Welcome Home, Soldier

Chapter 1 The sounds of night insects and the occasional bark of a dog filled the late summer twilight. Ward Cartwright sat in his truck staring at a small Cape Cod-style house with it’s big covered front porch a few doors down from where he was parked. It’d been ten years since he’d seen this house. The last time he’d been there was a summer night much like this one. It was also the last time he’d seen his best friend, Tyler Hughes. That night, in the middle of the summer after their high school graduation, Ward’s world had come crashing down. Tyler had told Ward he had asked Tiffany to marry him. “But I don’t understand, what about us?” Ward had asked Tyler. “What about how we feel about one another? You told me you loved me.” “I do,” Tyler had responded, obviously struggling to say what he felt he had to. “But this is a small town. Lots of kids from our class will be getting married. If we don’t, people will get suspicious. Do you want that?” “No I don’t. But we were gonna leave Summerville. Say we were going to college. We were going to the city where no one knows us or cares what we are, so we could be together.” “I can’t. You know I’m an only child. The mill has been in the family since Pop’s grandfather. Pop is expecting me to take over someday. Our leaving together, that was just a pipe dream.” “For me it wasn’t,” Ward said, trying to keep the anger from showing. “For me it was a true, for real plan.” “But ain’t you gonna take over the farm when your dad retires?” “No. My brother Joe is more into the farm than I am.” “Does your dad know that…that you’re not interested in farming?” “No,” Ward admitted. “He has this idea that me and Joe’ll work the farm together when the time comes.” “There, you see. Neither of us is free to leave. And if we stay and don’t get married and settle down, people’ll think we’re…well…you know.” “Gay, Tyler, gay. You can say it. It won’t bite you.” Ward said, feeling desperate. “That is what we are.” Tyler had always had an aversion to identifying himself as anything but straight, despite the relationship he and Ward shared. “No we’re not!” Tyler said forcefully. Ward looked Tyler straight in the eye. “Ty, do you really love Tiffany?” “Yes, I do…I think I do. We’ve been dating for two years.” “Yeah, just like I’ve been dating Emme Lou, so people wouldn’t suspect. The star quarterback and his best receiver, best friends, never had a date, but always hanging out together. Doesn’t take a genius to figure out what’s going on! We felt we had to date. But I don’t understand why you feel you have to get married?” Ward looked at Tyler questioningly. Tyler just stared at the ground. The two sat without speaking for a long time. After a while Ward asked, “If you get married, are you still gonna wanna see me…like always?” Tyler didn’t turn to look at Ward. He just kept staring at his feet. “I don’t think it’d be right. Tiffany’s very religious,” he finally said softly. Ward didn’t know what to say. Tyler had come to be Ward’s world. When they were in seventh grade, a group of guys were sleeping over in a tent in Tyler’s backyard. James Beecher, who lived next door to Tyler, had produced a porn magazine he’d pilfered from his father’s stash. They’d discovered the joys of group m**********n that night. Two years later in Tyler’s bedroom, Ward admitted men turned him on more than women, and Tyler surprised Ward by confessing he’d wanted to kiss Ward for a long, long time. By the middle of their junior year they had professed their love for one another. In spring, just before graduation, they had made love and lay together, planning how they would escape their small town to go somewhere they could be free to live together. Then Tyler dropped his bombshell about marrying Tiffany. Tyler broke the silence. He glanced at his friend with an uncertain smile. “I want you to be my best man.” Ward looked at him. “Are you kidding me? You can’t be serious!” Tyler looked anxiously at Ward and nodded. “Yeah, I am. It would make Tiffany and me really happy if you would.” “Goodbye, Tyler,” Ward said, his anger rising. He got up off the porch and walked out of Tyler’s life. He refused to talk to either Tyler or Tiffany who both called him regularly, trying to persuade him to reconsider and be in their wedding. Hurt and bewildered, Ward enlisted in the army and left town for basic training that fall, a week before Tyler and Tiffany were married. After two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan he had received an honorable discharge. Ward hadn’t seen Tyler since walking away from him that night. Ward’s parents’ farm was outside of town. On his few, brief visits home, he’d spent all his time there, avoiding town in case he might run into Tyler. But in all that time, Tyler Hughes had never been far from the forefront of Ward’s mind. And despite the many guys Ward had slept with, his feelings for Tyler had never wavered—he was still in love with him. Now Ward had come back to the same small town in which he and Tyler had grown up. As he sat and stared at the house, Ward’s heart