Monday, February 28, 2011

The Man from Swift Current Chapter Thirty Seven - Randy and Shawn

 

Chapter Thirty Seven – Randy and Shawn

I moved my things down from my Grandparents’ house before we flew to Saskatchewan to see my parents.   We boarded the plane in Atlanta after getting through security for international departures.   Grandpa had booked our flights and made sure we had seats together.   Grandpa had offered to put us in first class but we protested because then we wouldn’t be able to sit close to each other!   Grandpa laughed and agreed to book seats in business class so Rick would have a few extra inches for his long legs.

We took our seats with Rick sitting next to the window and me in the middle seat next to him.   Fortunately for us, no one sat in the aisle seat.   As soon as we were airborne, Rick turned to me and said, “I am really nervous.”

“Why?” I asked.

“I am about to meet your family and I don’t how they'll react to me,” Rick said, taking my hand.   “Won’t they be a little suspicious of the fact I swept you off your feet so soon after you broke up with Ian?”

“Relax, Rick.   I've told them you're not anything like Ian.   Besides, if you pass Randy and Shawn’s inspection, Mom and Dad will welcome you with open arms,” I said.   As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I wished I hadn’t said them.  

Rick face grew pale and he said, “I'm even more nervous to meet your brother and his husband because I'll be under a microscope as they determine if I’m good enough for you.”

“Rick, calm down!   Randy is super nice and Shawn is too.   However, I do have to warn you not to freak out if Shawn doesn’t say much when you meet him.   He tends to be very quiet and won’t speak for a bit until he gets to know you.”

Rick tried to force a smile.  “You aren’t exactly helping to calm my nerves by telling me all of this.”

I reached over and grabbed the blanket the stewardess had left us and spread it over our laps.  I put my hand on the inside of his leg and started to massage it, moving upwards from Rick’s knee until I reached Rick’s growing package.   Rick looked at me and grinned.  “Glenn, how are we going to explain the mess if you keep that up?”

I gave an evil laugh, then said, “I am not the one who will have to do the explaining!”

Rick grabbed my hand to stop me from jerking him off.  “You're a little trouble maker!”

I grinned and leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.   “But you love me anyway,” I whispered in his ear before leaning back in my seat.

Rick smiled and said, “Yes, I do love you very much.   I'm glad you moved in with me.”

“Now that I've found you, I'm not going to let you go,” I said, looking him in the eyes.   “I'm very excited to introduce you to my family.   My sister, Nancy, wants to meet you something terrible.   She can’t believe I managed to snag the most handsome guy in the world!”

Rick laughed.  “No, Glenn.   I'm the one who caught the most handsome guy in the world.”

I blushed at Rick’s praise.   I still wasn’t used to anyone thinking I was handsome by any means.   I've always viewed myself as rather plain….just another farm boy from the wheat fields of Saskatchewan.   I thought about the first time Rick and I had sex and how Rick made my whole body come alive.   Ian had never done that to me.   It had always been about getting Ian’s rocks off but with Rick it was very different.   Rick’s focus was all about giving me the experience of a lifetime.   He told me he wanted our first time together to be one of those memories we would cherish forever.   Just thinking about it got me excited.

Rick interrupted my thoughts, “What are you thinking about, Babe?”

I leaned over and whispered in his hear, “I was thinking about our first time together.”   I took his hand and moved it so he could feel the tent in my pants.

Rick grinned broadly, “See, I told you I wanted that night to be one we would never forget!”

“I was just thinking about how you made love to me and how I felt that night.   I knew I loved you then; and the more I'm around you the more I learn just how special you are to me,” I said.   “I think my family will see for themselves you're my soul mate.”

I continued to tell Rick about my brothers and sister.   By the time we landed in Toronto, I had covered everything I thought he should know about us.    We changed planes and flew on to Regina, Saskatchewan.  We were both tired when we finally arrived.   We deplaned and headed to the baggage claim.  

We had just retrieved our luggage when I spotted my brother and let out a yell, “Randy!”

