The Letters

Chapter 12 (August-September)

 

October 2, 2022

Mr. Kevin Riley
8976 Hampton Street
Pittsburgh, PA

Dear Riley,

Words cannot express the gratitude I feel, that we feel. Your generosity overwhelms me. Todd is still speechless and is constantly pinching himself as he walks through the front door. To be honest, I do the same.

I know I’ve asked this a hundred times by now, but are you sure? Are you really sure you want to give up this beautiful place? I recall when John and his men worked on the tollhouse. I’ve seen the before pictures. He did a remarkable job but are you really...

Forever grateful,

Tom

 

*****
 

“...sure?” Tom asked as he and Todd stood with Riley in front of the tollhouse cottage that was situated not too far from Edna’s Treasures.

“Yes, Tom, I am. As much as I am fond of this place I rarely stay here. I only bought it to help out Lindsay and because at the time I thought I had had enough of the big city. But the city had other plans for me,” Riley said with a slight blush to his cheeks.

“Danny,” Tom stated.

“Yes, Danny. As our relationship grew, he invited me to move into his house. He has a lovely home with its own secret garden. I wasn’t emotionally attached to my apartment and his house is big enough for a family, so I thought, why not. To be truthful, we started out in different parts of the house. I was a mess,” Riley confided.

Tom nodded knowing the story. As a priest, Tom had been around to offer Riley comfort as he became more involved with the “family.” Todd looked a little curious.

“I had a partner many years ago; we were so young and in love. He and I were with the symphony. Tony and music were my whole life. A large part of me died when he did. I never thought I’d ever love again. I couldn’t play the piano without it hurting so much. So instead of playing I learned how to tune them,” Riley explained for Todd.

“Then Danny came along with his unusual wit and charm, his compassion for others and zest for life. Something about him helped to heal my broken spirit. Eventually I accepted his invitation to share his home. That being said, this poor old tollhouse is again without someone to appreciate it,” Riley said as he stepped back to take in the whole facade.

“I see Brian’s hand in the landscaping,” Todd said as he looked around the front garden.

“From what I was told, Bree had a hand in it too,” Riley added.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Todd commented. “She has her fathers’ eyes for color, symmetry and overall placement of things,” Todd said with a critical praise.

“And Danny has no qualms about you selling?” Tom asked, again.

“No. We’ve only stayed here a few times but we discovered that we’re both city boys at heart and neither one of us is ready for retirement.”

“But what if you want to get away for a vacation or visit the lane?” Todd asked.

“There’s always the B&B and Michael’s cabin,” Riley replied.

“No, we’re still your tenants until we officially purchase the house, we’ll set aside a room for you,” Tom insisted.

“Okay,” Riley chuckled. “If you insist but our deal isn’t dependent upon it. You’ll rent this tollhouse for as long as it takes you to buy it outright,” he stated. “Now come on inside. You don’t buy a house based on its garden, no matter how great that garden is.”

“Don’t let Brian hear you say that,” Todd mumbled as he followed Riley and Tom into the house.

“Beautiful,” Tom exclaimed as they slowly wandered through the house and small sun porch, ending up in the backyard. “You’re really sure you want to give up all of this?” Tom asked again without realizing what he said.

Riley’s large hands came down upon Tom’s shoulders turning the slighter man around until Riley had Tom’s full attention. “This house needs someone who will appreciate it and look after it. Someone, or two, that will love it and make love in it. And that’s you two.”

Tom and Todd blushed. They hadn’t consummated their relationship yet. Not in the literal sense. They came close, no pun intended, but both Tom and Todd wanted to wait until Tom was officially released from his vows.

“As you can see, the yard is small but very secluded. The grounds do extend quite a ways back toward the stream. Edna’s Treasures is your closest neighbor. From what I’ve learned of the history, this was tollhouse, being at the crossroads, but times change and it just became a lonely cottage in the middle of nowhere.

“Until the girls found it and hired John’s company to renovate it. When things went south for the girls I bought it,” Riley explained the cottage’s history for Todd. “Oh, one more thing...”

Just then Beau bounded through the woods to join them in the backyard.

“Beau!” the three men said out loud then laughed.

“When the girls moved in Beau added this cottage to his territory. The land connects to Edna’s Treasures via the stream and from what John has told me, Brian keeps buying up the stray land in between so there’s no threat of invasion into his little kingdom,” Riley teased.

“So in other words we shouldn’t be surprised to see Beau or Lucie on occasion,” Tom added.

“Right,” Riley confirmed. “I have to admit I did feel safer out here knowing Beau wasn’t too far away.” He reached down to give the big dog a pat. “When I was here I kept a few snacks and a water bowl for him just in case he visited. All John approved, by the way.” Riley smiled as did the guys. They all knew how attached John was to his Beau.

“Well there you have it. She’s a solid structure. John comes by occasionally to inspect it or sends one of his local guys to give it a once over. I’ve lived in apartments most of my life so I have to rely on someone else for the big stuff,” Riley stated. Tom and Todd nodded in agreement.