beat wildly. His parents had told him that Tiffany had died and that Tyler had moved into his parents’ home when they had moved to a smaller house on the outskirts of Summerville. What would Tyler do when he saw Ward again? Was there any of the emotion left that they had shared as teenagers? Or would Ward’s mission to see his one-time lover again end in the same heartbreak it had that summer night ten years ago? Ward took a deep breath and got out of his truck. The night was warm. He was wearing cargo shorts, and an army issue cap and tank top. As he walked toward Tyler’s front door Ward realized he had chosen these clothes for a reason. They showed off his buff body well. He wanted to see how Tyler would react, to see if there was any of the old attraction there. Ward immediately felt ashamed. Tyler wasn’t some pick-up from a gay bar. This is the kind of outfit Ward would wear if he were on the prowl for s*x. But Tyler was the man he had fallen in love with at fifteen; the man deserved more respect. However, it was too late to turn back. Ward was climbing the steps to the wide front porch and heading for the door. He rang the doorbell. When it opened, Ward looked into the face of a boy of around ten. He had curly, blond hair and bright blue eyes; he was the image of the Tyler from Ward’s childhood. “Hi,” Ward said with a broad smile. “Is your dad home?” “Yeah,” the kid replied. He turned and yelled. “Hey, Dad, there’s some guy here to see you!” Tyler’s voice came from somewhere inside the house. “Who is it?” The sound of that voice made Ward’s heart skip a beat and butterflies fill his stomach. The boy turned back to Ward. “Who are you?” “I’m an old friend of your dad’s.” The boy turned to relay this information, but before he could, Ward looked over his head to see a shirtless Tyler entering the room. He looked as handsome and fit as he had that night ten years before. He had filled out, but he was still lean and muscular, just as Ward had remembered. Ward repressed the lump that was forming in his throat. When Tyler saw Ward he stopped. His mouth dropped open. For a brief moment he just stared at Ward as if he couldn’t believe who he was seeing. Ward held his breath. “Ward!” Tyler shouted, crossed the room in three strides, and engulfed Ward in his arms. Then they embraced each other tightly. They buried their faces in each other’s necks. Ward could feel tears stinging his eyes. Relief and happiness swept through him. After a long embrace, Tyler held Ward at arm’s length and looked at him. “It’s so good to see you. You look great! The army musta agreed with you,” Tyler said with joy shining in his eyes. Relieved by Tyler’s warm reception and with his hopes bolstered, Ward said, “It’s good to see you, too. You haven’t changed a bit.” Then, more subdued, he added, “I’m really sorry to hear about Tiffany.” Tyler threw a quick glance over his shoulder at his son and said, “Thanks. Let’s talk about that later.” Ward looked at the boy who was standing with his head c****d to one side, looking puzzled. “Yeah, right. Sorry,” Ward said. Tyler turned around and with an arm around Ward’s neck, walked him into the living room. “Eddie. This is Ward, the man you were named after. Ward, this is Edward Tyler Hughes, my oldest.” Ward beamed at Tyler and then at Eddie. He stuck out his hand. Eddie took it. “Nice to meet you,” Eddie said. “But if I’m named after you, why does my dad call you Ward?” “Well, my name is Edward, like yours, but everyone calls me Ward. Well, except my mom, she calls me Edward,” Ward explained. “Eddie,” Tyler said, “Go find Jack. I want him to meet Ward, too.” “Okay,” Eddie said, before leaving the room. Tyler turned back to Ward and put a hand on his shoulder. “When I heard you were back in Summerville, I hoped I’d get the chance to see you again.” Ward had an almost overpowering urge to take Tyler in his arms and kiss him. However, he knew Eddie would be back with Jack soon so let it pass. As if on cue, Eddie returned with a younger boy in tow. Jack looked to be about seven, had dark brown hair and brown eyes. There was a shadow of Tiffany in his face. He shyly hid behind his brother. “Go on, Jack. He ain’t gonna bite you,” Eddie said as he pushed Jack out in front of him. Ward came forward and knelt on one knee. “Hi, Jack. Your daddy and I were good friends when we were little. We met at school when we was just about your age.” Jack looked at Ward for a moment and said, “I’m seven!” “Wow, that’s really great. What grade are you in?” “Second, when I go back to school,” the boy replied. Tyler walked over to them. Ward stood up. “He looks a lot like—” “Yes, he does,” Tyler interrupted. Ward shook his head. “Sorry…again.” “It’s okay.” Tyler turned to his kids. “Boys, why don’t you guys play one of your Xbox games?” “Really?” Eddie asked. “We already had our hour.” “Yes, really,” Tyler said with a big smile. He looked at Ward. “This is a special occasion.” Ward smiled back, feeling warm and happy. “Wow,” the two boys said in unison. They dove for the TV console, pulled open a drawer, and took out two