Key West - Summer of '22 Book I - 1. Key West

“What the fuck they want now?” CJ was exasperated. If his grandparents did not stop finding excuses to constantly call, he planned to disown them. There was just so much tender loving care he could handle.

“It’s Ritch.” Brett raised a finger to his lips. “I’m putting him on speaker. Don’t say anything.”

Although Owen seemed apprehensive about not revealing his brother-in-law would be talking to the room, he shrugged. CJ grinned. Knowing Brett, he expected some fun with the conversation.

“What up, cadet?”

“What the fuck? This shit’s going on, and you guys don’t tell me? Why won’t CJ and Ozzie answer their phones? I had to find out from the base commander.” The sigh was loud. “I don’t know who I’m pissed at most, the Mexican asshole, or you guys!”

“You done?”

“For now.” Ritch’s loud breathing was clearly audible. Then he chuckled. He must have realized Brett’s flippant attitude was funny and in character.

“First, nobody was told anything. We knew because we had to fly down there but your grandparents didn’t find out until we landed in Miami with Ozzie and Liebe. Second, you were in Alaska, and I decided you should not be told until it was over. I didn’t think it wise to interrupt your stint on base.”

As part of Operations Air Force—a summer training program for Academy cadets—Ritch had been assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.

“Shit!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Mrs. Obama was calling me. I’ll deal with her later.”

CJ covered his mouth to muffle the chuckles. Poor Air Force cadet had his chat interrupted by former First Lady Michelle Obama calling. Next time Ritch gave him crap about the people he knew, he had ammunition to return fire.

“Okay… It’s probably about CJ. Anyway, third, CJ and Ozzie have their phones turned off. They got a new, temporary one. I’ll give you the number. César’s in the pool with Liebe, so he may not have taken his down there.”

“The what?” Neither their parents’ place in Georgetown, nor CJ and Owen’s house in Capitol Hill had swimming pools.

“Oh, yeah, we’re at the Biltmore in Coral Gables. We flew into Miami last week and your brother got in this morning.”

“Fuck! You realize the boss called me into her office, handed me a press release from the State Department, and that’s how I found out?” Ritch stopped talking for a moment and a deep breath was once again heard.

He would later recall calmly walking out of the building before running at breakneck speed back to quarters where his phone was. There had been a tightness in his chest and his eyes had watered. Even knowing everyone was fine, his body automatically reacted to the emotional stress. The first three calls had gone straight to voice mail; Brett had picked up on the second ring.

“Okay. I just got leave, so I’m headed out on the first available plane. Guess I’ll get in tomorrow. Get me a room.”

“Will do. I’ll text you the new number. Oh, and Ritch? Everyone’s really fine. Stop worrying, okay?”

“I’ll try. Let me book a flight and finish packing. I’m not coming back here. I’ll text you my ETA.”

As soon as he hung up, CJ pounced. “Why didn’t you tell him we were here?”

“Because if I had, he would have wanted to talk to you, and it would have taken forever. He needs time to get his shit together, and you should go downstairs and join your daughter in the pool. She’s not the basket case she was when we picked her up in Mexico, but she’s gonna need a lot of comforting and reassuring to overcome that horrible experience.”

 

“You are all assholes,” Ritch shouted as soon as he stepped into the Biltmore Hotel’s Merrick Presidential Suite.

“Nice to see you anyway, bro.” CJ, with Liebe in his arms, rose from the sofa and took a few steps in Ritch’s direction. “Liebe too? Or is she excluded from your categorization?”

“Watch the language in front of her, cadet.” Owen did not appear overly upset about the cussing.

Ritch must have realized after what they had been through, their daughter picking up colorful words was not something to be overly concerned with. “Hey, Liebe. How’s my favorite niece?”

“Your only niece.”

Behind the girl’s back, Ritch aimed a middle finger at Brett. When she tried to grab the Ray-Ban Aviators from atop his head, Ritch tossed them onto the nearest couch. “Not my sunglasses, Liebe, I need those for flying.”

“Put me down, Tío Ritch. Quiero jugar con pelota.” The girl wiggled in Ritch’s arms until he complied. She did want to play; once on the ground, she ran behind the couch and reappeared carrying an inflatable beach ball. “Vamos a la piscina.”

César motioned for her to join him on the armchair. “We’ll go to the pool in a few minutes. But remember we’re having dinner with your great-grandparents so we can’t be there for a long time. Let’s give Tío Ritch a chance to change into shorts. I’m sure he’s hot wearing long pants and that sweatshirt.”

Looking at the men in the room all wearing board shorts but barefoot and shirtless, Ritch grinned. “Yeah, I’m still dressed for Alaska. Who has my room key? Time for me to get naked too.”

“That’s your bedroom.” César pointed at the one closed door leading from the living room. “We’ll get you properly registered when we go back downstairs.”

“Okay. Don’t anybody go anywhere. I’ll change into PT shorts and be right back. I want to hear everything that went down in Mexico.” He stopped at the door, grasping the handle, and turned. “Hey! How come your phones are still going to voice mail? I tried calling both of you during the ride from the airport.”

“Mate, within ten or fifteen minutes after the State Department issued the press release, my voicemail was jammed. CJ warned me it would happen.” Owen steadied Liebe when she nearly stumbled on her way between César and CJ. “By the way, consider yourself lucky Liebe let you pick her up. Since CJ got in yesterday, she barely leaves his side.”

