Worth the Struggle - 10. Let the Cards Fall

Let the Cards Fall:

The Waters family, which includes the Remmington boys and Liv were sitting at the local café having breakfast. The boys soon had a final exam. Liv and Blu’s Parent’s were going to the hospital to pick up Charlie. Nan had won a bet against Kaleb the night before and they agreed to finally go check out the local strip club, and Kaleb had to pay as restitution for the bet. Kyle and Blu thought he’d lost on purpose so he could spend the day with Nan.

“Please stop blaming yourself Kyle, none of this is your fault. If you hadn’t of been there imagine what that bastard would have done to Charlie,” Liv reached over and squeezed Kyle’s hand.

Kyle shrugged his shoulders fidgeted with his ring, “Chapman wouldn’t even have hurt Charlie if I would’ve listened to Blu though,” Kyle sighed, “If something worse happened I would never forgive myself.” Blu leaned over and kissed Kyle, then squeezed his thigh in support.

Kaleb nudged Blu and discreetly pointed out the window, “That’s the guy I saw at the hospital,” he whispered. It was the same man that Kyle had kept pointing out to Blu, except this time he was wearing a bowler hat. Kaleb and Blu quickly jumped out of their seat and exited the café, by the time they were outside the man had disappeared.

“You saw him too right?” Blu nodded, Kaleb scratched his forehead looking around.

Kyle looked at Blu and Kaleb as they came back in the door, “Where did you two disappear too?”

Kaleb shifted his eyes to Blu, “We went out to get a breath of fresh air,” He hurried up and picked his drink up taking a large swallow of orange juice, and Kyle frowned at Kaleb knowing he was lying.

Blu picked up his pastry and shoved it in his gob, “Bop ba bikshpick sheb,” nodding his head in agreement with Kaleb.

Kyle’s frown grew, “What the dipshit said huh?” He pushed his plate away, “You’re both horrible liars, I might be blonde but I’m not an idiot,” He sat drumming his fingers on the table clearly irritated.

Blu swallowed and lovingly swept Kyle’s hair out of his eye, “You look hot today, Blondie,” Blu told him grinning, hoping to get away with not answering.

Kyle scooted his chair out from the table and stood up, “Let’s go Babe so we aren’t late for the damn final,” He shot Kaleb a glare and took Blu’s hand after he stood up leading the way out the door, “And you better not get in trouble today Kaleb,” Kyle grumbled over his shoulder. As they reached the door Kyle spun around pointing at Nan, “That goes double for you Nan.”

*****

Once the boys completed their exam, they met up in the courtyard and went to get Chinese takeout for a welcome home party for Charlie. Kyle insisted that they make it special for her, after the Chapman incident. Kyle also insisted on extra eggrolls so Nan and he didn’t get in a fight. Blu laughed at Kyle insisting on the eggrolls, not knowing when Kaleb or Nan would return from the strip club.

After the boys reached Charlie and Liv’s dorm room, Kyle rushed around setting up food platters on a cheap card table and Blu started hanging a banner and streamers. The boys rushed around for what seemed to be forever but in all reality, it was only thirty minutes. Kyle wiped the sweat from his brow, “There it looks perfect.”

“You did a great job Blondie,” Blu went to Kyle, wrapping his arms around him and the two kissed affectionately. Kyle smiled, the boys heard Charlie and Liv’s voices as the door swung open.

Kyle practically dragged Blu over to Charlie, “Welcome home, do you need a chair? Maybe a pillow? Asprin?” Kyle was so nervous Charlie would hate him that he rambled like a lunatic. Kyle took Charlie's hand with his good one ushering her over to a chair that he had stacked with pillows that even the Queen of England would be comfortable in it.

“Kyle stop!” Charlie insisted, “None of this is your fault, Chippy did this shit all on his own, but thank you for doing this. I appreciate the thought, in all honesty, you saved me from whatever the asshole had planned,” Charlie sat in the comfy accommodations Kyle provided.