Rick watched as I threw myself into the arms of a tall, handsome man.   Randy’s rugged good looks make him a man’s man.   He’s about 188 cm. (6’2”) tall and 91 kg. (200 pounds) of pure muscle.   He wore a skin tight muscle shirt and tight fitting jeans that didn’t leave much to the imagination.   My brother just oozed sexuality!  Where I'm fair-skinned with blond hair and blue eyes, Randy is deeply tanned with dark brown hair that matched his dark, brown eyes.  

I released Randy from my hug and turned back towards Rick.  "Randy, I want you to meet my partner, Rick.”

Randy extended his hand as he looked Rick over from head to toe, his eyes lingering on his crotch momentarily.   Rick shook Randy’s hand.  “I’m glad to meet you.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.   Rick, this is my life partner and husband, Shawn.”  Randy turned to put his arm around Shawn’s waist.

Shawn was a few centimeters shorter than Randy but just as ruggedly handsome and equally tanned as my brother.   Shawn has jet black hair he keeps in a pony tail and dark brown skin and jet black eyes.   Standing side by side, they made a very handsome couple.

Shawn shook Rick’s hand but didn’t say anything to him but nodded his head as an acknowledgment of the introduction.  I watched Shawn’s penetrating gaze unnerve Rick.   I had experienced it when I first met Shawn.   It was like he was looking into my soul and finding things I didn’t want anyone to know.   Shawn had an uncanny way of knowing things about you.

I said, “Randy, I’m happy to see you.   Mom said you were working here in Regina.”

“Yes, I'm temporarily teaching at the RCMP academy here in Regina,” Randy said.

Rick asked, “What is the RCMP?”

Randy responded, “Sorry, Rick.   I just assumed you would know.  RCMP stands for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.   The RCMP has its training academy here.   I've been “loaned” to the academy as a teacher while they make a permanent selection.   Shawn and I live in Vancouver.”

“How long will you be in Regina?” I asked.

“It looks like a couple more months at least.   We're happy to help out here but we don’t want to leave Vancouver.”

During this entire conversation, Shawn had been quietly observing Rick and me.   I could feel his eyes us on constantly.    When Rick met his gaze, Rick was always the one to break off the staring contest.

“Let’s go guys!   I’m hungry!   Shall we stop and get something to eat before we take you to our apartment?” Randy asked.

Rick and I both said, “Yes!”

“Good, I know of a great buffet place not far from here.   The plan is for you to spend the night at our place and we'll drive you down to the farm tomorrow.   Is that okay with you, Glenn?” Randy asked.

We piled our luggage in the back of Shawn’s Land Rover and climbed into the back seat where Rick draped his arm across my shoulders and leaned over and gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

Randy laughed and said, “I saw that Rick!   I hope you have good intentions with my little brother!”

For some reason, Randy’s comment made Rick blush deeply.   “Why Rick!   We do blush rather prettily, don’t we?”

I had warned Rick about Randy’s quick wit and ready repartee.   I poked him in the side to remind him silence was the best option here rather than to be made to appear the fool.

“What?   No response to my question?   Well, well, well.   I guess we will have to see about that shortly,” Randy said with a big grin on his face.

Rick looked over to see I was blushing as well at Randy’s comments.  I reached over and took Rick’s hand in mine.   I smiled at Rick to let him know I appreciated his support.

“Rick, what are you studying at school?” Randy asked.

“I’m studying mechanical engineering.   This will be my second year at Georgia Tech,” Rick responded.

“Glenn, Mom tells me you are going to pursue the same course of study, as well.   Is that true?” Randy asked.

“That’s right, Randy,” I said.

“Your choice of major doesn’t have anything to do with the fact Rick is studying the same thing, now does it, Glenn?” Randy teased me.

I blushed as I responded to my brother’s question, "Well, just a little bit.   I wanted to be with Rick as much as possible and besides that, Rick can help me study since he had the same courses last year.”

