The Christmas Gift - 1. Chapter 1

Part One

It was two weeks before Christmas, and I guess you could say that I was filled with the Christmas Spirit (whatever that means). Everywhere I went, every stranger that passed me, smiled at me, and wished me a Merry Christmas. Somehow that made me feel loved, and that is why I was so vulnerable to what happened to me that afternoon. You see, my boyfriend had dumped me about two months earlier. I had descended into a deep depression, and I could barely function at work or in society. All these good holiday wishes had somehow helped me better handle the tragedy of my life.

I was just leaving the bank, where my pay check was automatically deposited each week. I withdrew more of it in cash than I usually did, so I had more spending money on me than normally. I have no idea why I withdrew the extra money, especially since I had no plans to go anywhere, or do anything, for the immediate future. Perhaps it was simply an act of fate. I glanced up to see a man carrying a sign which read:

HOMELESS.

PLEASE HELP

I had not spent a single penny on Christmas gifts. My family had disowned me when I came out. I had a few friends, but nobody was close enough to exchange gifts with me. I hadn’t spent any money on Christmas decorations for my apartment, either. What for? For whom?

I gave no thought to reason or propriety. I looked in the man’s eyes. They were warm and pleading with me. I hardly noticed that he was filthy, and his clothes smelled of urine. My cash withdrawal was still in the envelope the teller had placed it in. I reached into my pocket and pulled it out. I took out the first bill on top, which happened to be a hundred dollar bill. I held it out to the beggar.

“Get a room at the Y,” I suggested, “and clean up. Wash your clothes there, and then get yourself a good meal.”

The man kept staring at the bill. Finally, he said, “It’s far too much. I can’t accept it.”

“Nonsense. I want you to have it. You certainly need it more than I do.”

“Please,” he said, “when I get back on my feet, I intend to repay everyone who has helped me. Do you have a card? Please give it to me.”

I laughed inwardly. I had no expectation of any repayment, but I figured that if I gave this beggar my card, I would make him happy. I took out my wallet, and handed him my card.

“You don’t have to feel obligated to pay back anything,” I said. “It’s my gift to you, a Christmas gift.”

“Nevertheless,” he said, “I intend to.” He glanced at my card, and added, “James Hartman.” I sensed that he smiled at me, but I wasn’t sure. He needed to shave so badly that I couldn’t discern any facial expressions.

Before I left to go home, I took another look at the man. I tried to determine his height, his weight and his age, but I drew a blank. He was so dirty and disheveled, it was impossible to conclude anything about him.

I walked slowly home. The store windows were bedazzling me with colorful Christmas lights and decorations. I stopped often to admire their beauty. By the time I got home, I had completely forgotten the hapless, homeless stranger.

******

Let me tell you a little more about me. I am thirty-one years old, and six feet, one inch tall. I work out regularly, and have a good taut body. My hair is ash blond, and I wear it a little longer than I should, around my ears. I think I have a more youthful look when my hair is longer, especially since it tends to have a soft curl. My eyes are hazel, and I have a small dimple in my right cheek. It only appears when I smile, which I used to do often before Gary dumped me. I wasn’t going to mention it, but everyone wonders. My cock is cut, and about five inches flaccid. I never really measured myself hard, but I guess it’s about seven and a half inches or so.

I kept my sexual orientation my little secret until I graduated law school. My father is the biggest homophobe I have ever encountered. The veins on his neck stand out when he reads about any kind of advancement toward equal rights in the gay community. I even dated women to keep him from knowing that I was homosexual.

When my ex-boyfriend and I decided to live together, I felt that it was time to come out. Gary and I went over to my parents’ house one Sunday, and together we told them that we were in love, and planned on moving in together. What my father did next was so bizarre that nobody believes me when I tell the story. I swear; it’s all true. He ran to a drawer and took out a pistol. He aimed it at me, and then at Gary. I heard him cock the safety.

“If you two perverts aren’t out of my house in two seconds, I’ll kill both of you.” I could see the veins popping on his neck.

His voice was so threatening, I can tell you that I was truly frightened. I had never seen him like this. As Gary and I left the house, I heard him say, “I never want to see or hear from you again.” Until we got in my car, all I could hear was, “Perverts,” repeated over and over again.

Gary and I lived together for three years. Then out of the blue, about a month before this past Thanksgiving, I came home from work and found a note on the hall table. It read:

Sorry James. I find living together, and being monogamous, is too constraining. We don’t have fun anymore. You are just too damned domestic for me. Besides, I don’t want to look at the same cock every night for the rest of my life. Find a homebody like yourself to shack up with. Gary.

I looked around the apartment. Everything he owned was cleared out, including a few of my favorite sport shirts. I guess he figured I owed him that much. I could care less. The shirts were replaceable, but Gary was not.

After that I couldn’t get myself together. I work for a large New York City law firm. My boss is exceptionally pleased with my work in corporate law, and he keeps hinting at a partnership in the near future. When my work began to suffer, Mr. Samuelson called me into his office and we had a little chat. He knew I was gay, and I told him about Gary dumping me. His reaction surprised me.

“When I was married for only nine months, my wife walked out on me,” he confided. “For a long time I had trouble concentrating on work. Then one day, I realized that it was all for the best, and it was better that it happened sooner than later. I raised my spirits out of the dumps, and resumed my place among the living. You’ve met the present Mrs. Samuelson, James. She’s a beautiful, wonderful companion, and I thank God every day that my first wife left me, and I met Marian.”

I smiled dutifully and wondered what that had to do with me. I was sure I had loved Gary more than he could possibly have loved the first Mrs. Samuelson.

Mr. Samuelson stood up and put his arm around my shoulder. “There’s someone out there that is more deserving of you, James,” he went on. “You’re a talented attorney, and a wonderful human being. You deserve the best that life has to offer, and it’s going to come to you. So please, try to put Gary out of your mind, and be the person, I have so much faith in.” I started to cry, and he squeezed my shoulders a little tighter.

