Chronicles Of An Academic Predator - 44. Chapter 44

July 4, 1963

 

I dodged the parade again. I was fortunate in that neither Isidore nor Jeff were into dorky looking floats and self-important people riding in Cadillac, Lincoln, and Chrysler convertibles. We waited until that spectacle was over, then the five of us headed down to the festival. Ironically, the first person we ran into was Stefan. He and Isidore had become good friends, and he was chiefly responsible for her largely expanding English vocabulary. He was also responsible for Jason's slow progress with French. I wondered if Stefan had collected his fee yet.

 

“Hello Mademoiselle,” Stefan said, bowing and kissing Isidore's hand.

 

“Good day my little slut,” she said, and caused Jeff and I to crack up. She sure had his number.

 

“As you say, I am at your service. Or yours, or yours, or yours” he said, looking at Jeff, Jason, and I. I put my arm around him and dragged him along with us.

 

“So JP, did you hear the news?” Stefan was excited about something.

 

“What news?” I asked.

 

“I got admitted to college. I got my letter yesterday.”

 

“And which college would that be?” I asked.

 

“The University of Chicago. I'm going to study economics.” Stefan in Chicago. There was a whole new wrinkle. I saw Jeff giggling. He never let shit bother him. It was frustrating for someone like me who was perpetually uptight.

 

“That's fantastic Stefan! How great it will be to have you in Chicago!” I said enthusiastically, and I realized as I said it that I really meant it. I had grown to really love the little shit, flaws and all. And he gave such good head.

 

“Yeah it is,” said Jeff, echoing my sentiments. I think I caught him off guard with my enthusiasm.

 

“Will you be living with us as well?” asked Isidore. I looked at Jeff with big eyes, as if to say 'what the fuck is she doing?' He just shrugged his shoulders.

 

“I would not want to interfere with the happy, uh, family,” he said in his smart ass little tone. Jason looked uncomfortable when he said it.

 

“Do not be ridiculous,” she said. “You are family. You must be with us.”

 

Stefan was much more in tune with the issues than she was. He smiled at me, as if to say, 'don't worry about it.' “Well, let us all think about it, shall we?”

 

“If Stefan moves in, can I fuck him JP? Can I can I can I?” Jeff said, imitating a little kid.

 

“Of course,” I said with a straight face, “everybody else does, why should you be left out?” Stefan punched me lightly on the arm.

 

So we basically wandered around the Commons, doing the same thing I did every year. I'd gotten so good at chit chat I could almost do it without thinking. We found my mother over by the tent set up by Crampton Construction, and she appropriated Isidore. Vella was there, and she was headed back home (she never stayed long) so she took Ace. Jason and Stefan headed off on their own, so that left Jeff and I to wander around, just the two of us.

 

We hadn't been walking long when we ran into a very drunk Frank. “Hey JP,” he said with a slur and hugged me. “Hey baby brother!” and he gave Jeff the same embrace. “Good to see you guys! JP, I saw that hot French chick you brought to town. I didn't know you had a girlfriend. I always thought you were into guys.” This was the same type of shit he used to throw at me, only this time he said it in a harmless, teasing manner.

 

“That was just wishful thinking on your part Frank,” I said.

 

“You may be right,” he said with a fake leer, and I cracked up. He was drunk and full of shit. “Gotta find my wife. See ya guys!” and he careened off.

 

“My brother just hit on you,” Jeff said, irritated.

 

“Can you blame him? I'm adorable.” He wasn't amused. I looked at him seriously. “We've always had this kind of banter. It's the way Frank is. Only this time he said it in a light-hearted, joking way, instead of like an asshole. Personally, I'm thrilled about that.”

 

“Yeah well,” he said, not convinced.

 

“I've got the best Hayes. Why would I go slumming?”

 

He smiled at me. “Because he ended up with the biggest dick of all of us.” That surprised me. Did they compare them? Did they jack off together?

 

“Yeah, well that just means it would hurt. Yours fits just right. Besides, I'm sure he wouldn't know what to do with it, not like you. You're such a pro now you could give Stefan a run for his money.” That seemed to calm him down. Until we ran into his father. We both saw him, but it was too late to avoid him. Jeff's mother wasn't around.

 

“Well if it isn't the prodigal son,” he sneered.

