Down the Shore - 1. Chapter 1

Mark Stoneman is a professor of English and American literature at Princeton University. He became a widower two years ago, when his wife succumbed to leukemia after a short, painful fight. He has two children, Tyler, now aged fourteen, and Melissa, aged twelve. Mark is raising them as a single parent with the help of a wonderful housekeeper and nanny, Anna Maria Lopez. She herself has four children and is a widow. The Stoneman family live in a lovely four bedroom colonial style house in Princeton Junction, NJ. Their home is located about three miles from the university campus. Mark has no family at all, and he thanks God every day for Anna Maria.

He is coping with the loss of his wife better than he had expected. However, he’s very lonely at night. After the children go to sleep, and Anna Maria has gone home, he mourns for his wife. He’s the first to admit that he’s not ready (if ever) for “an involvement,” but he wouldn’t mind getting laid.

One evening, in the middle of May, Anna Maria asked to speak to him.

“My youngest son is graduating from Thomas Edison State University in Trenton in two weeks,” she began. “He’s gotten a great job in Manhattan, and I’ll be an empty nester. I haven’t been home to Belize for nearly twenty years. I was thinking that since you don’t teach in the summer, I’d love to spend July and August there with my family.”

Actually, Mark taught summer courses every year, but it was not a necessity, so he said, “Of course, you should go. I’m glad that you have family to visit.” He looked wistful, as he said that.

“Why don’t you take the kids away somewhere for a few weeks,” the nanny suggested. “You’d all benefit from spending some family time together.”

“Not a bad idea. I’ll give it a lot of thought.”

******

Mark, and his wife, Carrie, were married for about two years, and they were expecting their first child. Carrie was four months pregnant. They wanted to take a couple of weeks off during the summer, but because of her condition, they didn’t want to do any long distance, tiring travel. They decided to go down the shore. After all, New Jersey has hundreds of miles of beautiful beaches along the Atlantic coast.

They were able to rent a small bungalow in Bradley Beach, just about an hour’s drive from Princeton. In an emergency they could get home in no time. They loved the two weeks that they spent there, and vowed to go there every summer. Of course, life always gets in the way, and they never went there again.

Mark decided to rent a place in Bradley Beach, and spend the summer there with his children. He began to search Craig’s list for summer rentals. He came across an enticing ad under summer rentals in Bradley Beach, NJ.

“Lovely, three bedroom apartment in rustic duplex on the ocean, with a front porch and rear patio,. Suitable for a family with children. Summer Day Camp is within walking distance, if needed. Rent for July and August is $5,000. Yearly rental, $2,000 a month. Call Nate Barker at 732-555-9901.”

The name, Nate Barker, sounded very familiar to Mark, but he couldn’t quite place it.

******

He called Mr. Barker early the next morning.

“Hello,” a cheery voice greeted him.

Mark was taken aback. He expected to hear the raspy voice of a retiree. He had pictured an old man with a pot belly and almost bald head. The voice that greeted him sounded young, and eager to start his day.

Mark was so lost in his reveries that he didn’t answer until he heard the voice say, “Is anyone there?”

“Yes, sorry,” Mark finally mumbled, “I’m calling about your ad on Craig’s List for a summer rental, Mr. Barker. Is it still available?”

“Yes, it is. Please call me Nate. Have you got any questions? Will you be able to come and see it before signing a lease?”

“Yes. I’m only a short drive away. Could I come over Saturday morning?”

“Absolutely. Do you need directions?”

“No. I’ll use the GPS in my car. Just give me the address of the property. I’ll be bringing my two kids, so I’d like to see the Day Camp also, if it’s OK.”

“It’ll probably be closed on a Saturday, but I’m sure someone will be in the office.”

“Great. I’ll see you on Saturday then, about 10 AM.”

“Perfect. What’s your name, so I’ll know who to expect?”

“I’m Mark Stoneman, and my children are Tyler and Melissa.”

“How old are your kids?”

Mark didn’t like the question. Maybe Nate didn’t want kids, but his ad said that it was a rental suitable for a family, with a Day Camp nearby.

“Tyler’s fourteen and Melissa’s twelve,” Mark answered. “Why did you ask?”