I tried to concentrate harder on my work, and to my happy surprise, it did help me forget a little bit. But outside of work, I still went home every night and cried myself to sleep. I knew I was wrong, and this was not going to help me find that special person Mr. Samuelson promised for me, but I just couldn’t help myself.

About three days before Christmas, Mr. Samuelson called me into his office again. I had pretty much got myself together, and my work was on track, so I wondered what this was all about.

He didn’t bother with small talk, and asked me right out, “Do you know Jerome Harris?”

“I know of him,” I answered. He’s one of the biggest real estate developers in the tri-state area.”

“That would be Harris, Sr. I mean do you know Jerome Harris, Jr.?”

“I didn’t even know there was a junior,” I answered, now totally confused.

“Well, sir, he seems to know you. He called me a few minutes ago. He said that his father was retiring at the end of the year. He did not trust his father’s attorneys, and he was interested in hiring you.”

“How in the world….,” I mused out loud. “We’ve never met.”

“He told me that you came highly recommended, but he felt that it would be more appropriate to call the head of the firm, rather than to go to you directly. He wants to meet you in a social setting instead of a stuffy law office. Apparently he’s having a little dinner party in his home on Christmas Eve, and he requested that you be there.”

I was too stunned to say anything. Mr. Samuelson handed me a piece of paper. “Here’s his address and telephone number. He requested that you arrive at 6 PM for cocktails, and dinner at 7.”

I took the paper from Mr. Samuelson. “Do you know what it would mean to the firm in billings to land the Harris account? It would be a giant feather in your cap too, my boy,” he beamed at me.

I took the paper, nodded at my boss and left his office.

******

I rang the bell to Jerome, Jr.’s apartment at 6:00 PM promptly. He lived in an upscale apartment building on Fifth Avenue. I had to get past the doorman and security to board the elevator which took me to the penthouse.

The door was answered by a very handsome man. I figured him to be about my age. He was just about my height also, and appeared to be built like a brick shithouse. His hair was jet black and cut short. His eyes were sky blue, which for me is an attractive combination. He was casually dressed in a sport shirt and slacks. He wore no socks or shoes. No wonder. The carpeting in the apartment was the thickest I had ever stepped on. I felt very much overdressed in my suit, tie, dress shirt, knee high black socks, and dress shoes.

He greeted me warmly. “You must be James,” he surmised. “I’m Jerry. Come on in, and get comfortable. You look like you’re going to a wake.”

I smiled, entered the apartment, and from out of nowhere a woman appeared. She took my overcoat, jacket and tie.

“Take off your shoes also,” Jerry said. “Please get really relaxed and comfortable. We’re old friends, after all.”

Now I was really confused and apprehensive as well. I was certain we had never met. “Have we met before, Mr. Harris?”

“Please call me, Jerry. Yes, we did meet once before, very briefly. You left a deep impression on me.”

“Well then. You have me at a disadvantage. I don’t remember ever meeting you before tonight.”

“Tell you what,” Jerry said. He took my hand, and led me to a wet bar in the living room. “I’ll explain everything over a cocktail. What’s your poison?”

“Bourbon and branch water, please.”

Jerry took a very expensive bottle of bourbon from among several other bottles. He poured a jigger into two cocktail glasses, and added the faintest amount of water to each. While he was mixing the drinks, I had a chance to study him more closely. He was a gorgeous hunk of manhood, and my heart (to be very corny) was going pit-a-pat. His slacks were a bit tight, and I could tell that he was well endowed. For a moment I dared believe he wanted me to notice that. He handed one of the glasses to me.

“It’s a shame to dilute such good bourbon,” he sighed, “but I can’t take it straight.”

“Same here,” I laughed.

Jerry clinked our glasses together, and toasted, “Here’s to a beautiful new friendship.”

That sounded like I was already hired, and I smiled at my future client. “Yes, here’s to us.” I took a sip.

We sat down on a sofa, and I asked, “How many other people do you expect for dinner?”

“Just you,” he replied. “I thought we should get really well acquainted.”

“I must say, I’m surprised, but not disappointed.”

“Good,” he answered. “I like you James. I’m enjoying your company.”

I took another sip of my cocktail. “I like you too, Jerry. Are you going to fill me in now on how you came to request my services?”

Jerry removed his wallet, and retrieved a bill from it. “Do you recognize this?” he asked.

“It’s a C Note. Is there something special about it?”

“Yes,” he answered, “very special. It was a gift to me from a very kind stranger.”

“I know it’s the thought that counts,” I commented, “but it’s hardly a special gift to a multi-millionaire.”

“Of course, you’re right, but the stranger didn’t know I was rich. He himself is not poor, but still, it was a very generous gift from one stranger to another.”

I knew that I was supposed to remember something, but I didn’t know what. Jerry kept looking into my eyes, begging me to remember. I needed more information. Now I looked into his eyes conveying my need for more information.

“Let’s have dinner now,” he said. “We’ll talk more about it after we’ve eaten.” He took my drink from me, and placed it on the bar. “We’re having wine with dinner,” he explained.

The dining room table would have accommodated a small platoon. Jerry sat at the head and I sat to his right. The decision was easy. That’s where the place setting was. As I sat down, it suddenly occurred to me that this massive apartment was no more decorated for Christmas than mine was. I thought for a moment of asking about it, but I figured that it was none of my business. Could it be that this handsome hunk was as lonely as I was? What a dumb thought. Women were probably crawling to his bed. But what if he didn’t trust women? What if he thought they were all after his money? I wondered what it was like to be as rich as he was. Would men be fighting over going to bed with me?

We didn’t talk much during the meal, but we both had too much wine. I definitely had a buzz on. I wondered about Jerry.

When we had finished eating a delicious dessert of custard pie, Jerry stood up, so I did also.

