Catering With Benefits (3) - An Appetite for More - 40. A Mob of Kangaroos

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The following morning Thomas was awakened by his phone ringing. As he looked at the screen he said ‘Oh finally he returns my calls’. “Hi, where have you been, why didn’t you return my calls before this, I’ve been calling for two days.”

“Is that Thomas?”

“Yes, who’s this and why are you calling from Jared’s phone?”

“Can you tell me the nature of your relationship with Jared Haynes?”

“Who wants to know?”

“I’m Sergeant Frank Condon of the Northern Territory police. I’m calling about Jared Haynes. Yours is the most called number on his phone, so I figured you two must be close. Are you his brother or best mate?”

“No, he’s my partner, but what’s happened, why are you using his phone?”

“I’m looking for his next of kin.”

“That’s me, his partner.”

“But how can that be, if you’re not related?”

“Well, there are also his parents of course, but we are in a committed relationship so that makes him my life partner.”

“When you say partner do your mean, like a wife?”

“Yes, of course, where’s Jared?”

“Sorry, I need to get this straight, you know two men and all. There’s not much of that here in the territory.”

“Why, is there something in the water that prevents it?”

“Don’t get smart with an officer of the law Mr.”

“I just want to know what’s happened to Jared.”

“Before I answer that, can you please tell me your surname for my records?”

“It’s Steadman, now tell me is Jared injured or ill.”

The old sergeant then remembered his recent, compulsory empathy training and changed his approach.

“Mr Steadman, it’s my sad duty to inform you that Mr Haynes passed away overnight in a high speed single car accident.”

“Fuck me, what happened.”

“It seems, from preliminary investigations, that he and a local employee of the Sails Resort, were driving at night on an outback road when they hit a mob of kangaroos. It seems the car flipped and as neither was wearing a seat belt they appear to have been thrown from the hurtling vehicle. The exact cause of death has yet to be determined, but the attending officer observed that Mr Haynes sustained extensive head injuries.”

Thomas was silent until the Sergeant asked “Are you still there Mr Steadman?”

“Yes, sorry I’m just stunned by this.”

“Understandable, I’ll leave you to deal with the news and will contact you later as we have more information. In the meantime can you please give me Mr Haynes’ parents’ number?”

“I don’t have it, I haven’t even met them, but I’ll look for it and let them know. I assume that’s why you need it.”

“Yes, and could you please let me know when you do notify them, so I have a record to confirm? You can call me any time if you want to. Please take down this number.....”

Thomas scribbled down the number, hung up, sat there with his head in his hands and yelled “Oh my god!”

When he had recovered from the initial shock we went through all Jared’s drawers and boxes looking for address books or any papers that would give him some information about his parents. Then he had an idea. He thought it might just be that Jared had listed his mother or father as next of kin on his employment record with Prices. A call to HR revealed his name as emergency contact. His next thought was the army, but with such a huge organisation where to start.

He made a few calls, got a lot of bureaucratic runaround and left a few messages. While he waited for some of his calls to be returned, he remembered, his real mother was Justin’s aunt. To get her number he had to call Justin and that would mean he had to tell him first.

Justin’s phone was answered by Craig, who asked “Have you heard from Jared?”

“No, but I have news about him. How’s Justin doing?”

“Not so well, he’s very conflicted and still in shock. I’m letting him sleep as much as possible.”

“Just as well then that you answered his phone, because I have bad news. Jared was killed last night in a car accident.”

“Holy shit, what happened and how did you find out? Sorry, I should have asked, how are you?”

“I’m not sure to be honest. I was angry with Jared for not calling to tell me about whatever happened between him and Justin. Now I find out he died and all I can think of is, I’ll never be able to hold him in my arms again. Fuck, life sucks.”

“Ok mate, I should to come over but I’ve got to take care of Justin, he’s still not out of the woods yet.”

“Will you tell him about Jared and also his mother needs to be told but I don’t have her number.”

“It must be in Justin’s phone, do you want me to call her for you?”

“That would be great, thanks.”

“What about his adoptive parents?”

“I don’t have their number so I’m waiting for the defence department to call me back.”

“It must be in his phone, where’s that?”

“Why didn’t I think of that? The police have it, that’s how they got my number. Thanks Craig, I’ll call them right away. Let me know how Justin get’s on. It’s pretty shitty to have to dump this on him now.”

“I know, I’ll have to be careful how I tell him. But first I’ll call his Aunt Julia. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll keep in touch and you stay strong.”