“That’s wonderful,” Nate beamed. Mark could almost see him smiling on the phone.

“My sister lives in Atlanta. Her husband was killed in a car crash about nine months ago, so she’s allowing her fourteen year old boy, Oliver, to spend the summer with me. She’ll be here the first weekend in July when she brings Ollie up here, and the last weekend in August when she picks him up to go home, so you’ll meet her. Hopefully, Tyler and Ollie will hit it off and become friends. I’ll be sending my nephew to the Day Camp also.”

“It’s sounding better all the time. See you Saturday.”

Nate gave Mark the address and they hung up.

******

Tyler and Melissa were very excited about going down the shore the following Saturday. They were acting like it was some sort of big adventure. Mark was really happy about that. He was afraid that they might balk at leaving all their friends for the whole summer.

The road in front of the duplex was a private entrance, and provided parking for the residents of a small strip of houses on the ocean. When they drove up to the rental, a large dog, of no discernible breed, leaped off the front porch. The two apartments were adjacent to each other, and the porch was shared by both units, as was the rear patio. The dog jumped on the children and began to lick their faces. Tyler and Melissa giggled and held on tightly to the dog. Then Nate came running out of the house and pulled the dog off.

First Nate shook the kids’ hands to make them feel grownup. “My name’s Nate,” he told them.

“Tyler, Melissa,” the children said in unison.

Then Nate shook Mark’s hand. The instant their hands met, Nate debated telling Mark that he decided not to rent the second apartment. Mark was so handsome that Nate didn’t know how he could keep from coming onto him all summer. For as long as he could remember Nate was homosexual. He didn’t get much action down the shore, but whenever he went to New York on business, he hit the bars, and scored every time. He was even more handsome than Mark.

Nate’s reveries were interrupted when Tyler asked, “What’s your dog’s name?”

“Just what you’d expect,” Nate answered with a smile. “His name is Mutt. I couldn’t think of anything more appropriate to call him. He’s a rescue dog, and he had no name at the shelter.”

“Can we play with him on the beach?” Melissa begged.

“It’s okay with me, if it’s okay with your dad.”

They didn’t wait for Mark’s answer. “Come with us, Mutt,” Tyler yelled, and the three of them were on the beach in seconds.

“Follow me, Mark,” Nate said. “I’ll show you the apartment. Then we can schmooze on the front porch, and keep an eye on the kids.”

“I know I’ll love what I see,” Mark said. He most certainly did. Nate asked for $2,500 for the month of July, and the remainder payable on August 1st.

While Mark signed the lease and prepared the check, Nate brought out two beers. The kids were rolling in the sand with Mutt, even though they were dressed in street clothes. They would certainly need to shower the moment they got home.

When Mark handed Nate the check, and Nate handed Mark a beer, Nate said, “You’re welcome to move in anytime in June, as soon as you and the kids are finished with school. The remainder of June is on me.”

“That’s fantastic,” Mark said. “I’ll take you up on it. We can be here by June 25th. I should be able to load my SUV with everything I need for the summer, but if not, I can always drive home for the rest, while the kids are in Day Camp. I’d be back in a couple of hours.”

“The timing is perfect,” Nate said. “My sister, Karen, and my nephew, Oliver, are arriving on July 1st, and since it’s a holiday weekend, she’ll be here until the fifth.”

Each man had a different thought. Mark knew that Karen was single, and if she was as beautiful as Nate was handsome, maybe there was a chance he could get laid at last. Nate, on the other hand, was figuring out how he could seduce a straight man. He had a glimmer of hope because Mark was a widower. Maybe he was so starved for love, that he might succumb more readily. They both had high hopes, but neither believed it would actually happen.

******

Mark enrolled his children in the Day Camp on June 26th for the remainder of June and the months of July and August. He was unpacked, and the apartment was more than ready for occupancy by the evening of his first day. The next morning, he walked his kids to the day camp to make sure they were oriented. When he came home, he found Nate on the front porch typing away on his laptop. When Nate saw him, he closed his computer.

“Join me,” he said. “Would you like some coffee?”