“I’d like to show you the rest of my apartment,” he said.

“I’d like that a lot,” I answered sincerely.

“Well,” he said, sounding like a docent. “It’s only five rooms, but they are huge. You’ve already seen the living room and dining room.” He led me to a huge kitchen, where the woman, who had taken my coat and jacket, was cleaning up. It was no ordinary kitchen to me. All the appliances were commercial size. I had once toured the kitchen in The Four Seasons, and this looked very similar.

From there, he took me to the second bedroom, which he had set up as a library and office. One wall was practically all window and faced uptown. The view was spectacular. I admired it, and he said that this was the room he went to when he wanted to forget business, and just relax.

He led me through a long hallway to the other side of the apartment. Along the way, he pointed out a beautifully decorated powder room. “For your lady guests?” I asked with a smile. Jerry smiled back, but didn’t answer.

From there, we entered the master bedroom. This room faced downtown. One wall was all glass sliding doors which led to a terrace the length of the room. We went out on the terrace. It was bitter cold, and we only stayed a few seconds in order to admire the view from this side of the apartment.

Jerry had a king size bed. “Is this the field of action?” I asked ingenuously. I told you. I was slightly drunk. It’s a good thing Jerry was too. He took no offense.

“It would be, if I was getting any action,” he said. I couldn’t believe that this handsome hunk, with all his money, wasn’t getting any action.

He led me into the master bathroom, where I discovered a sunken tub, which doubled as a Jacuzzi. “Wow, I said. I would love to spend some time in there.”

“OK,” Jerry said. “Later.” I was flabbergasted, and much to my chagrin, I felt a stirring in my groin. I looked quickly away from Jerry’s smiling face, and got another shock.

This room had no outside windows. The walls were covered with nude photographs of handsome young men. Some of their cocks were flaccid, and some were hard. Only one picture showed two men in a passionate embrace. Their cocks were not visible, but obviously, they were smashed together. I was fixated on the pictures. I came back to reality, when I heard Jerry ask, “You like?”

Now I did stare right back into Jerry’s eyes. “I like very much,” I answered. “Jerry, you’ve teased me quite enough. Please tell me what this is all about. What the hell is going on?”

He took my hand and we started toward his bed. He sat down at the edge and patted the area next to him, indicating that I should sit also. I sat down. He was still holding my hand. I looked into his beautiful eyes again, pleading with him to enlighten me.

“Do you remember,” he began, “about two weeks ago, you were coming out of The Bank of New York on Lex and 57th, and you saw a homeless man begging for a handout?”

A glimmer of remembrance was starting in my brain.

“He was filthy, unshaven, and he smelled like a sewer,” Jerry continued. “Everyone who saw him before you, had turned away in disgust, and not given him a penny. You were the first person to look at him with pity. Do you remember what you did?”

“Yes, I remember now. I gave him a hundred dollar bill. You said that the bill you showed me was given to you by a stranger. That couldn’t be the same bill.”

“Yes, my friend. It is the same bill. You gave it to me.”

I stared at my host in disbelief. “That’s impossible,” I muttered. “What? How?”

“Oh,” Jerry said. “I’m no scrooge. I contribute to various charities regularly, but I never get to see the people who benefit from my giving. Three years ago, I hit on the idea of begging on the street. I hoped to find someone who would have pity on a poor homeless beggar, and help him out. I vowed that if I ever found such a person, I would learn all about him, and then reward him appropriately in any way that I could. I figured that the reward would be something like a good job, or money for an education. In the three years I have done this, James, you are the only one who took pity on me. Everyone else hurried away. I must have repulsed them, and that was my intention.”

“I make a better than average living, and I have no family to support. I don’t need anything from you. I told you I didn’t want you to pay me back.”

“I know, my friend. Please let me finish. I hired a detective to learn all about you.”

“That was an invasion of my privacy,” I said softly, trying not to sound like I gave a damn.

“I know, but I had to find out what kind of man you were that you would take such pity on me. I found out that you were considered one of the best corporate attorneys in New York, and that recently you were deserted by your partner. He left you lonely and miserable, just like me. Everyone who had ever showed an interest in me, was only interested in my money. Obviously you were not.

“The best news to me was that you were gay. When I first saw you, I thought you were so handsome. I almost ripped off my disguise to ask you to have dinner with me, but wisely, I settled for your card. Remember I nearly had to beg you to give it to me.

“The one thing I didn’t lie about is that I distrust my father’s attorneys. My dad is retiring in a week, and I’m taking over the business. I want you to handle my company’s legal affairs.”

I was so overwhelmed by Jerry’s confession, that in a most un-lawyer like fashion, I remained speechless. He squeezed my hand tighter. “Have you nothing to say?” he asked me.

“Well, here’s a confession from me,” I started. “The minute I walked in the door this evening, I wanted to throw you on the bed and suck the cum out of you. You are so fucking handsome, man. What do you see in me?”

Jerry broke out laughing. “I see a hot dude, who is kind to bums and other strangers. I also know that money is not an option in how you may feel about me, and that makes me love you even more.”

“You love me?” I asked.

“Ever since you stopped to help me. Please don’t run out on me tonight.”

“I had no intention.”

“Would you like to soak in the Jacuzzi with me?”

“Is tomorrow Christmas?”

Immediately Jerry stripped. He wasn’t wearing underwear, and he was naked in seconds. He was as well-endowed as I suspected. He was already hard, at least seven uncut inches, and rather fat around. I was cut, but we were about the same size. At this point size was not a factor in my desire for him.

“Hurry up and undress,” he admonished me. “I’ll run the water in the tub.”

I threw my clothes on his bed as he had done. Somehow I knew that I was going to sleep in that bed tonight. When I got to the bathroom, the Jacuzzi was half full of warm water. Jerry took my hand and we stepped in. We sat down in the tub, and when the water hit our chests, Jerry turned off the taps.