“For most of my adult life I lived in apartments too. This’ll be a first for me,” Todd admitted.

“Me too. I lived in a seminary or a church rectory. I don’t know a thing about home maintenance.”

“Yes, but you do make a mean meatloaf and an excellent Steak Diane!” Todd added with a grin.

“And you do have a way with potatoes,” Tom said with a laugh.

“Meat and potatoes,” Riley said with an exaggerated brogue. “What more can a man be wanting?”

All three men blushed at the innuendo and were silent until someone cleared his throat.

“Come on, let’s go inside to discuss terms then I’ll hand over the keys,” Riley said as he led the boys inside. “There are a few things that I want to take with me if you wouldn’t mind helping me load up my truck.”

“Of course, we’ll help. You’ve done so much for us, it’s the least we can do,” Tom said with a gentle smile. Todd nodded in agreement.

The guys went inside then got down to business.

 

*****
 

“Have you seen Brian?” Justin asked as he walked into the sun porch.

Bobby was standing at the back of the porch staring out at the gardens. “He’s over there,” Bobby said pointing out into the yard. If he stood just right he could just about see a small part of the Wendy house and its yard.

“Where?” Justin asked as he joined him.

“By the Wendy house,” Bobby pointed.

“What’s he doing?” Justin followed Bobby’s finger as he squinted looking out the glass wall for his mate.

“See for yourself.”

“Hm,” Justin said as he observed his husband.

Brian sat in one of the lawn chairs near the Wendy house. Lucie had brought out her puppies to play on the grass. Brian watched them tumble and run and nip at each other. The puppies were so happy and carefree.

New life, babies, were really something. A gentle grin played at the corners of his mouth.

Lucie came over to him and nosed Brian’s hand which was hanging over the arm of the chair. He patted her head and rubbed the fur around her neck.

“You did good, girl,” Brian whispered as he leaned down to rub her more effectively. She lifted her head and licked his face. Brian let her, enjoying the affection from the big dog.

“Did you see that?” Bobby asked.

“Yeah,” Justin chuckled from the safety of the sun porch.

“I wouldn’t have believed that Brian Kinney would let Lucie lick his face.”

“You’d be amazed at some of the things Brian Kinney allows to happen … and even enjoys.”

Bobby shook his head. “Unbelievable.”

“He’ll be in here in a few minutes to take a shower,” Justin laughed.

“Okay, Lucie,” Brian said giving the dog a tug on her ruff. “Go mind your puppies.”

Lucie looked up at this man who had rubbed her fur just right. She gave a little yip before running over to capture one of her puppies who was about to start down the trail to the stream. Brian watched as she stopped the pup and picked it up by the scruff of the neck. She brought the wayward bundle over to Brian.

“For me?” Brian asked with a smile. He gently took the puppy from her mouth. He settled it on his knee, patting its head and rubbing its belly. The little pup settled down right away. “Good dog,” Brian said. He continued to pat and rub as the pup yawned and closed its eye. “Sleepy, little one?” he whispered.

Lucie watched the man handle her pup. Satisfied that all was well, she went to check on the others.

Brian felt the gentle rise and fall of the chest of the little fur ball as his hand swept over the pup’s back. The baby was asleep. Brian liked the feel of this little life resting on his lap. The pup was so vulnerable yet so trusting. He didn’t think he was ever like that. But he didn’t have a mother like Lucie, at least not back then. No one looked out for him or caught him before he went down some dangerous, unknown road. He had had to fend for himself. But that had all changed, thanks to a certain blond who had forced his way into his life, and brought so many other people and things along with him.

“Life is good, Joanie,” Brian whispered as he glanced up at the sky.

“Did you see Lucie give him her pup?” Bobby asked.

“She barely lets any of us near them,” Justin observed.

“I guess Brian has the magic touch.”

“Don’t I know it,” Justin said with a knowing smirk. Bobby merely smiled knowing how happy the two men made each other.

“Oops, here he comes,” Bobby said. They watched Brian set the puppy down and walk towards the sun porch.

“Did you have fun staring at me?” Brian asked as he came in the door.

“How…?” Bobby started.

Justin merely grinned; he was fully aware of Brian’s magical powers of perception. “Lucie gave you one of her pups. That’s big,” he said enthusiastically.

“Is it?” Brian asked all nonchalance. “I think we should call that one Juan.”

“Juan? Why?” Bobby wanted to know.

“As in ‘wanderer’. Lucie better keep her eye on that one. See, he’s trying to head for the stream again,” Brian pointed out. Lucie had caught the little guy before he could escape down the path. She had to be vigilant.

“Juan it is,” Bobby laughed having seen the little ‘wanderer’ try to escape yet again.

“I need a shower,” Brian informed them as he looked down at his hands, feeling a bit doggy before heading for the bedroom.

“I told you,” Justin chuckled.