The party was filled with lots of food and banter from the entire makeshift family, as time ticked away Kyle decided he needed to get back to their room and study for his next final exam and Blu agreed that he did too, so they said their goodbyes and headed off to their dorm.

*****

As the boys reached the door to their room the door was ajar, Kyle pushed it open and walked in finding Rudolph standing there with one of his cronies packing up Kyle’s belongings. Rudolph was continually barking orders and talking into his cell phone.

“Father, what the hell?” Kyle muttered.

Rudolph spun around, “Don’t use that tone with me,” Pointing at Blu, “This entire charade is your fault, Kyle never acted like this until he met you.”

Blu crossed his arm over his chest, with his feet apart, “Act like what exactly… like he had free will. You're not taking him anywhere.”

“You think you're capable of stopping me? Please…” Rudolph waved his hand dismissively looking at his employee, “Make sure to get the stuff from the closet and get his computer, god knows what rubbish is on there,” turning to focus on Kyle, “You’re behavior has disgraced my name, you have no choice Kyle it’s time for this to end.”

Kyle fidgeted around picking at his cast, “I’m staying…” he muttered.

“You’re really trying my patience boy,” Rudolph ordered his employee to start taking boxes out to the moving van.

Blu looked at Kyle, who was frozen in place and shaking. He shoved his way past Rudolph to where the cronies were packing his belongings and ripped open a box and started unpacking Kyle’s things.

“I don’t know what you have over your boys to make them afraid of you, but you don’t frighten me. You’re a bully, manipulative and a power-hungry narcissist with a tiny penis. I bet you own a Porsche convertible, don’t you? Kyle’s nineteen and you have no right to take his stuff,” Blu said pointing a handful of fluorescent colored Andrew Christian boxer briefs at Rudolph.

“You young man either stand there and be quiet, minding your own business or I will have you removed until I am done,” Rudolph ordered Blu, “This doesn’t pertain to you, the hand holding and kissing and god knows what else you have both done ends this instant.”

Blu frowned at Kyle, who seemed to be in a daze, “BLONDIE! Get over here and help me, stand up for yourself, stand up for us, GOD DAMN IT KYLE, SNAP OUT OF IT!” Blu yelled while trying to open another box and unpack it.

Kyle shook his head as his fear turned to panic, “Father I’m not going,” Kyle shoved Rudolph aside walking to Blu, “FUCK IT!” nervously Kyle grabbed Blu’s hand with the ring on it waving it in the air where Rudolph could see it, “See Rudolph? We’re engaged, how’s it feel to have a gay son? Actually two of the three of us…”

Rudolph’s eyes showed a simmering rage, “You’re an absolute disgrace,” He pulled out his cell phone dialing somebody, “It’s me what information have you found out? Mhmm, I see… Yes… Good,” Rudolph slipped his phone back into his pocket. “You know it’s quite entertaining that you want to try acting like a man to me, if it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t be here at college.”

Kyle looked at Rudolph as he started to lose his fear and gain confidence as well as a rising temper, “Rudolph, I don’t need you,” He started shaking, “I got here from working my ass off to get away from your controlling bullshit.”

Rudolph laughed, “Hard work?” He loosened his tie, “You have no clue what hard work is, but if you keep arguing with me you will.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Kyle demanded. Doug and Lily walked in to catch Kyle’s remarks.

“I warned you, Kyle,” Rudolph smirked, “I’ve had people watching you and you’re behavior with him,” He said as he pointed in Blu’s direction. “You want to live the life of a squatter, that can be easily arranged. That nice trust fund can easily just disappear, and your worthless rear end can fend for itself. You’re such a disgrace to our family.”

“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?” Doug yelled and the room went dead silent and all eyes were on him,

“Who are you?” Rudolph demanded as he stared at Doug, “I was talking to MY son.”

“That’s a good question, but I asked “what the hell is going on?” and I expect an answer.” Doug moved further into the room putting himself between Lily and the chaos in front of him.