“No, I’m good. Did I interrupt some work you were doing?” In this day and age so many people worked from home, his question was very valid.

“In a small way,” Nate said, “but I have no deadlines, and I don’t have to rush things.”

“May I ask what you do for a living, if I’m not being too nosy?”

“Sure you can ask. I have nothing to hide. I make an honest living.” Nate laughed. He stood up. “I’ll be right back,” he promised.

He returned moments later carrying six hard covered books. “I wrote these,” he said proudly.

All the books were bestselling romance novels, and they were written by Natalie Barker. A picture of the author was on the jacket. She was a beautiful young woman.

“I don’t understand,” Mark said.

“My publisher felt that a romance novel would sell better written by a woman. He was convinced that the readers would balk at a male author, who couldn’t possibly understand a woman’s emotions, or so he believed.”

“Who’s the beauty in the picture?”

“My sister Karen. You’ll meet her in a few days.”

“Now I know why your name sounded so familiar to me when I read your ad. Before my wife died, she read two of your novels. I still have the books at home.”

“Did she like them?” Nate asked, fearing to hear the answer.

“She loved them. She even urged me to read them, but I shied away from a romance novel. I’m certainly going to read them now.”

Conversation lagged, so Nate asked, “Why don’t you spend a couple of hours this afternoon on the beach while I’m writing? Get yourself a nice little tan.”

“I’d like that. I think I will.”

“You know what I’d like?” Nate asked. “It’s great to have company and someone to talk to. After your kids go to sleep tonight, please join me on the back patio.” Nate was beginning his seduction.

“I’d like that also.”

“From time to time, if you can get a sitter, there’s a nice little pub nearby. I enjoy socializing there, and I think you would too.”

“I don’t need a sitter. Tyler is old enough to take care of himself and his sister. He can always reach me on my cell.”

“I’m really glad to hear that,” Nate said.

“That’s great,” Mark smiled. “I’d like us to be friends.”

“There’s no question about that.”

They spent every evening on the back patio after the children were put to bed. Neither of them could get over how comfortable they were together. Conversation between them never lagged. It was a wonder to both of them. Mark had never had a close male friend, and Nate’s male associates were always fuck buddies and tricks. Under those circumstances, conversation was a lost art to both of them.

******

Karen arrived in the late afternoon on Friday, July 1st. The Day Camp was going to be closed from Saturday until Tuesday, the fifth, but Nate assured Ollie that the other kids would be home shortly. He introduced Karen to Mark, and he could feel that Mark’s interest in her soared. Needless to say, he wasn’t happy about that. He consoled himself in the knowledge that his sister was a very recent widow, and she was not interested in an involvement yet. Another source of consolation, was that he knew he had little chance to take Mark to bed anyway.

Tyler and Ollie became instant friends the moment they met. They were inseparable at the Day Camp and at home. Poor Melissa was all but forgotten. During Karen’s weekend stay, the three adults had all their meals together, and they all became good friends. Nevertheless, Nate could not wait for his sister to go home so he could have Mark all to himself.

Their nightly visits on the rear patio were something they both looked forward to. Neither realized it, but they began to confide in each other. They revealed hidden thoughts, delights and fears. It was not a problem. Neither gave it a second thought. Nate even admitted to Mark that he was gay. It had no effect on Mark. Many of his colleagues were gay. Mark admitted that he needed to get laid, and Nate’s ears perked up.

Two days after Karen left, Nate asked Mark if he’d like to go to the pub that night after the kids went to sleep.

“I promise you a good time,” he said. “It’s an Irish style pub called Paddy’s.”

They told the kids what their plans were. Mark made sure that Tyler had his cell phone number, and Nate made sure that Ollie had his. Melissa wasn’t happy about her being placed in her brother’s care, and Ollie didn’t like the idea of being alone.

“Can I sleep over with Tyler?” he begged.

“Sure,” Mark didn’t hesitate to give permission, but Nate wanted to say that it was inappropriate for two teen aged boys to share a bed. He kept quiet, however. Who was he to say anything? By the time he was twelve, he was whacking off with a neighbor boy, and then one thing led to another. If Tyler and Ollie wanted to “play,” it was okay with him. A thought like that never occurred to Mark, at least not at first.