Later that night, after Liebe had gone to sleep, César and Brett remained in the room while CJ and Owen insisted Ritch join them for a walk. He turned down the cigar but ordered an after-dinner drink when they stopped at the bar. “Where we headed?”

“Out front. We’ll light up out there. Our friend Carlos is gonna drop by.”

“That the ancient biker in Fort Lauderdale?”

“Wilton Manors, but yes.”

Walking out the front door, they stopped for a moment so CJ and Owen could light their cigars. Smoke spiraling upward, they strolled towards the surface parking lot on the hotel’s side, where they had agreed to meet.

“How come he’s—”

The unmistakable roar of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle interrupted Ritch. The teal and white Road King bagger came to a stop next to them. Once he had turned off the engine and lowered the kickstand, Carlos removed his helmet.

“Dude, your hair’s gotten long!” CJ did not allow the man to climb off, hugging him once he’d hung the helmet on the handlebar.

“Why do you think I’m wearing a brain bucket? If I didn’t, I’d end up with a bird’s nest on my head. Good to see you, guys. The news gave me a scare.”

“I gather we made the South Florida papers.”

“You did, but the two of you were on TV a lot too.” Carlos at last acknowledged Ritch’s presence. “Hey, kiddo. Not sure if you remember me. We met at your brother’s wedding.”

“I do, sir.”

“Wow! So respectful. Are you sure you’re CJ’s brother?”

CJ’s hard slap to the back nearly dislodged Carlos from the motorcycle. “Asshole. He’s a damn cadet at a military academy. You ain’t special. He calls everyone sir. So, you gonna park and come in for a drink, or you running off?”

“Running off. Since I was coming down, I called a friend, and I’m stopping by his place. Older guy like me, he’s been a bit under the weather.”

“What are you, Carlos? Early sixties? I wouldn’t call that old.”

“Thanks, Ozzie, but my arthritis would disagree with you.” Carlos reached inside his leather vest’s pocket and retrieved a pack of Marlboros. “I rolled half-a-dozen. If you need more, I’m sure Aaron can help you out.” Aaron was Carlos’ friend who owned a guest house in Key West.

CJ reached for his money clip. “Thanks, bro. I’m sure this will be more than enough. Since Ritch can’t partake, and we need to keep an eye on the kid, I doubt we’ll even smoke them all. What do we owe you?”

“Nothing. My treat. But next time you’re in town, you need to rent bikes so we can go riding.”

“You got it.”

Carlos hung around for another five to ten minutes before heading out. CJ, Owen, and Ritch rounded the building and found a place to sit on the rear patio, facing the golf course. They did not finish the cigars, wanting to rejoin Brett and César in the suite, but CJ lit one of the joints, and he and Owen smoked about half of it.

 

“Welcome back to Cypress House, guys.” Aaron Marante’s gaze slid over CJ and Owen but focused on Ritch, holding Liebe in his arms. “I’m not much for children, but she’s really cute.”

“Thanks for waving your adults-only rule.” CJ attracted the man’s attention sufficiently to get a handshake. “The guy holding her’s my brother. Ritch, this is Aaron, the owner.”

“It’s the least I could do when Owen called and told me what happened. By the way, the local news made a big deal about you being originally from Miami. You guys are celebrities.” Aaron returned his attention to Ritch. “Nice to meet you, kid. You staying with us?”

“Same here, sir.” Ritch had not shaved since Alaska, and the scruff made him look older, but people still called him kid frequently. “If you have room. If not, I’ll end up at La Concha. Our dads said it’s a good place.”

“It is. For a new building.” Aaron laughed when CJ gave him a questioning stare. The pronounced wrinkles around his eyes had to be the result of years spent outdoors in the Florida sun. “Local humor, guys. La Concha opened in 1926, but Cypress House was built in 1888. We have room for you, Ritch. We’ll put you on the first floor. In the library.” It turned out the room was lined with built-ins filled with books, hence the name.

“Thanks, Aaron.” Owen was at last able to shake the man’s hand. “We owe you. When Ritch flew in and heard we were coming down for a few days, he insisted on tagging along.”

“You don’t owe me anything. He’s family, so I’ll always find a bed for him if he needs one.”

“Yeah, don’t even think it, you perv.” A grinning CJ poked the guy’s hairy chest.

The carpet of white on his torso, and the gray prominently flecking his beard and head, made it obvious Aaron was around the same age as Carlos.

“Sorry, sir. I’m the straight one in the family.” Ritch sounded borderline apologetic.

“I won’t hold it against you.” Aaron stared Ritch up and down while licking his lips. “What a waste.”

While Ritch blushed and CJ and Owen laughed, Aaron opened the screen door and ushered them inside. “Ritch, I hope you realize the pool area and the roof deck are clothing optional. Owen said that wasn’t an issue with the girl. You okay with it?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve seen plenty of naked men in locker rooms. I ain’t embarrassed of what I’ve got either.”

The comment and grin earned him a head slap from Owen. “Stop being cocky, cadet.”

Aaron walked to the end of the hallway and opened the last door on the left. “This is yours. The bathroom’s right here.” He tapped the door facing the entrance. “Cadet?”

“Yes, sir. The Air Force Academy. I just started my third year.”