“Kyle decided he wants to be a big boy, I simply made it perfectly clear he’s an utter failure as a son and he is worthless. Going to school to become a teacher is worthless, and his relationship or whatever he is calling this thing is a joke,” Rudolph said motioning toward the boys, “Kyle is leaving now or he has no more trust fund, Penelope and I have made the decision.”

“Call my boy a failure or worthless again, I don’t care who you are and I’ll put you in the ground,” Doug growled through clenched teeth.

Rudolph laughed at Doug, “I have enough money to bury you, and leave you and whoever that woman is penniless.”

“Is this how you raised your boys, through financial threats and manipulation? You call yourself a man, you go ahead with your threats against us. I could give a shit less, you leave my boys alone. Don’t kid yourself to think money and power are everything. When we first met Kyle he was sheltered, naïve and a frightened boy, he didn’t even know what affection was. He’s been out of your control for twelve months almost and has become, open, loving, affectionate and confident,” Doug slammed his fist on the desk then pointed at Rudolph, “Every time that boy talks to you it takes our family a week to make him feel good enough about himself again just to have a conversation. You should be ashamed of the father you are,” Doug’s face was red and sweaty.

“Thanks, Dad,” Kyle looked from Doug to Rudolph, “Rudolph, that man,” He said pointing at Doug, “Has been more of a Dad to me than you ever have,” Kyle locked eyes with Rudolph stepping up nose to nose, “The funny thing is he has never even given me one cent of his money.”

Rudolph grabbed Kyle’s broken hand twisting it, “You need to learn respect boy,” Kyle grimaced from the pain that shot through his body causing him to go weak in the knees, dropping to one knee.

In one motion Blu went to go to Kyle seeing red, he changed direction at the last second, grabbing Rudolph by the tie and shoving him up against the wall, his forearm digging into Rudolph's windpipe.

“BLU!” Lily cried out while Doug moved to protect Kyle.

Kaleb and Nan walked into the room laughing until they spotted Blu pinning Rudolph to the wall and Kyle on the floor holding his injured hand. “What the hell is goin’ on?” Kaleb growled as he ran to Kyle and knelt down by his brother.

Kyle had tears trickling down his face, “Rudolph decided I was worthless and a disgrace to our family,” He cradled his hand tight against his chest.

Rudolph’s followers crossed the room grabbling Blu yanking him off, “This boy needs to learn some manners,” Rudolph shouted to his men. Kaleb glared at Rudolph.

Lily pulled out a Derringer from her purse and pointed it at Rudolph's cronies, “Get your hands off of my son and step away,” Doug looked at his wife with a surprised expression and one brow raised, she shrugged her shoulder and said, “A girl has to protect herself.”

“Oh, Hell. Yeah! Lily, put one in his ass,” Nan yelled, picking up Kyle’s ornamental drumstick and started hitting the cronies with it. “Let,” smack, “go,” whack, “of our,” whop, “Blu, you… you..” smack, whack, hit, Nan bent over exhausted catching her breath. One of the cronies turned around and put his hand on Nan, she whipped up and kneed him in the nuts.

Kaleb jumped up from Kyle’s side lunging through the air landing a punch square in the guy's nose, “Take that asshole, nobody touches Nan while I’m around,” he got back on his feet and turned to Rudolph, “I think you’ve done more than enough father.”

“Is that so young man?” Rudolph practically had steam rolling out of his ears from anger, “You both are trying the last of my patience,” He turned looking at Kyle who was still on the floor holding his hand, “Get up and quit acting like a baby, it’s time to leave now.”

“Fuck you, Rudolph,” Kyle spat at him with venom in his voice, “I don’t need you or your money, get the fuck out of our room!”

“Well if that’s the way you want it,” Rudolph glanced around the room, “I hope you enjoy struggling to live a poor man’s life,” He motioned his guys out of the room, “You will never see a dime of that trust fund as long as I’m alive and breathing Kyle,” Rudolph left in a huff.

Doug let himself collapse onto the couch, “Sweetheart, put the bloody lighter away.”

“Oh, yeah, sorry,” Lily put the gun-shaped lighter in her purse and sat down on the bed patting the spot next to her, “Kyle honey, come here by me so I can look at your hand.”