******

His first time at Paddy’s was an eye opener for Mark. He had married very young, and he wasn’t much of a drinker. All he ever had was an occasional beer. Since he arrived in Bradley Beach, he had consumed more beers on the back patio than all the years before that put together. He and his wife had never gone to bars. He had so much fun that night at Paddy’s that he had way too much to drink. He didn’t give a fuck. He didn’t have to go to work in the morning, and he and Nate had walked to the pub, so he didn’t have to drive either.

On the way home, Nate had to put his arm around Mark’s waist to keep him steady. Mark was oblivious to it.

“I don’t want to go to bed yet,” Mark said. “Let’s schmooze on the patio, and I wouldn’t mind a night cap.”

“Your wish is my command,” Nate said.

Nate sat Mark down on the patio and went into the house to get a couple of beers. When he came outside, he found Mark sobbing like a baby. Nate put the beers down and embraced his friend.

“What’s wrong?” Nate asked.

“I’m so fucking lonely. I don’t want to go to bed tonight. I want to sit up all night with you.”

Somehow their cheeks were touching. Mark’s tears were dampening Nate’s cheek. Their lips were inches apart. They stared into each other’s eyes, and a miracle happened. Mark pulled Nate to him, and started to kiss him. He kissed him with passion, and their tongues embraced.

“Do you really want to spend the night with me?” Nate asked.

“Absolutely. In fact, more than this one night.”

“Well, we have the whole apartment to ourselves. Would you like to share my bed?”

“There was a nanosecond of hesitation, but Mark repeated, “You bet, but let’s check on the kids first.”

They went next door, and all three kids were sound asleep. Melissa was tucked under her blankets, but the boys had fallen asleep atop theirs. They were all wrapped up in each other’s arms, but they were wearing their jockey shorts. Neither Mark nor Nate could conclude anything from the scene they were witnessing, so they left, satisfied that the kids were all right.

******

Nate took Mark’s hand and led him into the bedroom. Once they were fully inside, Nate said, “I’m only going to teach you the basics tonight. “If you aren’t too grossed out in the morning, I can give you advanced lessons,” Nate promised.

“You don’t have to teach me anything. All I need is a refresher course. I have a confession to make. I had gay sex once right after my wife died.”

“Wow,” Nate said. He was astounded. “Tell me about it.”

“I returned to my teaching position about a month after my wife passed away,” Mark began. “One of my colleagues sensed my despondency. He asked me to get a sitter, and he would make us dinner that evening. I really needed some TLC and sympathetic company, so I called my nanny, and she was glad to baby sit. To make a long story short, I kept crying, and Wesley kept holding me tighter and tighter.

“At some point, he whispered in my ear, ‘You need to get laid.’ I was really vulnerable. I don’t think I fully knew what was happening. Wes undressed me, put me in his bed, and made love to me. We didn’t have sex. We made love for about three hours, then I got dressed and went home. The next day, he asked me if I was okay or was I grossed out. I told him that I had really enjoyed the experience, and that I was cool with it. He said that he would be available anytime I needed him. I never took him up on it again.”

“And now?” Nate asked.

“Now I want to repeat that pleasure with you, but I don’t want it to be a one night stand.”

“Well,” Nate said, “we have all summer. When it’s time for you to go back to Princeton, we’ll evaluate where things stand. But be warned, Mark. I’m madly in love with you.”

“That’s the problem,” Mark said. “I know it’s crazy, but I love you too.”

“Let’s not waste another minute, then,” Nate said. “Come with me. I’d like to shower with you.”

They made wild and abandoned love that night. It was as if they had just discovered and invented the whole idea of physical male love all by themselves. Although they gave each other golden showers, they didn’t linger long under the cascading waters, preferring to demonstrate their love in a dry bed. They gave each other unhurried trips around the world. They rimmed for what seemed like hours. They sucked each other, but stopped just before the point of no return. Finally, in a state of pure frenzy, they fucked each other. They went in dry and without protection. They each suffered great pain, and neither gave a damn. The pain passed quickly, and they both came, enjoying the exquisite pleasure. They tried to delay their orgasms, but they both failed.