controllers. Eddie booted up Grand Theft Auto. “Eddie?” Tyler said with a warning in his voice. “Okay, okay,” Eddie said and chose Plants vs. Zombies instead. The boys began playing. The two men sat down on the sofa. “You’re doing a good job—Dad,” Ward said, impressed with Tyler’s parenting. “I try,” he said as he watched his sons play their game. “It’s a lot harder now without their mom.” Ward waited, not knowing whether to pursue a conversation about Tiffany or leave it to Tyler to bring up. After a time, once the boys were fully engrossed with the zombies, Tyler turned to face Ward and said, “Car accident. She was driving home from the grocery store and a drunk ran a red light. At least she didn’t suffer. They told me it was quick.” Ward put a hand on Tyler’s knee. “How are you doing?” “I’m coping. Taking it a day at a time.” Tyler looked again at the kids. “It’s hardest on Eddie. Jack was young enough, that although he took it bad at first, he seems to have adjusted” “But Eddie.” Tyler shook his head. “I don’t think a day goes by that he doesn’t bring her up in some way. Lots of times he’s angry about her leaving us. Most of the time he just talks of memories of her. It’s been almost two years. I’d have thought it would have gotten better by now.” “We all grieve in our own way,” was all Ward could think of to say. “So, what about you?” Tyler asked. Ward sensed Tyler wanted to move away from talking about Tiffany. “What was it like over there?” “Hell, a lot of the time. The difference in our cultures makes the whole experience pretty bizarre, makes it hard to deal with the locals. And you’re always expecting something bad to happen. The stress level is pretty high, even though a lottta the time we was just hanging around on base waiting for an assignment. That got old pretty fast. You really couldn’t go anywhere off base for a break. They weren’t all that happy about us being in their country.” Tyler got beers for himself and Ward, and made popcorn for the kids. They sat, watched the kids playing their game, and talked for a long time. Finally, Tyler said, “Okay, boys, time to brush your teeth and get ready for bed.” There was the expected grumbling and begging for five more minutes on the game. Tyler gave in once but then firmly sent them off. “I better be going,” Ward said, looking at his watch. “You don’t have to,” Tyler said, looking searchingly into Ward’s eyes. “Why don’t you stay the night? We’ve got so much to catch up on.” Ward hesitated. Tyler misinterpreted Ward’s silence and dropped his eyes. “Of course, if you don’t want to,” he said quietly. Ward reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder. “No, I’d really like to stay…if you’re sure?” Tyler raised his head and smiled. It was a wistful smile, one that Ward couldn’t quite read. “I’m sure,” Tyler said. The boys bounded back into the room, pajama clad and laughing. “Jack, you wanna sleep in Eddie’s room? You guys could have a sleepover. I think Ward’s going to stay here tonight. He can use your room.” “Oh boy, yeah!” Jack exclaimed. Eddie wasn’t so enthusiastic. “Dad, he hogs all the covers. Why can’t Jack sleep with you?” Ward waited to see how Tyler would handle this. He wasn’t sure just what Tyler’s invitation to spend the night implied. He knew what his desire would be, but was it the same as Tyler’s, the man with whom he was still in love? “Because he hogs all the covers,” Tyler said as he grabbed the boys and began tickling them. This led to a tussling match which Tyler let Jack and Eddie win. “How about you read us twenty pages of Harry Potter instead of ten? Then I’ll sleep with Jack,” Eddie bargained. “Deal,” Tyler said. “I bet we could get Ward to read alternate pages. How about it, Ward?” Ward was about to say he’d be happy to read, when he saw Eddie’s face darken. Tyler, who was facing Ward, hadn’t seen it. “I think I’ll pass,” Ward said. “Haven’t read in a while, need to brush up on my reading skills.” Tyler looked a bit surprised at Ward’s deferring the opportunity to read to the boys, but let it go. “Okay, everybody into Eddie’s room.” When they had all trouped into the bedroom and settled, Tyler lying between the boys and Ward sitting on the end of the bed, Tyler said, “Now, where were we again?” “Harry, Ron, and Hermione were just about to take that poly…poly…polyjuice stuff to disguise themselves to find out if Malfoy is the heir of Slytherin,” Eddie said as Tyler opened the book. “They were in the girls’ bathroom where that ghost lives,” Jack added. “Very good, guys,” Tyler said and began to read. Ward watched with joy, tinged with envy. He knew he’d never have a family like this. Tyler was lucky. No, not lucky, the fates didn’t work that way. It was he and Tyler who had brought about the turn of events that had led to this. For as unhappy as Ward had been when Tyler had announced that he planned to marry, Ward couldn’t deny how well it had turned out—save for the fact that Tyler was now a widower. When Tyler had finished reading, the boys begged for just a bit more. But Tyler held his ground and told them they needed to get