He took my hand. Our bodies were touching. He leaned into me and began to kiss me. His lips were closed, but I opened mine, and our tongues met for the first time. He felt so good, and tasted even better. As we kissed, he wrapped his fist around my pulsating cock. I did the same to him.

I stroked him gently for just a few seconds, and he recoiled.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing is wrong, but I started to cum, and I don’t want to cum this fast.”

“Listen Jerry,” I said. “As far as I’m concerned this is not a one hour, nor a one night, stand. If you feel like cumming then do it. We’ll take longer next time.”

“Just the same,” he said. “The first time, I want to get you off inside of me, and in bed. The same goes for me. You can get as funky as you want later on.”

“In that case, I’m too worked up to stay here. Let’s get dried up and hit the sack.”

“Great idea, Counsellor.”

We jumped on Jerry’s oversized bed, and wrapped our arms around each other. The mattress was so huge, we occupied very little space on the bed. Our cocks rubbed together. It felt so good. I had never felt this sexually aroused with Gary.

Jerry’s lips met mine, and our tongues began a dance of pure love and joy. Without warning, Jerry began to slither down my body, kissing everything his tongue could reach along the way. I found myself purring like a kitten. When his hand wrapped around my balls, and his lips met the crown of my cock, I no longer purred, I moaned.

“Please,” I begged. “Let me do that to you.” Jerry released me and slithered up to lie beside me. We kissed for another few minutes and then I started licking him from his lips to his cock. When I put it in my mouth, it was wet with pre-cum. Once again, I had to note that Gary had never tasted this good.

Jerry’s balls were shrinking, and I knew he was close. I took as much of him into me as I could, and I tried to maintain a constant sucking motion with my tongue.

Jerry came with an eerie scream, followed by a series of groans and then silence. I was too busy swallowing his juices to pay attention. When his body stopped bucking, and I stopped swallowing, I said, “You sure are a noisy cummer, Love. Do you think your cook heard us?”

“She’s probably gone by now. After she cleans up dinner, she usually goes home. She won’t be back now until after Christmas.”

“You mean we’re alone?”

“Uh huh.”

“Then I can make as much noise as I want to.”

Jerry rolled to the edge of the bed, and retrieved a box of condoms and a tube of lube from his night table. “Let’s get tested soon,” he said, “but in the meantime…..” He handed me the condoms and lube. I put the condom on my anxious cock and lubricated it with the jelly. Jerry took the tube and squirted a generous amount up his ass. He rolled on his back, raised his legs, and spread his cheeks.

I wasn’t even inside him yet, and I felt like I was cumming. Still I entered him as slowly as possible, and as soon as I was fully in, I lost control and came. I screamed louder than Jerry had.

“I’m sorry Jerry. I wanted it to last longer, but I completely lost it.”

“No sweat, Babe. You ain’t going anywhere. I’m not letting you. We are going to spend all day tomorrow in bed together. After that, I’m putting a ball and chain on you. I love you James. I swear I’ll never leave you like Gary did. I want us to be together forever.”

“Forever is a long time.”

“It’ll be too short for me as long as we are together. By the way, I told my dad all about you, and I showed him the detective’s report. He told me that you’re a keeper, and he’s given us his blessings. When he saw your picture, he also told me to hold a tight rein on you, because he has slept with men in his day, and he thinks you’re hot.

“I’d like to meet your dad. He’s the complete opposite of mine.”

“We are making him a retirement party at the office on the 30th. I want you to be there.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I’ll be there with bells on. But we’re talking too much, Jerry. Do you think you are recovered enough to fuck me now?”

“I told you. We are going to make love all night and all day tomorrow. There’s no room for recovery time.”

We made love for another two hours and then fell into an exhausted sleep. When we woke, we showered together and brushed our teeth with the same toothbrush.

As we were preparing breakfast, Jerry said, “I’m sorry James. You said the hundred dollar bill was a Christmas present to me, but I have no present for you.”

“You have got to be kidding me. You gave me the biggest account I have ever landed, but that’s nothing compared to the fact that you gave me your love. That’s the best Christmas present ever.”

“Let’s frame the C Note and hang it in our bedroom so we can always see it, and be reminded of our Christmas miracle.”

“Our bedroom?” I asked.

“Of course; I told you. I’m not letting you get away. Besides, it makes perfect sense that you should move in with me. I own the building, and we won’t have to pay any rent.” Jerry broke out laughing.

“Then let me pay you in kind. I pledge to you my body and my soul for all time.”

Jerry’s eyes got misty with tears. He grabbed me and hugged me, and our very flaccid cocks rubbed together.

“Merry Christmas,” we whispered in each other’s ears, as we pulled our bodies closer and closer.

Part Two

Jerry’s widowed dad, Jerry, Sr., is retired and lives in Boca Raton, FL. When we told him about our plans to marry, he was so unlike my dad. He was happy and excited for us, and flew right back to New York to help plan our wedding. It was a very small affair. I had no family at all, and Jerry’s only family was his dad. The guest list also included a very few good friends and business associates. I thought about my own father’s homophobia, and I wept. I never thought to invite my parents to the wedding. I feared my dad might come with a semi-automatic weapon in his hand, intending to kill every “pervert” at the reception.

Jerry’s dad stayed with us for about three months. He shacked up in our guest room, and boy did he surprise us. Jerry, Sr. is just as handsome as my husband. He had no trouble bringing home a trick a couple of times a week. We never knew what to expect. Sometimes he came home with a beautiful woman, and other times, he came home with some handsome stud. More power to him, I say.

Ever since Jerry and I began to live together, his father has come home for Thanksgiving and stayed through Christmas. He also comes to stay with us from July through September. It is always a pleasure to have him. Of course, Jerry doesn’t think so. His father would go to the office with him occasionally, and he seemed to disapprove of every change Jerry had made since he took over. I guess that would be true of all fathers who turned their businesses over to their sons. He always goes back to Florida for his New Year’s Eve celebration, and the remainder of the winter months. I am grateful that he was home this past Christmas. I needed the strength of both of them to see me through the second most traumatic event of my life. The prize still goes to the day my father pointed a pistol at me.