They lay in Nate’s bed wrapped up in each other’s arms like Tyler and Ollie, except that they were naked. There was no doubt to any casual observer what had just happened.

Both of them were crying.

“I love you so much,” Mark wailed.

“I love you more,” Nate mumbled.

It was difficult for them to let go of each other, but they managed, and Mark got home before the kids got up. He didn’t go to bed, but he started to make breakfast for everybody. He was too excited to sleep anyway.

Ollie and Nate had breakfast that morning with The Stoneman family. Ollie begged Nate to let him sleep with Tyler every night. By now Mark was having suspicions about the boys. He didn’t mind at all, because he suspected that Ollie was giving Tyler as much pleasure as Nate was giving him. Both boys were certainly old enough. Just like Nate, Mark had been whacking off regularly since he was twelve. Tyler and Ollie were two years older. Of course, Nate agreed to the sleeping arrangements also. It gave him and Mark more opportunities to be alone.

Since Ollie called Nate, Uncle Nate, it didn’t take Tyler and Melissa very long to start calling him Uncle also. By the end of the summer, all five of them subconsciously thought of themselves as a family. In fact, when the children weren’t around, Mark and Nate acted like an old married couple. They made love almost every night.

When Karen came to pick up Ollie on the last weekend in August, they needed a crow bar to separate him and Tyler. They were crying, and Nate and Mark assured the boys that they would all spend the following summer down the shore again.

Nate begged Mark to stay on until Labor Day, and the kids begged him to do it.

“I have a plan,” Nate whispered in Mark’s ear. “We’ll talk about it on the patio tonight.”

“It better be a good plan,” Mark whispered back. “I can’t stand the thought of us being separated until next summer.”

“That’ll never happen,” Nate assured him.

Before going out to the patio, Mark checked on his kids. Melissa was sound asleep, so he went on to Tyler’s room. Tyler’s door was closed, and Mark could hear his son talking to Ollie on the phone. He decided not to interrupt them, and he went outside.

Nate had the beers ready.

“We’ve got to cut this out,” Mark said. “We’ll both get beer bellies.”

“Never fear. It’ll soon be too cold for outdoor schmoozing,” Nate reassured him.

“Okay, I want to hear your plan,” Mark said. I don’t want to have to restrict our time together to weekends. I want us to be together 24/7, forever.”

“Here goes,” Nate said with a sigh. “All I need for work is my laptop. Anywhere I open it up is my office. What do you say to my moving in with you and the kids. I can rent out my apartment to a full time, year round tenant, and we can use the rental for weekends, and for entire summers.”

Mark jumped up and embraced Nate. “I think it’s a great idea, but we’ll have to come out to the kids,” Mark said.

“We’ll have to bite the bullet sooner or later,” Nate said, with just a little fright in his voice.

“I don’t think it’s going to be much of a problem,” Mark laughed. “If you can’t see that the boys are making it together, you need to get new glasses. I even think that Melissa suspects. When I put her to bed tonight, you know what she said?”

“What?”

“She told me that she could do it herself, and I should go out to the patio where Uncle Nate was waiting for me.”

******

It took about six months to complete all the arrangements down the shore. During that time, Nate commuted to Princeton as often as he could. He donated all his furniture to charity.

The weekend before his final move, Tyler asked to speak to both men privately. He wanted to come out to them.

Tyler looked down. He was trying to avoid looking into either of the two men’s eyes.

“I know you think that Ollie and I are too young, babies even,” he said, “but we’re almost fifteen, and we love each other very much. I think we love each other at least as much as you two love each other, maybe more.”

So Tyler knew, and no explanations would be necessary,

“Does Melissa know?” Nate asked.

“Of course, she knows. She knows about me and Ollie also. Don’t worry Uncle Nate. She loves you very much.”

No longer than two weeks after Nate moved in, it seemed to the family that they had all lived together forever.

Tyler tried to stay optimistic. He had a big desk calendar in his room. Every day, at the end of the day, he marked off the day just passed. He was counting the days until he and Ollie would be reunited down the shore.