the tests had shown we would have opened our house to the three of you regardless.  I’m glad that you are my sons and I hope that one day you'll feel like you can call me dad.”  Steve stepped into the room and said that the lab had rushed all the samples including the ones from the twins that morning.  Even though we knew that the results were, he declared, “Congratulations, Jimmy, it’s a boy and a boy and a boy.”  We all laughed at his lame joke, which defused a bit of the heavy emotions thickening the air in the room.  Amanda and Judy both started crying so man standing closest to them gather them in their arms so they could weep on their shoulder.  Mind you, these were happy tears not sad.  Well maybe a little sad because of what the boys had gone through, but mostly happy that they were safe and going to get what they deserved in life.  We would provide them with every opportunity to help them accomplish their goals.  Tony stepped forward and offered Jimmy his hand, “Sir, it would be an honor to be able to call you Dad.” Then as they hugged it out Asher and Allen moved closer making it into a group hug saying that they both would be thrilled to call Jimmy dad as well.