******

On the Monday after Thanksgiving, included with my office mail, I received a letter from my father, Nolan. I trembled when I opened it. The note was short and terse. I had hoped for some sign of reconciliation, but that was just a pipe dream. It read:

The only way I knew how to reach you was through the firm you worked for the last time I saw you. I didn’t call your office. I was afraid that you might not take my call, so I’m writing. I hope you still work there.

Your mother passed away a couple of days ago. She had cancer. The funeral service is the Wednesday after Thanksgiving. It will be at Lawrence Funeral home on Lexington Ave. in Manhattan, at 10 AM. If you wish to attend, please do not talk to me, and I promise not to make a scene.

There was no “Dear James” and no “Love, Dad.” Why did I expect that? I was dead to my father. He wished I had never been born. Jerry and his father wanted to attend the service, but I asked them not to. I was afraid that my dad would go ballistic.

My father and I both sat in the first row which is always reserved for the closest family members of the deceased. However, he sat on one side of the aisle and I sat on the other. My father tried to hide it from me, but I did catch him taking furtive looks at me. I wondered what he was thinking. My first shock of the day occurred just before the service began. My father rose from his seat, and sat down right next to me. He looked like he desperately wanted to say something to me, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

My mother was being cremated, so there was no procession to the cemetery. My father and I were the only two people on the receiving line. We stood about eight feet apart. I was shocked, and nearly ran out, when I saw my father-in-law. He was talking to my dad. Jerry, Sr. spoke loudly so that everyone in the room could hear him.

“Hello, Mr. Hartman,” he said. “I’m sorry for your loss. You don’t know me, but I’m your son’s father-in-law.”

For one second a smile appeared on my father’s face. When he heard, “I’m your son’s father-in-law,” he let himself believe that I was married to a woman, I guess.

“I wanted to let you know what a fantastic individual James is, and how proud I am when I introduce him to a friend,” Jerry Sr. continued. “He’s respected by all his peers and by everyone who knows him. And you, sir, are a first class schmuck.”

When he was called a schmuck, my dad’s face reddened. He realized that I had married a man. He probably thought that it was Gary. Jerry, Sr. grabbed my hand and we rushed out of the mortuary. He kept laughing, but I was too shocked to do or say anything. I was just glad it was over and I didn’t have to see my father ever again.

******

About a week before Christmas, it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas as the song says. Even Jerry and I modestly decorated our apartment. We had someone to decorate for now. Jerry, Sr. always helped, if he wasn’t out somewhere lining up a partner for sex. Jerry and I kept hoping, he’d meet someone, male or female, and settle down.

I went into my office that Tuesday morning, and had barely hung up my overcoat, when my secretary buzzed me.

“There’s a gentleman out in the reception area who says his name is Nolan Hartman. He has no appointment, but he claims to be your father, and he needs to see you for a few minutes.”

“I was too shocked to say anything, so she chided me, “Shame on you James. Why didn’t you ever tell me that your father was still alive?”

I’d see him, of course, but not alone in my office. I feared he had murderous intent, since I ran out on him after the funeral. I knew he wanted to talk to me about something that day. I figured he finally got up his courage. I didn’t dare hope he wanted to reconcile and ask my forgiveness.

I finally found my voice. “Ask the switchboard operator to tell him to wait in the reception room. I’ll meet him there,” I mumbled.

I found him sitting on a sofa, and I sat down right next to him. Neither of us spoke.

“Why did you run out on me at the funeral?” he finally asked.

“I was embarrassed by what my father-in-law said to you. I had no idea he’d come there. I specifically asked him and my husband not to come.”

My dad winced when I said, “my husband.”

“It’s not important,” he said. He looked around. “Pretty posh office you have here.”

“Yes, Nolan,” I said. I purposely called him Nolan instead of Dad. I wanted him to know that I was very pissed that he was here. “My firm has been very successful, and when a new client comes in, we want them to know that.”

Nolan had no comment, so I went on. “What did you want to see me about?” I asked. “How can I possibly help you?”

“I’m in trouble, Jimmy,” he sobbed. Nobody had called me Jimmy since I was a child. I let it slide.

“What kind of trouble? Talk.”

“Not here. Couldn’t we go into your private office?”

I saw no way out of it, and I took him to my office. I sat behind my desk, and buzzed my secretary to ask her to hold all calls. I had my father sit in a chair facing me. We just stared at each other for a while, and finally, he began to talk.

“You know, Jimmy, I always made a good enough living to support our family very well, but I never made enough to build up a nest egg.. When your mother got sick, I found myself without insurance. We had always been so healthy, the two of us, I never thought about spending money for health insurance. To cut to the chase, her medical bills and funeral expenses totaled over a quarter of a million dollars, and I don’t have the means to pay them. I’m twelve years shy of getting social security, but that won’t go far. I sold our house and moved to a very small, furnished, efficiency apartment, but that only netted me about a hundred thousand.”

I was shocked, and I became nasty. “So you want your perverted faggot son to lend you the money, when all I want is for you to rot in hell. In all the years I lived at home, did you ever love me, even once? As you found out at mom’s funeral, my husband’s dad never stopped loving him.”

I stressed the words, “my husband,” instead of saying Jerry. Whenever I said that, I could see the pain on my father’s face, and I was getting a terrible joy in seeing his discomfort. I really didn’t want to be mean to him, but I just couldn’t help myself.

Nolan began to sob. “Of course, I loved you. I always did. In spite of everything, I think I still do.”

“You threatened to kill me,” I spat out.

“I swear it was an empty threat. There were no bullets in the gun.”