“Good. I hope I get to hear some about it.” He moved aside so Ritch could enter. “Drop your stuff in there and then come up to the third floor. That’s where your brother and Owen will be.”

 

After settling in, Ritch insisted on going shopping. He had flown from Colorado Springs to Alaska, intending to return to the Academy when done at Elmendorf-Richardson. The only clothing he had suitable for the tropics were PT shorts and white t-shirts.

“Are we going anywhere nice for dinner?” Ritch walked next to Owen, behind CJ and Liebe.

“Come on, Ritch. How many times have you been to Key West? You have jeans with you, and I don’t think you’ll even need those. CJ and I plan on shorts the entire time. Shirts only if required to enter a place.”

While Ritch had worn the aforementioned jeans and a white t-shirt, CJ and Owen remained in the shorts they had flown in and stripped their shirts off, hanging them from a belt loop. Bare-chested men walking on Duval Street—the island’s main thoroughfare—were a common occurrence.

The strip, lined with shops, bars, and restaurants, ran from the Gulf of Mexico on the island’s north side, to the Atlantic Ocean on the southern edge. There, a marker featured in countless photos, proclaimed the location as the southernmost point in the continental United States, just ninety miles from Cuba. Since it was Liebe’s first visit, they made it their first stop and snapped shots of her in front of the concrete pylon.

“Let’s try this place.” Ritch stopped in front of Graffitti Key West, a store selling men’s resort wear. He did not browse; he was on a mission to buy what he needed as quickly as possible. Stopping in front of a rack full of shorts, he grabbed two and moved on to a different display. He left wearing new shorts and a Conch Republic emblazoned t-shirt. It was one of the town’s nicknames.

“I hope you’re not planning on wearing that other shirt while you’re with us.” Ritch had also bought a tropical shirt with neon-pink flamingos on a bright green background. “I’m afraid my eyes won’t handle looking at it for too long.” CJ cracked up when Ritch stuck his tongue out, and Liebe mimicked her uncle.

She had benefitted from the shopping spree, leaving the store, she pointed at a window display one shop over. Courtesy of her uncle, she walked out wearing lime-green crocs and a braided ankle bracelet. She turned down her fathers’ offer to carry her. When a few steps past the shop a large, colorful rooster crossed in front of them, Liebe hurried after it.

Descendants of birds raised in Cuba and Key West for fighting, once released into the streets, the animals had colonized the island. Their early morning crowing served as wake-up calls for many. While the colorful plumage enthralled tourists, locals were split on whether they were an attraction or a nuisance.

Ritch slapped CJ’s back. “Can’t deny she’s your daughter, bro. Only two and she’s already chasing cocks.”

“Asshole!”

Lunch they ate on the outside terrace of Moondog Café. Liebe appropriated the truffle mac and cheese served in a cast-iron skillet and gobbled most of it. Although her fathers and uncle offered her bites of their fresh-fish sandwiches, she refused and happily munched on the gooey noodles.

Back at Cypress House, while Liebe napped in a hammock under an overhang, the adults lounged in the sun, and dozed off for a while.

 

“She’s awfully animated.” Ritch referred to Liebe who, walking next to Owen, kept a running narrative of everything she encountered. He and CJ followed a few steps behind. On their way to Mallory Square to watch the sunset, it was the first opportunity the brothers had to chat alone. “How’s she dealing with being taken?”

“Pretty good. Owen mentioned when they were on the plane, she told him the kidnapper had said her nanny was sick so he would take care of her for the remainder of the day.”

“And she believed him?”

“Come on, Ritch. She’s two and knew the guy. She at last realized something was wrong when it all came to a head. Seeing me on the ground with blood all around me bothered her. But once she knew I was okay, she calmed down a bit. At some point, we’ll have to explain what really happened, and that I killed the guy.”

“And how’re you dealing with that?” Ritch’s tone was serious and gentle.

CJ stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, grinning when he turned to his brother. He had missed this development when they had been together a couple of months before in Cancún. All he saw then was the incredibly fit skirt chaser and not the adult hiding behind the party boy. The display of sibling concern showed Ritch was not a little kid. “Damn, bro, you’re all grown up, and I missed it.”

Ritch looked confused. “What?” He sounded it too.

“Never mind. I had a geriatric moment. Thanks for the thought. I’ll tell you the same thing I told Ozzie. I’m sad I killed a man, but I’m not sorry. In the same circumstances, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. His stupidity in the face of desperation led to his death.” CJ took a breath, threw an arm over Ritch’s shoulders, and nudged him to move again. “You know who Spike is?”

“Your friend at the CIA?”

“Yep. He said something to me that’s been rattling around my head for the last ten days. He said some people facing difficult situations panic and crumble while others remain outwardly calm and use logic to decide on their actions. He said I was in the second group.

“I mean, I went crazy when Ozzie texted me, but what I had to do was clear. It was like I instinctively knew the path to follow, and what steps we had to take. I did what I had to do to ensure the munchkin’s safety. Want a cocktail?”

“Sure.”

“YO! OZZIE!” Stopping in front of an open-air bar, CJ pantomimed raising a glass to his lips, and Owen nodded. CJ threatened the bartender with a beating if he put little umbrellas in them.

The Mallory Square Sunset Celebration was as raucous as ever. Music and party sounds filled the air. Once Liebe finished her juice box, CJ placed her on the ground, gave her a dollar, and encouraged her to drop it in the mime’s hat when they stopped to watch his performance.

