Guest034229

Is it safe to come out now?

Oh what have I started? ☻ I do have quite a few of their early albums in my collection. 《Exeunt》

You just had to bring Nickleback into it LOL

What a perfect ending; everything came together. Those red lily's blooming annually on their engagement anniversary was a nice touch. A lot of personal thought went into the proposal and the wedding plans. I thought Jack was going to be a boy until they turned up at the kennels. These humans who talk about their dogs as if they were people. There has to be another chapter or Gary. So many unanswered questions!!! Like what happens next and what happens after that? 😉 Seriously though, it would be great to have one more of their Wedding, after their early adoption of a kid. I don't feel that we've quite seen enough of Preston squirming yet a final meet up with the extended family. Romance, fun, what's not to like? Not enough drama in it did I hear you say? 😂

Epilogue comment removed.

Epilogue comment removed.

I'm saving the epilogue for tomorrow. I really am burnt out from the final reception stage. I couldn't understand why that was bothering me deep down for days. I just realised it tied into something personal for me. You make a good "Dear Abby"; more than you may realise

Now that's how to finish a story. You got there in the end G and Drake finally dropped the bone he'd been carrying. Time for belly rubs LOL What an emotional roller coaster of a ride though. Almost burnt out and in need of a therapist to get through that. 😉 Thank you for sharing Buddy

Damn. I hate that I was right about a lot of things that I was procrastinating about after they left the wedding reception. I was just stating the obvious when I said that Drake needed to lose Jimmy first before he could appreciate him. I also said that Jimmy could never be happy wondering if Drake would misconstrue, his most innocent of his actions like dancing and meeting women. Also that no two people are alike and that a trustworthy person becomes that by their own merits alone and not someone else's. There was more, but Karma is most definitely a bitch that's come back to haunt me too. For once I wish that I was wrong. The comment that we are all damaged goods, is quite a profound one. It's also an honest foundation on which to build any future relationship. It may be a good thing for Jimmy and Drake to go their separate ways and have a fresh start. They almost need to learn what it is to become good friends first, before they go any further. After all best friends know almost everything there is to know about eachother and Drake and Jimmy need to walk that journey together. No one has seen the the real Drake and Jimmy yet. Drake because he had himself walled in and Jimmy because he was never allowed to be anything more than a "friend" to Drake. Who knows? They might learn to adore eachother for who they truly are and, in time, love and trust one another unreservedly. It would be a shame if they couldn't.

Much, much better G. You had me in a state of stasis there for way too long. I'm off to the next chapter for some fun. Send Callie my regards. No further comment! 😘

I've just had a major epiphany sparked by your comment @Defiance19 I've been flaming Drake for not letting go and trusting. While reading your comment, I just realised that I have him beat, hands down, for how I've lived my life these past 5 years since I broke with my my last partner. Does the word hypocrite still apply, if you weren't aware of it?

I get that there is someone much more caring and loving in Drake. Jimmy is smart and needs affection and wouldnt be chasing Drake if it were otherwise. Its just that your awkward characters get so wrapped up in themselves and never seem to offer enough hope. At least not to someone as dense as me. It's great writing though G. Hope I haven't caused offence.

This has been such a sad chapter to read. I've read it nearly half a dozen times before I trusted myself to respond. I think that Drake has finally broken Jimmy's heart and his belief that he could ever become anything more than a distant bi friend to Drake. Jealousies are arising for both but whereas Jimmy's awareness of Richards kiss, draws him to Drake, Drake's imagined intimacy with Bindy drives him away. Their very natures are poles apart. Jimmy is now outwardly hurting with how Drake is using everything to justify his distrust of Jimmy. Congratulations on creating your own hell Drake. As stated Drake is his own worst enemy. Just one of many comments that went way over his head. I think it is dawning on Jimmy that he could never be his natural self around Drake without constantly wondering if Drake would misconstrue his innocent actions, as unfaithful. I'm sure that this is not the life that Jimmy cares to live. Jimmy is a self professed 'romantic fool' and Drake's 'nothing wrong with that' response is somewhat dismissive and insensitive. It fails to understand Jimmy's need for someone who can actually reciprocate with something more than pleasantries. The understated melancholy in Jimmy's 'depends' is also utterly lost on Drake. Well thats not quite true, Drake senses that something is not quite right. Whoopiefrackindoo! Drake's eagerness to put an end to the lie and undo all the hard work that Jimmy has done to fix Drake's family is rather unappreciative, heartless and cruel and I suspect Jimmy believes that would be the final nail in the coffin. The fact that Drake didn't go through with it may just be the turning point from what was surely the brink of disaster for their relationship. It's all about Drake being seen as honest as he can be and damage limitation. Well frack him is all I have to say. No more excuses about needing to process and the turmoil he's had. Good manners like thank you and a sincere apology are not optional extras for when you're just feeling great. It's two and half years. It's time to grow up and deal with it. Any fool can see that fidelity and sexual orientation are not in any way related to eachother. No two people are alike and a trustworthy person is just that. I get that the timing of this weekend is bad to try and build relationships. Unfortunately, no time is a good time for Drake to give Jimmy a chance. Some people are incapable of appreciating something until it's gone and Drake is the type that needs to experience that before he will take his head out of his ass. Loved this chapter for Jimmys anger and sadness and that Mona Lisa smile.