Kyle got up off the floor and sat on the bed, “Sorry,” Kyle said looking around the room, “That’s typical Rudolph,” He sighed, “I guess I need to figure how to pay for college and shit now…” Kyle got lost in his thoughts.

Blu came from across the room and crouched in front of Kyle putting his hands on his knees for balance, “We’ve got all summer to figure it out Babe, let’s just get through this week. I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”

Kaleb turned and faced his brother after he knew Nan was okay, “Kyle we will all get through this fucking mess together,” He looked at Lily, “Sorry Mom,” Turning a bit red in the face, “You’ve protected me from Rudolph’s chaos all my life, let me help Kyle.”

Kyle shook his head, “No,” staring at the floor, “I made this mess all on my own, I’ll figure it out even if I have to quit school.”

Nan called out from across the room, “Don’t make me come over there and smack ya upside the head Stud. You listen to the people who love and care about you. Not that oxygen thief dressed in a high priced suit.” Nan stood up and made her way over to Kyle, still panting and trying to catch her breath, she smacked Kyle upside the head. “You ain’t quittin’ school!”

Kyle shook his head, “Nobody get’s it,” Kyle stood up and walked over to the window staring at nothing in particular, “I keep getting everybody I care about hurt,” He mumbled and a light sob escaped his control.

Blu moved to Kyle and embraced him, letting him get out all the nervous energy, he rubbed small circles on Kyle’s back and pulled his head to his neck. Doug stood up and moved toward everyone else.

“Kyle, you're not thinking straight right now,” Doug chuckled, “or probably ever for that matter, but we are all here. Let’s concentrate on one thing at a time. Okay?” He looked around the room, “First thing we are going to do is to open the boxes and grab out what you need for the next few days. Then we are going to seal them back up and stack them somewhere. The dumb bastards did half your packing for you already, why not accept the gift.” Kyle gave a sort of chuckle sob and wiped his face on Blu’s shirt.

“Then you boys are going to concentrate on your finals. You can come home for a week and we’ll brainstorm and try and figure out what to do,” Doug turned to Kaleb, “Are you coming home for summer break or are you going to California?”

“Oh fuck them,” Kaleb blushed, “Oops, sorry Mom, I’m coming home,” Kaleb made eye contact with Kyle, “Kyle’s my family, wherever he goes I’ll be right behind him, that goes for Blu too.”

Nan let out one hell of a whoop, throwing her fist in the air and then dancing in a circle, singing, “My boys are coming home, My boys are coming home.”

Blu and Kyle were now standing arm in arm, “Uh, Kaleb, have you had those dollar bills hanging out of your pants this whole time?” Blu laughed pointing, “and why?”

Kaleb laughed lifting his shirt gyrating his hips looking at Nan mischievously, “It seems this little dance and one wild little woman tucks dollar bills in like they are free, so who am I to deny her a bit of happiness?”

Nan pulled a dollar bill from her bra and tucked it in Kaleb’s pants, “Whoop, Whoop, now you do it, Kyle?”

Kyle looked at Blu, “Uh,” shaking his head, “I’ll pass Nan, sorry, the only one getting in these pants is Blu.”

Blu nodded with a smile on his face letting go of Kyle, he walked past Kaleb and stole a couple of bills holding them up to show Kyle, “let’s get a drink from the machine Blondie,” holding his free hand out for Kyle to take.

Kaleb laughed, “Hey I worked hard for that money Blu, no fair, Nan…” He gave her the puppy dog eyes.

Nan pulled out a ten dollar bill and gave it to Kaleb and gave him a few open hand taps to the face, “I’ll have a coke and a packet of chips, thanks, Mini-Muffin.”

“See Blu, I told you I would replace you eventually,” Kaleb stuck his tongue out and ran to get Nan her drink and snacks. Kyle laughed and shook his head.

“Babe, I gotta admit he loves joking with you,” Kyle chuckled, “I love seeing him having fun, its something neither of us really got to do growing up. Babe, we need to call the Colonel and see if we can get the house earlier than the end of summer though, I don’t want him going back to that house.”