Finally, I asked, “What makes you think I have that kind of money anyhow, and if I did have it, why should I give any of it to you?”

He couldn’t answer me. He shrugged his shoulders, turned his hands palms up, and said, “Sure, why should you? It’s just that after the funeral I checked you out on the net. You’re a partner in this firm, and you earn a million dollars a year, give or take a few bucks. I also found out that your husband (he said it without flinching) and his father are multi-millionaires.” He grabbed his coat, and started to leave.

“Sit down,” I commanded him. “We’re not finished. If I loaned you the money, how would you have the means to repay me?”

“Truthfully, I wouldn’t. I had hoped you would pay the medical debt, as a favor to your mother’s memory.”

“I don’t want to give you a penny,” I said, “but I’ll pay the bills. Send them to me, and I’ll pay them for you.”

Nolan started to cry uncontrollably. I couldn’t bear it, and I was suddenly filled with compassion. I stood him up and enveloped him in my arms. I could swear he whispered in my ear, “I’m so sorry.” Perhaps I heard wrong.

When he calmed down, I asked, “Would you like to meet my husband? I know you’ve met his dad? I’ll call them and ask them to meet us for lunch at our city club.”

“I’d like that,” he said, “but I don’t think I’m dressed for a fancy joint like that, I mean fancy place.”

“You’re dressed just fine,” I assured him. Lunch is very informal. Dinner is a lot fussier.”

I called Jerry in his office, and I called his father, wherever he was. As briefly as I could, I filled them in on what my dad and I had agreed to, and they, in turn, agreed to meet us at the club at noon. The way Jerry put it, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I never went through the trauma of meeting the parents, and now it’s going to happen.”

******

When we got to the club, dad and I found Jerry and his father at the bar. They jumped up when they saw us. Jerry planted a sloppy kiss on my lips, I was too busy kissing back to see what kind of reaction that got from my father. When I introduced him to Jerry, they said simultaneously, “It’s nice to meet you.”

On the other hand Jerry, Sr. pumped my dad’s hand, and said, “I’m so sorry for what I said at the funeral, but when James told me how you treated him when he came out, I’ve always wanted to tell you off. Can we forget about it and start fresh?”

“Yes, I’d like that,” Nolan said, “but don’t be sorry. I deserved it.”

When my father said that he deserved it, I almost passed out. Perhaps he had changed, but if he did, I couldn’t believe he was sincere. Maybe he was acting, because I agreed to pay his substantial debt.

The luncheon turned out to be one of the most interesting I have ever had. My father-in-law’s friends kept coming over to say hello, and he introduced Nolan as his son-in-law’s father. They all said how nice it was to meet him. One of them actually said, “Your son is the most ethical man, and the finest human being I have ever met. You must be very proud of him.”

Nolan was flabbergasted, but he got himself together and said, “Yes, I’m very proud of him.” I nearly choked on my shrimp cocktail. I was not a stranger to Christmas miracles, and I began to wonder if this wasn’t another one in the making.

Some friends of mine came over to say hello also. I introduced them to my father, but all they said was that it was nice to meet him.

Nolan and Jerry, Sr. started talking non-stop. I couldn’t imagine what they could possibly have in common, but their conversation was very animated with lots of laughter. I guess my dad was feeling very jovial, knowing that he was out of debt.

About half way through lunch, Nolan visited the men’s room. Jerry, Sr. said to Jerry and me, “Nolan and I are going bar hopping tonight. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s shacking up in your guest room with me. Fortunately, you furnished it with two queen-sized beds. He’s on bereavement leave, and doesn’t have to go back to work until after the new year. I’m sure it’s okay with you guys.” Jerry and I remained speechless.

Finally, I said, “Dad (I always called Jerry, Sr. Dad), you better go to a straight bar.”

“Not on your life. I told Nolan that we were going to a gay bar. I want him to see that gay men are just ordinary people. He didn’t mind at all. In fact, he said that he was looking forward to it. He has never been to a gay bar before.”

All I could do is repeat over and over again, “Unbelievable.”

Jerry asked, “Did you tell him that you swing both ways?”

“Of course. I’d never take him to a gay bar unless he knew the truth. He thinks it’s kind of interesting. I have a feeling that he would have said ‘cool’ instead of ‘interesting’, but he’s not ready to drop his homophobia just yet. By the time I’m through with him, he’ll be fighting for gay rights.”

“Good luck,” I said, “and how do you intend to do that?”

“Why, I’ll sleep with him, of course. He’s really hot, James.”

******

Jerry, Sr. took Nolan to a bar called The Hideaway. It wasn’t very crowded on a work night. It catered to more mature men, and it was quite civilized. It was just like a typical cocktail lounge on Madison Avenue. There was no raucous music, no half-naked young boys gyrating to the music, and there was plenty of breathing space. The bar even had a cloak room. They checked their coats and found an empty table.

“I prefer a table where we can get table service,” Jerry, Sr. said. “It beats the mobs at the bar. This place gets really very crowded on the weekend.”

Although the bar wasn’t very busy, Jerry, Sr. met several friends there and once again he introduced Nolan as his son-in-law’s father. The reaction was usually the same, “James is a great guy,” they all said.

Finally, Nolan found himself answering, “Don’t I know it?”

He had no idea that he was also being cruised, until Jerry, Sr. said, “You’re making quite an impression. Most of these guys are flirting with you. You seem not to have noticed.”

Nolan panicked. “What should I do to let them know that I’m not interested?”

“Well, you can continue to ignore them, or a better ploy would be to take my hand and hold it tight. They’ll think we’re a couple.”

Nolan grabbed Jerry, Sr.’s hand, and held on for dear life.

“Why wouldn’t you be interested?” Jerry, Sr. asked. Aren’t you even the least bit curious?”

Nolan didn’t answer. He just hunched his shoulders, and Jerry, Sr. wasn’t sure what his answer was, but he had opened the door to sex, and he wasn’t about to drop the ball.