“Her waddle will be forever immortalized in video.” The girl walking first to the mime, then other performers when CJ gave her additional bills, captivated the attention of spectators sufficiently to have them aim their phones at her. “Look at her wave!” Owen had to stop her from getting too close to the fire eater and his hot stick.

Once the sun disappeared below the horizon, the crowd dispersed. Walking to dinner, Owen again watched over her while CJ and Ritch resumed their conversation.

“Bro, I’m just glad you were lucky when the gun went off. It could have just as easily been pointed at you.”

CJ looked around to ensure there was nobody close enough to hear and spoke at a much lower volume than normal. “It wasn’t luck. Elpidio had kidnapped Liebe, shot at Lincoln, and was turning the gun in my direction when I struck him. I made sure it was pointed at his chest when I pulled the trigger.”

 

The following morning, while CJ helped Liebe swim from one side of the pool to the other, Owen read on a lounge chair, and Ritch luxuriated in the warm Florida sunshine on a pool float.

“Bro, didn’t Aaron say we could stream whatever we wanted? Can we get rid of the elevator music?”

Owen cracked up. “Mate, getting demanding, aren’t we? Stay in the pool with her, CJ. I’ll do it. What do you want to listen to, Ritch?”

“Anything but what’s playing.”

A few minutes later, Liebe recognized the first song on the playlist. “I want out, Ceej. Quiero bailar.”

While CJ lifted the girl and placed her on the coping, Ritch shook his head. “I’m still amazed she switches between English and Spanish faster and better than us.”

“Not sure about the better part. She mangles both languages all the time.” CJ stood in the pool and helped steady Liebe while she moved to the beat, and he sang along.

“Hay un rayo de luz
Que entró por mi ventana
Y me ha devuelto las ganas
Me quita el dolor
Tu amor es uno de esos
Que te cambian con un beso
Y te pone a volar”

“Chipper has nothing to worry about, bro. You still can’t sing worth shit.”

CJ flashed his brother a middle finger and carried on.

“Mi pedazo de sol
La niña de mis ojos
Tiene una colección
De corazones rotos
Mi pedazo de sol
La niña de mis ojos
La que baila reggaetón
Con tacones rojos y me pone a volar.”

“Ceej, I want tacones rojos.”

“Not sure you’re ready for high heels, Munchkin. How about we get you red sneaks when we get home?”

The promise was sufficiently satisfying for her to resume shaking her behind.

“She seems to like the song. Who’s the artist?”

Owen lifted his sunglasses and joined them, sitting on the edge while taking over supervising the girl. “It’s been her jam for the past month or so. That’s Sebastián.”

Ritch smacked his forehead while shaking his head. It was not the first time he did it. “You’re getting as bad at CJ with the name dropping. I know that’s not Abuelo singing, so who the hell’s this Sebastián?”

CJ and Owen cracked up. “Aren’t you impressed? We’ve been practicing. I’ll have Ozzie trained as a full-fledged smartass in no time. Sebastián Yatra. Colombian guy we met in L.A. at the Oscars.”

“He was there?”

“Bro! Didn’t you watch? He performed.”

Ritch shrugged. “Not really. I left the TV lounge after you guys won. I mean, what else was there to see?”

“You missed the Will Smith slap?” Owen sounded astonished.

“Only seen it a million times since what with everyone sharing clips of it. So, what did CJ do? He just walked up to the guy and introduced himself?”

Owen cracked up. “Close, brolaw. He fangirled from afar at first—“

“Hey! I did no such thing!” CJ was not liking his brother and his husband ganging up on him.

“Did too. Although not quite as much as when we met Morgan Freeman. I think your brother drooled a little when he shook that man’s hand. Anyway, Lin Manuel Miranda wrote the song Sebastián performed, ‘Dos Oruguitas’ from Disney’s Encanto. It was the first time in Oscar history a song in Spanish was nominated, so CJ went up and charmed him while speaking their common language.”

Ritch’s smirk presaged a zinger. “Let me guess, CJ walked away with his phone number, and you’re all now friends.”

“Fuck you, bro.”

“Ceej, grown-up word.”

“Sorry, Munchkin.”

Owen laughed so hard he had trouble catching his breath. “Close. They did exchange contact info but so far the communication’s been limited. You should listen to Yarra’s album. I like the title song, ‘Dharma,’ even better. As for ‘Tacones Rojos,’ there’s a bilingual version too. A duet with John Legend. Check the videos out. They’re all pretty good.”

 

As lunchtime approached, and not wanting to leave the enclave, they ordered subs for the adults, and fish fingers with fries for Liebe. While waiting for the food to be delivered, Ritch was in the pool, holding the girl afloat while encouraging her to kick her legs and use her arms to slice through the water. She was a willing participant and appeared fearless. The swimming lesson eventually deteriorated into a splashing contest.

CJ and Owen sat on the edge with their feet dangling in the water. “Are you coming back to D.C. with us?” Owen asked.

“Nah… I have to report to base on Friday. I think I’ll fly to Denver, catch the shuttle to Vail, and drive Heinrich down to the Academy.” Heinrich was the Porsche Cayenne Ritch had purchased to replace CJ’s old Jeep when it was totaled.