 

“Hi Dad,” said Jeff, and turned to walk away.

 

“Where you going? Off to your pansy ass house in the hills? Never thought one of my sons would turn out to be a faggot.” Jeff just kept walking and I went with him. We escaped from Fred, but Jeff was obviously upset. I had learned when he was like this that it was best to just let him stew about it until he wanted to talk. We stopped back at the Crampton tent to grab a beer. He chugged one, then another, then took another one to drink more slowly. In a few minutes, he'd be hammered.

 

I found Isidore and told her we were probably heading back. She opted to stay with my mother.

 

“Come on Jeff, let's go back home.”

 

He burped. “Why? Let's stay and drink more beer.” I looked at him carefully and recognized the danger signs, the point where he got drunk and angry, and became combative.

 

“Because you're already drunk.” I said, expecting a violent reaction. I got it.

 

“So fuckin' what. I want to get drunk, I'm gonna get drunk. Don't tell me what to do.”

 

“Fine, we can stay here and drink more. But I had a different idea.” I leered at him. I was hoping this would work.

 

“Oh yeah?” he said, looking around. “Well, this festival blows anyway.”

 

“So do I,” I said, and he smiled broadly and headed to the car.

 

Two hours later found me lying on top of Jeff after having an amazing fuck fest. He was fun when he was drunk and he got focused on sex. He lasted longer too.

 

“Thanks for bringing me back here baby,” he cooed in my ear. “You get upset when I read your mind, but you got me figured out just as well.”

 

“I'm still getting used to it; I've spent all my life guarding my thoughts. You just pierce right through that.”

 

“That and other things,” he said, smiling. “My Dad really pisses me off.” I didn't say anything. “You know a year ago, when I got into that fight with Stefan, that's the kind of shit he used to say that would fire me up and make me do stuff like that.”

 

“Well, you've moved way beyond that. You're already so much more successful than him. And you're a much better part of society.”

 

He looked at me, and I could tell he was very sad. “What's the matter?” I asked.

 

“I hate him JP. I really hate him. If he died tomorrow, I'd be happy. And that makes me sad.” I nuzzled into his neck and hugged him. “JP, let's go back to Chicago tomorrow. Can we do that?”

 

“Anything for you,” I said.

 

July 5, 1963

 

We were back on the road, heading to Chicago. Since it was just Jeff and I, and we didn't have a bunch of shit, we took my Corvette. We were leaving behind some irritated people, especially my mother. I'd mollified her a little bit when I reminded her that if everyone was coming to visit, I had a lot of work to do. I didn't tell her that most of it was already done. Jason decided to stay back as well, still trying to figure out a way to get Isidore to notice him.

 

I turned to look at Jeff, watching him drive. His form, his face, everything about him was perfect. How did I get so lucky?

 

He noticed my scrutiny. “What?” he snapped at me.

       

“I was just noticing how handsome you are, and what a great guy you are, and thinking how lucky I am to have you.” That got a big smile. I leaned over and undid his zipper.

 

“What are you doing? JP I'm driving!” I dug out his cock and massaged it with my hands.

 

“Well then drive. Keep your eyes on the road.” And then I leaned over and took his cock in my mouth.

 

“Fuck, that feels good. I gotta pull over. Fuck.” I giggled at him and the vibrations must have worked through to his cock. I felt the car stop and I went to work with a mission. In just a few minutes I had him blasting into my mouth.

 

“OK,” I said. “Back on the road. Come on! Let's get going! I've got an appointment with a mirror to keep.” He laughed at me and got back on the highway.

 

“So what do you think about Stefan staying with us?” I asked. That topic had been on my mind since the picnic.

 

“I think it's fine. I mean, he'll probably end up fucking all of us. Something about that kid, he's just too cute, almost irresistible. At least when you're not around.”

 

“I know. I feel the same way, but I just wonder if it will be a problem. I guess the only person he could fuck that would be kind of weird would be Isidore. If I end up marrying her, that would really be weird, don't you think?”

 

“Not really. So what if he does?” Jeff asked. “I mean, she has a right to get laid too JP.” I hadn't thought about her fucking around.

 

“Funny, now that you mention it, you're absolutely right. I guess I had this image of this precious flower that would remain pure while we fuck like bunnies. That's not very realistic, or very fair.” My fussy sense of justice was causing me some angst now that I thought about it.