“I agree,” Doug said, “I’ll call him in the morning for you, then let you boys know what’s happening. Once Nan gets her chips we are going to head home,” Doug pulled out a credit card from his wallet and gave it to Blu, “If you boys need anything, put it on this card. There’s only a $500 limit on it, so only use it for gas and groceries. And here is a hundred dollars, to go out to dinner with Kaleb when your finals are over to celebrate. I trust you not to let me down, and be sensible.”

“Thanks, Dad,” both boys replied.

*****

After everybody left Kyle and Blu were laying in bed, Kyle rolled on his side facing Blu, “I don’t know where I’d be without you and all of your family Babe,” He ran his fingers over Blu’s face.

“Out of condoms and lube, I suppose,” Blu giggled, trying to keep the mood light for Kyle.

“I’m serious Babe,” Kyle sighed, “These last few days have been such a fuckin disaster first with Charlie, then Christopher, and… ugh Rudolph,” Kyle shook his head.

“Come here Blondie,” Blu pulled Kyle to him, “It has been a friggin’ nightmare of epic proportions. But you know what?”

“What’s that Babe?” Kyle looked into Blu’s eyes.

“Regardless of how things feel right now, at the end of the day, we made it through. We are still together, Kaleb is safe, Charlie’s home and unharmed, and Nan is still her ridiculous self,” Blu smoothed Kyle’s hair out of his eyes and smiled, “and we are happy, stupidly in love. It’s a win in my book.”

“Agreed,” Kyle kissed Blu passionately, “I love you, Babe,” grinning, “Hey, do you hear that?” Kyle held his hand to his ear like he could hear something. Blu raised his eyebrow quizzically, then shook his head. “No snoring competition between Nan and Dad,” Kyle laughed.

Blu stole another kiss then laughed, “How’s my Mom’s form, I nearly shit my pants when she brought out that lighter gun thingy.”

“I just about shit my pants too,” Kyle became all serious, “That thing looked so real, even Rudolph stopped his bullshit,” A shiver passed through Kyle, “For the first time in my life I feel free, it’s sorta hard to describe,” Kyle laced his fingers with Blu’s, “Rudolph is gonna follow through on his threats with money though, he’s a ruthless prick when money is involved as you’ve seen with Christopher.”

“We’ll deal with whatever happens as it comes, don’t let it get to you for the moment. You’ll soon learn the way of Dougie, no point worrying about what hasn’t happened yet. It’s a waste of energy,” Blu leaned in and kissed Kyle, “You realize that goon with your Dad packed up my computer and not yours?”

“You’re shitting me, right?” Kyle looked at Blu questionably.

Blu nodded his head chuckling, “It’s fine, it’s not broken or anything, so I’ll still be able to study for finals,” Blu waved his hand dismissively toward the desks.

“I was thinking…” Kyle stopped to gather his confidence, “Since my old life is over, why don’t we talk to Mom and Dad over the summer and start planning our wedding? I’m ready to start our future if you are,” Kyle pulled Blu into a kiss.

“I like the sound of that. How about we head for the closest Saturday to the day we met?” Blu smiled “or the second last Saturday of Summer Break next year. It will give us time to plan and save. I know it won’t be fancy but it will be us.”

Kyle’s face got a huge grin on it, “Sounds like a date,” reaching down and taking Blu’s hand in his, “The next to last Saturday of Summer Break it is Babe.”

“Sounds like we have a gentleman’s agreement. I think you should pound me into the mattress to solidify our commitment. Shake my hand. Seal the deal. Sign the dotted line. Put your John Hancock on it, or just put you co…”

“Oh for god sakes babe,” Kyle covered Blu’s mouth with his lips kissing him to the point of leaving both boys breathless.

The final exams were completed, without much difficulty. However, Kyle did find out Rudolph shut off his bank account one night when he stopped to buy dinner for Blu and himself. A few days after that his cell phone was disconnected.

ASSHOLE!

The End of Book 1