“Well,” he said. “I’ve had plenty of gay sex, and even more straight sex. I enjoy riding up and down both streets, but if I could only go one way, it would be gay sex, hands down.”

“Why is that?” Nolan asked.

“Because gay sex is so much more intense, so much more passionate. A guy knows what a guy likes, and can give his partner a lot more pleasure than a woman can. For me, the best part is that I don’t have to spend an hour in foreplay arousing a woman. A man is always aroused.”

Jerry, Sr. squeezed Nolan’s hand tighter. “Nolan,” he said, “you and I really hit it off. I like you a lot, and now that you’re reconciled with James, we’re going to see a lot of each other. I’m no different than the rest of these guys. I’ve got serious hots for you. I could even pursue a relationship with you. Would you experiment with me? I promise you won’t regret it. I’ll do all the work, and I’ll bring you to paradise. If it grosses you out, I promise we’ll stop, and never speak of it again. It’ll be our secret.”

“I don’t know,” Nolan said. “Let me think about it. I like you too, Jerome.” The Christmas miracle was blossoming.

“Good. Now let’s go to the piano bar, and socialize with the other guys.”

They did just that, and both men had a wonderful time. During the evening somebody whispered in Nolan’s ear, “Boy, did you pick a winner.” Almost simultaneously, some guy whispered the same thing in Jerry, Sr.’s ear. Neither of the two men realized it, but they held their hands, even when it was no longer necessary.

In the cab driving home, Jerry, Sr. said, “Christmas is the day after tomorrow. Don’t go home. Spend it with us. We’re your family now. You and I are about the same size, and so is James. We can lend you clothes to wear. We even go to church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, if you were wondering.”

“That sounds like a plan,” Nolan said.

Jerry, Sr. wanted to kiss Nolan, but he was not about to kiss him on his lips. They were still holding hands. He raised Nolan’s hand to his lips and he kissed it. Nolan smiled, and Jerry, Sr. took that as a yes answer to having sex that night.

When they got home, Jerry and I were fast asleep. “Would you like a nightcap?” Jerry, Sr. asked Nolan.

“I’ve had plenty to drink, but I’m really nervous about what’s going to happen, so one more will help me relax.”

“Nolan, listen to me,” Jerry, Sr. said. “Nothing I do will hurt you. My goal is to give you so much pleasure, you’ll float into the seventh heaven. Trust me; you can relax.”

They went into the living room and had their nightcap. Then Jerry, Sr. took Nolan’s hand and led him into his bedroom. The Christmas miracle was getting stronger and stronger.

Jerry, Sr. undressed rapidly. Nolan started to undress, but slowly. His heart rate had considerably increased. When they were naked, they smiled. They were both uncut. Jerry, Sr. was erect and about seven plump inches. Nolan was still flaccid, and he was about four inches.

They were standing at the edge of the bed, when Jerry Sr. threw his arms around Nolan, and placed his cheek on my dad’s.

“Kiss me,” Jerry, Sr. commanded. “It’s the hardest thing for a straight man to do the first time.”

Jerry, Sr. expected Nolan to balk, but Nolan looked at him, smiled and put his closed mouth against Jerry, Sr.’s. They kissed that way for a while, and then Jerry, Sr. opened his mouth and forced Nolan’s mouth open with his tongue. My dad was terribly love starved. He hadn’t had sex for almost two years prior to my mother’s death. Much to Jerry, Sr.’s surprise, Nolan responded immediately and their kisses became passionate.

They fell into bed, and my dad lay flat on his back. He didn’t know what to do, and was awaiting instructions from my father-in-law. Jerry, Sr. lay down on top of Nolan and, once again, the passionate kissing began. Little by little, centimeter by centimeter, he began to work his way down Nolan’s body. He nipped at his neck, and Nolan had a hickey the next day. Then he sucked both of Nolan’s nipples. He took plenty of time, and Nolan was beginning to moan and groan and wiggle his ass.

He bypassed Nolan’s cock and balls, and instead, he sucked both of his legs on the inside, and finally he kissed and sucked his toes, one at a time. Nolan was writhing in ecstasy. At last, Jerry, Sr. approached his target. It was to be Nolan’s first experience ever with oral sex.

Very gently he ran his tongue up Nolan’s cock. He was hard now, and slightly larger than my father-in-law. It only took a few swipes and Nolan’s balls started to shrink, so Jerry, Sr. aborted his blow job instantly.

“You bastard,” Nolan cried. “Why did you stop? I nearly came.”

“Patience, my handsome novice. I’ve got even better things in store.”

He opened the top drawer of his bedside table, and removed a condom and a tube of lube. Gently, he rolled the condom down Nolan’s cock. He began to rim Nolan’s crack, and my father almost went wild. Then he put a glob of lube up his ass. He coated Nolan’s rubberized cock with plenty of lube, and once again, Nolan started to cum. Jerry, Sr. stopped to let Nolan simmer down. Then he straddled his bedmate, and sat on him slowly, allowing Nolan’s cock to invade his ass at a snail’s pace.

Nolan began to wail like a banshee. He didn’t care if Jerry and I could hear him or not. When he was all the way in, Jerry, Sr smiled at Nolan. Nolan was frenzied. He started to pump his cock and Jerry, Sr. joined in. Nolan was stimulating my father-in-law’s prostate and he came all over Nolan’s chest. As he came his ass involuntarily opened and closed, and Nolan came. He gushed into the condom, but there was so much semen it dripped down and out. They lay still for a long while. Nolan’s cock was taking its sweet time to soften, and he was still firmly implanted in my father-in-law’s ass. My two dads just kept smiling at each other.

Finally, Jerry, Sr. said, “Please Nolan, don’t freak out. I mean it. I’m begging you again not to freak out, but I’ve got to tell you that I think I’ve fallen in love with you. Our first time was way better than the first time with my wife or any trick I’ve ever been with. In time, it’ll get better and better. I’d like us to do this every day of our lives from this day on.”