Absolutely riveting G. I'm so glad Drake had the courage to hear him out. Richard was unforgivably selfish, making sure that he was fully comfortable with the sex he was having with Bernadette before he ditched Drake. I can accept that Richard didnt say anything about his initial dreams of female body parts. I don't think many, or even any, of us would be comfortable sharing every minute detail that goes through our minds. But the second Richard went to therapy and brought someone along, that person had to be Drake. It was most definitely Drake's decision to make, not Richards. When he brought Bernadette along instead, that was the fundamental action of a cheat. The fact that the therapist encouraged and proceeded with it, is the fundamental reason why I hold them in such low regard. They have no place directing life choices of two people based on their own personal understanding of current thinking, however flawed that may be, and especially when one of the main parties is absent. It makes me far more sympathetic towards Drake. It was incredible that Richard had the audacity to ask if Drake still had feelings for him. He wants everyone's adoration. I'm fine with Drake being happy for Richard's family but not with offering him comfort as a text friend. Not wanting to do that is not petty, its the grown up act of having chosen your bed and lying in it. Richard wants to keep his cake and eat it. I really think Drake needed to draw a line under their past and make it clear that both needed to move on without the expectation of further contact. It's clear that future contact is going to hurt Richard for sure but may harm Drake too. The kiss could actually be a powerful start to Drake's recovery. Drake was being naive about the complexities of latent sexuality and maybe now realises that it may be far more confusing and wider spread than he has so far been prepared to admit. He probably is more sympathetic of the struggles he witnesses in Richard and a little less black and white about the class of partner he will or will not accept in future. Once Drake realises that trust is something that is independent of sexual orientation, the blinkers should fall away and leave him viewing people in a new light based on how affectionate and loving they are (there's hope yet Jimmy). Thank you for forcing us to think about what is important to each of us, in this dramatic dialogue G. Ever thought of becoming a therapist? Well don't! You know my thoughts on them now 😉

You need to ask Preston, He must a have a bag full that he's used over the years. 😉

Ok Richard is chatting to Drake just a click away, so short and sweet. Drake is still wrapped up in himself and refusing to shift on his anti Bi stance. I see it's a tough weekend for him but he's coming across as a bit selfish now. I dont want to get all philosophical, but i personally think true love is as much about caring for other people's happiness, as much your own. I'm not seeing any of that in Drake either for Richard, Past Dean or Jimmy. It just confirms that Drake has got a lot of growing up to do. Richards overly enthusiastic confirmation that good looks runs through all Drake's family got a look from Bernadette. I wonder if she is still aware of Richard harbouring thoughts for Drake. Poor Jimmy's trip to Vancouver was to help his friend Victoria on a mission of mercy for her ailing dad. Typical Jimmy and typical Drake to still use that against him. And yes this weekend is all about Drake but Jimmys past heartbreaks have come to Drake's attention too. Ok Drake showed a little interest in Jimmys story but If Drake isn't far more affected than that, then he really isn't what Jimmy's truly loving and giving nature deserves. OK now to find out what Richard needed to say. Is it congratulations, sorry, I made a mistake or I want you back?

Wow, there's so much happening here from the moment they got showered and dressed to arriving at the reception at Country Club. Once again, the narrative and the dialogue flowed so easily, that we lived through it rather than read it. Jimmy has been the perfect chaperone for Drake in every detail. He is so attuned to Drake's needs and concerns, that Jimmy has pre-empted and provided the perfect responses to calm, comfort and console Drake at every stage. Each offered hand, smile, eye contact and shoulder to lean on have made something bearable out of something Drake would never have wanted to endure. Callie so quickly saw past the sham of 'Dean' but equally quickly approved of the man that was doing such a wonderful job of standing by her brother in a difficult time. The conversation with Richard and Bernadette is going to be a difficult one but it has to take place, if there is ever to be closure between the three of them. I feel that there will be a story between Drake and Bernadette's lifelong friendship that will need resolution too. It does look hopeful that Drake and Callie will be getting their parents back. Preston's reintegration with the family will hopefully be addressed in due course too. Withholding children from their uncle is an affront that I hope would not continue. After all the wonderful things JD has done for Drake, it is deeply saddening that Drake can only focus on how to orchestrate their 'breakup' after the wedding and manage things from the perspective of damage limitation. What on earth would it take to open Drake's eyes and begin to trust the man who is not acting the role of his perfect soul mate? Yet another incredibly captivating story G.