“That’s right!” CJ sounded excited. “You get to have a car on campus now. One more sign my baby brother’s growing up.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah… About time you noticed I’m not a kid anymore.” Ritch lifted Liebe out of the water and sat her on the coping. The girl immediately jumped back in. “What are you, Munchkin? Part fish?”

“She does love the water.” Ozzie stood when their new phone rang, and walked the few steps to the table under the tiki hut. “Shit! How did they get this number? I thought only our parents and grandparents had it.”

“Answer it already.” CJ’s quizzical expression made his husband smile.

“I think it’s for you, Ceej. It’s the White House.”

Drying his hands on a towel, CJ reached for the phone. “Hello, this is CJ.” His expression went from amusement to surprise. “Yes, he’s here with me. I’ll put the call on speaker.” He grinned at Owen. “The President would like to talk to both of us.”

“Hello?”

“Hello, Mr. President. This is CJ Abelló. My husband, Owen, and my brother, Ritch are here with me.”

“Howdy, gentlemen. Jill and I were relieved when we heard you were safe and back in the United States.”

CJ and Owen replied simultaneously. “Thank you, Mr. President.”

“Ritch, are you the brother who attended Sidwell?”

Ritch looked shocked. “Yes, sir, Mr. President.” His questioning look was answered when CJ mouthed Obama.

“Excellent school. My grandchildren went there. I understand you were classmates with the Obama girls.”

“Yes, sir. I was. Sasha and I were in the same year.”

“Michelle mentioned you’re at the Air Force Academy?”

“Yes, sir. I was in Alaska when I was given leave to visit my brother, but I’ll be flying back to Colorado tomorrow. I’m sorry you’re not scheduled to speak at my graduation. My classmates would have loved to have you there.”

“I’ll be keeping an eye on you, pal. And I’ll have my staff figure out the logistics, but I think I’d like to speak at your graduation. They’ll rearrange the order.” Speakers rotated between the president, the vice-president, the secretary of defense, and the heads of the individual service branches.

Ritch’s jaw dropped, but he quickly recovered. “Thank you, Mr. President. The class of twenty-four will be honored.”

“CJ?”

“I’m here, Mr. President.”

“Young man, you’re crafting quite a résumé. Your name came up last December during a morning briefing. I recognized it when I was made aware of the incident in Mexico. At that point, I asked for background information on you. Hilary, Barack, and Michelle all praised you. Very impressive.”

CJ shrugged. How the hell did one deal with that kind of compliment. “Thank you, Mr. President.”

“CJ, Owen, Jill and I would like to invite you for a visit. And we expect you to bring your lovely daughter with you.”

“At your convenience, Mr. President.”

“Good. I’ll put you on hold for a moment, and my assistant will work out the timing. We’re all glad you men and your daughter are well.”

The experience was surreal. The Commander in Chief had promised to speak at Ritch’s graduation in two years, and CJ and Owen would be back at the White House at the end of the week. The assistant mentioned the President would be traveling the following week but had an opening late in the morning on Friday.

“How the F did they get this number?” CJ was perplexed.

“Duh!” Ritch splashed his brother to Liebe’s delight. “It’s the government, bro. They know everything.”

 

Shortly after finishing their meal, it was Ritch’s phone that jolted them. He looked at the screen and smiled. “It’s Ethan.” He put the call on speaker. “Yo! Feldman. What up ambulance chaser?”

Chuckles over the line made them all grin. “I see the Air Force hasn’t taught you respect for your elders. Are you with CJ and Owen?”

“We’re both here, Ethan.” Ethan Feldman was a law school classmate of Owen’s, a Squad member, and CJ and Owen’s primary attorney.

“Sorry to call your number, Ritch. I don’t have your brothers’ new one. I’m sending you something I figure you guys haven’t seen since none of you called me about it. Take a look at it. I’ll wait.”

Ritch tapped the screen a couple of times, scanned what Ethan had sent, and whistled. He passed the phone over. “Try not to go ballistic, bro.” He had not read the entire thing but the picture of CJ and Liebe with Help Protect our Second Amendment Rights above it appeared to be enough to worry him.

CJ went ballistic. “What the fuck?” He speed-read the opening paragraph and passed the device to Owen. “Ethan, you there?”

“I am. And you sound awful calm. I figured you’d blow up.”

“Dude, after what I just went through, I’m not wasting my energy screaming. As long as Ozzie’s okay with it, we’re going after those mofos. I assume them using our likeness without permission’s not legal.”

The American Firearms Federation had blasted their members, fundraising on the premise CJ had saved his daughter because he knew how to use a gun. Although CJ was a member, he had missed the email. He had not checked any media since arriving in Florida.

“Pretty much. I can file a request for a cease and desist order right away. Once we take care of that, you and Ozzie can figure out what you want to do.”

“No need to think about anything. We’re gonna sue them and take every penny they have. I want to bankrupt them and put them out of business.”

Ritch and CJ cracked up, while Ethan tried to muzzle his reaction by coughing. Ritch recovered before his brother. “Don’t hold back, Ozzie. Tell us how you really feel.”

The man at least grinned when he replied. “I hate guns. In case you didn’t know. I mean, I’ve made peace with CJ owning one, but at least he’s not a wacko, and knows how to properly use it.”

“And that’s good, Oz. But even though I’m leaning towards suing too, if we allow them to continue operating, we may be able to influence their future activities.”