to sleep. “Don’t forget the nightlight,” Jack reminded his dad. “Nightlights are for babies,” Eddie chided. “Eddie,” Tyler said quietly, “who asked me to sleep in here a couple of weeks ago when we watched that movie about the living dead?” “Okay. But why do you need a light?” Eddie asked Jack. “I’m gonna be in here with you.” Ward smiled, enjoying the boys’ interactions. “Cuz, what if that moaning ghost comes in here?” Jack asked. “She’s just in the story. She’s not a real ghost,” Eddie said. “And besides, she wouldn’t be scared of no nightlight.” “Eddie’s right,” Tyler reassured Jack. “Moaning Myrtle is just a storybook ghost. Now you two get to sleep.” Tyler kissed them both. Ward said good night, and they left the room. The men went to the kitchen where Tyler got them each another beer and asked Ward if he needed anything else. Ward declined and they sat down at the kitchen table. “Why didn’t you want to read to the boys?” Tyler asked. “I did want to. But when you suggested I read, Eddie didn’t look too happy about me doing it.” “Mmm,” Tyler said, then sighed. “That’s what their mom and I used to do—each read a page. I told you Eddie was still having a hard time accepting she’s gone.” “My mom told me she was a teacher,” Ward said. “Parapro. She was a good one, too. She loved it, loved working with the kids. She wanted to be a teacher. We were trying to work out her going over to Westbrook to the junior college, then finding an online course to finish her degree.” Tyler changed the subject. “Are you back to stay?” Ward nodded. “I think so.” “Got any plans?” Ward’s mind went immediately to his hopes for re-establishing his relationship with Tyler. But he decided it wasn’t yet the time to bring up that possibility. “I’ll guess I’ll help Dad and Joe with the farm. Maybe look for a job.” “How about working at the mill with me?” Ward’s heart skipped a beat. He wasn’t expecting this: working with Tyler! It would be like old times, hanging out together. “Yeah. I think I’d like that!” “Great. You can start whenever you’re ready.” “Uh…don’t you have to check with your dad?” “Dad’s semi-retired. I basically run the business. He can’t quite give it up, so he runs the office. That suits me fine. I’d rather work out in the mill. Throwing those bags of grain around keeps me in shape.” Tyler was still shirtless. Ward had been acutely aware of that all evening. Tyler’s deep, smooth chest, the rippled abdomen with its blond treasure trail, made Ward recall the many hours he’d spent enjoying that body. His c**k responded to the memory as well. He wondered if Tyler were thinking of those times from their past, too. They got another couple of beers and moved the conversation back to the living room. They talked and laughed for several hours, reminiscing about their years together in high school, their old friends and where they were now, and Tyler and Ward’s exploits both on and off the football field. The only subject they left untouched was the deep relationship that they had shared. For Ward it was the elephant in the room that he tried to ignore, lest he do something that overstepped where Tyler might be regarding what they had once meant to each other. Tyler checked his watch. “Gosh, it’s one o’clock. I’ll be right back.” He left the room. Ward sat on the couch, acutely aware he was getting hard, wondering what would come next, and if Tyler was experiencing any of the s****l tension that filled Ward’s body. Tyler came back and held out a hand. “The boys are asleep.” Ward rose from the couch and walked to Tyler, taking the man’s hand. Ward’s heart was pounding in his chest, his hard c**k straining against his briefs. Tyler turned and led Ward down the short hall. Ward noticed that Tyler had closed the door to the room where the boys were sleeping. They walked past the open door of the room Jack had vacated. Without letting go of Ward’s hand, Tyler said, “That’s where you’ll sleep later. It probably wouldn’t be good for the boys to find you in my bed in the morning.” Ward nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. They entered the room at the end of the hall. Tyler let go of Ward’s hand and closed the door. Then the two men turned and stood looking into each other’s eyes. For a long moment, neither made any move, nor said a word. It was as if after all those years they’d been apart, they were savoring the anticipation of their long drought coming to an end. Finally, Tyler raised his hands and cupped Ward’s chin. Ward put his arms around Tyler’s waist. Tyler brought his lips to Ward’s. Ward parted his. With a soft gasp of emotion, Tyler’s tongue slipped between Ward’s lips. Then as if a dam had burst, their arms eagerly entwined around each other and their kisses became intense and urgent. Hands roamed and roughly explored every contour of their bodies, as if checking that the memories they had were accurate. Then they broke apart, Ward urgently unbuckled Tyler’s belt, while Tyler pulled Ward’s tank top off over his head, dislodging the hat he’d been wearing all evening. Tyler stopped. “Well now, this is different.” He