Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
The Home - 6. Chapter 6
I had some work to do in the wine cellar. I needed to flush out that small barrel and fill it with fresh water. The barrel that is about 1/3 full of wine I will empty to the sewer and then fill it with water. It’s the oldest and probably the highest in acetic acid.
Taking a large bucket, I headed to the basement when my phone went off. “Hello, yes, this Dr. Carignano. … Yes, Brad mentioned that you might be able to repair the Olds….I see…. So when would you be arriving?….Yes, that would be fine.”
Wow, that was fast. This guy is either anxious to work on my cars, or Brad and Tom really want to work on the barn project. I couldn’t lose. If Charley can get both cars running, I’m ahead of the game.
That afternoon, I changed the water in the small cask. When I went to drain the barrel with the least amount of wine, it was vinegar. I tasted it, definitely vinegar. I was going to toss it, but I decided to bottle it. Pa had some empty bottles which I used them to empty the cask. I had got ten bottles and one bottle, half full. Then I filled the barrel with water. In a couple of days, I’ll drain it and refill it with fresh water.
In the morning, I spent outside working on the herb garden and Nonna’s flower garden. I noticed that the herb garden seem to sprout new life. I had weeded about half of the garden last week, and that section showed a lot of new growth. As I worked, I could smell the various herbs. I never did this before, but a broke off a leaf of the sage plant and chewed it. It wasn’t bad. I had finished the herb garden and started in the flower garden. There were some really beautiful flowers. Nonna must have had a green thumb. I picked a bouquet and took it in the house, I’m not a florist, so I put them in a vase with water. I set the vase on the kitchen table. I liked that there was a slight scent from the flowers.
I was getting ready to sit down for dinner when there was a knock on the door. When I opened the door, there was Brad and Tom with a smile on their face. “Tony, we did the calculation, and if you have time, we’d like to go over it with you.”
I thought that was fast. “I didn’t expect you to have this so fast. But come on in. I was getting ready to have my dinner. Have you guys eaten?” When I said that, I had to laugh to myself. With the way these guys looked, eating probably was a full-time project.
I was planning only to eat a salad, but I knew that a salad wouldn’t do with these guys. Opening the fridge, I pulled out dishes of leftovers. While they were being heated, I gave them plates and silverware. I set the plates in front of them, “Eat, boys. They are leftovers, but they are always better the second day.” And eat they did.
They were sitting side by side, and I noticed the hands ducking under the table a few times. “I have a question. Are you two partners?”
They looked at each other, and Dave shrugged his shoulders, “Yes, we are partners. Tom and I went to the same school. We became friends, then got together. At home, we were very secretive, we didn’t think our parents would have approved. Since we moved here to go to school, we have been living together. If that bothers you, we’ll leave.”
“No, although I’m not of your persuasion, I have no problem with you two.”
They smiled, “We rented a one-bedroom apartment. Well, it’s actually one bedroom with a bath. I figured the odds of us getting a dorm together was close to zero. This way, we’ll be together even if it’s only one room.”
That was it, no further discussions. They were gay, parents disapproved, selected a University away from home.
“After dinner, we can look over your proposal.” I made more coffee, I didn’t have any dessert, so it would just be coffee.
Clearing the table, I stacked the dishes in the sink, and I’ll wash them later. It didn’t happen. The boys started to wash them. I told them just to rinse them and let them air dry. That is what they did.
- 35
- 23
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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