Rick anticipated Randy’s next statement about the same time I did because he blushed just as did I.   “I’m certain that is not all Rick helps you study.”  Randy said laughing at our discomfort.

“I’m sorry, Glenn.   I just can’t help teasing you a little bit.   It’s hard to believe my baby brother is all grown up now.   Of course, you've always been the easiest one to tease.”  Randy said.   He paused and then continued, “Shawn here is an artist.   He specializes in bronze sculptures.   A couple of his pieces are on display in Vancouver.   He has been commissioned to create a sculpture garden dedicated to the First Nations of Canada.   We're very excited about his new project.”

“Is Shawn the only artist working on the project?” Rick asked.

“No, he and two other artists are working collaboratively on it.   All three will contribute a minimum of 4 bronze sculptures to be placed in the garden but Shawn is in charge of the overall layout and design of the garden,” Rick elaborated.  “The other artists are members of the First Nations as is Shawn.”

I asked, “So how is Shawn able to work on his project while you are here in Regina?”

“He has already finished the layout and the design of the garden.   In fact, the garden has been completed except for the placement of the sculptures.    Shawn has finished two sculptures already and is working on three more,” Rick said, with obvious pride in his partner’s work.

Shawn spoke for the first time since we had gotten into the Land Rover, “Randy makes things much more than they are.   One of my friends from grade school is an artist as well and is much better known than I am.   She was asked to put this project together and recommended they approach me to lead the project and she suggested it be a combined effort between us and one other of our artist friends.   We got together and planned out the theme of the garden and have been working on it for almost a year now.”

“Shawn is too modest to tell you he has sold many of his sculptures to art collectors all over Canada.   He’s a pretty good painter, as well.   When we get to our apartment, I'll have to show you some of his artwork,” Randy said.

Shawn pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant and parked the Land Rover near the front entrance.   Once we were seated and had placed our orders for our beverages, we all headed to the buffet tables.   I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started filling my plate.

Rick and I sat across from Randy and Shawn as we ate and talked about sports, etc.   At one point during the meal, I excused myself to use the facilities.  

As soon as I was out of earshot, Shawn looked at Rick and said, “Rick please don’t be offended at what I’m about to say but you need to listen very carefully.”

Rick nodded his understanding, wondering what this very strange man was about to say, “I’m listening.”

“I sense you have a lot of hate and anger in you.   You need to beware of causing yourself and Glenn great harm because of the feelings you have bottled up inside you.   You are like an atom bomb that will blow up and demolish everything and everyone around you.   I fear for both you and Glenn.   I can see you love Glenn but your love will not be sufficient to protect him from harm if you don’t let go of your anger and hatred.  

“Glenn loves you deeply and that is a good thing because he will need it to tide him over when things get really tough between you two.   I hope you will learn to love Glenn as profoundly as he does you.   Glenn doesn’t realize you haven’t given yourself completely to him as his soul mate as he has done for you.   His deep love for you has blinded him to the realities of your relationship, Rick.   Tread lightly and beware of the very deep chasm yawning before your feet should you fail to properly place your feet,” Shawn said, looking into Rick’s eyes.

It seemed to Rick Shawn had looked deep into his soul as he heard the words Shawn was saying.   Rick didn’t know whether he should be offended or not.   His mind didn’t know how to react.   Rick’s state of mind was written all over his face because Shawn continued, “I know you don’t believe me and you're trying to decide whether or not to be angry at me for being so direct with you.  Before you judge me or the words I have spoken, look deep within yourself and be extremely honest as you examine your feelings for Glenn and the feelings of hate, anger and guilt you have stored up in your heart that are preventing you from loving Glenn totally and completely as he does you.”

Rick finally responded, “I don’t have words enough to describe how I feel right now.   Never in my life has anyone been able to look inside my soul and articulate the thoughts and feelings of my heart as you’ve just done.   Every word has pierced my heart and I know without a shadow of doubt you know me better than I know myself.   What is more amazing is you have only known me for a few hours.”