 

“It's no big deal JP. You would have gotten there anyway if she screwed someone. The only thing is that she could feasibly end up pregnant. What if it's Stefan's kid?”

 

I thought about that long and hard. No pun intended. He just sat there silently and drove, letting me work it through. I guess if she was going to fuck around, she'd need to make sure she was careful about that. Maybe take those new birth control pills? You had to be married to get them, although if I took that step it wouldn't be a problem. I wonder if they were legal in Illinois. So how would I feel if she did get knocked up? I guess it depended on who it was. If it was Jeff, or Stefan, I'd treat the kid as my own. But with anyone else, it would be tougher.

 

“I think that if she got pregnant, and it was your kid, or Stefan's, I'd be able to deal with it and treat the kid as my own. I mean, Ace is Andre's kid. I hold him and I don't really care that I'm not his biological father. And I hope you can make a baby with her. Someone as amazing as you needs to reproduce.” He reached over and grabbed my hand; his way of saying thank you.

 

Then he got thoughtful. “Well, I think you just answered your question.”

 

“What do you mean?” He'd made a leap in logic that I'd missed.

 

“Well, you know if Stefan is living with us, you and I are both going to fuck around with him, probably together, maybe not. Are you OK with that?”

 

I thought for a minute. Stefan was cute as hell, and a real charmer, but he'd never win Jeff's heart. He was just a fun fuck. “Yeah, I am. Are you?”

 

“Yep.” He looked at me. “He's a blast in bed, but he can’t stimulate my mind and emotions like you do. So what about Isidore? Would you get bent out of shape if he fucked her?”

 

Good question. “Probably not. She seems to be able to handle him just fine, and she's got his number. I think he's met his match with her.”

 

“Then why would you worry about him living with us? Beyond his slutty behavior, he really wouldn't cause problems.”

 

“The only thing I'm worried about is him bringing home a bunch of strange guys to fuck. That could be weird, especially as Ace gets older. I guess if I laid down some ground rules about that, we'd be OK.”

 

We got home, wolfed down some food, and headed to bed. I had an appointment with a mirror to keep. After we were spent, and Jeff and I were lying in bed, I made one of the more momentous decisions I'd ever made. I turned on the light and headed for the safe.

 

“What are you doing baby? Turn off the light and come back here,” he whined. I grabbed the manila envelope from the safe and headed back to bed.

 

“I need to tell you something,” I said.

 

He realized I was serious. “What is it? Is something wrong?”

 

“Jeff Hayes, I love you with all of my heart, and I want to spend my life with you, and that means I have to share all of my deepest secrets with you. And you know me, know what a private person I am, and you'll understand what this means.”

 

He kissed me gently. “I love you too JP.”

 

“I told you that I had my own money, remember? And I told you that one day I'd explain to you why. That day is now.” I handed him the copy of my grandfather's letter and watched his eyes absorb the document. He finished reading and I felt suddenly vulnerable, like I was standing on a cliff one minute, and now I had just fallen off.

 

“Do you still love me?” I asked him.

 

“JP, you are such a dumb shit sometimes. Of course I still love you. I don't care whose blood flows through your veins. Come here,” he said, pulling me into him, and enveloping me with his strong arms. He pulled me into his chest, pulled me tightly, so I seemed to be absorbed by that thin layer of fat that coated his muscles. I breathed heavily, the breaths of relief.

 

His strong hands brushed up and down my back, occasionally straying down to my ass. “Baby, you had to deal with this, carry all of this shit, all by yourself?” I nodded. “Your parents don't know do they?”

 

“No one except us knows about the money. I guarded this secret so closely because I can't, I just can't let it get out. It would devastate my father.”

 

“Even when he was treating you like a total dick, you didn't throw this in his face?”

 

“No, I could never do that to him. I knew that he was basically a good man. He is, you know.”

 

“Your mother knows that you know?” he asked.

 

“Yeah, she knows that I know, and so does Bill Hendrickson. Remember after the fight with your father and Frank?” He nodded. “I stopped on my way out of town to talk to Bill about it, to make sure he knew the truth so he didn't fire Frank. When I was there, he guessed.”

 

“Wait a minute. You went over to Bill Hendrickson's house to lobby on behalf of my brother?” I nodded. “You did that for Frank?”