“Yeah, good luck with that. These people only have an on and off switch; I doubt they’ll change their way.”

“Guys, don’t argue.” Ethan tried to placate his friends. “How about I write them demanding they stop their efforts to raise money on your backs. We’ll do a little research here, and when you’re back in D.C., we can figure out a plan of action.

CJ and Owen looked at each other and both nodded. “Ethan, we’ll be back Wednesday, and we’re gonna have a crapful of stuff to deal with as soon as we hit the ground. Since we already have plans Friday morning, let’s talk in the afternoon. Oz and I will discuss ideas before then.”

“That works. Anything else I can do for you guys?”

It was a smirking Owen who replied. “Yeah, include a request in your letter for a full accounting of how much they raised as a result of this.”

“I can do that. And it’s a smart move. They’ll probably balk but screw them. This is gonna cost them a lot of money no matter what. My hourly rate just went up, and they’ll be paying your legal fees.”

The conversation veered into more friendly areas until Ethan had to take another call. When they hung up, CJ was ready for a cocktail. “I can’t believe those jerks are trying to make money off Liebe getting kidnapped. Stupid move. Had they used just my face, I might have been more forgiving. But including the munchkin’s image in their message pisses me off to no end.”

 

Aaron offered to take them scuba diving with the stipulation he could bring along an assistant. He claimed he had no idea how to deal with kids as young as Liebe and did not want to be alone with her while her fathers and uncle were under the surface.

“Stone?” Owen sounded as surprised as CJ felt.

The man approaching them grinned “Hey, Owen. Hi, CJ.” He offered Owen a fist bump but his hand was swapped away.

“Hug it out, mate. This is a nice surprise.”

“Wassup, Stone?” CJ also hugged him. ”Damn! You look good but leaner, less bulky.”

“Yeah… I haven’t done a cycle in ages. I’m smaller but feel good about how I look.” He nodded in Ritch’s direction. “You guys brought me a present?”

Ritch rolled his eyes, then turned them on his brother. “Why is it everyone you guys know wants to nail me?” He offered Stone his hand. “I’m CJ’s brother, Ritch. And I’m off-limits. Terminally straight here.”

Aaron’s raucous laughter drowned out whatever Stone mumbled. “Glad to see you guys remember him.”

During their first visit to Cypress House, CJ and Owen had met the man who was dating one of Aaron’s employees at the time. His attempt to entice them into group action with his boyfriend failed.

“Of course we do.” Owen lifted Liebe and held her while she looked at Stone. “This one wasn’t around when we met. Liebe, this is Stone.”

“Stoned…”

CJ cracked up. “He looks sober, Munchkin. No D at the end. Just Stone.”

She shrugged and smiled. Her fathers correcting her speech was a common occurrence.

“So, Aaron called and asked if I wanted to babysit a toddler while her parents dived. Sneaky bastard didn’t tell me it was you guys.”

“At his age, he probably forgot.” CJ took a step away from the B ’n B’s proprietor.

“Hey!”

“Suck it up, old man. Stone, you still dancing?”

Stone shook his head and glanced at Ritch. “I used to moonlight as a go-go dancer when I met them. Gave it up shortly afterward. My boyfriend left town, and I went back to school for a bit. I work for a realtor who’s friends with Aaron, so I got the day off to go out and look after your girl.” He extended his arms to Liebe who glanced at Owen. When he nodded, she slipped into Stone’s hold.

“He’s okay to go with, Munchkin. Stone’s going to watch you while Tío Ritch, Ceej, and I swim underwater.”

 

They were out on the boat until Liebe complained about being hungry. A banana kept her entertained while Aaron steered back to the marina. CJ and Owen insisted on buying the two men lunch.

“So, you guys leave tomorrow?” Stone held Liebe on his lap while she helped herself to handfuls of white fish salad. The bread she had tossed aside when the server placed the sandwich on the table. CJ apologized for the mess, but Stone shrugged. His shirt being smeared with food did not seem to bother him.

Owen nodded. “Yeah… I think we’re both ready to return to Washington. Time for us to figure out what’s next. And Ritch has to get back to Colorado.”

“I know what’s next for you guys. You’re going to the White House on Friday.” Aaron had already told them they could stay for as long as they wanted.

“You heard our conversation yesterday?”

Aaron shook his head. “Nope. But I wake up to CNN every morning and they showed a clip from yesterday afternoon’s White House briefing. The press secretary announced you had accepted President Biden’s invitation to visit. Of course, the anchors then revisited the events in Mexico. I wonder how long you guys are gonna be news.”

“Hopefully not for long.” CJ was not looking forward to the press interviews he knew he would have to do.

“Considering what’s been going on the past few weeks. You’ll be old news the minute there’s another mass shooting.” Aaron shook his head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with assholes like Governor DeSantis. How can they rationalize it’s okay to own assault rifles? Fuck! I own guns, but I don’t know why anyone would need one of those things.”

CJ’s exhale was loud. “Politics, Aaron. Just politics. Governors like DeSantis in Florida, and Abbot in Texas stoke fears of guns being taken away, and their blind followers eat it up. Never mind it’s an idiotic proposition.” He grinned when he glanced at Owen. “You know that not-for-profit we’ve been talking about, Oz? We need to teach our fellow citizens the chances of the constitution being amended to eliminate the right to bear arms are nil.”

