“I convinced my father that I can work just as well from here as I can from New York. Besides, for the last two weeks, I was such a pain in his backside, questioning everything andstirring up things in the office, that he willingly let me go just so he could get some peace.” Chet snickered. “But I have a number of projects. One is to look for savings where we can find it and another is to oversee our systems. It seems those are areas where my father needs help. So, I’m going to do them, from here… that is, if you’ll have me.”
“So, you can work from here?” Darren asked, his mind finally catching up to what he’d been told. “And you don’t need to go back?”
“No. Not for a while. But I came so quickly that I didn’t have a chance to book a place to stay.” Damn, that sheepish look was adorable, and Darren sat down next to him.
“I think we can figure something out. But for now, I’m working, so did you want something to eat?”
“Oh, yes. I want your turkey melt on wheat with a side salad, please.” He drew Darren closer. “And I promise I’m a really good tipper.” He winked, and Darren snickered.
“Then it looks like I should make sure you eat well, and quickly, so we can get to the tipping part of the evening.” He grinned and hurried away to put Chet’s order in. He also took him a drink and went back to finishing up the evening’s work. He wanted to sit and talk with him, but the sooner he completed his tasks, the earlier he could go home, and that was all he could think about.
When it was ready, he took Chet his dinner and talked to him for a few minutes. But he had things to do, so he left him and stowed everything for the night, and by the time Chet had settled his bill, Darren was finished. He clocked out and got into the BMW Chet had rented for the ride home.
“Can I ask why you came back? Not that I’m not thrilled you did, because I missed you, and all the people I work with told me I was grumpy and sad-looking.”
“My best friend, Renee, told me that I had kicked-puppy face,” Chet said. “I was miserable and a pain in the ass. My poor father didn’t know what hit him. I think he was expecting to get his son back, but what he got was a demanding pain in the butt. Basically, I wasn’t happy there. I liked being here with you. So, I worked out a deal with my father. We’re giving me working from here a try for a little while to see how it goes. It gives me a chance to spend more time out here, and the two of us time to figure out if this thing between us is going to last.”
Chet seemed relaxed and happy. “Well, that’s good, because I was trying to figure out how I was going to be able to go to New York to try to get you back. I cut back on my jobs and got a raise at the store. I worked through the sausage recipes, and they’re being sold at the store. I also developed a really good bratwurst that they put on the menu at The Pub. I make those sausages here, and they pay me extra to do it, so things have worked out. I have fewer shifts and more time to try to live my life, and I really think I like it.”
“Well… if I’m going to stay here, then I’ll be paying for part of the expenses while I’m here, so….” Chet got out of the car, and Darren came around and took his hand, leading him inside. “We can take things one step at a time.”
“I agree, and the first step is that tip you promised me.” He opened the door and tugged Chet inside. As soon as he closed the door, he pressed Chet against it, kissing him hard, like he’d missed him so damned much… because hell, with him here, Darren felt like he could breathe again.
These last two weeks had seen quite a bit of change, but mostly he’d been on edge, like he couldn’t breathe most of the time. Something was just off. He knew it, yet he couldn’t put his finger on it the entire time that Chet was gone and now that heaviness had just slipped away.
“I think your tip is in the bedroom,” Chet said softly.
A knock on the door right behind them made them both stop, and then Darren began to giggle. “It’s my aunt. She apparently wanted to have things out. Now of all times.” He stepped back and looked down to where his pants had tented. Though it went down just thinking about Aunt Regina, so that was a relief. He took a deep breath, made sure he was presentable, and opened the door.
“We need to talk,” she said as she breezed inside as though she owned the place. “I haven’t done anything with these debts yet, because we need to work things out.” She sighed and looked around. “I think it’s probably best if you simply sign the house over to me. That will clear all the debts, and I’ll even pay you some money once it’s sold.” She was a real piece of work.
Darren huffed and looked at Chet, finding the strength to do what he knew he had to. “There is nothing to work out. Those debts are fake. I checked all of Gramma’s account records, and there are no deposits at all. So, I contend that you made up all of this to try to get the house. That’s fraud. Go and try to present your list of demands on an estate that has been settled and closed, and see how fucking far you get. Oh, and when you do present those documents as real, I’ll then use the information I have to prove they’re fake, and you can stand charges for fraud. How does that sound?” He was so angry with her, his hands shook.
Aunt Regina’s mouth hung open.
“Furthermore, the document wasn’t witnessed, and it sure as hell would need to be signed by Gramma for her to have acknowledged the debt. But I don’t believe that’s her signature, and judging by the dates, even I can see that that this is fake. Her signature was much shakier than that by then.” He put his hands on his hips.
“These are real debts, and….”
“Then, like I said, present them. Go ahead. The estate was already settled, and it’s not likely to be reopened. You’d need to get the court to issue an order to reopen it, and that time is already passed.” He thanked God for Skip. He had given him all the ammunition he needed. “Now, I suggest you take those papers of yours and shove them up your ass. I’m done with you.” He opened the door. “And I think your mother would be so ashamed of you right now. She didn’t leave you the house because you didn’t need it, and she wanted me to have a place to live. It’s that simple. But you’re too selfish and greedy for words. So go, and don’t come back. I never want to see you again.” He pressed her out the door and closed it.
Darren half expected her to make a fuss or pound on the door, but he heard nothing from her until the car engine started, and she drove away.
“That was impressive,” Chet said.
Darren shook his head. “It was ridiculous, and I’m sorry you had to see it. My family is so messed up, it’s pathetic.”
“Nope, you don’t get to go there. Mine is worse. My grandfather and uncle were twins, and they fought their entire lives over who should run the company. Growing up, they would fight about it all the time. Their father finally gave the job to their younger brother and cut them out completely. He did a great job and eventually turned the company over to my father.”
“You know, you’re right. Let’s not do this. Because I can top that in so many ways, it isn’t even funny, but talking about this shit is depressing, and I don’t want to be depressed right now. I want to be happy, because you’re here, and I get to keep my house, and things are really good right now.”
Chet wrapped his arms around him and lifted Darren off his feet. “Then let’s go be happy. Goodness knows we have plenty of celebrate right now.”
“Yeah, I know. But what about what comes next?” Darren asked.
Chet paused. “I don’t know what that is. I have no idea what’s going to happen, and neither do you. So, let’s be happy in the moment and figure out the next steps as we go. I mean, I like it here, and I’ve fallen in love with you. The rest will pretty much take care of itself. There’s no big mystery or drama here. It’s just the two of us.”
“But aren’t you going to miss your family and your life in New York? I mean, it’s a huge step to just leave it all, and….” Darren was both happy and a little overwhelmed by all this.
