David and Andrew Box Set

Chapter 1: It All Began this Way-3

After dinner, if you could label it that, I cleaned up. Andy offered to help but I told him to go sit in the family room and relax. The dogs followed him to the room off the dining room. When I joined them a few minutes later, Andy was leaning back on the couch with his eyes closed. The dogs were once again at his feet. They raised their heads in greeting but didn’t change position when I chose to sit on the love seat across from Andy rather than invade his space.

A million thoughts seemed to crowd into my mind at once. What was I doing this for? I wanted to help him, sure, but it was more than that. Did I want someone in my life again? That was becoming clearer as the evening progressed and I found myself experiencing such strong feelings for this man. But how illogical all this was! First, Andy was a homeless man I’d rescued from a storm. What were the chances of his being gay? Second, even on the outside chance he was gay, he was younger than I by fifteen years or more, maybe even twenty. Would he be interested in me? I shook my head, trying to shut off the stream of confusing thoughts.

But it didn’t work; I kept on thinking. Third, what would the kids think? Well, I would cross that bridge when I came to it.

Stop this! I remonstrated with myself again. This is fantasy. Your main concern is that he gets some rest and maybe gets some direction for his life, period.

Just then, Andy stirred. “I’m sorry. I must have dozed off.”

“No problem, man. You’ve had quite a night. Would you like to go to bed or watch a little TV?”

“Bed, I think,” he said, suppressing a yawn. “I really appreciate all of this.” With that, Andy’s beautiful blue eyes brimmed over with tears. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” was all he could manage to say.

Immediately I moved to the couch and put my arm around his shuddering shoulders. “Hey, Andy, it’s okay, I understand.” Well, I didn’t, but I knew what it meant to need to let the hurt out. I had done that plenty over the past few years.

We stayed there for a while. He cried quietly, his hands over his face while I sat with my arm around his shoulder, rubbing his upper arm with my other hand, feeling both protective and sexually aroused. s**t, the confusion of feelings was almost more than I could take.

Finally Andy wiped his face on his sleeve and looked at me. “I didn’t mean to do that to you.”

“Like I said, I understand. I’ve done a lot of that myself in the last couple of years since my wife d— ah, passed away. It would have been nice to have someone to put their arms around me then.”

He didn’t say anything. He looked into my eyes as if trying to process the information he had just been given. Had I said too much?

“Well, let’s see about getting you into the sack.” I cringed at the Freudian slip. “Follow me.”

I took him upstairs and showed him the bathroom. While he was in there, I made sure the back bedroom was presentable. I hadn’t used it in years but I had enough sense to keep it vacuumed and dusted, just as Patti would have wanted. The sheets were clean and the pillows fluffy; a lot better than the cold cement under the bridge, at any rate. Once more the unbelievability of his situation flitted across my mind.

When he appeared in the doorway, I gestured toward the bed. “Here ya go.”

He walked into the room, taking in the shelves behind me with all the trophies testifying to years of attendance at athletic activities I’d happily endured.

“Quite impressive,” he said. “Your kids must have been into just about everything.”

“Yes. You might especially appreciate these,” I said, indicating the last shelf with all the ribbons and trophies my youngest daughter, Meg, had won showing her horses. My daughter and I had spent many happy years doing the horse show circuit and had been quite successful.

Andy’s face lit up as he walked to the shelf and started to examine the photos and awards. Much to my delight, his professional expertise showed as he said, “She had some quality animals there.”

“Thanks. Well, I’ll let you get some rest.” I walked over and placed my hand on his shoulder. “Good night. If you need anything, I’m just down the hall.”

He didn’t return the gesture but simply said, “Good night, and thanks again.”

I went back downstairs followed by the dogs, who had come up to make sure our guest was comfortable. I performed my usual routine of putting out the dogs one last time and straightening up the house. After turning out the lights, I returned upstairs. The dogs were ahead of me but they didn’t turn into our room. Instead they headed for Andy’s room. Quietly I looked in the door. Jake was on the floor next to the bed but Annie was up on the bed, curled up against Andy’s chest with his arm draped over her.

You lucky dog, I mused as I went to my own bed.