Randy said, “Rick, Shawn has a gift for reading people’s hearts and minds.   He has done this before to many of our friends.    He is very rarely wrong.   I’m sorry he upset you.   I had hoped he wouldn’t say anything to you until we had gotten to know you better.”   Randy looked reproachfully at his partner.

“I’m sorry, Randy.   Rick needed to hear what I had to say and I didn’t know when we would have a better opportunity to talk without Glenn being present.   Glenn has a very tender heart and will defend his life’s love against all comers.   Glenn would have rallied to Rick’s defense and I would not have been able to speak as directly about Rick’s feelings.   I needed Rick to concentrate on what I had to say without worrying about the effect it would have on Glenn.”

“Randy, I’m okay.   Shawn is right.  I did need to hear what he said and I am appreciative of his discretion.  I do have a lot of dissonance going on in my mind right now about our relationship.   I need to resolve some things so I can give myself totally to Glenn.   I do love him very much and I promise to do my best not to make him unhappy.”

Shawn said, “It’s not Glenn I fear for, Rick.   It’s you.   You are the one who is suffering the most right now.   Glenn knows who he is and has a clear sense of where he is going and what he wants.   You, on the other hand, need to discover who you really are and to make peace within yourself about that reality.   The internal conflicts you are dealing with now need to be resolved so you can grow as a person and be able to return Glenn’s love for you.”

As Shawn finished speaking, I returned to the table.   “What’s with all the solemn faces?   Did someone die or something?”

I sat down on the seat and scooted over next to Rick so that his leg rested against mine and I placed my hand on his inner thigh.   My touch had its usual affect which caused me to grin.

Rick grinned at me and said, “Glenn, you are being a tease.”

“I am not.   Its only teasing if I’m not prepared to follow through on the offer,” I laughed and squeezed his package before removing my hand.

“I’m telling your brother on you,” Rick said, laughing.   “Randy, your brother is incorrigible.   Can’t you at least try to teach him not to tease me in such public places where I can’t do anything about it,” Rick pleaded with Randy.   “You don’t know how hard it is dealing with him when he gets this way!”

Randy and Shawn both laughed at me as I blushed a deep red.  

“Rick, you have met your match I think,” Randy said, smiling as he continued, “My little brother has always been able to get away with just about anything.   So I don’t think I can do anything to help you.”

Shawn smiled as well.  “I can sympathize with you, Rick, because Randy does the same thing to me.   They must be related somehow.”

Randy’s smile got wider as I watched Shawn begin to squirm until Shawn said, “Randy, stop or I won’t be responsible for what happens.”   Randy laughed wickedly before he finally left Shawn alone.

Shawn looked at Randy as he said, “I can tell it’s time to take these two home before you become a public nuisance.”

Randy protested, “I’m not a public nuisance!”

“No, but it wouldn’t be too long before you would be.   Come on, Babe.   It’s time to go,” Shawn said, grabbing Randy’s hand and helped him stand up.

The trip to their apartment was a short one.   Randy and Shawn had a very nicely appointed apartment.   After showing us to the spare bedroom, we freshened up and returned to their front room.

Randy took us on a guided tour of their home.   “These are Shawn’s paintings,” he said, pointing to several landscape oil paintings on the wall.   Each one depicted a majestic scene with beautiful mountains, lakes and lots of trees, etc.  

On another wall, hung framed photographs which Randy pointed to next.  “These are my photos.  I’m an amateur photographer.   These are my favorites.   This one was taken in Banff.   The next one was taken in Vancouver and the last in Nova Scotia.”

“You both are very talented,” Rick said.  “Have you ever entered your photos into a photo contest?”

“No, I would rather just enjoy looking at them.   I take photos because it makes me happy.   It’s not important to me to have other people praise me for the photos I take,” Randy said.

Next, Shawn led us down the hallway and opened the door to a third bedroom that had been converted into a studio.

“This is where I work while Randy teaches at the academy,” Shawn said, “This is a model of the sculpture I am working on for the project.”

The sculpture was of a grizzly bear and her two cubs.   Each piece was dazzling in its beauty and detail.   It was almost like they would start moving as you watched them.