They watched Brian disappear into the house before turning back to see what else the puppies might get into. A sudden image of a wet soapy Brian popped up in Justin’s mind and he became instantly…..aware of his own personal cleanliness.

“I think I need a shower too,” Justin murmured as he looked toward the house and then back out toward the yard.

“Of course you do.” Bobby chuckled. Justin was so predictable and very endearing. After all their years together, Brian and Justin still couldn’t keep their hands off each other. And rarely wasted an opportunity to express their love or lust for one another.

“Later,” Justin said as he scurried toward his bedroom.

“Later,” Bobby echoed as he laughed out loud to Justin’s disappearing back.

“What’s so funny?” John asked as he came into the porch from his side of the cottage. He was carrying his tool box in one hand and tool belt in the other.

“Brian came in after playing with the puppies and decided to take a shower,” Bobby gave John the short version.

“Ah, and Justin decided he needed a shower too,” John surmised.

“Yup. Where are you going?” Bobby asked, noting that John was in his Mr. Fixit mode. Bobby studied his partner’s trim form dressed in denim, work boots and t-shirt that showed off John’s muscles.

“To the tollhouse to meet the boys. The nights are going to get chilly soon, I want to make sure the fireplaces are clean and the furnace is up to code,” John explained suddenly aware of his partner’s scrutiny.

“What time are you supposed to meet them?” Bobby asked with fire in his eyes.

“No set time. Why?” John asked with a smirk.

“Just asking,” Bobby replied with a gleam as he sauntered toward their door with an extra wiggle to his butt.

John placed his tools gently on the floor then scrambled to follow his mate.

 

*****
 

“Share!” Justin called out as he slid open the shower doors and stepped inside. Brian moved slightly aside to allow Justin under the spray of the water, making the water warmer for his lover. Brian added Justin’s favorite liquid soap to a puff and began to rub the puff all over Justin’s body.

“You’re so predictable,” Brian mumbled smugly as he dropped the puff and pushed Justin up against the glass.

“Lucky for you I am,” Justin quipped equally as smug, arching his ass back as Brian filled him.

 

*****
 

John tooted the horn on his truck as he pulled up behind Todd’s pick up. Todd and Tom had been moving what few belongings Todd had into their new home. Todd had taken an apartment in town once he opened his business. Not really possession obsessed, Todd had come back to Pennsylvania from Chicago with just his favorite tools and clothes. Tom had even fewer possessions.

“Need help?” John called out as he got out of his truck.

“I think we should be asking you that,” Tom said when he saw the heavy tool box and belt with all its various tools stuck in it. Tom opened the front door to the toll house to let in the guys.

“Standard operating equipment,” John quipped as he set his box down out of the path of foot traffic then strapped on his belt. “I want to give everything the once over and then make sure you’re both comfortable working the fireplaces,” John said seriously.

Todd and Tom nodded, appreciating John’s diligence. They followed John around the house as John showed the guys the cut off valves and where the fire extinguishers were kept. He also showed them the intricate alarm system.

“Don’t be surprised if Beau shows up in the middle of the night. He likes to patrol at the oddest hours,” John mentioned.

The guys smiled and showed John their stash of Beau snacks. John smiled back in appreciation.

“Well, I guess that’s it, any questions?” John asked as he packed up his tools, satisfied that the guys could handle the rest on their own.

“No I think we got it,” Todd said with confidence.

“But we know who to call in the event of a problem,” Tom added with his usual practicality.

“Good, then I’m off and don’t hesitate to call me or Brian. He may not admit it but he’s become an expert with his own tools.” John laughed as did the guys. They walked John out to his truck.

“John,” Tom began before John turned on the ignition. “Why did Riley leave all the furnishings? Not that I’m complaining. I certainly have nothing and you all know what my wardrobe looked like.”

“And I rented my apartment furnished,” Todd added. “I happen to like the furniture even if it may be a little generic.” Todd pointed toward the toll house.

“The Shaker style seems to fit out here and yes you’re right it is a bit generic. But I’m sure you’ll change that. This poor house never got the chance to develop that lived in look. I’m sure Riley told you he bought the house partly on an impulse and partly to help out Lindsay.”

The boys nodded.

“So don’t worry about it. Just enjoy,” John advised with a broad smile. He started up his truck then drove off.

Todd and Tom stood at the edge of the curb for a moment as they watched John drive away. They turned to contemplate their brand new house and their brand new life together. Late in the season, the summer flowers were fading, the fall flowers were taking their place. A cool breeze blew as the sun began to fade.

Todd shivered under the enormity of life. Tom snaked his arm around the younger man drawing him close.

“We should go inside,” Tom suggested. “I’ve got all the fixings for meatloaf,” he announced.

“With potatoes?”

“Of course, what’s a meatloaf without potatoes,” Tom replied. “Ready?” Tom asked as he held out his hand. Todd clasped Tom’s hand with a firm grip.

“Ready,” Todd declared.

Hand in hand Tom and Todd walked up the paved path to the front door then went in to begin their new life together.

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