 

“Yeah. I've known Frank for a long time, and he's always been a major asshole. But I'd seen signs that he was changing, and then that night, a really good Frank finally broke out of his evil shell. I just thought it was important that he got a fair shake so soon after his metamorphosis.”

 

“So let me get this straight,” he said. “You find out you're a bastard and that your real father is one of the other rich guys in town, and you just deal with it all on your own, with no help. And then you go and stick your neck out for some white trash guy that only caused you trouble in the past. Do I have that right?” I just looked up at him and nodded.

 

“If you ever ask me why I love you, I'm going to remind you of that,” he said, kissing me passionately. We made love again and it was better than ever, because I'd given myself to him completely, with nothing held back.

   

July 19, 1963

 

Today the honeymoon would officially be over. There was a caravan of people heading to town; actually they were probably in town now. If so, they were sitting on the Drive in traffic. Friday at 4PM wasn't the smartest time to head from the Loop up to Evanston. I was on the balcony enjoying the beautiful, sunny day. It was hot today, but the lake breezes made it tolerable. Jeff, on the other hand, had gone up to campus for an unofficial football practice. He'd be home soon; hot, sweaty, and hungry. Too bad I'd be too busy to take a shower with him.

 

I heard the door open and a voice talking to me firmly. “JP, I assume all these folks is gonna be hungry when they get here?” I smiled at Betty, the newest member of our family. Betty was a big Negro woman, tall and round, and had a no-nonsense attitude that reminded me of Vella. That wasn't all that surprising, considering she was Vella's cousin. I was really nervous when I'd interviewed her last week. Jeff had been there with me, but didn't say much. He was the kind of guy that just listened to people talk and then came up with his own conclusions. I'd learned to trust my instincts, and Betty struck me right away as an honest, hardworking person. I could tell just by making eye contact with Jeff that he felt the same way. And she needed help, back to that noblesse oblige thing. She'd gotten into town, newly arrived from Mississippi. She'd fled from there in the wake of all the racial violence, and made it to Chicago with enough money for a few days at a sleazy hotel. So I hired her on the spot and gave her the room next to Ace so she could keep an ear out for him.

 

“They probably will Betty. I hope we're not working you too hard.”

 

“This is like a vacation compared to Jackson,” she said, and hustled back to the kitchen. I don't know if Vella had told her about our strange living arrangement or if she just figured it out, but she had to know that Jeff and I were sleeping together. I mean, there are a bunch of empty rooms in the condo and we're sharing one? But she didn't seem to care, which made me feel even better about hiring her.

 

My idle reverie was broken by the sound of the door buzzer. I pushed the button by the elevator to let the door open, and there was the first batch of visitors. Isidore rushed off the elevator carrying a very unhappy Ace. She gave me a perfunctory kiss and headed to her room. They were followed by my parents. They were both impressed, really impressed with the condo.

 

“What did you do to the ceiling?” my father asked. I explained how we'd raised it, and that it cost a small fortune.

 

“Well that was genius,” he said. “Just makes the place like a palace.” I led my parents to the guest room I'd set up for them, the one near Isidore and Ace. No sooner had I gotten them settled than the door buzzed again. This time it was Stefan, Sammy, and Jason, laughing and goofing around even as they got off the elevator. They must have had a fun drive. I put Sammy and Stefan in the guest room next to Jeff and me. Finally, Tonto and Barry arrived. Barry was still quiet and somber. I wasn't sure if he'd ever get over loosing Billy. I felt sorry for him. I put them next to my parents in what would someday be my study. By the time I was done, I felt like a hotelier.

 

Tonto was the first to finish unpacking and corner me in the kitchen. “JP, what did you do with your other condo?”

 

“It's downstairs. I haven't done anything with it yet, but I figured I'd sell it in a few months, after the builder gets rid of the other units. Why?”

 

“Can I see it? I didn't get a chance to get out here before you moved.”

 

“Sure.” I grabbed my keys and took her downstairs. Despite the fact that it was empty, it felt strange to be back here. Lots of memories to haunt me, some good, some bad.

 

“Well this is just beautiful. How much do you want for it?” she asked me.

 

“What do you mean?” I was confused.