I moved to the other end of the room to look at a partially finished canvass.   “Shawn, who are you painting?” I asked.

Shawn smiled and wrapped his arm around Randy’s waist.  “It’s a portrait of Randy.”

Rick stepped forward to see the canvass I was looking at and stopped short.   The canvass was as tall as Rick was and there was Randy painted in full living color!   I have never seen a painting evoke such feelings in me.   The scene was one where Randy was standing on the deck of a sailboat looking at someone he loved. Everything from his tanned body barely clad by a revealing Speedo swim suit to his windblown hair radiated health and vitality but the most striking features were the eyes.   They seemed to sparkle with an inner happiness and communicated a deep and abiding love.  

“I was going to paint him nude but decided it would be a sexier to paint him with his favorite Speedo swim suit.   Here’s the photo I have been using.   We took it when we were on our honeymoon in the Bahamas.”

He handed Rick the photo.   It showed a laughing Randy standing on the deck of a sailboat looking at the camera.   Even in the photo, Randy seemed to have a special aura about him.   It was easy to see why Shawn had chosen this photo to use as his inspiration for his painting.

Rick passed the photo over to me.   “Randy is a very lucky man to have found you, Shawn,” I said.

“No, I am the lucky one.   Randy is the perfect man for me,” Shawn said, pulling his man into a tight embrace and kissing him.

I put my arm around Rick’s waist as we watched the couple express their love for each other.   Randy looked across at me and nodded his head towards Rick.   It didn’t take me long to act on Randy’s suggestion.   I pulled Rick into an embrace and kissed him long and hard.

Having completed the tour, we retired to the front room.   Shawn asked, “Rick would you like a beer or something?”


“Sure,” Rick responded.

Rick wondered why Shawn hadn’t asked Randy and me if we wanted something.   I could see the question on his face.   When he returned with two cold bears and two sodas, it dawned on him that neither of us drinks alcohol.

Shawn curled up next to Randy on the coach while Rick and I cuddled on the loveseat.

“Tell us how you guys met,” Shawn said.

Rick looked at me so I volunteered to tell our story.   Rick listened to me relate our story.   I know it sounded like a fairy tale come to life but that is how it seems to me.

*** ***

As Glenn related the story of how we met, Rick finally understood what Shawn had said earlier, “For Glenn, he is living his life’s dream, his fairy tale story in real life.   You are his prince charming who has saved him and has vowed to protect him from the evils of the world.   Of course, the story continues, ‘….and they lived happily ever after.’

He watched his lover closely as he continued telling Randy and Shawn about their relationship.   He couldn’t help noticing how Glenn’s happiness shines through his words, actions and from his beaming face.   It wasn’t hard to tell from how he talked about Rick he worships the ground Rick walks on.  

Rick thought, “I’ve never been that special to anyone, not even my own parents.   Glenn has put me on a pretty high pedestal.  No wonder Shawn gave me the lecture earlier today.   Sometimes it takes someone from the outside looking in to help you see what should be so obvious.   We have been together nearly two months now and we’ve been deliriously happy.   The only blemish being how my parents reacted to me being gay.   I’m not sure what I’m going to do about them, if anything.”

*** ***

I noticed Rick was deep in thought as I started telling Randy and Shawn about Keith’s wedding and what happened following the reception.

Shawn asked, “Don’t you think you owe Ruth Ann at least a phone call?”

I shook my head, “No.   I don’t think that would be a good idea.   Maybe I could write her a letter instead.   She leaves for school next week so I could write the letter tonight and it might make it to her parents’ house before she leaves”

“You said you really like her, Glenn.   Wouldn’t you want her to give you the courtesy of a personal explanation instead of the silent treatment you’ve given her?   Try and put yourself in her shoes,” Shawn said.

Randy chimed in, “I agree with you, Shawn, but at the same time I think we need to let Glenn be the judge of the situation and do what he thinks is best.”

“Thanks, bro.   I will sit down tonight and write her a letter,” I said.