“What not-for-profit?”

Stone’s innocent question led to CJ and Owen sharing their plans. They explained wanting Americans to better understand the Constitution, how it came about, and how it worked. It was a project they had delayed while living in Mexico, but CJ had already mentioned he wanted to begin work on it over the summer.

 

Walking back to the guest house, a drowsy Liebe rested her head on CJ’s shoulder. They had applied sunscreen a couple of times, she was not burnt, but she felt warm; the tropical sun had tired her.

“You want to take a nap in the air conditioner, Munchkin? I think you’ve had enough sun.”

The girl nodded.

Owen reached over and ran a comforting hand down her back. “I know CJ’s gonna want to nap with you. Can I join in?”

Liebe again nodded.

“Good. I think I may want to do it every day when we get home.”

“When we going home? I miss Infanta.”

“We’ll be home tomorrow.” As he spoke, CJ looked at Owen who shrugged. “Ummm, Munchkin? We’re flying to Washington. We’re not going back to Mexico.”

“But I wanna see Infanta.”

CJ was thankful the girl was tired. Otherwise, he feared there might have been a tantrum. “We’ll see her one day soon. Maybe we’ll fly her to D.C. to visit us.” He wondered if there was a way to get the nanny to move to Washington but immediately discarded the idea. She might be difficult to replace, but it would not be impossible.

Liebe was asleep before they reached their destination. By the time she awoke from her nap, she had forgotten about Infanta. At least for the time being.

 

“Where we headed?” Ritch moved behind his brother, giving a couple strolling toward them room to pass.

CJ stopped to relight the joint Owen had sparked outside the guest house. “801 Bourbon. It’s at 801 Bourbon Street, and they— Ouch!” CJ reached behind and rubbed the ass cheek Owen had slapped. “What was that for?”

“For being a smart ass…” Owen had been hesitant about leaving Liebe behind once she had fallen asleep after dinner. Post nap, they had jumped in the pool, eventually showered, and had met Stone for dinner. Once again, the girl appeared comfortable with him. Owen had, at last, agreed to leave her in Stone’s care while he, CJ, and Ritch went out for cocktails.

Ritch chuckled. “Owen’s fun when he gets high. I’d say they got lazy when naming the place. Not that it makes a difference but gay or straight?”

“It’s a cabaret with a drag show. But if I remember right, last time CJ and I were there, straights outnumbered gays.”

“Bro, this is Key West, gay and straight bars both attract a mixed crowd. We’ll have a couple of drinks and hit Sloppy Joe’s after.”

“Cool…”

As soon as they walked in, heads turned to check them out. More stared when the drag queen on stage shouted “Fresh meat!”

It was past the height of tourist season and a school night so the place was not overly crowded. CJ snatched a barstool and before he could say a word, a bartender was asking what they wanted to drink.

“Rum and Coke. No straw for me.” It was Owen’s go-to cocktail when he could not think of anything else. 801 was not the type of establishment with a wine list. Ritch nodded, so CJ raised three fingers. The bartender poured a generous rum portion into ice-filled glasses, topped them off with cola, and garnished them with lime wedges.

“Is it gonna be hard getting used to the U.S. again?” Ritch had taken the seat next to his brother and ended up sandwiched between CJ and Owen.

“I don’t think it’s gonna be too bad, bro. We haven’t exactly been living in a hovel with no indoor plumbing, you know? But It’ll be good to sleep at Everhope again.”

“The place in Mexico looked nice in the pictures you showed at Christmas.”

“It was an upscale building like any you find in American cities. There are very wealthy people in Mexico who live as well as we do in the U.S. so there’s a market for luxury places. Sad part’s the gap between rich and poor’s even larger than here at home. Knowing how wealthy we are and how some are barely scraping by’s one reason Ozzie and I want to take time to decide what our next steps will be.”

Ritch appeared confused. “What do you mean?”

“I’m going to keep working for the Nature Conservancy, but I’ll probably redefine my relationship with them. Instead of being an employee, I want to explore being a freelancer.” Owen grinned and ruffled CJ’s hair. “He’s adorable when he tries to include me, but he’s the one who has to make the hard decisions. I’ll offer advice, but he has to figure out what’s the best path to the ultimate goal.”

Ritch’s smirk suggested he had an idea of what that was. “And that would be?”

CJ chugged the remainder of the cocktail and stood. “Come on, the drag queen sucks. Let’s hit Sloppy Joe’s. The place has live music every night.”

Outside, they stood at the corner of Bourbon and Duval waiting to cross, and CJ draped an arm over his brother’s shoulders. “I’m running for president as soon as I’m old enough.”

“I knew it!” Ritch punched the air in triumph. “I get to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom.”

CJ and Owen cracked up.

“Mate, I’d say that’s a bit premature. What if he doesn’t win?”

“Really, Ozzie?” Ritch sounded incredulous. “This is my brother we’re talking about. Of course he’ll win.”

Owen shrugged. “Yeah, you’re right. By the way, you’re the first person we’ve discussed this with. We don’t think it’s a good idea to talk about it openly yet.”

“I told Owen about it before I proposed, Ritch. It’s not going to be easy for him, and we’ll face issues. I mean, look at Mexico. We thought I’d stay at State for five years or so and then make a move. Now, we need to make a course correction.”

“What if Biden asks you to stay?”