 

“I want to buy your old condo for Stefan. That way he'll be close enough so you can keep an eye on him, or bail him out of jail,” she said with a snicker, “yet he'll have his own space so you won't be plagued by all of his concubines.” I laughed at that. I loved Tonto's directness.

 

“Tonto, you don't have to do that. I was going to offer to let him stay with us. We have tons of room upstairs.” Even as I said that, I knew that it would be so much better if Stefan was down here.

 

“Well, that's generous of you, but I'd feel better if he had his own place. Barry and I talked about it, and we feel that it's a nice way for us to give him something special. He wasn't around for us to spoil when he was young you know.”

 

“It's a great idea Tonto. I really don't know what it's worth. My parents paid for it. Why don't you talk to them and whatever you guys work out is fine with me.” I had no desire to negotiate real estate prices with relatives, especially with Tonto.

 

“Good,” she said, and headed upstairs. I found Betty holding Ace and a surprised Isidore smiling at her. Jeff had gotten home and was there with them, hot, sweaty, and smelly.

 

“I see you met Betty,” I said to her. Before she could respond, I turned to Jeff. “You need to take a shower. This whole place is going to reek like a locker room in a few minutes.” He winked at me and headed to our bathroom.

 

“Yes I met Betty,” Isidore said, pulling me back to my original train of thought. “I think she's terrific, but I think Ace likes her even more than me.” I saw Betty fall like a rock for Isidore's charm. I took Ace from her and got a dirty look. He smiled at me and it provoked an amazing feeling. Then he put his little hand on my nose, which made me laugh at him. But babies have a short attention span, and in just a few minutes he was looking for his boobs. I handed him to Isidore and caught the look she gave me. I was bonding with Ace, and she was bonding with me.

 

Betty made a great dinner and I made her join us at the table, which she seemed to think was highly inappropriate.

 

“How am I supposed to finish up the supper if I'm sittin' around eating?”

 

“Well Betty, you finish cooking and then come sit down with all of us and we all eat at the same time.” She knew I was being sarcastic now, and gave me that “look” that was supposed to scare me but didn't. “I grew up around Vella so that look isn't going to bother me,” I said with a smile and she just shook her head.

 

She seemed to still be disturbed so I put my arm around her shoulders. “This isn't Mississippi. You aren't colored here; you're part of the family. Got it?” She grudgingly gave me a smile. She seemed to have a nice time at dinner, but even then she insisted on sitting next to Sammy. Jeff sat on her other side. He had a way of bringing her out of her shell.

 

Right before dessert, Tonto stood up and handed Stefan an envelope. I smiled, thinking back to the time that my parents had done the same thing. Stefan opened the envelop and found a set of keys to my old condo.

 

“What is this?” he asked curiously.

 

“The keys to JP's old condo. It's yours now.” Apparently they'd worked out the transaction pretty quickly without involving me. That was fine with me, but my parents didn't know that. My father looked at me apologetically and I winked at him. He smiled. Some pretty effective non-verbal communication. Stefan jumped up and hugged Tonto and Barry. Barry responded, sort of. He just seemed so hollow. The moment was about to get maudlin when Betty saved us with some comic relief.

 

“So I suppose this means I better plan on cookin' for you too?” she grumbled.

 

“Now Betty,” Stefan said, turning on his charm and cuteness, “you would not want me to starve would you?” She smiled and shook her head. Great. Now both Isidore and Stefan had Betty wrapped around their fingers.

 

It was a blast having everyone here. We spent the evening chatting, telling old stories, and just enjoying friends and loved ones. At about 11PM, Sammy, Stefan, and Jason went out on the town. They tried to drag Isidore along too, but it wasn't happening. Meanwhile, the rest of us went to bed, but sleep wasn't what I wanted.

 

I went to the bathroom, made sure I didn't smell too bad, stripped off my clothes, and anxiously joined my horny boyfriend in bed. We had just started to make love when there was a knock on the door and someone came strolling in. I jumped off Jeff so fast I think I bent his dick. “Owwww!” he cried.

 

“What the fuck?” I yelled, assuming it was Jason or Stefan.

 

“I am so sorry to interrupt,” Isidore said with a giggle. She was wearing a nightgown with a robe over it.

 

“It was my fault,” I said grudgingly, even though I didn't think it was. “I should have locked the door.”

 

“Don't do that,” she said, flirting, “maybe sometime I will just sneak in and watch.” She leered at Jeff and he smiled back at her.