<>

Craig called Julia and told her of Jared’s death. She took the news calmly, but her voice was beginning to crack when she asked why Justin was not calling. “He’s not well Julia and resting.”

“Yes, of course, it must be a shock for him also. Do you know how it happened?”

“I don’t have any details, just told it was a car accident.”

“Is his partner ok?”

“Thomas was not with him, he’s here in Sydney.”

“So why was Jared in the Northern Territory?”

“Um...just having a break from work.”

“Without his partner?”

“Er...he couldn’t get away so Justin went with him.”

“But you said Justin was resting, I assume he’s at home with you. Was he injured?”

“Yes, he’s here, came back yesterday, before the accident, and Jared stayed on.”

“Strange... anyway give him my best and ask him to call me when he feels better.”

“Sure thing Julia.”

“I have to tell the boys, not sure how they’ll take the news, having just gained an older brother and losing him so soon.”

“Let me know if there’s any way I can help the family.”

“Thanks Craig, take care of Justin...and yourself.”

<>

By the time Thomas called the NT police, they had found Jared’s parent’s number on his phone and called them.

“Thanks for that officer, can I have their number, so I can give them my condolences.”

“I really can’t give out that information without their permission. If you like, with your permission, I can give them your number and they can call you.”

“Sure do that, but before you go can you tell me if Jared was driving?”

“Not sure, but the car was registered in the name of the other deceased person, so was probably the driver.”

“Do you know the name of this other person?”

“Yes, but I can’t release that information either. The family need to be advised.”

“Sure understand, thanks for your help. Oh, one more thing, where is Jared’s body?”

“The body is being transported to Alice Springs for an autopsy, but depending on the findings the coroner may request it be transported to Darwin.”

“So when will it be released for a funeral?”

“That’s at the discretion of the coroner.”

“So will I be advised about this or his parents?”

“I will have to check on that, but you can discuss that with his parents, when they call you. Is there anything else I can do for you today, Mr Steadman?”

“No that’s all for now, but don’t forget to give Jared’s parents my number.”

“Right on to it.”

<>

Jared’s father called, not long after he spoke to the police. He introduced himself as Don,

the two men exchanged condolences but neither was in the mood for a long conversation, especially given the circumstances and lack of familiarity, having never met. Don gave the phone to his wife Shirley, who was a little more verbal and after expressing her condolences, mentioned that she knew how much Jared loved Thomas. They promised to maintain contact, support each other and said their goodbyes. He then went looking for Andy, and assumed from his absence that he probably left early to be with Dean.

Thomas had been so distracted all morning, he not only forgot to have breakfast, but hadn’t even had coffee. He put down his phone for the first time since it woke him, then made coffee and toast.

Suddenly, sitting at the table alone took on a whole new meaning. The realisation that Jared was not just away, but would never again be sitting opposite him at their table, hit Thomas heavily. He jumped up from the table, took his breakfast out on to the deck and sat on Jared’s workout bench. It made him feel just a bit in touch with his man.

When he finished his breakfast he laid down on the bench, closed his eyes and imagined Jared was standing over him about to kiss him. Then he turned over and pressed his face into the bench. The smell of Jared’s sweat intoxicated Thomas so, that he felt his hardening penis pressing against the bench. As he pressed harder he imagined Jared now standing over him, a hand on each butt cheek and squeezing. He held his position absorbing the feeling, the aroma and the touch of his man to the point that he believed, if he turned over he would see Jared showing that cheeky smile, his way of saying silently, ‘I’m going to fuck you’.

Thomas felt he was near to climax when his phone rang. It roused him from his fantasy, he turned over and burst into tears. The reality and the enormity of the change this would make to his life sat so heavily on his chest he had difficulty breathing. Finally the distraction of the ringing stopped so that he could once again sink into the pleasure of Jared’s touch, when he closed his eyes.

***

After speaking to Thomas, Craig texted Charlie, saying that he was unlikely to be in today and he should arrange staffing as he saw fit. He then prepared a big breakfast, assuming Justin would be hungry after eating so little the day before. While cooking, he considered how he was going to break the news to Justin. Before he came up with a definite plan the aroma of frying bacon, reached the bedroom and drew Justin to the kitchen.

“Good morning.” Justin said and surprised Craig who was concentrating on his plan for the day, as well as cooking.

“Bugger! You caught me miles away. But good to see you up, are you hungry?”

“Starving, and feeling a bit better this morning. I think that long sleep did me some good.”