stared at Ward, then ran a hand over the man’s shaved head. “What do you think?” Ward asked, continuing his mission to get Tyler out of his jeans. Tyler didn’t answer, just pulled Ward close and kissed his bald head. “Guess you approve,” Ward quipped. The interchange had slowed the frantic reaction to their being together again. They undressed more slowly and climbed into bed, holding each other, kissing and gently caressing. “There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think of you and how much I loved you,” Ward said as he ran a hand through Tyler’s thick, blond curls. “I missed you, too,” Tyler confessed. “For a long time I tried to repress it, tried not to think of you. I felt it wasn’t fair to Tiffany. I loved her. But I knew in my heart I had married her for the wrong reason. It made me feel guilty to know I had used her love for me to create a life that wasn’t totally honest, a life that was designed to hide who I really was.” “And now?” Ward asked. “I don’t know. This is still Summerville, still a small town that isn’t ready to accept us for who we are and how we might feel about each other. I’m still tied here because of the mill and Pop. The boys, too, in a way. Their grandparents are here.” Ward was quiet for a time. Then he said, “It was hard in the service.” He paused and lifted the dog tags that hung around his neck as he remembered. “They say it’s better now than under ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ but the truth is there is still a lot of prejudice. I never came out. I saw what happened to some of the guys that did and…well…I guess I was just chicken. So it seems like we’re in the same place we were the night I left.” “Except for one thing,” Tyler said, pulling Ward to him. “I don’t want to lose you again. Somehow we’re going to find a way to make this work.” A wave of relief swept over Ward. The fear that he and Tyler still didn’t have a future, ebbed and was replaced with hope that their love would find a way. Ward kissed Tyler. Tyler kissed back. They let their longing for one another block out the situation caused by the circumstances of their lives. Their arousal increased. “f**k me,” Tyler begged. His words spurred Ward to greater heights of excitement. Being united with Tyler once again had been foremost in his mind ever since he’d decided to come home after his discharge from the army. “Are we going to need protection?” Tyler asked. “No,” Ward responded. He’d been careful with every partner he’d had since leaving Summerville and was tested regularly. The last time was just before he’d returned home. He’d not been with anyone since. “Good,” Tyler whispered. “I don’t want anything separating us.” Tyler’s body felt so wonderful under Ward’s hands. Tyler’s passion and desire for Ward enhanced Ward’s response. When the time came for Ward to enter Tyler’s body, Ward’s groan of pleasure mingled with Tyler’s. The years of separation seemed to vanish. They were one again, just as they had been so long ago. This time they had the maturity and experience that enhanced their union. Ward had been with many men over the years. None had he loved; none had been to him what Tyler had been. Now he was here, deep inside, and once more united with the man with whom he had discovered his s****l identity—the most beautiful man in all the world. Ward realized how empty all those s****l encounters had been. s*x without love, without caring, without commitment, was just a meaningless act that brought no real fulfillment, no lasting satisfaction. Tyler’s legs were raised, wrapped tightly around Ward’s waist. His arms held Ward firmly. Their chests were pressed together. Ward’s lips were on Tyler’s as Ward reached his peak and he breathed words of love as the waves of pleasure cascaded through his body. When Ward’s climax was past, he raised up and looked down on his reclaimed love. “Incredible,” he said in a low voice. “Better than I remembered.” Tyler smiled. Then Ward proceeded to make his way down Tyler’s torso licking, kissing, and caressing every inch of his man’s magnificent frame. Ward followed the trail from Tyler’s navel to the thick tangle of blond pubic hair where he buried his face and breathed in the intoxicating scent, so familiar even after the years they had been apart. Tyler gasped as Ward took in the full length of his lover’s c**k. Ward relished, once again, the feel and taste of Tyler’s rigid organ as it throbbed within his mouth. In a short time, Tyler moaned, “I’m gonna cum.” He raised his hips as spurt after spurt of warm, salt-sweet fluid gushed into Ward’s mouth. Ward swallowed it all. Now his seed was inside Tyler and Tyler’s in him. Once again they were part of one another, together the way Ward had always known they were meant to be. Ward kissed the tip of Tyler’s still hard c**k, then slid up to lay beside him. “I’m glad you’ve come home, soldier,” Tyler whispered. Tyler used the dog tags that hung around Ward’s neck to pull him into a tender kiss. Happy, and filled with joyful hopes for their future, they fell peacefully asleep in each other’s arms.