Dodger

I call it autumn too, but that's because English is my first language. It's still summer here in Ontario. Sorry Steve, I couldn't find anything suitable for under $5000.

The pastor's been around a long time and he thinks he can convince Robbie to change. Unless he has a few tricks up his sleeve, he will have his work cut out.

I think Robbie's doing the right thing, providing he keeps the pastor to his word and doesn't allow himself to be coerced into something unexpected and provided it has nothing to do with Symmonds.

I'm not sure about Don, but the pastor may enjoy such a show.

Sorry, Steve, but eventually there has to be an ending, and this is the beginning of it.

The pastor will try to convert Robbie for sure. Robbie know this, but he's confident with his sexuality and probably not as vulnerable as the pastor expects. Don is more difficult to predict and not easily fooled. It's entirely possible that he's aware of what's going on.

Robbie has benefitted enormously from Jo's therapy and advice. He's confident and knows what he wants to do with his life. The pastor won't have it easy if he thinks he can talk him into going straight, but will try his best. Maybe he really believes that it's a personal choice.

We know the pastor will do his best to try to convert Robbie, although it's unclear how he intends to do this in just two hours.

If you're good at sport, doors tend to open for you. I'm sure it's the same in the US. Robbie has been incredibly naive in the past, but on this occasion, I'm not so sure. It sounds like a good deal, after all, Robbie needs all the help he can get and the pastor is talking sense. Robbie is comfortable enough with his sexuality to know that there is nothing the pastor can say to him that will make him question it. It's not like he's undecided or open to persuasion, so he has nothing to lose except a couple of hours. We will see how it pans out.

I suspect this person may have a lot of shoes!

Thank you @wenmale64. Not too many alligators in Canada, but plenty of other dangerous animals. Perhaps he could bump into a particularly nasty bear. Fortunately, bear attacks are extremely rare in Ontario, but this year there has been a spate of fatal attacks out west involving grizzlies. Interestingly, I remember a news report a few years ago about a resident of Cobourg who discovered a cougar in his backyard. (I didn't think there were any in Ontario). Prior to that there were an unusually high number of pets reported missing in the area, which makes sense. Dogs, of course, are an easy target and make a good meal for a cougar, but they tend to stay away from humans, particularly someone big and loud like Don.

Hello @Connor Lee. Thank you for reading. The story was written in UK English, although Robbie's vocabulary gradually changes to include more North American words as he settles into his new environment. Cloths, however, is a misspelling. Unfortunately, you will probably find quite a few similar cases along with some blatant errors in punctuation. The early chapters are unedited and even I find them difficult to read, but if you decide to continue, then you should notice a gradual improvement in both areas. The story has been a learning curve for me and after posting the final chapter, I intend to edit the whole thing from the beginning.

As an openly gay student with an English accent, a flamboyant boyfriend, and a near-death experience under my belt, I was used to people taking an interest in me. Everyone seemed to know my name, and I was often recognised even outside of the school by complete strangers, but I was never popular in the same way as Nicola. Instead, most students seemed wary of me, and I found it difficult to make new friends, especially with boys. They were uncomfortable whenever I got too close. Perhaps the

Don is smart enough to know he wouldn't be able to get away with stealing Robbie's inheritance, even if he could figure out a way of doing it without the bank knowing, which is unlikely. As the trustee, Don should be advising Robbie and keeping him informed of his investments-which he hasn't been doing-and there are certain things he can do to try to increase the value of the fund, but he doesn't have direct access to any money. For example, he can authorize the bank to sell certain assets but the proceeds will always remain in the trust for when Robbie turns eighteen. Don has no access to them.

Absolutely he is. He doesn't like the fact that Robbie is financially secure and doesn't rely on him for support, because it takes away his control. Don uses money to influence everybody around him including his family. They enjoy a comfortable lifestyle and he's happy to pick up the tab, on the condition that he's in charge, and everyone abides by his rules. The more indebted to him they become the greater his control, and the more secure his position as head of the house. Buying a boat will be a good investment for him, even if it's only moored in the harbour. He's not interested in sailing, he's buying a status symbol. The more he can give his kids the less likely they are to turn against him. Up until now, Robbie has been the exception to this rule, but in Don's world everyone has a price, so maybe he believes that even he can be bought.

Don is a no good so and so, and I wouldn't put it past him to use Robbie's money if he could, although I don't think it would be for personal gain. Don is apparently doing okay, and may not need Robbie's money to buy the boat, but even if he did, it would be difficult for him to take money from the trust fund. The trustee is not allowed to withdraw cash or transfer assets from the fund to himself. This is against the law and the bank wouldn't allow it. Robbie knows this so he has never felt the need to discuss his finances with Don, but he should pay more attention.

The threesome idea was a big thing for Robbie at the time and it played a big part in their original break up. After realizing he still wanted to be with Nathan, Robbie regretted not being more receptive to the idea, but he was right to make a stand. It would have been a disaster to agree to something like that just to keep Nathan happy, when Robbie was clearly uncomfortable with the idea. It's good that Nathan now seems to recognize this especially if he's looking for a long term relationship with commitments. I think we all know that's what Robbie wants. He's been tempted by Alex, confused by Fran, and perhaps used by Stephanie, but I think Sue's assessment of him is wrong. He's not a guy who would be comfortable with a lot of different partners and I don't think he will have too much trouble staying loyal to the boy he loves. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide is a good analogy of Don. He's a master of the 'good cop bad cop' routine, sucking Robbie in by saying things he knows will cut straight to the heart and then almost in the next breath, switching back to the ruthless person we know. He's used these tactics in the past, but thanks to Jo, Robbie is more aware of his games and not so easy to intimidate. She's done a good job preparing Robbie for every scenario and instilling the confidence he will need to stand up to Don. We will see her work come to fruition in the next couple of chapters.

It's Don's job to look after Robbie's inheritance.

There will be no place for Robbie to hide on a thirty-foot sailboat, but Don won't be able to sail it alone.

You're right, this is naïve of Nicola. She knows her dad better than that. Don sexist? Of course he is. Unless it directly benefits him, he wouldn't want a woman to steer his boat. He'll want to keep the women in the galley, but I'll be surprised if they agree to set foot on the boat at all.

Or knowing Conner's tastes, it could be the other way around.

Don has been nice to Robbie since he found out about Stephanie. He's manipulative and wants to push Robbie into accepting some kind of role as a father. Perhaps he believes this will somehow change his sexuality or maybe he really does believe that Robbie is just confused and has been led astray. It's likely a combination of these, but whatever his reasons, Robbie needs to be wary.

Thank you @Gary L My Spanish is non-existent, so I had to look it up.

It was late when Nathan woke me, but his thick drapes blocked all but a few random rays of sunlight from entering his room, keeping it in relative darkness. I was lying on my back, partially covered by a sheet with my head at the bottom of his bed. I vaguely remembered why as I rubbed my eyes and peered at the naked boy beside me. Nathan was on his tummy, facing the other way and gently nibbling on my testicles. When he saw me watching, he stopped, looked up, and smiled through a mop of black ha

Thank you @mg777 for your uplifting comment. I understand how frustrating it can be for the readers with long wait times between updates, but it's never done on purpose. If I didn't have to go to work every day then I would have an extra 40 hours a week to work on this story, and it would have been finished years ago. It's not possible to please everyone, and the comment you're referring to is a good example, but I take it with a pinch of salt. Thankfully, I am more than compensated by the number of positive and encouraging comments like yours that keep me focused.