“That was the idea. Now can you make a big pot of tea, breakfast is nearly ready?”

As they sat down, Craig decided to tell Justin straight out and not beat about the bush. “I’m glad you’re feeling more relaxed this morning, because I have something to tell you. While you were sleeping late, Thomas called. He received bad news early this morning.”

Craig paused to get a sense of how Justin was reacting so far. He noted not much reaction at all as Justin just stared at him in a manner that said, go on. “Justin I have to tell you that Jared was killed last night, in a car accident near Uluru.” There was no immediate reply from Justin, he just sat there absorbing and processing the news.

“Did you hear me Justin?”

“Yes... of course I did... give me a minute.” He asked slowly, then added “Jared is dead?”

“Yes, I’m sorry to have to tell you this when you are still recovering.”

“A car accident, you say. Was he driving?”

“I don’t have any details, Thomas was advised by the NT police and they didn’t say much. Are you ok?”

“I think so, just feel a bit numb. Not sure how I feel, hearing this on top of everything else that’s happened in the last few days.”

“Sure, try to eat something before it gets cold and absorb the news slowly.”

“Fuck, what did I say to you yesterday about Jared?”

“You told me what happened in the desert.”

“After that.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I mean the bit about wishing him dead, hoping he would rot in the desert. This is my fault, but I didn’t really mean I wanted him dead, I was just angry with him. I wouldn’t really want him to die. Fuck, what have I done?”

“You’ve done nothing but react to a traumatic situation in a normal way. You’re not responsible for what happened when you weren’t even there.”

“But I wished him dead and now he is.”

“You can’t blame yourself for this. It’s not possible to wish someone dead and then cause it to happen. It’s just bad luck or dangerous driving or something like that.”

“You think so? This is not the first time I’ve wished someone to be dead and then it happens.”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t tell you at the time, but when I found out about Aunt Julia, I said the same about him. I wanted him dead, then he was found hung. Am I cursed or can I put a curse on people I hate. Fuck, I’m a dangerous person.”

“Stop this nonsense. If your father chose to end his own life for his own reasons, that’s not your fault. It sounds like he had his own inner demons and guilt and the possibility of spending the rest of his is life in prison was enough to push him over the edge.”

“But he didn’t end his own....never mind.”

“No, go on, what were you going to say?”

“Nothing really, just my crazy thinking.”

“Well, try to put aside that crazy thinking and accept that what life deals out sometimes is random and you can’t control it.”

“You’re probably right.”

“I am and what’s important now is for you to weigh up your recent bad experience with Jared against your love for him and have good memories of the short time you had together.”

“Craig....” then Justin started to weep.

“It’s ok to have a good cry, that’s a healthy part of the grieving process.”

“I’m not crying for Jared, I’m crying because I can’t believe how lucky I am to have you and your love.... You do still love me, don’t you?”

“Of course I do and always will.”

“Even though I....you know, me and Jared.”

“I am upset by that of course, but balanced against losing you, I’ll take you and hope that slowly I will forgive and hopefully forget. I am comforted by the fact that you told me and you accept it was wrong. That means a lot to me. So let’s put that behind us and get on with dealing with Jared’s death and supporting each other, as well as your aunt and Thomas.”

Justin silently mouthed the words ‘Thank you’ and mopped up his tears with a serviette.

“Now I have to get this meal into me, we have a lot of caring and supporting to do.”

“Good man.”

“I’d better call Aunt Julia and tell her and the boys, fuck that’s going to be hard.”

“I’ve already called her, she knows, but I’m sure she’d appreciate a call from also.”

“Thank you, that will make it easier. What about Thomas, how’s he?”

“He’s being the usual efficient Thomas, getting on with the job, but I’m sure it will hit him soon.”

“Should we go and see Thomas, he might need some support.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, I’ll give him a call.”

***

Justin called his aunt and his mother, while Craig called Thomas and said he and Justin had worked things out and they would like to visit.

“It’s a bit lonely around here, Andy’s always out with Dean or working the bar. Why don’t you two come over for dinner?”

“Excellent idea, I’ll cook here and bring dinner with me. Have you got a couple of bottles?”

“You do ask silly questions sometimes.”

“Hey, what did you mean, when you said you and Justin worked things out? Did you have an argument?”

“Sorry, yes there has been a bit of conflict, but I don’t want to discuss it now.”

“Yes of course, it’s none of my business, forget I asked.”

“Ah..... we’ll explain tonight.”