 

“So what can I do for you?” I asked, wanting to get her out of here and Jeff back inside of me.

 

“I read the papers on Ace, and I have a counter proposal for you.” She was looking right at me.

 

“Go on,” I said.

 

“I will sign the papers, letting you adopt Ace, right after you marry me.” I stared at her, stunned at her hard bargaining.

 

“Isidore, why would you want to marry me? We could never be a couple. Why not pick someone who really likes you?”

“You mean like Jason. The man who follows me around like a puppy dog, who has no job and seemingly no ambition other than to get in my pants? You insult me.”

 

Jeff stepped in to calm down the situation. “Yeah Isidore, but I hear he has a huge dick.” We all started laughing.

 

“I understand where you're coming from. Can I give you an answer in the morning?” I wanted to stall.

 

She stood up, looking sexy as hell, even for a gay boy. She dropped her robe, revealing a scanty night gown, and then she dropped that, showing us her body, a stunning example of feminine beauty. She looked at us and said with a sultry voice: “Why don't you give me a good faith deposit in the meantime.”

 

I felt Jeff behind me, moving in to enter me. He was hard as a rock, and so was I. “Come on baby; let's make love to Isidore together.” I stared at her as he moved into me and pulled me onto my back. I looked up at the mirror, seeing my body as usual, only this time there was another person. Isidore moved over me, dangling her boobs in front of me. Jeff's hands shot out and caressed her nipples, and then she lowered herself onto my throbbing cock. It felt so nice, so warm, so wet, and so gentle. To a man like me used to fucking tight asses, it felt remarkably loose, like it was caressing my dick, not squeezing it. It was incredibly erotic.

 

“Oh baby, does her pussy feel as good as your ass is making me feel?” Jeff cooed in my ear. Isidore caught on and leaned down and nuzzled against my other cheek. “JP, you feel so good inside of me. I've wanted the three of us to make love ever since I met you. You two are such real men!” And then she started moaning.

 

Jeff kept on talking. “Listen to her JP; listen to how much she likes it. God, you're making her feel so good, we're making her feel so good.” They kept up their aural assault on me, and physical as well. Jeff pushed forcefully into me, while Isidore developed her own rhythm, sliding back and forth, making sure that my cock rubbed her clit with every thrust. She leaned down and kissed me, a nice sensual kiss, then bent lower to kiss Jeff.

 

It was fun, it was exciting, but it could not last. Jeff came first. With an animalistic growl, he pushed up into me, raising me and Isidore up almost a foot. He continued, thrusting and shooting, and when he was almost done, I lost it and blew my load inside Isidore. I came like crazy. The only thing more stimulating physically was when I'd been in this same situation with my dick up Stefan's ass instead of in Isidore's pussy. I had collapsed back onto Jeff while Isidore began her orgasm. My dick was sensitive since I'd just cum, but I hung in there for her benefit. She came for a long time. I'd never seen a woman have an orgasm. It was intense and exciting. I began to think that, if Jeff was with me, I could start to enjoy this.

 

I collapsed onto my back with Jeff on one side, laying on my chest and Isidore on the other. They leaned forward to kiss each other, and it was so touching, so romantic.

 

“So JP, shall we marry Isidore?” Jeff asked, smiling up at me.

 

“Yeah, I think we should. Let's go see the attorney and get the papers drawn up as soon as possible.” Isidore smiled broadly, both because she was happy, and because she had won.

 

July 20, 1963

 

Most couples, when they get engaged, are excited and joyous. I was apprehensive. Not because I wasn't committed to doing it. Last night, being with both Jeff and Isidore, had convinced me that our unconventional relationship could work, at least sexually. I was apprehensive because I'd have to break the news to Jason, and because I'd have to tell everyone else too. Jason would be devastated. Everyone else would be confused.

 

I put it off by getting up late. Jeff must have been apprehensive too, because he stayed in bed with me instead of getting out of bed when he woke up. Instead, he woke me up and we had a love-making fest. By the time we hit the shower, I was in a sex-induced euphoria.

 

But food beckoned, and we headed to the kitchen to fuel up. Apparently pretty much everyone had already left. Stefan had gone with Tonto and Barry to buy furnishings for his new condo, while my mother had taken Isidore to do some shopping. Jason was sitting in the kitchen, and it was such a convenient time I could put it off no longer.