That's so funny and more pertinent than you may think @droughtquake. Only a few days ago I googlemapped the house I lived in until I was 5. It backed onto a field with a horse. I distinctly remember my father telling me not to go anywhere near or it would bite my fingers off. I now realise that I've never gone close to a horse in my life. So yes Gary wouldn't have far to go to avoid me.

No worries buddy, I have mellowed.

At long last, the walls begin to crumble and we start to observe the root causes of this family's actions, moreso than their effect. Dot has transformed from the impersonal, uncaring, pompous, image focused Matriarch that she first appeared to be. Last night's rude awakening has allowed her to quickly shed her facade and re-evaluate all that is important to her. Suddenly she has a personal warmth and integrity towards her family and an honesty and trust that exposes her vulnerabilities that makes Drake love and care for what he now sees as his aging mum. It's beautiful to see. The reveal of Preston's shock disovery of his bastard nature, offers some hope that they can address the real cause of his asshole disposition rather than having to react to the resultant manifestations of his bigotry and anger. Of even greater significance though, is that we now know why Drake feels he is incapable of forming a relationship with Jimmy. Drake was clearly badly hurt when his ex boyfriend Richard left him to get married and start a family with his wife. Drake had clearly been unaware of that possibility, probably thinking Richard was gay. So it would have come as a great shock to Drake. In his grief, Drake has denounced all Bisexuals as extremely prone to infidelity given their potential attraction to both men and women. Drake's coping mechanism is to avoid any such relationships in the future. Sadly, Drake refuses to give Jimmy a chance. The added injustice is that Drake has sentenced Jimmy as 'Bisexual' and is intolerant to his claims that he knows himself to be gay. There's a lot of healing that needs to be done here. Can it possibly start to happen in the next few days. I'll be pissed if it can't Gary.

I don't know if I'm the only one but all I could think of in the kitchen with that prick of a Preston there, was start a food fight. Bomb him with Sherry Trifle or one of the many other things that was in that fridge. That's how me and my brothers resolved things that were beyond talking about. If Preston had just an ounce of humour left in him he might have taken one look at himself and laughed. Ok so that didn't happen. That was a really nice wake up call from Drake's mother. So glad to see that she hasn't reneged on what she promised them both the night before. Great to see that Drake slept contentedly in JD's arms. At some point Drake is surely going to realise he wants more of that and whatever is upsetting him can be consigned to the past. Its so easy to like JD's mischievous nature. The suggestion to introduce eachothers parents was a hoot. JD's proven himself to be really smart. Maybe he's decided his best chance is to get Drake to lighten up and not take life so seriously. Drake's nature is that he's like a dog with a bone re this "insurmountable" thing. Maybe if he gets a smile on his face, he'll drop the bone and enjoy getting his belly rubbed.

That's only three. You forgot Nickleback. Unforgivable 😉

I've mellowed a bit since Morningstar chapter 10. You may be disappointed 😉

Well this might not seem much of a compliment Gary but I really felt like I lived through that rather than read it. JD is just the perfect person needed to fix the malaise in this family. Calm, controlled, collected, astute, perspicacious, imposing, resourceful, eloquent, with a wisdom and justice that could not be denied. Not only is he addressing the issues at hand, he is actually fixing the people he meets. Dot will go to bed aware of her many failings and determined to put them right and on an ongoing basis. Drake on the other hand was seen to be weak in having allowed all the wrongs being done by his family to go unchallenged for so long. He was stammering and cowed by it all. JD made him into the man he needed to be and together they were perfect. JD was so sincere and clearly just being his genuine self that I couldn't help but wince when Drake told him what a great actor he was. That must have hurt. There is a potency to this story, driven by the underlying tension of what exactly JD could have done that was so awful, that it could never be forgiven? It had better be something that is so utterly shocking that anyone could relate to Drake or you really are an absolute fool for refusing him as anything but a friend.

Great, some grown up adult drama with relationships tearing off in every direction; Exactly what I need right now. Love the way we were thrown right into the middle of this personal crisis for Drake. Having to work at picking up the pieces of Drake's and Jimmy's past history and figuring what could have gone so wrong on that road trip to Vancouver. Jimmy seems a perfect friend and more, for Drake. Boy has this family got problems. Love that Callie will be there for Drake for that irreplaceable bit of family warmth. And Jimmy for the personal touch, not matter how resistant Drake is going to be with that, at least to begin with. So looking forward to all the dramas that are going to unfold this weekend. What a great time to be a fly on the wall. 🐝