“If you mail it from here, it won’t get there for a couple of weeks.   You would be better off mailing it when you return to the states,” Randy said.

Shawn turned to Rick and asked, “How are you going to deal with your parents?”

Rick was totally taken off guard by Shawn’s question since he hadn’t really been listening to the conversation.   I could see it in his expression.   I took his hand and squeezed it while he took a moment to collect his thoughts.  "I’m not sure what to do.   My first thought is to leave them alone and let them cool off for a while before trying contact them again.”

“I agree that a cooling off period is needed but don’t wait too long,” Shawn said.

I wanted to spare Rick any more questions so I asked, “I told you guys how we met.   Now it’s time for you two to share how you got together.”

Randy and Shawn looked at each other then started to laugh.   Randy started to tell their story, “Well, it all began with Shawn getting totally and completely drunk.   We were at party we had been invited to by a mutual friend of ours.   Since I don’t drink, Mark asked me to take some of the guys home who didn’t want to crash at his place over night.   So I got four totally drunk guys into my car and drove each of them home.   Shawn was the last one of the group to be dropped off but he was so drunk he couldn’t remember his own name.”

Shawn interrupted, “That’s not true, Randy.   I remembered my name.   I just couldn’t remember where I lived!”

“So here I am with this drunk in my car and nowhere to drop him off.   I finally decided to take him home with me.   I asked Shawn if that’s okay when he starts getting sick and covers me, my car and himself with vomit.   It was totally nasty.   It was all I could do to not lose it, too.

“I dragged Shawn up the stairs to my apartment and managed to get our clothes off and get us both in the shower.   I cleaned us both up and put Shawn in my bed.   I got dressed and went back to try and clean up the mess in my car.   That took me a while.   By the time I returned, Shawn was totally asleep.   I was going to sleep on the couch but decided that I would sleep better in my own bed so I pushed Shawn over on his side and climbed into bed with him.”

Shawn picked up the story, “The next morning, I was disoriented and even more amazed to find myself sleeping naked with another guy and I was very much turned on by that thought.   It wasn’t long before Randy was awake and aware of my condition.   It didn’t take him long to seduce me and I haven’t slept by myself since that night.”

Rick asked Shawn, “How did you know Randy was the right one for you?”

“I didn’t but my hormones kicked in and helped me make that leap of faith.   Those first couple of weeks after we first met we couldn’t keep our hands off of each other kind of like you two are right now.”

Both Rick and I colored up at that statement because it was true.  

“So how long did you keep doing it like that or is it still the same now?” I asked.

Now it was Randy’s turn to blush.   Shawn just smiled and poked Randy in the ribs, “You get to answer your brother’s question.”

Randy laughed, “I guess you could say we're still like you guys!   That’s kind of why we were able to tell you so much about what you're going through right now.   Shawn tells me I have a heavy libido.”

Shawn said, grinning mischievously, “You were listening to me and you even remember the word I used.   I’m flattered.   I’ll have to change my opinion of you, Randy.   I thought your little head did all the thinking for your big head!”

Randy grabbed Shawn and kissed him, “My dick does all the thinking whenever I’m around you.   And right now my dick is telling me you need to pay him some attention very soon.”

Shawn managed to escape his lover’s groping hands and stood up as he winked at us.  “We will see you two in the morning.   Once Randy starts, he is completely unstoppable.”

Shawn pulled Randy to his feet and escorted him to their bedroom and shut the door.

Rick pulled me to my feet and we followed their lead.   I shut the bedroom door behind us and pulled Rick into my arms.

“Are you ready lover boy?” Rick said, as he pushed his hands down the back of my shorts and squeezed my perfectly shaped butt (at least that is what Rick tells me!).

“I’m more than ready,” I said as he removed my shorts and underwear.   

A while later, before we dropped off sleep, Rick whispered in my ear as he nuzzled my neck, “Glenn, I love you very much.   I want you to always remember that.”

I murmured back sleepily, “I love you too Rick.”

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