 

“Jason, I want you to know that Isidore asked me to marry her, and I accepted.” He looked up with rage and sadness in his eyes. “She says that's the only way she'll let me adopt Ace.”

 

“Just great JP. Just when I'm making progress, you cut my legs out from under me,” he spat out.

 

Jeff stepped in. “Man, you weren't getting everywhere. JP tried to move her in that direction, told her to get to know you, but she just isn't into you.”

 

“I don't believe that. She's just going for the prize. The brilliant guy with the power and money. Like a lioness in the jungle, she's trying to find the best father to protect her young. I didn't have a chance with you around.” His mood had switched from anger, to sadness, to despondence during this brief tirade.

 

“Just exactly what would you have me do?” I asked Jason. “Leave Ace in limbo forever because she's not interested in you and you can't close the deal?” I struggled to maintain control of my emotions. It was tough when Ace was involved.

 

“Oh yeah right JP. This has nothing to do with me, it's about you. You two poisoned her mind against me from the start. You just want a beautiful wife so the world won't know you're a fag.” Snap. Just like that I felt the control go. It was as if I watched it race away from me.

 

“Fuck you Jason. Think about it for a minute. When she looks at you, what does she see? Some guy who just got his Master's degree, which is great, but is doing nothing with it. You haven't even applied to grad schools to get your doctorate, you haven't tried to get a job, and you just moon around and chase after her. She doesn't like you because you've become pathetic.” I knew that was too harsh even as I said it. A lesson, once again, on why maintaining control is so vital.

 

Jason glared at me and Jeff said nothing, just standing behind me to support me and back me up. I appreciated it, a lot. Jason got up, glared at us, and headed to his room. Before I could try to patch things up, he left.

 

Jeff and I left after that, heading out to buy an engagement ring. It was pretty hysterical, if you ask me, but Jeff took it seriously, and made me spend a shitload of money on it. So I dropped $2,500 on a huge diamond ring, the stone was almost perfect. I decided that my parents could pay for it so I put it on my Dad's BankAmericard. Somehow I wrote this marriage thing off as something that would help the family. We had lunch, and got home in the afternoon to find no one home, and all of Jason's things gone. He had moved out.

 

Jeff and I took a nap, although our ideas for napping were different. After I'd taken care of my horny boyfriend, I slept for a couple of hours, and took a shower. I felt refreshed and ready to face the next round of excitement.

 

I found Isidore in Ace's room, gently rocking him. He was awake, and he smiled when he saw me. I handed Isidore the box with the ring in it, and took Ace from her. A symbolic exchange I thought.

 

“Oh JP! It is beautiful! It is perfect! It is too much!” It really was pleasant to make her happy.

 

“Nonsense. Can't have a Crampton bride prancing around town with just a sliver of stone on her finger,” I said jokingly. “Besides, once my father gets a hold of you you'll be hostessing all kinds of stuff for him. You'll have to look the part.”

 

“You can make whatever excuses you want. I know you do not love me, but I thought you were fond of me. Now I know you are.” I kissed her gently, lovingly, and gave Ace back to her.

 

As soon as I walked into the living room I was cornered by Stefan. “JP, what did you do to Jason? He is in my condo and he's terribly upset.”

 

“I told him that I was going to marry Isidore,” I said, looking him straight in the eye.

 

“Really? You are kidding me. You, married to a woman?” He was making fun of me.

 

“Isidore needs an American husband, I'm the logical choice. Jason wanted the job, but she didn't want him. So now he hates me.” Stefan just nodded.

 

“Do you care if he stays with me for awhile?”

I thought about it. “Stefan, I've done so much for him. I've spent a small fortune trying to save his life, and I adopted him as my protégé and took him under my wing. All of this, and he tosses me aside for an infatuation. You can let him stay with you if you want, that is your decision. But he is not welcome up here.” Stefan nodded.

 

My mother and Tonto were in the kitchen with Isidore, admiring her ring. “JP, congratulations!” my mother said. Tonto echoed her, and they both hugged me.

 

“You realize, mother, that this is only a marriage of convenience?”

 

“But of course JP.” Then she started laughing, really laughing.

 

“What is so funny?” I demanded.

 

“I'm just imagining how confused your poor father will be.”