“Nope. I’m not going back to approving or denying visas and issuing replacement passports. Now, if he wants to appoint me as the U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James, we can talk.”

“Har, har. That’s England, right?”

CJ nodded as they walked inside the bar made famous by Ernest Hemingway. His face was part of their logo. A folk singer occupied the stage at one end and the crowd appeared enthralled; he sounded good. CJ pointed at a small empty table on the side; when the waitress came by, they ordered a pitcher of beer.

“We have to be in Newport the weekend after this one. We’ll spend the next few days settling in and dealing with the White House, the State Department, and the Nature Conservancy. Owen wants to take a three-month leave of absence, so we’ll figure out what’s what during that time.” He turned to Owen. “You realize we’re gonna get a shitload of interview requests, right?”

Owen sighed. “Yeah… That part I’m not looking forward to so much. I’m hoping you can handle most of them on your own.”

“I don’t know about that, Oz. Savannah and Gio are gonna want us in their studios in New York.”

“Nope. We have my parents visiting next month, and we have out-of-town weddings this month and in July. I’m okay with the dads watching Liebe when we go to Rhode Island, but I’d prefer to be around her as much as possible.”

“We can take her to New York with us. What about Fire Island?”

Sitting between CJ and Owen, Ritch’s head swiveled from side to side when they alternated speaking. “Hang on, before I get entirely lost. I know Savannah Guthrie’s with NBC; I remember her interviewing you guys before. Who’s Gio? And what about Fire Island?”

“Gio Benitez. He’s a reporter for ABC. Gay, Cuban-American born in Miami. We met him and his husband last year in Fire Island. He and CJ bonded, and we’ve kept in touch.”

“As for Fire Island, friends of ours own a place there, and we have an open invitation to visit. It’s where we met Gio at a party. I was thinking a little beach time would be nice, Oz.”

“Nope. Key West will have to suffice for now. Anyway, the reporters would want us in New York as soon as possible, and I’m not riding up there just to do an interview. They can come to Washington and talk to us in our living room.”

“I guess that would work.” CJ sighed. “Maybe they won’t be interested in the story at all.”

Ritch cracked up. “Dream on! I know you guys have been avoiding the news, but you have been on a lot. Trust me, CJ. I’ve seen the headlines on my feed. They’ll want to talk to you. And you know the White House’s gonna make a big deal out of your visit that will get you even more attention.”

“Then Savannah and Gio can come to Washington if they want to interview us. After all, that’s what Ozzie wants, and Ozzie gets whatever he wants.” CJ grinned when Owen kissed his cheek.

 

Ritch had rented a Cessna 172 to fly them to Key West; on Wednesday morning, they boarded the same plane to return to Miami. While CJ, Owen, and Liebe would travel non-stop to Washington, Ritch had a plane change in Dallas before continuing to Denver.

“When are you guys turning your phones back on?” Ritch held Liebe in his arms while saying goodbye.

“As soon as we get home.” CJ was not looking forward to responding to all the messages. “It’s gonna take me a little time to reply to everyone, but I’ll get it done.”

“Start with the Squad, okay? I’m tired of everyone messaging me, asking about you.”

“Better get used to it, Ritch. I have a feeling your brother’s media popularity may spill over. You may get requests for interviews.”

“Yeah, well, the Air Force will provide insulation. I doubt they’ll want reporters crawling all over the Academy. And if they allow me to speak to the press, which I hope they don’t, they’ll restrict what subjects I can address.”

“Good luck, bro. At least you won’t have to sit in front of a camera at dawn, trying to sound intelligent on the morning shows.”

“Hell, no! I’m never doing that kind of crap.” He noisily kissed Liebe’s cheek and handed her to CJ. “Guess the next time I see you guys will be Christmas. Are we going back to Vail?” The family had gathered at their Colorado lodge the previous December.

Owen shrugged. “My parents are coming to visit next month, so we’ll skip Australia this year. Once we figure out what else we have going on, we’ll talk to the dads and figure out Christmas.”

 

“Oz, you have the new phone, right?” CJ held Liebe while she bopped to the music in her headphones. Their flight had left on time, and he itched to get home. Elpidio had unfortunately truncated their time in Mexico when he kidnapped the girl, but CJ was ready for a new adventure.

“Yeah… You want it?”

“Nah, but can you text Brad? Let him know we’re in the air and what our ETA is.”

“Sure. What are we gonna do about him?”

“What do you mean?”

“He might want to move out now that we’re moving back in.”

CJ realized it was a possibility. “Would you want him to?”

“No way! I realize what happened in Mexico could happen anywhere. Even in D.C. I think I like the idea of having two men who know how to use a gun in the house for now.”

CJ was shocked his borderline pacifist husband wanted another firearm in the house. “You’re not my husband! What have you done with him?”

Owen chuckled while shaking his head. “Oh, shut up. Don’t be an idiot. If you’ve modified some of your attitudes over the year, so have I. I still disagree with the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Second Amendment, but it’s the law of the land. I have to accept reality.

“Look, Ceej. We’re both going to evolve as we get older and experience new things, but as long as our core values remain, the peripheral stuff can change without compromising those beliefs.” Owen leaned in and pecked CJ’s cheek. “Our ability to, at least temporarily, accept the present can help us shape the future the way we see fit. Let’s keep that in mind and one day it’ll help make you a great president.”

 

The End