Nolan didn’t answer right away, and Jerry, Sr. looked at him anxiously. At last Nolan smiled at him. He opened his mouth to speak, but a little sob escaped instead.

“I’m not freaking,” he said when his voice returned to him. “I agree. It was better than the first time with my wife. In fact, it was better than every time I made love with my wife. It would be an understatement to say that I’m confused and very frightened, but I think I love you too. I feel that I want to be with you all the time. In fact, I hope there’ll be a next time, because I want to switch roles with you, but not now, I need some recovery time. That was so intense, just like you promised.”

“Don’t sweat it,” Jerry, Sr., said. “I just came also.” He scooped up some semen from Nolan’s chest, and he ate it. Then he gave Nolan a taste also. He hesitated for a moment and then ate what Jerry, Sr. offered him.

“I know you just came,” my dad said. “How did that happen? I never touched you.”

“I’m too tired now. I’ll teach you about the birds and bees tomorrow,” Jerry, Sr. said.

He lay down side by side with Nolan, and the two men wrapped their arms around each other. They were so tired they didn’t even clean up the excess semen. Jerry, Sr. took Nolan’s hand and laid it on his cock.

“Feel free to fondle it now,” he said.

Nolan wasn’t reticent at all. He rolled Jerry, Sr.’s cock in his hand. “I didn’t expect it to feel so nice,” he said. And they both fell asleep. The miracle had fully happened. A miracle had brought me to my love, and now a miracle had blessed my two dads. My dad had just completed a total one-eighty.

******

I woke up in the morning. Jerry was still sleeping, snoring lightly. I leaned over and started sucking his cock. His flaccid member, sprung to life in a second. He put his hand on my head and pushed gently. He wanted to make sure that he was in as far as I could take him. When he was fully awake, he twisted around and we brought ourselves to nirvana with a luscious game of sixty-nine.

While we were basking in the afterglow, something occurred to me.

“I didn’t hear our fathers come home last night,” I noted. “I’m worried.”

“I didn’t hear them either,” Jerry agreed.

I jumped out of bed, and ran to the guest room. The door was ajar. I opened it a little more. My two dads were lying uncovered. They were wrapped up in each other’s arms so tightly, I couldn’t even see their cocks. One of the beds had not been slept in. I freaked out, and ran back to Jerry.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. He could see the panic in my eyes. I couldn’t answer him, but I gestured for him to follow me.

When he saw the scene that I had just witnessed, he grabbed my hand, and pulled me back into our bedroom.

“What do you make of it?” Jerry asked me.

“I sure don’t know, but when your dad said he was going to get my dad into bed, I laughed so hard, inwardly, I lost my breath.”

Let’s get dressed and make breakfast. If they aren’t awake by the time it’s ready, we’ll wake them,” Jerry said.

“Damn right, we will,” I sputtered. “I need to know what’s going on. Do you think your dad hypnotized mine?”

“We’re going to find out.”

As it turned out, we didn’t have to wake them. It was the day before Christmas, and the servants were off, so Jerry and I were still in the process of making breakfast. They smelled the wonderful aroma of bacon frying, and coffee brewing, so they came into the kitchen. Jerry, Sr. was naked, but my dad was more modest. He had on a pair of boxers.

Nobody said anything more than, “Good morning.” We were half way through breakfast when I exploded. “What the fuck is going on?” I screamed too loudly.

The two fathers turned to each other and kissed. Finally Jerry, Sr. said. “We’re in love boys. I know it’s unexplainable, but God does indeed work in mysterious ways, especially at Christmas time.”

“Dad,” I said more calmly. “You made it very clear to me how much you hated homosexuality, in fact, how much you hated me and my life style. How could you change so quickly?”

“James,” he said and grabbed my hand. “I’ve never believed that two people of the same sex could fall in love, but it happened to Jerry and me. Nobody can explain it. I have always been homophobic. I was so ashamed of my friends finding out that you were gay, I covered it up by being even more of a homophobe. I’m pretty sure I loved your mom, but we weren’t good in the bedroom. That’s why you’re an only child. After you were born, we hardly ever made love. When you came out to me, I was happy for you and Gary. I was surprised that I really didn’t care. I was just exhibiting my homophobia out of habit, I guess, and out of fear of what people might think. Perhaps you got your gay genes from my latent ones.”

Jerry, Sr. interrupted, “No wonder it was so easy for me to seduce you,” he said.

“Are you sure it wasn’t I who seduced you?” my father said, laughing.

He looked at all of us, and started to cry. “Jerry, your father made me realize last night what a fool I’ve been.”

“I know it’s some sort of Christmas miracle,” Jerry, Sr. said, “but Nolan and I are madly in love. I want to settle down, and he wants to pursue his true nature, so I’ve asked him to live with me. The day after Christmas, we’re going to his furnished apartment. We’ll pay off the landlord, and bring his personal stuff here. I’m going to try to get him on my flight back to Florida. If I leave him alone here in New York, I’m afraid he might want to experiment further with his sexuality.”

“Not to worry, honey,” my dad said as he grabbed Jerry, Sr.’s hand again. “I’m all yours. Nobody could have shown me better than you, what I’ve been missing. And in case you’re all wondering, I’d love Jerry even if he was a pauper. His money has nothing to do with this. I swear.”

“I think this calls for a celebration,” I said. “Let’s have dinner at the club, and then go to church for their Christmas Eve service. There are a few angels I’d like to thank for giving me a Christmas miracle twice. They brought you to me the first time, Jerry darling, and now they have given me my father back.”

I couldn’t hold back and I started to cry with happiness. My beloved husband enfolded me in his arms, and all was well with the world. It was the best Christmas ever, excluding the Christmas Eve when Jerry and I first made love.